You’re looking for three things in a drive-thru experience: good food, quick service and exact change. Café Con Trey takes care of all three — there’s no better place for an on-the-run noontime egg sandwich and café con leche — but our man Carlos is the key. He’s the anti-telemarketer, full of personality and warmer than your grandma. When he asks how you’re doing, he genuinely wants to know. When he says good luck, he actually means it. And when he hands you the food, you have to hold yourself back from inviting him to hop into the passenger seat. It just wouldn’t be fair to the next person in line. 2702 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-875-8739.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2005.