Charlie Trotter’s alums (and childhood friends) Gregory Ellis and Steven Fladung helm the breakfast and lunch haunt that serves classics with a twist: gourmet Pop-Tarts, heirloom bloody marys, and braised pork belly sandwiches.
2 Sparrows, 533 West Diversey Parkway, at Lehmann Court (773-234-2320 or 2sparrowschicago.com).
Rick Bayless’s street food concept combines piping-hot churros, freshly ground hot cocoa, wood-fired tortas (Mexican subs), and caldo (meal in a bowl) using Top Chef techniques and local ingredients.
Xoco, 449 North Clark Street, between Illinois and Hubbard Streets (312-334-3688 or rickbayless.com).
Thank Cleetus Friedman for bringing hyperlocal meat, cheese, and grocery items to Ravenswood. You can find it all at his sustainable deli.
City Provisions Delicatessen, 1818 West Wilson Avenue, at Ravenswood Avenue (773-293-2489 or cityprovisions.com).
Chef Tim Hockett makes grease-free, grain-fed Midwest beef patties; fresh veggies; tasty fries; toasty buns; and milk shakes so creamy that not even winter can stop you from sucking one down.
MBurger, 161 East Huron Street, between Michigan Avenue and Saint Clair Street (312-254-8500 or mburgerchicago.com).
Pick up a slew of local, artisanal goods. Take a seasonal sandwich to go. Eat the most mind-blowingly delicious cupcake in the history of the world.
Southport Grocery & Cafe, 3552 North Southport Avenue, between Addison and Eddy Streets (773-665-0100 or southportgrocery.com).
Expect locally sourced cheeses, fresh-baked breads and pastries, house-roasted meats, and delicious seasonal sandwiches. Past favorites include house-cured salmon on pumpernickel toast, and a lamb French dip on a toasted baguette.
Birchwood Kitchen, 2211 West North Avenue, between Leavitt Street and Bell Avenue (773-276-2100 or birchwoodkitchen.com).
This sustainable-living haunt serves organic, healthful fare from breakfast to dinner. Grab a juice or sandwich (short rib, roast turkey, bruschetta) for a midday pick-me-up.
Prasino, 1846 West Division Street, at Wolcott Avenue (312-878-1212 or prasino.com).
Chef Steve Smith makes condiments from scratch (garlic-herb aioli, date chutney) and offers gourmet choices such as Brunch Dog (pork loin, cob-smoked bacon, maple mayo) and Tur-Doggin (turkey and date sausage, duck confit, pickled carrots).
Franks ’n’ Dawgs, 1863 North Clybourn Avenue, at Wisconsin Street (312-281-5187 or franksndawgs.com).
Decadent pastries are preceded by meticulously concocted sandwiches (bacon, arugula, almond date spread, and goat cheese on grilled cornbread).
Floriole Cafe & Bakery, 1220 West Webster Avenue, at Magnolia Avenue (773-883-1313 or floriole.com).
Famed chef Graham Elliot cranks out gourmet sandwiches (roast beef on a pretzel roll, grilled cheese with tomato marmalade), snacks, sodas, and soft-serve at the grab-and-go joint.
Grahamwich, 615 North State Street, between Ontario and Ohio Streets (312-265-0434 or grahamwich.com).
No matter which way you stroke it, Swim is West Town’s favorite mom-and-pop coffee shop. Complement your cup of joe with homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches (not to mention a cool, blue-green ambience).
Swim Cafe, 1357 West Chicago Avenue, at Ada Street (312-492-8600 or swimcafe.com).
Named after the owner’s mother, the West Loop bakeshop sells fresh-baked, single-serving sweets (banana bread, sandwich cookies, brownies, pie) along with a small breakfast and lunch menu, including our favorite brisket sandwich on Labriola bread.
Loretta’s Bakeshop, 939 West Randolph Street, between Morgan and Sangamon Streets (312-243-3959 or lorettasbakeshopandcafe.com).
Wash down one of the 32 beers on tap with meaty delectables like breakfast sliders (Irish bangers, creamed spinach, eggs), a venison sandwich (fig jam, candied bacon, black currants), and foie gras corn dogs at Wicker Park’s higher-end pub.
Bangers & Lace, 1670 West Division Street, at Paulina Street (773-252-6499 or bangersandlacechicago.com).
All hail the triumvirate of casual dining: meat (Midwest beef burgers with 32 topping options, including lime crema and house-pickled jalapenos), potatoes (French fries), and beer (60 craft brews).
Burger Bar Chicago, 1578 North Clybourn Avenue, at Halsted Street (312-255-0055 or burgerbarchicago.com).
The all-beef ballpark classic gets an upgrade with Polish, andouille, Italian, and even beer-soaked varieties.
Hot Doug’s, 3324 North California Avenue, at West Roscoe Street (773-279-9550 or hotdougs.com).
The menu is brief, but each item (a burger topped with a fried egg, a portobello mushroom sandwich, a giant $2 bag of hand-cut fries) has been perfected — so everyone goes home happy.
Epic Burger, 517 South State Street, at Congress Parkway (312-913-1373 or epicburger.com).
There are reasons the cafe is always packed: fresh salads, yogurt parfait with house-made granola, and toasty sandwiches (black bean burger, crabcake with chipotle mayo, Mediterranean tuna melt).
Milk & Honey Cafe, 1920 West Division Street, between Damen and Wolcott Avenues (773-395-9434 or milkandhoneycafe.com).
A good way to experience chef Gregory Elliot of Lockwood’s cuisine is to drop by the restaurant’s neighbor eatery for sophisticated small plates, salads, and sandwiches at palatable prices.
Potter’s Lounge, 17 East Monroe Street, at Michigan Avenue (312-917-4933 or potterschicago.com).
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