As long as she can remember, Tara Katz, the co-owner of 88 Orchard along with her sister Erika, can remember her great grandparents talking about shopping on the Lower East Side. Although her family was from Brooklyn, the pull to the epicenter of the Jewish immigrant life in New York City had been strong. And so this winter she opened a cafe right across from the Lower East Side Tenement Museum's Visitor's Center.

Tara and Erika had learned how to cook from their great grandmother who ran a cafe in Brooklyn, but we suspect that the food there was not the creative outpouring of ingredients that you see on the menu at 88 Orchard. From sandwiches that incorporate sweet potatoes to big salads to delicious pastries, the offerings are always fresh and tasty. Of course, 88 Orchard also serves up coffee, lattes and the like, as well as juices and other refreshing beverages.

From food to décor, Tara and Erika operate under the philosophy that businesses need to be connected to their community. And 88 Orchard is an airy respite for neighborhood denizens as well as visitors from all over the globe serving food and drink in an environmentally friendly manner.

Visit the Museum, take a tour and enjoy the consistently high quality coffee creations at 88 Orchard. Remember, they also perform acts of 'Latte Art', sculpting images into the foam on top of your coffee. Oy vey, what would great-grandma think?