The best restaurants in Logan Square.

Penumbra on West Fullerton Avenue is a Latin seafood dining room, and diners treat it as the Logan Square place for a special night. Birthdays and anniversaries come up constantly, and the front cocktail lounge, with coconut margaritas and a sparkling hibiscus drink, sets the tone before the meal starts.

The menu rewards seafood orders. The Shadow Shrimp comes in garlic butter with a relish, and a Creole jalapeño shrimp, seared scallops and crab cakes sit alongside it. The flat iron steak is the dish for anyone who wants beef, and a complimentary potato poblano soup opens the meal. One diner found the scallops bland, but the shrimp dishes drew the warmer comments.

Plan the visit with a reservation, since celebrations fill the room. Diners park on the street on Fullerton Avenue and walk in. A few mention that the surrounding blocks look rough at the edges, but the dining room itself is described as clean, bright and well organized, and service is the detail diners praise most.

Lula Cafe on Kedzie Boulevard earns its place by working across the whole day. Diners come for the breakfast burrito and the buttermilk pancakes, and they come back at night for pasta and roast chicken. The room has local art, a worn-in bar and a patio that fills in good weather.

Brunch is the busiest stretch. The pork belly breakfast sandwich and the royale breakfast sandwich both get mentions, and the heirloom tomato salad appears when the season supports it. Vegetarian and vegan diners find options, and a farm dinner has drawn praise from regulars. Happy hour runs in the late afternoon every day, which diners call a good find.

The practical note is the wait. Brunch lines build, and the room is small, with tables close together and a lot of noise when it is full. A few diners found service uneven. Most describe food that is creative and comfortable at once, and a neighborhood restaurant that has built its name slowly.

Daisies on North Milwaukee Avenue is the Logan Square restaurant built around pasta. Diners name the black truffle ravioli most, then the beet agnolotti, the gnocchi, the cavatelli carbonara and the pappardelle. A cafe near the front door keeps the room lively, and the dining room has a modern farmhouse feel.

Start with the potted carrots or the shaved Brussels sprout salad, both described as rich and well made. Turkey wings and a fritto misto also appear in what diners order. At brunch the eggs Benedict, the biscuits and a sourdough waffle take over. The bar is the seat to know, because bartenders are knowledgeable about drinks and dishes, and the nonalcoholic list is a real one.

A reservation matters, and even with one a short wait at the door is common. Diners with a taste for variety say the menu has high points and a few quieter dishes, so the pasta is the safest order. Service is warm, and the host stand gets credit for a welcoming first impression.

Gretel on West Armitage Avenue is a dark, forest-themed room with a tall bookshelf of liquor and a short menu that stays eclectic. The Gretel Griddle Burger is what most diners come for, a plain, well-built burger with cheese on a brioche bun that some call the best they have found in Chicago. The fried chicken sandwich earns the same praise.

Around the burger sit French onion soup, mac and cheese, a lobster roll, pork belly nachos and elote ribs. Beer taps are plentiful, and tequila fans point to a drink called the Hellion. Diners describe terrific music, strong drinks and a group-friendly layout that works for a long evening with friends.

The practical note is the wait. Gretel does not take reservations, and the line builds on weekends. Diners use the cocktail lounge in the basement while a table opens, and that turns the wait into part of the night. Service gets mixed comments on a busy Saturday, but the food and the bar staff are consistently praised.

Scofflaw on West Armitage Avenue is a gin-focused neighborhood bar that also runs a kitchen diners take seriously. Gin is the draw, but the list covers other spirits and draft beer, and the bartenders get credit for skill and range. Diners also like the compact menu, since a short list of dishes done well suits the room.

The smash burger is the dish named most, and diners call it a great late night burger. Small plates fill the rest of the order: baked oysters, goat cheese, a cheese and charcuterie platter, vegan meatballs in ragu, and carrots served on hummus with pomegranate molasses that one diner finished in minutes. The butter chicken is another favorite, and brunch is available.

The room is dim, loud when busy and tight on seating, and one party described a low Victorian couch that made eating awkward. A doorman checks identification at the entrance, and a patio opens in warm weather. A reservation helps for a group, and the drinks justify the stop on their own.

Giant on West Armitage Avenue is a small restaurant with a menu that pulls from Southeast Asian cooking and classic technique. Diners describe a cohesive list in which every plate feels considered. The biscuits, corn and jalapeño, are the most mentioned order, and they arrive early.

Crab runs through the menu. A deviled Dungeness crab salad and tagliatelle with crab get repeated praise, and diners rank the pasta among the best they have eaten. The flank steak, Japanese eggplant, trout roe and baked clams also draw strong words, and fried rice and a Stoopwaffel dessert appear in some orders. Service is attentive without being heavy, and seats at the counter by the open kitchen are prized.

The room is the trade-off. Seating is close, tables nearly touch, and diners can hear the next table. Reserve ahead, since late slots fill, and consider the patio when the weather allows. A few diners found the pasta sauces uneven, but most describe plates with big flavor and a dinner that feels like a night out.

