Kuma’s Corner
2900 W. Belmont, Chicago, IL; Phone 773-604-8769
Date of Review: November, 2009
http://www.kumascorner.com/
Come for the burger and stay for the attitude. Don’t forget the tattoos either. Kuma’s Corner has been around for many years and I actually knew of it before it ‘”blew up” and got famous after getting ranked as the best burger in Chicago by some publication. I had been here for a beer and a sandwich on a few occasions as it is one of the few bars on this stretch of Belmont Avenue in Avondale near my home in Logan Square. Ironically, it is less than a mile from Hot Doug’s which draws similar lines and I am guessing a similar crowd of Diners, Drive In’s and Dives viewers. This is a place not for the faint hearted. While I brought my parents here once, many would be turned off by the loud (but not obnoxiously blaring) heavy metal music that is always on and the attitude that emanates from this place. Personally, I like it. This place isn’t trying to be cute and they are happy being what they are which is a bar with outstanding hamburgers and a good beer selection. Another thing on the music – they aren’t changing it so don’t bother asking.
Kuma’s is really all attitude from the rules posted on the wall (e.g. We will not "put on the game, bro") to the dim lighting and the menu which is really trying to say ANGER in a not so subtle way. Despite that, the bartenders and servers are very nice and helpful and don’t really display any attitude. If you are interested in a position though, you better make sure you have some visible tattoos as I don’t remember seeing an employee without some visible ink during my visits. They are known for their burgers and have 20 different variations which you can get with a chicken breast or garden burger also. They put a lot of thought and creativity into the toppings and combinations so I would suggest not making special requests (that is actually one of their rules). When I say creativity, it comes from the name of the burger to the toppings. For example, the special burger on my last visit was the Sleep burger which is on for the Thanksgiving season. It is a turkey burger on top of cranberry jam (all burgers are served on a gigantic chewy pretzel roll) with a fried stuffing cake on top of the burger which is covered with gravy. It takes a lot of thought to put out something like that or the Judas Priest together which features bacon and bleu cheese dressing with apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
On my most recent visit, we started with an appetizer of BBQ pork fries which feature waffle fries covered with jack cheese and BBQ pork (9$). Given the size of the burgers, this was not needed (and definitely not for 2 people) but it was pretty good. There was a ton of pork on top of a mountain of fries and they didn’t hold back on the cheese. It was topped with some chopped scallions which were a really nice compliment to the other flavors. The fries are not homemade (good luck with making waffle fries homemade) but they were decent. The only negative on the appetizer is that some of the fries on the very bottom were cold but by that point, you probably didn’t need those last few French fries anyway. They obviously don’t care much about offering good French fries if they are serving waffle fries (they do make homemade chips), but that is cool with me as this place lives and dies on burgers and they are not bashful about saying so. On that note, I went with the Iron Maiden which features avocado, cherry peppers, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo on a pretzel roll. The high quality meat is juicy and tasty and was served medium (leaning towards medium rare which was perfect). The burger is so big that it is nearly impossible to cut through and keep together. My burger kept falling apart on me and I had to put it back together numerous times. While kind of cool, it can get to be annoying. I purposely went for toppings that I didn’t think would overwhelm the meat and bun. I wanted to taste the burger instead of just the topping which can be a challenge if you order something like the Plague Bringer (Roasted Garlic Mayo, Tortilla Strips, Chicago CO-OP hot sauce, Fresh Garlic, Pepper Jack, Sliced Jalapenos). The chipotle mayo was decent but didn’t really add or detract from the burger. The cherry peppers, avocado and thick slice of cheese where nice compliments that allowed the taste of the meat to come through. Not wanting or being able to handle any more French fries, I went for the house made chips which were solid and once again there were a lot of them. They were served with a cup of chipotle ketchup which was tasty and had a nice chunky consistency. Kuma’s has a good U.S. microbrew heavy beer selection with 6-8 drafts and many variations of bottles.
All of the burgers are between 10 and 12 dollars which is a good value as most people end up taking half home or leaving it on the plate. For me, I ate the whole thing and felt like I wanted to throw up afterwards. Don’t try that! With the heavy metal music, tattoos and overall attitude of this place, it is kind of must at least once. This place has excellent hamburgers. While it isn’t gourmet, Kuma’s isn’t trying to be gourmet about anything. What they are trying to be is in your face with big obnoxious burgers and an endless variety of toppings.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Chicago (Tapas Style) - Avec
Avec
615 W. Randolph, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-377-2002
Date of Review: August, 2009
I really, really like Avec. There is a lot to like about it. In fact, there is so much to be fond of at this restaurant, I may as well just tell you what I like the most:
· It was recommended to me by Anthony Bourdain (via his book) whose life I
am very envious of
· Avec’s chef has been on the Food Network’s Iron Chef program
· The design of the restaurant (long and narrow) which has impressive wood
walls and strategically placed, high windows
· The barrels out front that you can stand around and enjoy a glass of wine at
while you wait for your table under some heating lamps if it is a bit chilly
· The reasonably priced menu, the bar which is made to dine at, the people and
most importantly the food and wine.
After eating at Avec, I am not sure I have much need or desire to frequent other tapas style restaurants. The food is just too good here. It is a foodies dream. All you have to do is take one look through the menu, close your eyes and pick and you can be pretty sure that you will be satisfied, if not blown away. During my 2 visits to Avec, I eagerly surveyed the menu and read the descriptions of the dishes and then told my guests to pick whatever they wanted as everything on this evolving menu sounds fantastic. They have an excellent wine list as this place is as much about wine as it is food. They even serve the wine in casual tumbler style wine glasses that suit the atmosphere at Avec. To me Avec is about innovation, fresh ingredients, reasonable prices and gourmet food in a popular, yet casual setting. While the owner may also own Blackbird and Publican, this restaurant has its own unique identity.
They have a great open kitchen with an oven that looks like a kiln with a huge torch blowing fire directly into it. This is where they roast and cook everything, including the excellent mini loaves of bread. You will get lots of those too as they are served with everything. Make sure to use them to soak up every bit of the wonderful sauces that are a part of every dish!
They have a small plate menu and a large plate menu but all plates are meant to share. The chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon in a pepper-tomato sauce is my favorite thing on the menu and one of the best dishes I have had in any restaurant in Chicago. The sauce is a slightly spicy pimiento based sauce and is perfect for dipping. The menu changes frequently with only a few items (including the dates and truffle filled focaccia bread) available all the time. The dishes I have had here range from coffee braised short ribs to pheasant to cheese, salami and olives to an outstanding pasta dish served with blood sausage, baby squid, bacon and grilled radicchio. Everything I have eaten here has been at least solid, if not outstanding.
The servers are cool and full of suggestions regarding every aspect of the menu. One of the great things about Avec is that you can blow a fortune at this place and order a 70-100$ bottle of wine or you can eat and drink economically by ordering a $30 bottle of wine and feasting on an assortment of dishes ranging from $5 to $20 that are meant to share. A few additional things worth noting are that Avec does not take reservations and seating is either at the bar or at large rectangular communal table where smaller parties sit next to other patrons. Avec is very popular and while the tables do turn rather quickly, you should expect a long wait if you arrive after 7 PM.
615 W. Randolph, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-377-2002
Date of Review: August, 2009
I really, really like Avec. There is a lot to like about it. In fact, there is so much to be fond of at this restaurant, I may as well just tell you what I like the most:
· It was recommended to me by Anthony Bourdain (via his book) whose life I
am very envious of
· Avec’s chef has been on the Food Network’s Iron Chef program
· The design of the restaurant (long and narrow) which has impressive wood
walls and strategically placed, high windows
· The barrels out front that you can stand around and enjoy a glass of wine at
while you wait for your table under some heating lamps if it is a bit chilly
· The reasonably priced menu, the bar which is made to dine at, the people and
most importantly the food and wine.
After eating at Avec, I am not sure I have much need or desire to frequent other tapas style restaurants. The food is just too good here. It is a foodies dream. All you have to do is take one look through the menu, close your eyes and pick and you can be pretty sure that you will be satisfied, if not blown away. During my 2 visits to Avec, I eagerly surveyed the menu and read the descriptions of the dishes and then told my guests to pick whatever they wanted as everything on this evolving menu sounds fantastic. They have an excellent wine list as this place is as much about wine as it is food. They even serve the wine in casual tumbler style wine glasses that suit the atmosphere at Avec. To me Avec is about innovation, fresh ingredients, reasonable prices and gourmet food in a popular, yet casual setting. While the owner may also own Blackbird and Publican, this restaurant has its own unique identity.
They have a great open kitchen with an oven that looks like a kiln with a huge torch blowing fire directly into it. This is where they roast and cook everything, including the excellent mini loaves of bread. You will get lots of those too as they are served with everything. Make sure to use them to soak up every bit of the wonderful sauces that are a part of every dish!
They have a small plate menu and a large plate menu but all plates are meant to share. The chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon in a pepper-tomato sauce is my favorite thing on the menu and one of the best dishes I have had in any restaurant in Chicago. The sauce is a slightly spicy pimiento based sauce and is perfect for dipping. The menu changes frequently with only a few items (including the dates and truffle filled focaccia bread) available all the time. The dishes I have had here range from coffee braised short ribs to pheasant to cheese, salami and olives to an outstanding pasta dish served with blood sausage, baby squid, bacon and grilled radicchio. Everything I have eaten here has been at least solid, if not outstanding.
The servers are cool and full of suggestions regarding every aspect of the menu. One of the great things about Avec is that you can blow a fortune at this place and order a 70-100$ bottle of wine or you can eat and drink economically by ordering a $30 bottle of wine and feasting on an assortment of dishes ranging from $5 to $20 that are meant to share. A few additional things worth noting are that Avec does not take reservations and seating is either at the bar or at large rectangular communal table where smaller parties sit next to other patrons. Avec is very popular and while the tables do turn rather quickly, you should expect a long wait if you arrive after 7 PM.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Chicago (Italian) - The Rosebud
The Rosebud
1500 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-942-1117
Date of Review: September, 2009
This is the Grand Opus for Italian food in Chicago. It is the place they talk about with the old school décor and the pictures of famous people like Robert Deniro, Frank Sinatra and the numerous athletes who have dined at this establishment over the years. As they add more locations and restaurants, we sometimes have a tendency to forget about the original. However, Rosebud on Taylor opened in 1977 and they still have a fabulous business in a cut throat industry because they deliver night in and night out. Maybe I forgot this as I have a tendency to lose interest in an establishment as they open up more locations and I hadn’t visited The Rosebud in a few years. However, I have never forgotten my wonderful experiences at The Rosebud in the past and recently added a few more pages to my Rosebud notebook.
One of my recent visits came on the day of the Festa Italiana on Taylor Street. This made it easy to get in the mood for an Italian meal with sausages grilling, Italian cookies for sale and many olive skinned, dark haired people roaming the streets. In the spirit of the event, The Rosebud set up 20+ tables outside to accommodate the spillover of diners from the festival.
When you walk into the Rosebud and see the dim lights, wood walls and classic bar in the front, you can almost imagine Frank Sinatra, Robert Deniro or a real life Don Corleone sitting down to break bread at this place. There is nothing modern about Rosebud. This is old school Italian which includes the service. For us, that meant a waitress in her late 50’s with a charming, matter of fact attitude that was definitely no nonsense Italian.
