Tango Sur
3763 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 773-477-5466
Date of Review: June, 2007; updated May, 2008
Tango Sur is an Argentine steak house and is one of Chicago’s romantic gems. It has a great al fresco dining section out front on busy Southport Avenue. In addition, it has a dark and intimate interior with low lighting and lots of tables. It is easy to find a table for two in the corner for a romantic evening but the BYOB policy also makes this a great place for a birthday dinner. The restaurant is small but it has a lot of tables, always a lot of people and a lot of energy. There is a great waiting area in the back near the bathroom that is like a separate room where guests can pop open a bottle of beer from their 6 pack or have a glass of wine as they wait.
The empanadas are the crown jewel of the appetizers. They have four variations including spinach and cheese, ham and cheese, chicken and ground beef. The pie crust like shell on the empanada is excellent. The empanadas are served with gorgeous chimichurri sauce. Chimichurri is made from chopped parsley, dried oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, onion, and paprika with olive oil. Another appetizer that is very good is an eggplant dish called berenjena. This dish reminds me of vegetarian lasagna as it features oven baked eggplant layered with spinach, provolone, parmesan and ricotta, served with tomato cream sauce.
For entrees, I have had the Vacio on numerous occasions. The Vacio is described on the menu as flap meat. The first time I came to Tango Sur, I tried the Vacio because it was recommended despite the fact that I didn’t know what flap meat was. Well… Flap meat is a cut similar to skirt or flank in that it comes from the less tender regions of the animal. It is often cheaper than more popular cuts but has a wonderful meaty flavor and fine texture when prepared carefully. The serving of Vacio at Tango Sur is huge. There is no bone in it and it is very flavorful and tender. It is served with chimichurri sauce. Dribbling some of this wonderful garlicky sauce over the steak is a must. I have also tried the double portion of solid filet mignon and the Argentine grill for two. The Para Dos (Argentine grill) is a huge helping of assorted meats served on a table top grill. It features short ribs, flap meat (or Vacio), pork sausage, beef sweetbread and black sausage. This is a great way to sample a bunch of different menu items. The short ribs are extremely flavorful and the vacio is always good. The pork sausage is OK and I am not a big fan of beef sweetbread or black sausage. They didn’t taste bad to me but a couple bites were more than enough for me. If you are connoisseur of these meats, you may feel differently.
All steaks are served with a simple salad that arrives about 10 minutes before your entrée. The salad has lettuce, tomato and a few rings of white onion and is served with old school vinegar and oil bottles for dressing.
The waiters help to make Tango Sur feel even more authentic as they all look as if they are from Argentina and I believe they are. The servers are predominantly male, friendly and very casual.
The prices at Tango Sure are reasonable. On my last visit, my party of 3 had three empanadas, the chef’s special eggplant appetizer, a filet and the argentine grill for 2 for a total of $91. That included tax and tip. There are very few places in Chicago where you can have a good steak for that price. Steaks range from $14
to $21. Read the fine print as there are some steaks that are $35 plus but these are intended to be shared by two people. In addition, don’t be fooled into thinking the only steaks on the menu are the ones listed under the Chef’s Specials page which seems to dominate the menu. Most of these steaks are more elaborate and expensive variations of the steaks listed under the Parilla section of the menu. The steaks on the Parilla section are not served with a potato while the Chef’s Specials are.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
Chicago (Greek) - Artopolis
Artopolis
306 S. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-559-9000
Date of Review: June, 2007
Artopolis is one of the more casual dining spots in the heart of Greektown. This place is a bit different from every other place around as it offers some traditional Greek dishes but also offers tastes from around the Mediterranean and pizzas cooked in a wood burning oven. Artopolis has a very enviable location as it is close to the Hasted Blue Line station located in the middle of Halsted Street across from Nine Muses. There are 3 floors in the restaurant and lots of open windows to look onto this always busy and active slice of Halsted Street. The restaurant has an open layout with a bakery visible and display cases of pastries for sale. The décor reminds me of the Mediterranean.
Artopolis has a wide ranging menu that includes traditional Greek dishes, pizzas and sandwiches. The solid Greek Salad is void of lettuce and focuses solely on the tomatoes, kalamata olives, peppers and feta that are topped with an oregano and red wine vinaigrette. It is served with a plentiful basket of bread. The Mediterranean Fest includes a plate with hummus, fava, baba-ghanoush, tzatziki, and olives. Unfortunately, the same bread served with the salad is used for the dips. The bread is fine but pita bread is much nicer with Middle Eastern spreads like these. The hummus and baba-ghanoush were average compared to the variations of these dishes I have had at Middle Eastern restaurants in Chicago. That said, the tzatziki was solid and I respect the effort to stretch the menu beyond the borders of Greece.
On another occasion, I had the Spinach and Feta Spanakopita as a starter – can also be ordered as an entrée. This dish is excellent and consists of fresh leaf spinach, leak, spring onion, dill and feta cheese in a flakey phyllo dough.
There are a host of excellent sandwiches on the menu including varieties of vegetarian, chicken and lamb sandwiches. Two sandwiches I have tried which I really enjoyed include the Briammi Kefte and Mediterraneo. The Briammi Kefte is oven-baked lamb and beef kefte, briammi (vegetable ratatouille), and crumbled feta on rosemary bread. The Mediterraneo has sliced roasted leg of lamb, Dijon mustard mayonnaise, tomato, green leaf and mint on rosemary bread.
The pizzas at Artopolis are excellent. The pizza crust is what is most impressive as it is crispy and flavorful. The pizza is pan style and has a plentiful amount of toppings that make it very filling. On my last visit, we ordered the Inferno pizza which has roasted chicken, smoked gouda, mozzarella, green and florina peppers, caramelized onions, and spicy tomato sauce. It is a sizeable portion as this one pizza priced at $12.75 had 8 reasonable size slices and could easily serve as a dinner for 2 moderately hungry people.
The prices at Artopolis are reasonable. On my last visit, we had a Greek Salad, appetizer plate, a pizza and a half bottle of wine for $53 including tax and tip. Pizzas range from $10 to $13 and sandwiches are in the $7 to $10 range.
306 S. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-559-9000
Date of Review: June, 2007
Artopolis is one of the more casual dining spots in the heart of Greektown. This place is a bit different from every other place around as it offers some traditional Greek dishes but also offers tastes from around the Mediterranean and pizzas cooked in a wood burning oven. Artopolis has a very enviable location as it is close to the Hasted Blue Line station located in the middle of Halsted Street across from Nine Muses. There are 3 floors in the restaurant and lots of open windows to look onto this always busy and active slice of Halsted Street. The restaurant has an open layout with a bakery visible and display cases of pastries for sale. The décor reminds me of the Mediterranean.
Artopolis has a wide ranging menu that includes traditional Greek dishes, pizzas and sandwiches. The solid Greek Salad is void of lettuce and focuses solely on the tomatoes, kalamata olives, peppers and feta that are topped with an oregano and red wine vinaigrette. It is served with a plentiful basket of bread. The Mediterranean Fest includes a plate with hummus, fava, baba-ghanoush, tzatziki, and olives. Unfortunately, the same bread served with the salad is used for the dips. The bread is fine but pita bread is much nicer with Middle Eastern spreads like these. The hummus and baba-ghanoush were average compared to the variations of these dishes I have had at Middle Eastern restaurants in Chicago. That said, the tzatziki was solid and I respect the effort to stretch the menu beyond the borders of Greece.
On another occasion, I had the Spinach and Feta Spanakopita as a starter – can also be ordered as an entrée. This dish is excellent and consists of fresh leaf spinach, leak, spring onion, dill and feta cheese in a flakey phyllo dough.
There are a host of excellent sandwiches on the menu including varieties of vegetarian, chicken and lamb sandwiches. Two sandwiches I have tried which I really enjoyed include the Briammi Kefte and Mediterraneo. The Briammi Kefte is oven-baked lamb and beef kefte, briammi (vegetable ratatouille), and crumbled feta on rosemary bread. The Mediterraneo has sliced roasted leg of lamb, Dijon mustard mayonnaise, tomato, green leaf and mint on rosemary bread.
The pizzas at Artopolis are excellent. The pizza crust is what is most impressive as it is crispy and flavorful. The pizza is pan style and has a plentiful amount of toppings that make it very filling. On my last visit, we ordered the Inferno pizza which has roasted chicken, smoked gouda, mozzarella, green and florina peppers, caramelized onions, and spicy tomato sauce. It is a sizeable portion as this one pizza priced at $12.75 had 8 reasonable size slices and could easily serve as a dinner for 2 moderately hungry people.
The prices at Artopolis are reasonable. On my last visit, we had a Greek Salad, appetizer plate, a pizza and a half bottle of wine for $53 including tax and tip. Pizzas range from $10 to $13 and sandwiches are in the $7 to $10 range.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Chicago (French) - La Sardine
La Sardine
111 N. Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL; Phone 312-421-2800
Date of Review: May, 2007
La Sardine is strategically located to make for a quaint location despite the fact that the restaurant is across the street from Oprah’s HARPO studio and a stones throw away from the Randolph dining corridor. As you enter the restaurant, you see a large wine cabinet on your right and a large bar in front of you. The bar is a perfect place for a pre dinner drink or as a dining spot for a party of one or two. The bar area is much larger than the one at Le Bouchon (their sister restaurant) and provides an adequate amount of space for patrons to enjoy a glass of wine as they wait for their table.
The atmosphere is warm with a completely open and visible kitchen and tables placed close, but not to close, together on the other side of a border that separates the bar from the restaurant. The décor is warm with nice hues of red, exposed brick and eye catching beams painted with murals of fish, flowers and people enjoying food and drink. This restaurant seats 80-100 people.
La Sardine has a menu that is similar to the menu at Le Bouchon with a few variations. The menu is loaded with a nice mix of staple French dishes including lamb shank, duck breast, roast chicken, steak and frites, and rabbit. They always have 2-3 fish specials.
On my visit, my companion and I both chose the $25 price fixe menu option that is offered on Tuesdays. He had the escargot and was very pleased with his choice. I had the braised oxtail. The only word I can use to describe this dish is heavenly. The hearty, roast like oxtail was bursting with flavor. The potato gnocchi it is served with is melt in your mouth velvety and the red wine sauce was so scrumptious that I used 2 pieces of bread to absorb every last bit of sauce left in the dish.
Other entrees you can’t go wrong with include the lamb shank, duck and any of the fish specials. Monroe and I each chose one of the fish specials for our entrees. I had the salmon and Monroe had the whitefish and we were both satisfied with our choices. My salmon was cooked perfect as it was tender with a bit of flakiness. It was seasoned with a light wine and butter sauce over sautéed spinach and rice that was cooked al dente and had great flavor with an assortment of vegetables in the rice.
For dessert, we had the always excellent crème brulee and the assortment of sorbet. The sorbet assortment featured 3 small scoops of cinnamon apple, raspberry and lemon sorbet. I was a bit full and therefore opted for the mediocre sorbet which wasn’t the best option on the dessert menu.
They have a great wine list that features wines from every region of France. Bottles start at $35 and increase from there. As I waited for my guest, I had a glass of Sancerre that was pricey (9.25) but very good and refreshing. Over dinner, we had a $40 bottle of Vouvray that was refreshing and fruity.
The prices at La Sardine are about average with appetizers, salads and desserts ranging from $5 to $8 and entrees ranging from $15 to $20. On my last visit, we both had the price fixe menu ($25 per person) and a $40 bottle of Vouvray. Our total tab was $120 and that included tax and tip.
Specials include a 3 course price fixe lunch menu everyday for $22. In addition, they have ½ price bottles of wine on Mondays and offer there $25 three course price fixe menu on Tuesdays.
111 N. Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL; Phone 312-421-2800
Date of Review: May, 2007
La Sardine is strategically located to make for a quaint location despite the fact that the restaurant is across the street from Oprah’s HARPO studio and a stones throw away from the Randolph dining corridor. As you enter the restaurant, you see a large wine cabinet on your right and a large bar in front of you. The bar is a perfect place for a pre dinner drink or as a dining spot for a party of one or two. The bar area is much larger than the one at Le Bouchon (their sister restaurant) and provides an adequate amount of space for patrons to enjoy a glass of wine as they wait for their table.
The atmosphere is warm with a completely open and visible kitchen and tables placed close, but not to close, together on the other side of a border that separates the bar from the restaurant. The décor is warm with nice hues of red, exposed brick and eye catching beams painted with murals of fish, flowers and people enjoying food and drink. This restaurant seats 80-100 people.
La Sardine has a menu that is similar to the menu at Le Bouchon with a few variations. The menu is loaded with a nice mix of staple French dishes including lamb shank, duck breast, roast chicken, steak and frites, and rabbit. They always have 2-3 fish specials.
On my visit, my companion and I both chose the $25 price fixe menu option that is offered on Tuesdays. He had the escargot and was very pleased with his choice. I had the braised oxtail. The only word I can use to describe this dish is heavenly. The hearty, roast like oxtail was bursting with flavor. The potato gnocchi it is served with is melt in your mouth velvety and the red wine sauce was so scrumptious that I used 2 pieces of bread to absorb every last bit of sauce left in the dish.
Other entrees you can’t go wrong with include the lamb shank, duck and any of the fish specials. Monroe and I each chose one of the fish specials for our entrees. I had the salmon and Monroe had the whitefish and we were both satisfied with our choices. My salmon was cooked perfect as it was tender with a bit of flakiness. It was seasoned with a light wine and butter sauce over sautéed spinach and rice that was cooked al dente and had great flavor with an assortment of vegetables in the rice.
