Cafe Latakia may not have the same name recognition as some of its neighbors in Lakeview East (Caribou, Intelligentsia and Argo Tea), but it does have something those places don’t: a 2005 award for Best New Small Business given by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Beneath an unassuming awning, a small, friendly staff serves up a variety of beverages and sweet treats in a relaxed, modern environment. Ample tables and chairs offer space for the common coffee consumer, while leather couches create inviting conversation areas for meetings of a more romantic nature. Retooled coffee cups serve as quirky lighting fixtures above the bar, and a burgundy-draped area features bookcases teeming with titles to sample as you sip. The decor demonstrates the cafe’s commitment to the neighborhood, with ochre walls displaying the work of local artists.

Cafe Latakia offers comfort on the most bitingly cold days of winter by offering a wide selection of hot, gourmet teas and Illy coffee. However, the shop also provides relief during the dog days of summer by dishing out scoops of Italian ice, as well as ice cream in a myriad of flavors from Michigan-based Ashby's Sterling, a creamery that only sells its products to independently owned and operated shops. A case of baked goods, ranging from standard muffins to traditional baklava, provides even more options to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Although you'll need cash to sample the delicacies (no credit cards accepted here), you can peruse the internet to your heart's content with the free Wi-Fi, a rarity among competing coffeehouses (see, that's how you win awards).

Centerstage Reviewer: Olivia Leigh