Brou'ne in Southport is the kind of discovery you want to keep to yourself, and then immediately…read moretell everyone about. Nina and her family have created something truly special here: a Brazilian-Filipino fusion brownie experience that is as thoughtful as it is decadent. The box arrived looking like a dessert gallery with eight distinct brownies, each with its own personality. What makes Brou'ne stand out is the care behind each piece. You can taste the heritage in the flavors: the richness, the layering, the balance of sweet and salty that feels deeply intentional rather than trendy. This is not mass-produced. This is a family recipe elevated into an art form. The chocolate is next-level. Full stop. If you are looking for a gift, a celebration treat, or honestly just a reason to feel good on a Tuesday, order a box. You will not regret it. Thank you, Nina. Thank you to your whole family for sharing this with Southport. This is a gem, and this community is so lucky to have you here.

Very disappointing experience. When I walked in, I wasn't greeted at all, even though I was the…read moreonly customer there. I asked a simple question about the flavored syrups for the coffee and was met with a rude, short attitude for no reason. I ended up going to another café on Southport where the service was much more welcoming. As a POC resident, I genuinely enjoy supporting women-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses in the area, which made this experience even more disappointing. Unfortunately, the interaction made me feel very unwelcome. I'm always happy to support local businesses, but I won't spend money somewhere that gives off an unwelcoming or prejudiced vibe. After my experience, it honestly wasn't surprising that the place was empty.

An excellent stop on the way to the airport. Our pal, Dr. Robert, has redeemed himself by…read morerecommending this spot. Leonidas is a regular for the good doctor. It's a nice coffee-with-your-peeps stop or maybe a small lunch. It's quite cozy and they have a nice variety to choose from. Certainly, many as a drop in bakery and take their treasures to-go. I had a lovely strawberry Belgian waffle and a Marocchino Caldo. Good to the last drop. I noticed many people ordering crepes and croissants. There's just so much here. Robert always walks out with macarons that he snacks on throughout the day. So even the health wise has his days. I chose the Chocolate Raspberry Bombe and don't regret it! Our service was terrific. Such nice folks distributing a luscious product. Another fantastic find in metro Chicago. 02/26

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read moreRestaurant: 30/50 Month tried: May Favorite dish: Floranger Hot Chocolate (dark chocolate + orange) Absolutely yes. Worth the wait from when the old meat market closed for Leonidas to finally open. I only got hot chocolate, but I'm telling you it was the BEST hot chocolate of my life. I got a dark chocolate with orange, with fresh hand-whipped cream. Yummmm. I brought some little chocolate truffles home and their flavor selection was fantastic - think Bergamot Caramel, Strawberry Balsamic, Sesame Nougat...it was impossible to choose. Only regret is that I wasn't there for a full meal. The crepes and waffles sound incredible. Gotta make my way back soon!

Lickity Split might be the best dessert in Chicago -- and certainly the best custard. Even a simple…read morevanilla or chocolate will be the richest and creamiest you've ever tasted. Their sundaes and concretes are huge hits as well. The retro parlor decor brings an extra charm to this corner staple. With tons of old-fashioned candies, soda fountain stools, and bright colors, it will warm you up even on a winter night. In the summer, it's worth the wait in line, and there are some benches out front to enjoy treats outside. I can't wait for my next excuse to come back!

Lickity Split often makes the short list of best ice cream shops in Chicago, and after stopping by…read morerecently, I can absolutely say it's for good reason! Every time I've passed by, it's usually got a line going out the door so I wouldn't count on a visit being quick. That said, the staff worked fast and were super nice. The interior had a major nostalgia factor, with every kind of retro, old-fashioned candy you could think of filling the space! I saw treats that I haven't seen in decades. As for the frozen treats, they're beautiful in their simplicity. This place is not Jeni's, and they're not trying to be. There were only three custard flavors with seemingly every kind of traditional candy, sundae, and fruit topping available. I heard great things about the concretes in particular and opted for the OMG, which was a peanut butter lover's dream! I ordered it with a swirled vanilla and chocolate custard base, and every bite had chunks of brownie bites and butterfinger pieces. The junior was plenty big and I felt like a pretty good value. If you're in the Edgewater area and craving a sweet treat, I highly recommend paying a visit to this shop regardless of the season!

I ordered the strawberry croissant and matcha frappe. Both were excellent. Staff is attentive and…read moreefficient, and the space was pretty quiet and a great place to stop and study!

Yes, the croissants and buns are all the best, but don't sleep on their savory pastries too! The…read morestaff are really wonderful in helping you with any questions or recommending popular pastries. I came in for a toogoodtogo bag and you get a generous selection of savory and sweet pastries. Also, at that closing hour, all the pastries are half off! Favorites this time were the cheese bun hotdog, the sweet swirl pastry, and their streudels! There is a good amount of indoor seating but it's put up around closing hour, but definitely worth picking up to go! Both inside and outside seating available at this location.

