Taqueria El Asadero

2213 W. Montrose Ave.
773.583.5563

This is a pretty good hole-in-the-wall taqueria! The chips are greasy and great, and the tacos and burritos are flavorful. It is a small, not-so-clean restaurant though. People definitely know this is a find since it is pretty busy. I would definitely recommend it and try it out for yourself!

Square Kitchen

4600 N. Lincoln Ave.
773.751.1500
American

This Lincoln Square restaurant wasn't as great as I think it could have been. The food is mediocre and the prices are high. For the entrees you have to purchase the sides for an additional $3.99. Also, I found the menu a little lacking. I had the steak sandwich with fries and it was good but not great. But their dessert, the banana foster over brownie, was pretty good. The brownie melted in your mouth and was perfect with the banana. I probably do not need to got back there.

Dinotto Ristorante

215 W. North Ave.
Old Town
Italian
312.202.0302

I have walked by this restaurant hundreds of times yet have never tried it until now. The place is smaller than I expected, but they do have a nice outdoor patio on the side with the wonderful North Ave. sidewalk view. Dinotto is cozy and cute, which is nice for the location. For the appetizer I tried the grilled calamari which was wonderful! It was grilled perfectly and was topped by tomatoes, basil and olive oil. I would highly recommend it! Unfortunately I made a poor choice in the entree selection: I ordered the goat cheese ravioli in a pesto sauce. First, the goat cheese was way too strong--normally i can handle subtle amounts but I guess you have to be a goat cheese lover to appreciate this dish. Second, the pesto made the whole entree really salty and oily. Fortunately, my dining companion ordered a tasty dish, the shrimp crispy risotto, so I kept on eating off his plate. For dessert I ordered the tartufo. Now, every time I go to an Italian restaurant that has tartufo I have to try it! This, by far, is the best one I have ordered in Chicago so far...(note: nothing can compare with what drew me to tartufo in the first place: Figlio's in Minneapolis' tartufo, pre-2000; of course, they had to change it and now it will never be the same!) I would definitely give Dinotto one more try...choose a different entree, and of course, get the tartufo again!