For dessert, we had the always excellent crème brulee and the assortment of sorbet. The sorbet assortment featured 3 small scoops of cinnamon apple, raspberry and lemon sorbet. I was a bit full and therefore opted for the mediocre sorbet which wasn’t the best option on the dessert menu.
They have a great wine list that features wines from every region of France. Bottles start at $35 and increase from there. As I waited for my guest, I had a glass of Sancerre that was pricey (9.25) but very good and refreshing. Over dinner, we had a $40 bottle of Vouvray that was refreshing and fruity.
The prices at La Sardine are about average with appetizers, salads and desserts ranging from $5 to $8 and entrees ranging from $15 to $20. On my last visit, we both had the price fixe menu ($25 per person) and a $40 bottle of Vouvray. Our total tab was $120 and that included tax and tip.
Specials include a 3 course price fixe lunch menu everyday for $22. In addition, they have ½ price bottles of wine on Mondays and offer there $25 three course price fixe menu on Tuesdays.
Chicago (Greek) - Athena
Athena Restaurant
212 S. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-655-0000
Date of Review: May, 2007
Located in the heart of Greektown, Athena offers a lively, large and open dining environment that is great for small parties and also excellent for big ones. This is a great place for a large dinner party to celebrate a birthday or even a wedding rehearsal. They have a small bar and a very large outdoor dining area that provides great views of the city. With the large area outside on 2 different levels and decorated with Greek columns, the patio gives you the feeling that you are at an outdoor restaurant in Greece except the scenery is the Chicago skyline as opposed to the sea. This is one of the better outdoor dining areas in all of Chicago.
I love eating at Greek restaurants as I typically sample an assortment of dishes like I would at a tapas bar. All of the cheese and garlic spreads go great with an order of pita bread or a slice or two from the complimentary basket of bread. The tzatsiki is excellent for bread dipping and is loaded with almost as much wonderful garlic as the creamy potato and garlic skordalia which also goes good with an order of fried zucchini. Yes, given the amount of garlic in some of the dishes, kissing a loved one can be a challenge after eating at Athena. There are many variations of feta on the menu which are always good. In my opinion, one of the best dishes in all of Chicago at any restaurant is Athena’s char broiled octopus. The octopus is tender and meaty and is seasoned with olive oil and vinegar. The char broiled flavor is wonderful. The cold octopus salad is also good as the octopus is marinated in vinegar and olive oil with carrots and celery. The saganaki is always good and you can’t go wrong with a Greek or Athenian salad.
The entrees on the menu include a variety of pastas, authentic Greek dishes like lamb (braised or leg of), pastitsio, mousakas or a gyros plate. The menu is large with many char broiled meats (beef, chicken, pork, quail) and they offer an assortment of seafood dishes. I recommend the shrimp Athena which is shrimp baked in tomato sauce with vegetables topped with feta and served over rice.
The baklava is always good for dessert and Athena has a large assortment of Greek wines at reasonable prices.
The prices at Athena are decent. Most of the cheese and dip appetizers are around $6although the octopus is closer to $12. The entrees mostly range from $9.95 to
$16.95. On my last visit, we had 7 beers, 1 combination appetizer and 3 entrees for $110 and that included tax and tip.
212 S. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois; Phone 312-655-0000
Date of Review: May, 2007
Located in the heart of Greektown, Athena offers a lively, large and open dining environment that is great for small parties and also excellent for big ones. This is a great place for a large dinner party to celebrate a birthday or even a wedding rehearsal. They have a small bar and a very large outdoor dining area that provides great views of the city. With the large area outside on 2 different levels and decorated with Greek columns, the patio gives you the feeling that you are at an outdoor restaurant in Greece except the scenery is the Chicago skyline as opposed to the sea. This is one of the better outdoor dining areas in all of Chicago.
I love eating at Greek restaurants as I typically sample an assortment of dishes like I would at a tapas bar. All of the cheese and garlic spreads go great with an order of pita bread or a slice or two from the complimentary basket of bread. The tzatsiki is excellent for bread dipping and is loaded with almost as much wonderful garlic as the creamy potato and garlic skordalia which also goes good with an order of fried zucchini. Yes, given the amount of garlic in some of the dishes, kissing a loved one can be a challenge after eating at Athena. There are many variations of feta on the menu which are always good. In my opinion, one of the best dishes in all of Chicago at any restaurant is Athena’s char broiled octopus. The octopus is tender and meaty and is seasoned with olive oil and vinegar. The char broiled flavor is wonderful. The cold octopus salad is also good as the octopus is marinated in vinegar and olive oil with carrots and celery. The saganaki is always good and you can’t go wrong with a Greek or Athenian salad.
The entrees on the menu include a variety of pastas, authentic Greek dishes like lamb (braised or leg of), pastitsio, mousakas or a gyros plate. The menu is large with many char broiled meats (beef, chicken, pork, quail) and they offer an assortment of seafood dishes. I recommend the shrimp Athena which is shrimp baked in tomato sauce with vegetables topped with feta and served over rice.
The baklava is always good for dessert and Athena has a large assortment of Greek wines at reasonable prices.
The prices at Athena are decent. Most of the cheese and dip appetizers are around $6although the octopus is closer to $12. The entrees mostly range from $9.95 to
$16.95. On my last visit, we had 7 beers, 1 combination appetizer and 3 entrees for $110 and that included tax and tip.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Chicago (French) - Red Rooster Cafe and Wine Bar
Red Rooster Café and Wine Bar
2100 N Halsted St (Cross Street: Dickens Avenue), Chicago, IL; Phone 773-929-7660
Date of Review: May, 2007
With a tough to find side entrance off of Halsted Street, the Red Rooster Café and Wine Bar is a find to some and a treasure to many. As you ascend up the old stairway that is supposed to take you to what you have been told is an excellent restaurant, it would be understandable for one to have doubts. However, the quaint entrance is only a hint of what is to come after you set foot inside one of the more known, yet forgotten romantic restaurants in all of Chicago. The Red Rooster is a place you take someone you really like (or at least who you think you may really like). Upon entering the restaurant, you see 12 tables (with about 6 being 2 tops), a small bar and hear cool funky music (Morcheeba on my last visit) playing in the background. The décor is rustic with cool portraits painted on the wood walls. The atmosphere speaks of the French countryside with pots, pans, garlic and a rooster hanging from the fan in the middle of the restaurant. The restaurant is very casual and has dim lighting.
I have visited Red Rooster on 4-5 occasions over the last few years and have tried many of the menu items. After you sit down, you are presented with a basket of very nice bread with butter. The French and excellent brown bread in the basket is crusty, warm and toasted (which can come in very handy if you order the mussels).
Some of the appetizers I have tried include the assorted cheese platter which includes 5 kinds of cheeses (including gruyere, blue, brie and goat) and is served with assorted fruit and nuts. My favorite appetizer is the steamed mussels. The mussels are absolutely fantastic served in a flavorful butter garlic sauce that is perfect for bread dipping. The mussels are tender and there are loads of them floating at the bottom of the bowl immersed in the sauce. This is one of the best batches of mussels I remember having anywhere. Foie gras is also on the menu as a starter and the baked brie en croute is also a great way to start a meal.
For entrees, I recommend the duck confit which consists of a duck leg and breast in a red wine sauce served with mashed potatoes, squash and carrots. It is a simple French countryside dish but a good one. I also recommend the grilled salmon in a cabernet sauvignon sauce. There is a nice assortment of entrees that round out the menu including braised lamb shank (which is excellent), steak, braised beef bourguignon with pasta, and 2-3 different types of fish.
For desserts, you cannot go wrong with the excellent crème brulee. The porcelain bowl it is served in is piled high with assorted berries on top with a bit of berry coulis on the plate. It is a solid rendition of this typical favorite.
Red Rooster has an extensive and solid wine menu that has is heavy on French wine but also has other options. While waiting for my guest, I had an absolutely wonderful glass of Vouvray for $7.75 a glass. Over dinner, we shared a bottle of 1999 Macon Solutre le Moulin du Pont ($27) that was recommended by the waitress as a solid full bodied white wine.
The prices at Red Rooster are pretty reasonable. The appetizers and salads range from 4$ to 12$, the desserts range from 5-8$ and the entrees fall somewhere between 12$ and 18$. On my last visit, my guest and I had 2 appetizers, 1 entrée that we shared, 1 dessert and a $27 bottle of wine. Out total tab was $90 and that included tax and tip.
Two different three-course prix-fixe menus are available Sunday through Thursday.
2100 N Halsted St (Cross Street: Dickens Avenue), Chicago, IL; Phone 773-929-7660
Date of Review: May, 2007
With a tough to find side entrance off of Halsted Street, the Red Rooster Café and Wine Bar is a find to some and a treasure to many. As you ascend up the old stairway that is supposed to take you to what you have been told is an excellent restaurant, it would be understandable for one to have doubts. However, the quaint entrance is only a hint of what is to come after you set foot inside one of the more known, yet forgotten romantic restaurants in all of Chicago. The Red Rooster is a place you take someone you really like (or at least who you think you may really like). Upon entering the restaurant, you see 12 tables (with about 6 being 2 tops), a small bar and hear cool funky music (Morcheeba on my last visit) playing in the background. The décor is rustic with cool portraits painted on the wood walls. The atmosphere speaks of the French countryside with pots, pans, garlic and a rooster hanging from the fan in the middle of the restaurant. The restaurant is very casual and has dim lighting.
I have visited Red Rooster on 4-5 occasions over the last few years and have tried many of the menu items. After you sit down, you are presented with a basket of very nice bread with butter. The French and excellent brown bread in the basket is crusty, warm and toasted (which can come in very handy if you order the mussels).
Some of the appetizers I have tried include the assorted cheese platter which includes 5 kinds of cheeses (including gruyere, blue, brie and goat) and is served with assorted fruit and nuts. My favorite appetizer is the steamed mussels. The mussels are absolutely fantastic served in a flavorful butter garlic sauce that is perfect for bread dipping. The mussels are tender and there are loads of them floating at the bottom of the bowl immersed in the sauce. This is one of the best batches of mussels I remember having anywhere. Foie gras is also on the menu as a starter and the baked brie en croute is also a great way to start a meal.
For entrees, I recommend the duck confit which consists of a duck leg and breast in a red wine sauce served with mashed potatoes, squash and carrots. It is a simple French countryside dish but a good one. I also recommend the grilled salmon in a cabernet sauvignon sauce. There is a nice assortment of entrees that round out the menu including braised lamb shank (which is excellent), steak, braised beef bourguignon with pasta, and 2-3 different types of fish.
For desserts, you cannot go wrong with the excellent crème brulee. The porcelain bowl it is served in is piled high with assorted berries on top with a bit of berry coulis on the plate. It is a solid rendition of this typical favorite.
Red Rooster has an extensive and solid wine menu that has is heavy on French wine but also has other options. While waiting for my guest, I had an absolutely wonderful glass of Vouvray for $7.75 a glass. Over dinner, we shared a bottle of 1999 Macon Solutre le Moulin du Pont ($27) that was recommended by the waitress as a solid full bodied white wine.
The prices at Red Rooster are pretty reasonable. The appetizers and salads range from 4$ to 12$, the desserts range from 5-8$ and the entrees fall somewhere between 12$ and 18$. On my last visit, my guest and I had 2 appetizers, 1 entrée that we shared, 1 dessert and a $27 bottle of wine. Out total tab was $90 and that included tax and tip.
Two different three-course prix-fixe menus are available Sunday through Thursday.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Chicago (Mexican) - Nuevo Leon
Nuevo Leon
1515 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL; Phone 312-421-1517
Date of Review: May, 2007
Nuevo Leon has been a fixture in the Pilsen neighborhood for over 40 years. They are known for their authentic, home style Mexican cooking.
This storefront BYOB restaurant has a colorful entrance with murals in an assortment of colors adorning the exterior of the restaurant making Nuevo Leon a noticeable spot at the very least. The décor inside is also very colorful with murals painted on the walls throughout the restaurant. The atmosphere is busy and hectic and very family friendly.
Upon sitting down, our server arrived with some warm chips that were glistening with a bit of oil. In addition, a cup of salsa and another cup with jalapenos and carrots were placed on our table. The warm and fresh chips were absolutely wonderful with a robust corn flavor in each bite. The salsa is a nice combination of peppers and tomatoes and is a bit spicy with a hint of smokiness, but not much sweetness. We also decided to sample a small order of guacamole. A generous portion of guacamole (I don’t want to see the large) arrived and we dug in. The guacamole was creamy and piled high with lots of ripe avocado. What I really liked about the guacamole is that they didn’t try and do anything special. It was just good avocado with maybe some salt and pepper. They didn’t chop up onions and jalapenos and everything else in an attempt to get fancy. To be honest, a bit of guacamole on top of a chip with a carrot slice or some salsa was a flavor explosion in my mouth and I could still taste the corn flavor of the chip.
On this evening, my guest ordered the Pollo en Mole. What showed up on our table was a huge plate of food that included a steamed chicken thigh, wing, breast and drumstick served with rice and refried beans with the chicken completed covered in a rich, traditional mole sauce. While they probably could have held back half a cup of the mole sauce that was poured over the food, the chicken was tender, the rice and beans tasty and the mole sauce full of flavor.
I ordered the whole red snapper (HUACHINANGO AL MOJO DE AJO) which was served with rice and an avocado, lettuce, tomato and onion salad. The fish had crispy skin on the outside (as it was flash fried) with tender flesh meat and was served with fresh garlic and a red pepper sauce on top of the fish. The fish was served with flour tortillas. I usually go for corn tortillas but I decided to try the flour based on the suggestion of my server. The tortillas were nice and warm and had those black spots on them throughout which come about when the tortilla has been pulled from a hot pan. The fish had a great garlicky flavor and was fresh and tasty.
