Cuisine:

• American

The Cove Description:
Do many cities have a one-stop car wash, laundromat, bar (with kiddie playlot) and burger emporium all rolled into one? We thought not. At The Cove, the diner has the choice of eating in all of the above except, perhaps, the car wash---and it's a good thing: the actual, dedicated dining space is diminutive. And eclectic doesn't even begin to describe the menu, swinging as it does from "famous" fish tacos with poblano cream to vegetarian offerings like the falafel sandwich with dill yogurt dressing. Sophisticated salads such as the organic arugula with organic poached pears are amazingly uptown for such a lowdown location. And though we aren't bowled over by the chili, we would go back for the fried mushrooms with a combination ranch and poblano dip---that and maybe to get the car washed. Bands draw fans to the bar most nights, the beer list is prodigious, but the wine list is the real surprise, perhaps spurred by the wine tasting held every third Thursday. Not in the laundromat, we trust.