venue Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro

Located in a Lake Park pavilion perched atop the Lake Michigan coastline, Lake Park Bistro turns out continental standbys like mussels with garlic and white wine, Dover sole meunière (expertly filleted tableside), and steak frites. Favorites include the house-made charcuterie—including a country pâté and a liver mousse—and duck served two ways: The breast is pan-seared to a juicy medium rare while the leg is made into confit, slow-cooked in its own fat. The wine list is extensive (and virtually all French) and the bar infuses its own flavored vodkas.