Lena's Cafe and Confections, New Haven

The large wheeled coffee cart at Lena's Cafe and Confections never actually goes anywhere, but it does make for a rustic centerpiece in the dining room, where visitors gather for homemade breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Each weekend, a lineup of brunch specials rotates, featuring items such as pecan-pie-stuffed french toast one week and a seafood omelet stuffed with lobster, crab, shrimp, and fresh veggies another. On weekdays, lunch does bring some specialty salads and veggie wraps, but for the most part, it's no less hearty—corned-beef reubens, meatball panini sliders, and half-pound burgers ensure an equal-opportunity work environment for takeout boxes.