Located on the corner of Michigan and Lake, Brian's Juice Bar and Deli is the type of efficiently functional, fast-paced city restaurant that lets prospective customers know what to expect before they get to the front of the tiny diner and place their order. With both the outside and inside walls plastered with menus boldly featuring pictures, prices and descriptions, it's a "How to Order a Sandwich For Dummies" shop.

But with a list of sandwiches under the heading "Brian's Sandwiches," that includes all the standards (roast beef, turkey, pastrami, ham, etc.) all for under $4 (except for the Italian Combo, which is $5.25) and a tempting selection of "Middle Eastern Specialties," (including falafel and taboule by the pound), there's still plenty of decision-making to be done before placing your order.

As the title suggests, Brian's isn't only a sandwich shop. Offering a vanilla chocolate protein shake and creamy fruit smoothies (with optional "healthy additions," such as ginseng, bee pollen and creatine), along with a wide-ranging assortment of juices (including broccoli, green pepper, ginger, celery and spinach), this restaurant could win an award for the amount of variety it offers within its cramped space.

There are a few small tables where diners can sit and watch the passersby on Lake Street, but for the most part Brian's is a take-out facility.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Zach Freeman