Located right across the street from the Logan Square Blue Line stop, Passion House (which has been around for about a year) is small, yet open (and features a patio setting when the weather cooperates).
The baristas certainly know what they’re doing, as they serve espressos and espresso beverages, specialty drinks (e.g., matcha, wildflower spice latte and bittersweet mocha), cold- and batch-brew items and (thankfully, for me, since I don’t drink coffee) tea.
However, Passion House also has tasty items to satisfy hunger pains. Savory bites include vegetable and meat quiches, buttered croissant and a salmon-and-cream cheese scone. Items on the sweet side include the apricot rose scone (a must-have) as well as the pear-anise crumb case (with just a hint of the licorice-tasting anise), pistachio brioche, banana walnut financier and—my fave—the chocolate-chip toffee cookie.
Also, for Windy City Times readers, there’s another incentive to go there: Passion House has teamed with LGBT-rights organization Equality Illinois to produce a 12-ounce bag of single-origin Papua New Guinea Sigiri Estate beans, with 50 percent of proceeds benefiting the organization. (Bags are available in the cafe and online for $15 each.)
And if those items don’t make Passion House enough of an enticement, there’s a DJ on Saturdays at 10 a.m.-1 p.m. I don’t know if the DJ takes requests, but there’s only one way to know…
Francesca’s Bryn Mawr
In Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, Francesca’s Bryn Mawr (1039 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.; www.miafrancesca.com/locations/profile/francescas-bryn-mawr-edgewater) has been a staple for years, living up to the Francesca’s chain’s reputation of doling out tasty Italian fare.
Francesca’s is a bit more, um, lived-in than some of the other of the chain’s spots, giving it a vintage feel. It also gives the spot a more accessible vibe.
Now, Francesca’s Bryn Mawr is offering a new lunch menu with more options, including lunch combos with soup, salad and half-portions. Items are not groundbreaking, but are well-done. You really can’t go wrong with the calamari fritti or the bruschette alla Romana (garlic toast with tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella).
Pizza selections include the Napoletana (with arugula, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, provolone and shaved parmesan) and the quattro stagioni (prosciutto, artichoke, mushroom, olive and egg). However, my dining companion and I opted for the farmer sandwich (an enticing olio of grilled chicken, maple-glazed pepper bacon, provolone, sunny-side up egg, arugula and lemon aioli on ciabatta) and the pasta dish rigatoni con Scarola (with the right combination of Italian sausage, roasted cherry tomatoes, oregano, white beans, escarole, garlic and pine nuts, in a light herb broth).
Be sure to conclude things with one of the desserts, whether it’s the justifiably-named Sloppy Sundae or the delectably dense torta lava, which comes with mint-chocolate gelato.
Note: Restaurant profiles/events are based on invitations arranged from restaurants and/or firms.