sleeper menu item at a lot of cafes, often beats any of the pastries on offer

ribeye over filet for flavor, check the special if it's a hanger or skirt cut

add chicken or salmon to make it a meal, anchovies are the make-or-break

griddled crispy edges and juicy middle — ask for medium-rare, fries non-negotiable

good crema means good beans, not over-extracted, two shots is usually plenty