ChicFoodies

Twist

2007-12-31T10:42:00.001-08:00

3412 N. Sheffield
Chicago
773.388.2727
Tapas

I thought this Tapas restaurant was a refreshing change from the standard Iberico and Ba-ba-reeba. I thought the place was cute and cozy... really small, so make sure you get there early, as they do not take reservations. When I looked at the menu, there were at least 10-15 things I wanted to try! That means I will have to go back! The best ones we ordered were the sea scallops and the jalepeno gnocchi. There was a special sangria that night--guava flavored. It didn't do it for me. I hope that the regular sangria is better. I would definitely recommend this place for a date or going out with a few friends.

Hachi's Kitchen

2007-08-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

2521 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60686
(773) 276-8080
www.hachiskitchen.com

So I'm addicted. Just ask anyone who answers the phone. They know who I am and exactly what I want. I was ashamed at first to be calling so often, but I got over it. I tried a number of rolls, but always go back to my favorites - Spicy White Tuna Crunch and Halloween Maki. Sometimes I throw in the Tempura Udon. It's a beautiful restaurant, but I've never eaten there. I either pick up or have it delivered. For my sake just give it a try and I know you'll like it. I'm not sure what I would do if they closed down. Did anyone say withdrawal?

Chalkboard

2007-08-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

4343 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60689
(773) 477-7144

Chalkboard was a great experience except for taking 20 minutes to find a parking space. However, Angela from the restaurant was nice enough to call and warn me that there was a street fair nearby so extra points for consideration. The whole menu was a little confusing with some items in a really menu and some on the chalkboard and some kind of on both. We started with the antipasto which consisted of some tiny bites of prosciutto and another meat (?), watermelon, the best almonds I ever tried, and a big hunk of blue cheese which was incredible. It was an excellent starter. My friend had the pork tenderloin which was perfectly cooked and I had the halibut with garlic greens, hen of the wood mushrooms and the best tasting heirloom tomatoes. The fish was very tasty, but needed more salt for my taste. For dessert, my friend had the cherry pie a la mode and I had the bread pudding du jour which was blueberry in a vanilla infused sauce with vanilla ice cream. Both desserts were good, but the bread pudding was my favorite. The sign of a good restaurant for me - would I go back - and I would. How could I forget the Mac N Cheese. OMG it was heaven. Of course it is extremely rich so be sure to share.

Quartino

2007-07-27T16:18:00.001-07:00

626 N. State Street
312.698.5000
Italian

I was pretty impressed with the food here. I was a little skeptical since it was right downtown and in the midst of touristy restaurants. The have smaller plates here so it is like Italian tapas. (That is a great concept!) We tried a bunch of different plates and my favorite was definitely the gnocchi. I think it was served in a basil/olive oil sauce and it was just amazing! Their slogan here "Where wine is cheaper than water..." and their wine is pretty good. We just got the regular table red wine and I thought it was decent AND I bought a bottle to bring home for only $5!
There were, however, two things that I did not like about this place: 1. It was SO loud. This place is big and it was CROWDED and you could barely talk to the person sitting next to you, let alone the person sitting across from you. I would not recommend going on a first date there. 2. They have a bathroom attendant. I just don't like places that have those. It makes me feel awkward b/c I don't need someone in the bathroom to give me soap and hand me a towel. I can do that myself.

Crust

2007-07-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

2056 W. Division Street
773.235.5511
Wicker Park

SO TASTY! And it is organic, which makes you feel as if it is so much better for you! My favorite pizza that I tried was the one with bacon and carmelized onions. The nice thing is you can go back and try different pizzas every time. It is in the old Cafe Settimana space so they took over the nice back patio. I would recommend sitting there and enjoying the weather and the good food.

Over Easy Cafe

2007-07-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

4943 N. Damen Ave.
773.506.2605
Ravenswood
Brunch/Breakfast Joint

This is my new favorite brunch place. It is cute, it is good food and it is in my neighborhood. The only drawback is that it is tiny so you have to wait awhile for a table. I tried the smoked salmon scramble (on the brunch menu for sundays) and it was SO GOOD! However, it was HUGE! It came with a side of red potatoes and 2 pieces of toast. I didn't even touch my toast. Nor did I finish my main dish. I also had the freckled OJ, which was OJ with strawberry juice mixed in. YUM!
I definitely want to go back since there were a couple other things on the menu that I was eyeing. The only thing I am not looking forward to is the wait for a table... but at least they have coffee outside while you are waiting. (That is a nice bonus although I don't drink coffee.)