My best friend and I visited Vaca's in Lincoln Square on a Saturday after lunch. As anyone familiar…read morewith the area knows, parking here will be what parking is! There are spots close to Vaca's but during peak times especially it's all luck on getting one. We parked in a garage just around the corner and walked. Vaca's is a pretty big store front/space with tables inside. It's counter service style and you order and then your order comes up and they call your name. The store/restaurant space was very clean, and cutely decorated. Staff were friendly and welcoming as we ordered. While my best friend was visiting, she saw a post on Vaca's social media about their corn soft serve leaving September 1st, and we decided we had to try it before it left. We each ordered one of the special corn soft serve in a corn cone and dipped in a (vegan) butter ... shell? dip? I'm not sure how to refer to that! This cone is giant, I need to be so clear. I was impressed with the size of the cone and they fill it all the way up with soft serve. The texture is remarkably smooth and the flavor was really perfect. If I didn't know this was a corn flavor, I'm not sure I would have known it was corn as opposed to maybe "sweet cream" or something more mild, but this was a perfect ice cream. I could eat this particular soft serve for the rest of my life and be so satisfied. The cone was really crunchy and also a more mild flavor. The corn soft serve was so delicious that I would definitely try anything else on their menu and it leaves me excited to try more seasonal offerings in the future. I'm so curious about other flavors and options on their menu, and was really impressed with the quality my order. Thank you so much, Vaca's, for a great treat with my best friend!

FINALLY got to check Vaca off my bucket list! I've been wanting to visit since I first laid eyes on…read moretheir s'mores sundae but never made the trip until now. It's much more spacious than I had assumed and the staff working was super friendly. They no longer have the s'mores sundae, so I decided to try the specialty sweet corn sundae. It's topped with a salty butter drizzle that was freaking amazing! It's served in a yummy purple cone. The balance of sweet and savory was perfect. My husband got the mint chocolate sundae which he also really enjoyed! It's vegan ice cream, so expect it to be a little less creamy and melt a little quicker. That being said, it's the best vegan ice cream I've ever had. Super good, and will definitely come back!

Overall: The best Dubai Chocolate I've tried so far! Satisfied with the prices, taste, and many…read moretreat options. - Would I return?: Yes, I will be returning. My Food ---------- * Ordered- "Dubai Chocolate with pistachio sauce on top" and box of "Turkish Delights" * Flavor & Taste- I've tried Dubai Chocolates from various places. This one has the best flavor, texture, size, and price. The largest out of them all. Please note that you can not pick this one up for a bite- you must use a fork since it has a softer texture and is not a chocolate bar. In terms of the Turkish Delights, the box only offered 2 flavors- rose and nutty. The texture was nice, on the chewy side. I was not a huge fan of the rose flavor. * Order again?- I will be coming back for the Dubai Chocolate. * Portion Size vs. Price- $10 for the Dubai Chocolate is the best price for portion by far! The portion is almost as large as my hand. I've seen some that are 1/3 of that size and cost the same. The Turkish Delights were $3.49 for x16 pieces. The Place -------------- * Atmosphere- The bakery is connected to the Dukan International Food Market grocery store, which you must enter through first. * Service- It seems to be family owned. Workers were friendly and helpful. I was offered a free sample of fruit while at the register to pay. * Crowd Levels- Thursday at 6pm was empty. * Cleanliness- Clean grocery store and bakery. * Location- On a busy street during rush hour. * Parking- You can double park on the street, or there is a small parking lot next to the store for the other vendors.

Delicious desserts, lovely service, clean, welcoming, great variety, very affordable. Love this…read moreplace!!

Tell me if this sounds familiar: you're out and about, and are craving something sweet. However,…read morealmost all places and bakeries you walk into have, at smallest, a cookie the size of one's face. I'm looking to satisfy my sweet tooth, not have a full meal in dessert form! Windy City Sweets fits the bill perfectly! They have a very wide selection of all sorts of sweet goodies! Homemade chocolates and candies, commercially made candies, ice cream, jelly beans by weight (buttered popcorn is peak, and you can't change my mind). There are likely many others, but I found what my heart was craving and went for it. Looking at their selection, there is something for everyone, even stuffed animals! (Eating these is not recommended, HA!) I suppose a candy shop has *some* appeal to the young and young at heart, so why not? I also love that they have reasonable prices, are open late-ish (until 9pm), and have friendly, welcoming service. Final verdict: To make it dead-simple: if you have a sweet tooth, and are within a couple miles of Northalsted, get yourself in here already!

I got a pre arranged 1lb box. Not particularly impressed with it. However, I also got the…read morechocolate toffee and I'd stand in line for that! Dark chocolate and so delicious; satisfying crunch; perfect texture. Staff were very helpful with gift wrapping and just downright friendly. See you there for the chocolate toffee!

Came here craving ice cream and left as a big fan of this local ice cream shop. Great flavors that…read morearen't overly sweet and some vegan options. Spacious and friendly environment with a dog friendly outdoor seating in front. The also have a bike that can be used for off site catering which my wife and I thought about hiring for our baby's first birthday. Limited street parking in front

Bartleby's Ice Cream is some of the best ice cream I've ever had. The flavors are amazing and there…read moreare so many great options to choose from. The shop itself is really cute and made the perfect place to host a birthday celebration. They were also incredibly accommodating. They allowed us to bring in our own food and provided a great space for our group to gather and celebrate. It made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. If you're looking for delicious ice cream and a fun, cozy spot for a small party or celebration, Bartleby's is a fantastic choice.