Garden of Eden

The Scene
Sunny, noisy and akin to a high school cafeteria, Garden of Eden's high-ceilinged dining room is as casually friendly as its cheery waitstaff. Small, copper-topped bistro tables for two are interspersed with hulking wooden tables that often end up being shared. Displayed in a glass case, deliciously tempting pastries, cakes and tarts lend color to the room. Local fans picking up takeout make for steady foot traffic in the dining room.

The Food
Although Garden of Eden takes pride in purveying cheeses, pates and pastries, the menu offers an array of simpler pleasures. Sandwiches named after neighborhood streets, like the Union Park (chicken, Swiss cheese and Dijon vinaigrette on raisin pecan bread), are lunch favorites. Heartier dishes, like sirloin topped with blue cheese sauce, pair well with cups of homemade soup for dinner. The challenge is to save room for homemade pastries like the Mogador: luscious layers of chocolate genoise, chocolate mousse and raspberry glaze.