Logan Square Is Where Chicago Learns to Cook

Order the sourdough with cultured butter, honey, and sardines. Trust the sardines. The butter is hand-churned in house and worth every bite. Come on a Tuesday for Tavern Tuesday, a thin square-cut Chicago-style pie with a buttered sauce that works well on the thinner crust. The regular pizza is very good. The in-house NA IPA is the best version of that drink at any Chicago brewery. Soft serve is self-serve and fun, though rotating flavors sell out fast. Expansive patio with grass and flowers in summer. Large enough inside for groups and families.

Walk-up window attached to an art studio with outdoor seating and no interior. Coffee from Olympia Coffee Roasting Company, inconsistent in execution but generally serviceable. The Smoking Gun shaken espresso is the signature. Pastries travel from Printers Row and the selection is limited and rotating. The doughnuts are above average when available. Zero waste, living wage. Come for the neighborhood ritual, not the coffee program.

The smash burger is the thing most people aren't ordering and should be. The pickles are serious — the pickled pineapple is spicy, unexpected, and worth ordering on its own. Fried cheese sandwich is a nod to the Eastern European staples that anchor the menu, indulgent and exactly what it promises. Deviled eggs and fried cheese curds both hold up. Cocktails are above average without being destination-level. Solid NA beer selection, with enough variety to make it a real option rather than an accommodation. QR code ordering, communal water and silverware setup — no table service. Happy hour: half off shareables, dollar off drafts.

The carbonara is the reason to come back consistently — well-made, not overthought, the kind you find yourself benchmarking other carbonaras against. The Tagliolini al Limone earns its reputation in summer. Risottos are classical and well-executed. Appetizers hold up across the board; some of the salads could use more acid, though the ingredients are fresh enough that they still work. GF pasta substitution is available across the menu. NA Peroni on the bar list. Patio plus a smaller upstairs outdoor space in warm weather.

Stripped-down rustic cafe in Logan Square from the Metropolis Coffee lineage. Donuts, solid coffee, and enough food options to make it a real all-day stop. The baristas are variable but the baseline is good. Nothing here will blow you away and nothing will disappoint you. A reliable neighborhood option for working or catching up with someone.

Five locations around Chicago. The cappuccino is oversized, the milk runs too hot, and the espresso is over-extracted. When a barista asks what size you want for a cappuccino, that tells you what you need to know. The baristas are trying. The training isn't there. A local Starbucks, for better or worse. Spend your money somewhere else if you have the option.

Independent Logan Square microbrewery with a fusion-leaning kitchen and one of the better rooftops in the neighborhood. The concept is fun and the space is genuinely great. The food is uneven — the ssam plate earns its spot, other dishes don't leave much of an impression. Solid for a group that wants to drink good house-brewed beer in a big, open room. The N/A list needs work.

Small Cheval is the focused, casual offshoot of Au Cheval, and the burger might be better. Double patty, medium rare, house pickles, sauce, and a perfect bun. Order at the window, grab a patio seat, eat it immediately. The custard concretes are not optional. Oreo or peanut butter cup is a decision you'll need to make on your own.

Longman & Eagle held a Michelin star from 2011 to 2017 while serving PBR and whiskey shots in a rustic neighborhood bar. It still has a Bib Gourmand and nothing has changed, which is the whole point. Snout to tail, ironic, rich, and deeply comforting. Brunch is the anchor — donuts, chicken and waffles, a sloppy joe. Dinner brings fresh pasta and pig heart tartare. Extensive whiskey list. Excellent NA options too. A Logan Square institution.

Paulie Gee's Logan Square is the Brooklyn transplant's sit-down location, with tin ceilings, warm wood, and a garage door that opens onto the street when the weather allows. The Neapolitan crust is chewy, charred at the edges, and consistently right. The Hellboy is the move. Detroit style is available if that's the mood. A reliable, enjoyable Logan Square pizza night.