UPTOWN. This popular café serves three meals daily. Breakfast choices include the omelet du jour, breakfast burritos, and deep-dish quiches. Among the best options are double fruit-and-nut pancakes and a hashbrown platter, served with cheese and scallions. French Meadow Bakery also offers eclectic lunch and dinner menus that include everything from vegan shepherd's pie to a chicken caesar wrap.

UPTOWN. This old-style bakery serves gigantic cinnamon and caramel rolls that you can frost yourself! Take home one of their delicious pecan sticky buns, a coffee cake, a loaf of bread, or a dozen savory rolls for a warm welcome. A sunken floor, high ceilings and windows, and a counter lined with stools lend a light, airy feeling to the place.

UPTOWN. Offering heaven by the slice, this popular bakery specializes in luscious, creamy cheesecakes ­ over 180 varieties. Classic New York style is one of the best-selling varieties, but you'll have a hard time resisting flavors like pink lemonade, almond amaretto chocolate chip, key lime raspberry, Irish coffee, and many more. You can buy a few slices at the store or pre-order cakes for a wedding or party. A coffee bar and light fare (salads, sandwiches, soups, pizzas) make life that much sweeter.

SOUTHWEST. How fortunate are folks in Linden Hills to have this bit of heaven nestled in their neighborhood. For years now, Turtle Bread has spoiled this side of Minneapolis with terrific homemade breads, pastries, pies, and cakes ­ not to mention reasonable prices. Head here to sample something special, and be ready for alluring aromas to captivate your senses right off the bat. At lunch, Turtle Bread offers great soups, salads, and sandwiches, which serve as excellent preludes to a decadent cheesecake splurge.