one sixtyblue

160 N. Loomis
Randolph & Ogden
312-850-0303
http://www.onesixtyblue.com
American Contemporary

This place really blows me away. I went in with no expectations the first time, especially since it was the location of the office holiday party, BUT, man, was I shocked by the level enjoyment from the first bite to the last. After that wonderful meal, I was dying to go back with the dining companions of personal choice and experience more than a party of flavors in my mouth, but rather a soiree of flavors in my mouth. I was not disappointed.

Where do I begin? This place is very comfortable on the inside, even if it does have a bit of a cold, industrial look from the outside (I believe it is housed in a former pickle factory). It has a very modern feel, without being too cold and impersonal. You can watch the cooks at work from the dining area, and there is also a private room to rent for parties up to fourteen. The bar area is also very nice to lounge around and enjoy pre- or post-dinner drinks on the couches. The menu has a great range of selections, although vegetarians don't have too many options once you get past the "wood oven" cheese menu.

I've tried several menu items between two trips, so I will touch on some of my favorites. First off, the diver sea scallops appetizer is a MUST have. You are confronted by three large, plump, beautiful diver sea scallops sitting atop a medley of diced heirloom apples, celery chips, and truffle juice. My God, the first time I had these, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! The scallops are so perfectly cooked, not too chewy and the temperature was just right throughout. The truffle sauce adds amazing flavor as well. These are not to be passed up if you are a fan of scallops. The Kumamota oysters were also very good. They are served on the half shell and topped with tomato jelly, horseradish, candied lemon, and celery leaf. All of the flavors make very good complements to each other, with the horseradish adding a cutting flavor and the lemon to sweeten things up a bit. Now to the entrees, on my first visit, I enjoyed the beef tenderloin in a red wine reduction sauce, served with a side of whipped potatoes. Sheer excellence. The meat was done medium-rare to perfection, and practically melted in my mouth. The potatoes were some of the best potatoes I've ever had, so smooth and creamy, no extra butter needed here! On my second visit, I decided to be a bit adventurous and ordered the veal strip loin. This was accompanied by wood roasted mushrooms, cipollini onions, and surrounded by a port wine sauce. There was also some sort of vegetable puree that the whole thing was resting on, I'm not sure what it was, but it was the perfect accompaniment. The portion was quite large, and I had trouble finishing all of the veal. It was very well seasoned and cooked and there was a large variety of wild mushrooms in the dish. Beautiful presentation as well. On to dessert! First off, I don't know which was better, the chocolate bombe or the bittersweet chocolate souffle. Both are very simple, yet divinely satisfying. The quality of chocolate used in both is top notch. The chocolate bombe was the perfect ending to the perfect dinner on my first visit. Crisp chocolate cookie like bottom, filled with smooth, flavorful chocolate, and surrounded by a bit more chocolate before being dusted with cocoa powder. Just thinking about it makes me drool. Last night, I was fortunate enough to enjoy the bittersweet chocolate souffle served with raspberry sorbet. W-O-W is what my mouth and brain were screaming on the first taste of the chocolate. I could not get over just how good the melty, chocolately goodness was on the inside of this treat. I think I could probably eat something like that everyday. So light and fluffy on top, and so dense and rich on the inside. Another perfect ending to a perfect meal.

This place is probably one of the best I have ever eaten in my short life. Although it is not the kindest on the pocket book, I have no problem splurging at a place so damn good for special occasions. The service is very friendly and accommodating, not to mention on top of their game. Our waiter even offered to call a cab for whoever was in need of one when he brought the bill. I highly recommend one sixtyblue to anyone looking for a wonderful night of food. It was truly amazing on both visits. And to think they were going to close this place down and replace it with a Michael Jordan Steakhouse! Will I be back? Hell yes.

