I need to update the review, as Tutto Dolce now serves savory (dinner-type) Italian food as well as…read moreall the desserts I love, since their restaurant next door has closed. So the space here is mostly taken up with pizza boxes and a long food service table, with a narrowish aisle to order your food / desserts. They have meatballs; various pizza slices and whole pizzas (unlike the new place next door, they'll serve you slices all day); lasagna and manicotti. There are other things but I'm a vegetarian so I zone out the minute I see "sausage." Vegetarian? They default to a marinara red sauce and vegetable is one of the default slices. I didn't see eggplant parmesan on the menu, but they told me if I ask for it (advance notice would be helpful) they'll make it. Entrees are served hot. The manicotti and lasagna are delicious; the manicotti is not a big pan but a take-out container with two manicotti rolls; will feed one hungry person but wouldn't be enough for two people. Service is still friendly although the space is now a little cramped. The cake and gelato, etc. are still delicious, so I stand by everything I said about dessert in my earlier review.

Paula was a delight, she provided us with great customer service while she served us up amazing 2…read moreslices of cheese and pepperoni that were so delicious! And the crust was just perfect! The ambiance is so inviting and we'll definitely be back for more!!

I have definitely been spoiled by gelato at Eataly (and $1 Mariano's scoops)…read more The texture of the gelato here was kind of weird, but flavors were pretty good. The atmosphere seemed nice, but I found it odd that my friend and I were the only people there on a Saturday afternoon. That said, it probably wasn't the best spot to have a "tell me everything that's happened since I last saw you--leave out no detail" kind of conversation; it'd probably be better suited for a daddy/daughter date or getting some studying done. PS if you use a credit card, don't be confused when the charge shows up as a pancake house.

This place is legit. We came here one night after my sweet tooth got the best of me and I ordered a…read moresmall pistachio gelato. Husband got a coconut/pistachio combo. The guy that served us was super patient and let us sample whatever we wanted. He also commented on how awesome my t-shirt was, so bonus points for that. Prices were reasonable (I think it was $2.50 for a small). And the taste was out of this world. I usually hate pistachio anything but this was delicious. The coconut one was good too - I think I detected small bits of coconut in it, as well. All in all, an amazing place to go and we'll definitely be returning.

Got to experience Jesse's Gelato at the Barrington Farmers Market. We tried the Biscoff Cookie and…read moreEspresso gelato and both were great! Super friendly staff!

From the owner: Created by Jesse. We offer small batch artisanal gelato for your event! We have a beautiful gelato…read morecart that will be the hit of the party! Fully certified to serve DuPage county.

I think everyone who's ever been to any Melt N Dip location will tell you that they would happily…read moreengage in food tourism to visit every Melt N Dip location there is out there. Each and every location features plentiful parking, a social media worthy interior, comfortable elegant seating, and quality desserts that consistently delight everyone who has the opportunity to try them. On my visit here, I tried a different set of items from my Schaumburg visit to test the consistency of quality across different flavor profiles and dessert types, and it delivered perfectly. The mango gelato here is incredible -- with probably the strongest mango flavor I've ever had in a gelato. The Lotus was an elevated version of one of my favorite biscuits. The gelato is incredible, creamy and flavorful -- and something I'd happily serve with most any dessert. The waffle was flavorful as usual which paired perfectly with the chocolate mix. I also wanted to try My Passion to get a mix of different fruits -- as I was pleasantly surprised by how fresh the fruit was at the other location. This was equally as great, with fruit presented at the perfect ripeness. Extra kudos to the kiwi which wasn't sour at all, and in fact was one of the first items to be finished completely. The pineapple was also super juicy, sweet, and flavorful. I wish we'd gotten more eclairs, as the filling was super delicious. Maybe the weakest item in this dish was the brownie, which was only good -- while everything else we'd tried was great to amazing. Overall, worth a special trip for any dessert lover. This business consistently delivers top notch dishes at very reasonable prices.

If I could eat here every day, I would. Their menu is a dessert lovers dream and I wish I could…read morehave ordered one of everything off the menu. The crepe was so delicious. The staff was very kind, there is plenty of seating, and the food comes out fairly quickly! Definitely will be coming back to this location every chance I get.

Review Visit: May 13th, 2015…read more This ice cream is '¡muy caliente!" I knew Mexican soda was a thing but Mexican ice cream? Not in the capacity to have it's own ice cream shack. Well, queue my surprise when I learned that there was a Mexican ice cream shop in Peoria. One that has a name that leads you to think that maybe... just maybe this place is delicious. Doing what I normally do (as avid readers of this blog will know), I gathered up one of my friends who likes to travel (Matt) and we headed over the Illinois River (not the Peoria River) to get some ice cream (and add more bracketed comments to this paragraph for no reason). The location of Las Delicias is a bit of an odd one. Actually, those whole road of shops is not a greatly planned out area. You have all these shops along Main St but the parking situation leaves a lot to be desired. You usually have to hunt for a place to park and sometimes walk a small distance to your destination. I just wanted to put this in here as a warning should you want to venture down Main St. Matt and I found a place to park and headed in. Upon entering, we were greeted by a friendly cashier and shop that was small and felt homely (in a good way). This place truly felt like it was a family-owned. Matt and I browsed the handful of offerings and I was surprised by the flavors. Granted, this was over 5 years ago, so I don't remember the specifics and I failed to take a photo of what was being offered at the time. I grabbed some kind of strawberry ice cream while Matt got himself some flavor that I never heard of before. We paid for our ice cream desserts and headed out. I think there were a few chairs inside to sit but due to the small-sized of the restaurant, we opted to eat outside as we walked back to my car. I am a sucker for strawberry (and peanut butter) flavored treats. At this point in my life, I had quite a few different strawberry-flavored items but this one is the only one that instantly blew me away. Something about the quality of this dessert was unreal. It was far and above beyond anything you would find in the store unless you option for the expensive stuff. This stuff tasted homemade and had love in every scoop. I can't properly describe how much I loved this ice cream cone and how sad I was when it was gone. If you find yourself in Peoria and are on a circuit of trying out all the ice cream places, this one needs to be at the top of your list. You won't regret it. If you do go and you do regret it, lo siento. That's what life is all about though, right? Trying new things and seeing what the world has to offer.

Great variety it options, traditional and non-traditional flavors and very consistent in quality! I…read morelove going here for the yogurt cups and horchata as well!

Made a special trip down from WI to try this location, my third from all around the world. Even tho…read morethe vibe was different here, the staff did a wonderful job. I thoroughly enjoyed my gelato in the shape of a rose. Such amazing artistry. I'm happy we stopped here.

It's been awhile since my last Amorino and I even think that was in London. So excited knowing it's…read moreavailable here in Chicago right when I was in town. As per typical Amorino, you chose the cup/cone size then you pretty much could mix as much flavor as you wished but they did give reco for best experience. Nice one, you could taste first before placing your order. It's a pretty busy outlet but the servers were pretty attentive, making the process being swift. They did have few seats to chill a bit and enjoyed your gelato. We went for a large cup that's recommended for 5 flavors, for which we picked Blueberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Hazelnut, Gianduja Cream, Pistachio and Tiramisu. All were palatable but would say the first two were my top duo!

Hidden gem located on Spring Road in Elmhurst. Deserts and cakes plus cookies. The service was…read moreoutstanding with the gentleman explaining that their chocolate eclairs have two different fillings. We got a carrot cake which was very tasty! Highly recommend this bakery, we will definitely be making a second trip!

For morning coffee and pastries you can't beat Lezza. We've been coming here for years and Laura,…read moreRaegan, Tracy, and Pete the baker never disappoint. The time spent on the small details is what makes this place special, look at the design work Raegan did with the foam on top of our mocha! Try the morning glory muffin you'll be glad you did. Today we saw a gingerbread chocolate chip muffin something new Pete is trying and it was delicious. Lezza's is a local neighborhood bakery and ice cream shop that rocks give it a try!

Review Visit: August 26th, 2015…read more Located in Lacon, IL, The Coffee Hub is a fantastic little coffeehouse in a little town. Between some pretty good coffee and a delicious-looking menu written in and on a unique backing, this place is a gem. I got my usual Iced Caramel Latte and is was good. The staff was friendly. I wanted to sample more of their menu, but I was headed to Matthiessen State Park, so I had already eaten a decent meal before heading out. I would love to go back some day and try their ice cream and baked goods! :3

Had a wonderful spiced chai. Great friendly service. Lots…read moreof interesting li CA Al art for sale in variety of price points. Charming cozy vibe. Will be back. Wish I lived closer. Craving one as I write this.

