Best Gelato in La Grange Park

"Bar Siena's walk-up dessert window, BomboBar, offers a riff on doughnuts - the "bomboloni" - an Italian hole-less doughnut Top Chef alum Fabio Viviani serves at his restaurants, Siena Tavern and Bar Siena. It's the specialty of the house at BomboBar and works wonderfully in the West Loop for dessert or post-party hunger pangs. Order one, four, six or a dozen and any of six rotating custard flavors that you inject into the doughnut."

"The wildly over-the-top ice cream confections at BomboBar are Chicago’s answer to Black Tap’s milkshakes. These colorful creations are topped with all manner of sprinkles, mini bomboloni, and candy, and the dozen or so flavors of gelato on rotation are all made fresh from scratch daily. Flavors like birthday cake, banana split, and cookie monster dough are especially kid-friendly."

"As you walk inside, you’ll be greeted by a host, but you’ll order on your own at one of their tablets up front. Your food will be brought to you at whatever table you choose. BomboBar serves sandwiches, pizza and beer on tap."

"Navy Pier, Beverly, Lombard, & Darien Five flavors in one—that’s really all you need. A Chicago institution since 1926, the Original Rainbow Cone is known for serving a thick stack of chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (AKA vanilla with walnuts and cherries), and pistachio ice creams plus orange sherbet atop a sturdy cake cone. While you can get your paws on the prized classic at the spot’s Navy Pier stand, it’s worth making your way to the OG South Side location to marvel, if briefly, in its timeless charm while waiting for your order."

"Must Try: Original Rainbow Cone This iconic store can be found in Millennium Park. If you often find yourself not be able to decide which flavor to get, this may be the ice cream shop for you. Their famous Rainbow Cone stacks Chocolate, Strawberry, Palmer House (New York Vanilla with cherries and walnuts), Pistachio, and tops it all off with Orange Sherbert."

"BucktownFounded in 1921, the original Margie’s Candies comes with tales of visitors like the Beatles and Al Capone (we also named it one of the best ice cream shops in America.) This Bucktown staple has maintained the old-fashioned decor and vibes, as well as a knack for serving handmade confectionery candy, chocolate, and fudge. On the ice cream side, you can go for classic scoops or make room for any of the shop’s famous banana splits. Bring a group for “the world’s largest terrapin,” a gargantuan indulgence featuring 15 scoops of French vanilla ice cream topped with a deluge of hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, nuts, and banana before being crowned with a cookie.How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating."

"Sit in the same chair where gangster Al Capone enjoyed homemade ice cream and toppings. Marshmallow is the best addition to any one of Margie’s 13 ice cream flavors. #SpoonTip: Try to avoid going on weekends where wait times can be over an hour."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Marc Heiden - Use... used under CC BY-SA 3.0. Anyone and everyone would love to have a scoop of ice cream when they walk past Margie’s Candies shop."

"Regardless of what certain chains might say, Jeni Britton Bauer is the real "dairy queen." The woman who ignited an ice cream renaissance in Columbus, Ohio with her namesake ice cream shop has become synonymous with seasonal and innovative ice creams. With several locations in Ohio, she brought her charming wares to Chicago via a sleek scoop shop on Southport. What sets Jeni apart is her unique approach to flavor combinations and textures."

"Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Jeni’s now has six locations in Chicagoland including the newest on Randolph Street in the West Loop. This spring, Jeni’s launched a new dairy-free line made with coconut cream that’s as luscious and full-bodied as traditional ice cream. Flavors include cold brew with coconut cream and roasted peanut butter and strawberry jam."

"These ice cream flavors will blast you into a different world. Jeni’s is founded on the concept of creating a quality, delicious ice cream that keeps people coming back together for that nostalgic feeling. Ice cream should be the main attraction, not an after-thought."

"Restaurants Ice cream parlors Logan Square. The Freeze is a vintage time warp, and while there aren’t nearly as many locations of the fast food restaurant (formerly known as Tastee Freez) as once dotted Chicago (there were dozens), you can still find one in Logan Square. Waffle and sugar cones are filled with a high peak of soft serve and dipped in throwback flavors like butterscotch, cotton candy and peanut butter."

