I've been seeing Beacon Doughnuts all over Instagram and finally decided to try it. It's tucked…read moreright in the middle of an alley, which makes it feel even more hidden, but don't let that fool you. This was one of the softest donuts I've had. The lady at the front was super nice and gave me some recommendations, and we ended up getting the Chocolate Glazed Brioche. And wow... this donut was huge. Super soft on the inside, almost pillowy, and covered in a thick layer of chocolate glaze. First bite, you get that rich chocolate flavor right away, smooth and sweet without tasting fake or overly sugary. The brioche itself had that buttery flavor to it, light but still filling. The texture was probably the best part. Soft center, slight chew from the brioche, and the glaze added just enough thickness on top to make every bite feel rich. Honestly, it was almost too much for one person, but in the best way possible. Definitely lived up to the hype for me.

I mean, it's the cutest!…read more "Hidden" in an alley in Lincoln Park. I love a good cake donut and this place is perfect. Lots of flavors/specialty donuts but not overwhelming like some other places. Will definitely come again!

BLUF: Dine-in prices and take-out only! Gluten Free…read more Food (1/5): The lemon poppyseed donut was their only redeeming item. The spicy chicken sandwich $21 was extremely soggy and chewy, and their "spicy" part is just hot sauce. It had no flavor. It was such a disappointment. And the "side salad" wow. ok. drowned in vinaigrette. The Wheat's End Skillet $22 was mid. Not spicy, bread wasn't good, and their veggies were mush. Service (1/5): There was a guy and a girl working and the girl was on coffee duty, while the guy was just taking orders and talking about lotion and soft hands. It was so weird. Ambiance (2/5): At least there's like 3 seats to sit on while you wait for your food. Other than that, it's just an "order, wait 25 mins, and take your soggy food home" place. They are a gluten free place too. Everything is put into Styrofoam take-out boxes. The prices are dine-in prices for soggy, flavorless food. I understand gluten free ingredients are expensive, but $22 for a skillet where 3 (eggs, bacon, and veggies) out of the 4 items (eggs, bacon, veggies, and bread) are already naturally gluten free is disappointing. I felt ripped off. @meni - Thanks for the comment! Cute business name! ;)

My gluten free heaven! This has been a mainstay since they had their original location with a…read moredine-in option. They are now located near Clark and Diversey (in Lakeview still) and carry-out only. There is street parking and is located by plenty of restaurants, bars, and other shops. When waiting for your order, there are some window seats to hang out in. Interior is very clean and organized. Staff super super nice and helpful. I got a latte and the smashed avocado toast with a poached egg. It came with a side salad. It was all VERY good. The toast was perfection - can't believe it was gluten-free. I highly recommend any of their items - you won't be disappointed.

food: the gyro and everything else was good and tasted authentic. portion size is also good…read more service: nice staff and food came fast. cash only establishment ambiance: sat outside and the weather was perfect

Sadly I found this place right before I move…read more This place is cash only so make sure to come prepared - I do think there's an atm at the bar next door if you do forget. We tried the skirt steak and chicken. The steak is OUTSTANDING. I'm not sure what secret spice blend they use in the kitchen but it's delicious. We always make sure to order a side of pita and Tzatziki to make our own gyros. The chicken is also a great choice, but the steak remains #1. The service here is always quick. We've never had to wait for a table, but if we did the bar connected next door is a great place to hang out in the meantime.

I've come here so many times, so I cannot emphasize enough that everyone should come here!!…read more I ONLY come during happy hour. Not that it's unpleasant outside of that time, but why miss out on a great opportunity to get fairly priced drinks and food? The service is always great, the staff are so kind, and both the inside and outside seating are comfortable and welcoming. I love the inside specifically, for the cabin setting is so warm and inviting. I usually get the Seattle Hard Cider and the Hummus Platter for the table. The hummus and vegetables are refreshing, tasty, and well portioned. For $8, it is such a great deal!! Please please PLEASE make the trip. No further comment! (Side note, any pictures featured are either from my most recent trip this past week or from previous occasions!)

Perfect outdoor picnic tables Great drinks…read more Get a bunch of pizzas to share with friends

First time here. Very pleased with the vegan menu that had lots of delicious meat substitutes!…read moreLow-key indoor and outdoor seating in a lively neighborhood. Helpful server explained the menu options. Where else can you get a $5 veggie burger? Nowhere. Loved the tangy Korean chik'n burger. Fast service. Casual spot. Would come again. Thank you for the inspired vegetarian food!

