***** (5 stars)
Great dog, any variety you like, plump and juicy. Onion rings were great, fries less so. Not super speedy, but a neat vibe.Devil Dawgs – Lakeview
937 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL
60657
(773) 883-2000
https://www.yelp.com/biz/devil-dawgs-lakeview-chicago
Affogato
Freezing the cream
LN2
Menu and interior
**** (4 stars)
I always like places that let me assemble my food step by step, so Creamistry was a great find. You pick your base (regular, organic, coconut milk, etc.) and your flavor, and then your mix-ins, and they freeze it to order, using liquid nitrogen. It’s fun to watch, and a great way to get lots of flavor choices you wouldn’t normally see for an obscure base like coconut milk.
Is it better than pre-frozen? Probably not, but it’s all about the choices. Of course, the downside is it takes ten or fifteen minutes to get your order, but then again, where else are you going to get a coconut milk espresso affogato with heath bar crunch?!
Creamistry
253 S Beverly Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(424) 777-0964
https://www.yelp.com/biz/creamistry-beverly-hills
Exterior
Breakfast burrito Rico Suave
Interior
**** (4 stars)
This is a nice little privately run coffee shop with all the usual offerings, plus they make a breakfast burrito, which is what drew me in.
My decaf latte with almond milk was excellent.
The breakfast burrito is made in a sandwich press, which imparts a crispy crust. There are a couple of options. I selected the Rico Suave with bacon. $10 seemed a bit steep, but on the other hand I could only finish half of it, so I guess that’s cheap for two meals. It came with two interesting sauces, although I would have liked something a bit spicier.
Service was friendly.
Alfred Coffee Beverly Hills
490 N Beverly Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(424) 335-0170
https://www.yelp.com/biz/alfred-coffee-beverly-hills-beverly-hills
*** (3 stars)
This is a perfectly fine spot for fast food, but after all the hype that preceded it I must admit I was expecting more.
The space is light and airy, and the ordering process is super-efficient. The speed of preparation is surprisingly slow, though, and I went on a not particularly busy day.
The French fries are excellent–very crisp on the crinkly outside, tender in the center. The coffee shake is also great, and worthy of naming the place after.
The weak element turned out to be the burger. I had the SmokeShack, a completely average cheeseburger except for the addition of fairly flavorless bacon and some pickled red peppers. The meat patty was unremarkable, but the bun was the real weakness, a large mushy hunk of bread that quickly turned soggy.
The price of these three items was a bit shocking, coming in at just over $16. And they aren’t even particularly large. I’m somewhat insensitive to restaurant pricing, but even to me that seems a lot for what was on my tray.
I would go back to Shake Shack if I was in the area and wanted a shake, but I’d probably eat lunch someplace else first.
Shake Shack
8359 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 205-0362
http://www.yelp.com/biz/shake-shack-orlando-3
**** (4 stars)
This place has the atmosphere I’m looking for in a coffee house, and also makes some excellent coffee. The Macchiato is perfect, not a trace of bitterness. Also some great gelato. Ignore that Starbucks down the street; this is the real deal.
Linz and Vail on Central
2012 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-1381
http://www.yelp.com/biz/linz-and-vail-on-central-evanston
*** (3 stars)
This is a pretty prototypical serve yourself frozen yogurt place with the usual toppings. The space is long and deep, and you start at the rear, which creates some challenges when the place is busy.
There is a fairly large selection of yogurts. The flavors I had were fine, although nothing really wowed me. The toppings were very fresh. Definitely more healthful than the nearby frozen custard place.
Forever Yogurt
1739 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(224) 999-7903
http://www.yelp.com/biz/forever-yogurt-evanston-2
*** (3 stars)
This is a small serve yourself frozen yogurt shop with the usual toppings bar. I was glad to see they offered some non-tart flavors, as I’m not a fan of sour yogurt. I’m not sure what the business plan is here, though, since there are fewer offerings than the larger competitor just a couple blocks north, and the defunct Red Mango already tried in this spot. If you’re in this immediate area and they have a flavor you like it’s worth a try.
Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt
809 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 859-6225
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tutti-frutti-frozen-yogurt-evanston
**** (4 stars)
This place is incredibly popular, rain or shine there is always a line, and always people eating on the tables out front. The custard is tasty, especially the concretes, which are mixtures of custard with interesting debris thrown in, like cookies pieces or fruit.
The only problem is that if ice cream isn’t exactly health food, I don’t know what to call frozen custard. The best plan is to order a small, eat half (or less) and then take the rest home and put it in the freezer. This works great, because the custard won’t get rock hard, due to the incredibly high fat content. So save the other half for a later–much later–date.
Andy’s Frozen Custard
719 Church St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-8009
http://www.yelp.com/biz/andys-frozen-custard-evanston
**** (4 stars)
I like the wide assortment of flavors at this place. the condiment bar isn’t quite as appealing as some others, but I’m more interested in interesting flavors. This place has quite a few, and changes them often.
Froyos
8014 Conroy Windermere Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 826-1771
http://www.yelp.com/biz/froyos-orlando
**** (4 stars)
Menchie’s is my favorite yoghurt place. Great selection of exotic flavors that change often, and a nice place to sit outside and enjoy it. Helpful staff.
Menchies Frozen Yogurt
7339 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 601-7792
http://www.yelp.com/biz/menchies-frozen-yogurt-orlando