Angel Food Bakery

1636 W. Montrose Ave.
773-728-1512
www.angelfoodltd.com

I was lucky enough to find this adorable bakery/restaurant through a Metromix search. While they are primarily a bakery, they serve both breakfast and lunch. The menu is limited, but that just makes the selection easier. The lunch menu consisted of one soup - butternut squash - along with a nice assortment of comfort foods such chili, mac and cheese, and chicken pot pie. My Mom had the beef brisket sandwich which she loved. She's pretty hard to please and makes a mean brisket herself so her finishing the whole sandwich was quite impressive. I opted for the harvest autumn veggie sandwich. While I loved the assortment of veggies including eggplant, roasted red peppers, beets, etc. along with fresh mozzarella, I would have preferred the sandwich to be heated rather then served cold. My sandwich came with a red cabbage slaw the was lightly seasoned with a sesame dressing - delicious. We brought some of the many varieties of sweets they offer home with us and so far they are yummy. The place is small with only a few tables. Street parking during the week was easy, but I'm not sure how it will be on the weekend. Give it a try and I'm sure you will be as pleased as I was.

Pili.Pili

230 W. Kinzie St.
312-464-9988
http://www.pilipilirestaurant.com

Pili.Pili made it on the Chicago Winter Delights specials list this year, and I'm not one to pass up prix fixe menus at restaurants that have good reputations, so a group of my friends decided to try this place out. We went at 6 pm on a Wednesday evening and the place was pretty empty the entire time that we were there. I don't think there were more than eight tables being served at once. Our server, Brent, was very personable and did a great job at describing the menu and making recommendations. The manager also visited each table during the meal to make sure everything was okay. Overall the service was wonderful and prompt.

Now down to the nitty gritty. The prix fixe menu contained a fair amount of choices, including two choices for appetizer, at least three choices for entree, and two choices for dessert. None of the entrees really jumped out at me, so I consulted the main menu for more options. I decided on steamed mussels (perfect for two), salmon, and after many questions and much consideration, the chocolate bombe. We were first served a muse of rabbit sausage on mini toast with Dijon. This was my first taste of rabbit. It was very flavorful, a little gamey, and the Dijon added a nice bite. The steamed mussels were served with leeks and carrots in a ginger broth. The ginger broth was a nice background flavor for the mussels, and it was reminiscent of Vietnamese flavors. My only complaint is that we were not served extra bread to sop up the yummy broth. There seemed to be a large gap of time between the appetizer course and the main course, but with good company it was barely noticeable. The salmon arrived and I was impressed with the portion size. My salmon was served on a bed of mashed cauliflower and a celery root puree. Green snap peas were served as an accompaniment. The salmon was nice and moist, with a slight buttery taste. It went very well with the mashed cauliflower. The celery root puree was not impressive and the peas very plain. The chocolate bombe was made with white and bittersweet chocolate (not too much white), with a brownie-like bottom and guava sorbet on the side. The dessert was extremely rich, which takes a lot for me to say. The chocolate inside was very thick and creamy, almost like the consistency of homemade icing that has not cooled down. I could barely finish the dessert course, I felt like I was really overindulging. The guava sorbet added a nice, clean break in between bites of the chocolate bombe.

Overall, the food was good, but it did not make me say "wow!" The food was very flavorful for the most part, but as one of my fellow diners put it, they just didn't complement each other fully. Also, the presentation was on the somewhat bland side. There were few bright splashes of color to catch the eye.

The average dinner entrees range from $15 - $30. The serving sizes were good for the price, and the quality of the ingredients was good. My biggest complaint is the comfort level of the chairs. We were seated at a table in the main section of the dining room and the chairs were a bit uncomfortable. I never really sat back and relaxed in between courses or after the meal. They were also rather hard with little cushioning, and I found myself having to shift positions quite often. This was a nice place to try, especially with a small group of friends, but I must admit that I was a little disappointed after reading all the great reviews that were published in various media outlets, as well as personal dining reviews.

Irazu

1865 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773.252.5687
Costa Rican

Irazu is one of those "gems" in the Bucktown area. It is Costa Rican food, which I find very flavorful yet lighter than Mexican or Cuban food. I have been there a few times, and have never been disapointed.

The restaurant is a family owned establishment that is named after the highest volcano in Costa Rica. It opened in 1990 and has a really good following. There are only about 15 tables or so, so be prepared to wait for a table if you are dining-in during the late dinner rush.

