Good Food is tough to spot initially, with a small storefront amidst the block of miscellaneous businesses (tattoo parlor, Korean market, etc.) across from the N. Cambridge bus depot. But when you walk in, the café opens into a surprisingly large and cheery space, featuring polished floors, high ceilings, artwork on the walls, and a bright, modern design aesthetic. Great for laptop toting adults (they have free WiFi), it's also the best family-friendly café I have been to in some time, given that the open space makes it easy to negotiate strollers, the bathroom is clean, kids will love the brightly colored decor (Laurel especially digs the couch corner with it’s rainbow dot rug), and the owner, Jim, is incredibly kind (both to grownups and little people). When we were last there, he didn’t even bat an eyelash at a series of requests from the indecisive preschooler corner (yellow instead of blue plate, peanut butter instead of egg sandwich, mustard instead of balsamic vinegar, and so forth…).

Oddly enough, I've never ordered coffee or baked goods, but I’ve tried a number of Good Food’s grilled sandwiches and salads. All have been excellent (favorites include the chicken breast & avocado with pesto, tomato, and Swiss panini and the Cobb salad), and I consumed an alarming number of their fabulous pina colada smoothies this summer. They also offer daily soup specials.

Whether it’s the big space or its hidden gem status, Good Food always seems surprisingly empty when we visit. So enjoy it now, while it’s easy to get a table.

Good Food Café, 2378 Mass. Ave., Cambridge; Tel: 617-876-2450