Restaurant recommends: Cozmo's

While most coffee houses/cafes surround customers with big furniture and natural wood walls and floors that can seem stodgy, Cozmo's Cafe lightens the mood with bright lights, lots of color and modern furniture. The cafe has plasma TVs and tubs of gelato and sorbetto to make your mouth water.

Part college/contemporary, part family fun, you can study, watch a little TV or just eat.

Cozmo's Cafe

335-8033

1929 Independence St.

Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday

Drink: Caramel macchiato

A caramel macchiato is basically espresso, milk, vanilla and caramel sauce. It's a traditional coffee house drink, but the way Cozmo's does it puts a little something extra in extraordinary. Trace Jessup said once you try it, "You'll be hooked for life."

Appetizer: Cinnamon rolls

Cozmo's cinnamon rolls come from a secret Jessup familty recipe starting with Boots Jessup, Trace Jessup's mother. "It brings back childhood memories when you taste these cinnamon rolls," Jessup said. They come plain, with sweet cream cheese topping or, his favorite, gooey caramel with fresh pecan pieces on top. "Nummy."

Entree: Chicken salad sandwich

Cozmo's cafe serves Boots Jessup's recipies with Trace's "secret spices." The "signature chicken salad" comes on a fresh croissant with a kosher pickle spear and a bag of chips. "You can't beat it," Trace said.

Dessert: Mango/strawberry sorbetto

Jessup said this treat has been aboard Air Force One and on Oprah's "O List." You can find it on the menu at Cozmo's. Sorbetto is 95 percent blended fruit and 5 percent cream. Both the sorbetto and the gelato (Italian ice cream) offered at Cozmo's are on the healthier end of the frozen treat spectrum.