First Sip: Coffee on the lake in Commerce

What to expect: The coffee bar is inside Aurora Italiana restaurant, serving espresso drinks, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, pizza by the slice and more.

State of play: The restaurant opened in late 2024 in the space formerly used by It's a Matter of Taste, a longtime upscale restaurant that had served the area since 1990.

What I ordered: A 16-ounce iced coffee ($5) and a sausage-and-egg breakfast sandwich on house-made focaccia ($10).

• The coffee was flavorful and refreshing and the sandwich was phenomenal. The egg was perfectly cooked and the focaccia was easier to eat than I expected.
• There's plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy your order along the lake, truly a treat on a picturesque summer morning.

Workability: The cafe could be a candidate for lakeside remote work, but I didn't see any outlets near my outdoor table. Indoor seating is also available.

• Parking is a breeze at the restaurant's parking lot.

If you go: 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township.

• 7am-10pm Monday-Saturday, 7am-8pm Sunday.