Nov. 13--If you couldn't tell from the name, most people go to Stan's for the doughnuts, likely having heard rave reviews of the Peanut Butter Banana Pocket, Lemon Pistachio Old-Fashioned or Maple Caramel Bacon Bar. The shop, which opened its original location in Los Angeles in 1963, has been warmly received by Chicagoans since unveiling its first store in Wicker Park in 2014; now, there are Stan's in Lakeview and Streeterville, with one in the South Loop planned for spring.
But there is one treat outside of the doughnuts that every Stan's fan should know about: the gelato shake ($5.49, one size), served at all three of the current Stan's locations.
You have lots of choices here; luckily, it's hard to mess this one up. Start by picking your base flavor -- housemade vanilla, chocolate or strawberry gelato -- then select one free mix-in (add extras for 75 cents each) from a list including Nutella, peanut butter, coffee, banana, rainbow sprinkles and pieces of cake doughnut. We like vanilla gelato with cake doughnut, which goes well with the included toppings: a generous billow of whipped cream and a mini old-fashioned doughnut with sprinkles surrounding the straw like the world's most delicious life preserver. Multiple locations, www.stansdonutschicago.com.
Leah Pickett is a freelance writer.
