Exposed brick walls and lace curtains contribute to the warm and comforting atmosphere of this Central West End restaurant. Order salads, pasta, pizzas, or one of the heartier entrees like barbecued spice salmon or Beef Wellington. Great Sunday brunch too. Reservations are recommended.

Café Eau features a casual, relaxed atmosphere with dark woodwork and neutral tones. The eclectic American menu features such fare as Thai-basil tuna tartare with chili-lime dressing. Styled in rich Moroccan tones, Eau Bistro features a paprika-colored pressed metal ceiling and light fixtures created with parchment paper. This menu leans heavily toward seafood and may include Sushiko wood-roasted Chilean sea bass on peppery mustard greens with tamari-citrus vinaigrette. The eclectic Sunday brunch at Eau Bistro is quite popular. Reservations are recommended.

An eclectic menu and an diverse crowd characterize the charm of Duff's. The adventurous and traditional, both in terms of clientele and cuisine, coexist nicely here. An after-hours menu is available Friday and Saturday nights, and a fabulous brunch is offered on the weekend.

Enjoy coffeehouse culture at its finest while listening to rock music, playing a board game, or shooting pool in laid-back surroundings. The menu includes coffee, espresso, latte, cappuccino, chai tea and iced drinks, along with light soup, sandwiches, salad and desserts. Vegetarian, vegan and organic options are featured, and live folk music is performed on the weekends.

SOULARD. Completely relaxed, this laid-back cafe is known for its ample tiered courtyard. It's a great place for kicking back and digging in to the house specialty: the Cajun Combo ­ a crab cake with lobster sauce, blackened chicken, andouille sausage, corn fritters and jambalaya. With Cajun and Creole grub borrowed from a certain town just down the Mississippi, Norton's manages to be casual yet distinctive. During colder months, move inside to the comfy dining room warmed by a crackling fire.