Rosebud’s menu covers all the bases including pasta, seafood, veal, beef, chicken, pork and then some.
Along with the complementary warm and chewy bread which is served with olive oil and what looks like a sugar cube holder full of cheese, they have an assortment of excellent appetizers. The Melrose peppers (a regular special not on the menu) appetizer ($12) consists of long green peppers stuffed with an assortment of cheeses in one and sausage in the other. The sweet peppers are served in a tasty olive oil sauce with yummy fillings; a great way to start a meal. I also recommend the Rosebud Chopped Salad which includes a healthy portion of fresh vegetables, mixed greens and cheese in a red wine vinaigrette dressing. For entrees, the cavatelli arrabbiata ($16.50) which includes soft and chewy homemade 8-Finger" ricotta dumplings simmered in spicy marinara sauce (the way I like it) with fresh chilies, pancetta and white wine is fantastic. The pasta squares are a Rosebud original for a reason. These soft folds of homemade pasta melt in your mouth and their chewiness almost makes them heavenly. The sauce is a rich, tomato sauce that is the absolute perfect complement to the wonderful pasta. A side of Mama’s meatballs ($5.25) which consists of 2 oversized meatballs served in marinara sauce is a nice compliment to any pasta dish. The linguini with clams in a garlic white wine sauce ($19.50) is the best rendition of this dish I have ever had. While the linguine wasn’t homemade, it was cooked perfectly in a bread plate cleaning good white wine and garlic sauce with 8 large clams and a mountain of chopped clams piled high in the middle of the dish that ultimately made their way down to the bottom of the bowl.
For desert, the pistachio gelato is nutty and refreshing and is enough for at least 2 to share and the Italian cookies (warning, 1 order consists of about 8 cookies) offers a nice assortment of traditional Italian cookies. The coffee is rich and flavorful.
The Rosebud is relatively pricey but you certainly get what you pay for. On one recent visit, as a party of 4, our bill came to $270 with tax and tip included. We had 4 cocktails, 4 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 4 entrees, 1 side dish and 3 desserts. The Rosebud continues to be one of Chicago’s very best Italian restaurants.
1500 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-942-1117
Date of Review: September, 2009
This is the Grand Opus for Italian food in Chicago. It is the place they talk about with the old school décor and the pictures of famous people like Robert Deniro, Frank Sinatra and the numerous athletes who have dined at this establishment over the years. As they add more locations and restaurants, we sometimes have a tendency to forget about the original. However, Rosebud on Taylor opened in 1977 and they still have a fabulous business in a cut throat industry because they deliver night in and night out. Maybe I forgot this as I have a tendency to lose interest in an establishment as they open up more locations and I hadn’t visited The Rosebud in a few years. However, I have never forgotten my wonderful experiences at The Rosebud in the past and recently added a few more pages to my Rosebud notebook.
One of my recent visits came on the day of the Festa Italiana on Taylor Street. This made it easy to get in the mood for an Italian meal with sausages grilling, Italian cookies for sale and many olive skinned, dark haired people roaming the streets. In the spirit of the event, The Rosebud set up 20+ tables outside to accommodate the spillover of diners from the festival.
When you walk into the Rosebud and see the dim lights, wood walls and classic bar in the front, you can almost imagine Frank Sinatra, Robert Deniro or a real life Don Corleone sitting down to break bread at this place. There is nothing modern about Rosebud. This is old school Italian which includes the service. For us, that meant a waitress in her late 50’s with a charming, matter of fact attitude that was definitely no nonsense Italian.
Rosebud’s menu covers all the bases including pasta, seafood, veal, beef, chicken, pork and then some.
Along with the complementary warm and chewy bread which is served with olive oil and what looks like a sugar cube holder full of cheese, they have an assortment of excellent appetizers. The Melrose peppers (a regular special not on the menu) appetizer ($12) consists of long green peppers stuffed with an assortment of cheeses in one and sausage in the other. The sweet peppers are served in a tasty olive oil sauce with yummy fillings; a great way to start a meal. I also recommend the Rosebud Chopped Salad which includes a healthy portion of fresh vegetables, mixed greens and cheese in a red wine vinaigrette dressing. For entrees, the cavatelli arrabbiata ($16.50) which includes soft and chewy homemade 8-Finger" ricotta dumplings simmered in spicy marinara sauce (the way I like it) with fresh chilies, pancetta and white wine is fantastic. The pasta squares are a Rosebud original for a reason. These soft folds of homemade pasta melt in your mouth and their chewiness almost makes them heavenly. The sauce is a rich, tomato sauce that is the absolute perfect complement to the wonderful pasta. A side of Mama’s meatballs ($5.25) which consists of 2 oversized meatballs served in marinara sauce is a nice compliment to any pasta dish. The linguini with clams in a garlic white wine sauce ($19.50) is the best rendition of this dish I have ever had. While the linguine wasn’t homemade, it was cooked perfectly in a bread plate cleaning good white wine and garlic sauce with 8 large clams and a mountain of chopped clams piled high in the middle of the dish that ultimately made their way down to the bottom of the bowl.
For desert, the pistachio gelato is nutty and refreshing and is enough for at least 2 to share and the Italian cookies (warning, 1 order consists of about 8 cookies) offers a nice assortment of traditional Italian cookies. The coffee is rich and flavorful.
The Rosebud is relatively pricey but you certainly get what you pay for. On one recent visit, as a party of 4, our bill came to $270 with tax and tip included. We had 4 cocktails, 4 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 4 entrees, 1 side dish and 3 desserts. The Rosebud continues to be one of Chicago’s very best Italian restaurants.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Chicago (American) - Heartland Cafe
Heartland Cafe
7000 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, IL; Phone 773 465-8005
Date of Review: July, 2009
http://www.heartlandcafe.com/hc_index.htm
Heartland Café is a Rogers Park institution with a great screened in patio, laid back atmosphere and a heavily organic and local menu. Heartland Café is a casual grab a menu and seat yourself place with a great outdoor seating area and a huge screened in patio reminiscent of something you might see on Venice Beach. They also have a large inside with a decent size bar and many beers on tap and even more bottles available.
It was a beautiful, sunny 70 degree day when I visited Heartland Café. We grabbed a seat outside situated on a quiet, residential street and glanced at the menu. Oddly enough, the ambience and environment almost made me feel like I was on vacation in Florida or California.
The menu is heavy on local and organic produce and surprisingly, buffalo. In fact, I think buffalo pretty much substitutes for beef throughout the entire menu. They have many breakfast, lunch and dinner options with quite a variety of dishes ranging from burritos to buffalo and veggie burgers to noodle dishes to a few different variations on chili.
We started with the free range chicken wings. They were refreshingly grilled instead of fried with a mild tomato based barbecue sauce that I believe was home made. An order of 6 is more like an order of 12 because they give you the whole chicken wing. These are some of the best chicken wings I’ve had due to their freshness and the grilled flavor.
For entrees, we had the Himalayan noodles and the buffalo chili. The Himalayan noodles arrived in a large bowl with a portion too large for one person to finish themselves unless they were very hungry. The flavor was a bit mild for my taste as I would have expected a bit more spiciness to the dish. That said, the vegetable were fresh and tender and the dish was served with a huge piece of very good homemade cornbread. Interestingly enough, the noodles in the dish were macaroni. I have no problem with macaroni but I would have expected ramen or soba or some other kind of noodle in a dish like this. The buffalo chili came in a large bowl that was loaded with chunks of tender buffalo meat, red and black beans and large slices of red pepper. The dish was on the mild side and very tasty. It was topped with Monterey jack cheese and avocado and brown rice (extras that I chose to add to the dish) and is served with cornbread or corn tortillas (my selection). The chili was healthy, filling and satisfying.
The prices at Heartland Café are about average with most dishes in the 8-12$ range. We had 2 cups of coffee, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for a total price of $47 (that includes tax and tip). While the value isn’t outstanding, the prices are about what you would expect for a popular restaurant in a nice location with a largely local menu.
The Heartland Café considers themselves to be the Heart of Rogers Park and from the looks of it, I would agree with that statement. The Heartland Café is actually a conglomeration of multiple businesses that began with the Heartland Café in 1976 with a vision o serve good wholesome food for the mind and the body. Over the years the “café” has grown and become a community of sorts which hosts progressive (e.g. liberal) political events, a radio show, a theatre, journal, general store, athletic organization, beach stand and buffalo bar. They have also expanded their business base by keeping the No Exit café open and opening another bar nearby called the Red Line tap.
7000 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, IL; Phone 773 465-8005
Date of Review: July, 2009
http://www.heartlandcafe.com/hc_index.htm
Heartland Café is a Rogers Park institution with a great screened in patio, laid back atmosphere and a heavily organic and local menu. Heartland Café is a casual grab a menu and seat yourself place with a great outdoor seating area and a huge screened in patio reminiscent of something you might see on Venice Beach. They also have a large inside with a decent size bar and many beers on tap and even more bottles available.
It was a beautiful, sunny 70 degree day when I visited Heartland Café. We grabbed a seat outside situated on a quiet, residential street and glanced at the menu. Oddly enough, the ambience and environment almost made me feel like I was on vacation in Florida or California.
The menu is heavy on local and organic produce and surprisingly, buffalo. In fact, I think buffalo pretty much substitutes for beef throughout the entire menu. They have many breakfast, lunch and dinner options with quite a variety of dishes ranging from burritos to buffalo and veggie burgers to noodle dishes to a few different variations on chili.
We started with the free range chicken wings. They were refreshingly grilled instead of fried with a mild tomato based barbecue sauce that I believe was home made. An order of 6 is more like an order of 12 because they give you the whole chicken wing. These are some of the best chicken wings I’ve had due to their freshness and the grilled flavor.
For entrees, we had the Himalayan noodles and the buffalo chili. The Himalayan noodles arrived in a large bowl with a portion too large for one person to finish themselves unless they were very hungry. The flavor was a bit mild for my taste as I would have expected a bit more spiciness to the dish. That said, the vegetable were fresh and tender and the dish was served with a huge piece of very good homemade cornbread. Interestingly enough, the noodles in the dish were macaroni. I have no problem with macaroni but I would have expected ramen or soba or some other kind of noodle in a dish like this. The buffalo chili came in a large bowl that was loaded with chunks of tender buffalo meat, red and black beans and large slices of red pepper. The dish was on the mild side and very tasty. It was topped with Monterey jack cheese and avocado and brown rice (extras that I chose to add to the dish) and is served with cornbread or corn tortillas (my selection). The chili was healthy, filling and satisfying.
The prices at Heartland Café are about average with most dishes in the 8-12$ range. We had 2 cups of coffee, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for a total price of $47 (that includes tax and tip). While the value isn’t outstanding, the prices are about what you would expect for a popular restaurant in a nice location with a largely local menu.