Nuevo Leon is an excellent value. Entrees range from $6 for tacos or a burrito up to $13 or so dollars for a steak or fish dish. We ordered a small order of guacamole and 2 entrees (the fish was $13.50 and the chicken $8) and paid a total of $35 and that includes tax and tip.
1515 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL; Phone 312-421-1517
Date of Review: May, 2007
Nuevo Leon has been a fixture in the Pilsen neighborhood for over 40 years. They are known for their authentic, home style Mexican cooking.
This storefront BYOB restaurant has a colorful entrance with murals in an assortment of colors adorning the exterior of the restaurant making Nuevo Leon a noticeable spot at the very least. The décor inside is also very colorful with murals painted on the walls throughout the restaurant. The atmosphere is busy and hectic and very family friendly.
Upon sitting down, our server arrived with some warm chips that were glistening with a bit of oil. In addition, a cup of salsa and another cup with jalapenos and carrots were placed on our table. The warm and fresh chips were absolutely wonderful with a robust corn flavor in each bite. The salsa is a nice combination of peppers and tomatoes and is a bit spicy with a hint of smokiness, but not much sweetness. We also decided to sample a small order of guacamole. A generous portion of guacamole (I don’t want to see the large) arrived and we dug in. The guacamole was creamy and piled high with lots of ripe avocado. What I really liked about the guacamole is that they didn’t try and do anything special. It was just good avocado with maybe some salt and pepper. They didn’t chop up onions and jalapenos and everything else in an attempt to get fancy. To be honest, a bit of guacamole on top of a chip with a carrot slice or some salsa was a flavor explosion in my mouth and I could still taste the corn flavor of the chip.
On this evening, my guest ordered the Pollo en Mole. What showed up on our table was a huge plate of food that included a steamed chicken thigh, wing, breast and drumstick served with rice and refried beans with the chicken completed covered in a rich, traditional mole sauce. While they probably could have held back half a cup of the mole sauce that was poured over the food, the chicken was tender, the rice and beans tasty and the mole sauce full of flavor.
I ordered the whole red snapper (HUACHINANGO AL MOJO DE AJO) which was served with rice and an avocado, lettuce, tomato and onion salad. The fish had crispy skin on the outside (as it was flash fried) with tender flesh meat and was served with fresh garlic and a red pepper sauce on top of the fish. The fish was served with flour tortillas. I usually go for corn tortillas but I decided to try the flour based on the suggestion of my server. The tortillas were nice and warm and had those black spots on them throughout which come about when the tortilla has been pulled from a hot pan. The fish had a great garlicky flavor and was fresh and tasty.
Nuevo Leon is an excellent value. Entrees range from $6 for tacos or a burrito up to $13 or so dollars for a steak or fish dish. We ordered a small order of guacamole and 2 entrees (the fish was $13.50 and the chicken $8) and paid a total of $35 and that includes tax and tip.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Chicago (French / Fusion) - Bonsoirée Café and Delicacies
Bonsoirée Café and Delicacies
2728 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Date of Review: May, 2007; updated May, 2008
Bonsoirée is a true “find” in the heart of Logan Square. This BYOB restaurant / catering business has a pleasant, quaint store front location on Armitage Avenue. I have walked and ran up and down this slice of Armitage twenty or so times without ever noticing the place until a friend of mine told me about it. There are only about 10 tables, exposed brick and a romantic atmosphere. This is a great spot for a date or a private meal with friends.
When I visited Bonsoiree, they offered a 3 course Prix-Fixe menu for $20 every Tuesday through Friday. They now only offer the 3 course Prix-Fixe menu for $30 every Tuesday (with no restrictions).
During my visit, there were 4 starters you could choose from with one (lamb) having a 3 dollar up charge. For our starters, we selected the asparagus and oyster mushroom salad and the Caesar salad. The asparagus salad had a nice tower of chopped asparagus (as opposed to stalks) and was served with shitake and oyster mushrooms in a nutty, vanilla guave vinaigrette dressing. The Caesar salad was great. The baby spinach leaves were nice and light, not weighed down by a heavy dressing. You actually couldn’t even see the dressing on the spinach leaves. On top of the salad, there was lots of shaved pecorino Romano slices and two mild white anchovies which really made the salad. The salad is served with some excellent chive brioche croutons.
For entrees, we both decided to go for the fish. Julie got the Hawaiian moonfish which required a 3$ up charge. This hearty, flaky fish has a consistency close to that of salmon with a milder flavor. It was served in a Ponzu Beurre Blanc sauce. While a bit buttery for my taste, it went well with the fish and the accompanying taro root. The root was an interesting side and was cooked perfectly. It wasn’t too mushy or too firm. I had the Grand Marnier Seared Salmon. This was served with some very flavorful roasted portabella mushrooms which added a nice flavor to contrast that of the salmon. The Grand Marnier sauce was excellent also as it covered a decent size piece of fish. The fish was served with a circular portion of very nice Spanish tortilla topped with a pepper relish.
For dessert, the signature bread pudding is the only dessert that doesn’t require an up charge and is also the one we both selected. This was a great choice as there were 2 separate chunks of banana bread pudding on each of our plates served with a small tin of white chocolate crème anglaise sauce. The flavor of the bread pudding was a bit buttery, reminding me of the Sara Lee coffee cakes I used to have with my Dad on Saturday mornings as a child.
We also ordered a pomegranate and berry soda which had great flavor.
Bonsoirée café offered fantastic value when I visited. For the Prix-Fixe menu with one 3$ up charge and one 2.50$ soda, out total bill was $49 plus tip. Today, the prices of most of the entrees are above $20 while starters range from 6-12$.
Bonsoirée Café and Delicacies has an extensive catering business and even offers meals that they will prepare in your home for an elaborate dinner party.
2728 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Date of Review: May, 2007; updated May, 2008
Bonsoirée is a true “find” in the heart of Logan Square. This BYOB restaurant / catering business has a pleasant, quaint store front location on Armitage Avenue. I have walked and ran up and down this slice of Armitage twenty or so times without ever noticing the place until a friend of mine told me about it. There are only about 10 tables, exposed brick and a romantic atmosphere. This is a great spot for a date or a private meal with friends.
When I visited Bonsoiree, they offered a 3 course Prix-Fixe menu for $20 every Tuesday through Friday. They now only offer the 3 course Prix-Fixe menu for $30 every Tuesday (with no restrictions).
During my visit, there were 4 starters you could choose from with one (lamb) having a 3 dollar up charge. For our starters, we selected the asparagus and oyster mushroom salad and the Caesar salad. The asparagus salad had a nice tower of chopped asparagus (as opposed to stalks) and was served with shitake and oyster mushrooms in a nutty, vanilla guave vinaigrette dressing. The Caesar salad was great. The baby spinach leaves were nice and light, not weighed down by a heavy dressing. You actually couldn’t even see the dressing on the spinach leaves. On top of the salad, there was lots of shaved pecorino Romano slices and two mild white anchovies which really made the salad. The salad is served with some excellent chive brioche croutons.
For entrees, we both decided to go for the fish. Julie got the Hawaiian moonfish which required a 3$ up charge. This hearty, flaky fish has a consistency close to that of salmon with a milder flavor. It was served in a Ponzu Beurre Blanc sauce. While a bit buttery for my taste, it went well with the fish and the accompanying taro root. The root was an interesting side and was cooked perfectly. It wasn’t too mushy or too firm. I had the Grand Marnier Seared Salmon. This was served with some very flavorful roasted portabella mushrooms which added a nice flavor to contrast that of the salmon. The Grand Marnier sauce was excellent also as it covered a decent size piece of fish. The fish was served with a circular portion of very nice Spanish tortilla topped with a pepper relish.
For dessert, the signature bread pudding is the only dessert that doesn’t require an up charge and is also the one we both selected. This was a great choice as there were 2 separate chunks of banana bread pudding on each of our plates served with a small tin of white chocolate crème anglaise sauce. The flavor of the bread pudding was a bit buttery, reminding me of the Sara Lee coffee cakes I used to have with my Dad on Saturday mornings as a child.
We also ordered a pomegranate and berry soda which had great flavor.
Bonsoirée café offered fantastic value when I visited. For the Prix-Fixe menu with one 3$ up charge and one 2.50$ soda, out total bill was $49 plus tip. Today, the prices of most of the entrees are above $20 while starters range from 6-12$.
Bonsoirée Café and Delicacies has an extensive catering business and even offers meals that they will prepare in your home for an elaborate dinner party.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Chicago (Italian) - Spacca Napoli
Spacca Napoli
1769 W. Sunnyside Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone 773-878-2420
Date of Review: April, 2007
Spacca Napoli is yet another smart spot for excellent Italian pizza. That is, Italian Neapolitan style pizza from Italy. To be honest, after visiting Pizza D.O.C., Sapore di Napoli and Spacca Napoli, my view of pizza in Chicago has been slightly altered. I guess I never knew there were so many options for real Neapolitan style Italian pizza so close by.
Spacca Napoli is a great little spot in Ravenswood. They have a custom-built oven adorned with a beautiful mosaic that churns out wonderful pizzas in a matter of a few minutes. The owner, Jon Goldsmith, earned his pizza making credentials in the home of pizza, Naples. The owner actually traveled to Naples and studied the art of making pizza and he is now using the talents he developed to the delights of many in the Chicago land area. I found Jon to be very friendly. As I waited for my guest, we chatted about a few Italian restaurants and grocery stores we both knew of that were listed in a newspaper he had a copy of on hand for patrons to page through. Spacca Napoli is a very open restaurant with windows that offer a lot of light and nice sidewalk views to the patrons dining inside as well as to the people passing by the restaurant.
Spacca Napoli has a menu that is short and to the point. There are 8 different types of “salads” on the antipasti section of the menu and they serve 12 different types of pizzas. They do have a liquor license and offer Italian beers, wines, liquors and excellent coffee. They also offer Tiramisu, Spumoni, Baked Ricotta and assorted gelatos and sorbets for dessert.
On my visit, we had an Italian lemon soda, San Pellegrino water and a couple of pizzas. My friend had the Margherita pizza which has 4 simple ingredients of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil. It was just as delicious as my Funghi pizza whose ingredients included tomatoes, mozzarella, basil , mushrooms and olive oil. All of these fresh ingredients are places on top of a very special and tasty crust. It is this crust that makes the pizzas at Spacca Napoli so special. I really can’t say enough about the delicious pizza crusts which are mixed in a dough mixer that actually comes from Italy.
After our pizzas, we weren’t hungry for much else but I couldn’t turn away an espresso. I was feeling a bit nostalgic and couldn’t pass on the opportunity to bring back some fond memories from my time in Italy with a nice shot of espresso. It worked and also kept me wide awake for the next few hours.
On my visit, the bill was $34 for a coffee, mineral water, Italian soda and 2 pizzas. This included tax and tip. The prices are fair with pizzas ranging from $10-14 and salads from $5-8.
This restaurant is not open on Mondays or Tuesdays and they do have al fresco dining available when weather permits.
1769 W. Sunnyside Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone 773-878-2420
Date of Review: April, 2007
Spacca Napoli is yet another smart spot for excellent Italian pizza. That is, Italian Neapolitan style pizza from Italy. To be honest, after visiting Pizza D.O.C., Sapore di Napoli and Spacca Napoli, my view of pizza in Chicago has been slightly altered. I guess I never knew there were so many options for real Neapolitan style Italian pizza so close by.
Spacca Napoli is a great little spot in Ravenswood. They have a custom-built oven adorned with a beautiful mosaic that churns out wonderful pizzas in a matter of a few minutes. The owner, Jon Goldsmith, earned his pizza making credentials in the home of pizza, Naples. The owner actually traveled to Naples and studied the art of making pizza and he is now using the talents he developed to the delights of many in the Chicago land area. I found Jon to be very friendly. As I waited for my guest, we chatted about a few Italian restaurants and grocery stores we both knew of that were listed in a newspaper he had a copy of on hand for patrons to page through. Spacca Napoli is a very open restaurant with windows that offer a lot of light and nice sidewalk views to the patrons dining inside as well as to the people passing by the restaurant.
Spacca Napoli has a menu that is short and to the point. There are 8 different types of “salads” on the antipasti section of the menu and they serve 12 different types of pizzas. They do have a liquor license and offer Italian beers, wines, liquors and excellent coffee. They also offer Tiramisu, Spumoni, Baked Ricotta and assorted gelatos and sorbets for dessert.
On my visit, we had an Italian lemon soda, San Pellegrino water and a couple of pizzas. My friend had the Margherita pizza which has 4 simple ingredients of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil. It was just as delicious as my Funghi pizza whose ingredients included tomatoes, mozzarella, basil , mushrooms and olive oil. All of these fresh ingredients are places on top of a very special and tasty crust. It is this crust that makes the pizzas at Spacca Napoli so special. I really can’t say enough about the delicious pizza crusts which are mixed in a dough mixer that actually comes from Italy.
After our pizzas, we weren’t hungry for much else but I couldn’t turn away an espresso. I was feeling a bit nostalgic and couldn’t pass on the opportunity to bring back some fond memories from my time in Italy with a nice shot of espresso. It worked and also kept me wide awake for the next few hours.
On my visit, the bill was $34 for a coffee, mineral water, Italian soda and 2 pizzas. This included tax and tip. The prices are fair with pizzas ranging from $10-14 and salads from $5-8.
