Kookoo Cafe is not an average coffee shop. It does more than beat the tired, contrived cheeriness of Starbucks and the stale, bitter coffee at Dunkie’s or halve the prices of more upscale coffeehouses on Newbury Street and those littering the North End. Kookoo creates a peaceful and relaxed Scandinavian or perhaps Alpine atmosphere that the Boston area seriously lacks. From the wood paneled walls and hardwood floors, to the friendly faces of the servers, it is hard to believe that this is not a portal to some time long past or a land far away from the bustle of Brookline Village; stepping through the doorway truly feels like a warm invitation to a relative’s home in the mountains of Europe. As great as the service is, the coffee is even better. Kookoo offers a full menu of espresso bar drinks as well as light and dark roasts and even a decaf option. Brewed in small batches and always tasting fresh, the drinks are never more bitter than a perfect cup should be, and the smell of it alone is intoxicating. A full menu of teas ranging from greens to blacks to reds and a variety of herbals rounds out the hot beverage menu. In addition, Kookoo serves cafe fare in a variety of lunch items: delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches served all day long with fresh breads and ingredients. For dessert, there is even an entire case of tasty in-house pastries for some of the lowest prices in the city. The most incredible thing about this place, though, is the patronage. Forget the snobs hoarding tables with sprawling laptops and electronics at Au Bon Pain or the peppering of Cambridge cafes, the majority of customers at Kookoo are small and charming Brookline families stopping by for a glass of milk and a brownie after school. Unbelievably this is a largely unheard of gem only frequented by the immediate locals. For a phenomenal cup of coffee or a light lunch, ride the D an extra couple of stops to Brookline Village for an amazing experience. But give yourself some extra time, you may not want to leave! Save yourself some extra time with globalYP.net, yellow pages that are online.