Chicago - Restaurants - Cafe - BlackBook Guides

3057 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago 60647
773-292 6011

Jam Restaurant

What was Ukie Village’s loss is now Logan Square’s gain. The BYO, cash-only café still serves breakfast and lunch (the same eggs benedict with pork belly and winter squash hollan... read more

1840 N. Damen Ave., Chicago 60647
773-292-6358

Melt Sandwich Shoppe

Grant Achatz’s childhood-inspired menu at Next isn’t the only option on the dining scene riffing on your favorite schoolhouse-days meals. Select from nearly two dozen gourmet grilled ch... read more

553 W. Diversey Pkwy., Chicago 60614
773-234-2320

2 Sparrows

In an ideal world, we’d get a new outstanding brunch spot every few months. In reality, they’re few and far between, making places like Lakeview’s 2 Sparrows a particularly notabl... read more

1846 N. Damen Ave., Chicago 60647
773-645-9664

Miko's Flipside Cafe

Among the many reasons we dread winter in Chicago, one of them is the closing of Miko’s Italian Ice. Fortunately this year, the basement-level walk-up isn’t going into hibernation for t... read more

60 E. Lake St., Chicago 60601
312-262-7622

The Southern Mac and Cheese Store

No need to chase down Cary Taylor’s food truck on your lunchbreak. Instead, the Southern’s chef is making it easy on Loop lunchers with this casual brick and mortar. Choose from a half-... read more

1484 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60622
773-489-8480

This California-based vegan restaurant chain has staked its territory in Chicago with three neighborhood locations (Wicker Park, Lakeview and the Loop) opening in mid-to-late 2011. Healthy options ... read more

955 W. Randolph St., Chicago 60607
312-733-0707

La Colombe Torrefaction

Chicago has no shortage of coffee shops, but the Philly-based La Colombe is a welcome addition to the West Loop, no less planted directly across the street from a Starbucks. It’s a bare bones... read more

964 W 31st St, Chicago 60608
773-523-7437

Pleasant House Bakery

Pleasant doesn’t begin to describe the tastiness of this Bridegeport bakery and café’s signature dish: savory pies. Flaky crusts of pies and pasties complement the various veggie... read more

1946 N. Leavitt St., Chicago 60647
773-489-4895

Antico

Taking over an old antique shop, this neighborhood Italian joint serves as a European style coffeehouse in the morning and churns out Northern Italian fare at night. The rustic interior is ideal fo... read more

4664 N. Manor Ave., Chicago 60625
773-267-0169

First Slice Pie Cafe

Here's what we like about this Albany Park cafe: its daily soups, baked goods like lemon bars and peanut butter pie, vegetarian sandwiches and its funky rustic atmosphere with communal seating and ... read more

1462 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60622

The Wormhole

If you take your coffee with a lump or two of 80s memorabilia, you're gonna want to grab your jean jacket and duck into Wormhole. The oddly-named cafe - a reference to time travel, not a welcome ... read more

1330 W. Morse Ave., Chicago 60626
773-381-4550

Act One Café

Sprouting out of the Mayne Stage music venue, Act One Café is headed up by Coobah owner - and former Veruca Salt drummer - Jimmy Madla. The focus is on new American-style meat and seafo... read more

3120 N. Lincoln Ave. , Chicago 60657
773-525-7005

Bakin' and Eggs

Bacon flights. What else do you need to know? How 'bout: clean, modern interior, in new cafe brought to you by bakery genuises behind Lovely. More deets on the bacon flight? Fine: jalapeno, honey, ... read more

3267 S. Halsted St., Chicago 60608
312-929-2486

Nana

Is the South side going soft? Named after their mother, Brothers Omar and Christian Solis find themselves plating unlikely organic fare like buckwheat pancakes made with banana and mulled hemp seed... read more

1147 W. Granville Ave., Chicago 60660
773-262-9855

Bananas Foster

The menu is all over the place: At dinner, choose between the chicken tikka masala, fish-and-chips, French lamb stew, an oriental chicken salad... you get the picture. And none of it is all that gr... read more

2211 W. North Ave., Chicago 60647
(773) 276-2100

Birchwood Kitchen

Grab a seat on the old church pew along the exposed-brick wall in the dining room and order up one of the best sandwiches you'll find west of the lake. Using seasonal, local and organic ingredients... read more

4757 N. Western Ave, Chicago 60625
773-769-8800

Pannenkoeken Cafe

Named for star menu item - a traditional Dutch pancake - this tiny cafe only seats 20 at a time. Not a problem: turnover’s quick, and gathered crowds – a coffee-holding, rumpled-tees-an... read more

1251 S. Prairie Ave, Chicago 60605
312-360-0101

Little Branch Cafe

Stop in for breakfast, lunch, dinner at this quaint neighborhood cafe tucked into a local condo complex. Stuffed egg burritos, paninis, mac & cheese, coffee and even cocktails. Free WiFi and co... read more