Verzênay Patisserie

At Verzênay, a Lincoln Park patisserie, you’ll find textbook versions of all the French classics. But besides things like chocolate eclairs and crackly kougin amann, slices of apple pie and passionfruit ricotta cake find their way into the display case—and everything is in high demand. Verzênay is busy on the weekends, but it’s worth braving a 7am Saturday alarm for a chance to snag a warm sourdough baguette and a seat in the small cafe. Get the “Chicago” macaron (an homage to Garrett’s Popcorn) that comes with a unique combination of caramel, popcorn, and cheddar for the filling. It’s the most non-classic thing on the menu, and maybe one of the best.