It's easy to overlook certain businesses on North Fourth Avenue.
With so many colorful fronts, a bead store can exist next to a burger joint or a vintage clothing store, so you just have to explore on your own.
Likewise, you may have initially passed by Cafe Passé, but it's really a place you should be on your way to.
Formally ITL Cafe, Passé opened in 2006 as a coffee shop but has expanded its menu and now offers some of the freshest fare around.
Located across the street from the Food Conspiracy Co-op, Cafe Passé is arty but not pretentious. It's hip but not uncomfortably so. And it's friendly but not disingenuous.
Its interior is light, with bright green walls and photos and paintings for sale from local artists. The menu is spelled out with colorful chalk on boards above the large counter.
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In the back there's a large, covered back patio with more tables and chairs, picnic tables and plants. Owner Sabine Blaese plans on expanding the patio even more by summer.
Quality music is standard, from the Beatles to rockabilly, which you can relax to as you surf the Web with Passé's free Wi-fi.
The blond-haired, blue-eyed Blaese, 38, grew up in Germany and moved to Tucson in 2003 by way of New York City, where she acted in commercials and small stage productions.
When Passé first opened, Blaese hoped to also market a line of her own all natural salad dressings, but that's been put on the back burner as demands at the cafe increased.
Blaese makes all of Passé's breads and baked goods, and buys certain vegetables, like greens, from local growers. The eatery's limited storage capacity means ingredients are never more than a day old.
Passé serves breakfast and lunch all day, and does both extremely well.
It was still that magic hour between breakfast and lunch when we ordered the Bagel DeLox and an avocado melt — both added to the menu at the suggestion of customers.
The Bagel DeLox had a gourmet feel, served on a large plate with our choice of an everything bagel, with smoked salmon, cream cheese and veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, capers) spread around, all extremely tasty and fulfilling. The avocado melt (pepperjack cheese, roasted red peppers and tomatoes on nine-grain bread) was equally delicious, with the vegetables popping freshness on each bite.
To wash it down, we ordered two selections from Passé's broad list of specialty coffees: a Nutty Irish Latte (espresso, Irish cream and hazelnut syrup) and a Grasshopper Mocha (espresso, chocolate and mint.) We also got a slice of blueberry gingerbread, to complement the caffeine. It came loaded with big blueberries, with whipped cream on the side.
• What: Cafe Passé, 415 N. Fourth Ave.
• Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• More info: 624-4411.
THE BILL
• Bagel DeLox: $6.
• Avocado Melt: $6.75.
• Blueberry gingerbread: $2.25.
• Nutty Irish Latte (double): $3.75.
• The Grasshopper Mocha (double): $3.75.
Total, before tax and tip: $22.50.