Ignotz Ristorante

2007-07-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

2421 S. Oakley Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
773.579.0300

This place is a great find in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood. We went for lunch and the prices were great and the food was exceptional! It was a couple of little touches that make me like this restaurant better than a couple of the other ones I have tried on the same block. 1. They brought out hot bread with roasted garlic on the side. and 2. They bring a chocolate covered marischino cherry with the bill. Those two extra touches really stand out in my eyes! Plus the pasta was fresh and tasty! We also tried the fried zucchini which was piping hot and was a really large portion! I can't wait to go back!

The Breakfast Club

2007-07-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

1381 W. Hubbard St.
Chicago
312.666.2372
breakfast/lunch place

this "all-pink" restaurant is a cute old-fashioned neighborhood joint. It has been around for about 20 years and you can just see the old school charm. I opted to try the potato pancakes there, which were decent. (But you can only have so much potato pancakes.) My dining companions did order the lunches, which were rather small for the prices. Overall, the place was good but not exceptional. I would go back and try something different--maybe more standard breakfast fare.

Palmito

2007-05-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

3605 N. Ashland Ave.
773.248.3087
Costa Rican

This place was excellent! We tried so many different things and they were all wonderfully prepared. I will start with the appetizers:
-tilapia ceviche: it was flavorful and fresh. The only thing I would like more if it had more ingredients. It was basically tilapia, tomato and cilantro, I think.
-fried cheese: SO good! I am a sucker for any kind of cheese, though
-the chorizo empanada: nice smoky flavor. I am not huge on chorizo but this one wasn't too overpowering.

Now for the entrees. I got the pork chop rubbed in cumin with a pineapple glaze over a bed of mashed potatoes. It was a HUGE pork chop that was really thick and juicy. The pineapple was a tad sweet for my taste, but combined with the pork chop and potatoes, it worked well. I also tried the grilled salmon, which was SO good. It was grilled to perfection and served over a bed of couscous. And finally, I did get a taste of the chicken with mango sauce. This was my least favorite, maybe b/c I am not a big fan of chicken breast dishes. The flavor was a bit light for my taste but it was still good.

Now to the desserts! I am not a big sweets fan, but I was impressed. We tried this chocolate drenched cake, which was extraordinary! It may have had some coconut or some liquor in it. Not sure, but all I know is it was my favorite. And it was funny b/c we kept on commenting how much it looked like meatloaf! We also had the rice pudding, which was good but not really my cup of tea. And then this banana dish with ice cream and caramel. Yum!

I definitely overindulged myself. But it was worth it. The place is tiny so make sure to get reservations. It is also BYOB so make sure to get some wine or beer. I would definitely recommend checking this place out!

Bob San

2007-05-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

1805 W. Division
Wicker Park
773.235.8888
Japanese

Good sushi at reasonable prices. I wouldn't say the sushi is the best that I have had, but for the price it is a good place to try. The atmosphere is more casual than trendy and it is relaxed. I would recommend the House Crunch roll and the spider roll.

Bacchanalia Ristorante

2007-05-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

2413 S. Oakley
773.254.6555
Heart of Chicago
Italian

This cozy and quaint Italian restaurant is very "old school" Italian like its neighboring restaurants in the Heart of Chicago. I went there for lunch and the portions are huge and the prices very reasonable. You get a small bowl of soup with your meal and bread and foccacia. The food was fresh and flavorful. I opted to try the gorgonzola gnocchi. This gnocchi was stuffed with the cheese and covered with a homemade marinara sauce. The flavor of the cheese was a little strong for my taste with the power of the marinara as well. However, it was still good to try it. I would definitely go back there and try a different pasta dish or the eggplant parmesan.

Sabor a Cuba

2007-03-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

1833 W. Wilson Ave.
Ravenswood
773.769.6859
Cuban

This is a BYOB Cuban restaurant that I sort of stumbled upon. I actually had no intention of going in there, but the place I was supposed to go was closed so this was close by. I am really glad that I gave it a try! It was reasonably priced, good Cuban food. I tried the yuca frites with garlic sauce for an appetizer. They were good, but nothing special. I ordered the garlic shrimp dish for an entree and it had a really good flavor and came with beans and rice, with a few plaintains on the side. The portions were large for the price and the food was fresh. I also tried my dining companion's pork dish. I wasn't thrilled with the pork since I thought it was a little dry, although I did not know if that was just how the dish was meant to be prepared. The waitress was great--I never had to wait for water. (However, it could have been the fact, too, that there was only one other table in there besides us.) Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't know what to think of this small, discreet restaurant, but I would love to try it again. It is also BYOB, so definitely a place for a cheaper dinner. I think the entrees mainly ranged from $10-$15.