You have to walk in knowing what to expect. It is just a little bit above the typical "hole in the wall" feeling. However, the atmosphere is comforting and warm, being a very family-friendly place.

Many of my friends who enjoy Irazu love their fruit shakes. Since I am not a shake fan, I have never tried them. But they seem to be pretty popular, with many different flavors including some exotic fruits--and they can be made with either water or milk.

They start off by giving you a basket of tortilla chips and green and red salsa. The chips and salsa are just ok, so don't fill up too much on them to save room for the actual meal!

For my dining experience, I ordered the eggplant vegetarian plate special. Imagine eggplant parmesan, but lighter. There were two slices of eggplant that were lightly breaded, had a smooth coating of tomato, and then a thin layer of cheese. It was a great flavor, but I had a hard time cutting the eggplant with my butter knife without tearing it to pieces.

On the side, there were fried plantains, beans, Costa Rican rice, and cabbage salad. I have never been a fan of beans and rice...but I love their version. The beans were just the right texture and flavor to go with the tender yellow rice. And the fried plantains are probably the best I have had--crispy and burnt on the edges and chewy in the middle. The cabbage salad is also a nice refresher for your palate, with the cool cabbage and beet combination. The portions here are huge, too, for what you pay! So go hungry or prepare to take home a doggy bag!

Another dish that Irazu is known for is their burritos. I think that I will try one the next time I go.

I would definitely recommend going there...multiple times since there are so many mouth-watering choices on the menu. Just remember that it is not open on Sundays, and they only take cash. Their prices are super reasonable...the huge burritos and sandwiches are around $5 while their main entrees are around $8-12. It is also very close to the El--Blue Line Western stop.

So, what are you waiting for?

*Note: Irazu will be closed from January 31-Feb 13 for vacation.

Hot Doug's

3324 N. California Ave.
773-279-9550

If you are a sausage aficionado then you have to visit Hot Doug's. A former Roscoe Village establishment has now moved to California and Roscoe with street parking available. Don't look for hamburgers or salads because this place only caters to sausage lovers. On my visit, I had a Calvados smoked duck sausage with dijonnaise and blue cheese. It was incredible. The restaurant offers a standard menu of about 10 different sausages from the perfect hot dog to Polish and Italian sausages, cooked the way you want with the toppings you crave. They also offer a wild game selection such as Buffalo chipotle along with a couple other daily specials.

The place is only open until 4pm and gets really crowded, but the line moves quickly and it is well worth the wait. I can't wait to go back!

West Egg Cafe

620 N. Fairbanks Ct.
312-280-8366
American - Breakfast/Lunch

What a great and affordable place to grab breakfast (served all day) or lunch. Quick and efficient service, which makes it a perfect place to have lunch during the week. In and out in less than 45 minutes.

They have an extensive menu, especially on the breakfast side, ranging from pancakes of several varieties to eggs benedict to a biscuits and gravy skillet platter. The first time I visited, I ordered the Blueberry Granola pancakes. With this you would expect a couple of pancakes topped with some sort of blueberry sauce and sprinkled with granola, right? Wrong! They serve things right around here...I received three pancakes that encompassed the entire diameter of my plate and they were chock-full of fresh blueberries and granola bits (inside the pancakes!), oh yeah, and then a fresh blueberry compote served on the side if you wanted additional topping. I have settled into a bit of a routine at this place, usually ordering the BLTE at lunchtime. What's a BLTE you ask? Well, you've got your traditional BLT, and for extra measure they through on a nice fried egg, along with some cheese. I usually order mine toasted sans the cheese and it's phenomenal. It makes me ask myself why I never thought to do this before. It also comes with a side of their potatoes (think American fries, but with the perfect blend of seasonings), a cup of fresh fruit salad, and some salad with a light vinaigrette dressing. All this for under $7.

This diner is worth the trip, no questions asked. Great prices, fast service (the food is usually served within 10 minutes of ordering), tons of choices, and delicious food. Just the place to slip out of the office to and catch up on the latest gossip.

