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Floriole Café Bakery
This Lincoln Park bakery is a delightful place for a quick bite or sweet pick-me-up. The bi-level space is bright and airy, with display cases exhibiting the French-style pastries and terrific sandwiches on house-made bread. The crowd includes well-heeled residents picking up a rustic fruit tart to serve at a dinner party later on and families enjoying a leisurely breakfast on the flower-bedecked sidewalk patio. If the Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies are among the day’s offerings, you’d be remiss not to order a few.
Lula Cafe
This farm-to-table institution is beloved by locals and took inspiration from Chez Panisse for its seasonally driven fare. Though the dishes are of the same caliber as Chicago heavy-hitters Avec or Sepia, the ambiance (and pricing) are of a relaxed neighborhood eatery. The menu changes constantly but has included ocean trout with brandade-stuffed peppers and short ribs with cauliflower three ways. Staples like the satisfying pasta “yiayia” (bucatini, cinnamon, feta, garlic and brown butter) and beet bruschetta remain year-round. Note that this no-reservations joint is perpetually mobbed on the weekend, but makes a peaceful venue for a weekday lunch.
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