Best Pastries in Darien

"Make one large or four minis from the cookie dough balls ($3 each) in chocolate chip, peanut butter or funfetti flavors. The Lettuce Entertain You beach house concept restaurant in Lincoln Park never seemed to make much sense to me as a former Southern California resident, but we can all use a virtual escape right now."

"A post shared by Summer House Santa Monica (@summerhousesm) on Dec 6, 2018 at 11:55am PST. It’s easy to forget the frigid temperatures when you’re inside Summer House Santa Monica, a California-inspired restaurant in Lincoln Park. Each day comes with an assortment of holiday cookies, from reindeer to mittens."

"A partnership of L.A.’s Stan’s Donuts with our homegrown Labriola Baking Company, the Chicago version may not be quite as star-struck, but wow, do they know how to donut. Now open in nine Chicagoland locations (with a 10th coming soon to Oak Brook Terrace), you can load up on their Standard (Glazed, Powdered Sugar, Plain Old Fashioned), Dough Boy’s Best (Peanut Butter Banana Pocket, Glazed Pretzel), and Specialty (Raspberry Bismark, Glazed Orange Old Fashioned, Dreamsicle Bar) donuts, as well as a small selection of “glutenless” donuts, and wash it down with Stan’s Dark Roast coffee (another happy partnership, this one with local Passion House Coffee Roasters)."

"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."

"The Best of the Batch: Glazed Old Fashioned Donuts ($2.75) or Nutella Pocket Doughnut ($3.75). Stan’s yeasty doughnuts have become a Chicago staple in the past few years. Stan’s was one of the first specialty doughnut shops to open in Chicago."

"Break the cake mold and dream beyond the traditional sheet cake with one-dimension designs. Having served as Executive Pastry Chef at downtown hotels and winning or placing in several design competitions, Chef Peter Rios’ Alliance Bakery is ready to show you that if you can think it, he can bake it. Besides his three-dimensional edible works of art, Chef shows off skills he picked up training in Paris with his European-inspired pastries and desserts."

"If you’re looking for the perfect wedding cake, consider Alliance Bakery & Cafe in Chicago. Their team will work with you to select the ideal combination of fillings, flavors, and designs to suit your specific wedding vision. In addition to (or in lieu of) a wedding cake, they offer a variety of mini desserts, French and American, to create a mouthwatering sweet table."

"Their stunning desserts are each crafted by hand using traditional techniques. You’ll find macarons, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and fine pastries that are (almost) too pretty to eat."

"The first-floor market is a bustle of activity, with Italian groceries and housewares, coffee bars, gelato bars, and food counters, while the second floor hosts a number of Italian restaurants and counters for full meals and quick bites. The versatility of offerings to enjoy freshly made Italian cuisine is perfect for either short or long attention spans!"

"Description: Nutella® and Eataly are iconic Italian brands that share a common belief in amazing food. The Nutella Bar at Eataly Chicago is unreal. Be sure to try their all-natural gelato served in a crunchy waffle cup."

"Nowhere else can you find the most authentic Italian gelato outside of Italy. Skip the Nutella bar and head straight for Eataly’s gelato this summer."

"Churros are one of those glorious desserts that never disappoints. So, if you’re looking to turn your day into a fiesta, head down to the Xurro Factory. This eatery offers one of the best desserts in Chicago, but be warned, it won’t be easy to eat!"

"Celebrate a special occasion or simply relish a perfect dinner in the chic atmosphere at Chicago’s upscale steakhouse, The Capital Grille. This place is known for its dry-aged steaks, and you won’t be disappointed by its American cuisine. Tantalizing dishes like Gorgonzola and truffle-crusted, dry aged NY strip with cabernet reduction or the all-natural herb-roasted chicken will surely impress."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. A post shared by The Capital Grille (@thecapitalgrille) on Aug 13, 2018 at 8:57am PDT. As one of Chicago’s best steakhouses, the Capital Grille is an impressive establishment."

"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."

"Now open Located just across from Millennium Park, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is dedicated to educating the public about military history. The unique museum hosts a permanent exhibition on the Medal of Honor and is currently showing a special exhibit about Allied forces during World War II."

"The Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago is dedicated to highlighting and studying military history. Founded in 2003, the museum now has more than 115,000 objects, 67,000 books, and 9,000 photos. The collection includes rare military memorabilia, glass negatives, posters, artwork, and videos."

"Museum admission is always free for anyone with an active military ID, the Chicago police and fire departments and children under 18. General free admission days for 2020 are:. April 6 – Centennial of WWI"

"ChinatownLearn how one of the country’s oldest Chinatowns developed Chinatown is a favorite stop among visitors to Chicago, and the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago is a must-see of the neighborhood. With a permanent exhibit that tells the story of Chinese immigration to the Midwest, plus rotating exhibits on things like Chinese clothing, art, and more, this museum is sure to teach visitors something new about an important culture that has been rooted in Chicago's community for more than 100 years. What to know before you go: The Chinese-American Museum of Chicago is open 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday and 9:30am to 2pm Tuesday-Friday."

"The Chinese American Museum of Chicago opened in 2005 in Chicago's Chinatown. Three years after its opening, the museum suffered a fire and lost a considerable amount of its collection. Today, the museum is a hotbed of cultural artifacts from the Chinese culture and hosts a popular Chinese New Year celebration in the city each year."

"238 W 23rd StHours: Tues-Fri, 9:30am-1:30pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pmSuggested donation: $5. Sign up here for our daily Chicago email and be the first to get all the food/drink/fun in town."

"We are monitoring all local, state and federal regulations to provide customers with contactless ordering options. While some restaurants may have dining rooms open, others are serving customers through the Drive Thru, with Mobile Order & Pay on the McDonald's App, and with McDelivery®..."

"This newer delicious hotspot comes from the same owners as Maple and Ash. Located in Wicker Park, Etta is known for its mediterranean-leaning menu with lots of tasty wood-fired options like pizza and the “bubbling shrimp.” The large second floor terrace offers the same menu and warm breezes above North Avenue."