The Heartland Café considers themselves to be the Heart of Rogers Park and from the looks of it, I would agree with that statement. The Heartland Café is actually a conglomeration of multiple businesses that began with the Heartland Café in 1976 with a vision o serve good wholesome food for the mind and the body. Over the years the “café” has grown and become a community of sorts which hosts progressive (e.g. liberal) political events, a radio show, a theatre, journal, general store, athletic organization, beach stand and buffalo bar. They have also expanded their business base by keeping the No Exit café open and opening another bar nearby called the Red Line tap.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Chicago (European Cafe) - Julius Meinl
Julius Meinl
3601 N. Southport, Chicago, IL; Phone 773-868-1857
4363 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL; Phone 773-868-1876
Date of Review: May, 2009
http://www.meinl.com/northamerica/home.html
Julius Meinl is an Austrian coffee shop, café and restaurant with a U.S. presence. It has been one of my favorite Chicago cafes for sometime but I discovered its’ roots during a visit to Austria in 2006 when I saw what seemed to be the same café I knew from Southport Avenue in central Vienna. Boasting one of the best tea menus in Chicago, outstanding coffee and good food this is a great place to enjoy an alcohol free evening. They currently have locations on Southport Avenue and right off of Lincoln and Montrose in Lincoln Square.
Each location is full of style from the silver trays used to serve each coffee and tea beverage to the individual pots used to serve tea and the cookies offered with each drink. This is all very European. The front of each location has tables spaced out appropriately with a relaxed feel that make it perfect for a quiet dinner, an after dinner dessert (very popular) or some studying or reading. The back of each restaurant is a bit more private and quiet but is still open to the front. The symbol of Julius Meinl which you will see outside the Lincoln location is referred to as the coffee boy and is a 6-foot-2-inch bronze sculpture of a lad wearing a fez and looking into the bowl of coffee he's carrying. The symbol is meant to pay homage to the Turkish Ottoman Empire and its contributions to the coffee world.
Meinl is known for their desserts but don’t underestimate the rest of their menu. They have a nice brunch menu highlighted by pastries, a variety of crepes and 6 different variations of baked eggs served with items like smoked salmon, pancetta or spinach, mushroom and feta. For lunch and dinner, they have excellent freshly prepared salads and a variety of sandwiches on tasty rolls and breads (yummy brioche, pretzel rolls, raisin-sunflower, etc.). Each sandwich has a twist with a garlic mayo, tapenade or specialty mustard to zest things up and is served with and excellent side salad with a tasty, light dressing. They also feature many European specialties including Roasted Lamb & Spätzle, Austrian Goulash and a tasty, generous portion of Chicken and Fontina filled crepes.
Julius Meinl is a decent value with almost everything on the menu under $10. They also have free live music on Friday’s and Saturdays at both locations. I have seen Spanish Guitar and a Serbian Violinist and Cimbalom. Other types of music offered include Bossa Nova and Irish Harp music. There is music every Friday and Saturday from 8 PM to 11 PM.
3601 N. Southport, Chicago, IL; Phone 773-868-1857
4363 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL; Phone 773-868-1876
Date of Review: May, 2009
http://www.meinl.com/northamerica/home.html
Julius Meinl is an Austrian coffee shop, café and restaurant with a U.S. presence. It has been one of my favorite Chicago cafes for sometime but I discovered its’ roots during a visit to Austria in 2006 when I saw what seemed to be the same café I knew from Southport Avenue in central Vienna. Boasting one of the best tea menus in Chicago, outstanding coffee and good food this is a great place to enjoy an alcohol free evening. They currently have locations on Southport Avenue and right off of Lincoln and Montrose in Lincoln Square.
Each location is full of style from the silver trays used to serve each coffee and tea beverage to the individual pots used to serve tea and the cookies offered with each drink. This is all very European. The front of each location has tables spaced out appropriately with a relaxed feel that make it perfect for a quiet dinner, an after dinner dessert (very popular) or some studying or reading. The back of each restaurant is a bit more private and quiet but is still open to the front. The symbol of Julius Meinl which you will see outside the Lincoln location is referred to as the coffee boy and is a 6-foot-2-inch bronze sculpture of a lad wearing a fez and looking into the bowl of coffee he's carrying. The symbol is meant to pay homage to the Turkish Ottoman Empire and its contributions to the coffee world.
Meinl is known for their desserts but don’t underestimate the rest of their menu. They have a nice brunch menu highlighted by pastries, a variety of crepes and 6 different variations of baked eggs served with items like smoked salmon, pancetta or spinach, mushroom and feta. For lunch and dinner, they have excellent freshly prepared salads and a variety of sandwiches on tasty rolls and breads (yummy brioche, pretzel rolls, raisin-sunflower, etc.). Each sandwich has a twist with a garlic mayo, tapenade or specialty mustard to zest things up and is served with and excellent side salad with a tasty, light dressing. They also feature many European specialties including Roasted Lamb & Spätzle, Austrian Goulash and a tasty, generous portion of Chicken and Fontina filled crepes.
Julius Meinl is a decent value with almost everything on the menu under $10. They also have free live music on Friday’s and Saturdays at both locations. I have seen Spanish Guitar and a Serbian Violinist and Cimbalom. Other types of music offered include Bossa Nova and Irish Harp music. There is music every Friday and Saturday from 8 PM to 11 PM.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Chicago (American) - Hot Doug's
Hot Doug’s
3324 N. California Ave., Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-279-9550
Date of Review: May, 2009
Was waiting in line for 1 hour before I got to the counter to put in my order on a beautiful Spring Saturday worth it? That is an impossible question to answer as there are many variables. Had I dined at Hot Doug's before? Did I know what I was getting into? How hungry was I? What else did I have to do with my time?
The answer to the 1st question is yes but all I ordered were hot dogs and while Hot Doug’s has excellent hot dogs, people are not waiting in line for 1 hour for hot dogs. Sausage is king here. The answer to question 2 is definitely yes. I live in the area and have driven by enough times to see the long lines. The question to answer # 3 is pretty hungry, but a bit less than famished. By the time I took my 1st bite, it was noon and I hadn't eaten a thing. The answer to question # 4 is that I am 35, engaged to be married in a few weeks, have no children and my fiancé was at some work out seminar in Grant Park. This day was free as it gets at least for a few hours.
Despite arriving 10 minutes prior to opening time at 10:20 AM, I was still faced with 40+ people in front of me. I brought a newspaper to read and finished it while standing in line and didn't submit my order until approximately 11:15 AM. Hot Doug’s is not very big inside but I commend them on efficiently managing the flow of people into the restaurant as you would expect a mad house inside with a place this popular. However, once you arrive inside there are ample seats to sit and feast on a specialty sausage and some duck fat rendered french fries (only available on Friday and Saturdays).
My last visit was over 3 years ago and I had 2 hot dogs and duck fat fries the day before I ran the 2005 Chicago Marathon. The hot dogs were very good but not worth the wait. Years later, I can say that getting premium sausages is worth the wait. And the duck fat fries, well, will get to those.
I had the Salma Hayek which is a hot andouille sausage with everything which includes caramelized onions, pickle, celery salt, mustard, relish, tomatoes and celery salt. I got the sausage char grilled and it was moderately spicy with a nice grilled flavor. It was good size and the condiments (especially the caramelized onions) were perfect on top of a nice soft bun. As good as this was, the real winner was the celebrity sausage of the day which was a Ribeye Steak Sausage with Chimichurri and Formaggi Podda. This was outstanding with steak stuffed in a casing topped with garlicky chimichurri sauce (olive oil, garlic and parsley sauce typically served in Argentine steak houses) and slices of parmesan like cheese. The duck fat fries (a huge portion enough for 3-4 for 3.50) are as good (actually much better) than I remember. They are outstanding, right there with Smoque for best fries in Chicago. Hot Doug’s actually has many specialty sausages like the Ribeye steak sausage making it very hard to pick 1 or 2 to feast on.
It is almost hard to admit it but Hot Doug's is a destination restaurant but it definitely is and the proprietor is making a fortune off of this place. This is a place that you will see on the news (if you haven't already) or on a food network special. Dining here is an event and is something worth putting in the effort to do at least once if you don't live in Chicago and at least once a year if you do. It isn't cheap (my tab was $16.50 for 2 sausages, ducks fat fries and a small fountain soda) but it is good. If you are going to go through all the effort to dine here though, don't waste your time with a hot dog. Focus on the sausage as this is what makes Hot Doug’s worth the wait.
3324 N. California Ave., Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-279-9550
Date of Review: May, 2009
Was waiting in line for 1 hour before I got to the counter to put in my order on a beautiful Spring Saturday worth it? That is an impossible question to answer as there are many variables. Had I dined at Hot Doug's before? Did I know what I was getting into? How hungry was I? What else did I have to do with my time?
The answer to the 1st question is yes but all I ordered were hot dogs and while Hot Doug’s has excellent hot dogs, people are not waiting in line for 1 hour for hot dogs. Sausage is king here. The answer to question 2 is definitely yes. I live in the area and have driven by enough times to see the long lines. The question to answer # 3 is pretty hungry, but a bit less than famished. By the time I took my 1st bite, it was noon and I hadn't eaten a thing. The answer to question # 4 is that I am 35, engaged to be married in a few weeks, have no children and my fiancé was at some work out seminar in Grant Park. This day was free as it gets at least for a few hours.
Despite arriving 10 minutes prior to opening time at 10:20 AM, I was still faced with 40+ people in front of me. I brought a newspaper to read and finished it while standing in line and didn't submit my order until approximately 11:15 AM. Hot Doug’s is not very big inside but I commend them on efficiently managing the flow of people into the restaurant as you would expect a mad house inside with a place this popular. However, once you arrive inside there are ample seats to sit and feast on a specialty sausage and some duck fat rendered french fries (only available on Friday and Saturdays).
My last visit was over 3 years ago and I had 2 hot dogs and duck fat fries the day before I ran the 2005 Chicago Marathon. The hot dogs were very good but not worth the wait. Years later, I can say that getting premium sausages is worth the wait. And the duck fat fries, well, will get to those.
I had the Salma Hayek which is a hot andouille sausage with everything which includes caramelized onions, pickle, celery salt, mustard, relish, tomatoes and celery salt. I got the sausage char grilled and it was moderately spicy with a nice grilled flavor. It was good size and the condiments (especially the caramelized onions) were perfect on top of a nice soft bun. As good as this was, the real winner was the celebrity sausage of the day which was a Ribeye Steak Sausage with Chimichurri and Formaggi Podda. This was outstanding with steak stuffed in a casing topped with garlicky chimichurri sauce (olive oil, garlic and parsley sauce typically served in Argentine steak houses) and slices of parmesan like cheese. The duck fat fries (a huge portion enough for 3-4 for 3.50) are as good (actually much better) than I remember. They are outstanding, right there with Smoque for best fries in Chicago. Hot Doug’s actually has many specialty sausages like the Ribeye steak sausage making it very hard to pick 1 or 2 to feast on.
