B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Loves Chicago

Summertime Chi - The Unique Experience!

We've spotted some pretty interesting locales for this week's listing.  Not only places to eat, but nice places to just hang out and enjoy the beautiful days of Chicago summer. 

Major thanks to Anne Szkatulski, Emily DeYoe, and Cathy Yu --fellow legislative attorneys and Chicago enthusiasts-- for their cool contributions to this series.

 

Have more to add?  Let us know!

ANDERSONVILLE

Restaurants

Icosium Kafe. 5200 N. Clark.

French/African crepes, an old standby

Svea Restaurant. 5236 N Clark.

Awesome old school Swedish Diner (next door to 

an old school Swedish deli!!)

Tanoshii. 5547 N. Clark.

Sushi Mike makes you whatever you like, and whatever you don’t like – but when he makes it, you like it.

M. Henry. 5707 N. Clark.

My all time favorite restaurant in the city – lovely patio for the summer, warm and cozy in the winter – whatever you do, start with an order of the bread pudding – I don’t really like bread pudding, but this is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. (Cathy says: delicious brunch, but limited menu.)

Bars

Hopleaf. 5148 N. Clark.

Great mussels, better beer.

The Coffee Studio. 5628 N. Clark.

Fancy, judgy coffee shop – worth it

ROGERS PARK

Restaurants

                Katsu. 2654 W. Peterson.

Great sushi – can be pricey, but I think maybe the best non-Japonais sushi I’ve had.

Uru-Swati. 2629 W Devon Ave.

Favorite vegetarian Indian place – lentils are to die for!

UKRANIAN VILLAGE

Restaurants

A Tavola. 2148 W. Chicago.

Fancy schmancy but understated.  At least a three hour dinner. 

Black Dog Gelato. 859 N Damen Ave (between Rice St & Iowa St).

I’ve never been but I’ve heard good things. Nothing beats good gelato on a summer day, especially if you can bike to it.

Branch 27. 1371 W Chicago Ave (between Ada St & Noble St).

I have also never been here but any place that combines my two favorite things (libraries and mussels) should be pretty legit. Mussel Mondays = $13 for mussels, fries, and a beer.

Bars

Bar DeVille. 701 N. Damen.

Caveat: I have heard that this place has gotten a little lame lately, but I am reviewing solely on the couple of times I’ve been here.  I LOVE this bar.  It’s all swanky booths in the front, and grandma’s attic in the back – plus, sweet tunes, a photo booth, and great cocktails.

Beauty Bar. 1444 W. Chicago Ave.

Martinis and manicures.  Nothing more to say!

Old Oak Tap. 2109 W Chicago Ave.

One of my all-time faves. Great atmosphere – they have a big open front patio in the summer and a roaring fire in the fall and winter. Their menu is pretty standard American fare but a little nicer than your average place. Killer bloody marys.

Happy Village. 1059 N. Wolcott.

BYOF, sitting out back in the yard feels like you’re hanging out at your friend’s house on the patio – probably the best summer bar in the city.