This restaurant is not open on Mondays or Tuesdays and they do have al fresco dining available when weather permits.
Chicago (Italian) - Sapore di Napoli
Sapore di Napoli
1406 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone773-935-1212
Date of Review: April, 2007; updated May, 2008
Sapore di Napoli is another excellent spot for real Italian, Neapolitan pizza.
This is a very small restaurant with 8 small tables and there are probably never more than 2 people working at one time and 10-12 people eating. It is a simple place with an Italian flare that extends to the person who served us (who also had an Italian accent).
Their menu is pretty basic as all they have are a few appetizers, a few salads, a couple pastas and 12-15 different pizzas to choose from. The pizzas are 12 inches and they are not meant to be shared although splitting one with a salad could suffice as a meal for two people. On my visit, we decided to go right for the pizza. I had the Pomodori e Cipolle pizza which was a pizza with sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, red onion and rosemary. It had just the right combination of ingredients and was just the right size to leave me completely satisfied. My brother in law joined me on this evening and he had the Salsiccia pizza which had Italian sausage, tomato sauce and mozzarella. It was also very good. These pizzas are supposed to be simple but don’t take that as a negative thing as they are excellent. The crust is what really makes the pizza at Sapore di Napoli. It has a perfect consistency which is sweet, but not too sweet, chewy, but not too chewy and just perfect. The ovens behind the corner speak to the wonderful pizza crust as they can cook a pizza in 5-10 minutes and must have been very expensive.
Appetizers on the menu include Caprese, fried calamari and bruschetta. There are 4 different types of salads and they offer pastas including fettucine, spaghetti or penne with homemade marinara or bolognese sauce. On my last visit, we ordered the asparagus salad which featured asparagus along with cherry tomatoes, red onions, gorgonzola and balsamic vinegar. The ingredients were tasty and fresh making for a nice light starter to go with our pizzas.
While we didn’t sample any other menu items, we weren’t about to pass on the gelato. After all, it is hard to pass on a display cabinet of 14 different types of gelato that you’d expect to find on the corner of a street in Italy which stares you in the face when you walk into the restaurant. We both decided to go for the chocolate hazelnut gelato and we were rewarded with a healthy scoop of creamy gelato in an ice cream flute with a wafer cookie for dipping.
While the pizzas are excellent, they are not cheap. Our total bill was $45 which includes tax and tip for 2 pizzas, 2 Italian sodas and 2 scoops of gelato. The restaurant is BYOB (5$ corkage) so that helps to keep the bill reasonable. The pizzas are worth the price but if you expected to walk in and pay $20 to split a pie, you came to the wrong place. The pizzas range from $11-16 in price and the gelato is $5 for a healthy scoop. The salads are in the $6-8 dollar range.
1406 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone773-935-1212
Date of Review: April, 2007; updated May, 2008
Sapore di Napoli is another excellent spot for real Italian, Neapolitan pizza.
This is a very small restaurant with 8 small tables and there are probably never more than 2 people working at one time and 10-12 people eating. It is a simple place with an Italian flare that extends to the person who served us (who also had an Italian accent).
Their menu is pretty basic as all they have are a few appetizers, a few salads, a couple pastas and 12-15 different pizzas to choose from. The pizzas are 12 inches and they are not meant to be shared although splitting one with a salad could suffice as a meal for two people. On my visit, we decided to go right for the pizza. I had the Pomodori e Cipolle pizza which was a pizza with sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, red onion and rosemary. It had just the right combination of ingredients and was just the right size to leave me completely satisfied. My brother in law joined me on this evening and he had the Salsiccia pizza which had Italian sausage, tomato sauce and mozzarella. It was also very good. These pizzas are supposed to be simple but don’t take that as a negative thing as they are excellent. The crust is what really makes the pizza at Sapore di Napoli. It has a perfect consistency which is sweet, but not too sweet, chewy, but not too chewy and just perfect. The ovens behind the corner speak to the wonderful pizza crust as they can cook a pizza in 5-10 minutes and must have been very expensive.
Appetizers on the menu include Caprese, fried calamari and bruschetta. There are 4 different types of salads and they offer pastas including fettucine, spaghetti or penne with homemade marinara or bolognese sauce. On my last visit, we ordered the asparagus salad which featured asparagus along with cherry tomatoes, red onions, gorgonzola and balsamic vinegar. The ingredients were tasty and fresh making for a nice light starter to go with our pizzas.
While we didn’t sample any other menu items, we weren’t about to pass on the gelato. After all, it is hard to pass on a display cabinet of 14 different types of gelato that you’d expect to find on the corner of a street in Italy which stares you in the face when you walk into the restaurant. We both decided to go for the chocolate hazelnut gelato and we were rewarded with a healthy scoop of creamy gelato in an ice cream flute with a wafer cookie for dipping.
While the pizzas are excellent, they are not cheap. Our total bill was $45 which includes tax and tip for 2 pizzas, 2 Italian sodas and 2 scoops of gelato. The restaurant is BYOB (5$ corkage) so that helps to keep the bill reasonable. The pizzas are worth the price but if you expected to walk in and pay $20 to split a pie, you came to the wrong place. The pizzas range from $11-16 in price and the gelato is $5 for a healthy scoop. The salads are in the $6-8 dollar range.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Chicago (Indian) - Hema's Kitchen
Hema’s Kitchen
2411 N. Clark Street, Chicago IL 60614-2717; Phone 773-529-1705
Date of Review: March, 2007
Located on Clark Street right off of Fullerton in the midst of a bevy of different types of restaurants, Hema’s is an excellent option for a good Indian meal. I have eaten here on many occasions and have never left unsatisfied and have always left full.
The atmosphere is basic, but has a nice feel as there is some nice décor, pictures and dim lighting. The restaurant is relatively small with anywhere from 12-15 tables. This is a pleasant place to enjoy a meal.
Whether you opt for the lamb or vegetarian version, I highly recommend the samosas as an appetizer. The pastry crust is scrumptious as is the filling inside. The menu has a nice variety of vegetarian, seafood, lamb and chicken entrees. The menu is pretty extensive but you can’t go wrong with a Gosht, Vindaloo, Masala or Korma entrée. I also highly recommend the Nan and Onion Paratha as no Indian meal is complete without some wonderful Indian bread. Remember to order some rice to go with your entrées (as it is not included) and I give a ‘thumbs up’ to the complimentary yogurt salad which is a nice complement to most entrees. This is a BYOB restaurant.
The prices at Hema’s are fair. Most entrees are in the $10-12 range. The portions are decent size but you will definitely walk away full after you add the rice, sauces and bread into the mix. Two people would leave full after ordering 2 entrees and an order of bread and rice for $35 including tax and tip.
The bathroom is basic and clean and accommodates 1 person. Overall, I was impressed with the cleanliness of this restaurant.
There is another Hema’s Kitchen on 6406 N. Oakley near Devon Street.
2411 N. Clark Street, Chicago IL 60614-2717; Phone 773-529-1705
Date of Review: March, 2007
Located on Clark Street right off of Fullerton in the midst of a bevy of different types of restaurants, Hema’s is an excellent option for a good Indian meal. I have eaten here on many occasions and have never left unsatisfied and have always left full.
The atmosphere is basic, but has a nice feel as there is some nice décor, pictures and dim lighting. The restaurant is relatively small with anywhere from 12-15 tables. This is a pleasant place to enjoy a meal.
Whether you opt for the lamb or vegetarian version, I highly recommend the samosas as an appetizer. The pastry crust is scrumptious as is the filling inside. The menu has a nice variety of vegetarian, seafood, lamb and chicken entrees. The menu is pretty extensive but you can’t go wrong with a Gosht, Vindaloo, Masala or Korma entrée. I also highly recommend the Nan and Onion Paratha as no Indian meal is complete without some wonderful Indian bread. Remember to order some rice to go with your entrées (as it is not included) and I give a ‘thumbs up’ to the complimentary yogurt salad which is a nice complement to most entrees. This is a BYOB restaurant.
The prices at Hema’s are fair. Most entrees are in the $10-12 range. The portions are decent size but you will definitely walk away full after you add the rice, sauces and bread into the mix. Two people would leave full after ordering 2 entrees and an order of bread and rice for $35 including tax and tip.
The bathroom is basic and clean and accommodates 1 person. Overall, I was impressed with the cleanliness of this restaurant.
There is another Hema’s Kitchen on 6406 N. Oakley near Devon Street.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Chicago (South American) - Rios d’ Sudamerica
Rios d’ Sudamerica
2010 W Armitage Ave- At N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL; Phone 773 276-0170
Date of Review: February, 2007
Have you ever wondered about the food and culture of the countries of South America? I don’t know about you but discussions of the Argentine tango, Peruvian Inca culture and the overall beauty throughout Brazil make me a bit curious. Well, if don’t have the time or the means to make it to South America just yet, a visit to Rio Sudamerica is a good place to wet your cultural appetite with your own bottle of wine (BYOB).
Rios d’ Sudamerica is a simple storefront from the outside but has one of the most impressive interiors of any restaurant I have been to in Chicago. It is worth going to just to see the beautiful hand painted mosaic of Macchu Picchu, the landscape murals of Rio and its beautiful beaches and Argentines dancing the tango and cooking their wonderful meats. The host gave us a tour of the restaurant and described the beautiful artwork. There is a more private room upstairs that has a DJ booth and a lounge like area for dancing. As you walk down the stairs descending from the lounge area upstairs, the view of the restaurant below is particularly impressive. There is a lot of space in the restaurant and the tables are spread out making it a good place for large parties.
Rio Sudamerica has an impressive menu that includes traditional and innovative items focusing on Peru, Argentina, and Brazil. The range of starters is vast and varied. From empanadas, small pastries filled with beef, walnuts, raisins, onions and spices to various types of ceviches and some interesting starters that combine meat and fish in numerous different ways, there is a lot to choose from. We started with the Pinzas De Cangrejo Apanadas which are crab claws rolled with crab meat and spices which are then breaded and pan fried. They are served with golden yucca and a rocoto cream sauce. They were excellent as I literally dug the remaining crab meat out from the base of the claw. We also had the Ceviche Mixto which is a combination of sole, shrimp, octopus, scallops, squid and onion in a citrus marinade. The seafood was fresh and tasty but I found the marinade too tangy as the citrus flavors were a bit overwhelming. The ceviche is served with Peruvian corn which is very different from the corn we are used to. The kernels are much large and the flavor is less sweet and is much more starchy, like that of yucca.
For entrees, there is a wonderful variety of seafood and meat (beef, duck, rabbit, lamb) dishes that make it hard to pick between land and sea. I had the Moqueca de pescado which are corvina filets (sea bass) steamed with coconut milk and served with sautéed garlic, onion, green onion and green and red pepper. It is served with yucca and white rice. I was very impressed with the dish as the coconut milk based sauce was not overwhelming but a perfect compliment to the other flavors in the dish. The presentation was impressive also. My guest enjoyed the Quinua al horno con chuletas de cordero. For us Americans, this is lamb chops served over AuGratin style quinua with roasted peppers, carrots, parsley and spinach.
For dessert, we split the chirimoya ice cream which was wrapped in 3 separate chocolate crepes. Chirimoya is a tropical fruit with leathery skin and soft pulp that is related to custard apples. The crepes were average but the ice cream had an interesting and refreshing flavor that I would describe as somewhere between a lemon and an apple.
Rios d’ Sudamerica is a good value. We had 2 starters, 2 entrees and 1 dessert for $91 which included tax and tip. The fact that the restaurant is BYOB helps keep the costs down. Most appetizers are under $10 and the entrées are under $20.
2010 W Armitage Ave- At N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL; Phone 773 276-0170
Date of Review: February, 2007
Have you ever wondered about the food and culture of the countries of South America? I don’t know about you but discussions of the Argentine tango, Peruvian Inca culture and the overall beauty throughout Brazil make me a bit curious. Well, if don’t have the time or the means to make it to South America just yet, a visit to Rio Sudamerica is a good place to wet your cultural appetite with your own bottle of wine (BYOB).
Rios d’ Sudamerica is a simple storefront from the outside but has one of the most impressive interiors of any restaurant I have been to in Chicago. It is worth going to just to see the beautiful hand painted mosaic of Macchu Picchu, the landscape murals of Rio and its beautiful beaches and Argentines dancing the tango and cooking their wonderful meats. The host gave us a tour of the restaurant and described the beautiful artwork. There is a more private room upstairs that has a DJ booth and a lounge like area for dancing. As you walk down the stairs descending from the lounge area upstairs, the view of the restaurant below is particularly impressive. There is a lot of space in the restaurant and the tables are spread out making it a good place for large parties.
Rio Sudamerica has an impressive menu that includes traditional and innovative items focusing on Peru, Argentina, and Brazil. The range of starters is vast and varied. From empanadas, small pastries filled with beef, walnuts, raisins, onions and spices to various types of ceviches and some interesting starters that combine meat and fish in numerous different ways, there is a lot to choose from. We started with the Pinzas De Cangrejo Apanadas which are crab claws rolled with crab meat and spices which are then breaded and pan fried. They are served with golden yucca and a rocoto cream sauce. They were excellent as I literally dug the remaining crab meat out from the base of the claw. We also had the Ceviche Mixto which is a combination of sole, shrimp, octopus, scallops, squid and onion in a citrus marinade. The seafood was fresh and tasty but I found the marinade too tangy as the citrus flavors were a bit overwhelming. The ceviche is served with Peruvian corn which is very different from the corn we are used to. The kernels are much large and the flavor is less sweet and is much more starchy, like that of yucca.
