As sweet and simple as its name, this chill Humboldt Park cafe is an oasis in the middle of a busy day. The sunny yellow interior is minimally furnished, and the work of local artists hangs on the walls (available for sale). The intimate dining room offers sleek wooden tables and chairs; you can also take a seat at the vintage-style counter.

The contemporary American menu (entrees $9-$13), offers global specialties like samosas, Moroccan chicken skewers, dahl and chicken tikka masala alongside pan-roasted steaks, salmon and roasted wild mushrooms with goat cheese. Sandwiches and salads ($5-$8) are stunning and loaded with fresh ingredients, and side dishes like curried vegetables and apple tarragon slaw dress up your dish. Veggie specials abound, and several can be prepared vegan. Cool it all down with a specialty drink, smoothie or milkshake like the creamy banana-honey-oatmeal blend. Stiffer drinks are BYO ($1 wine corkage fee).

With barely-audible pop music in the background, Treat is an ideal spot to swap secrets over lunch with your mom, sister or best girlfriend; the friendly and attentive staff and cozy seating arrangements also make for an ideal spot to treat yourself to a meal alone. The crowd picks up on nights and weekends, though (reservations recommended Thursday-Saturday), and live music will soon be added to the mix.

Centerstage Reviewer: Julia Steinberger