As a big Top Chef fan, I have a running list of some of the restaurants owned by the "cheftestants"…read moreand judges that I want to check out, so I decided to make a reservation at Monteverde for a belated anniversary dinner while in town recently. Executive chef Bailey Sullivan was on Season 22 of Top Chef and the co-owner also competed in one of the earlier seasons. Nate and I arrived a bit before our 9 pm reservation but were seated by our scheduled time. The restaurant was super busy and very loud! We were quite close to the tables next to us, so if you're looking for a quiet, intimate dining experience, this probably isn't it. We ordered the heirloom tomato salad, sweet corn chitarra pasta, a side of wilted escarole, and the chocolate tart for dessert. We also got a complimentary mozzarella shooter as an anniversary treat, which was incredible. The food was delicious, but my favorite dish was definitely the heirloom tomato salad, with seasonally fresh tomatoes, peaches, mint pistachio pesto, and stracciatella. It was so flavorful and bright and I could eat this every day. It was a good portion to split between the two of us, but I'd probably order this just for myself if I came back and it was on the menu (it was that good). The pasta was a nice balance of savory and sweet from the fresh corn, and I loved the texture of the bronze die extruded pasta. Service was great, with waters being refilled promptly and empty plates removed quickly. I loved this meal, and would recommend to anyone who likes delicious pasta in a lively, bustling environment.

Our experience was beyond amazing ! Went with my two…read moredaughters for lunch & shared the different entrees which each one was so delicious! (We loved burrata & ham the most) chicken parm & arancini & pesto gnocchi was also outstanding ! Can not wait to go back!

A nice stop for their unique donuts! I like the classic ones dusted with sugar. A nice little…read morewindow that we ordered from. Unfortunately now closed.

This place was so so so good! These shakes were thick and creamy and dreamy!!!…read more The staff- oh these ladies were on it! Honey they are all of that and then some!!! Super heavy on the helpful and so sweet just like our treats! We ordered some treats to go... so all set and need nothing else sweet, we're going to have cavities from how tasty and sweet this place is (the staff... omg... my teeth were showing in the best ways!) Very cool spot super busy location and the hype is well worth it and love the space. Outside and inside!!

BEST HOT FUDGE!!!…read more Margie's has been open for over 100 years. The exterior neon signs are all from 1954 and a lot of the interior decor is original from when they first opened, including all the Tiffany lamps. You can either order to-go at the inside counter, or wait for a table. If you order to-go, you'll wait outside and they will call your number when it's ready. If you prefer to eat in, they will call your name while you wait outside. Typically the wait for a table isn't too long since it's just ice cream. I always have to get a sundae with their homemade original hot fudge. It's sooo good and served in your own gravy boat.

My husband and I had both wanted to try this historic ice cream parlor and candy shop. The vibes…read moreare authentically vintage, with the wooden booths with individual jukeboxes (ours didn't work). There are a wide array of sundaes to choose from; I got the Margie's famous raspberry hot fudge sundae, which was so yummy; the fudge came in a little turreen on the side and the sundae itself was served in their signature clamshell dish. My husband got a chocolate chip cookie sundae, served in a big glass bowl. There are also shakes, malts, phosphates and other treats to choose from on their menu, as well as a case of homemade candies. The place isn't big and is rather crowded so we got an "eat and get out" vibe from the staff, which made me feel rushed (and who wants to hurry through ice cream?) Overall, though, Margie's has clearly been a Chicago favorite for a long time for a reason. Check them out.

We arrived in Chicago and were ready for lunch. We stumbled upon Nonnina's and are so happy that we…read morestopped. We ordered drinks (one alcoholic, one non-alcoholic), and they were delicious. One of our party ordered the Prix fixe menu and loved his selection. The other two of us shared a sandwich and Parmesan fries. So good. Our favorite was the Brussels! We were seated outside in the sunroom and it was nice, but it was hot. Felt great walking back inside into the A/C. The service was on point and we had a lovely lunch!

Excellent pasta. Very good service. Probably the favorite meal that my wife and I had while in…read moreChicago. We were staying in River North, so we tried to find places that were short walks with the kids. This place lived up to the reviews. We will definitely go back when the girls are interested in eating pasta again. Sigh.

Literally the cutest café. This was my favorite breakfast spot while visiting Chicago…read more The second I walked in, I was obsessed. The green and white color palette immediately reminded me of Ralph's Coffee. It felt classic and polished but still charming. Everyone working there had a smile on their face, and the warmth felt so genuine and comforting, especially first thing in the morning. They had such a huge selection of pastries and cakes that it was honestly hard to choose. I ended up getting the cake shaped like a cherry because it looked so interesting. It was a black cherry cake and I paired it with a cappuccino. It was the perfect combination. The cake was beautiful and tasted just as good as it looked. We also ordered the breakfast burrito, which came with a small side salad. It was fine, but not the standout for me. If I came back, which I would, I would probably stick to the pastries and coffee and try more of their baked goods instead. Service was amazing. The ambience was adorable. I loved how all the silverware, plating, and dinnerware matched that perfect green tone. Every detail felt intentional. It was just perfect.