For entrees, there is a wonderful variety of seafood and meat (beef, duck, rabbit, lamb) dishes that make it hard to pick between land and sea. I had the Moqueca de pescado which are corvina filets (sea bass) steamed with coconut milk and served with sautéed garlic, onion, green onion and green and red pepper. It is served with yucca and white rice. I was very impressed with the dish as the coconut milk based sauce was not overwhelming but a perfect compliment to the other flavors in the dish. The presentation was impressive also. My guest enjoyed the Quinua al horno con chuletas de cordero. For us Americans, this is lamb chops served over AuGratin style quinua with roasted peppers, carrots, parsley and spinach.
For dessert, we split the chirimoya ice cream which was wrapped in 3 separate chocolate crepes. Chirimoya is a tropical fruit with leathery skin and soft pulp that is related to custard apples. The crepes were average but the ice cream had an interesting and refreshing flavor that I would describe as somewhere between a lemon and an apple.
Rios d’ Sudamerica is a good value. We had 2 starters, 2 entrees and 1 dessert for $91 which included tax and tip. The fact that the restaurant is BYOB helps keep the costs down. Most appetizers are under $10 and the entrées are under $20.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Chicago (French) - Le Bouchon
Le Bouchon
1958 North Damen Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone 773-862-6600
Date of Review: January, 2007; updated May, 2008
Le Bouchon is a classic French bistro in the heart of Wicker Park. Jean-Claude Poilevey opened Le Bouchon in 1994 and his restaurant has continued to impress in an environment that has underwent a myriad of changes over the last decade or so. Le Bouchon offers a casual atmosphere and high quality, classic French dishes. The menu is small as is the restaurant. When I walk into Le Bouchon, I feel like I am walking into one of the wonderful storefront bistros in the Marais or St-Germain-des-Prés neighborhoods in Paris which brings back some incredibly fond memories.
Le Bouchon is a quintessential French bistro. It is small, crowded and the tables are close to one another. This makes for an intimate dining experience that can be romantic or just fun. It has a small bar that you can have a drink at, but on a busy night you will have a tough time finding a place to stand as you wait for your table. If you have an extended wait, I would recommend going across the street to Darwin’s for a drink and returning when your table will be ready.
For starters, the French bread on the table is a good way to start your meal. Don’t skip on the rich and flavorful butter either. There is a range of starters and salads that are all solid. The French Onion Soup is fantastic. It is served with a healthy portion of cheese melted over the top, but the key to the dish lies in the fact that the onions are soaked in duck fat. As good as it is, I found it a bit too rich for my liking. These same onions are packed inside a nice crust in Jean Claude’s Onion Tart, which makes for a nice piece of savory pie. The codfish brandade is a simple combination of garlic, cod, butter and cream and it is fantastic. It is served with garlic croutons, but if you are left with more brandade (but no more croutons), use your leftover bread to assist you with the rest. The mussels and house made pate are also very good. On the salad side, I have particularly enjoyed the salad with lardons.
The entrees range from an always wonderful fish special to roasted duck for 2 to grilled steak with house butter and home-made Fries. On my last visit, I had the monkfish special that was served lightly fried and paired with sautéed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. Another fish special I have enjoyed in the past is the skate wing, which has a firm consistency and is served with spinach and vegetables. The standard menu has many classic dishes including free range chicken, poached salmon, braised Moroccan lamb shank and sautéed rabbit.
The dessert menu is simple but continues to impress. The crème brulee is, as expected, solid. The profiteroles are decent but if the French Onion Soup and your entrée left you begging for a digestive, a lighter dessert option is the fresh berries with vanilla sauce.
Le Bouchon has an extensive, solid wine menu that is heavy on French wine.
Le Bouchon is a solid value. The appetizers, salads and desserts all range from 5-8$ and the entrees are between 16-20$. On my last visit, our party of 3 had the three course price fixe menu offered on Tuesdays and a total of 4 glasses of wine for a total of $125 (including tax/tip).
Le Bouchon offers some excellent specials including ½ price bottles of wine on Mondays, a $22 Prix-Fixe special where you can select any starter, entrée and dessert on Tuesdays and the daily "Le Menu Bistro Lyonnais" menu option allows the patron to select an appetizer, entrée and dessert from a limited selection of menu items for 20$.
1958 North Damen Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone 773-862-6600
Date of Review: January, 2007; updated May, 2008
Le Bouchon is a classic French bistro in the heart of Wicker Park. Jean-Claude Poilevey opened Le Bouchon in 1994 and his restaurant has continued to impress in an environment that has underwent a myriad of changes over the last decade or so. Le Bouchon offers a casual atmosphere and high quality, classic French dishes. The menu is small as is the restaurant. When I walk into Le Bouchon, I feel like I am walking into one of the wonderful storefront bistros in the Marais or St-Germain-des-Prés neighborhoods in Paris which brings back some incredibly fond memories.
Le Bouchon is a quintessential French bistro. It is small, crowded and the tables are close to one another. This makes for an intimate dining experience that can be romantic or just fun. It has a small bar that you can have a drink at, but on a busy night you will have a tough time finding a place to stand as you wait for your table. If you have an extended wait, I would recommend going across the street to Darwin’s for a drink and returning when your table will be ready.
For starters, the French bread on the table is a good way to start your meal. Don’t skip on the rich and flavorful butter either. There is a range of starters and salads that are all solid. The French Onion Soup is fantastic. It is served with a healthy portion of cheese melted over the top, but the key to the dish lies in the fact that the onions are soaked in duck fat. As good as it is, I found it a bit too rich for my liking. These same onions are packed inside a nice crust in Jean Claude’s Onion Tart, which makes for a nice piece of savory pie. The codfish brandade is a simple combination of garlic, cod, butter and cream and it is fantastic. It is served with garlic croutons, but if you are left with more brandade (but no more croutons), use your leftover bread to assist you with the rest. The mussels and house made pate are also very good. On the salad side, I have particularly enjoyed the salad with lardons.
The entrees range from an always wonderful fish special to roasted duck for 2 to grilled steak with house butter and home-made Fries. On my last visit, I had the monkfish special that was served lightly fried and paired with sautéed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. Another fish special I have enjoyed in the past is the skate wing, which has a firm consistency and is served with spinach and vegetables. The standard menu has many classic dishes including free range chicken, poached salmon, braised Moroccan lamb shank and sautéed rabbit.
The dessert menu is simple but continues to impress. The crème brulee is, as expected, solid. The profiteroles are decent but if the French Onion Soup and your entrée left you begging for a digestive, a lighter dessert option is the fresh berries with vanilla sauce.
Le Bouchon has an extensive, solid wine menu that is heavy on French wine.
Le Bouchon is a solid value. The appetizers, salads and desserts all range from 5-8$ and the entrees are between 16-20$. On my last visit, our party of 3 had the three course price fixe menu offered on Tuesdays and a total of 4 glasses of wine for a total of $125 (including tax/tip).
Le Bouchon offers some excellent specials including ½ price bottles of wine on Mondays, a $22 Prix-Fixe special where you can select any starter, entrée and dessert on Tuesdays and the daily "Le Menu Bistro Lyonnais" menu option allows the patron to select an appetizer, entrée and dessert from a limited selection of menu items for 20$.
Glenview (Mediterranean) - Pita Inn
Pita Inn
9854 North Milwaukee Avenue, Glenview IL; Phone 847-759-9990
Date of Review: January, 2007
Pita Inn offers some of the best, most reasonably priced Mediterranean food in the Chicago land area. Pita Inn has been in business since 1982 and has locations in Skokie, Wheeling and Glenview. I have been to each of the locations although my review focuses on the Glenview restaurant since I used to frequent this location on a weekly basis for lunch.
Pita Inn is a pretty basic place that offers counter service and is perfect for a nice lunch or a quick dinner. They do have a large seating area that is pleasant and very clean and also have a small outdoor seating area. It is hard to describe the exterior of the restaurant but the location in Glenview is unique and eye catching. It almost looks like some sort of temple.
Pita Inn has an excellent selection of Mediterranean specialties. I regularly enjoy their hummus which is served with homemade, warm pita bread. In addition, there are numerous salads (Jerusalem, Tabouleh, Yogurt) available with the same wonderful Pita Bread.
Some of my favorite menu items include the stuffed grape leaves, the beef or chicken shawarma entrée or sandwich and the chicken fatoush salad. Their falafel is also excellent. The business lunch special is an excellent value. It is offered from Mon – Fr from 11 AM to 3 PM and includes a combination of shish kabob, kifta kabob, shawarma and falafel served with rice, salad and pita bread. This is a lot of food and it is only $3.95. It offers a great opportunity to sample a variety of the items on the menu.
Pita Inn is a fantastic value. You can get a solid portion of good food along with a drink for between 5-10$ dollars per person for lunch or dinner.
9854 North Milwaukee Avenue, Glenview IL; Phone 847-759-9990
Date of Review: January, 2007
Pita Inn offers some of the best, most reasonably priced Mediterranean food in the Chicago land area. Pita Inn has been in business since 1982 and has locations in Skokie, Wheeling and Glenview. I have been to each of the locations although my review focuses on the Glenview restaurant since I used to frequent this location on a weekly basis for lunch.
Pita Inn is a pretty basic place that offers counter service and is perfect for a nice lunch or a quick dinner. They do have a large seating area that is pleasant and very clean and also have a small outdoor seating area. It is hard to describe the exterior of the restaurant but the location in Glenview is unique and eye catching. It almost looks like some sort of temple.
Pita Inn has an excellent selection of Mediterranean specialties. I regularly enjoy their hummus which is served with homemade, warm pita bread. In addition, there are numerous salads (Jerusalem, Tabouleh, Yogurt) available with the same wonderful Pita Bread.
Some of my favorite menu items include the stuffed grape leaves, the beef or chicken shawarma entrée or sandwich and the chicken fatoush salad. Their falafel is also excellent. The business lunch special is an excellent value. It is offered from Mon – Fr from 11 AM to 3 PM and includes a combination of shish kabob, kifta kabob, shawarma and falafel served with rice, salad and pita bread. This is a lot of food and it is only $3.95. It offers a great opportunity to sample a variety of the items on the menu.
Pita Inn is a fantastic value. You can get a solid portion of good food along with a drink for between 5-10$ dollars per person for lunch or dinner.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Chicago (Italian) - Mia Francesca
Mia Francesca
3311 N. Clark Street, Chicago IL; Phone 773-281-3310
Date of Review: December, 2006; updated May, 2008
There are numerous Francesca restaurants throughout the Chicago land area in places like Naperville, St. Charles, West Dundee, Elmhurst and Lake Forest just to name a few. I have been to many of them and find the quality of the food to be pretty consistent no matter which Francesca restaurant I visit. In addition, each restaurant offers a similarly styled menu. Their philosophy is to offer simple, rustic cooking and flavors, great service and good prices.
My review focuses on the Mia Francesca located on 3311 N. Clark Street in Chicago. This is the location which I have visited most frequently over the years. That said, this review is applicable to any Francesca restaurant as I have dined at many of their locations quite frequently.
In terms of atmosphere, it seems that many of the locations have a similar feel which usually includes a somewhat hectic looking environment with waiters flying between tables that are placed closed to each other and a kitchen that is visible to the patrons. This is definitely the case for the Clark Street location. Mia Francesca has a lot of energy as you are in close proximity to your fellow diners and it almost feels as if you are sharing the dining experience with them, even if you never exchange a word.
The warm bread will be on your table soon after the waiter takes it out of the warming oven near the washroom in the back of the restaurant. It is a nice “starter” with some olive oil but don’t fall for the bait and have too much of it or you will spoil the next hour of dining pleasure. All of their appetizers are excellent but the ones that are freshest in my mind are the crispy calamari, any of the different bruschetta’s on the menu and the fantastic risotto appetizer of the day. The salads and pizzas are also a nice way to start a meal.
There are a variety of different pastas on the menu. I typically pass on ordering pasta because the pasta isn’t home made and I have grown quite fond of chewy home made pasta. I have had the Linguine with Frutte del Mare and while the seafood is good, I didn’t find the marinara sauce overly flavorful or exciting. The Penne alla Paesana includes sautéed Italian sausage with wild mushrooms and peas in a tomato cream sauce. It was simple, tasty and good.
There are typically a couple different chicken dishes, a veal option and 2-3 different fish courses on the menu. If it is on the menu, the Veal chop is almost the same size as a pork chop from Ditka’s and it is fantastic. I have also had the fantastic veal medallions served with wild mushrooms, prosciutto and a light brandy sauce. Yum! That said, I am partial to the fish dishes as I always feel that I am doing a disservice to myself by not ordering one. They are that good. On my last visit, I had tilapia in a light white wine sauce with a pepper, onion and mushroom garnish that was fantastic. On past visits, I have had striped sea bass over creamy polenta and roasted salmon with tomato, avocado, red onion, olive oil, basil and lemon over asparagus.
The dessert menu is varied. Mia Francesca’s version of tiramisu is very good and their gelatos and sorbets are a nice way to lightly finish off a fantastic meal.
Mia Francesca is a decent value with many reasonably priced options on the menu. You definitely don’t walk away and feel like you overpaid for the meal you just enjoyed. On my last visit, we had a $30 dollar bottle of wine, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for $100 and that included tax and tip.
3311 N. Clark Street, Chicago IL; Phone 773-281-3310
Date of Review: December, 2006; updated May, 2008
There are numerous Francesca restaurants throughout the Chicago land area in places like Naperville, St. Charles, West Dundee, Elmhurst and Lake Forest just to name a few. I have been to many of them and find the quality of the food to be pretty consistent no matter which Francesca restaurant I visit. In addition, each restaurant offers a similarly styled menu. Their philosophy is to offer simple, rustic cooking and flavors, great service and good prices.