It is almost hard to admit it but Hot Doug's is a destination restaurant but it definitely is and the proprietor is making a fortune off of this place. This is a place that you will see on the news (if you haven't already) or on a food network special. Dining here is an event and is something worth putting in the effort to do at least once if you don't live in Chicago and at least once a year if you do. It isn't cheap (my tab was $16.50 for 2 sausages, ducks fat fries and a small fountain soda) but it is good. If you are going to go through all the effort to dine here though, don't waste your time with a hot dog. Focus on the sausage as this is what makes Hot Doug’s worth the wait.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Chicago (Japanese) - Tampopo
Tampopo
5665 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-561-2277
Date of Review: May, 2009
Tampopo is an authentic sushi spot far up Lincoln Avenue past Bryn Mawr. It is worth the drive as the fish here is fresh, tasty and served in generous portions. The atmosphere is pleasant and very typical of a Japanese restaurant with a small sushi bar, tables in the middle and booths on the perimeter of the restaurant. They do offer beer, wine, sake and soju but are BYOB on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The complimentary miso soup was solid and they offered 3 side dishes much like they do at a Korean restaurant (I think Tampopo is run by Koreans). The dishes (bean sprouts, pickled vegetables and strangely, macaroni salad) were nothing noteworthy but a nice touch. We ordered one excellent appetizer which consisted of 2 broiled mussels with crab meat and masago. Additionally, we ordered 2 sashimi appetizers which consisted of 10 half size pieces of salmon and tuna for $12.50 each. The healthy size slices of tuna and salmon were tasty and fresh. With our bellies filling up quickly, we decided to only go for 3 maki rolls. A word of warning: be careful when ordering maki rolls here as the portions are large (2 bite large). We ordered the spicy tuna, Amazon maki and the fire dragon. The Amazon has real crab, jalapeno, spicy mayo and cucumber stuffed inside with thick slices of tuna, salmon and avocado on the outside and is topped with cilantro and masago. This was outstanding as was the fire dragon which features unagi and avocado wrapped around spicy tuna, cucumber and green onion. These are some of the best rolls I have had in Chicago. The specialty rolls are pricy ($13.95) but they are worth it.
Our food bill and one beer came to a total of $62.50 and that included tax and tip.
I highly recommend purchasing a $25 gift certificate for $10 from the restaurant.com website ahead of time. It will reduce a bill by $25. Our waitress gladly accepted the certficate by saying "Of Course!" with a plesant smile.
5665 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-561-2277
Date of Review: May, 2009
Tampopo is an authentic sushi spot far up Lincoln Avenue past Bryn Mawr. It is worth the drive as the fish here is fresh, tasty and served in generous portions. The atmosphere is pleasant and very typical of a Japanese restaurant with a small sushi bar, tables in the middle and booths on the perimeter of the restaurant. They do offer beer, wine, sake and soju but are BYOB on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The complimentary miso soup was solid and they offered 3 side dishes much like they do at a Korean restaurant (I think Tampopo is run by Koreans). The dishes (bean sprouts, pickled vegetables and strangely, macaroni salad) were nothing noteworthy but a nice touch. We ordered one excellent appetizer which consisted of 2 broiled mussels with crab meat and masago. Additionally, we ordered 2 sashimi appetizers which consisted of 10 half size pieces of salmon and tuna for $12.50 each. The healthy size slices of tuna and salmon were tasty and fresh. With our bellies filling up quickly, we decided to only go for 3 maki rolls. A word of warning: be careful when ordering maki rolls here as the portions are large (2 bite large). We ordered the spicy tuna, Amazon maki and the fire dragon. The Amazon has real crab, jalapeno, spicy mayo and cucumber stuffed inside with thick slices of tuna, salmon and avocado on the outside and is topped with cilantro and masago. This was outstanding as was the fire dragon which features unagi and avocado wrapped around spicy tuna, cucumber and green onion. These are some of the best rolls I have had in Chicago. The specialty rolls are pricy ($13.95) but they are worth it.
Our food bill and one beer came to a total of $62.50 and that included tax and tip.
I highly recommend purchasing a $25 gift certificate for $10 from the restaurant.com website ahead of time. It will reduce a bill by $25. Our waitress gladly accepted the certficate by saying "Of Course!" with a plesant smile.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Chicago (Lunch) - First Slice Pie Cafe
First Slice Pie Café
4401 N. Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-769-4226
Date of Review: April, 2009
This is one of my favorite Chicago hidden gems and also one of my favorite lunch spots. This cozy 20 seat café is located in Ravenswood between Montrose and Irving Park within the Lillstreet Art Center. The Lillstreet Art Center supports the arts through an artist residency program, gallery, studio space, education and outreach program. The art center has a jewelry shop inside that sells pottery and jewelry and offers art classes for both children and adults. I have spent many afternoons reading the Economist or the newspaper, enjoying a gourmet sandwich and a large unique coffee mug (made in the art center) full of wonderful coffee. It is nice to know that the wonderful food all contributes to a great cause also. First Slice Pie Café has a subscriber program where an individual or family picks up a week’s worth of convenient, home-cooked, restaurant-quality meals each weekend and part of the subscription cost directly contributes to funding the same high-quality meals for people in need. They also have a community-supported kitchen (in another location) where volunteers and staff serve hot, high-quality three-course meals to approximately 100 men, women, and children. There are many kitchens that serve food to the needy but what sets First Slice Pie Café apart is the quality of the food. They use local organic ingredients and they serve the same high quality food to the needy that the subscribers and the people who dine in the café enjoy.
They have excellent soups, sandwiches and baked goods (cookies, pies, etc.). They also have quiches, tamales and fantastic assorted salads. I have never had anything I haven’t liked here and everything is freshly prepared. I usually opt for the sandwiches. There are a few seasonal sandwiches that rotate on and off the menu like the excellent lamb burger but some of the staples include the Duck and Mozzarella, Pear and Cheese, and Ham and Cheddar with Grilled Onions. The food is gourmet so all of the sandwiches have a twist with some kind of red pepper or garlic aioli or fruit chutney with some caramelized or grilled onions or sautéed spinach. This is far from a deli. They also have excellent desserts (hence the name) including Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Michigan Sour Cherry Pie, Blueberry and Apple Pies to name a few along with cookies and lemon squares among their sweet selections.
Prices range from $5-10 for almost everything on the menu.
4401 N. Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-769-4226
Date of Review: April, 2009
This is one of my favorite Chicago hidden gems and also one of my favorite lunch spots. This cozy 20 seat café is located in Ravenswood between Montrose and Irving Park within the Lillstreet Art Center. The Lillstreet Art Center supports the arts through an artist residency program, gallery, studio space, education and outreach program. The art center has a jewelry shop inside that sells pottery and jewelry and offers art classes for both children and adults. I have spent many afternoons reading the Economist or the newspaper, enjoying a gourmet sandwich and a large unique coffee mug (made in the art center) full of wonderful coffee. It is nice to know that the wonderful food all contributes to a great cause also. First Slice Pie Café has a subscriber program where an individual or family picks up a week’s worth of convenient, home-cooked, restaurant-quality meals each weekend and part of the subscription cost directly contributes to funding the same high-quality meals for people in need. They also have a community-supported kitchen (in another location) where volunteers and staff serve hot, high-quality three-course meals to approximately 100 men, women, and children. There are many kitchens that serve food to the needy but what sets First Slice Pie Café apart is the quality of the food. They use local organic ingredients and they serve the same high quality food to the needy that the subscribers and the people who dine in the café enjoy.
They have excellent soups, sandwiches and baked goods (cookies, pies, etc.). They also have quiches, tamales and fantastic assorted salads. I have never had anything I haven’t liked here and everything is freshly prepared. I usually opt for the sandwiches. There are a few seasonal sandwiches that rotate on and off the menu like the excellent lamb burger but some of the staples include the Duck and Mozzarella, Pear and Cheese, and Ham and Cheddar with Grilled Onions. The food is gourmet so all of the sandwiches have a twist with some kind of red pepper or garlic aioli or fruit chutney with some caramelized or grilled onions or sautéed spinach. This is far from a deli. They also have excellent desserts (hence the name) including Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Michigan Sour Cherry Pie, Blueberry and Apple Pies to name a few along with cookies and lemon squares among their sweet selections.
Prices range from $5-10 for almost everything on the menu.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Venice, California (Eclectic) - Gjelina
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA; Phone 310-450-1429
Date of Review: April, 2009
Rarely do I write reviews of restaurants outside of Chicago. However, sometimes a restaurant location or the way a particular meal touches me in just the right places inspires me to break my pattern and venture outside of Chicago in one of my reviews. A lunch date on Good Friday in April, 2009 is one of those times and Venice Beach and Gjelina are my inspiration.
As I walked around Abbot Kinney road in breathtaking Venice Beach, California on a sunny 70 degree day and tried to think how I could somehow increase my earning capacity to allow me to live in this setting year round, I was in a splendid mood. I walked into one gallery, furniture or clothing shop after another realizing quickly that I couldn’t afford anything. What I could afford though was food and drink. We walked by the Library Ale House in addition to other restaurants that caught our eye buy my fiancé Ivy mentioned a place called Gjelina and we decided to give it a try. Although there were many other wonderful options around us and our mind was still fresh with the memory of the excellent Happy Hour sushi dinner we had last night at Chaya, going to Gjelina proved to be the right decision.
The restaurant is unmarked with dark wood paneling on the outside and many windows allowing much light inside. We actually walked around the side and entered the restaurant through the patio entrance. The patio is outstanding and this is where we dined. It is situated in the back of the restaurant, seats 20-25 and gives one the feeling that they are sitting in someone’s very cool backyard. Casual but chic, there are fire pits that can be turned on to keep you warm and a view through a window into the kitchen. The inside of the restaurant is just as impressive with the same stone floor inside that is on the patio, a bar interestingly set behind glass, tables and lots of light. Gjelina looks cool, feels cool and is cool. However, the food is what sets apart this hip restaurant from many others that try to be the same thing.
The menu has starters, pizza, sandwiches and a variety of plates with fantastic vegetable side dishes that should not be underestimated. We decided to try a variety of dishes to get the full effect as plate sharing seems to be the norm based on the others enjoying lunch on this afternoon. We started with some refreshing drinks including the ginger Italian soda and a fresh lemonade / ice tea hybrid (better known as the Arnold Palmer – by the way, did he really invent this drink?) Our first dish was the PEI mussels steamed with ale, tomato and chorizo sausage in a savory broth with 2 slices of grilled bread for dipping. The mussels were tender and had excellent flavor. The sausage was a nice twist and we ended up using our spoons to eat the large bowl of broth as if it was a soup. Our next dish was the pizza and it was tough to select one based on the interesting variety of options available. Our selection featured thin slices of spicy sausage, a bit of mozzarella and shishito (a mini, sweet-hot, thin green pepper that is popular in Japan). This was a nice combination of flavors and the paper thin crust and fresh toppings made for a solid pizza. While I was satisfied, this was my least favorite dish and that says more about the rest of the menu than of my disappointment with the pizza. Maybe I was just jealous watching the guy across from me bite into his lamb burger. The chickpea stew with greens, Israeli couscous, spiced yogurt and Harissa (spicy red sauce) was outstanding. This dish would be great on a fall or winter day in Chicago. It was colorful and had just the right combination of colors (swirls of red and white) and flavors. Our last dish was the brussel sprouts with bacon and dates. This side dish was quite a combination of flavors that I saved for my last few bites despite a very full stomach. Sweet gooey dates, the roasted bitter flavor of the brussel sprouts and smoky bacon are a blend I will not soon forget and plan to try and replicate in my own kitchen. All of the vegetable side dishes I saw come out of the kitchen looked splendid including the French fries.
We had 4 dishes, 2 drinks and a ginger beer (which I wouldn’t order again) for a total of $92 and that included tax and tip. Gjelina isn’t cheap but we ordered 4 dishes and were on vacation justifying a more expensive lunch. What we got in return was one of the best and most innovative meals I remember having in some time. I plan on definitely visiting Gjelina again the next time I am in Los Angeles.