Out here in deepest Suburbia, sometimes things present a vaguely Disneyesque artifice, where, if…read morethe fantasy world was more advanced, "Quotation Marks" would appear magically in the air around buildings (and, alas, people) indicating irony should be applied as a mitigating factor. This is not to imply in any way those places (or people) are therefore any less in quality or to be avoided. But I digress... I've driven past the "Paris Bistro" here, since it was established, and, unfairly thought "yeah, right". Why? Route 59 is a 1000% American Commerce Zone, rife with every franchise on the docket, and conformity is securely on the menu. And rightly so. Folks out here may have had their success, but they were raised in front of American TV, and their consumer habits developed accordingly, especially with regard to cuisine and eating habits. There are, of course, bona fide Ethnics in the general area, but those are germane to the Communities in residence. (Some FAB Chinese, Indian and Mexican places-q.v.) I am not aware of a burgeoning French settlement anywhere nearby. Around here "Cooper's Hawk" passes for "fine dining", and if you've ever fine-dined, you'll know Cooper's Hawk may parlay a decent feed, but it ain't Alinea, Bubba. In the far Western and Southwestern Chicago 'burbs, folks' Culinary tastes are as conservative as their politics. So whither "Paris Bistro"? It's a handsome suburban building with inviting signage. When you walk in, you pass a bar having an impressive array of boozes. Keep going west past the bar and you're in a room mimicking a rural setting, if a rural setting had curved leather banquettes. There's a more traditional dining room on the other side of the bar, but I didn't go in there. It was daytime, and bright, but when daylight ebbs, I'll bet both rooms are romantic. The service is reserved and accommodating-you're not going to find a wisecracking "Alice" on the staff. The menu actually is pretty accurate as a French Bistro in the USA. Lots of Français on it (in the titles), but the descriptions are all clear English. You don't have translation to fear.The menu is extensive, and features many traditional "Bistro" faves, along with select "American" choices. I was in for Brunch. Disregarding conformity, I ordered the Escargot for Hors D'oeuvre, not that I wanted to, but because I am pathologically incapable of NOT ordering Escargot if they are on the menu before me. They were yum, but I wish there was a softer bread available for sopping the buttery-garlic goodness remaining after the morsels are consumed. As "they" say, a French Chef is judged by their prowess in cooking a simple Omelette, so that's where I went. "Jambon et Gruyere" to be exact. It wasn't a large beast, but it was tasty, light, and properly prepared. No sign of the Rugby-Ball pancake-batter-enhanced behemoth omelettes you'll find in common Coffee shops. Accompanying was a (very) small salad of nice composition, with just enough fruity vinaigrette to satisfy. Also on the plate were tasty and ultra-crispy "shoestring fries". I'm not a slave to potatoes with breakfast. but these were damned good. The problem at hand (so to speak) was the transport from plate to mouth, as they were very thin and very crisp. Both fork and spoon were inefficient. I thought of using the spoon to crush them, thus rendering spoon a contender to preserve my dining decorum. In the end, I bit the bullet and just picked them up in hand, decorum be damned. I wish I had a bucket of these for movie-watching snacks at home. The coffee was a conundrum. It arrived with a strongish smell, like it was burnt and past its prime, but lacked the acrid flavor such as found in a forlorn brew. It was actually a fine, bold, cup of VERY dark roast. It's a nice, sophisticated (but not snooty) resto, dignified but not stuffy. If you need to have a business breakfast/brunch, this is a perfect place. Also, if you're not in the mood for the hustle and bustle of a noisy coffee shoppe. Prices a bit higher than you might expect, but... I quite enjoyed both the bread and circuses here, and while I never mistook myself from being anywhere else than in Naperville (not Paris), I caught the vibe, and it was nice. I am officially pissed at myself for not stopping here sooner. No "quotation marks" for this place. Throwing 4 stars (for now), and I'll be back here very soon for dinner.

I recently went to Paris Bistro for a Galentine's Day tea with my Pilates friends. We were a group…read moreof five. We were shown to a table in the room to the right of the host stand. That room is usually where they sit families. It was not our choice and we voiced our opinion to sit in the dining room. The staff immediately switched everything to the warm and inviting dining room. The food provided was tasty from the mini sandwiches to the tartines to the sweet treats. I have to say there was an inconsistency with sizing. Some were generous and some were lacking. They could've done a better job with consistency so we all got the same sizes. The tea service was very cute but you were only able to choose a couple teas. I've been to other teas at Suzette's and Pinecone Cottage where the tea is unlimited, as well as they ask if you would like another tasting of something that you really liked. I felt for the money this tea service was limited as well as not consistent. It was a great way to spend time with my Pilates friends, though. I could see myself doing this again if there were improvements made and they were more generous by offering an additional taste.

The gelato is so amazing! By far it's the best gelato I have had in Chicago. It tastes just like…read morethe gelato I had in rome. I would strongly recommend the pistachio. It's rich, creamy and delicious!

Decided to give this place a try after seeing it pop up in a few instagram posts. It is a very…read moresmall shop and located between major intersections - Chicago Ave & Ogden & Milwaukee Ave. With so much traffic, it can be hard to find parking unless you're already in the area. I ordered the pistachio gelato and it was good. Nothing great or unique. The texture was velvety so you can tell it had been slow churned. Not my favorite gelato shop, but it's still worth trying.