Café Selmarie

Café Selmarie is actually two destinations in one location: a bakery serving Intelligentsia coffee in the front, and a bright, bustling dining room in the back. Some might argue the always busy patio in the warmer months is a third destination. It’s hard to beat the people-watching opportunities in Giddings Plaza.

Starting in 1983 as a small bakery specializing in European style cakes, pastries, tortes, tarts, cookies and breads, Café Selmarie is now a local institution. First time visitors will be overwhelmed by the bakery cases when then arrive, and they may not make it past the colorful display. Who says you can’t make a meal out of hazelnut Dacquoise, Bienenstich (bee hives), rum balls, chocolate mousse cups and pecan bars. There’s plenty of protein in nuts, and the mixed tart represents one of your daily servings of fruit, right?

If you?re looking for a reason to try the dining room, Café Selmarie offers mid-week specials for encouragement. On Tuesdays, kids “eat free” (receive a complimentary item from the children’s menu for each adult dinner purchased). You can enjoy half-price bottles of wine with dinner on Wednesdays (all bottles listed are in the $27-$35 range). And on Thursdays you can try a three-course dinner for $22. On Mondays they are only open for lunch (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.).

The lunch menu presents some reliably satisfying salads and sandwiches ($7-$10) plus more substantial pastas, quiche and chicken pot pie for $10-$12. Dinner repeats some of the lighter lunchtime options, and adds more substantial entrees for salmon ($18), beef tenderloin ($20), herb-roasted chicken ($16) and pork tenderloin ($17). Café Selmarie is a popular brunch spot on the weekend. Menus differ on Saturday (standard breakfast and lunch choices) and Sunday (more decadent options). Check their website for exact hours and sample menus.

(8 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

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Tags: brunch, Cafe Selmarie, Giddings Plaza, intelligentsia coffee, lincoln square bakeries