Billing itself as "the pleasure place for coffee," Cafeneo sets itself apart in coffee-soaked Lincoln Square with a Euro-cool interior, crepe-packed menu and downright espresso drinks.

One taste of the frothy peaks of foam perched atop most drinks is (almost) enough for us to forgive the snobbish sizes: micro, meso and mega. The illy espresso is smooth and the milk perfectly steamed; for an added smidge of charm, drinks are topped with a stenciled star of cocoa powder.

For food Cafeneo tries its best to steer you in the direction of the savory buckwheat or sweet plain crepes, and with good reason. The cheesecake crepe—a slice of fresh cheesecake wrapped in a crepe shell and garnished with strawberries—would probably make the French raise an eyebrow, but it's tasty enough to warrant the culinary trespass. And every bite of the nutella crepe, served with strawberries or bananas, is a blissed-out chocolate-hazelnut dream.

Panini, croissants and delectable quiche fill the rest of the menu, with tasty, ambitious soups like butternut squash and apple, spinach and feta, and spiced pumpkin bisque well worth consideration.

Free wi-fi and wide tables make this cafe ideal for long laptop sessions. There's also a modest collection of board games to distract you from work as needed. The interior is a bit colder than other indie coffee shops (think cool marble, dark wood and exposed brick), but the quirky, quality offerings, short wait for tables and TLC-touched drinks make it a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Rockwood