After a hectic day of school and activities, I made the 10-minute drive to Burr Ridge to, believe it or not, a Starbucks. The typical busy environment that you would typically see at Starbucks during the day was transformed into a peaceful, calming setting.

Starbucks Evenings is a relatively new extension of the popular coffee store we have all grown to rely on for our caffeine fix. The two stores that offer the later hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. around here are the Starbucks in Countryside and Burr Ridge. Not only do they offer small plates of Hor d’oeuvres and, for those legally allowed, a wide selection of sparkling white and red wine as well as craft beer, but it also provides a temporary sanctuary from the stress that any day can bring.

I immediately noticed the dimmed lights, contributing to the soothing ambiance that I had never known Starbucks was capable of producing. The relatively few customers in the store were mellow, as if the peaceful background music seemed to slow down everything around me. I then went up to the counter and asked for a menu and was greeted with friendly service from the barista.

The artichoke & goat cheese flatbread ($6.95, 310 cal.) was impeccable. I was not fooled by the fact that it was merely heated up 30 seconds in the microwave, but nonetheless it was a perfect mingling of different ingredients encased with warm, crispy flatbread. The presentation was clean, and the precut bread on a pristine white plate made the food easier to handle.

The chicken sausage & mushroom flatbread, ($6.95, 310 cal.) however, yielded very different results. I suggest only venturing to this type of flatbread if you have a fierce love for spicy sausage. The ingredients together left a strong aftertaste and were not as good of a combination compared to the artichoke & goat cheese option.

If you’re looking on something to merely snack on while you do your homework or catch up with a friend in this cozy little oasis, I strongly recommend the artichoke spinach dip with pita chips ($5.95 460 cal.). Although the pita chips were slightly stale, the dip was warm and was presented nicely, and more than anything smelled absolutely scrumptious.

Finally, I topped off my food marathon with parmesan-crusted chicken skewers with honey-dijon sauce ($4.95, 340 cal.). I’m not sure how, but it seems to me that every time you poke food through a stick it tastes better. The chicken was somewhat dry but the sauce fixed the problem immediately.

Bottom Line: Starbucks Evenings was a peaceful place to do homework and nibble on tasty appetizers, so if you need a nice quiet place I suggest it in a heartbeat.