One Sixtyblue

2007-02-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

1400 W. Randolph St.
Chicago
312.850.0303

I went into this restaurant with high expectations, mainly because I had heard many rave reviews and also because of how pricey it was. (Note: expensive doesn't necessarily equal good.) The atmosphere was very spacious and modern, and the service was impeccable...however, I was not too impressed with the food. (Maybe I went on an off-night, who knows?)

Let's start with the appetizers: We got the scallop app, which was $16. It had only 2 large scallops with a lot of little garnishes. The scallops were fresh and tasty, but I thought they overdid it with all the garnishes. It seemed that there were just too many flavors that were mixing. We also got an ahi tuna dish that was good, but again overdone with the garnishes. For my main dish, I got the steak delmonico. The first bite was divine...so tender and fatty. But then, bite after bite was just fatty. I know it is supposed to be a more "fatty" cut/type, but it was fat overload! I actually like the fatty parts, usually but not for the whole steak! (Note: the steak was huge! That is one good thing about the $36 entree!) And then we got a couple of desserts: the black and white creme brulee and a chocolate souffle. Those were decent...don't know if they were great since I am not a huge dessert fan.

Overall, the place was nice, trendy and upscale. It would be a good place to impress someone on a date or a business dinner. To me, if you are not paying for it--try it. If you are, you probably could spend your pennies elsewhere and get a better meal for less.

Fan Si Pan

2007-02-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

1618 W. Chicago Ave.
312.738.1405
Vietnamese

I have been wanting to try this place for awhile now since I love spring rolls and I thought the concept of a spring roll-based restaurant was interesting. Well, I tried it for lunch one day and let me tell you, I was truly disappointed. Maybe this was because I have eaten real pho up at Argyle and other authentic Vietnamese restaurants. The pho was horrible! (I know that it is not a dish that they are "known" for, but I figured I had to try it.) It was watered-down beef broth with tiny scraps of beef, thin rice noodles and some green onions. I don't know if people who haven't even tried real pho would consider it good!
I also tried the tempura fried green beans. These were ok--the tempura batter was good, however a little too thick. The wasabi sauce that you dip it makes the appetizer decent.

Let's get into the spring rolls. They have a handful of different varieties of spring rolls, which you can get either rolled the traditional way or deconstructed in a salad. I opted to try the traditional shrimp roll with shrimp, mint, basil, rice noodles, and bean sprouts wrapped in a rice shell. The spring roll is huge and loosely wrapped, which to me, was too hard to eat. I like my spring rolls wrapped tight so you can get all the ingredients in one bite without losing anything. There was nothing really special about the roll and I had a really hard time not being able to dip my roll into my favorite hoisin sauce with peanuts. (What kind of Vietnamese restaurant doesn't have hoisin sauce at the table?) Although, I have to admit the main thing that was good about this place was that they had some other tasty sauces: chile-lime garlic sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and wasabi sauce for the green beans. Oh, and that they had wet-naps at the tables. That is always a plus!

I would not go back there if I wanted Vietnamese. I would go the extra mile up to Argyle street where you can find good Vietnamese food.

Los Nopales

2007-01-18T20:25:00.000-08:00

4544 N. Western Ave.
Mexican
773.334.3149

This place is a little BYOB restaurant on Western that has excellent food at really great prices. It is pretty tiny so get there early so you don't have to wait. Everything there tastes really fresh and homemade--I would definitely recommend the tilapia taco. The service was pretty slow when we went but it was really busy. Even so, I do want to go back since I live in the area and the food is really tasty!