After a week of juicing and water only, I was more than ready for my first solid meal. I came…read moreacross Elephant + Vine, a vegan comfort/fast food spot at 2315 N. Lincoln Ave., and between the menu and the name (yes, the elephant caught my attention), I knew I had to check it out. There's plenty of street parking in the area, I went on a Sunday, so meters were free. The interior is bright, green, and inviting, with lots of seating and great natural light coming in from the front windows. There's also outdoor seating, but it was a bit too cold the day we went, so we stayed inside. Service is counter-style, and the staff was very knowledgeable about the menu. It's fairly simple, but still fun and satisfying. I ordered an Impossible burger, tater tots, and a strawberry almond milk smoothie. My friend got fries, so I was able to try both. After over 40 days without fried food, I was especially excited for the tots and they did not disappoint. Overall, the food was good and solid across the board. Nothing that completely blew me away, but definitely satisfying. If you're vegan or vegetarian and craving a classic burger experience, this is a great option. The smoothie was good as well, though I personally prefer fruit-forward smoothies with lighter juices, so the almond milk base wasn't quite my favorite, but it still complemented the meal nicely. Overall, if you're looking for a casual sit-down spot with a cute atmosphere and a solid Impossible burger at a reasonable price, Elephant + Vine is a great choice. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

very cute & charming ballyhoo restaurant! came in for an…read moreearly dinner & was out quickly. great menu for sharing & dining family style. our server olivia was very sweet and patient. beautiful space, very old school chicago / italian feeling. fun music as well!

* Takeout * Their…read morefood travels well and tastes delicious! - garlic knots ($8) were garlic-cheesy and buttery - mozzarella sticks ($14) were huge! Had a nice crunch plus covered in more cheese! These we're better when popped in the oven - both the Tagliatelle bolognese ($26) and Tonnarelli with Sun Gold Pomodoro ($24) were plentiful and the fresh pasta was cooked perfectly Honestly everything on their menu looks appetizing and makes me hungry! Next time I'm in town, must try in person!

My only regret about visiting this spot is that it took me so long to finally make the trip over! I…read morelove a bougie sandwich, and this easily made it to the top of my favorite spots. I stopped by on a Saturday around lunchtime and it wasn't too busy. There were some long benches and some regular tables, making for either a cute dine in spot or solid carryout option. My dining partner and I split the Bombay chulet- while a bit on the pricey side, it was definitely enough for two people and evened out. One bite into the sandwich, she said that this was the best one she'd ever had. It was hearty but no one ingredient overpowered another. The meat was very fresh and I absolutely loved the spicy fig chutney that gave the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The cheese was so creamy that it sort of melted in with the aioli, which was also very balanced well proportionally. However, the fried crunchy onion bits really took it over the top for an explosion of both taste and texture. We left very satisfied and already planning when we would make a return visit. I can't recommend this spot enough and will definitely be back soon!

Came here to try the sandwiches and they did not disappoint!…read more Ordered the Bombay and ck1 - both sandwiches were really good. The ingredients were matched well and I found myself interested the more I ate. I can imagine this place gets busy and although I was able to walk in and order, there was a healthy stream of customers coming in right after me mid afternoon. Food 5/5 - I'd come back to try more, there's even a water station! Ambiance 5/5 - cute shop and has indoor and outdoor seating Service 4/5 - our cashier seemed bored and bothered by taking my order. Maybe I caught her at the wrong time but it does make me think twice about coming back to this specific location.

Came in for brunch. It was BUSY so definitely get a reservation if you can. Service was good. The…read moretables are pretty close together since it is a pretty small place. I got the chilaquiles with over-medium eggs. It is a red sauce chilaquiles and it was DELICIOUS. Would absolutely come back for this and to try other items on the menu.

Pick 2 lunch deal is amazing Super cute interior…read moreWant to come back for dinner Kale salad was one of the best I have ever had

The Summer House Santa Monica was a last-minute find for my group and me, and luckily, we were able…read moreto snag a last-minute reservation! From start to finish, even though we were in a bit of a hurry, everything was amazing. I went with the Prickly Pear drink, which was not only delicious but also such a fun photo moment. I love me a gorgeous drink! The Parmesan Truffle Fries were some of the best truffle fries I've had -- the perfect amount of flavor without being overpowering. I'm usually a little skeptical when it comes to ordering seafood, even local fish at restaurants, but I decided to go with the Crispy Baja Fish Tacos... and oh my goodness, they were SO good! Perfectly flaky, flavorful, and served piping hot. They were fantastic -- and the fact that I was still feeling great hours later was an absolute win for me! Our server, I believe her name was Stori, was wonderful. She knew from the beginning that we were in a bit of a rush and somehow made the evening feel relaxed and enjoyable while handling a busy restaurant with so much grace. So happy we decided to check this spot out while visiting Chicago! Beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, wonderful service... and COOKIES near the entrance?! Insane.

1 Star -- Great atmosphere, disappointing food and service…read more Summer House has clearly figured out how to create a beautiful, energetic Chicago brunch scene. Unfortunately, the food and service don't come close to matching the hype, and this was one of the more disappointing breakfasts I've had in the city. I ordered the three-egg breakfast with an English muffin, sausage and hash browns. I specifically requested the hash browns well done. What arrived were cold, rubbery, obviously pre-made hash browns that were among the worst I've ever been served. When I asked about making a substitution on one of the breakfast burritos, I was told it wasn't possible because the burritos are pre-made. That's a pretty significant red flag for a restaurant charging these prices and presenting itself as a quality brunch destination. The sausage was nothing special, although the English muffin--advertised as homemade--was perfectly fine. The bigger issue is that the meal felt assembled rather than cooked to order. Service wasn't much better. Drink service was slow enough that our server came around asking about refills literally as we were paying the check. To her credit, she did offer iced teas to go, which was a nice recovery. They also accommodated us when we arrived about 25 minutes early, and I appreciated that. I have also worked as a "secret shopper" for Lettuce Entertain You, so I know their service protocols. One of the things I was specifically trained to watch for was the proper checkback. The expectation isn't for a server to ask, "How's everything tasting?" The assumption is that the kitchen has already done its job and that the food is being served correctly. The appropriate checkback is essentially, "Can I bring you anything else?" This did not happen. That distinction matters. Asking "How's everything tasting?" immediately suggests that the server is checking on the quality of the food rather than following the service protocol. During my time as a "secret shopper," that would have been a clear indication that the server needed additional training. And in this case, considering the cold, rubbery hash browns and the pre-made nature of some of the food, perhaps the quality of the kitchen deserves some attention too. The bottom line: Summer House has a great atmosphere, but atmosphere isn't food. It feels like a place where the crowd is more interested in the room and the experience than whether the breakfast on the plate is actually good. You can get a substantially better breakfast at countless Chicago diners for less money, without the hype. Beautiful room. Busy scene. They did accommodate us early. But the food was poor, the drink service was disappointing, and the value simply isn't there.

Back Again - Gemini Pt 2, but this time for brunch!…read more I enjoyed my first dinner experience here so much last week that we had to come right back to try their weekend brunch. From the start, the hostesses were inviting and lovely. The restaurant is very pretty, warmly blending a modern style with a touch of classic French bistro elegance. I'm mostly so impressed with how versatile the restaurant actually can be, shifting seamlessly from an elegant, upscale dinner setting with its beautiful U-shaped marble bar to a bright, whimsical, and enchantingly airy brunch setting. The fully opened bifold windows are adjacent to the pergola-topped patio, letting a glorious, cascading breeze drift through the space to create a wonderful indoor-outdoor flow and a lively weekend energy. Once again, we thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered: Super Green Vegetable Salad: The kale, broccoli, avocado, asparagus, and peas were crisp and fresh. We loved this so much during our first dinner visit last week that we had to order it again for brunch! Spectacular! Nova Lox Platter: The wild salmon topped with diced red onion, capers, and hard-boiled egg crumble, served with an everything bagel and a side of chive cream cheese, was excellent. French Onion Frittata: The rich gruyère and caramelized onions were wonderful. If you're a French onion soup lover like me, this is a can't-miss!! Definitely will be reordered and often. Fantastic! Daily Omelette: Ordered from the special menu, featuring black truffle salsa, mascarpone, and Calabrian chile honey. It was absolutely phenomenal, perfectly cooked, and the flavor combination was incredible. Our server, Sarah, was excellent and made the experience even better - we even share the same name! The management team was also incredibly warm and attentive, stopping by our table to welcome us back. Returning twice in one week says it all. This restaurant has made it into my regular rotation and is hands down one of my new favorites!

Over all this place was okay, and when I say okay it was mediocre…read more How ever I would like to point out that the staff and I repeat the staff was very friendly not to mention very welcoming. I came here with three others and we all ordered different things from the brunch menu along with a few drinks. The atmosphere here is open, modern, and pretty eye catching, we all heard a few negative comments about brunch here and rather than just taking words of advice we came anyways. To be honest we should've went elsewhere, the only thing about the food that actually seemed to have any flavor was the fries and even they were a little salty like my wallet when we left LOL The Jumbo (not so much) Lump Crab Benedict at $25 was honestly boring lacking any flavor also it didn't even come with potatoes I ended up sharing my Lincoln Park Turkey Club that was good but even it was pretty basic at $21, the Burger at $21 literally looked like something off the kids menu the bun was bigger than the patty LOL and the Blackened Chicken Caesar at $19 was more like an appetizer size and the chicken at least it was juicy not dry. Other reviews about brunch here seem to be about the same and honestly I think it's funny they don't even try to elevate their food when so many say about the same things. I think the only reason why people come to this place is 1. It's located in Lincoln Park and 2. that makes it a trendy spot to eat. So why bother fixing anything when it's just trendy and flavorless Their brunch is mediocre but apparently dinner is where it's at. However after the experience with brunch I'm not even sure I would even go back. Come here for the staff eat at your own expense maybe your food will have flavor or not but honestly do what you want and keep it trendy