Marissa Conrad

19th-century Viennese chef Franz Sacher would be pleased, I think, by the version of his eponymous chocolate cake served at Café Selmarie in Lincoln Square. First, the top of each slice of Sacher torte is decorated with his name, elegantly written in chocolate script. Second, the cake is a real looker: Layers of chocolate cake are mortared with raspberry preserve and chocolate buttercream; the whole thing is then frosted with more buttercream and wrapped in a smooth sheet of bittersweet chocolate — firm enough to be eaten on its own, if you like, with a fork. Third, every bite is delicious. The devil's food cake is firm and pleasant, while the raspberry offers a deep berry counterpoint to all the chocolate. $4.20. 4729 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-989-5595, <a href="http://cafeselmarie.com/" target="_blank">www.cafeselmarie.com</a>. — Bill Daley

Drink This: A pretty-in-pink mezcal cocktail at Arbella

June 12, 2018 at 3:24 a.m.

Grenadine is not a dirty word, though it can be, when we're talking about the cheap red syrup from the grocery store. That grenadine is made of corn syrup, red...

Drink This: The amaretto sour, all grown up, at Roister

June 10, 2018 at 5:57 p.m.

When I was 21 and didn't know my way around a bar, I had two drinks in my repertoire: the cosmo and the amaretto sour. Pretty bad, right? No offense...

Six wild Burgundian snails are the star of the wood-grilled escargot ($12) at Le Sud. The Roscoe Village restaurant's version of this dish is not hiding in a pool of garlic butter or served in a scalding hot dish. Presented on a skewer, the mollusks are brushed with olive oil infused with herbs de provence before they're grilled, absorbing a delicate smoky flavor that lingers in your mouth. Tender and buttery, the snails are served with a few generous pats of herb butter that melt, adding another layer of fragrance and lusciousness. A side of green salad dressed with olive oil, lemon and salt provides a bright contrast to the skewer and a hearty country bread serves as a foundation for assembling a makeshift toast point. The portion is small, so make your dining companions order their own. $12. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985, <a href="https://lesudchicago.com/">lesudchicago.com</a> — Grace Wong

Eat This: An ice-cream sandwich with churro waffles and sweet-corn gelato

May 2, 2019 at 5:39 p.m.

The first time I ate at MAD Social, shortly after the West Loop restaurant opened in February, I fell in love with the churro waffle: churro batter poured into a...

Drink This: Mezcal’s cousin, sotol, stars in a crisp cocktail at Las Flores

June 10, 2018 at 3:43 p.m.

It almost doesn't matter what drink you order at Mezcaleria Las Flores, the Logan Square bar that opened in March a few doors down from Billy Sunday. From the second...

Monteverde named one of 12 best new restaurants in America by GQ magazine

June 12, 2018 at 3:24 a.m.

If you haven't eaten at Monteverde yet, well, making a reservation probably just got a lot harder. Since opening in November, the West Loop spot from former Spiaggia chef Sarah...

Eat This: A cheeseburger to rival Au Cheval’s

May 2, 2019 at 5:38 p.m.

I know: You love the burger at Au Cheval. You love it as much as you love the Lower Wacker scenes in "Dark Knight." You love it as much as...

5 things to eat, drink, do this weekend

June 12, 2018 at 3:47 a.m.

1. Eat everything at Chocolate Fest Hamburgers with chocolate barbecue sauce, fried chocolate-pudding pies and chocolate beer are just a few of the novelties at this year's Chocolate Fest in...

Drink a mango lassi (center) or one of several variations on a Pimm's cup at Pub Royale's first birthday party.

5 things to eat, drink, do this weekend

June 10, 2018 at 9:21 p.m.

1. Party at Pub Royale Help Pub Royale celebrate one year in business with an all-day birthday bash. Festivities at the Wicker Park spot, popular for its huge sidewalk patio,...

At SteakBar, dishes from Au Cheval, Manhattans by the pitcher

June 12, 2018 at 4:49 a.m.

If you had asked me to place bets on the next move from Brendan Sodikoff — the restaurateur whose projects include a candlelit diner putting out duck heart gravy (Au...

Mario's Tacos, left, and Xoco both serve mind-blowing al pastor.

5 things to eat, drink, do this weekend

June 12, 2018 at 3:42 a.m.

1. Brunch, with better cocktails Mimosas are great, but we love a brunch that goes beyond bubbly. Streeterville restaurant and cocktail bar GreenRiver debuts theirs this weekend with a lineup...

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