Good Karma

Syracuse – Delicious coffee alert!
For those who are tired of having Starbuck’s pumping through their veins, swing by Laci’s Coffee Café, near Carousel Mall. I had hazelnut coffee, café-au-lait style, and a slice of pumpkin roll swirled with cream cheese. Tasty!
The service was good, too. A chipper gal named Lauren Houck, a senior at LeMoyne College, recently bought Laci’s, which she plans to rename Karma Kafé. (That’s the name of the Hawaiian coffee served there.) Houck and her sister were both working at the café when I stopped by. I felt good to be supporting a mom-and-pop café, particularly one owned by a student.
The place is tiny: five small tables and a wee bar. Beyond great coffee, there are smoothies and inexpensive cookies, scones, muffins and other sweets baked by local Mennonites. There’s also free, wireless Internet.
Laci’s is located in the indoor shopping center on Park Street, next to the regional farmer’s market. Once you have your cup of joe, you might want to peek inside the Mediterranean food shop and deli next door. -- JM.