Anyone looking for a new favorite coffee shop? MoJoe's Hot House might just be the place. While a near shot for neighboring Logan Square locals, MoJoe's sweet new spot is worth any trek. Near the California/Belmont/Elston triple threat, the area is a jumble of busy signage and three-way intersection congestion, making the calm inside MoJoe's all the more rewarding.

Once inside, you'll likely spend your first few minutes looking around (and around) before you remember that you came for coffee. The surprisingly large space feels like a 1950s kitchen with its collection of vintage coffee pots and percolators lining the metal kitchen cabinets behind the counter. Beyond the kitchen you'll find yourself in a living room doubling as a music den, complete with comfy retro couches and a piano just waiting to be played.

Beyond their love of 1950s decor, the owners of MoJoe's are also passionate about their fair city. Committed to promoting musicians, performers and artists, co-owner Michael Foster has already built a line-up that includes a late afternoon of 1940s jazz and a Sunday morning series of boogie woogie, gospel and blues, not to mention the local art he shows on those brick walls that's so essential for coffee house comfort.

As for the menu (which includes individual cereal boxes of Fruit Loops for a buck), everything is less than $4.50, a lovely yet rare concept. Serving up Intelligentsia coffee for $1.50 or a cappuccino for $3, add on a spinach & feta croissant at $3.25 or the daily quiche for $4.50. Or just stick with some standard favorites: doughnuts, muffins and bagels (plus Italian cream sodas, fruit smoothies and teas).

Centerstage Reviewer: Heather Blaha