MORNING
There’s so much to explore when you’re new in the city, and by explore, of course, I mean eat.
The first thing on the menu for two friends looking to check out some of the top dining spots in the city is breakfast.
Hopping on the Brown Line and exiting at Paulina Street will drop you off in Lakeview, but head about three or four blocks west and you’ll be in the heart of Roscoe Village. The area hosts a diverse assortment of dining options. This morning we’re in search of Orange (2011 W. Roscoe St., 773-248-0999), which specializes in brunch and combines two of my favorite things: chai latte and French toast. Yum. They also serve “frushi” — a fresh combination of fruit and flavored rice — and even better is the juice bar: You can create your own combination of freshly squeezed juices. Or order up the mimosa, because this location isn’t BYOB. (Orange’s other locations are at 75 W. Harrison St. and 3231 N. Clark St., and those are BYOB.)
AFTERNOON
After the hearty breakfast, you will want to walk it off to make room for another meal. Good thing there are all types of cute shops to check out. We stumbled across Night and Day Vintage (2228 W. Belmont Ave., 773-327-4045), a cool vintage shop that sells everything from roll-top desks to period clothing. Even better, the prices are more reasonable than what you will find at most shops of this caliber. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but it claims to carry the largest selection of vintage clothing for men and women in the area. (And if you’re looking to unload anything, they’re buying clothing from the 1920s and the 1960s.)
EVENING
Heading back to Roscoe Street is a necessity. Going to Turquoise Cafe (2147 W. Roscoe, 773-549-3523 ) is a must. It’s the kind of place that easily caters to meat-eating and vegetarian diners alike. In other words, bring your picky is-it-OK-to-make-a-few-changes-to-this-dish friends. And the food is sensational. The Mediterranean dining spot serves up exotic, delicious food (try the stuffed gnocchi or the Turkish delight), and we’re told to come back on Sunday when for less than $15 you can get a multicourse champagne brunch.
Will do.