Solga

2007-01-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

5828 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago
773.728.0802
Korean

I am getting to like Korean food now, especially the BBQ. This place is nice inside--not as dingy and smelly as other ones. (It uses gas grills instead of the charcoal.) You walk in and the smell is fragrant and appetizing. The waitstaff here is also attentive and nice--not too typical of Korean restaurants. They speak decent English and when you ask for something, they bring it. We got the bulgogi, which was prepared a little bit differently than I am used to: since we ordered two orders, they put noodles underneath and boiled it in soup over the gas grill. Personally, I like the meat-grilled-on-the-pan type better. But we did order the galbi, which was grilled on the pan, and that was excellent! We also got the seafood pancake, which was good. And of course, there were many of the "little plates" that covered the table. There was definitely more than enough food! We were so stuffed upon walking out of there. This place is pretty crowded and seemed to have many large parties so make reservations or get there early.

Brioso

2006-10-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

4603 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
773.989.9000

I thought it was an ok upscale Mexican food. I got the three tacos dish and had the shrimp/mango taco (really good), the steak taco (just ok), and the pork taco (just ok, as well.) They all had a slight kick to them but I was not overally impressed with the flavors. The prices were reasonable for the type of restaurant it is (nice more upscale atmosphere). If I were going to go out for tacos, I would go to the local tacqueria just down the street. Or, if I wanted to go to a nicer Mexican restaurant, would probably go to de cero or Frontera Grill instead.

Rosded Restaurant

2006-10-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

2308 W. Leland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
773.334.9055
Thai

Very good Thai food at really cheap prices. They had a lot more dishes on their menu than I have seen at other places. I had the mussaman curry, which was quite tasty, and an appetizer with sweet and crispy noodles which good as well. I would definitely recommend this place. It is small and BYOB.

Amelia's Mexican Grille

2006-09-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

1235 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago
312.421.2000
Mexican

This place was pretty mediocre Mexican food. It is also pretty expensive for Mexican since it is a "fancier" restaurant. (Although I will have to say the decor and atmosphere is pretty "blah.") I got the fish tacos and they were mushy and a little too salty. I also got the margarita which was WAY too sweet. I had to wait for my ice to melt before I could drink it. Our tortilla chips were a little stale and to top it off, our glasses of water had a tinge of lemon in them. But it wasn't fresh lemon--we think it was lemon dish soap. I definitely don't need to go back.

Francesca's Forno

2006-07-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

1576 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
773.770.0184
Wicker Park
Italian

This is a nice Italian restaurant that focuses on small plate dining. The food was decent and the prices were reasonable for the portions. The servings weren't as small as Spanish tapas but not as large as entree portions. I dined with 2 friends and we split 5 dishes and we were full. There are definitely some dishes that are larger portions and would be enough for an entree for one. We had this gelato ice cream sandwich dessert that was so cute and innovative! The one thing about this place, though, is that it was LOUD! The three of us had to basically yell across the table throughout the whole conversation. I wouldn't recommend it as a first date place.

Tiffin Restaurant

2006-05-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

2536 W. Devon Ave.
773.338.2143
Indian

Tiffin is a pretty good, upscale Indian restaurant on Devon. When you first get there, they bring out this flatbread that is so crispy and amazing and goes great with the chutney. For an appetizer, we tried the samosas--they were wonderful! The best I have ever had! For an entree, I ordered an eggplant curry which was very mild in flavor--I actually preferred the taste of another curry I tasted that was a little bit spicier. I didn't like that the curry didn't come with basmati rice and that you had to order that in addition. We went on a Friday night and although all the waitstaff was attentive with our water, our food took FOREVER! It was a nice restaurant but a lot pricier than I was expecting.

Bruna's Ristorante

2006-05-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

2424 S. Oakley
"Heart of Chicago"
Italian
773.254.5550

This place has classic, true Italian food. It is good food in an atmosphere that makes you think you are in Italy. It is not fancy, it is not trendy...it is just an old-school Italian place that serves good food. I tried the gnocchi with meat sauce and the eggplant parmesan. They were both excellent! (And I try those dishes almost everywhere!) It is in a neighborhood that I am not too familiar with (the heart of Chicago), but I would definitely go back because it just feels like you are in another city. The place is small so I would suggest reservations and people definitely go there to have fun and talk! (It is kind of a loud atmosphere.)

Sunshine Cafe

2006-04-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

5449 N. Clark St.
773.334.6214
Japanese

This is a small Japanese restaurant in Andersonville that offers homestyle Japanese cooking. I ordered the beef udon soup and it was big, flavorful and satisfying! If you are looking for sushi, this is not the place to go. They don't have raw fish and only have one kind of roll. They have the dishes like udon soup, tonkatsu, and rice dishes. The food is fresh and well-prepared. The decor is lacking, but it is the food that have the loyal customers coming back here. It is BYOB and the prices are reasonable.

