Despite occasional touches of patronization - aren't these exasperating locals terribly colorful?

But there is something restful about the flow of the dance, despite slight off-kilter touches.

Despite elegant touches like fresh flowers and white napery, diners can never forget that they are in a cramped storefront.

Despite such touches, the latest looks are too stylish, and sometimes too kinky, to be purely functional.

Despite ingenious touches it is largely a series of coarse tableaus.

And despite expensive touches like fresh flowers, the restaurant is profitable, executives say, because of repeat customers and higher traffic over all.

Despite such touches, Updike has not written a pastiche.

Yet, despite touches of a sort usually encountered at luxury restaurants, nothing on the menu costs more than $10.

Despite touches of country, folk-rock or garage-rock, the music veered away from conventions.

Despite such touches, there is nothing self-conscious about this cleverly sophisticated but straightforward use of the detective genre.