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA; Phone 310-450-1429
Date of Review: April, 2009
Rarely do I write reviews of restaurants outside of Chicago. However, sometimes a restaurant location or the way a particular meal touches me in just the right places inspires me to break my pattern and venture outside of Chicago in one of my reviews. A lunch date on Good Friday in April, 2009 is one of those times and Venice Beach and Gjelina are my inspiration.
As I walked around Abbot Kinney road in breathtaking Venice Beach, California on a sunny 70 degree day and tried to think how I could somehow increase my earning capacity to allow me to live in this setting year round, I was in a splendid mood. I walked into one gallery, furniture or clothing shop after another realizing quickly that I couldn’t afford anything. What I could afford though was food and drink. We walked by the Library Ale House in addition to other restaurants that caught our eye buy my fiancé Ivy mentioned a place called Gjelina and we decided to give it a try. Although there were many other wonderful options around us and our mind was still fresh with the memory of the excellent Happy Hour sushi dinner we had last night at Chaya, going to Gjelina proved to be the right decision.
The restaurant is unmarked with dark wood paneling on the outside and many windows allowing much light inside. We actually walked around the side and entered the restaurant through the patio entrance. The patio is outstanding and this is where we dined. It is situated in the back of the restaurant, seats 20-25 and gives one the feeling that they are sitting in someone’s very cool backyard. Casual but chic, there are fire pits that can be turned on to keep you warm and a view through a window into the kitchen. The inside of the restaurant is just as impressive with the same stone floor inside that is on the patio, a bar interestingly set behind glass, tables and lots of light. Gjelina looks cool, feels cool and is cool. However, the food is what sets apart this hip restaurant from many others that try to be the same thing.
The menu has starters, pizza, sandwiches and a variety of plates with fantastic vegetable side dishes that should not be underestimated. We decided to try a variety of dishes to get the full effect as plate sharing seems to be the norm based on the others enjoying lunch on this afternoon. We started with some refreshing drinks including the ginger Italian soda and a fresh lemonade / ice tea hybrid (better known as the Arnold Palmer – by the way, did he really invent this drink?) Our first dish was the PEI mussels steamed with ale, tomato and chorizo sausage in a savory broth with 2 slices of grilled bread for dipping. The mussels were tender and had excellent flavor. The sausage was a nice twist and we ended up using our spoons to eat the large bowl of broth as if it was a soup. Our next dish was the pizza and it was tough to select one based on the interesting variety of options available. Our selection featured thin slices of spicy sausage, a bit of mozzarella and shishito (a mini, sweet-hot, thin green pepper that is popular in Japan). This was a nice combination of flavors and the paper thin crust and fresh toppings made for a solid pizza. While I was satisfied, this was my least favorite dish and that says more about the rest of the menu than of my disappointment with the pizza. Maybe I was just jealous watching the guy across from me bite into his lamb burger. The chickpea stew with greens, Israeli couscous, spiced yogurt and Harissa (spicy red sauce) was outstanding. This dish would be great on a fall or winter day in Chicago. It was colorful and had just the right combination of colors (swirls of red and white) and flavors. Our last dish was the brussel sprouts with bacon and dates. This side dish was quite a combination of flavors that I saved for my last few bites despite a very full stomach. Sweet gooey dates, the roasted bitter flavor of the brussel sprouts and smoky bacon are a blend I will not soon forget and plan to try and replicate in my own kitchen. All of the vegetable side dishes I saw come out of the kitchen looked splendid including the French fries.
We had 4 dishes, 2 drinks and a ginger beer (which I wouldn’t order again) for a total of $92 and that included tax and tip. Gjelina isn’t cheap but we ordered 4 dishes and were on vacation justifying a more expensive lunch. What we got in return was one of the best and most innovative meals I remember having in some time. I plan on definitely visiting Gjelina again the next time I am in Los Angeles.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Chicago (Japanese) - Wakamono
Wakamono
3317 N. Broadway, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-296-6800
Date of Review: February, 2009
Wakamono is a chic little sushi spot on a busy stretch of Broadway (tough to find parking) that has good sushi at average prices in a fantastic environment. On top of that, it is BYOB.
I don’t usually get too enamored with atmosphere but it is hard not to be impressed by Wakamono. From the cute stools for people to wait for their seats near the entrance to the neat sake jars, and the colorful art work, this is a restaurant whose environment one can indulge in. This is a very cozy restaurant with small tables near each other. It is a great place to cork a bottle of wine, munch on some sushi and look into each other’s eyes. The adjoining bar next door (Wang’s) is in one word, awesome. It is a small place that feels like a lounge with accents of China crossed with a fantasy world. It is too neat to pass up for a drink after dinner, especially when it’s right next door.
We sampled a variety of sashimi and sushi rolls. We started with the seaweed salad. They gave us a large portion for $6 and it was decent although the dressing was a bit too sweet for my taste. We ordered 10 pieces of sashimi ($18). This was a chef’s assortment and it was high quality. We had a few rolls including a spicy white tuna, rainbow, sweet potato roll and the yellowtail jalapeno roll. All of the rolls were solid although the rainbow didn’t do much for me. I was particularly impressed with the sweet potato roll which had tempura yam, cream cheese and green onion and the yellowtail jalapeno roll which had just the perfect amount of kick to it.
Our food bill and 1 $5 corkage fee came to $85 and that included tax and tip. I will visit Wakamono again for good quality sushi in a neat, romantic environment.
3317 N. Broadway, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-296-6800
Date of Review: February, 2009
Wakamono is a chic little sushi spot on a busy stretch of Broadway (tough to find parking) that has good sushi at average prices in a fantastic environment. On top of that, it is BYOB.
I don’t usually get too enamored with atmosphere but it is hard not to be impressed by Wakamono. From the cute stools for people to wait for their seats near the entrance to the neat sake jars, and the colorful art work, this is a restaurant whose environment one can indulge in. This is a very cozy restaurant with small tables near each other. It is a great place to cork a bottle of wine, munch on some sushi and look into each other’s eyes. The adjoining bar next door (Wang’s) is in one word, awesome. It is a small place that feels like a lounge with accents of China crossed with a fantasy world. It is too neat to pass up for a drink after dinner, especially when it’s right next door.
We sampled a variety of sashimi and sushi rolls. We started with the seaweed salad. They gave us a large portion for $6 and it was decent although the dressing was a bit too sweet for my taste. We ordered 10 pieces of sashimi ($18). This was a chef’s assortment and it was high quality. We had a few rolls including a spicy white tuna, rainbow, sweet potato roll and the yellowtail jalapeno roll. All of the rolls were solid although the rainbow didn’t do much for me. I was particularly impressed with the sweet potato roll which had tempura yam, cream cheese and green onion and the yellowtail jalapeno roll which had just the perfect amount of kick to it.
Our food bill and 1 $5 corkage fee came to $85 and that included tax and tip. I will visit Wakamono again for good quality sushi in a neat, romantic environment.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Chicago (Chinese) - Spring World
Spring World
2109 S. China Place, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-326-9966
Date of Review: February, 2009
Specializing in Yunnan cuisine, Spring World is one of the few restaurants anywhere that focuses on cuisine from this region of China. Located in the middle of S China Place (in Chinatown), Spring World is an interesting place to locate. First of all, it was 1 degree Celsius with snow covering the ground so we were trying to locate a warm inside as quickly as possible. Secondly, I have never been to the interior of China Place which is a cross between New Orleans style building with stores and restaurants on the 2nd floor and an outdoor mall. Come to think of it, it reminds me a bit of some open air “places” I encountered in Singapore
The atmosphere in Spring World is pretty basic. It is about a 40 seat restaurant with mostly basic surroundings and 4 seat tables. It is clean, well lit and features prominently a TV that has the news being blurted out in Chinese.
We were having dinner and I already had an idea for some of the dishes I wanted to try based on my research of the restaurant and Yunnan cuisine. A nice start to the meal is a complimentary dish of 2 different types of cabbage and some peanuts. The cabbages were kimchi like with a different, but nice combination of spices. We started with the hot and sour soup. They give you a pretty large bowl for $1.95 and the flavor was quite good. It had a nice spice mix and the scallions gave it a nice flavor. This is a solid rendition of this dish. We decided to order 3 different dishes and sample them all. The best of the dishes we sampled was the stir fried chicken with rice cake. This dish featured small rice cake chunks that were the size of miniature tater tots. They were soft like a pillow and melted in your mouth like gnocchi. The spice mixture of red and green chiles, chicken, chunks of fresh ginger and garlic and lots of black pepper was a beautiful explosion of flavors in my mouth. It was bit greasy and that is the only thing that stopped me from eating everything on the plate. The colorful (lots of green scallions) spicy baby chicken was a little tame compared to the chicken with rice cake dish but it was still solid. There was loads of ginger, chicken, garlic and chili and I could pick up a slight taste off some rice wine vinegar which could have been a bit less prominent. The last dish we tried was the spicy shrimp. This dish featured a mountain of lightly fried shrimp speckled with red pepper. It was cooked with scallions and red pepper. It was decent, but just OK compared to the other 2 dishes. On another, visit I came for lunch and had the kung pao chicken. Interestingly, the complimentary cabbages weren’t offered with lunch. This dish had chunks of fresh ginger in the dish, but it lacked the spiciness that I had hoped it would offer. There were plenty of red chilis but I needed to actually bite into them to get to something spicy. The portions are large and my favorite thing about Spring World is the fact that all dishes are made to order so the food comes out fresh, hot and quickly. The bad thing is that the food is pretty greasy. It is not all that healthy as everything that I have tried is stir fried in a fair bit of oil. There are many other healthier options on the menu that we didn’t opt for including many Yunnan mushroom dishes and the hot pot which features meat and vegetables that you cook in huge pot of broth on your table.
On one visit, our total bill came to $39 for 1 bowl of soup and 3 entrees. We had water and tea is included. This is a good value for the quantity and quality of the food which is solid and probably one of the better options for a meal in Chinatown. This restaurant is also BYOB.
2109 S. China Place, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-326-9966
Date of Review: February, 2009
Specializing in Yunnan cuisine, Spring World is one of the few restaurants anywhere that focuses on cuisine from this region of China. Located in the middle of S China Place (in Chinatown), Spring World is an interesting place to locate. First of all, it was 1 degree Celsius with snow covering the ground so we were trying to locate a warm inside as quickly as possible. Secondly, I have never been to the interior of China Place which is a cross between New Orleans style building with stores and restaurants on the 2nd floor and an outdoor mall. Come to think of it, it reminds me a bit of some open air “places” I encountered in Singapore
The atmosphere in Spring World is pretty basic. It is about a 40 seat restaurant with mostly basic surroundings and 4 seat tables. It is clean, well lit and features prominently a TV that has the news being blurted out in Chinese.
