One of the best things about summer is the open terraces at restaurants. There is just something so appealing, so luxurious and inviting about terraces. I am not sure exactly what or why, but I can safely say that it must be my trips to Europe that help me come to this conclusion. From Paris, to Geneva, to Amsterdam, to Madrid... the streets come alive with rows of little tables and seats arranged neatly for customers to enjoy the sun and their meal. In the US, the terrace culture is not as entrenched as the ones in Europe. Well for one, there is not much of a coffee culture in this country. Nonetheless, we managed to find some wonderful terraces to visit this summer in Chicago. These are the rare gems that should be shared with everyone! Ros
1. Piccolo Sogno
Dream a Little Dream... and they will come true - at the very least, dreams about fabulous terrace lunches, surrounded by fountains and multi-colored leaves and the best tasting food. I recently became acquainted with Piccolo Sogno, after the many times that the restaurant had been recommended to me by a close Milanese friend. Despite my trying to introduce him to other Italian places, he still swears by Piccolo Sogno, saying that it is the most authentic Italian place in town! And... definitely the place was a wonderful oasis, which reminded me of what it was to lunch a late lunch in some lost terrace in Rome or the narrow cobblestone streets of Capri. Piccolo Sogno is located at the west end of the city, among not very pretty looking bridges and the remains of some of the Chicago Tribunes operation buildings. But once you step in and set foot into the terrace, time stops and suddenly you are transported!
We had one of my favorite dishes of all time - fried zucchini flowers and spaghetti neri with shrimp. Love, love, spaghetti with squid ink and Piccolo Sogno's rendition of it was just spectacular! All paired amazingly well with a pinot bianco. So as summer finishes trickling through Chicago's unusually warm streets - this venture in terrace dining is something to be remembered and I am sure that Piccolo Sogno will be one of those favorite regular Italian restaurants we will want to visit on a regular basis. - Connie
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The lovely terrace of Piccolo Sogno in downtown Chicago.
A summer treat: Zucchini Flowers!
Black ink pasta with prawns in fresh tomato sauce.
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2. La Creperie
We discovered La Creperie sometime in 2010, and what a happy find this turned out to be! Aside from the delicious crepes that it serves, we love its location, which is within a 10minute walk from home. So it is just a short hop away for us when the mood for crepe strikes! - Ros
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| A large menu of sweet and savory crepes to choose from. |
La Creperie opens its terrace in summer and we get to enjoy our meal under wide umbrellas at the back of the restaurant. The umbrellas are colored red, blue and white - the national colors of France. On Bastille Day (July 14), the terrace gets decorated even more and one can't help but be part of the celebration of France's independent day.
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| We love the casualness of the terrace at La Creperie. |
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| A sugar and butter crepe, and a glass of Orangina makes a lovely breakfast! |
We each have our favorites at La Creperie. I started with the Nutella crepe but eventually grew to love Connie's favorite, the plain butter and sugar crepe (served with a serving of whipped cream) as per the above. The crepes are crispy on the outside but chewy and ever so buttery on the inside. Best eaten with a glass of Orangina or just a plain cup of Earl Grey tea. Such a simple, satisfying and amazing treat, to be savored with each bite! Ros
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| Bon Appetit! |
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