Despite its laid-back, neighborhood feel (especially on the outdoor patio), this Lakeview coffee shop is no stranger to decadence. A tempting assortment of cookies and cakes (including the $3.95-per-slice red velvet) greets customers at the cashier counter, and sleek marble counters and tabletops and cushy red chairs add to a feeling of luxury.

Still, Sweet Bean keeps it real. "We only carry seasonal, local food and also serve Chicago-based coffee from Metropolis," says co-owner Hannah Bauer. Bauer's boyfriend, a graduate of Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Pasadena, takes care of most of the menu. "For our soups, we cook all our stocks from scratch. It really makes the difference, too. Everything we have here is homemade," adds Bauer. They serve up at least one seasonal soup each day, with two on cold winter days. Breakfasts are tasty, too, especially the $6 open-faced sandwich (on a bagel or French bread) with mushroom, red onion, feta and a scrambled egg.

Sweet Bean also keeps its fridges stocked with yoguccino, a non-fat yogurt base that's both all-natural and fresh. "It's from my hometown in Washington," says Bauer. The friendly staff will add yoguccino to a 16 or 24 oz. smoothie or coffee drink; espresso combos like the green mint mocha or raspberry mocha and fruit combos of chocolate and banana are just a few of the possibilities. Bauer encourages customers to create their own custom drink and, if they love the yoguccino enough, buy a case to take home with them.

Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler