Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Medinah

"This carbo-loaded attachment to Stephanie Izard's Little Goat Diner sells some seriously decadent goods, like "fat bread" (smoked duck fat, pickled mustard seed, and beer), crusty tortone made with garlic and mashed potatoes, onion rye bagels with kimchi cream cheese, and don't-knock-it-'til-you've-tried-it chocolate, peanut butter, and Cheez-It cake."

"American , Diner ,  Bakery/Cafe"

"Even in the depths of winter this Lincoln Park restaurant is full of sunshine and joy. Channeling its inner Cali, the food here is light and bright – ahi tuna and watermelon tostadas, handmade local burrata and fresh salads. The kids’ menu mirrors that with fresh berries accompanying most dishes."

"Normally this place will make you feel like you’re in California, but now they are only offering breakfast delivery options near you on the weekends. You can get drink kits to make Bloody Marys and also their silver dollar pancake party, which is basically a charcuterie board for pancakes."

"I’ll admit, the decor of this place is what initially sucked me in – but I kept going back because off their Breakfast Tostadas. I’ve tried a few other things there, but nothing beats those tostadas!. Crunchy and a little spicy and a yolk that spills everywhere?"

"In all our years of baking cookies, we can’t believe we never thought of this. Even if you have no qualms eating raw cookie dough on your own, rest assured, Sweet Mandy B’s has made the filling of this next-level sandwich safe to eat (aka eggless)."

"Pastel frosting and rainbow sprinkles may make you write this one off as kid stuff, but the bakery’s exemplary buttercream is plenty grown-up—lush and never tooth-achingly sweet. $3.25 for a four-inch version, 1208 W."

"As one of Chicago's overall go-to bakeries, Sweet Mandy B's gives us the classics we need. Their chocolate chip and confetti flavors puts comfort back into the best cookies in Chicago."

"Stan’s Donuts originated in Los Angeles, and has only showed up on the Chicago donut scene a few years ago. Regardless, they continue to open new locations and rarely run out of donuts unlike other shops in the city. The great perk about Stan’s isn’t just that you can actually sit down at any time of day and enjoy a donut and coffee, it’s also that they have endless donut options available that make choosing one nearly impossible."

"If you’re still trying to diet in this pandemic, well you should definitely avoid following Stan’s Donuts & Coffee’s Instagram, because one look at their photos will completely override any self discipline you thought you had. More importantly, Stan’s has the flavor to back it up. Featured flavors include: Biscoff Banana Pockets, Glazed Pretzels, Lemon-Pistachio Old Fashioneds, and their new Caramel Marshmallow Pockets."

"We like going to Stan’s when we want a lot of variety or a donut that sounds like it was created by an eight-year-old. For example, they have a caramel marshmallow, Cap’n crunch, and our personal favorite, the biscoff (a.k.a. cookie butter-filled) pocket. If you don’t feel like feeding your inner child, consider ordering something like their pretzel-glazed or the pistachio old fashioned."

"From their “decadent chocolate cakes” – raspberry truffle, white chocolate truffle and Belgian chocolate truffle – to the cheesecakes and pies, everything is made with all-natural ingredients and no artificial flavors or food colors. And the espresso bar is taken seriously, regularly bringing in freshly roasted beans from Caffè Umbria."

"this place makes a lot of good stuff, cookies, muffins tarts and pies. But a few years a go I had the ""bad"" idea of bringin one of their caramel…"

"Order your favorite sandwiches from the nearly 20-year-old restaurant and dine on-site at one of five heated outdoor dining bubbles set up on Giddings Plaza in Lincoln Square. Seating up to six and warmed by electric heaters, the bubbles are available for 90-minute gigs, with a prepaid deposit ($100 minimum on weeknights and $150 Friday through Sunday). $1 mylar blankets available."

"Ongoing weekend programs at the museum include workshops for kids to learn about identifying rocks and minerals or learning how to make jewelry. Collections include gemstones, fossils and an ornate castle. Online activities include virtual jewelry classes and rock identification classes."

"The duo behind this Wicker Park gallery has quite a pedigree in the Chicago art scene. John Corbett has taught at the School of Art Institute of Chicago for more than 30 years, while Jim Dempsey was the house manager and occasional programmer at the Gene Siskel Film Center for more than 20 years. They founded Corbett vs Dempsey in 2004, and the gallery’s exhibitions and events reflect the pair’s multidisciplinary backgrounds, with film and music pieces showcased alongside a variety of contemporary art."

"One of the premier private art galleries in Chicago, Corbett vs Dempsey has for many years been a pioneer in showcasing midwestern American art. Exhibitions focus on modern and contemporary Chicago paintings, sculpture and prints. The gallery is named for its founders, John Corbett and Jim Dempsey, who met at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago."

"Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery is (as the name suggests) a private gallery owned by Corbett and Dempsey. This gallery is interesting because it’s a gallery that directly reflect the interests of the owners and directors. So for example, you’ll find works of art surrounding topics such as jazz and film."

"A throwback family-owned Chinese spot of the highest order, Shanghai Inn is the type of place that is so simple, and yet so good, it makes you angry there aren’t places like this all over Chicago. Family-owned for multiple generations, it has a homey feel, and everything you could ever want from your local Chinese restaurant. Sweet and sour chicken?"

"American , Pizza"

"Motor Row Brewery is located in Chicago’s historic Motor Row neighborhood|Courtesy of Motor Row Brewery. Frank Lassandrello, the head brewer of Motor Row, learned the tricks of his trade while at college in Vermont, creating home brews with his roommate. It wasn’t until 2007 that Lassandrello partnered with his son and purchased a space in Chicago’s historic Motor Row neighborhood to start his own legitimate brewery."

"German influence meets Midwestern hospitality at Motor Row Brewing. Located in an historic landmark warehouse building, Motor Row Brewing takes you back in time to when the neighborhood was home to Chicago’s auto industry. It offers extended seasonal releases (including a series of easy-drinking Belgian-style ales, perfect for summer), plus collaborations and experimental one-offs."

"Michigan Ave. (between 24th and 23rd streets), the brewery is the highest-rated brewery in Chicago, boasting 4.5 stars out of 80 reviews on Yelp."