Chicory is the sort of place that makes South Bend fun. Places like it are the difference between a town being run-down or dull, and having energy and culture. We're huge fans of New Orleans, and have visited several times. Chicory is seriously a perfectly authentic NOLA café.

What makes Chicory special, here in SB, is that it is one of the only places that is one of the top choices for not just breakfast or lunch, but also for cocktails, whether at happy hour or as a stop while having a night out on the town. The food is absolutely outstanding. Literally everything I've ordered, from soup to sandwiches to appetizers to flatbread to pasta, is delicious (the Three Cheese Grilled Cheese is my favorite, and while it may seem silly to have a "favorite grilled cheese place", I assure you that you'd agree if you've tried it).

The coffee and tea options are as good as any that you'd see anywhere. They have a good variety of beer and wine, like a lot of other cafés. But as a guy who likes whiskey and vodka drinks, I love the fact that they not only have a three-way liquor license, but have developed a specialty cocktail menu that includes some delicious libations.

Live music nights are great, because it's possible to choose how immersed into the band you want to be: you can be near the stage to focus entirely on the music, sit nearby to enjoy the ambience of the music while having conversations, or choose to be in the other room completely, reading a book by yourself and barely noticing that it's a band instead of the radio.

Trivia Night is our favorite, however. They really have developed a following of friendly competitors, who take it seriously enough for it to be fun, yet casually enough so that it's still light-hearted (I've been to trivia nights at bars that are way too intense).

The staff are all great. Friendly without being officious, and extremely competent and efficient. The prices are very reasonable, especially for the quality of the fare. The location is perfect. The only complaints that I have are extremely minor: if something is going on at the Morris, parking can be a pain. Also, I wish that they would dim the lights in the main dining area, in the evenings, at least in the front part. It would be more intimate.

Bottom line, the Chicory Café is a gem. It's been around long enough that we no longer worry about whether it will "make it." It is a key part of the DTSB rebirth, along with some of the other pubs, bistros, restaurants, and cafés along the Michigan Street corridor (e.g the SB Chocolate Café, the Brewery, CJ's Pub, McCormick's, Fiddler's, Woochi, Café Navarre, LaSalle Grille (and its upstairs bar)). Places like Hideaway and the Whiskey Exchange continue to add great options to the DTSB experience. I hope that the losses of Tapastrie and the cocktail bar on Main that recently closed are just bumps in the road, because with the revival of nightlife across the river, near the East Race, South Bend is enjoying a cultural rennaissance of sorts, one that makes me happier than I have ever been to live here.