Best French Bakery in Grant Park

"Beatrix is a neighborhood coffeehouse, restaurant, and meeting place in Chicago’s River North, Streeterville, Fulton Market, and Oak Brook neighborhoods. The restaurant is the brainchild of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ Founder Rich Melman, Executive Partner, and Divisional President Marc Jacobs and Chef Partners John Chiakulas, Rita Dever, and Susan Weaver. The menu features healthy meets delicious options and is known for its iconic coffee and bakery counter, including signature cookies and in-house pastry favorites."

"Restaurants American River North. A healthy-fare-meets-comfort-food concept informs the menus at this cheerful River North restaurant and, to be sure, many of the dessert offerings—like the chia pudding with coconut milk and pomegranate—cleave to this ethos. And then there’s the Oh My!"

"Part of renowned Chef Stephanie Izard’s Goat concept, the Little Goat Diner is a retro diner that serves all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual and cozy setting. Drawing inspiration from global influences, the menu features classic dishes with creative twists such as Spanish omelets stuffed with cheese, pickled peppers, and masa chips, okonomiyaki (Osaka street food with pork belly), and parathas burritos with Indian flatbread, sunny side up eggs, and avocado bean salad. There are also the regular favorites such as bagels, biscuits, pancakes, and waffles along with heartier dishes such as bowls of goat chili heaped with sour cream, cheddar, and tortilla strips."

"Stephanie Izard’s West Loop diner was always family friendly, but it’s become especially welcoming since Izard since had her son, Ernie. There are plenty of kid-friendly dishes, but the kids’ menu calls out favorites like pancakes and grilled cheese with harvati and American cheeses."

"Make one large or four minis from the cookie dough balls ($3 each) in chocolate chip, peanut butter or funfetti flavors. The Lettuce Entertain You beach house concept restaurant in Lincoln Park never seemed to make much sense to me as a former Southern California resident, but we can all use a virtual escape right now."

"With all the fantastic Chicago diners available in the Windy City sometimes it’s nice to change it up a bit. Lincoln Park’s Summer House Santa Monica will transport you to sunny California with its bright and breezy dining room. If you’re looking for an instant mood boost, this is it."

"In addition to their mouthwatering artisanal Hall of Fame donuts which includes but is not limited to the following flavors: Butterscotch Praline, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Maple Glazed Pineapple & Bacon, Caramel Apple Cider, Rum Cake, and Peanut Butter and Jelly — honestly just check out their website because all of them are simply divine — Firecakes whip up ice cream donut concoctions that your sweet tooth could never even dream of. Just go there, you won’t be disappointed."

"Firecakes Donuts is a Chicago staple for a reason – and it’s one of the best desserts in Chicago. We’re not kidding when we say that the cake donuts here are incredibly decadent. Realistically, they’re impressive based on sheer size alone."

"Chicago summer is here, which means it’s time to roll up your sleeves, put your hair up, and eat accordingly—we’re talking ice cream, of course, that frosty refresher that is wildly hard-earned after every Chicago winter. Luckily, our fine town is continuing to up its scoop game in big, memorable ways each year, serving up enough sundaes, fro-yo, gelato, and soft serve to keep you cool all season long. From ice-cold curls and koala-inspired cones to avocado scoops and vegan soft serve, here are this summer’s most scream-worthy ice cream shops."

"This ice cream shop and its stacks of chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with walnuts plus cherries), pistachio, and orange sherbet have been a total staple of summer in Chicago for more than 80 years now. This year, the Original Rainbow Cone is spreading some love all across Chicago with its brand spanking new van, complete with ice cream paint job, so make sure to follow the rainbow (van)!. You can find the Original Rainbow Cone at 9233 S Western Ave or Navy Pier."

