A Wren Says

I can be a bit of a snob while traveling. I only want to visit local restaurants, without franchises. I want to eat local and really experience the area and its scene. While I was in Chicago, I did my best to try new local restaurants. In return, I was met with watery lattes, bland food, and unpleasant experiences. I thought about listing out all of the restaurants that I wouldn’t recommend, but maybe that’s not the best use of my time. Instead of complaining about being disappointed yet again, I decided to visit some franchises that I knew I could depend on, with their Chicago flair. Here’s where I went.

Starbucks Reserve

Or specifically, I visited the Starbucks Roastery in Chicago. I ordered the Caramel Miso Mocha. It was delicious and it had a nice touch with the gold leaf on top. For food I ordered a prosciutto croissant. The layers were flaky and delicious. I enjoyed them both while people watching, looking down and the luxury stores below.

Solidcore

I wanted to keep my streak so I made sure to schedule a class at the Streeterville location of this pilates-inspired chain. I felt more sore than I expected after trying new moves from the knowledgeable instructor. I also enjoyed seeing how different the setup was from my home studio.

Joe & The Juice

I walked over to the quintessential Pilates girlie chain. I ordered a Tunacado and honey latte. I wasn’t disappointed. I enjoyed the crisp wrap and my hot beverage as I typed away on my computer. My only regret is not ordering a juice, since that is so part of the name.

I spent my whole last day trying places that I had been to before. You could see it as a waste, I see it as a completely valuable pursuit. Sometimes, when everything is new, it’s helpful to have something I can depend on. I will gladly will gladly continue to include these chains on my travel itinerary, in Chicago and beyond.