My review focuses on the Mia Francesca located on 3311 N. Clark Street in Chicago. This is the location which I have visited most frequently over the years. That said, this review is applicable to any Francesca restaurant as I have dined at many of their locations quite frequently.
In terms of atmosphere, it seems that many of the locations have a similar feel which usually includes a somewhat hectic looking environment with waiters flying between tables that are placed closed to each other and a kitchen that is visible to the patrons. This is definitely the case for the Clark Street location. Mia Francesca has a lot of energy as you are in close proximity to your fellow diners and it almost feels as if you are sharing the dining experience with them, even if you never exchange a word.
The warm bread will be on your table soon after the waiter takes it out of the warming oven near the washroom in the back of the restaurant. It is a nice “starter” with some olive oil but don’t fall for the bait and have too much of it or you will spoil the next hour of dining pleasure. All of their appetizers are excellent but the ones that are freshest in my mind are the crispy calamari, any of the different bruschetta’s on the menu and the fantastic risotto appetizer of the day. The salads and pizzas are also a nice way to start a meal.
There are a variety of different pastas on the menu. I typically pass on ordering pasta because the pasta isn’t home made and I have grown quite fond of chewy home made pasta. I have had the Linguine with Frutte del Mare and while the seafood is good, I didn’t find the marinara sauce overly flavorful or exciting. The Penne alla Paesana includes sautéed Italian sausage with wild mushrooms and peas in a tomato cream sauce. It was simple, tasty and good.
There are typically a couple different chicken dishes, a veal option and 2-3 different fish courses on the menu. If it is on the menu, the Veal chop is almost the same size as a pork chop from Ditka’s and it is fantastic. I have also had the fantastic veal medallions served with wild mushrooms, prosciutto and a light brandy sauce. Yum! That said, I am partial to the fish dishes as I always feel that I am doing a disservice to myself by not ordering one. They are that good. On my last visit, I had tilapia in a light white wine sauce with a pepper, onion and mushroom garnish that was fantastic. On past visits, I have had striped sea bass over creamy polenta and roasted salmon with tomato, avocado, red onion, olive oil, basil and lemon over asparagus.
The dessert menu is varied. Mia Francesca’s version of tiramisu is very good and their gelatos and sorbets are a nice way to lightly finish off a fantastic meal.
Mia Francesca is a decent value with many reasonably priced options on the menu. You definitely don’t walk away and feel like you overpaid for the meal you just enjoyed. On my last visit, we had a $30 dollar bottle of wine, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for $100 and that included tax and tip.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Chicago (African) - Yassa African Restaurant
Yassa African Restaurant
716 E. 79th Street, Chicago IL; Phone 773-488-9630
Date of Review: December, 2006; updated May, 2008
If you like culture and experiences, Yassa is the place for you. It is tucked away on the South Side of Chicago and may require a bit of a commute, but it is well worth it.
In terms of atmosphere, think of walking into a shop storefront and having it feel like a home. Yassa is run by Jay and his family who immigrated to Chicago from Senegal. Throughout the restaurant, there are subtle and not so subtle hints of Senegal, helping make your dining experience truly a cultural one. This includes African art work, masks and Senegalese colors. The restaurant is small so there may be a significant wait. If there is, crack open your bottle of wine (BYOB) and ask for a few glasses as there is room near the counter to stand and have a drink as you soak up the warm, home like atmosphere of Yassa.
After a 45 minute wait, Jay emerged from the kitchen with something that was thankfully headed for our table. We ordered 2 appetizers and 4 entrees and told him to bring out whatever dishes were ready first as everything is cooked to order. The first dish to arrive was the Fataya (an appetizer), which are pan fried shells of crisp, chewy bread that are wrapped around a fish mixture. It is a bit of a cross between a fish patty and a fish empanada. It is served with a flavorful, spicy sauce that includes yellow mustard and pureed red pepper. Our 2nd appetizer was Nem. Described as an egg roll by Jay, Nem is more like a fried spring roll and is filled with a combination of onion, vermicelli, mushrooms and scraps of shredded chicken or lamb. It is served with the same sauce that the fataya is served with. The appetizers are tasty but they are on the greasy side.
For entrees, we looked to Jay for suggestions. We told him we were looking to sample some authentic Senegalese cuisine and he guided us in the right direction. We (Jay) decided that we should try the Chicken Yassa, Grilled Fish, Chicken Brochette and the fish stew (Thiebou Djeun).
All of the portions were very large with voluminous amounts of white rice (jollof) and assorted vegetables (many of them being root vegetables) served with the fish stew and the Chicken Yassa. Tonia chose couscous as a side with the brochette and Nick chose the wonderful Aloco (plantains) with the grilled fish.
There were many spices hidden within the platters of food on our table that exploded within our mouths and led to some continuous plate passing until everyone had sampled all of the dishes. I was especially impressed with the wonderful flavors of the caramelized onions mixed with the couscous that was served with the brochette and the assorted vegetables (yams, carrots, cabbage, etc.) served over the rice that was served with the Chicken Yassa. The chicken in both dishes had a nice flavor contrast that was somewhere between the charcoal it was cooked on and the lemon, onion and spice marinade that was used. The fish stew (grouper) was average, but the highlight of the meal was the grilled fish. Served with a generous scooping of relish (onions, peppers, cilantro and who knows what else), the tilapia is grilled and served whole (with the head on). It was easy enough and enjoyable (for me at least) to filet the fish off the bone. The fish was wonderful; it is the house specialty. It was so good that I would later find my friend Nick with the carcass of the fish in his hands attempting to get every bit of fish off of those bones. On another visit, Ivy and I had the Thiou Curry with Lamb. While flavorful, both Ivy and I found the dish to be too greasy for our palettes.
Yassa is one of the better values in Chicago. It is BYOB and there is no corking fee. In addition, nothing on the menu costs more than $12. Given the fact that the plates of food are large enough that 2 people could easily share one entree, the prices are extremely reasonable. We had 2 appetizers and 4 entrees for $56. You cannot ask for better value than that.
This is a cultural experience and one I would recommend to anyone who likes to try new things. When you leave a restaurant and feel the need to shake hands with the owner and possibly even exchange a hug, it is hard not to feel good about the last 2-3 hours you spent there.
To put it simply, Jay and his family seem to be wonderful people who work hard to deliver quality food and service for very reasonable prices. When Jay asked for our suggestions to improve his restaurant and we told him that he should raise the prices. In response, he smiled and told us he couldn’t do that. He said he couldn’t do that because he wanted to keep the prices affordable for anyone who wants to experience Yassa. Jay explained that it is about the people and that is what Yassa is about.
716 E. 79th Street, Chicago IL; Phone 773-488-9630
Date of Review: December, 2006; updated May, 2008
If you like culture and experiences, Yassa is the place for you. It is tucked away on the South Side of Chicago and may require a bit of a commute, but it is well worth it.
In terms of atmosphere, think of walking into a shop storefront and having it feel like a home. Yassa is run by Jay and his family who immigrated to Chicago from Senegal. Throughout the restaurant, there are subtle and not so subtle hints of Senegal, helping make your dining experience truly a cultural one. This includes African art work, masks and Senegalese colors. The restaurant is small so there may be a significant wait. If there is, crack open your bottle of wine (BYOB) and ask for a few glasses as there is room near the counter to stand and have a drink as you soak up the warm, home like atmosphere of Yassa.
After a 45 minute wait, Jay emerged from the kitchen with something that was thankfully headed for our table. We ordered 2 appetizers and 4 entrees and told him to bring out whatever dishes were ready first as everything is cooked to order. The first dish to arrive was the Fataya (an appetizer), which are pan fried shells of crisp, chewy bread that are wrapped around a fish mixture. It is a bit of a cross between a fish patty and a fish empanada. It is served with a flavorful, spicy sauce that includes yellow mustard and pureed red pepper. Our 2nd appetizer was Nem. Described as an egg roll by Jay, Nem is more like a fried spring roll and is filled with a combination of onion, vermicelli, mushrooms and scraps of shredded chicken or lamb. It is served with the same sauce that the fataya is served with. The appetizers are tasty but they are on the greasy side.
For entrees, we looked to Jay for suggestions. We told him we were looking to sample some authentic Senegalese cuisine and he guided us in the right direction. We (Jay) decided that we should try the Chicken Yassa, Grilled Fish, Chicken Brochette and the fish stew (Thiebou Djeun).
All of the portions were very large with voluminous amounts of white rice (jollof) and assorted vegetables (many of them being root vegetables) served with the fish stew and the Chicken Yassa. Tonia chose couscous as a side with the brochette and Nick chose the wonderful Aloco (plantains) with the grilled fish.
There were many spices hidden within the platters of food on our table that exploded within our mouths and led to some continuous plate passing until everyone had sampled all of the dishes. I was especially impressed with the wonderful flavors of the caramelized onions mixed with the couscous that was served with the brochette and the assorted vegetables (yams, carrots, cabbage, etc.) served over the rice that was served with the Chicken Yassa. The chicken in both dishes had a nice flavor contrast that was somewhere between the charcoal it was cooked on and the lemon, onion and spice marinade that was used. The fish stew (grouper) was average, but the highlight of the meal was the grilled fish. Served with a generous scooping of relish (onions, peppers, cilantro and who knows what else), the tilapia is grilled and served whole (with the head on). It was easy enough and enjoyable (for me at least) to filet the fish off the bone. The fish was wonderful; it is the house specialty. It was so good that I would later find my friend Nick with the carcass of the fish in his hands attempting to get every bit of fish off of those bones. On another visit, Ivy and I had the Thiou Curry with Lamb. While flavorful, both Ivy and I found the dish to be too greasy for our palettes.
Yassa is one of the better values in Chicago. It is BYOB and there is no corking fee. In addition, nothing on the menu costs more than $12. Given the fact that the plates of food are large enough that 2 people could easily share one entree, the prices are extremely reasonable. We had 2 appetizers and 4 entrees for $56. You cannot ask for better value than that.
This is a cultural experience and one I would recommend to anyone who likes to try new things. When you leave a restaurant and feel the need to shake hands with the owner and possibly even exchange a hug, it is hard not to feel good about the last 2-3 hours you spent there.
To put it simply, Jay and his family seem to be wonderful people who work hard to deliver quality food and service for very reasonable prices. When Jay asked for our suggestions to improve his restaurant and we told him that he should raise the prices. In response, he smiled and told us he couldn’t do that. He said he couldn’t do that because he wanted to keep the prices affordable for anyone who wants to experience Yassa. Jay explained that it is about the people and that is what Yassa is about.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Chicago (Italian) - Osteria Via Stato
Osteria Via Stato
620 N. State Street, Chicago IL; Phone 312-642-8450
Date of Review: November, 2006
Osteria Via Stato is not your typical Italian restaurant. Let me step back for a minute. This may be your typical Italian restaurant, but only if you have called some city in Italy your home for some portion of your life. Rich Melman, chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, new “concept” draws from the wonderful meats, cheeses, atmosphere and range of courses that you might find if you were sitting in an Osteria in Bologna or Florence or Naples. In fact, before opening the restaurant, Melman and his team sent a ‘research team’ to Italy so that they could get as close as possible to the cuisine and concept of what they were trying to emulate.
The atmosphere here is busy and welcoming, just as an Italian Osteria should be. The lighting creates a warm feeling and there is a lot of energy in the restaurant with tables everywhere including on what feels like an indoor terrace that opens out to the atrium of the Embassy Suites hotel that the restaurant is located in. The bar area also has tables and there is an expansive back room of the restaurant where the majority of tables are located with the open kitchen in full view.
Osteria Via Stato does offer a standard menu that you can order from. That said, I have never ordered off of it. To me, the beauty of this restaurant is the 3-course ‘Italian Feast’ menu option they offer. This is a selection of courses for $35.95. It is a great way to sample a variety of dishes. For the 1st course, an assortment of chef selected antipasto plates is brought to your table along with some warm, crusty bread and a plate of olives. Some of the antipasto dishes that have stood out during my visits include the veal meatballs in a red sauce and wood roasted sweet onions with crumbled parmesan cheese melted on top. You can request as many helpings as you want of any antipasto dish you would like to try more of.
The next course comes in the form of pasta and risotto. There are hearty ragus and perfectly cooked noodles and rice that remind me of the pasta and risotto dishes I have enjoyed while in Italy. All are served family style and you can request more of any dish that you deem worthy of another helping. It is always a surprise as to which two dishes will show up on your table as the chef is still ‘making the call’ at this point in your meal.
Your third course is the only course you choose yourself. Your server uses one of the small black chalkboards hanging on the wall to describe the 8-10 options you have available to you. You have a wide range of options ranging from veal meatloaf to a lamb t-bone (5$ extra), porterhouse for two (8$ extra), short rib on a bed of polenta, pork shank, swordfish or salmon. All the items I have tried have been good but my favorites are the tender lamb t-bone and the succulent short rib. There are 2 side dishes that are brought to the table to pass with your entrée. Some I have had include glazed carrots and onions, sautéed cauliflower and a wonderful sweet potato puree.
From a dessert perspective, I have been too full to ever actually order a dessert although the chef did come out on my last visit and offered a complimentary sampling of sugared orange peel and chocolate peanut brittle which was very good.
The prices are fair for the quantity and quality of the food that continues to show up on your table during your meal. On my last visit, 5 of us dined and the total bill was $244 plus tip. That included a $37 bottle of wine. They have an extensive wine list with bottles from every region of Italy and you have the option to try 3 different glasses of wine paired with your meal for as little as $15 per person as part of the "Just Bring Me Wine" program.
