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The MudSpot is the stationary younger sister of The Mudtruck, that bright orange van that peddles gourmet coffee from its parking spot on Astor Place. This café allows patrons to sit down in a cozy setting of wood plank floors and colorful wall tiles. Like its mobile sibling, The MudSpot is staffed by good-natured, bandanna-wearing servers and offers the coffee that WB11 watchers voted the best in the city in 2004. Somehow, that coffee seems even more satisfying indoors, perhaps because it is served in sturdy handmade mugs. The eat-in incarnation also offers freshly baked, moist muffins as well as a range of light meals, from homemade soups to Tunisian eggs to an attractively minimalist yet filling plate of gorgonzola, almond butter and pears. And instead of having to eat and walk, you can linger for as long as you like, either inside or in the calming back garden, which is a lot nicer than sitting on a stoop on St. Marks. — Lauren Aaronson

Sat.—Sun., 9 a.m.—midnight; $12.95

Happy Hour
Mon.—Fri., 4:20 p.m.—7 p.m.; $4 beers, $5 wines

Banana muffin, $2; coffee, $2