The Crab Pad on North Milwaukee Avenue is a Cajun-style seafood boil with a Vietnamese-inspired sauce, served the old way: a plastic bag, no plates, and hands doing the work. Diners build their own order from snow crab legs, king crab, shrimp, crawfish and lobster tail, then choose a sauce and a spice level.

Green beans, broccoli, potatoes and corn come with the boil, and diners note that the vegetables are not skimped. Garlic noodles are the add-on nearly everyone recommends, because they soak up the buttery garlic sauce. Garlic parm wings, fries and a monthly banh mi special also show up. Limeade juice boxes can be spiked with a shot of rum or vodka, and diners mention bringing their own drinks too.

Staff walk first-timers through the menu, and prices get praise for the portions. The notes are about polish: some diners found the room casual to the point of rough, and one Sunday party was turned toward takeout late in the evening. Go earlier, and expect a messy, fun meal.

Osteria Langhe on West Armitage Avenue focuses on the cuisine of Piedmont, and diners say the cooking is precise. The room is small and intimate without feeling crowded, with acoustic panels that keep the noise down and soft music that lets people talk.

The vitello tonnato is the dish to order first, thin poached beef under a tuna sauce, and the carne cruda gets nearly the same praise. Burrata arrives with hazelnuts. Pasta is the center of the menu: gnocchi, a ragu with ravioli, and a seasonal risotto with asparagus, corn and a little Calabrian chili. Rabbit is a main worth noticing, and the bunet and the affogato close the meal. A tailored wine list gets a lot of attention.

Reservations are highly recommended. A few diners reported slow service on a busy night and found some dishes salty, but the dominant comment is warmth, as if eating in someone's home. For a quiet dinner on Armitage Avenue, this is the room.

Jibaritos y Más on West Fullerton Avenue is Puerto Rican cooking at a neighborhood scale. A hand-painted mural greets diners at the door, salsa plays through the room, and the smell of food cooking is the first thing many mention.

The jibarito is the sandwich, with fried green plantain as the bread. The steak version gets the strongest praise, and the chicken pollo jibarito, with grilled onion, cheese and fresh garlic, wins over diners who avoid beef and pork. Sorullos, the corn fritters, taste like sweet cornbread sticks and go well with the chicken soup. Potato salad, lechon, fried cod and carne guisada round out the menu, and takeout also comes up.

Everything is made fresh to order, so food takes time, and a Friday night can be crowded with a name list on a dry erase board. A few diners found service uneven and food from the hot case less fresh than hoped. Order the steak jibarito, ask for the fresh food, and the visit tends to go well.

Longman & Eagle on North Kedzie Avenue has stayed a steady part of Logan Square while the blocks around it changed. It keeps a large whiskey selection, a lively bar and a menu that serves brunch and dinner with equal weight.

Brunch brings chicken and waffles, a smash burger, a breakfast sandwich and eggs Benedict, and the duck fat biscuits come to the table at dinner too. In the evening, diners talk about the duck liver mousse with compote and toasted bread, the pork belly, the gnocchi, the mackerel and green beans with XO sauce. One diner said the menu undersells the dishes behind it. Oysters and a barbecue salmon also appear.

The practical notes: brunch draws a line, and a couple of diners found brunch uneven or the dinner dishes similar in flavor. The staff can guide anyone with food allergies through the menu, and they have handled large parties with a family-style set menu. Come for the burger or the chicken and waffles, and stay for a drink at the bar.

The Whale on North Milwaukee Avenue is built around a Gatsby-era, casino-style look, and diners say it feels more like an evening out than a family stop. The menu is organized with the idea of a boat, and a patio adds outdoor seating in warm weather. Wine drinkers note a good Italian list by the glass.

Happy hour is the loudest part of the praise, with oysters and cocktails at prices diners call a good value. The lobster tacos and the burger lead the orders, along with a Moroccan turkey burger, the steak, a fish sandwich and a hearts of palm salad. Brunch brings chicken and waffles and a lobster and waffles dish. Fried chicken and wings also appear.

For best results, confirm that the happy hour menu is in play when sitting down, since a few diners were handed a different menu. Patio service has run slow for some, and the room is loud at peak hours. Reservations are common, and staff earn warm comments for turning a bad Saturday around.

This North Milwaukee Avenue pancake house has grown through the years, taking over the grocery next door until the restaurant fills the whole building. Diners say it is still packed, because the food is fairly priced and the service is fast and attentive.

Pancakes are the headline: coconut, lemon berry, pumpkin, chocolate chip and a special abuelita version are all named. The breakfast burrito, the breakfast torta, the vegetarian skillet and a Texas fajita skillet cover savory tastes. Eggs Benedict and a combo with pancakes and bacon suit traditional orders. At lunch, skirt steak, country fried steak and a chicken Caprese sandwich show up, and a Greek salad gets praise. Fresh squeezed orange juice is a signature drink.

Weekend mornings bring a wait of around half an hour, and an online waitlist eases it. A parking lot next to the restaurant makes arrival simple. A couple of diners felt surprised by a service fee on the bill, so reading the check is smart. For a big breakfast on Milwaukee Avenue, it delivers.