Sweet lovin' at XandO's

In a town full of college students, nothing is more appreciated than a coffee shop.

Caffeine is the stimulant of choice at Hopkins, but for many the form it comes in is just as important as the quality of it. XandO offers good beverages, excellent atmosphere, great "xandwiches" and a central location.

The coffee at XandO hasn't been anything special; in fact, one could argue that it's overpriced. Lately, however, a new barista by the name of Lisa has been improving the overall quality of coffee beverages at XandO.

Not only is her foam the best in Charles Village, but her drinks are made to a perfection that all caffeine connoisseurs would appreciate. In particular, Lisa's lattes are impressive. She manages to get just the right blend of espresso, milk and foam - unlike the ones served at Caf Q and Donna's, which have flat foam and are too bitter.

Besides the typical hot coffee beverages, XandO also serves alcoholic coffee drinks, such as the Peppermint Pattie (Creme de Menthe and hot chocolate topped with whipped cream), Chai Lullaby (Irish cream and Captain Morgan's spiced rum blended in a Chai Tea Latte), Irish Coffee (Irish whiskey mixed with coffee, sugar and topped with whipped cream) and Mocha Kiss (Irish cream, Kahlua and Grand Marnier in coffee, topped with whipped cream). XandO also serves standard alcoholic fare, such as beer, wine and cocktails. Prices for alcoholic beverages range from $3.25 to $6.95.

If food is your want, then look to XandO, which has great "xandwiches," wraps, soups and salads. The best thing there, hands down, is the Tandoori Chicken with Roasted Red Peppers Xandwich. The Tandoori-style chicken, melted cheese and roasted red peppers make for an excellent entree, but it's the focaccia bread that makes this a xandwich worthy of your tastebuds.

Above all, XandO is known for their S'mores. This dessert comes on a pupu platter with graham crackers or giant-sized Oreo cookies, Hershey chocolate bars, marshmallows, wooden skewers and a small fire. This is the best way to recapture those youthful scouting trips, during which you would sit around a campfire, torch marshmallows and burn your fingers trying to eat the gooey goodness that makes up s'mores.

Luckily, XandO offers a more cosmopolitan atmosphere and a safer alternative to campfires for your dessert consumption. If you watch enough XandO customers, however, you will inevitably see a few people make tiki torches of their marshmallows and get white goo all over their mouths. There really isn't a better way to relive your childhood than eating s'mores.

Though the s'mores are sensational, the desserts aren't that great. The butter cream in their cakes is far too heavy and the cakes are too chocolatey. Their Apple Brown Betty, though, is pretty good. But my money is on the s'mores every time.

XandO has been in Charles Village for a few years now, but it's still improving the quality of its offerings and has great service. The wait staff is attentive and more than willing to go out of their way to make your visit pleasant.

If what you want is good food and drink in a friendly atmosphere, then head on over to XandO with your friends and relive those childhood memories by getting dirty as you eat s'mores.

Or as Oliver Twist put it, "Please, sir, may I have s'more?