We were having dinner and I already had an idea for some of the dishes I wanted to try based on my research of the restaurant and Yunnan cuisine. A nice start to the meal is a complimentary dish of 2 different types of cabbage and some peanuts. The cabbages were kimchi like with a different, but nice combination of spices. We started with the hot and sour soup. They give you a pretty large bowl for $1.95 and the flavor was quite good. It had a nice spice mix and the scallions gave it a nice flavor. This is a solid rendition of this dish. We decided to order 3 different dishes and sample them all. The best of the dishes we sampled was the stir fried chicken with rice cake. This dish featured small rice cake chunks that were the size of miniature tater tots. They were soft like a pillow and melted in your mouth like gnocchi. The spice mixture of red and green chiles, chicken, chunks of fresh ginger and garlic and lots of black pepper was a beautiful explosion of flavors in my mouth. It was bit greasy and that is the only thing that stopped me from eating everything on the plate. The colorful (lots of green scallions) spicy baby chicken was a little tame compared to the chicken with rice cake dish but it was still solid. There was loads of ginger, chicken, garlic and chili and I could pick up a slight taste off some rice wine vinegar which could have been a bit less prominent. The last dish we tried was the spicy shrimp. This dish featured a mountain of lightly fried shrimp speckled with red pepper. It was cooked with scallions and red pepper. It was decent, but just OK compared to the other 2 dishes. On another, visit I came for lunch and had the kung pao chicken. Interestingly, the complimentary cabbages weren’t offered with lunch. This dish had chunks of fresh ginger in the dish, but it lacked the spiciness that I had hoped it would offer. There were plenty of red chilis but I needed to actually bite into them to get to something spicy. The portions are large and my favorite thing about Spring World is the fact that all dishes are made to order so the food comes out fresh, hot and quickly. The bad thing is that the food is pretty greasy. It is not all that healthy as everything that I have tried is stir fried in a fair bit of oil. There are many other healthier options on the menu that we didn’t opt for including many Yunnan mushroom dishes and the hot pot which features meat and vegetables that you cook in huge pot of broth on your table.
On one visit, our total bill came to $39 for 1 bowl of soup and 3 entrees. We had water and tea is included. This is a good value for the quantity and quality of the food which is solid and probably one of the better options for a meal in Chinatown. This restaurant is also BYOB.
Chicago (American) - Handlebar
Handlebar
2311 W. North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-384-9546
Date of Review: February, 2009
Handlebar is one of those places that tries to be cool and actually is. What they are doing with their beers and innovative (predominantly vegetarian) dishes makes it more than worth taking a look at. Located on a slightly less busy section of North Avenue, Handlebar is perfectly placed an earshot away from the hustle and bustle of Wicker Park and just close enough to feel the edginess of Logan Square and Humboldt Park. Based on the cool, slightly alterative layout of the interior of the restaurant (they also have an outdoor dining area in the back), I would say it is located right where it belongs. They have a small bar with counter space for about 10 with many different stickers and other paraphernalia affixed to the cabinets behind the bar.
They have an impressive beer menu with many micro brew beers and Belgian ales that would raise the eyebrows of those who frequent the Map Room or Quenchers nearby. They also have excellent fresh squeezed lemonade with free refills. For appetizers, the chips and salsa are solid and come with 2 homemade salsas (a green tomatillo and a wonderful pico de gallo). A much better option though is the Chili Quesadillas. This large quesadilla is filled with veggie chili, cheese and avocado and is served with pico de gallo and tortilla chips. The chili is the key to the dish as it has a nice flavor with just the right amount of spice. The portion is large enough to have as an entrée (which I did once).
For entrees, I enjoyed the Black Beans Maduro which features sweet plantains layered with brown rice, jack cheese and beans with a spicy chipotle tomato sauce. The combination of flavors with the sauce and sweet plantains really works and I found myself enjoying the dish even more as I got deeper into it. The fish tacos include 3 large tacos, some veggie chili and a nice size scoop of brown rice. Filled with grilled catfish, jack cheese, red cabbage, avocado and served with tomatillo salsa and sour cream, this dish is unexceptional, yet a solid bet for a filling dinner. All of their side dishes sound very appetizing but the only ones I have tried are the collard greens and the French fries. The collard greens were only ok but the fresh cut fries are fantastic, some of the best I have had in Chicago. I am much more cognizant of the quality of fries these days as I try and avoid this unhealthy indulgence and it is kind of a downer when you splurge to have them and they are just average. You won’t have that problem at Handlebar.
The prices are pretty reasonable with most sandwiches (served with 1 side) priced between 8 and 9 dollars. The entrees are reasonable too as there is nothing on the menu over $15 and most are priced around $10. On one visit, I had lemonade, chips and salsa and the Black Beans Maduro and my total bill was $17 with tax, not including tip. On another visit, we had the quesadillas, fish tacos, veggie burger special (very good), side of fries and 2 beers for $44 with tax, but no tip. All of the portions are large, ensuring that you get a lot of food for the buck.
They also have an impressive brunch menu.
2311 W. North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-384-9546
Date of Review: February, 2009
Handlebar is one of those places that tries to be cool and actually is. What they are doing with their beers and innovative (predominantly vegetarian) dishes makes it more than worth taking a look at. Located on a slightly less busy section of North Avenue, Handlebar is perfectly placed an earshot away from the hustle and bustle of Wicker Park and just close enough to feel the edginess of Logan Square and Humboldt Park. Based on the cool, slightly alterative layout of the interior of the restaurant (they also have an outdoor dining area in the back), I would say it is located right where it belongs. They have a small bar with counter space for about 10 with many different stickers and other paraphernalia affixed to the cabinets behind the bar.
They have an impressive beer menu with many micro brew beers and Belgian ales that would raise the eyebrows of those who frequent the Map Room or Quenchers nearby. They also have excellent fresh squeezed lemonade with free refills. For appetizers, the chips and salsa are solid and come with 2 homemade salsas (a green tomatillo and a wonderful pico de gallo). A much better option though is the Chili Quesadillas. This large quesadilla is filled with veggie chili, cheese and avocado and is served with pico de gallo and tortilla chips. The chili is the key to the dish as it has a nice flavor with just the right amount of spice. The portion is large enough to have as an entrée (which I did once).
For entrees, I enjoyed the Black Beans Maduro which features sweet plantains layered with brown rice, jack cheese and beans with a spicy chipotle tomato sauce. The combination of flavors with the sauce and sweet plantains really works and I found myself enjoying the dish even more as I got deeper into it. The fish tacos include 3 large tacos, some veggie chili and a nice size scoop of brown rice. Filled with grilled catfish, jack cheese, red cabbage, avocado and served with tomatillo salsa and sour cream, this dish is unexceptional, yet a solid bet for a filling dinner. All of their side dishes sound very appetizing but the only ones I have tried are the collard greens and the French fries. The collard greens were only ok but the fresh cut fries are fantastic, some of the best I have had in Chicago. I am much more cognizant of the quality of fries these days as I try and avoid this unhealthy indulgence and it is kind of a downer when you splurge to have them and they are just average. You won’t have that problem at Handlebar.
The prices are pretty reasonable with most sandwiches (served with 1 side) priced between 8 and 9 dollars. The entrees are reasonable too as there is nothing on the menu over $15 and most are priced around $10. On one visit, I had lemonade, chips and salsa and the Black Beans Maduro and my total bill was $17 with tax, not including tip. On another visit, we had the quesadillas, fish tacos, veggie burger special (very good), side of fries and 2 beers for $44 with tax, but no tip. All of the portions are large, ensuring that you get a lot of food for the buck.
They also have an impressive brunch menu.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Chicago (Persian) - Noon-O-Kabab
Noon-O-Kabab
4661 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL; 773-279-8899
Date of Review: January, 2009
Noon-O-Kabab is a quaint store front restaurant located on Kedzie Avenue in a neat part of Albany Park. The restaurant is located across the street from the Kedzie brown line stop.
This neighborhood restaurant has a more formal and very pleasant atmosphere than I expected with table cloths on each table and a nicely decorated dining area. The cuisine is Persian, which means the owners are from Iran. The restaurant is quite large and features Persian design and décor throughout.
Noon, the restaurant's name, means bread, and the house bread is a soft and flavorful lighter version of naan ideal for making your own sandwich with kebab pieces, or for mopping up any juices or bits of food left on the plate. A complimentary basket of this naan is served with a plate of radishes, sweet white onion, parsley and nice feta cheese. For appetizers, the hummus is covered with a generous portion of olive oil and is also served with naan. The hummus was solid and even better when you sprinkled some of the feta over the top (unless you ate it all already). On another visit, we ordered a sample of spreads and dips for $13.50. This included hummus, some excellent smoky baba ghanoush, another smoky and spicy eggplant spread and 2 types of yogurt dips with bread. I am not usually a big fan of baba ghanoush but I found the variations at Noon O Kabab very good and the yogurt dips were excellent.
Our first visit was for lunch so we both opted to go for sandwiches although they have a big menu with over 50 menu items ranging from meat to seafood to vegetarian entrees. We also ordered a side order of dill rice. It is a large portion for the price ($3.95) and is very flavorful with loads of dill throughout the white rice which is topped with a bit of yellow saffron rice. As for our kabab sandwiches, we ordered the chicken kabab and the rib eye kabab. Priced at $5.95 and $6.95, this is great value. They aren’t served with anything but the portion is very large. Wrapped in more naan bread, there was a skewer of beef or chicken with onions, tomatoes and lettuce inside. The chicken and beef both had a nice char broiled flavor and they did an excellent job of cooking the meat perfectly as there wasn’t even a hint of dryness which is tough to do with chicken. On another visit, I ordered lamb and chicken kabobs and experienced the same thing. I don’t know what they put in the marinade but the meat is incredibly flavorful and tasty! The fresh and tasty spicy sauce (you must request it) made our kababs taste all the better (and spicier). On another visit, I tried the ghormeh sabzi which is a stew of fresh spinach, parsley, green onions, cilantro, Persian dried lime, chunks of choice beef and red beans. This dish had a lot of interesting flavors and went well over their excellent dill rice. What was best about this dish it is that I knew I was eating something that I would have a tough time finding at any other restaurant in Chicago. They also have some excellent vegetarian menu options that are full of interesting flavors including the very sweet shirin polo which includes things like orange peel jam, golden raisins and shredded carrots.
Noon-O-Kabab offers great value with the entrees ranging from 8-16$ for a voluminous amount of food. On 1 visit, we had 1 cup of flavorful Persian hot tea, a small order of hummus, 2 kabab sandwiches and a plate of dill rice for $28 including tax and tip for a large portion of outstanding food. On another visit, I dined with a friend whose family is from Tehran and she assured me that the food at Noon-O-Kabab is authentic as what many Persians have in their own home. Noon-O-Kabab does have a full bar.
4661 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL; 773-279-8899
Date of Review: January, 2009
Noon-O-Kabab is a quaint store front restaurant located on Kedzie Avenue in a neat part of Albany Park. The restaurant is located across the street from the Kedzie brown line stop.
This neighborhood restaurant has a more formal and very pleasant atmosphere than I expected with table cloths on each table and a nicely decorated dining area. The cuisine is Persian, which means the owners are from Iran. The restaurant is quite large and features Persian design and décor throughout.
Noon, the restaurant's name, means bread, and the house bread is a soft and flavorful lighter version of naan ideal for making your own sandwich with kebab pieces, or for mopping up any juices or bits of food left on the plate. A complimentary basket of this naan is served with a plate of radishes, sweet white onion, parsley and nice feta cheese. For appetizers, the hummus is covered with a generous portion of olive oil and is also served with naan. The hummus was solid and even better when you sprinkled some of the feta over the top (unless you ate it all already). On another visit, we ordered a sample of spreads and dips for $13.50. This included hummus, some excellent smoky baba ghanoush, another smoky and spicy eggplant spread and 2 types of yogurt dips with bread. I am not usually a big fan of baba ghanoush but I found the variations at Noon O Kabab very good and the yogurt dips were excellent.
