Best of the Burbs: Don't miss out on these five Folsom restaurant and drink spots

Coffee Republic: Don’t be fooled by the name. Coffee Republic is not partisan about what kind of caffeinated beverage you consume. Why, we’ve seen coffee- and tea-sippers sharing the same table. Locals know this as the place to catch up over quiche, or fuel up on a light breakfast before hitting the biking trails. Our current beverage choice is the sweet double black iced coffee with cream. Divided into light and dark hemispheres, it’s a two-toned jolt of equality. To paraphrase a Seinfeld episode that used a cookie as a metaphor for racial harmony: Look to the coffee, Elaine! 6610 Folsom-Auburn Road, (916) 987-8001, www.coffeerepublicfolsom.com.

Pizzeria Classico: Beneath the fire-damaged shell of a shuttered Mexican restaurant, downstairs tenant Pizzeria Classico survived and thrived through last year’s adversity by doing what it’s always done: crafting killer pies. How good is this Folsom institution? Pizzeria Classico doesn’t make deliveries. It doesn’t have to. You come to it. 702 Sutter Street, Suite A; (916) 351-1430; http://pizzeriaclassico.com.

Pita Pita Mediterranean Grill: Our roommate won’t stop raving about this unassuming kabob joint in a shopping strip adjacent to the Palladio at Broadstone. Every Sunday, he disappears to “work out” and returns hours later with a belly full of shawerma goodness and a tahini-smudged grin. We think he’s trying to keep this place his little secret. Don’t let him. 2770 East Bidwell Street, (916) 983-1500, http://pitapitafolsom.com.

Fleur De Lis Bar & Restaurant: Brand-spanking-new with a multi-purpose patio, this is where you bring your parents for a lovely omeletet-and-mimosas brunch, then return later for a family-free happy hour. 705 Gold Lake Drive, Suite 380; (916) 358-9464; www.fdlfolsom.com.

Snooks Chocolate Factory: Better make an appointment with your optometrist before visiting this Technicolor candy shop, because your eyes might just pop out of their skull. Vats of velvety ice cream, tubs of candy snacks, handmade truffles and chocolates—it’s as close as you’ll ever get to entering Willy Wonka’s sugar-shock fortress. The original, not the weird Johnny Depp version. 731 Sutter Street, (916) 985-0620, http://snookscandies.com.