Author Image: Leah Pickett

Leah Pickett

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Choose your drink, such as the Essential Monsters cocktail (pictured), from a deck of tarot cards at speak-easy The Drifter.

Essential Monsters at The Drifter

Inside The Drifter, a time capsule of early 20th-century Chicago awaits, with an impressive collection of circus memorabilia, a stage for evening cabaret shows and a Prohibition-era door accessed via...
The red velvet bundtlet will be your new dessert obsession from Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Red velvet bundtlet Nothing Bundt Cakes

At the first Chicago-proper location of Nothing Bundt Cakes, expect to be faced with a surprising amount of choices for a chain that sells one thing (which is, you guessed...
The Matcha Mocha, from left, Matcha Viennese and Matcha Latte from Nada Tea & Coffee House are perfectly made.

Matcha drinks at Nada Tea House

Don't let the modest storefront fool you. Nada Tea & Coffee House is a Japanese teahouse that serves some of the most expertly made tea in Chicago — including the...
The evening pie flight at Hoosier Mama Pie Co. changes from day to day. This oneconsists of, from left, vanilla cream with raspberry, chocolate chess with cream, and lemon chess with blueberry.

Evening pie flights at Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

Like peanut butter and jelly or milk and cookies, coffee and pie is a winning combination. So when local businesses Hoosier Mama Pie Co. and Dollop Coffee & Tea Co....
What's for breakfast? Blueberry quinoa pancakes from Cochon Volant.

Blueberry quinoa pancakes at Cochon Volant

At Cochon Volant Brasserie in the Loop, breakfast is a French affair. A big French affair. Order the restaurant's specialty of Big French Pancakes — you have choices, but blueberry...
The Overnight Sensation at Gather is bright but not too sweet.

Overnight Sensation at Gather

One of the best drinks at Lincoln Square's Gather is the deep-red Overnight Sensation ($10), which combines Tito's vodka, lime juice and a touch of simple syrup with muddled raspberries...
The Su Novia ("your girlfriend" in English) is a sweet and spicy cocktail hit at The Drinkingbird in Lincoln Park.

Su Novia at The Drinkingbird

Like the dipping toy that gives the bar its name, The Drinkingbird is charmingly retro, with nods to 1960s Americana kitsch in its food, drinks and decor. But tucked on...
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Raspberry gin buck at Frontier

All the drinks on the list at West Town's pioneer-inspired Frontier exude an old-world charm, especially when it comes to house staples. One such charmer is Frontier's Raspberry Gin Buck...
Sassy eggs at the Over Easy Cafe are loaded with ingredients and live up to their name, especially on a thick slice of buttery toast.

Sassy Eggs at Over Easy Cafe

Open for breakfast, lunch and brunch Tuesday through Sunday, Over Easy Cafe is an endearing eatery in Ravenswood that's home to Chicago's crown jewel of egg dishes: the signature Sassy...
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Look Out Below at Bottlefork

One drink that should not be missed at River North's Bottlefork is the Look Out Below ($14). The tall and handsome beverage harbors two rums, Wray & Nephew Overproof and...