Coffee, the BA way

Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks. But both might perk up their business with a bit of Buenos Aires-style coffee flair.
In Baires, even the chains have table service. Failed Catholic that I am, I spent late Easter Sunday morning at The Coffee House outlet three stone-throws from Eva Peron’s grave, pretending I understood every word in Clarin, a local newspaper.
But more important, take a look at the picture. So simple, so satisfying. The café con leche came in a cup – and I don’t mean paper. With it you always get a tiny biscuit or cookie, gratis. And fizzy water. Whether to get a media luna or two (as the croissants are called here) is up to you.
And implicit in this deal, which will cost just a few pesos, is that no one will act as if you should even think about surrendering your seat until you decide to say, “Senorita, la cuenta, por favor.”
Now isn’t there some way this might translate in the good old US of A?

Posted by John P. Harrington, Globe Staff