Recently my husband and I went to Chicago for a few days. Joe had the opportunity to give a presentation at the Palmer House Hilton, one of our favorite places, which you can read about in this post . While Joe was at the conference I had some time to explore the city. One of the highlights of my day was making my way on the L’s brown line from Palmer House in the Loop, to the Belmont stop, so that I could pay a visit to 2D- Restaurant, which I discovered on instagram. This is such a fun and whimsical place to visit for a Parisian themed feeling of escapism.
The unpretentious, happy vibe restaurant is created by a husband and wife team, Vanessa Thanh Vu and Kevin Yu, and they specialize in colorful Japanese mochi donuts and Vietnamese phin coffee, along with chicken sandwiches. According to an article about 2D-Restaurant from Chicago. Eater.com “In partnership with Chicago artist Mia Larson, the couple spent about two years attending to every detail of the 1,600 square-foot space, ultimately crafting an immaculate 22-seat fantasy world that channels the Netflix hit Emily in Paris, complete witha balcony view of the Eiffel Tower, a 1920s-style en-suite hotel bathroom complete with a bubble-filled clawfoot tub, and a cozy library stocked with tall bookshelves around a lit fireplace.
I asked if I could take photos, and they said absolutely, in fact it is encouraged. As you can see, this restaurant is hand drawn and makes you feel like you are inside a comic book. I had a coffee and a strawberry sprinkle donut which was quite good. I wasn’t sure what mochi donuts were, but I learned they are made of rice flour which gives them a chewy stretchy texture. I can see why these are popular.
Next time you are in Chicago, I highly suggest that you check out this extraordinary little gem!
Location:
Chicago, IL 60657
Lakeview
