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Though locally famous for its rich, aromatic, fair-trade coffee blends—along with a killer brunch menu—this modest South-Harlem café is much more than just a spot for a good meal. It functions as a communal living room for the neighborhood—a place where aspiring recording artists sing snatches of lyrics to one another over plates of shrimp and cheese grits; where older couples share the Sunday Times and discuss the local artwork decorating the walls; and where groups of students spread their study notes over the wide wooden tables and nurse mug after mug of caramel cappuccino. On late weekend mornings, the brick-walled space fills with hungry families. In the late afternoons, though, the vibe gets mellow: Affable, dreadlocked servers are likely to pull up a chair when taking orders; the stereo hums with old-school soul and reggae, and sunlight streams through the storefront windows. — Sarah Gold

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