Milktooth★ ★ ★

This diner-style cafe in the former Downtown Car Care building in Fletcher Place has a playfully gritty vibe. The early-morning counter service featuring pastries and coffee gives way to a full-service brunch menu with daytime craft cocktails like the fruity Blood Meridian, made with vodka and frothed with egg white. National magazines from Bon Appétit to Food & Wine have taken notice of this deceptively humble-looking spot and owner-chef Jonathan Brooks. Expect a wait on the weekends. Breakfast, brunch, and lunch Wed.–Mon.