2nd Street Cafe

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This venue is closed.

Walls papered in a blizzard of children's drawings—trimmed from the white paper that tops the square tables—sets a lighthearted mood at 2nd Street Café. But some decorations can be deceiving: the tempting list of French sandwiches painted on a mirror is merely ornamental. Here, American comfort dishes are the thing—creamy, crusty mac and cheese, chicken pot pie, or burgers that are reliable despite occasionally mushy fries. The free-wheeling menu also hops from Thai satay to fish tacos with cilantro-almond relish, overextending itself a bit. Families often fill the crayon-stocked tables, but for smaller parties, the windowed coffee bar is ideal for sipping an espresso and digging into one of the glass-case confections, baked by renowned locals Cheryl Kleineman and Two Little Red Hens. On weekends, diners queue up early for the inexpensive brunch, which runs until 4pm. — Helen Zelon

Macaroni and cheese, $9.95; red velvet cake, $4.95