Usagi Ya

1178 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Milwaukee & Division
773.292.5885
Pan Asian/Japanese

This is a fairly new Japanese restaurant, so of course I was a little apprehensive about going there. We went pretty early on a Friday night, so we were the only ones there for about a half hour.

We ordered a caterpillar roll, miso soup, a sushi combo platter and tonkatsu with wasabi mashed potatoes. The caterpillar roll was ok. it was nothing special, but it wasn't horrible either. The sushi platter consisted of a spicy tuna roll and other sushi pieces such as the unagi, salmon and tuna. They were all just mediocre, some of them seeming less fresh than the others. Oh, I forgot to mention something that kind of turned me off to this place...all our sushi came within 5 minutes of us ordering! I could see the sushi bar from my seat, and I think I just saw the chefs reaching into a refrigerated case and pulling out pre-made sushi, possibly from lunchtime!? The tonkatsu was also just ok...a little dry for my taste. (However, there were some yummy fried strips of potato on the side, as a garnish.) The miso soup was just miso soup. Hard to go wrong on that! And the wasabi mashed potatoes were a little too sweet. For dessert, we had tartufo. (Yes, we were in a Japanese restaurant!) It actually wasn't bad, but I think it was from a package.

The price wasn't super expensive but it also wasn't cheap. I definitely think that you could get a better meal for the same price somewhere else.

The atmosphere was "wannabe-trendy." They had very contemporary decor, with weird paintings hanging on the walls. They had cool ceramic dishes, but I found it funny that they used a plastic "tupperware-like" pitcher for the water.

It seemed like it was a Japanese-owned restaurant, since a lot of the employees had broken English, so I would have expected a little more from the food. It is new so maybe they can work out some kinks...you know, like, serving some fresh sushi, etc.

Maybe we hit an off night, but after this meal...I wouldn't recommend trying it.

Coco Pazzo Cafe

636 N. St. Clair
312-664-2777
Italian

Went here on a "business" lunch with a group of ten. It's a cute little place, and if you go in the spring/summer/early fall you can dine outside, but bring your sunglasses and a hat! This was my second dining adventure at Coco Pazzo Cafe and the service has been very consistent and attentive, but not over-bearing.

The first time I dined here, I had the chicken paillard. I'm not a huge fan of the chicken, but it was decent. They serve it with a nice side of greens with grapes and gorgonzola. I finished my meal with a beautiful panna cotta that was the high point of the meal. Today, I decided to try something new and went with the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms in a porcini/butter/garlic "broth". The pasta was wonderfully cooked, but as far as I could tell, the only mushrooms that I saw in my bowl were button mushrooms. I do love any kind of mushroom though, so I wasn't complaining. The sauce was very light, but could have used a little more garlic or a few more fresh herbs. All in all, it was good, but could have used a little bit of a kick to make my tastebuds say "wow!".

Is the place over-rated? Slightly. Are the prices right? Sure, but I can get more food for less somewhere else. I'd say the lunchtime entrees were between $10-$15. The portions are a good size, not too much, not too little. I definitely did not leave hungry. I would recommend the place if you are looking for a nice, relaxed Italian meal near Northwestern Hospital, but if they closed their doors tomorrow, I don't think I would say that I missed them.

North Park Tap

313 W. North Ave.
North Ave & North Park
312.943.5228
Neighborhood bar

Well, since I am starting this blog, I need to think of the last place I ate out. That would be North Park Tap, a local bar in Old Town. I just went in there b/c I saw a sign out front that said $.20 wings. Now, who could pass up a deal like that? It was a Tuesday, after work, around 6-ish...not crowded at all. The specials for the night were the buffalo wing special and $2 Bud Lights. I got 10 wings and a bottle for $5! Now that is a DEAL!

The wings were my favorite "part" of the chicken...the wing part, not the drumstick one. They actually were all the same part, which is odd when ordering wings. And they were HUGE. I couldn't even finish all 10! The flavor was just ok, it was a little too tangy after awhile...not really that spicy. They also got kinda salty and overpowering after wing # 6 or so.

But even though the wings weren't the best, for a mere $5 I got a pretty decent happy hour. They have various daily specials, so go ahead and check it out!