620 N. State Street, Chicago IL; Phone 312-642-8450
Date of Review: November, 2006
Osteria Via Stato is not your typical Italian restaurant. Let me step back for a minute. This may be your typical Italian restaurant, but only if you have called some city in Italy your home for some portion of your life. Rich Melman, chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, new “concept” draws from the wonderful meats, cheeses, atmosphere and range of courses that you might find if you were sitting in an Osteria in Bologna or Florence or Naples. In fact, before opening the restaurant, Melman and his team sent a ‘research team’ to Italy so that they could get as close as possible to the cuisine and concept of what they were trying to emulate.
The atmosphere here is busy and welcoming, just as an Italian Osteria should be. The lighting creates a warm feeling and there is a lot of energy in the restaurant with tables everywhere including on what feels like an indoor terrace that opens out to the atrium of the Embassy Suites hotel that the restaurant is located in. The bar area also has tables and there is an expansive back room of the restaurant where the majority of tables are located with the open kitchen in full view.
Osteria Via Stato does offer a standard menu that you can order from. That said, I have never ordered off of it. To me, the beauty of this restaurant is the 3-course ‘Italian Feast’ menu option they offer. This is a selection of courses for $35.95. It is a great way to sample a variety of dishes. For the 1st course, an assortment of chef selected antipasto plates is brought to your table along with some warm, crusty bread and a plate of olives. Some of the antipasto dishes that have stood out during my visits include the veal meatballs in a red sauce and wood roasted sweet onions with crumbled parmesan cheese melted on top. You can request as many helpings as you want of any antipasto dish you would like to try more of.
The next course comes in the form of pasta and risotto. There are hearty ragus and perfectly cooked noodles and rice that remind me of the pasta and risotto dishes I have enjoyed while in Italy. All are served family style and you can request more of any dish that you deem worthy of another helping. It is always a surprise as to which two dishes will show up on your table as the chef is still ‘making the call’ at this point in your meal.
Your third course is the only course you choose yourself. Your server uses one of the small black chalkboards hanging on the wall to describe the 8-10 options you have available to you. You have a wide range of options ranging from veal meatloaf to a lamb t-bone (5$ extra), porterhouse for two (8$ extra), short rib on a bed of polenta, pork shank, swordfish or salmon. All the items I have tried have been good but my favorites are the tender lamb t-bone and the succulent short rib. There are 2 side dishes that are brought to the table to pass with your entrée. Some I have had include glazed carrots and onions, sautéed cauliflower and a wonderful sweet potato puree.
From a dessert perspective, I have been too full to ever actually order a dessert although the chef did come out on my last visit and offered a complimentary sampling of sugared orange peel and chocolate peanut brittle which was very good.
The prices are fair for the quantity and quality of the food that continues to show up on your table during your meal. On my last visit, 5 of us dined and the total bill was $244 plus tip. That included a $37 bottle of wine. They have an extensive wine list with bottles from every region of Italy and you have the option to try 3 different glasses of wine paired with your meal for as little as $15 per person as part of the "Just Bring Me Wine" program.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Chicago (Southern) - FAT Willy's RIB SHACK
Fat Willy’s Rib Shack
2416 West Schubert Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone773-782-1800
Date of Review: October, 2006; updated May, 2008
Fat Willy’s is a hidden gem. While it may not be that easy to find, it is worth looking for because it has some of the best barbecue in Chicago and compares favorably with the likes of Smoke Daddy, Honey One and Twin Anchors.
You walk into Fat Willy’s, which is quaintly tucked behind a movie theater in a somewhat odd location, and might not think much. To be honest, I really don’t think you’d ever find the place unless someone told you about it. In terms of atmosphere, the name of the place is Fat Willy’s rib shack and it is pretty much a shack. However, your eating barbecue and aren’t at a fine dining establishment, although the food might make you think otherwise. It is a basic place with a pickup counter and busy service station to the right and 15 or so tables to the left. It is what I expect when I go to a place to grab some barbecue.
For starters, the macaroni and cheese is rich, has a nice garlic accent and is heart stopping good. Having a scoop of this along with some excellent green onion and cheddar cornbread (served with honey butter) is a great way to start your meal.
The beef brisket sandwich has a pile of wonderful smoked and very tender brisket on a nice grilled baguette with caramelized onions and a fresh horseradish sauce spread across the top of the brisket. These are big sandwiches and you need to be pretty hungry to eat the whole thing. The meat has such a nice smoky flavor that the tastes savor in your mouth long after you decide it is time to swallow the fantastic mouthful of barbeque in your mouth. You owe it to yourself to nibble on a couple pieces of brisket without any sauce to truly appreciate the flavor of the meat. However, the complex and flavorful barbecue sauce definitely adds to the flavor of the meat, instead of overwhelming it. You can’t go wrong with the mild or spicy barbecue sauce that is provided in syrup bottles on the table as both are very good. The flavor of the pulled pork is just as special as that of the brisket and it is served with some vinegar slaw on top. My friend Joel and I ordered one of each and swapped halves so that we could get the best of both worlds. The sandwiches are served with a cup of so-so coleslaw and some fries that are also pretty average. The baby back pork ribs are pricey but full of flavor and the rib tips are tasty but too fatty for my taste (yes, I know rib tips are supposed to be fatty).
Fat Willy’s prices are about average. For 9.95, you get a very good sized sandwich that you will have trouble finishing in one setting. At $16 for a half slab of ribs, this is a bit pricey but isn’t a rip off either. Some people might expect better value given the off beat location but you get what you pay for and at Fat Willy’s you are getting some fantastic meat.
The hallway outside the bathroom is decorated with many different publications and awards from various magazines and newspapers talking about Fat Willy’s excellent barbecue. All of the publications are reputable and Fat Willy’s does a good job of making sure that those who eat here are well aware of the restaurant’s accolades.
Fat Willy’s serves beer and wine but a barbecue spot is synonymous with beer. They do a good job of offering a decent variety of beers but the key is the fact that they offer 40’s. Yes, 40 ounce beers and they serve them in a paper bag. Some people may find this to be “trashy”, for lack of a better word. Personally, I think it’s awesome.
2416 West Schubert Avenue, Chicago IL; Phone773-782-1800
Date of Review: October, 2006; updated May, 2008
Fat Willy’s is a hidden gem. While it may not be that easy to find, it is worth looking for because it has some of the best barbecue in Chicago and compares favorably with the likes of Smoke Daddy, Honey One and Twin Anchors.
You walk into Fat Willy’s, which is quaintly tucked behind a movie theater in a somewhat odd location, and might not think much. To be honest, I really don’t think you’d ever find the place unless someone told you about it. In terms of atmosphere, the name of the place is Fat Willy’s rib shack and it is pretty much a shack. However, your eating barbecue and aren’t at a fine dining establishment, although the food might make you think otherwise. It is a basic place with a pickup counter and busy service station to the right and 15 or so tables to the left. It is what I expect when I go to a place to grab some barbecue.
For starters, the macaroni and cheese is rich, has a nice garlic accent and is heart stopping good. Having a scoop of this along with some excellent green onion and cheddar cornbread (served with honey butter) is a great way to start your meal.
The beef brisket sandwich has a pile of wonderful smoked and very tender brisket on a nice grilled baguette with caramelized onions and a fresh horseradish sauce spread across the top of the brisket. These are big sandwiches and you need to be pretty hungry to eat the whole thing. The meat has such a nice smoky flavor that the tastes savor in your mouth long after you decide it is time to swallow the fantastic mouthful of barbeque in your mouth. You owe it to yourself to nibble on a couple pieces of brisket without any sauce to truly appreciate the flavor of the meat. However, the complex and flavorful barbecue sauce definitely adds to the flavor of the meat, instead of overwhelming it. You can’t go wrong with the mild or spicy barbecue sauce that is provided in syrup bottles on the table as both are very good. The flavor of the pulled pork is just as special as that of the brisket and it is served with some vinegar slaw on top. My friend Joel and I ordered one of each and swapped halves so that we could get the best of both worlds. The sandwiches are served with a cup of so-so coleslaw and some fries that are also pretty average. The baby back pork ribs are pricey but full of flavor and the rib tips are tasty but too fatty for my taste (yes, I know rib tips are supposed to be fatty).
Fat Willy’s prices are about average. For 9.95, you get a very good sized sandwich that you will have trouble finishing in one setting. At $16 for a half slab of ribs, this is a bit pricey but isn’t a rip off either. Some people might expect better value given the off beat location but you get what you pay for and at Fat Willy’s you are getting some fantastic meat.
The hallway outside the bathroom is decorated with many different publications and awards from various magazines and newspapers talking about Fat Willy’s excellent barbecue. All of the publications are reputable and Fat Willy’s does a good job of making sure that those who eat here are well aware of the restaurant’s accolades.
Fat Willy’s serves beer and wine but a barbecue spot is synonymous with beer. They do a good job of offering a decent variety of beers but the key is the fact that they offer 40’s. Yes, 40 ounce beers and they serve them in a paper bag. Some people may find this to be “trashy”, for lack of a better word. Personally, I think it’s awesome.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Chicago (German) - Chicago Brauhaus
Chicago Brauhaus
4732 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL; Phone 773-784-4444
Date of Review: October, 2006
I won't sit here and lie and say that the food is fantastic at the Chicago Brauhaus. If you’re not fond of home style German cooking that sticks to your ribs and is heavy on spatzle, red cabbage and some kind of meat, you are not going to be that happy when you browse through the menu. That said, if you do like German style cuisine, the food is pretty good.
This is a loud restaurant with a unique crowd. You will see old timers dressed up for a night out who most likely have Germanic roots of some sort. At the same time, you will see young groups of people in there 20's, 30's or 40's simply looking for a good time. It seems that the consensus with anyone coming here is that they want to have fun. From September 20th through October 29th (for Oktoberfest), they have a band that plays nightly and you should expect to see various kinds of singing, dancing, yodeling and other rowdiness. This is a restaurant with big tables and is perfect for a large party. This is probably a place you want to come to with at least a party of 4. This is one of best places in Chicago to “let go” at and have fun over a liter or so of beer. If you get to the point where you are 'passing the beer boot' around the table, you deserve extra credit. If you are passing it or taking it from someone you don't know, even better.
An expensive, albeit excellent and very large appetizer is the Kalte Platte which is an assortment of cold cuts, cheese, potato salad and pickles. It is served with a basket of pretzel rolls and rye bread and some fantastic spicy mustard. If they are selling giant pretzels, buy one and dip it in the mustard. For entrees, the Cevapcici is a ground beef and lamb combination that is formed into the shape of thick sausage links. It is pretty tasty and is served with some good German style potato salad. Other dishes I recommend include the Sauerbraten, Wiener schnitzel and the Rindsroulade. The Rindsroulade is especially memorable. It consists of thin slices of sirloin beef rolled with mustard, bacon, onion and pickle and the rolls of beef are then braised. Like most entrees, it is served with spatzle and red cabbage. The portions are good size but they don't overwhelm you, which is a good thing as the food is quite heavy.
The Chicago Brauhaus has an excellent selection of German beers on tap. It is the best selection of German draught beers I have seen in Chicago. Beers they have on tap include Hofbrau, Spaten, Stiegl, Bitburger, Julius Echter, Becks Dark and a house brew. Be careful as you indulge in a half or full liter as these beers have a tendency to make you dizzy.
The service is up front and to the point. It is German. If you are not ready to order, don't expect a kind greeting. Expect your server to walk away and come back in 5-10 minutes. It is the systematic type of service one would expect at an authentic German restaurant.
The food is not cheap but not overpriced either. You can order from a variety of different sausages or other home style type dishes like stuffed cabbage or Bavarian style meatloaf for a pretty reasonable 7-13$. Expect to spend $15-17 for something like Wiener schnitzel, Sauerbraten, Stuffed Chicken or a Pork Shank. The beer isn't cheap but you aren't drinking 12 ounce beers either. The price corresponds to the quantity of beer you have in your mug.
Overall, this is just a fun place to spend an evening at. Once or twice a year may be enough but some of my best nights in Chicago have taken place at the Chicago Brauhaus. The only thing that I would say is great here is the beer but when you add in some decent food, unique and fun music and a diverse crowd of people all looking to have a blast, you get a VERY GOOD TIME.
4732 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL; Phone 773-784-4444
Date of Review: October, 2006
I won't sit here and lie and say that the food is fantastic at the Chicago Brauhaus. If you’re not fond of home style German cooking that sticks to your ribs and is heavy on spatzle, red cabbage and some kind of meat, you are not going to be that happy when you browse through the menu. That said, if you do like German style cuisine, the food is pretty good.
This is a loud restaurant with a unique crowd. You will see old timers dressed up for a night out who most likely have Germanic roots of some sort. At the same time, you will see young groups of people in there 20's, 30's or 40's simply looking for a good time. It seems that the consensus with anyone coming here is that they want to have fun. From September 20th through October 29th (for Oktoberfest), they have a band that plays nightly and you should expect to see various kinds of singing, dancing, yodeling and other rowdiness. This is a restaurant with big tables and is perfect for a large party. This is probably a place you want to come to with at least a party of 4. This is one of best places in Chicago to “let go” at and have fun over a liter or so of beer. If you get to the point where you are 'passing the beer boot' around the table, you deserve extra credit. If you are passing it or taking it from someone you don't know, even better.
