Gables Cafe

Gables Cafe is a tiny breakfast and lunch spot with a handful of tables at the foot of an office building. The menu skews Cuban, but they serve everything from smoothies to tuna wraps. We really like their queso frito burger—a big patty, sautéed onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and squeaky fried cheese. Just don’t eat one before a big meeting—this $10 burger will rock you to sleep. If that happens, get their $1 coffee shot—half a colada. Their daily lunch specials are the real secret. The most popular is Thursday: juicy vaca frita with your choice of two sides for $12. Gables Cafe is incredibly small, so you kind of have to know about it—and enough people do to keep this place busy all day. So if you’re in a hurry, phone in your order and pick it up.

photo credit: Cleveland Jennings