Raspberry-chocolate brioche, chocolate-covered Oreos, cupcakes with luscious buttercream frosting and well-iced cookies with White Sox and Cubs logos all tempt the tummy and satisfy sugar cravings at Sarah's Pastries & Candies at Macy’s, an offshoot of the Sarah's bakery on Oak Street. The menu also is the same, for the most part, but the Macy's shop doesn't sell sandwiches for lunch, and it also serves only drip coffee and hot chocolate, but no other coffee drinks (there's a Starbucks at Macy’s). The street-level shop is near the men's underwear section.

Like the Sarah's on Oak Street, Sarah's at Macy's is a small place, but it jams heaps of sweet treats into the space. Brownies, cookies, cupcakes, carrot cream cheese muffins, chocolate croissants, truffles and macaroons all fill precious shelf space and glass cases. One delicious find is a chocolate muffin laced with almond flour and studded with raspberries, creating a dense, slightly gooey, clafoutis-like wonder.

Also, a half-off bin offers day-old treats, such as chocolate croissants and iced cookies, that still taste great. So, if you need a break from shopping, Sarah's is the perfect place for a sweet snack or super pick-me-up.

Centerstage Reviewer: Mary Susan Littlepage