Buttermilk-fried frog’s legs
 

“I want just a great, great neighborhood bistro. Boisterous, with butts in seats,” says the irrepressible Dale Levitski (Sprout), who lives across the street from Frog n Snail, his new Euro-inspired Midwestern bistro in Lake View. To him that means an overnight baker has fresh muffins, quiches, cookies, and cakes ready to roll out at the barista bar when the place opens at 9 a.m. Salads (Lyonnaise), sandwiches (fried green tomato hoagie), and crêpes (always one veggie option) dominate lunch, but Levitski lets loose at dinner, with spins on the classics (think French press seafood stew and Amish chicken breast with Stove Top stuffing). Best of all: No grab-and-go, no small plates, and Wi-Fi gets turned off at 5 p.m. Way to go, Dale. 3124 N. Broadway; 773-661-9166

Photograph: Anna Knott