Grizzly's Lodge

2006-04-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

3832 N. Lincoln Ave.
773.281.5112
Bar/Restaurant

I had high hopes for this place since I like the "Northern Woodsy" feel--just like being in a rustic log cabin in Northern MN or WI. We went on Friday night for the "special $7.95 all-you-can-eat fish fry." The place is smaller so it was fairly crowded, but we were still able to get seated right away. The decor is interesting: northern cabin meets the Chicago Cubs.. on every screen. Kind of different for it to be a sportsbar when it clearly is trying to be "Cabin-like." So I was super excited when I saw that they had $1 drafts of Point Beer... what a deal! So we ordered a round and ordered a round of the fish fry deals. The beer took awhile. The fish took awhile. We sat there... and sat there... waiting for the waiter to come back to our table. We kept on watching him go to another table, go to the kitchen, come back out to another table, go back to the kitchen... This went on for a good 45 minutes. By this time we wanted another round of beer AND one of us wanted more fish. So one of my dining companions finally went up to the bar and talked to the waiter, saying we wanted to order more. He said that he would be right there to get our order. About 15 minutes go by, nothing. He finally comes over (we had to flag him down again) and apologizes for the wait and says that he will be right back. We say, we want the check! Took him another 5 minutes for that! We got there at around 7:30 pm.. left at around 9:45. Had only 1 round of beer, wanted more. Had only 1 small plate of fish fry each, wanted more. Another table that had bad service said to us, "If I were you, I would just leave..." I think that is what they did. It would be one thing if we were a table of 10: we were a table of 3. It would be one thing if he had all the tables: he had maybe 8, tops... the place isn't huge. The service was just BAD! And honestly, the fish fry was not much better than getting those frozen fish fillets and frying them yourself. And the fries weren't good either. The only redeeming thing was the cheap beer... and we couldn't even get more than one of those!

Aloha Grill

2006-04-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

2534 N. Clark St.
773.935.6828
Asian/Hawaiian

This place is a small, casual restaurant that tries to be like a restaurant in Hawaii. I guess it is as close as it is going to be in Chi-town. They have different rice plates like Hawaiian BBQ chicken or Chicken Katsu that come with rice and macaroni salad. The food was good and the price is cheap! The drawbacks of the place is there is no bathroom and it is a little stale inside since it is more like a fast food set-up...order at the counter and eat out of styrofoam containers. The only thing it is missing that is truly Hawaiian is poi, which is gross anyway!

El Barco

2005-11-19T08:23:00.000-08:00

1035 N. Ashland Ave.
East Village
Mexican Seafood
773.486.6850

I think I went into this restaurant expecting better food. I had heard rave reviews about how great and fun this place was. Maybe it was because we skipped the margaritas. The entrees were huge! I will have to give them that! I ordered a fish filet and it came with all these veggies and rice. The entree was around $11 and lasted me through another meal of leftovers. Although the dish was flavorful, I thought it was a tad salty. My boyfriend got shrimp fajitas and his was the same way, good flavor but a little overpowered by the saltiness. I also ordered raw oysters as an appetizer and I think it would have been better if it was a little fresher. This place is a Mexican seafood restaurant so it is something of a unique place in the city. Next time I will probably go there just for appetizers and margaritas.

Taqueria El Asadero

2005-07-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

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

2005-07-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

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

2005-07-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

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!

Caffe de Luca

2005-06-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

1721 N. Damen
Bucktown
773.342.6000
Italian
www.caffedeluca.com

This is a cute little Italian cafe that is a charming place to drink a cup o' coffee and study or dine in for a full meal. I was there for dinner and shared an Italian-style pizza and a chopped CDL salad. The pizza was not good. The crust was too bready and soft and really not worth what it costs. But the salad was so delicious! It consisted of mixed greens, avocado, green onions, crisp prosciutto, gorgonzola cheese and grilled chicken. (The grilled chicken was flavored to perfection!) The dressing was light and sweet but it had a kick to it.

I definitely would go back and get the salad again. They also have many varieties of grilled panini sandwiches that looked good-so maybe that would be a good thing to try next time.

