If you looked up "coffee" and "diner" in the dictionary, the definitions would somehow join at the hip and refer to the definition for Riverside Deli. Or, to put it more simply, the Riverside Deli is the perfect place if you are looking to munch away at a family-friendly, cozy diner, and has been since 1983.

A multitude of fruit-centric paintings, as well as portraits of many chefs deck the walls. Packages of pasta and various canned goods line the shelves, subtly suggesting that the food served is akin to a homemade meal. Indeed, the chalkboard behind the counter announces selections of a quintessential American variety; there's chicken noodle soup, split pea and ham soup, Texas chili, roast and corned beef sandwiches, among others. Not one to be pigeonholed, Riverside offers less domestic eats as well, like Spanish rice, Caribbean steak and Mexican breakfasts.

Speaking of early morning meals, the time to go to Riverside Deli is Sunday morning for its immensely popular brunch, packed with bagels with liverwurst, tacos, tamales, BLTs and mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. While most of the menu items fall under the $8 mark, the brunch weighs in at around $12. Show up early, as it gets very crowded very quickly.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jon Graef