We visited, ordered, and ate at 10 restaurants within walking distance of Latin, so you know exactly where to spend your free period—and where to skip.

Every Latin student knows the lunch routine: Wait in a long line to get the same toasted sandwich you’ve had for the last three days. But every so often, students wander off campus to try one of the many restaurants near Latin. As your teacher lets you out of class, you have 40 minutes—or longer if you have a free period—to eat lunch, and suddenly, the question of where to go for food feels more urgent than anything you learned that day. Do you sprint to Chipotle and pre-order your food on the way? Sit down somewhere nice if you have a long lunch? Settle for something fast and cheap? The options within walking distance of Latin are genuinely overwhelming, but not all of them are worth your time or money.

So we did the research for you. Over the course of several weeks, we visited 10 nearby restaurants, ordered from their menu, and evaluated each one on a variety of factors: food, price, atmosphere, ability to study, speed, and whether we’d actually go back. Here’s how they ranked.

1. Foxtrot

Foxtrot is the kind of place that is easy to take for granted until it disappears—which, as many Chicagoans will remember, it did.

After Foxtrot’s owner suddenly closed all 33 locations in 2024, the Gold Coast location on Maple Street quietly reopened under its original owner, with a wide variety of menu items, new exclusive coffee blends, and the same curated, upscale-convenience-store energy that made it a neighborhood institution in the first place. Exactly two weeks later, the Old Town location reopened two blocks away from Latin, which was a gift for many students.

Foxtrot takes the top spot on this list—and rightfully so. The sheer number of menu options means you are unlikely to get bored, no matter how often you visit. The space itself is one of the better places near the Upper School to actually sit down and get work done: quiet enough to focus, comfortable enough to stay and get a meal.

The only real knock against Foxtrot is the price. At $11 for just a latte and a chocolate bar, it adds up fast if you go regularly. But if you’re looking for somewhere that checks almost every box—food, drinks, atmosphere, and a place to study—this is it.

2. Small Cheval

Small Cheval is the fast-casual offspring of Au Cheval, the West Loop restaurant whose burger the Food Network named the best in America. The simplicity of the restaurant keeps the menu purposefully minimal—burgers, fries, shakes—and executes all three menu items at a level that leaves most competition looking ordinary.

The classic order—burger with fries and a shake—runs about $12.98, which feels like a fair price for the quality.

The outside seating serves as a lively option, with heaters available, depending on the weather. And who doesn’t want a nice warm burger on a chilly day or the classic vanilla shake after going for a run with friends around Lincoln Park?

The one real issue for Latin students is distance. Small Cheval is a little farther from school than most of the other restaurants on this list, and during a short lunch break, distance matters. But if you have the time to make the walk, it’s the best burger near school.

3. Kanela Breakfast Club

The name Kanela comes from the Greek word for cinnamon, and Kanela has built its identity around that specificity—local ingredients, bold menu twists, and a warmth that feels genuine rather than performed. The restaurant describes itself as a place that does “breakfast the right way,” and after eating there, it’s hard to disagree.

The Red Velvet French Toast, known for its rich taste, masterful plating, and near-perfect execution, distinguishes itself from a French toast you could get anywhere nearby. Alongside the iconic French toast, the menu is extensive enough that repeat visits could feel fresh for a while, with Greek-inspired options alongside American breakfast classics, all made with ingredients that you can actually taste the quality of.

The catch, for Latin students, is simple: Kanela requires time. This is not a take-out restaurant. It is a full sit-down experience with attentive service, which means it belongs on your early morning free period list, not your 35-minute lunch list. After getting two dishes totaling around $31, it is also the most expensive option we reviewed. But for the right occasion, we believe it’s well worth the price.

4. Starbucks

There is not much mystery to Starbucks. You know what you are walking into, which is one of its biggest strengths and its biggest weaknesses.

Another weakness of being a chain restaurant is that it fills up quickly—especially during affinity time, lunch, and after school—and becomes more of a social hub than a study spot. This trait in a restaurant works if you’re meeting friends, but not if you are looking for a place to study for your geometry quiz.

The prices for savory treats and lattes may not be cheap, but the quality is reliable, and the menu has enough variety for most times of the day. It can work as a study spot during quieter hours, just not at peak times. Starbucks comes in at number four—not because it is bad, but because places like Foxtrot offer something similar with a more calming atmosphere..

5. Chipotle

Chipotle is a reliable staple near Latin, and its consistency is a strong part of the appeal. You know exactly what you are getting before you walk in the door, and it’s one of the more affordable options on this list. For a student working with a tight lunch budget or a short amount of time, Chipotle is a great choice.

6. Potbelly

A pot belly—often referred to as a beer belly—is what you likely will end up with if you eat a Mama’s Meatball sub, Lays Baked Chips, a Double-Chocolate Cookie, and an Oreo Shake for lunch every day from Potbelly. But is it worth it? At times, yes. Potbelly doesn’t have much variety in items, mostly serving sandwiches and some small sides, but if you are a toasted sub person, this is the place for you.

After doing the math, we found that if every topping and meat option is available, there are billions of different ways to get a sandwich at Potbelly. So even if the type of food is limited, the options are endless.

However, the lack of items and bad studying conditions place Potbelly sixth on this list.

7. Nookies

A classic breakfast place—ranging from eggs Benedict to waffles with Nutella—serves as a popular place for team breakfasts, particularly during the summer preseason. While the hash browns may catch your eye, the remainder of the food is relatively average compared to the rest of the list. The large location seems spacious at first, but after walking inside, the packed tables allow you to clearly hear the conversation of the couple next to you. Nevertheless, the consistent food and outside seating still place the restaurant at the seventh spot on the list.

8. La Fournette

A quaint French bakery, La Fournette, is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day and serves a wide variety of croissants, cappuccinos, and crêpes. With pastries baked fresh in the morning, La Fournette is a perfect place for a before-school breakfast or a pick-me-up latte during lunch. The delectable sweets and sips bring this restaurant up; however, the limited study space, timing constraints, and lack of variety beyond a few pastry items place La Fournette at the eighth spot.

9. Aloha Poke Co.

Aloha Poke is a fast casual spot where you build your own poke bowl from a chosen base, protein, toppings, and sauce.

It’s relatively popular with students because it feels like a fresher, customizable, and healthier option than Chipotle’s bowls and the usual lunch options near school.

But it doesn’t stand out beyond that. The lines can get long during lunch, the price adds up quickly once you build a full bowl, and the seating is more “in and out” than a place you’d actually want to sit and stay or even study in. It’s solid, just not much past a quick lunch.

10. PiniPico

Taking the last spot on this list, the Brazilian Cafe can be a great option, but only in certain situations. Its menu follows Brazilian cuisine, which some may love, and others drift away from. If you want to spend over $10 on three total bites of food (one chicken empanada and one Pāo de Queijo) for the unique flavors presented, that’s up to you. That said, the items offer variety from the typical burger, American breakfast, or iced latte, which seem to be the fan-favorites throughout Lincoln Park.

The food itself is a solid option and high in flavor, but the chicken empanada was a bit dry—a significant knock against the restaurant considering the overpriced menu. The restaurant is certainly worth a try because of the authentic Brazilian food, but the high prices and mediocre quality of food mark PiniPico as a one-time stop.