It’s hard to walk unassumingly into a place like Black Eye Coffee Shop. From an outsider’s perspective, there’s definitely an air of ostentation at play -nautical-ish interior design, ‘6’4/160lb baristas, a deli refrigerator turned magazine rack.

But after you get past all that, you'll find that Black Eye has some of the best lattes and friendliest service in the city. There’s a contagious caring and care-free attitude perpetuating the room, which is no doubt why both freelancers and corporate folks alike frequent the space to get stuff done. There’s also a ton of neighborhood regulars, which helps prove its worth. Black Eye is like a hipster Cheers, only they don’t serve beer, don’t care about the Red Sox, and “Sam” is only relevant because it’s the name of all four dogs leashed up out front. They also have excellent food, which is why you see a full review of the place here on The Infatuation.

Pastries, quiches, and rolls originally occupied most of the menu at Black Eye to match the coffee brews, but lately they've expanded their offerings to include some good sweet and savory breakfast and lunch options. To be clear, their strong suit is still by far focused around beverages, but it’s nice to have a place like this for a quick meal in the Highlands.

Food Rundown

Pastries

The bakery part of any Black Eye experience is worth exploring. We love the macaroons, and muffins, and biscuits...and everything else.

Porchetta Sandwich

The area’s best excuse for a 12:30 p.m. nap. Full on pork indulgence. There’s a lot of relish, a lot of pork, and a lot of pork fat. It may not be the best pig sandwich in town, but it's definitely the best pig sandwich you’ll get at a coffee shop.

Mac And Cheese

This is the best side on the menu. Buttery with a crispy bread crumb sprinkle on top and a nice noodle game. Not too rich or overly indulgent, but eating by itself will fill you up enough if you’d rather keep things a little lighter for lunch.

Daily Quiche

The Daily Quiche welcomes you at the order counter, and offers a rich, flavorful start to the day. Always something new going on here, and a great option if you're looking for something tasty but not too carb-y.

Navajo Tacos

These aren’t a must-try, but again, once you step back and realize you’re eating tacos at a coffee shop you’ll be pleased. Good flavors going on, and a nice touch of spice.

Poblano Grilled Cheese

In our opinion, the best sandwich on the menu. The bread goes heavy on the butter, which is exactly how any grilled cheese should be cooked, and the peppers and pickled onions work with the cheddar really well.