Are you one of those many people who goes to Starbucks or St. Louis Bread Company—also known as Panera—and orders the same thing every time? “I’ll have a decaf latté with 1/8 a cup of skim milk, pure vanilla extract, a pinch of cinnamon, shaken, not stirred? Oh, and a brownie.”

Well, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Not a fan of hobgoblins? Café Ventana is the solution.

Located off of Forest Park Avenue—about an eight-minute drive from campus for those fortunate enough to have a car—Café Ventana is a coffee shop with a New Orleans flair.

It officially opened a little more than one week ago, and you can tell. When I first walked into the shop, there were a few workmen inside with ladders, and one on the roof. Not only that, but it was quite easy to notice that a good number of the staff was still in the training process. However, that will surely end within the next few weeks.

The environment of Café Ventana deserves special attention. The outside features a small patio, with no more than eight tables with a few chairs each, giving it a very intimate feel. However, with the café located on the street of a neighborhood not of the highest quality, there isn’t much to gain from sitting outside. The inside is a different matter, however. Immediately upon walking in, one feels greeted by a living room: four large, leather chairs surround a small table that is located directly in front of a stone fireplace. And these chairs are heaven. Though right outside of the shop is a bustling and loud city scene, upon sitting in one of these leather seats, everything else disappears as you sink into pure relaxation. There are also counters running along most of the walls, which several people were using as a study space, and a faux-stone bar with ample seating and space.

Another aspect that instantly caught my attention was the way that the menu was presented. Above the cashier are three flat-screen televisions: the outer two feature the menu, beverages and food, respectively, while the center displays a slide-show of food offered.

As I said earlier, Café Ventana is anything other than a usual coffee joint. Though you do still order from a counter, much like Starbucks, the menu is much more noteworthy. In addition to their 11 styles of coffee, they also offer six coffees with a kick including Irish Coffee, with whiskey, and Spanish Coffee, with rum and brandy. They also allow you to add a spirit of your choice. Café Ventana offers a wide variety of Bissinger’s Chocolates, apple cider (spiced or not), smoothies and a few cocktails.

This brings me to the alcohol selection. They do offer a decent variety and a Friday night ‘Happy Hour’ from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., but it’s nothing worth going out of your way for, aside from its authentic absinthe.

The menu, however, is something that deserves a special trip. I arrived at the beginning of their lunch hour, which serves the same menu as dinner, and I sat down with one of the café’s to-go menus. At that time, I noticed the paper menu featured no prices at all. Very helpful. After careful contemplation, I decided on the Apple Brie sandwich and their special Haut Chocolate.

The Apple Brie is described thusly: “A delectable grilled panini suitable as an entrée or a dessert: fresh walnut bread smothered with honey walnut spread and stuffed with sautéed apples and Brie.” This dish runs $9.25 and comes with a side of chips, fresh fruit or salad. The presentation of the dish was average, served much as any other sandwich and any other place would be. The walnut and Brie in the dish were very powerful, and very good, while the apple flavor was much more subtle. Though it was quite good, for something known as Apple Brie I expected a good deal more apple. The dish was very hearty, nonetheless, and certainly deserves special recognition.

Then came the Haut Chocolate, which is made from Bissinger’s Chocolate and runs $6.95. For that amount I expected a lap dance as well. The presentation of the dish was excellent: The drink looked like your average hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate flakes, but it was the handmade marshmallows that made it stand out. Served on their own plate were two square fluffs, sprinkled with chocolate and made for dipping. The drink was very rich, both in flavor and in texture, and certainly anything but average. Haut Chocolate certainly set a new level to which other hot chocolates must rise.

Café Ventana offers a little of everything for everyone: an average cup of coffee, a New Orleans style crab cake, wonderful sandwiches, soups and salads. Though this place is brand new, I foresee a bright future, and hope that they stay as unusual a treat as they currently are.