We had a toddler date with a friend and her son here at the cafe at the Peninsula. They had some…read morelimited-time St. Patrick's Day specials that caught my friend's eye, including the Pot of Gold, a special dessert only available for the weekend. The food was really excellent, as was the service. But it was ridiculously priced. The reuben sandwich was $28. It was a great sandwich, very lean, but you could get a sandwich as good for half the cost elsewhere. They only have a couple of kid's items, but my friend requested buttered noodles for her kid rather than the cheesy noodles. I got the hibiscus drink and lavender lemonade, both non-alcoholic, and they were very good. My little one especially liked the hibiscus. And we ordered the appetizer of whipped ricotta and honey; my daughter liked this more than anything else we ordered. We didn't have dessert at the restaurant, but ordered to go. The pot of gold was really good. There were little "gold nuggets" on it and that was my daughter's favorite part; good thing since I didn't realize it had a layer with Bailey's in it. It was very rich, and the cauldron was really thick chocolate (and actually was a struggle to get into, a bit!). The restaurant is small but it didn't feel crowded. We never felt rushed or unwelcome, and we were there for a couple hours (longer than I realized; it took an unusually long time to make two reuben sandwiches). Their pastries are really nice but somewhat expensive, like the rest of the menu. It was a nice, sophisticated experience.

Lickity Split might be the best dessert in Chicago -- and certainly the best custard. Even a simple…read morevanilla or chocolate will be the richest and creamiest you've ever tasted. Their sundaes and concretes are huge hits as well. The retro parlor decor brings an extra charm to this corner staple. With tons of old-fashioned candies, soda fountain stools, and bright colors, it will warm you up even on a winter night. In the summer, it's worth the wait in line, and there are some benches out front to enjoy treats outside. I can't wait for my next excuse to come back!

Lickity Split often makes the short list of best ice cream shops in Chicago, and after stopping by…read morerecently, I can absolutely say it's for good reason! Every time I've passed by, it's usually got a line going out the door so I wouldn't count on a visit being quick. That said, the staff worked fast and were super nice. The interior had a major nostalgia factor, with every kind of retro, old-fashioned candy you could think of filling the space! I saw treats that I haven't seen in decades. As for the frozen treats, they're beautiful in their simplicity. This place is not Jeni's, and they're not trying to be. There were only three custard flavors with seemingly every kind of traditional candy, sundae, and fruit topping available. I heard great things about the concretes in particular and opted for the OMG, which was a peanut butter lover's dream! I ordered it with a swirled vanilla and chocolate custard base, and every bite had chunks of brownie bites and butterfinger pieces. The junior was plenty big and I felt like a pretty good value. If you're in the Edgewater area and craving a sweet treat, I highly recommend paying a visit to this shop regardless of the season!

Some of the best mixers and sundae's in the Midwest. Can't eat Culver's anymore after coming here…read more The small concretes are the perfect size. Recommendations include the CFNBC concrete **sub caramel for peanut butter** and the Worms 'N Dirt sundae with chocolate custard (nostalgic and actually delicious). Love this spot!

Scooter's is a must try for a sweet treat! Creamy ice cream and rotating flavors you can find on…read moretheir website. Everything from shakes, concretes, sundaes, Italian ice, and even hot dogs! Line gets pretty long, but it moves decently fast. They have a small inside, as well as a takeout window.

I realized it's been many years since my last review. It's still my favorite go to gelato spot…read more Small, cute ambiance. It's changed a lot the past couple years. It has gotten a larger menu with drinks & sandwiches too. More of a something for everyone vibe than before. Still have their fun flavors, cashew caramel goat cheese, but more classics now too. Lots of attentive servers ready to dish out your favorites. Day old pints on sale in the freezer with gelato pie & other goodies. Outside patio & counter seating with 3 seats available.

The Black Dog Gelato is such a cute neighborhood dessert spot. When we went around 10 PM on a…read moreFriday night, luckily it wasn't too crowded, so service was friendly and quick. They didn't have a huge flavor selection, but they covered the basics (vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, hazelnut etc). I chose the pistachio and it was so good and really satisfied my sweet tooth. They did samples when I visited, so I tried the goat cheese caramel, but it was a bit too tangy for my taste. There isn't much indoor seating, but they have cute, little patio seating just outside. Parking isn't ideal if you're coming from a long ways away, but I'm guessing a lot of their customers live close by to walk to it. We may have to visit again before we leave, but high recommend!