When two kinds of coffeehouses—the corporate Frappuccino makers of the world and the torn couch-owning, neighborhood-centric, make-mine-with-soy shops—dominate the landscape, it's refreshing to see a third contender enter the ring. La Sera Cafe bolsters the city's minority population of European-flavored shops, the kind that serve coffee in cups and saucers...with a dainty spoon on the side.

And because I'm all for options, I was more than happy to stumble upon this classed-up cafe, which brews Julius Meinl coffee (though it's not a Meinl shop) and serves it to you at your table, most of which have hearty black leather chairs, though a leather banquette runs along one wall. Grabbing a seat on the outdoor patio, covered by an enormous striped awning, isn't the only way to enjoy a sunny day. The cafe's windows along the front wall slide open, making it easy to have a breezy afternoon indoors.

You'll find a standard menu of loose-leaf tea, coffee and espresso options, along with a menu that drives home that lovely cafe feel. Paninis run about $7.50, and range from portabella pesto to roast beef with blue cheese and caramelized red onions. The list of salads is equally priced and long, with standouts like the Zengo's Chopped Salad, with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, sliced figs and toasted pecans.

And lest you worry that La Sera is too refined for your torn-couch tastes, it does keep things down to earth…or earthy, to be more precise. It serves fair-trade, organic coffee on Wednesday and offers raw and vegan desserts.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Schwartz