Lakeview bakery Fritz Pastry is a modest, unobtrusive shop, the kind of joint that you walk by each day and have to consciously say to yourself, "Wait a second, this is a pastry shop. I like pastries, why don't I stop by?" There may not be anything flashy or eye-catching about Fritz, but that also means it's a quiet, unassuming cafe, where the ills of the city can't disturb you. Also, there are cheap pastries - nothing wrong with that!

So, what to eat? The lineup of pastries changes from day to day, but each individual item is priced between 75 cents and $3, so feel free to experiment. If stumped, the croissants are a solid fallback (choose between butter, almond and chocolate). Between the sugared, cinnamon and hazelnut-chocolate varieties, there's surely a brioche that you'll find appetizing. Muffins, danishes, cupcakes, tarts, etc., round out the rest of the selections. Don't worry - the employees who run the shop are patient while you make the excruciating decision between, say, a brioche or a turnover.

Fritz also doubles as a cafe, with a pretty nice variety of drinks to sample: Intelligentsia teas, cappuccinos, macchiatos and lattes, just to name a few. It's certainly conceivable that Fritz becomes a popular hangout in no time - the interior is just as comforting as the pastries. With hardwood floors, light blue-painted walls, and Ben Gibbard's pleasant tenor permeating throughout the joint, you better believe you can chill here with a cup of coffee and a laptop by your side.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert