these doughnuts are still amazing and a consistent stop every time we are in chicago…read more i am not a fan of jelly/jam in doughnuts but the way that beacon doughnuts does it has changed my opinion. the blueberry pancake doughnut is your traditional doughnut shape with a hole but they somehow filled it with jam still. magic i think. the doughnuts are decadent, delicious, to die for. the chocolate glazed brioche is a new favorite of mine. it's an airy yeast doughnut which i prefer over cake doughnuts. the chocolate frosting is rich and the sweetness of the glaze balances out the chocolate.

Beacon is in a class all by itself. Each donut is artistically and thoughtfully made and there are…read morecommunity favorites but they do have specialty donuts that appear for the season or a short period of time.. They operate out of an alley but don't be afraid, this is Lincoln Park and it's clean and families are frequent customers. No drug deals going on here!! As everyone else has suggested, order these online and pick them up at your desired time. By doing this, you get exactly what you want as they do sell out and when they're out, that's it for the day. :) Enjoy these in the car, whilst you're parked or weaving in and out of I-94 traffic, or better yet !!- at home, with a home made latte.. My favorites were, in no particular order: 1 guava cheese danish 2 vanilla bean cronut 3 blueberry pancake 4 apple fritter 5 chocolate ganache 6 Boston cream I guess I put them in order.. FYI, personally, I would pass on the banana bread and chocolate donut. I hope to be back as soon as possible as Beacon differentiates itself from the Big Boys (DoRite, Stan's, and Firecakes), as well as the family owned/neighborhood donut shops.

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.

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! ;)

From the moment you walk in, it's clear that Athenian Room holds a beloved place in the Lincoln…read morePark community! It's a mom-and-pops shop through and through- you'll see homely decor, a simple but well done menu, and people from all walks of life coming together over delicious food. The staff was warm and attentive throughout the meal and brought out delicious complimentary french bread. It's pretty cool that although the restaurant doesn't serve alcohol, staff from the adjacent bar came around every so often and took orders. For appetizers, we started with the feta and olive appetizers. They were good, but I'd probably order something a little more unique next time. I opted for the chicken kalamata dinner for the main event, which came with more french bread and a salad. The salad came out first, and it was pretty simple with minimal dressing. I wished there had been more variety in produce and something besides iceberg lettuce for greens. I'd recommend getting some feta on the side to add some flavor. The chicken, however, was absolutely outstanding. It was super tender, seasoned beautifully with za'atar, and brined in vinegar (I think). The za'atar seasoned french fries underneath were extra crispy and perfectly soaked up the extra sauce from the chicken. For the price, this place is a steal- you really can't beat the quantity and quality of food that you get. Overall, a great experience- I definitely recommend making a stop if you're in the area!

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.

Such a fun place to hang out with friends. Service was good even though they were busy. They have…read morereally good quality pizzas and they have such a fun environment.

Having a great Homeslice experience is all about managing expectations. If you're looking for the…read morebest pizza/apps/drinks ever, this is not the place you'll find them. The Michelin inspectors do not have Homeslice on their list, and you know something, that's okay. What the slice does do spectacularly well is their vibes. It's very much a laid back, beachy, sunny, summery, tropical, pineapple in almost all drinks sort of deal. Even the mojito was made with a splash of pineapple, because 'why not'? If Spongebob can make his home out of one, then I can have it in a cocktail without complaining. That said, unless you order straight whiskey or draught beer, the drinks are going to run on the sweeter side. In terms of the food, I was able to try the Nadene personal pizza, Burrata, and the Jalapeno homies. Everything across the board was fresh and rock solid. The Nadene pizza had wonderful heat, savoriness, and herbiness as well as a little sweetness from the hot honey (note to self= ask for extra next time). Jalapeno homies were perfect for those who like some heat in their lives, with cream cheese and veggies to take the edge off. The burrata was a great appetizer, but is better for groups, that one doesn't fill up on bread. While a little tomato would have been nice, I come back to this not being a fancy Italian restaurant. Something that really sets Homeslice apart is the service. Everyone from the host stand to the bar servers is very welcoming, friendly, and chill. Food comes out reasonably fast, too. Finally, when it comes to value, at Homeslice it is pretty average: not a steal, but by no means a ripoff, either. Final verdict: There are some places that are better experienced with a group of homies, and Homeslice is one such place. While the food is designed more for groups, the vibe will invite you in all the same, and whisk you away to some tropical place, a welcome escape, especially during a brutal Chicago winter.

I crave this at least once a week on my way home from the gym. Can't go wrong with the burger (I…read moremiss the jalapeño one), the Korean chicken sandwich, the spicy el wrap, and for the love of god, don't forget the TOTS! I also recommend the cookies by the register and the protein shakes. Service is always friendly and the vibes are cutesy.

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.

Screaming crying throwing up. This place is AMAZING…read more I've heard great things before trying out DeNucci's so I already had high hopes, and they still delivered. From the ambiance to the service to the food, eveything was a 10/10. We had the chicken piccata, vodka pasta, and bruschetta. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and quality. The portions were great - not small at all and not huge. With these 3 dishes split amongst 2 people, we were full after dinner. I recommend this place for birthdays too - they had Happy Birthday printed on the menu with the birthday boy's name. We also got mini glasses of wine and a birthday scoop of delicious pistachio ice cream with a candle at the end. So sweet!!! Our server was attentive and kind as well. Highlyyyyyy recommend this place!

This place is awesome! The vibes are amazing and the decor is so cute. And the service is awesome…read more The ceasar salad and tagliatelle bolognese was awesome! The Chicago tavern style thin crust pizza got mixed reviews from my group but I think that's just personal preference.

One of the best sandwiches I've ever had!!! The CK1 was a delicious ribeye sandwich with the most…read moreamazing bread and au jus. I would never order anything else. But I tasted the Bombay and my daughter's Niff Jen sandwiches and I loved them too. This small location located in the beautiful Washington Hall,downtown Chicago,is walk up, quick and friendly. I will definitely go to this fabulous sandwich shop again and again.

For how pricey this sandwich was, I was a little disappointed. It was very dry and needed more…read moresauce on it. It was lacking flavor overall and think they should have tossed the arugula in some lemon juice and olive oil to enhance the sandwich. When I asked for some garlic mayo on the side, they said they would bring it out, but never did. Two of the people I was with asked for a side of their mustard and they charged one of them for it but not the other which was weird. I did like the bread it came on and how it was pressed like a panini. I also loved all the chip and drink options. The inside is cute and small with a few large picnic style tables. They also have a few outdoor seats for when it's nice out!

As you push through the blue door, this small space opens up to a sheik eatery, white plates with…read moreblue flowers adorning the tables... framed by pale blue felt back chairs. Staff are inviting and knowledgeable. Everything was so good! The kale salad was perfect with the perfect amount of dressing, you could taste every item in it. Have to come back for the other salads. Perfect hot toddy and exceptional carrot cake. Will def be back.

Amazing! One of the best meals I've had! Everything was…read morephenomenal. We shared a few appetizers: beet tartare with plantain chips, sweet potato empanadas with chimichurri, crab cakes, and cheese curds with ranch. All awesome! The cheese curds are extremely addictive. You've been warned. The soup of the day was potato leek and I enjoyed my cup. I loved my Brussels and Kale salad!! Best salad I've had in a long time. Every bite was bursting with flavor. It was well balanced and perfect. My boyfriend really liked his salmon entree and my friend enjoyed his Cobb Salad. Fantastic cocktails too. Very smooth espresso martini and the Lavender Rita had a nice kick to it. Excellent and attentive service. Beautiful restaurant. Lovely and romantic with the dim lighting. Nice place to go for a date or special occasion. There is an upstairs too. Very spacious venue. I'm so happy my friend suggested this place. It was a very memorable meal and I highly recommend coming here.

We visited Summer House for brunch on one of those rare, summery April days that feels almost too…read moregood to be true. The sunlight streaming through the roof set a beautiful tone, and the ambiance inside was warm and inviting. Exactly what a leisurely brunch calls for. We kicked things off with espresso martinis and mimosas, followed by cornbread and chips with guacamole. A solid start that had us settled in and happy. For mains, I opted for the spicy kale salad and the short rib hash. Both dishes were spot on: well-executed and full of flavor. The service matched the energy of the meal: prompt without feeling rushed. All in all, a brunch experience well worth repeating.

This place is all looks and zero substance. The interior is stunning, I'll give them that -- but…read morethe food? Easily some of the blandest, most disappointing dishes I've ever paid for. I ordered the tacos, my date had the pasta, and we both sat there wondering how something could taste like absolutely nothing while still being priced like it's gourmet. Even the cookie -- which should be the easiest win on the menu -- was dry, flavorless, and honestly embarrassing. If you're coming here to take cute pictures, fine. But if you're actually hungry, stay far away. The food will leave you annoyed, confused, and still starving. Service was whatever -- not bad, not good, just forgettable. And as someone who isn't white, I definitely felt out of place. The stares from other guests were noticeable and uncomfortable, like I didn't belong there. Between the bland food and the weird energy, this was a one‑and‑done experience for me.

It's Summer Time Chi season in Lincoln Park. Extensive patio at Gemini is super inviting. Jacob our…read moreserver was exceptional in his engagement & making reco's on drinks and food. Even though half my party was late, I never felt rushed. The FKG mocktail was sweet and flavorful. The Spritzer was a good alcoholic next drink. Truffle Parm fries were a table fav. Burrata was smaller than I expected for $18. Enjoyed my beet salad with salmon. Will def be back and highly recommend!

I've eaten at Gemini over the years and have been able to sample a lot of what's on offer. I've had…read moremost of the specials but will usually get either the swordfish or the steak frites. Those are typically very good which is why I come back. The burger though. Why is it such a consistent disappointment? It's small, has the pancetta (a nice rubbery disc of salt) and just seems like kind of an afterthought to the otherwise well-considered menu. I've been eating it on occasion for 10+ years here always with the hope that it has improved. I would love to see a do-over on the burger. It would be great to have a place in the neighborhood that consistently delivered. As it stands, it's a distant second to RJ Grunt's, Small Cheval and not even in the same realm as Armitage Alehouse's burger. Really hoping I get to come back and revise this review to rave about how much better it got. The staff is always very nice and attentive as well. From host stand to bartenders, waitstaff and everyone clearing and setting, always a very nice group that seems like they take pride in their work, which is much appreciated.