Icosium Kafé
5200 N Clark St
Chicago, IL
Wandering around Andersonville on a gloomy Saturday put us in the mood for a pick me up. One Eater (L) had previously been to the other branch of the Icosium Kafe in Lincoln Park (2433 N. Clark), so we were surprised to find th
e new location up north. The sign outside the advertised home-made crepes all day, and we took full advantage. We knew Icosium would we good when they put cucumber slices in our water in place of the all-too-common lemon. Our first glance at the menu told us it was actually all crepes, which was fine with us after we fell in love with the French culinary delight following a few good crepe eats in Paris and Philadelphia. The menu had a large selection of a la carte and make your own crepes – M finally decided on a crepe d’amour ($6.95), filled with dark chocolate and fresh raspberries. It came with a complimentary scoop of chocolate ice cream (free for us even though the menu said $2). When the crepe finally came we could see why the wait was a little longer than most cheap crepe eateries – the presentation. Chocolate, whipped cream, and strawberry sauce applied in artistic lines and dots all around the plate, topped off with a mini drink umbrella stuck into the crepe’s end. The taste matched the presentation: berries were fresh, chocolate just right, and the crepe thick enough to be substantial eating and fluffy enough to absorb all the chocolaty goodness.
The menu was full of more sweet and savory crepe options, including both traditional varieties, and ones that hinted more at the Cafe’s Algerian heritage with fillings like Halal Merguaz (Algerian lamb sausage), homemade olive tapenade and Algerian fruit compote (raisins, pears and rosewater). L opted for the Algerian Mint tea with honey ($2.50) which also held up the high presentation standards. The tea was presented in a tiny silver teapot with an elegant glass cup and saucer filled with fresh mint leaves. The drink menu also boasted organic Turkish coffee and Egyptian mango juice. The service was pretty laid-back and unobtrusive (in true cafe style), and the dining room is cute, with wooden cafe tables, and walls covered with Algerian textiles and metalwork. Definitely a good stop for a tasty, filling lunch or dinner.
Eating The World 
The one in Lincoln Park is loads better…I thought the atmosphere and service was pretty bad in the Andersonville location. But still yummy!
The server we had at Andersonville was very nice, though I’m sure there is a lot of variation. There’s also much more room at the Andersonville location, though I guess the Lincoln Park location is quainter…
This was one of the best restaurants in Chicago and I hope someday some one opens one like Icosium Cafe. Truly a North African treat I miss – but then I am a first generation American whose family hails from France and Tunisia (my older sister was born in Tunis). The food was superb, as was the ambiance
Please someone try this concept again …