Café Ciao

This small, bright storefront cafe has won the hearts of the neighborhood—residents of the surrounding condo buildings can spend hours here with the New York Times and a cappuccino. Any West Loop workers looking for a low-key, down-to-earth lunch will become fans, too. The limited, carb-loving menu is full of hearty Italian-American classics like garlicky linguine with clams, rigatoni mixed with spicy sausage and doused in a creamy tomato sauce, and a portobello mushroom and artichoke panini that’s heavy on the balsamic. Food this basic makes for a disappointing dinner, however, so in the evening hours stick to visiting for a post-meal cup of coffee.