There are a few things you should know before visiting Cake Thai Kitchen. First and foremost: Prepare to give up any notion of personal space upon entering. The cozy, always-packed, Mediterranean-skewing West Loop restaurant offers communal seating and shared plates (fear not, you don’t have to share with your neighbors).

Whether it’s your first visit or your 15th, you must order menu mainstays chorizo-stuffed medjool dates and the “deluxe” focaccia with taleggio cheese, airy ricotta, truffle oil and fresh herbs. And Pizza!

Chicago isn’t a hotbed of Ethiopian food, but this Uptown gem stands out with any you’ll find across the country. Eat with your hands and sop up spicy Ethiopian sauces and tender doro wat and vegetables in a low-key table-service atmosphere where you’ll find ownership roaming the dining room most nights. And they roast their own coffee, too.