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Axios
25-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Chicago welcomes new casual Pakistani, Italian and Polish spots
Chicago has recently seen the arrival of casual dining concepts from South Asia, Italy and Poland. Rickshaw Pakistani & Indian Street Eats in Irving Park/Mayfair debuted this month in a Pulaski storefront with warm hospitality, reasonable prices and a charitable twist. Chef-owner Faraz Sardharia, who serves on the board of advocacy group Chi-Cares tells Axios he's directing some of the food and profits to support the unhoused "to give back to the community." On the plate: Juicy fried chicken charga or rotisserie chicken that comes with salad, rice and chutney ($7 for a quarter and $18 for whole); biryanis ($10-$12), palak paneer ($9), beef nihari ($13) and naan ($2). Grab-and-go options include fried fish and spicy chicken sandwiches, wraps and burgers with fries ($10). Desserts include mango mousse cake ($6), gulab jamun ($5) and carrot halwa pudding ($7). Drink up: South Asian sodas, chai and mango lassi ($3-$5). Spoko, a new Polish street food eatery, is scheduled to open Wednesday in Lincoln Park by the same folks who brought you Pierogi Kitchen in Wicker Park and Wurst Behavior in Irving Park. Context: As they did with their Wicker Park restaurant, chef Art Wnorowski and Gosia Pieniazek are opening the new concept in a former Ella's BBQ location. This time at 723 W. Armitage. "Pierogi Kitchen was our first time testing Polish food in Chicago, and we noticed right away that people were very supportive of it," Wnorowski tells Axios. "Now, we've decided to bring Polish street food to the city with Spoko, as there's nothing else like it out there right now." On the plate: French bread pizza-like zapis ($9-$15), pulled pork maczanka sandwiches ($11-$17), sweet waffles ($8-9), Polish kebabs ($13-$15) and the greatest hits from Spoko's sister pierogi and sausage eateries. Plus, milkshakes ($5.49). Bonus: Beginning at 5pm opening day the first 100 customers to mention "zapi" at the register will get a free treat. Lizzano Foccaceria and Spritzeria offers a fast-casual spot for an Italian sandwich or post-work spritz in River North. The vibe: Like a cute Italian Panera with booze. On the plate: Panini on fluffy focaccia ($14-$17) along with salami and cheese boards called taglieri ($23-$27). I tried the Lizzano panino with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella and (like a typical Chicagoan) thought it could use some giardiniera. Drink up: Italian beer ($7), wine ($14), Negroni ($15) and Aperol spritz drinks with discounts during happy hour.
Chicago Tribune
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago paczki guide 2025: Where to get the decadent pastries for Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday
The sweet, stuffed pastries known as paczki were once cooked as a way to get rid of any extra eggs, sugar and lard ahead of Lent. They've become a decadent tradition throughout Polish communities, and you should go out of your way to seek some out. These local bakeries are celebrating Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday by serving up a mix of classic and novel spins on the treat. At the city's most popular and longest-running bakeries, preorders often sell out and walk-ins can involve waiting in lines that snake around the block. It's best to pick your paczki well in advance from this list of 20 spots. South Side & Near South Side Beverly Bakery & Cafe A dozen varieties of paczki including apricot, lemon buttercream and pineapple ($3.25 or $36 for 12) are available to pick up from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. You can also get fresh-filled strawberry paczki for $3.99, though preorders are required if you want more than six. 10528 S. Western Ave., 773-238-5580, Delightful Pastries The Portage Park bakery offers a wide variety of flavors including plum butter, passion fruit jelly, vodka vanilla bean custard and a new espresso chocolate custard topped with Belgian chocolate ganache. 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-545-7215, Marz Community Brewing Co. The brewery celebrates its Polish heritage with the annual release of a paczki double milk stout made with lactose and cocoa nibs. Running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, the Paczki Fest features paczki from Racine Bakery, paczki sandwiches from Taco Sublime, and performances from the Wici Song and Dance Theater and the Environmental Encroachment marching band. Tickets are $20 and you can add on a variety pack featuring a raspberry, blueberry, custard and apricot paczki for $15. 