I was disappointed in the dessert menu-I was hoping for my favorite Italian treat, tartufo, but they didn't have it. We ended up getting a chocolate cookie/pie thing that reminded me of a chocolate covered ho-ho. I didn't like it. We also ordered almond macaroons but they happened to be out.

The environment was casual and cozy. The decor was "faux Italy"-trying just a little too hard to be authentic. (Even including hanging clothes on a clothesline in the restaurant.)

I would recommend checking Caffe de Luca out. It is a nice place to just relax, chat with an old friend or go on a first date.

Moonshine

2005-06-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to reading Thursday's Tribune and found this Tempo article on one of my favorite Illinois hamburger shacks. It's barebones and packed with locals whiling away the lunch hour on church pews. The burgers are of the sloppy, misshapen, hand-molded variety. Excellent beef. The perfect touch: a rickety condiment table smackdab in the middle of the general store loaded with mustards, peppers, vegetable pickles, flavored catsups and mayos, etc. You could peel grease off the walls, but that only adds to the ambience. A burger(or two), bottled Sarsaparilla and black pepper tater chips underneath the sideyard Catalpa trees; rockin'.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-0506150369jun16,1,4271038.story

Pizza D.O.C (cont.)

2005-05-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

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Our waitress forgot her offer to have our pizzas cut...eh...c'est la vie...

We all ended with half-pizzas sagging over our plates bound for boxes.

M. finally made it :) ordering the suppli e chrocchette which to my untutored eye resembled arancini; deep-fried, mozzarella-filled rice balls. I was stuffed and passed.

My one real criticism is the consistent under-seasoning of the dishes. I'm rarely bothered by this, but jonesed for the conspicuously absent shakers(fine dining this ain't...so where's the salt?).

Somewhat disappointed by the pizza, on the strength of our other dishes, I still look forward to sampling the pastas and entrees.

Camaradery and a decent meal; one oughtn't ask for more. That evening an irascible Chicago Spring finally decided to lighten up; wood-fired pizzas trump drizzly, nightime eaves.

Pizza D.O.C.

2251 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago 60625

773-784-8777

www.Pizza-DOC.com

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hi all...sorry about the editing issues :)

Pizza D.O.C.

2005-05-23T12:00:00.001-07:00

When dryads explode expect verdant, luminescent viscera tumbling earthward. Spring launched her initial sortee last Thursday, coated the neighborhood off Lawrence and Damen in lambent nymph guts. Hugo Largo's Mimi Genovese sing-screams, "it's sooooo green!" It's shivering vernal anticipation, occult thujan rituals glimpsed hooded in the honeysuckle. Tunneling through this febrile gloaming, Tom and I arrived, hardly rained on at all, beneath the awning of the renowned Pizza D.O.C. We had a smoke.

Capricious Spring waylaid our companions in traffic and busywork. However, a solicitous waitress endeavored to welcome us with fresh bread, an herbaceous, fruity olive oil, and an oddly, non-Puglian primitivo. We subsequently ordered a bottle of that red.

Decompressing in a smartly appointed room, I admired their elision of Chicago Italiano; dark woods, simply-appointed tables. Once fed, the wood-fired oven belched hints of crisping crusts and cappicola.

Eventually, Tom and I decided on the day's special salmon carpaccio. The menu's ultra possibilities; gnocchi, risottos, salads, bruschetti, divers paillard, and the eponymous pizzas.

After absentmindedly serving us the day's special salad(mixed greens, a mild Capriole O'Bannon-esque goat cheese, walnuts, and a tantalizingly sweet balsamic vinegar reduction), our waitress entreated us to keep the mix-up and quickly re-ordered
our salmon carpaccio(also a special). Other than missing the bite of a few capers, the carpaccio was meltingly light, refreshing.

Our dining companions began to trickle in!

K and C finished off the rest of the salad and we opted for a round of the calamari(regular menu). Again, totally fresh, tensile,
lightly breaded; these nuggets and suckers we dunked delightedly in an effervescent marinara.

It had to be pizza.

K, pizza patate & rosmarino. C, the pizza arrugula. Tom got the pizza margherita and I went for pizza rustica.
The pizzas are a single serving, each about 12 inches diameter, finished up in the aforementioned oven. Tom pronounced his exemplary of Rome's pizzas; the crunchy crust, light hand with marinara and cheese, a bit soupy toward the middle-the kind of pizza one tears. He had a good laugh at the rest of us, our forks and knives.

