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The name of Just Baked is a bit of a misnomer. The fresh bread they offer is from Red Hen Bakery, and almost everything they sell isn't baked at all. They have a deli counter that offers entrées...
The name of Just Baked is a bit of a misnomer. The fresh bread they offer is from Red Hen Bakery, and almost everything they sell isn't baked at all. They have a deli counter that offers entrées like duck breast and turkey lasagna and salads and side dishes as well. They offer different things and they plan on changing it up often, according to their menu. They do offer sandwiches with names like the "frenchie"and the "asian". The cheapest one is nine dollars, but the ingredients are fresh and out of the ordinary, so of course, you have to pay for better food. There are also salads offered, such as the vegan "peruvian" quinoa and beet salad. They offer lots of other dips and cheeses. They do sell things that you cannot find just anywhere, but they aren't afraid to charge you for it.
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So Terry's Grandmother had this toffee recipe, and she passed it down to Terry, and I am so glad that he opened a shop in my neighborhood. He started with the original recipe, but has developed...
So Terry's Grandmother had this toffee recipe, and she passed it down to Terry, and I am so glad that he opened a shop in my neighborhood. He started with the original recipe, but has developed many, many more, such as an orange blossom, a peanut butter and chocolate toffee, and the Asian accent, with ginger and wasabi peas. The store front is quite small. When you walk in, you are greeted with a small table with dishes of samples of the different varieties of toffee. Once you try some, you have to buy some. They come in small 1/4 pound boxes or by the half pound. It's about seven dollars for the quarter-pound, but definitely worth it. Creamy and soft, not anything like a Skor candy bar. This is how toffee should be. And even if you have never been a big toffee person, try some, and you may find a new favorite treat.
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Swim Cafe
Category:
Food & Dining
1357 West Chicago Ave Chicago, Illinois 60622 (312) .49-2.8600
I have tried Swim café time and time again, but I just can't get a good coffee drink there. Their drink, the High Dive, is ok, but just ok. The drip coffee is the same, unremarkable, and leaves me...
I have tried Swim café time and time again, but I just can't get a good coffee drink there. Their drink, the High Dive, is ok, but just ok. The drip coffee is the same, unremarkable, and leaves me wanting something I can't put my finger on. However, the place is pretty and calming inside, with a water motif and some interesting art on the walls. The staff is nice, but I can't decide if I should the staff or the coffee. The woman who owns the place is friendly, and she makes good drinks, but the male staff has yet to make me a good coffee. But the cookies that the owner makes are really, really good. They have wifi and sandwiches. I can't recommend this place, only because another coffee shop (Mercury Cafe) two blocks away is so much better. I hope Swim can improve, but I really never go there anymore.
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Uncle Fun is truly that, so much fun. Give yourself plenty of time to look at everything as there is so much to look at. Real toys, irreverent mock-toys, and gags and books, and memorabilia, oh...
Uncle Fun is truly that, so much fun. Give yourself plenty of time to look at everything as there is so much to look at. Real toys, irreverent mock-toys, and gags and books, and memorabilia, oh my. The place always has a lot of people in it, which makes it very difficult to get around, so i wouldn't bring a stroller in due to the tight constraints of the "aisles". Actually, I probably wouldn't take kids in here, for two reasons, one being that some of the toys may be a bit "adult", and two, I wouldn't want to have to try to keep them from picking up everything in sight. The place is totally chaotic, so don't expect a method to the madness. Just go in and have fun.
Oh, yeah, and nothing is very pricey. Most trinkets are under a dollar.
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It's a shame that some of the best films in town are at Esquire. This theatre has seen better days, but if the movie you want to see is playing here, it probably isn't playing anywhere else. On a...
It's a shame that some of the best films in town are at Esquire. This theatre has seen better days, but if the movie you want to see is playing here, it probably isn't playing anywhere else. On a slow, weeknight I had to wander around for a while to find the ticket counter, which is outside and to the left of the door. True, I usually miss these kind of things, but rather than you wander around, the ticket counter is outside. The concession stand is another story. The selection is adequate, nothing great, but sometimes only the one upstairs is open. The chairs are the same, adequate. I tried to see Capote and the projector or the film broke, so the manager had to apologize to us, and offer us free tickets for next time as well as a refund. Kind of irritating, but I thought the manager handled it well. I recommend Esquire only due to their choices of films, not for the theatre itself.
