Located in historic Bronzeville, Ain’t She Sweet Cafe reflects the neighborhood’s own heartiness with its menagerie of savory meals and sweet desserts. Lofted ceilings and hardwood floors contain the aromas of wraps, sandwiches, and paninis stacked with ingredients such as grilled chicken, smoked turkey, sun-dried tomatoes, and pepper jack cheese.

Chefs also toss made-to-order salads with fresh greens and vine-ripened tomatoes and blend more than 10 smoothies from real fruit and the proud tears of organic farmers.

To ensure meals finish on the sweetest note possible, servers plate brownies, cakes, and pies, and blend milkshakes from more than 12 ice-cream flavors such as pistachio, chocolate chip, and strawberry. Ain’t She Sweet Cafe’s owners pair their passion for food with a passion for art, and often deck the dining room’s exposed-brick walls with works made by local artists.