Summer Blends Cafe

Let me be straight about the bad day first: I ordered a pesto chicken panini and got a flat, pesto-free sandwich that never met a press, and when I brought it back to the window the woman behind it looked at me like I'd ruined her shift. AirPods in, finger up, one minute that stretched. That's the version of Summer Blends that'll cost them.

But then there's Maneli. First time in, she walked me through the menu like she had stakes in my lunch, steered me to the buffalo chicken panini and a matcha with strawberry cold foam, and both delivered. The chicken Caesar, the buffalo wrap, mac and cheese for the kids: when the kitchen and the counter are dialed in, this place at the Crossover feeds a whole table well. It just depends who's working.