A good café isn't just the perfect place to practice close-up magic on unsuspecting patrons; it's also a great spot to meet friends and share Burton Gilliam gossip. For $7, today's Groupon gets you $15 worth of deli fare, barista beverages, and more at Toast, an independent eatery and drinkery that brings the charm of European cafés to Lincoln's northwest neighborhoods.

One part coffee shop, one part deli, and one part bar, Toast offers something to satisfy almost every craving. Inaugurate the a.m. with a fresh cup of coffee or an espresso drink made with freshly roasted beans from The Mill ($1.55 for a classic single shot, $3.65 for a decadent mocha). The deli dishes out a hefty variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, and sides; the pastrami on rye is a house specialty, composed of layers of thinly sliced pastrami, sautéed onions, swiss, and stone-ground mustard ($7.95). Top off taste buds with a scoop of hard-packed UNL Dairy Store ice cream ($1.85 for a single), featuring fun flavors such as cappuccino chocolate chip and scarlet and cream (vanilla with a berry swirl).

With live entertainment and events scheduled all through the summer, Toast makes it easy to pass entire days within its black-leather embossed and wood-appointed shop. Grab a seat at the 50 year-old bar, pick up the lengthy list of fine wines, beers, martinis, and other mixed drinks, and toast with a decadent oatmeal-cookie martini ($7), made with Stoli Vanil, Frangelico, and Goldschlager. Or slurp a Wake Up! (vodka, Red Bull, and cranberry, $6.50) if you plan on hitting the dance floor or hitting the wall during an all-night marathon.