3630 S. Iron St., 773-579-1935, Weber's Bakery Lines often reach around the block for Weber's paczki, which are offered Feb. 27 to March 4. Flavors include custard topped with powdered sugar or chocolate, strawberry buttercream and apple cinnamon for $1.75 or $21 for a dozen. 7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, North Side & Northwest Side Daisies Pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky offers vanilla cream and strawberry jam paczki by the half dozen for $24. 375 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-697-9443, Wurst Behavior Chef-owner Art Wnorowski worked with his mom to make sweet orange glazed paczki filled with rose jam and Dubai chocolate paczki topped with pistachios ($3.95). They're available March 1-9 at both the new sausage spot and sibling restaurant Pierogi Kitchen. 4009 N. Elston Ave., 773-654-3122, Somethin' Sweet Donuts The family-owned bakery offers eight varieties of paczki by the half dozen ($23) and dozen ($45) including cheese, apricot, raspberry and apple. 4456 N. Kedzie Ave., 773-654-3117, The Violet Hour On March 4, the cocktail bar serves the Polly Paczki ($18), a blend of amaro, strawberry liqueur, cognac and lemon garnished with a strawberry jam-filled paczki from Daisies. 1520 N. Damen Ave., 773-252-1500, West Side & Near West Side Alliance Bakery The West Town bakery offers six varieties of paczki Feb. 27 to March 4 including vanilla bean ganache ($4.95), blueberry lemon ($4.75) and raspberry rose ($4.75). 1837 W. Grand Ave., 773-278-0366, Start the day with a paczki sandwich featuring bacon, egg, cheese and spicy aioli ($12) or come for dinner for paczki sliders filled with steak tartare ($24) or lox and cream cheese ($22). You can also get eight varieties of paczki including black sesame coconut, vegan tiramisu, and pimento cheese by the half dozen ($36-$40) or dozen ($66-$70) from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. All varieties are available gluten-free with preorder. 2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577, Roeser's Bakery Open at the same location since 1911, Roeser's offers two dozen types of paczki including guava, caramel custard, prune and Nutella for $2.25 to $3.29. 3216 W. North Ave., 773-489-6900, Suburban and multiple locations Bennison's Bakery Expect long lines at the North Shore staple, which offers 12 varieties of paczki through March 8 including apple sprinkled with cinnamon, cream cheese with powdered sugar and sliced pastry stuffed with banana cream. Stuff your face at the 14th annual paczki-eating contest at 2 p.m. Saturday. 1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, Deerfields Bakery Deerfields is usually closed on Monday, but they'll be open on March 3 to give you more time to get your fix of more than 20 flavors including raspberry, salted caramel and peanut butter ($2.99-$3.99). If you're treating a big group, order a dozen assorted paczki for $36. 201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove and 813 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-520-0068; Firecakes Pick up malted chocolate, lemon curd, drunken plum and cherry jam paczki ($3.75 or $40 for a dozen) Feb. 24 through March 4 or a king cake doughnut stack ($17) on Fat Tuesday. Multiple locations, Hewn Hewn's version of paczki are baked instead of fried and stuffed with chocolate or raspberry. Place an order by 8 p.m. Saturday to pick up a $20 four-pack on Tuesday. 1733 Central St., Evanston, 847-869-4396; KD Market The Polish grocery store opens at 4 a.m. Fat Thursday and 6 a.m. Fat Tuesday to offer traditional handmade paczki stuffed with vanilla custard, plum butter, black currant or apricot for $12 for a half dozen. Multiple locations, Kolatek Baking Co. Visit Fat Thursday or Fat Tuesday for a dozen varieties of paczki ($2.29-$2.99) including raspberry, rose, limoncello and caramel bacon. 2445 N. Harlem Ave., 773 637-3772 and 1916 N. Rand Road, Palatine, 847-221-8271, Oak Mill Bakery Choose from several variety packs such as a gourmet assortment featuring six halved paczki filled with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, sour cherry and cream cheese, or chocolate with raspberry preserves ($30), or a box of 12 of the bakery's most popular flavors such as custard, rose and prune ($47). Orders can be picked up Thursday through Tuesday. Multiple locations, Stan's Donuts & Coffee Raspberry, strawberry, chocolate pastry cream, pastry cream and cannoli paczki are available through Fat Tuesday for $3.75, $11 for a three-pack or $39 for a dozen. Multiple locations, West Town Bakery
