Mara's Cafe & Bakery (CLOSED)

Baking enthusiast Mara Magley launches a Downtown Brooklyn offshoot of her New Jersey bakery-café minichain. The mom-and-pop shop (husband Glenn oversees the house-brewed coffee operation) doles out butter croissants, ham-and-egg sandwiches and avocado-studded "fiesta" omelets in the a.m. Lunch and dinner options include broccoli-cheddar quiche, chicken potpies, Parmesan-flecked pizzette and a grilled eggplant wrap, available for takeout or enjoyed at a dark-wood two-top. In the bakery case, find flavored cheesecakes (caramel-apple streusel, almond-brownie, Snickers), ten-inch pies (pecan, cranberry, chocolate chip cookie), and truffles spiked with Baileys and amaretto.