Formerly: Paris Cafe doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. It's no new bistro helmed by a chef with a vision that wants to introduce some kind of fusion, either of food or service, and turn our notion of fine dining on it's head. It's not an exotic bastion of arcane preparation methods where lasers cook food in complete darkness or some such thing. It's a bar just north of downtown where you can get your drink on after work, or brunch yourself into a food coma at 8 a.m. on the weekends, or dance until 2 a.m. most any night of the week.

It's the Paris Café. They have a full bar, they serve bar food along with a few French dishes, and they have DJs. It's simple and it works.

The hip, well-lit space is filled with leather booths that would be at home in any bar, and one side of the space is occupied by a long wooden bar backed by an exposed brick wall. Dinner is served until about 9 p.m. (check out the tomato basil linguine for $8, or the chicken croquettes for $14) when space is made for cafe patrons to spend the rest of the night dancing.

DJs bring Latin beats on Thursday nights. For a full schedule and other information on drink specials, the bartender recommends you check out their Facebook page.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Bill Burman