I would agree with the astute reviewer who spelled out the pretentious atmosphere of Hillsboro Village. Yes, The Bookman is a jumbled chaotic mess, and an additional insult to the chaos is the steep prices of generously used books. I have never been inclined to purchase the overpriced, unappetizing-looking pastries at Provence. With all this said, Hillsboro Village does possess some treasures, like the French breads and coffee, which is cheaply priced at $1.35 including tax and refillable when you dine-in, at Provence. Although I can't say that I am impressed with the Bongo Java coffees at Fido, they sure beat Starbucks, brews. The question is will you ever be able to find a free table or booth. The real gem of this community is Belcourt Theatre. Their movie selection falls somewhere between the nostalgia of AMC and the independent artist sentimentalism of IFC and Bravo.
Pros: no chain stores, belcourt theater, decent coffee
Cons: parking, pretentious patrons, Pancake Pantry line
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