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This place seems so strange upon entering, and it only gets stranger as you come face to face with huge parrots that are just chilling out in the back of the store. Liz carries all kinds of things...
This place seems so strange upon entering, and it only gets stranger as you come face to face with huge parrots that are just chilling out in the back of the store. Liz carries all kinds of things for the typical pets, dogs and cats, but she has stuff for turtles, fish, and of course, birds. Liz is moving soon, I guess the landlord sold the building. She is moving her store farther west on Chicago, about five blocks. The new place will be bigger, which is good because you get the feeling that Liz is running out of room in the current location. The place is a bit chaotic, but Liz is super nice, so just ask her for help.
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I stumbled upon Vinnie's one day, and I am so happy I did. The woman who works there has got to be the friendliest woman I have ever met, and the first time I went she made me try a bit of their...
I stumbled upon Vinnie's one day, and I am so happy I did. The woman who works there has got to be the friendliest woman I have ever met, and the first time I went she made me try a bit of their tuna salad, and ooh, is it good. So of course, I had tuna sandwiches there about a dozen times, until I went there once later in the day, and the tuna was sold out. I guess this happens a lot, because it really is so good. So I tried the turkey, and now I have a new favorite. They offer about nine different sandwiches or you can build your own. Don't forget the hot jardinière for the extra kick. If you don't want the baguette they are usually served on, you can opt for a roll with sesame. I like both, but the baguette is just a little better. There are two sizes, a nine inch or a twelve. The twelve usually costs me less than six dollars, and it is huge. A great deli, great service (they wrap the halves of the twelve inch separately for me), and ask for a sub card. Ten subs and you get one free.
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I was so happy when Mercury opened. The other coffee shop in the neighborhood (Swim Café) isn't very good, and then Mercury saved my caffeine addiction from mediocrity. The staff is extremely...
I was so happy when Mercury opened. The other coffee shop in the neighborhood (Swim Café) isn't very good, and then Mercury saved my caffeine addiction from mediocrity. The staff is extremely friendly, and those girls know what they are doing. They offer good coffee, and well-prepared coffee drinks. There are pastries and cookies, and now they offer sandwiches that are very tasty and inventive. You get to pick your meat, cheese, and then the extra stuff, like pesto. They do an open mic night, and there is artwork on the walls, as well as some vintage clothing and used books for sale. Yeah, it's a little all over the place, but when you walk in and see how big the place is, you'll understand. It is rather quiet, but not too quiet that you are shy to talk. They always play fun, quirky music (I hear a lot of blues), and did I mention how cool the staff is...oh, yeah, and free wifi. Very easy to spend a good hour or two relaxing here.
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The nice thing about Penny's is the predictability about the place. There are multiple locations which all comply to the Penny standard, so whether you are in Wicker Park or Lakeview, you can...
The nice thing about Penny's is the predictability about the place. There are multiple locations which all comply to the Penny standard, so whether you are in Wicker Park or Lakeview, you can depend on Penny's. The menu isn't extensive, but you can build a meal on the appetizers and salads or soups, or opt for a noodle dish. I really like the Pad See-ew and Hot Pepper Noddles, but the Pad Thai is always a safe and good choice at Penny's. Most dishes come with a heap of red cabbage and carrots, not sure why, but the texture and crunch help complement the soft noodles. Also, make sure that you get the Thai Iced Tea. So sweet, so yummy. Prices are fairly cheap, and the place is clean and open. They use a lot of windows in the design of the place, so it is good people watching sitting inside.
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This laundry is big, so it's always easy to find the machines you need. They offer dry cleaning and a drop off service, which is nice that you can fulfill all of your laundry needs at one location....
This laundry is big, so it's always easy to find the machines you need. They offer dry cleaning and a drop off service, which is nice that you can fulfill all of your laundry needs at one location. They are constantly cleaning the floor, which sometimes make me feel like I am in the way, but hey, cleanliness is next to something...They also have this weird coffee drink for a dollar and a half that is surprisingly not bad. I can't quite explain it, but it's not horrible and strangely kinda good, but you'd be much better off going next door to Mercury Café for something. The biggest complaint about Yo Yo is the restroom facility. You have to ask for tissue from the front desk, FYI.
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