Kazka City Cafe Opens in Lakeview, Serving Ukrainian-Influenced Breakfast and Brunch | Eater Chicago

"A warm, inviting all-day breakfast and brunch spot in Lakeview, this 30-seat, counter-service cafe—named for the Ukrainian word for “fairy tale”—channels Roman and Maria Semeniv’s hospitality and modern food sensibility after relocating from Ukraine in 2023 with their two kids. Developed with Kyiv chefs Daria Trofimenkova and Oleksandr Trofimenkov, the menu leans Ukrainian with syrnyky (traditional farmer’s cheese pancakes) already the top seller and a shakshuka built on a sauce with a secret ingredient, alongside classics like avocado toast, berry-topped pancakes, and eggs Benedict. Maria’s baking background shows in croissants, pecan rolls, macarons, breads, and a pistachio cheesecake, while coffee by Metric anchors specialty drinks and teas, colorful matcha lattes (mango-passionfruit, rose), and the standout cappuorange—fresh orange juice blended with a double shot of espresso, served hot or cold—popular in Ukraine and now winning over Chicagoans. There’s a collaboration to sell black caviar, with a sturgeon roe dish possibly coming later. Designed by Kyiv’s Rizdvo Design Bureau, the sunlit room features large windows, wood-paneled walls, leather-backed seating, a green communal table, and a living lime tree piercing its center, softening an industrial-minimalist look in a space that once housed Michelin-starred Entente. Open daily 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Kazka City Cafe has quickly drawn enthusiastic crowds, especially on weekends." - Jeffy Mai