The Mattress Factory is a museum that presents "Art You Can Get Into," room-sized environments created by artists. So what better counter point to that philosophy than "Art You Can Taste," which is the tagline for its new BoxSpring Café. Opened in late February, the cafe offers a relaxed, hip place for lunch, complete with an outdoor terrace for sunny days. Whether you're visiting the museum or just in the neighborhood, this North Side spot offers a welcome respite from the usual place to have lunch .

Chef Rich Rosenthal of M Catering runs the cafe, which emphasizes local produce and seasonal fare. "It's a bit of a challenge in the wintertime, but we do want to have an emphasis on local products," he says. "We also believe it's sustainable and helps the local economy, so we wanted to be a part of that. The menu changes seasonally, but we also have weekly specials."

Mr. Rosenthal has worked at the Carlton and Café Azure, and in the Napa Valley, where he attended the Culinary Institute of America. That fresh California feeling permeates the menu, but another plus is the prices. A soup and salad combo is $3.95. A Nicoise salad can also be served as a sandwich (both are $6.95), and other offerings include a Vietnamese chicken sandwich with sesame spread ($7.95), garden wraps with hummus, sprouts, guacamole and other veggie enticements ($7.95), and a daily selection of pizzas and quesadilla ($6.95). Desserts by Vanilla Pastry Studio vary.

The BoxSpring Café is open for lunch Thursday and Friday (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) and adjoins the museum's wonderfully eclectic gift shop. The d ecor is laid-back and simple but punctuated by art including references to current exhibits and the Artist Portrait Project (the late Greer Lankton at the moment). The BoxSpring Café is open to the public, so there's no museum admission charge if you just want to dine. Take-out is also available

The BoxSpring Café is located in the Mattress Factory, 500 Sampsonia Way on the North Side. Call 412-325-7014 or visit www.mattress.org.