"The communal tables at this bright, airy cafe are often packed with all sorts of Hyde Park folks: UChicagoans cramming for class, couples on a reading date, and the occasional freelancer trying to break the record for most words typed per minute. But besides the collegiate atmosphere (a university bookstore next door helps), Plein Air has tasty French-inspired bistro food and beer and wine to go or by the glass. It’s a nice change from reading Kafka on a beanbag chair surrounded by last night’s pizza boxes." - veda kilaru, adrian kane, john ringor