It took guts to set up shop in a below street level storefront on a stretch of Diversey Avenue best known for wings and egg rolls. The team of Nick Lacasse (Drawing Room) and Scott Worsham, and Sari Zernich Worsham (Table Fifty-Two) did just that, and you would be wise to step into MFK, the sweetest and most original café to open in years—anywhere in Chicago.

The compact menu is almost heartbreakingly irresistible. You could linger in “Little Bites” (unimaginably fresh seviche; creamy light manchego and croquettes) or in “From the Soil” (earthy spring peas, sugar snap peas, and feta; off-the-cob elote-style seared corn), and finish with a slice of Basque cake and never even make it to the larger plates (grilled octopus in green gazpacho sauce; half chicken ballotine).

In fact, that’s exactly what happened to me. Next time, I plan to work the menu from the bottom up!

MFK. 432 W. Diversey Pkwy., Lake View, 773-857-2540