An expensive, albeit excellent and very large appetizer is the Kalte Platte which is an assortment of cold cuts, cheese, potato salad and pickles. It is served with a basket of pretzel rolls and rye bread and some fantastic spicy mustard. If they are selling giant pretzels, buy one and dip it in the mustard. For entrees, the Cevapcici is a ground beef and lamb combination that is formed into the shape of thick sausage links. It is pretty tasty and is served with some good German style potato salad. Other dishes I recommend include the Sauerbraten, Wiener schnitzel and the Rindsroulade. The Rindsroulade is especially memorable. It consists of thin slices of sirloin beef rolled with mustard, bacon, onion and pickle and the rolls of beef are then braised. Like most entrees, it is served with spatzle and red cabbage. The portions are good size but they don't overwhelm you, which is a good thing as the food is quite heavy.
The Chicago Brauhaus has an excellent selection of German beers on tap. It is the best selection of German draught beers I have seen in Chicago. Beers they have on tap include Hofbrau, Spaten, Stiegl, Bitburger, Julius Echter, Becks Dark and a house brew. Be careful as you indulge in a half or full liter as these beers have a tendency to make you dizzy.
The service is up front and to the point. It is German. If you are not ready to order, don't expect a kind greeting. Expect your server to walk away and come back in 5-10 minutes. It is the systematic type of service one would expect at an authentic German restaurant.
The food is not cheap but not overpriced either. You can order from a variety of different sausages or other home style type dishes like stuffed cabbage or Bavarian style meatloaf for a pretty reasonable 7-13$. Expect to spend $15-17 for something like Wiener schnitzel, Sauerbraten, Stuffed Chicken or a Pork Shank. The beer isn't cheap but you aren't drinking 12 ounce beers either. The price corresponds to the quantity of beer you have in your mug.
Overall, this is just a fun place to spend an evening at. Once or twice a year may be enough but some of my best nights in Chicago have taken place at the Chicago Brauhaus. The only thing that I would say is great here is the beer but when you add in some decent food, unique and fun music and a diverse crowd of people all looking to have a blast, you get a VERY GOOD TIME.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Oak Park (Italian) - The Pasta Shoppe & Cafe
The Pasta Shoppe and Cafe
116 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park IL; Phone708-763-0600
Date of Review: June, 2006
This is a landmark neighborhood Italian restaurant in the heart of Oak Park that is a fantastic deli in addition to being a solid sit down restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately awestruck by the impressive display case that had an assortment of meats, cheeses and salads in addition to some luscious looking profiteroles. The goodies inside this cabinet show up on the bowls and plates of the patrons sitting at the tables in the restaurant. In addition, they can be found on a picnic blanket in the park nearby or on the kitchen tables of those that were smart enough to swing by the Pasta Shoppe in preparation for that picnic or home cooked meal.
Upon entering the restaurant, you pass by the display case (mentioned above) and a freezer loaded with fresh pasta to make your way through a narrow path to a small, intimate dining area of no more than 7 or 8 tables. There is also an outstanding outdoor seating area that feels European as you are sitting on a sprawling, pedestrian sidewalk situated between two buildings.
On our visit, we started with a plate of arancini. These fantastic little rice balls are stuffed with cheese and are then deep-fried and are served with homemade marinara sauce. I could have eaten 5 or 6 of these beauties if I wasn’t trying to make room on my plate for an Italian salad and fried ravioli (served with the same marinara sauce). We complimented the appetizers with 3 baskets of bread we used to clean up 2 or 3 small plates of olive oil sprinkled with fresh parmesan.
For entrees, we decided to listen to our instincts and stick close to the home made pastas and sauces. My dad had the cheese ravioli with the spicy arrabiata sauce. Both my Mom and I went for the same sauce but with a different base. I went for the rigatoni and she the cavatelli. My sister and brother in law decided to branch out a bit and chose the chicken marsala which was also very good. The portions were large and I was very satisfied with my meal. The pasta sauce was rich, hearty and flavorful. As an accompaniment, I ordered the spinach and mozzarella stuffed meatballs that were out of this world. All of the pastas were cooked perfectly and had a nice consistency to them. One thing I will say about the arrabiata sauce is that it is very spicy. For me, that is perfect because I love spice and can handle it. However, my Mom and Dad found it to be too spicy for them. They actually asked for a side of marinara sauce and found the combination of marinara sauce with the arrabiata to be a better spice combination for them.
We had 2 appetizers, 1 salad and 4 entrees. In addition, we had 8 glasses of wine between us. The total cost was $102 plus tax and tip. We also did a fare bit of sharing as the large portions made entrée sharing a definite option. I ate my entire entrée myself but really had no reason to other than the fact that I was enamored with the sauce despite the fact that it gave me a sweaty forehead.
A nice accent is that the wine is served in those small glasses that you can fit your whole hand around. These are the ones you find at old school Italian restaurants. The nicest accent is that everything is homemade in The Pasta Shoppe and that is tough to find these days.
116 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park IL; Phone708-763-0600
Date of Review: June, 2006
This is a landmark neighborhood Italian restaurant in the heart of Oak Park that is a fantastic deli in addition to being a solid sit down restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately awestruck by the impressive display case that had an assortment of meats, cheeses and salads in addition to some luscious looking profiteroles. The goodies inside this cabinet show up on the bowls and plates of the patrons sitting at the tables in the restaurant. In addition, they can be found on a picnic blanket in the park nearby or on the kitchen tables of those that were smart enough to swing by the Pasta Shoppe in preparation for that picnic or home cooked meal.
Upon entering the restaurant, you pass by the display case (mentioned above) and a freezer loaded with fresh pasta to make your way through a narrow path to a small, intimate dining area of no more than 7 or 8 tables. There is also an outstanding outdoor seating area that feels European as you are sitting on a sprawling, pedestrian sidewalk situated between two buildings.
On our visit, we started with a plate of arancini. These fantastic little rice balls are stuffed with cheese and are then deep-fried and are served with homemade marinara sauce. I could have eaten 5 or 6 of these beauties if I wasn’t trying to make room on my plate for an Italian salad and fried ravioli (served with the same marinara sauce). We complimented the appetizers with 3 baskets of bread we used to clean up 2 or 3 small plates of olive oil sprinkled with fresh parmesan.
For entrees, we decided to listen to our instincts and stick close to the home made pastas and sauces. My dad had the cheese ravioli with the spicy arrabiata sauce. Both my Mom and I went for the same sauce but with a different base. I went for the rigatoni and she the cavatelli. My sister and brother in law decided to branch out a bit and chose the chicken marsala which was also very good. The portions were large and I was very satisfied with my meal. The pasta sauce was rich, hearty and flavorful. As an accompaniment, I ordered the spinach and mozzarella stuffed meatballs that were out of this world. All of the pastas were cooked perfectly and had a nice consistency to them. One thing I will say about the arrabiata sauce is that it is very spicy. For me, that is perfect because I love spice and can handle it. However, my Mom and Dad found it to be too spicy for them. They actually asked for a side of marinara sauce and found the combination of marinara sauce with the arrabiata to be a better spice combination for them.
We had 2 appetizers, 1 salad and 4 entrees. In addition, we had 8 glasses of wine between us. The total cost was $102 plus tax and tip. We also did a fare bit of sharing as the large portions made entrée sharing a definite option. I ate my entire entrée myself but really had no reason to other than the fact that I was enamored with the sauce despite the fact that it gave me a sweaty forehead.
A nice accent is that the wine is served in those small glasses that you can fit your whole hand around. These are the ones you find at old school Italian restaurants. The nicest accent is that everything is homemade in The Pasta Shoppe and that is tough to find these days.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Las Vegas (Asian) - Tao
Tao
The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas NE; Phone 702-388-8338
Date of Review: May, 2006
Located in the Venetian hotel, I challenge anyone with any interest in Asian culture to pass by this venue without stopping in for at least a drink. If you can, you have more will power than I. After meandering through the Venetian hotel, I made my way towards the light outside but paused when I caught a whiff of a nice fragrance. After realizing that this aroma was coming from the restaurant I just walked by, my interest was piqued enough for me to turn around and do a bit more investigation. I was taken in immediately as the entrance to the restaurant is lined, on both sides, with large sunken tubs filled with water and various different kinds of flower petals. After a quick glance inside, I knew where I was having dinner on this particular evening.
Tao’s atmosphere begins with bathtubs full of flower pedals which open out into a fantastic Asian accented lounge area that has the feel of a club. The Asian accents are ever present as you move from one room to the next. This is the type of place where you might spot a Hollywood power couple. Tao is that cool. Tao is a 42,000 square foot entertainment complex that features the aforementioned lounge and restaurant, banquet facilities and a nightclub. No worries if the nightclub atmosphere isn’t for you. You probably won’t even see it. I didn’t. With velvet and silk prominent throughout an atmosphere that is accented by waterfalls and a hand-carved 20-foot-tall Buddha floating peacefully above a pool complete with Japanese carp, dining at Tao is much more than a meal. It is an experience.
The menu is varied (Pan-Asian) but Tao specializes in Hong Kong Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisine. The variety of delicacies available includes sashimi with different types of dipping sauces, innovative sushi rolls, lobster wontons, Peking duck and a Wasabi Crusted Filet Mignon.
During my visit, I dined with my friends Andy and Marcia. We started with yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and Ponzu sauce. The fish was succulent and fresh and the Ponzu sauce was a nice contrast to the fresh fish and jalapeno flavors. We continued with the Thai Stuffed Shrimp with Garlic, Lime and Thai Chili Sauce and the Lobster Wontons with Shiitake Ginger Broth. I think the sentence above gives enough perspective regarding the flavorful combinations in these 2 dishes. Both were absolutely wonderful. We continued with the Peking duck. We took turns picking different things to eat and this was my choice. I love duck but this was my first experience with Peking duck. I now understand what I have been missing. With the flavors of the crispy and scrumptious duck accented by slivered spring onions and hoisin sauce all combined in a mushu wrap, this was a delectable combination of flavors that I could not get enough of. I put the exclamation point on this entree by disregarding everything I know about health and eating every piece of crispy duck skin left on the plate.
For dessert, we had the Giant Fortune Cookie which was filled with white and dark chocolate mousse. Visions of cracking the crispy crust of this massive fortune cookie with my spoon to delve into two kinds of mouthwatering chocolate mousse are still very much fresh in my head.
It is impossible to really find value at a restaurant as exclusive as Tao. When you walk into the restaurant and take a look around, you know it is going to be very expensive. That said, it is undoubtedly worth every penny spent. We chose 1 bottle of wine from the extensive and impressive wine list to go with four different dishes and a dessert. The cost was $220 plus tax and tip and it was worth every cent.
The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas NE; Phone 702-388-8338
Date of Review: May, 2006
Located in the Venetian hotel, I challenge anyone with any interest in Asian culture to pass by this venue without stopping in for at least a drink. If you can, you have more will power than I. After meandering through the Venetian hotel, I made my way towards the light outside but paused when I caught a whiff of a nice fragrance. After realizing that this aroma was coming from the restaurant I just walked by, my interest was piqued enough for me to turn around and do a bit more investigation. I was taken in immediately as the entrance to the restaurant is lined, on both sides, with large sunken tubs filled with water and various different kinds of flower petals. After a quick glance inside, I knew where I was having dinner on this particular evening.
Tao’s atmosphere begins with bathtubs full of flower pedals which open out into a fantastic Asian accented lounge area that has the feel of a club. The Asian accents are ever present as you move from one room to the next. This is the type of place where you might spot a Hollywood power couple. Tao is that cool. Tao is a 42,000 square foot entertainment complex that features the aforementioned lounge and restaurant, banquet facilities and a nightclub. No worries if the nightclub atmosphere isn’t for you. You probably won’t even see it. I didn’t. With velvet and silk prominent throughout an atmosphere that is accented by waterfalls and a hand-carved 20-foot-tall Buddha floating peacefully above a pool complete with Japanese carp, dining at Tao is much more than a meal. It is an experience.
The menu is varied (Pan-Asian) but Tao specializes in Hong Kong Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisine. The variety of delicacies available includes sashimi with different types of dipping sauces, innovative sushi rolls, lobster wontons, Peking duck and a Wasabi Crusted Filet Mignon.
During my visit, I dined with my friends Andy and Marcia. We started with yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and Ponzu sauce. The fish was succulent and fresh and the Ponzu sauce was a nice contrast to the fresh fish and jalapeno flavors. We continued with the Thai Stuffed Shrimp with Garlic, Lime and Thai Chili Sauce and the Lobster Wontons with Shiitake Ginger Broth. I think the sentence above gives enough perspective regarding the flavorful combinations in these 2 dishes. Both were absolutely wonderful. We continued with the Peking duck. We took turns picking different things to eat and this was my choice. I love duck but this was my first experience with Peking duck. I now understand what I have been missing. With the flavors of the crispy and scrumptious duck accented by slivered spring onions and hoisin sauce all combined in a mushu wrap, this was a delectable combination of flavors that I could not get enough of. I put the exclamation point on this entree by disregarding everything I know about health and eating every piece of crispy duck skin left on the plate.
For dessert, we had the Giant Fortune Cookie which was filled with white and dark chocolate mousse. Visions of cracking the crispy crust of this massive fortune cookie with my spoon to delve into two kinds of mouthwatering chocolate mousse are still very much fresh in my head.
It is impossible to really find value at a restaurant as exclusive as Tao. When you walk into the restaurant and take a look around, you know it is going to be very expensive. That said, it is undoubtedly worth every penny spent. We chose 1 bottle of wine from the extensive and impressive wine list to go with four different dishes and a dessert. The cost was $220 plus tax and tip and it was worth every cent.
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