Though less devastating than cream pies, cheesecakes do provide effective suppressive fire during fancy dinner-party food fights attended by Larry, Curly, and/or Moe. Stockpile scrumptious firepower with today’s Groupon: for $5, you get $10 worth of cheesecake and cafe fare from Eli’s Cheesecake in Chicago.

Eli’s grew from Eli Schulman’s steakhouse, a Streeterville celebrity hangout that hosted Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack buddies. Since that time, Eli’s Cheesecake has intertwined itself deliciously with the city of Chicago, serving up the city’s 150th birthday cake and making appearances at Chicago Bulls championships, Mayor Daley’s inaugural balls, and in the bottles that float up on the shores of Lake Michigan. Eli’s has been served on Air Force One and at inaugural celebrations for Presidents Obama and Clinton. And yet Eli’s Dessert Café on the Northwest Side retains the charm of a neighborhood bakery. The café serves up a menu of delicious single dessert servings and lunch items in addition to selling full cheesecakes. Purchase any variety of cheesecake by the slice ($2–$4), or skip the sweets with an Asian chicken wrap, a three-cheese melt on brioche (both $6.25), or a hand-carved turkey BLT ($6.95). Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The vast variety of Eli’s take-home desserts, all prepared from scratch in-house, allow hunger-havers to savor the inimitable sweetness of cheesecakes and other pastries. The original plain cheesecake ($15) serves 16 at 9 inches and, like all of Eli’s cakes, is made using high-quality, all-natural ingredients. Diet-conscious cheesecake cravers can try skinny varieties in chocolate, original, and key lime flavors, all sweetened with Equal ($7 each, serves 12) and packing just 110 calories per slice. Warm weather doesn’t have to keep the cheesecake at bay; Eli’s original Dippers ($12 for six) are frozen, dipped in bittersweet chocolate, and served on a stick for cooled-down consumption. Cupcakes, cookies, tarts, and other pastries featuring seasonal fruits, are made daily in Eli’s bakery and priced between $1.50 and $5.00. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just looking for something to silence a sass-mouthed registered nurse, a treat from Eli’s Cheesecake will more than fill the boot.

Valid in-store only.

Reviews

Eli’s 2,000-pound 30th birthday cheesecake was featured on ABC7:

Yelpers and eight Citysearchers give Eli’s a tasty 4.5-star average: > * Their cheesecake is so smooth, flavorful, filling, yummy to the tummy, good!! – vivaciousdivah, Citysearch > * The cheesecake there is better than sex! – Marisela79SK, Citysearch > * Eli’s has the most delightful Cheesecake around! – jackie241, Citysearch