"Logan SquareSoft serve piled high and burgers served hot top the bill at this retro Logan Square drive-in. Formerly known as Tastee Freez and dating to 1950, The Freeze is a go-to spot that often draws long lines of customers encircling it during the warmer months. If you like your ice cream served velvety smooth and topped with a heaping dose of nostalgia, it’s hard to beat any order here."

"Originally a 22-seat stand, this hot dog and chili spot launched in 1924 has expanded significantly and now operates several locations around Chicagoland. The signature dish can be served with or without beans and elbow macaroni at the customer’s discretion. The business changed hands in 1974 and owner Joseph Yesutis brought Gertie’s Ice Cream into the fold."

"Carnivals can be fun and terrifying, and they tend to involve both lines and funnel cake. The same could be said of the funnel cake sundae at Sugar Shack in Bridgeport, which is exactly what it sounds like, i.e. an ice cream sundae piled on top of some funnel cake that you’re going to have to wait in line for. It’s delicious, and although you may briefly wonder what it will do to your body, you also won’t care."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. This family operated ice cream parlor in Melbourne boasts of family-friendly service and delicious and fresh ice creams. The shop takes pride in serving the best selection of soft serve and hand-scooped ice creams with as many as 30 distinct mix-ins and toppings."

"If you’re craving classic funnel cakes, make your way to Bridgeport ASAP. The 26th Street Sugar Shack doesn’t offer your ordinary carnival dessert. No, it comes in a sundae, and you can add whatever toppings you want."

"Their shaved ice macaron sandwiches are what dreams are made of. Don’t let summer end before you get to try one of these."

"Machine: Engineered Dining and Drink has Dirk Flannigan in the kitchen fashioning a Modern American menu of smoked mushrooms with crispy with chicken skins, Parmesan, chestnut crumbs and puffed wild rice; pillowy gnocchi with duck confit; lavender chicken; Scottish salmon; and pan-roasted Branzino. Cocktails are something to look at as well as ingest. Shareable sips include a fountain of six house-made wine shots."

"Wicker Park's new "engineered dining and drinking" spot is taking advantage of its spacious sidewalk real estate with a 105-seat patio. The restaurant's in-house florist will also expand its operations with a flower cart. Diners can purchase bouquets for their loved ones as the cart passes by."

"I can’t believe it’s seitan,” is what you might be saying after a bowl of chili, piled-high Reuben or taco salad that are all completely vegan. Cashew cheese, faux bacon and organic tempeh are used to make every item meat- and dairy-free."

"Grab a bite for takeout or delivery at the delicious plant-based spot. Choose from wings, burgers or other classic American fare on the Guest Favorites menu. Native Foods is open from 10:30 a.m."

"Chicago’s Lakefront Trail I promised we’d do a lot of walking today, so next, head back towards Lake Michigan and enjoy the lakefront trail, a nearly 20-mile stretch of paved walkway that meanders down the city’s coastline. The views are spectacular and it’s a great way to see the city’s skyline from a distance. If you’d prefer to bike the trail (highly recommended!), check out the city’s bike-sharing system, Divvy, where you can grab a bike for a 24-hour rental period from one of the city’s many stations"

"The Wooden Pavilion at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s South Pond is a fantastic way to frame Chicago’s skyline around the John Hancock Center. Additionally the structure itself is fun to photograph and a fun spot for portraits. South Pond on Google Maps"

"Restaurants Pan-Asian Wicker Park. This delivery-only ghost kitchen operating out of Urbanbelly in Wicker Park dishes out thick, square-cut Detroit-style pies from chef Bill Kim. Choose from toppings like pork and pineapple or beef and kimchi—or spring for a marinara-dipped parm sandwich."

"Bill Kim (the acclaimed chef behind Urbanbelly) has spent the pandemic steadily expanding operations at Chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop, his new delivery-only restaurant. He’s now offering a selection of Detroit-style pizzas and chicken parmesan in entree and sandwich form from outposts in Wicker Park and suburban Oak Brook. Order online via DoorDash."

"Chef Bill Kim, best known for his Asian fusion ventures like urbanbelly and bellyQ, is exploring a new regional cuisine. The chef's new Pizza & Parm Shop—operating out of the urbanbelly space in Wicker Park–is serving up Detroit-style pies beginning February 3. The takeout-only restaurant will also have chicken and cauliflower parmesan on the menu."