Our first visit was for lunch so we both opted to go for sandwiches although they have a big menu with over 50 menu items ranging from meat to seafood to vegetarian entrees. We also ordered a side order of dill rice. It is a large portion for the price ($3.95) and is very flavorful with loads of dill throughout the white rice which is topped with a bit of yellow saffron rice. As for our kabab sandwiches, we ordered the chicken kabab and the rib eye kabab. Priced at $5.95 and $6.95, this is great value. They aren’t served with anything but the portion is very large. Wrapped in more naan bread, there was a skewer of beef or chicken with onions, tomatoes and lettuce inside. The chicken and beef both had a nice char broiled flavor and they did an excellent job of cooking the meat perfectly as there wasn’t even a hint of dryness which is tough to do with chicken. On another visit, I ordered lamb and chicken kabobs and experienced the same thing. I don’t know what they put in the marinade but the meat is incredibly flavorful and tasty! The fresh and tasty spicy sauce (you must request it) made our kababs taste all the better (and spicier). On another visit, I tried the ghormeh sabzi which is a stew of fresh spinach, parsley, green onions, cilantro, Persian dried lime, chunks of choice beef and red beans. This dish had a lot of interesting flavors and went well over their excellent dill rice. What was best about this dish it is that I knew I was eating something that I would have a tough time finding at any other restaurant in Chicago. They also have some excellent vegetarian menu options that are full of interesting flavors including the very sweet shirin polo which includes things like orange peel jam, golden raisins and shredded carrots.
Noon-O-Kabab offers great value with the entrees ranging from 8-16$ for a voluminous amount of food. On 1 visit, we had 1 cup of flavorful Persian hot tea, a small order of hummus, 2 kabab sandwiches and a plate of dill rice for $28 including tax and tip for a large portion of outstanding food. On another visit, I dined with a friend whose family is from Tehran and she assured me that the food at Noon-O-Kabab is authentic as what many Persians have in their own home. Noon-O-Kabab does have a full bar.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Chicago (American) - Café Too
Café Too
4715 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-275-0626
Date of Review: January, 2009
Good food, cozy atmosphere, and all while helping the greater good. How can you pass on that? Café Too helps individuals gain valuable employment skills in Inspiration Café’s endeavor to end homelessness in Chicago. Run by the Inspiration Corporation -- the nonprofit behind neighboring Inspiration Cafe and Woodlawn's Living Room Café -- Cafe Too is designed to provide culinary training and job skills to the social-service organization's clients. At Café Too, you can eat well and help the community at the same time.
I had lunch on a cold, wintery day in January prior to heading over to a meeting at the Inspiration Corporation office on Broadway. I found parking without too much of a problem on the street although I imagine parking could be a challenge depending on the time of a day. I felt a sense of calm and cozy relaxation in the restaurant. They were playing cool, enjoyable music at just the right volume and the servers and cooks were interested in what I thought about the food. They wanted my opinion and that felt good. It also made me want to read another section of the paper, have another cup of their very good coffee and stay awhile. With a street side view of Sheridan, I saddled up to a seat at the bar surrounding the exterior of this 39 seat restaurant and did just that.
I planned to have lunch but since I skipped breakfast, I was tempted enough to precede my lunch with a cup of chicken soup. The server told me it was excellent. The soup was flavorful and savory with chunks of whole chicken (not just breast pieces) and slight undertones of lemon and garlic. There was a lot of it too as I was offered a bowl size portion for $2. They offered some kind of home-made chip/cracker in a paper cone that went well with the soup. For lunch, I had the black bean burger with a side salad (other side options include soup, regular fries or sweet potato fries). Twelve different ingredients go into this burger and it was excellent. An interesting aspect of the burger is that the exterior was crispy indicating some slight pan frying before serving. This sandwich had flavor in every bite and the toppings of red pepper mayo, cheddar and avocado on a Kaiser roll only added to this tasty and very filing sandwich. The salad served with the burger was typical and average with assorted lettuce served with shredded carrots, lettuce and tomato. The home-made feta chive dressing was decent but wasn’t as tasty as the description sounded. On another visit for brunch, I had the Frittata Rosso. This large baked open faced omelet was studded with chicken sausage, peppers and onions and was topped with farmers cheese and a roasted red pepper sauce. The frittata was satisfying and the home fry like hash browns were crispy and tasty.
During my lunch visit, my total bill came to an extremely reasonable $12.79 for coffee, soup and a sandwich and I left full and content. They offer a dinner special of 3 courses for $16.50 or 5 courses for $22.50. For innovative food in a pleasant atmosphere, Café Too is hard to beat. This is also a BYOB restaurant (no corkage fee), they offer free Wi-Fi and just got a visit from Check, Please!
4715 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-275-0626
Date of Review: January, 2009
Good food, cozy atmosphere, and all while helping the greater good. How can you pass on that? Café Too helps individuals gain valuable employment skills in Inspiration Café’s endeavor to end homelessness in Chicago. Run by the Inspiration Corporation -- the nonprofit behind neighboring Inspiration Cafe and Woodlawn's Living Room Café -- Cafe Too is designed to provide culinary training and job skills to the social-service organization's clients. At Café Too, you can eat well and help the community at the same time.
I had lunch on a cold, wintery day in January prior to heading over to a meeting at the Inspiration Corporation office on Broadway. I found parking without too much of a problem on the street although I imagine parking could be a challenge depending on the time of a day. I felt a sense of calm and cozy relaxation in the restaurant. They were playing cool, enjoyable music at just the right volume and the servers and cooks were interested in what I thought about the food. They wanted my opinion and that felt good. It also made me want to read another section of the paper, have another cup of their very good coffee and stay awhile. With a street side view of Sheridan, I saddled up to a seat at the bar surrounding the exterior of this 39 seat restaurant and did just that.
I planned to have lunch but since I skipped breakfast, I was tempted enough to precede my lunch with a cup of chicken soup. The server told me it was excellent. The soup was flavorful and savory with chunks of whole chicken (not just breast pieces) and slight undertones of lemon and garlic. There was a lot of it too as I was offered a bowl size portion for $2. They offered some kind of home-made chip/cracker in a paper cone that went well with the soup. For lunch, I had the black bean burger with a side salad (other side options include soup, regular fries or sweet potato fries). Twelve different ingredients go into this burger and it was excellent. An interesting aspect of the burger is that the exterior was crispy indicating some slight pan frying before serving. This sandwich had flavor in every bite and the toppings of red pepper mayo, cheddar and avocado on a Kaiser roll only added to this tasty and very filing sandwich. The salad served with the burger was typical and average with assorted lettuce served with shredded carrots, lettuce and tomato. The home-made feta chive dressing was decent but wasn’t as tasty as the description sounded. On another visit for brunch, I had the Frittata Rosso. This large baked open faced omelet was studded with chicken sausage, peppers and onions and was topped with farmers cheese and a roasted red pepper sauce. The frittata was satisfying and the home fry like hash browns were crispy and tasty.
During my lunch visit, my total bill came to an extremely reasonable $12.79 for coffee, soup and a sandwich and I left full and content. They offer a dinner special of 3 courses for $16.50 or 5 courses for $22.50. For innovative food in a pleasant atmosphere, Café Too is hard to beat. This is also a BYOB restaurant (no corkage fee), they offer free Wi-Fi and just got a visit from Check, Please!
Chicago (American) - Publican
Publican
837 W. Fulton Market (at N. Green Street), Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-733-9555
Date of Review: April, 2009
A new restaurant by the owners of Blackbird and Publican, this is one hot West Loop spot. You will be impressed by the décor and layout of the restaurant immediately and while your road may have some twists and an occasional bump in the road, your dining experience is likely to be one you would like to repeat.
Publican reminds me of something from my travels but I am not sure what. The 100 plus large round bulb lights hanging from the ceiling provide uniformity to the place that feels like Germany. However, the long wooden beer pulls for the draught beer remind me of a monastery in Belgium. The large wooden communal dining tables remind me of pictures of the last supper. The wooden booths with private closing doors that take up one wall of the restaurant are like nothing I have ever seen. For someone who sits all day, the bar tables void of chairs are a refreshing way to enjoy a drink while you wait for your guests and the seats at the bar are actual settings, plate and silverware in place and all. All of the servers are knowledgeable about the diverse menu and many beer options available and they have an air of professionalism as they are all dressed in doctor like jackets adorned with the name of the restaurant in the upper right hand corner. They add more chic to an already cool place and this doesn’t even mention the bathroom area which is one of the best in Chicago.
The beer list is extensive with 10-12 very unordinary draught options and a bottle list loaded with high alcohol content beers that would appeal to anyone who is a fan of the Map Room or Hopleaf. The menu is a mix of tapas style appetizer sharing plates and larger plates that can be shared communally or taken as a personal entrée. This restaurant is definitely the sort of place where you order a few things and sample them amongst a group. The menu is anything but ordinary making it somewhat difficult to comment positively or negatively on some of the menu items. If you have never had any reason to think you would eat pork brain and never have, it is hard to say whether you like it or not. We did order the pork rinds (prepared with cider vinegar and salt) and some cheese and bread to munch on while having a beer. Pork rinds are an acquired taste but I found this version to be tasty, well seasoned and freshly fried. The cheese was outstanding and was served with some warm, chewy brown bread that was out of this world.
The tasty house pickles include a cabbage pickle, sweet bread and butter pickle and a jicama like pickle and go great with a beer. The assortment of 3 hams included Serrano ham and 2 others. One was outstanding and the other 2 were average but it was way overpriced at $18. The seafood dishes including the mussels and Basque stew (salt cod, shrimp, octopus, clams, mussels, tomatoes, oranges, etc.) are outstanding and not to be missed. The country rib was absolutely succulent as it looks like 2 big pork chops and tastes like heaven. The steak tartare was very good (much better then when I had it in Paris) and was served with their outstanding frites. By the way, the full order of fries is served in a cone just like in Amsterdam or Belgium along with some tasty garlic mayonnaise although the version of fries with eggs served on top offers a different variation that is just as good. The pork brain was OK. I have never had it before so it is hard to say much about it but after a few bites, I had enough. The half (or whole) chicken with summer sausage served on top of fries is scrumptious. Like many, chicken has a tendency to bore me at times, but not here. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor. It is one of the best dishes I’ve had at the Publican. We were all excited about the Potee which features pork loin, sausage and oxtail shoulder with carrots and pearl onions. Unfortunately, we were disappointed. For $25, we expected a good size portion but this would have not even sufficed as an entrée for one person. The pork loin and oxtail shoulder were good but the sausage was average and the dish overpriced. Another dish we tried that I highly recommend is the beets with walnuts and mozzarella. The beets were sweet and so fresh that could see their veins (almost like a tomato) and the mozzarella was some of the best I have ever had as the taste was so pure it was hard to describe. The bread pudding for dessert was good, but nothing worth elaborating on.
On one visit, we had 16 beers (some quite expensive), 2 desserts and an assortment of appetizers and entrees and we ended up with a bill of $290 which included tax, but not tip. On another visit, a party of 10 shared an assortment of dishes and the bill came to $77 a head with everything included. You can eat for cheaper at the Publican but you do pay for the quality of the ingredients which are mostly local and organic. All in all, I really liked the place and am looking forward to another visit.
