I'd also recommend Hot Chocolate, which (finally Beard-award winner) Mindy Segal has just remodeled and revamped the menu (adding a cookie cart, with $1 cookies). The grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and burgers are decent dinner selections, and the desserts and hot chocolate are spectacular (and very filling). Hot Chocolate is also one of the rare excellent restaurants you can find on restaurant.com, for $25 off $50 Sun-Thurs dinner.
Chicago has a number of excellent female chefs, such as Stephanie Izard, Girl and the Goat (West Loop), with her diner Little Goat opening soon. There's also Sable, sola, Naha, and good bakeries such as Bittersweet and Bleeding Heart Bakery.