"If you don’t want to bake, or fry in this case too, then decorate with DIY cookie and doughnut kits ($14) starring colorful icing and sprinkles. You may find inspiration in the bakery’s smiley face cookies and Easter lamb cakes, wearing icing medical masks. Owner Can Lao, who revived the historic bakery in the Bridgeport neighborhood back in February, recently added Chinese egg tarts, plus a few staple items like paper towels, gloves, milk and Yakult, the yogurt-like drink."

"Restaurants Bakeries Bridgeport. This iconic Polish bakery closed in October 2019 after decades of serving pączki, doughnuts, cookies and other candy-colored sweets to its fans. Thankfully, new ownership swept in and restored the spot to its former glory."

"If you’re wondering what happened to Bridgeport Bakery 1.0, it closed. But thankfully version 2.0 has the same delicious treats as the original. And while they have a lot of baked goods besides donuts, we like coming here for their long johns and bismarks."

"Restaurants Cafés Wicker Park. This sunny joint helps kick-start the day with baked goods and specialty coffees, but it’s the basic sandwiches gussied up with impeccable ingredients that get us in the afternoon. Our favorites: the BLT made with extra-thick bacon and the juicy, rosemary-and-thyme–encrusted roast beef."

"Lost Larson stepped into a void when it debuted in Andersonville, home of Chicago’s Scandinavian enclave. The beloved Swedish Bakery had just closed, and there were bound to be comparisons. Chef and owner Bobby Schaffer has shattered all expectations, keeping true to his fine dining roots at Grace and others."

"Sandwiches , Bakery/Cafe"

"Families love Maggie Daley Park's fanciful, free playgrounds in all their enchanted-forest and pirate-themed glory. There’s also a rock-climbing wall, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a winding, in-line skating track called the Skating Ribbon (used for ice-skating in winter) and tennis courts; these features have various fees. Multiple picnic tables make the park an excellent spot to relax."

"Maggie Daley Park is also located in the Loop and is home to the city’s only outdoor climbing park. You can also go ice skating during the winter months on the famous ‘skating ribbon’. The park also has spots to picnic in with the family and a tennis court to enjoy a game."

"The craving for slow-braised lamb and tandoori chicken leads to lines out the door during lunch as well as the recent opening of a second location in the West Loop. This Indian-inspired restaurant follows a Chipotle model with build-your-own naanwiches, rice bowls and salads."

"Naansense allows you to assemble your own taco or bowl using Indian-inspired ingredients such as tandoori chicken, marinated chickpeas, and spiced coconut sauce. The variations and possibilities are infinite. If you’re looking for a real treat, try the poutine."

"I was a bit skeptical of this place because I hadn't heard of egg-heavy Indian food. But the curries and other dishes are quite delicious and great ..."

"Inspired by her son’s, and subsequently her own, celiac diagnosis and lack of quality baked goods available in 2007, Ali Graeme set out to blaze gluten-free trails. After playing in her kitchen with different blends of flour and receiving encouragement from family, she opened Sweet Ali’s two years later with recipes perfected that all would enjoy, gluten-free or otherwise. Beyond the cakes, you’ll find pre-packed pasta, bread and baked goods to enjoy later."

"Launched by a husband and wife duo, Sweet Spot Macarons was the first business to bring a macaron truck to Chicago, and maybe, as claimed, the world. Each macaron has a flaky shell holding together a chewy center of flavor. Now, the pair will even take requests on where they travel to next via their email address, hello@sweetspotmacarons.com."

"Annette’s is a takeout window in Lincoln Park that does both Italian ice and ice cream. We prefer the Italian ice at Mario’s, but we like that you can also get ice cream at Annette’s. It’s a perfect neighborhood spot - the kind of place you might stroll by while walking your dog."

"This Lincoln Park staple only opens their outdoor window in the summer, so don’t miss out. While it has all your childhood favorite ice creams flavors, the Italian ice is the real star here. No bad flavors can be found here."

"Sadly, Annette’s is only open during the warm weather season, but their italian ices are the perfect refreshing summer treat. This Lincoln Park hole-in-the-wall is a delicious local secret."