837 W. Fulton Market (at N. Green Street), Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-733-9555
Date of Review: April, 2009
A new restaurant by the owners of Blackbird and Publican, this is one hot West Loop spot. You will be impressed by the décor and layout of the restaurant immediately and while your road may have some twists and an occasional bump in the road, your dining experience is likely to be one you would like to repeat.
Publican reminds me of something from my travels but I am not sure what. The 100 plus large round bulb lights hanging from the ceiling provide uniformity to the place that feels like Germany. However, the long wooden beer pulls for the draught beer remind me of a monastery in Belgium. The large wooden communal dining tables remind me of pictures of the last supper. The wooden booths with private closing doors that take up one wall of the restaurant are like nothing I have ever seen. For someone who sits all day, the bar tables void of chairs are a refreshing way to enjoy a drink while you wait for your guests and the seats at the bar are actual settings, plate and silverware in place and all. All of the servers are knowledgeable about the diverse menu and many beer options available and they have an air of professionalism as they are all dressed in doctor like jackets adorned with the name of the restaurant in the upper right hand corner. They add more chic to an already cool place and this doesn’t even mention the bathroom area which is one of the best in Chicago.
The beer list is extensive with 10-12 very unordinary draught options and a bottle list loaded with high alcohol content beers that would appeal to anyone who is a fan of the Map Room or Hopleaf. The menu is a mix of tapas style appetizer sharing plates and larger plates that can be shared communally or taken as a personal entrée. This restaurant is definitely the sort of place where you order a few things and sample them amongst a group. The menu is anything but ordinary making it somewhat difficult to comment positively or negatively on some of the menu items. If you have never had any reason to think you would eat pork brain and never have, it is hard to say whether you like it or not. We did order the pork rinds (prepared with cider vinegar and salt) and some cheese and bread to munch on while having a beer. Pork rinds are an acquired taste but I found this version to be tasty, well seasoned and freshly fried. The cheese was outstanding and was served with some warm, chewy brown bread that was out of this world.
The tasty house pickles include a cabbage pickle, sweet bread and butter pickle and a jicama like pickle and go great with a beer. The assortment of 3 hams included Serrano ham and 2 others. One was outstanding and the other 2 were average but it was way overpriced at $18. The seafood dishes including the mussels and Basque stew (salt cod, shrimp, octopus, clams, mussels, tomatoes, oranges, etc.) are outstanding and not to be missed. The country rib was absolutely succulent as it looks like 2 big pork chops and tastes like heaven. The steak tartare was very good (much better then when I had it in Paris) and was served with their outstanding frites. By the way, the full order of fries is served in a cone just like in Amsterdam or Belgium along with some tasty garlic mayonnaise although the version of fries with eggs served on top offers a different variation that is just as good. The pork brain was OK. I have never had it before so it is hard to say much about it but after a few bites, I had enough. The half (or whole) chicken with summer sausage served on top of fries is scrumptious. Like many, chicken has a tendency to bore me at times, but not here. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor. It is one of the best dishes I’ve had at the Publican. We were all excited about the Potee which features pork loin, sausage and oxtail shoulder with carrots and pearl onions. Unfortunately, we were disappointed. For $25, we expected a good size portion but this would have not even sufficed as an entrée for one person. The pork loin and oxtail shoulder were good but the sausage was average and the dish overpriced. Another dish we tried that I highly recommend is the beets with walnuts and mozzarella. The beets were sweet and so fresh that could see their veins (almost like a tomato) and the mozzarella was some of the best I have ever had as the taste was so pure it was hard to describe. The bread pudding for dessert was good, but nothing worth elaborating on.
On one visit, we had 16 beers (some quite expensive), 2 desserts and an assortment of appetizers and entrees and we ended up with a bill of $290 which included tax, but not tip. On another visit, a party of 10 shared an assortment of dishes and the bill came to $77 a head with everything included. You can eat for cheaper at the Publican but you do pay for the quality of the ingredients which are mostly local and organic. All in all, I really liked the place and am looking forward to another visit.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Chicago (Italian) - Terragusto Cafe
Terragusto Cafe
1851 W. Addison Street, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-248-2777
Date of Review: January, 2009
Terragusto Café serves the best Italian food I have had outside of Italy. On top of it, I can’t think of another restaurant in Chicago that has delivered so emphatically on every aspect of the meal including atmosphere, quality and taste of food, value and service. With home-made pasta, sauces made the way they are made in Italy and a romantic atmosphere, I am thoroughly disappointed that this was the first time I visited this restaurant after 3 years of its existence.
The atmosphere in Terragusto is very romantic. We sat at the table that faces Addison Avenue and looked out onto the snow covered streets. It felt even better that we could look each other in the eyes and that we were eating on the same table that is used to make all of the restaurant’s homemade pasta. The back of the restaurant is spacious and has seating for about 40.
As a complimentary starter, they offered a few slices of bread with some olives sitting in olive oil. The olives were excellent and we used the oil they were sitting in to dip the bread into. This was just a taste and you wouldn’t want to get filled up with what was to come. We went for the Italian meal option which must be ordered by the entire table. It allows each diner to pick an appetizer (antipasti) and a pasta (primi piatti) and they pick one main course (secondi) to share. For $38.50 per person, this seemed like a good option for us. You can also order dish by dish a la carte or can go for 2 courses and skip the 3rd. We selected the polenta and the crostini. Both were fantastic and large in portion. There were 3 slices of 3 different types of crostini all served on wonderful grilled slices of bread. One featured buffalo mozzarella nearly with a tiny anchovy in a bit of olive oil on top. A second had nice deeply flavored smoked ham with a rosemary aioli. The third had a tarragon chicken salad that was full of flavor. As good as these were, the polenta was even better. We were presented with an entrée size portion of polenta squares that had just the right consistency of crispiness outside and softness in. The mushroom ragu was hearty and had such a deep flavor that it brought back memories of a forest mushroom soup I had years ago in Rhineland Germany. After this 1st course, Ivy and I were both blown away and were excited about the pasta course to come.
We ordered the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese Tartufato. This is the Bolognese of Bologna with only a hint of tomato. This version was rich with meat and cheese throughout and a touch of white truffle. The pasta was melt in your mouth good as I put one forkful after another into my mouth. When our third course came out and I still had some pasta left, I made sure to continue to pay attention to this dish despite the fact that I was trying to fillet a whole fish. The second pasta we ordered was a black linguini pasta that was dyed with squid ink and served with shrimp. There was a slight hint of spiciness in this dish but the majority of the flavor came from the equally perfect pasta and its flavor of squid. At this point, we were both stuffed and thoroughly convinced that this would be a place we would be coming to for a long time to come, yet we still had a whole sea bream looking at us. This large fish was prepared with a simple rub and topped with lemon. It had a gorgeous fresh taste and was served with sautéed spinach and another chunk of wonderful polenta. The fish was as good as everything else although I don’t know if we enjoyed it as much as we should have given out state of fullness.
We did opt for dessert which wasn’t included in the Italian Meal price. We had the gelato and sorbet combination. This included one scoop of vanilla gelato flanked by one scoop of apple cinnamon sorbet and another of berry sorbet. The gelato was creamy and the sorbet solid but I have had better and for $8.50, the portion didn’t justify the price. We should have just stuck with coffee for dessert as the beans are grinded in house and I don’t know if I have ever had a more flavorful cup in my life.
The server was excellent as he got us excited about each dish and talked intelligently about the restaurant, its evolution and its menu. The total bill came to $100.86 including tax but not tip. This was for 2 Italian meals, 1 dessert and 2 cups of coffee. The restaurant is BYOB and they only charge $1 for a recycling fee to open the bottle. For the quality of the food, ambience and service, I think one will be hard pressed to find a better dining experience in Chicago.
1851 W. Addison Street, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-248-2777
Date of Review: January, 2009
Terragusto Café serves the best Italian food I have had outside of Italy. On top of it, I can’t think of another restaurant in Chicago that has delivered so emphatically on every aspect of the meal including atmosphere, quality and taste of food, value and service. With home-made pasta, sauces made the way they are made in Italy and a romantic atmosphere, I am thoroughly disappointed that this was the first time I visited this restaurant after 3 years of its existence.
The atmosphere in Terragusto is very romantic. We sat at the table that faces Addison Avenue and looked out onto the snow covered streets. It felt even better that we could look each other in the eyes and that we were eating on the same table that is used to make all of the restaurant’s homemade pasta. The back of the restaurant is spacious and has seating for about 40.
As a complimentary starter, they offered a few slices of bread with some olives sitting in olive oil. The olives were excellent and we used the oil they were sitting in to dip the bread into. This was just a taste and you wouldn’t want to get filled up with what was to come. We went for the Italian meal option which must be ordered by the entire table. It allows each diner to pick an appetizer (antipasti) and a pasta (primi piatti) and they pick one main course (secondi) to share. For $38.50 per person, this seemed like a good option for us. You can also order dish by dish a la carte or can go for 2 courses and skip the 3rd. We selected the polenta and the crostini. Both were fantastic and large in portion. There were 3 slices of 3 different types of crostini all served on wonderful grilled slices of bread. One featured buffalo mozzarella nearly with a tiny anchovy in a bit of olive oil on top. A second had nice deeply flavored smoked ham with a rosemary aioli. The third had a tarragon chicken salad that was full of flavor. As good as these were, the polenta was even better. We were presented with an entrée size portion of polenta squares that had just the right consistency of crispiness outside and softness in. The mushroom ragu was hearty and had such a deep flavor that it brought back memories of a forest mushroom soup I had years ago in Rhineland Germany. After this 1st course, Ivy and I were both blown away and were excited about the pasta course to come.
We ordered the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese Tartufato. This is the Bolognese of Bologna with only a hint of tomato. This version was rich with meat and cheese throughout and a touch of white truffle. The pasta was melt in your mouth good as I put one forkful after another into my mouth. When our third course came out and I still had some pasta left, I made sure to continue to pay attention to this dish despite the fact that I was trying to fillet a whole fish. The second pasta we ordered was a black linguini pasta that was dyed with squid ink and served with shrimp. There was a slight hint of spiciness in this dish but the majority of the flavor came from the equally perfect pasta and its flavor of squid. At this point, we were both stuffed and thoroughly convinced that this would be a place we would be coming to for a long time to come, yet we still had a whole sea bream looking at us. This large fish was prepared with a simple rub and topped with lemon. It had a gorgeous fresh taste and was served with sautéed spinach and another chunk of wonderful polenta. The fish was as good as everything else although I don’t know if we enjoyed it as much as we should have given out state of fullness.
We did opt for dessert which wasn’t included in the Italian Meal price. We had the gelato and sorbet combination. This included one scoop of vanilla gelato flanked by one scoop of apple cinnamon sorbet and another of berry sorbet. The gelato was creamy and the sorbet solid but I have had better and for $8.50, the portion didn’t justify the price. We should have just stuck with coffee for dessert as the beans are grinded in house and I don’t know if I have ever had a more flavorful cup in my life.
The server was excellent as he got us excited about each dish and talked intelligently about the restaurant, its evolution and its menu. The total bill came to $100.86 including tax but not tip. This was for 2 Italian meals, 1 dessert and 2 cups of coffee. The restaurant is BYOB and they only charge $1 for a recycling fee to open the bottle. For the quality of the food, ambience and service, I think one will be hard pressed to find a better dining experience in Chicago.
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