Settimana Cafe

2005-05-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

2056 W. Division St.
773.394.1629
Italian

Poor service, mediocre food. I don't know if I just went on an off night, but from this experience I will not be going back. The up-side of this restaurant is they have outdoor seating, so if it is nice out it is a great atmosphere to dine in. However, when you wait over an hour for your entree and the waittress is barely apologetic, it is hard to want to go back. For the appetizer we had the portobello mushroom topped with goat cheese, which was decent. For my entree, I had a chicken parmesan dish--or something like it, since it had a fancier italian name. It was ok. The chicken parmesan that I make is probably better. So it could have been just a bad experience, but I wouldn't waste my time and go back.

Think Cafe

2005-05-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

2235 N. Western Ave.
773.394.0537
Italian

I went to this BYOB Italian restaurant and it was well worth the trip out there! It is a cozy, intimate little restaurant that gets packed so be sure to make reservations. We went on a Saturday night but couldn't get a reservation until 9:30 pm. For the appetizer, I had the sauteed sea scallops with two sauces--red pepper and lemon butter. This dish was good--the scallops were tender but didn't have as much flavor as some other sea scallops I have had before. But the sauces made up for it. I also ordered the Think salad, which had organic greens tossed with balsamic dressing, blue cheese, walnuts and sliced pears. The dressing was just a tad too tangy, otherwise it was perfect! For the entree, I ordered a red wine duck risotto. It was fabulous! It had a robust flavor and there was even enough to take home for lunch the next day! Finally, for dessert I had the banana carmelo. It was sliced bananas, berries and ice cream drenched in a scrumptious caramel sauce. It was definitely a great way to end the meal! So many things on the menu were mouth-watering so I can't wait to go back there. And, since it is BYOB, it is easy on the checkbook. It is a great place to go on a date or an intimate gathering of friends.

Flo

2005-04-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

1434 W. Chicago Ave.
312.243.0477
Mexican

I first saw this restaurant on "Check, Please," being reviewed for a fabulous breakfast. I actually went for dinner instead. This cute little restaurant is kind of located out way west of downtown. You walk in and feel the intimate setting right away--it is like a cozy apartment decorated with really cool, funky art. Instead of the typical chips and salsa, they bring out sliced bread with a tasty pepper spread. (I am not sure if it was a kind of pepper spread, but I do know that it was good!) I ordered the portobella mushroom ravioli in a white cream sauce. It was really good--very flavorful and tender. I also tried a bite of the catfish tacos, which were very savory! Overall, our whole table enjoyed their meals and the menu was quite extensive, making me want to go back there again. I did, however, order a mojito, which tasted kind of funny and was too strong. So I would not recommend that.

Sweet Maple Cafe

2005-04-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

1339 W. Taylor St.
312.243.8908
Breakfast

I had heard so many rave reviews of this breakfast joint, so of course I wanted to try it! Having tried twice before, and seeing that the wait was WAY TOO long, I finally made it there for breakfast on a Sunday morning at 9 am! (We still had to wait a good 20 minutes!) This cafe is really cute, looking very "southern old-style." The waitstaff was happy and pleasant, making the atmosphere lively and upbeat. I ordered the corned beef hash, which came with a cornmeal biscuit on the side and two eggs. The corned beef hash was very tasty, as were the sides. The food was fresh and flavorful and I would definitely go back there, but I don't know if I would necessarily wait hours to get into this place.

Cho Sun Ok

2005-04-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

4200 N. Lincoln Ave.
773.549.5555
Korean

Although I am not a huge fan of Korean food, I have to say that this experience was a good one. This was my second time at this restaurant, but the first time I did not order the Korean BBQ. What makes the Korean BBQ experience so fun is that you can cook your food on a flat skillet on your table! I ordered the bugogi, which is marinated beef, I think. The beef was tender and flavorful and every meal comes standard with a bunch of little Korean appetizer dishes. One thing about this place is it is small and it gets crowded. So go on an off night or early for dinner. And it is hard to tell if the waitstaff can speak English, because they will just come over and cook your food "the right way" without saying a word. Plus, you won't forget this experience for days to come, since you walk out of there smelling like Korean BBQ! (Wear junky clothes and don't plan on going out on the town afterwards! :) )

tank

2005-03-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

4514 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincoln Square
773.769.2600
www.tanksushi.com

I haven't been this satisfied with a sushi restaurant since I went to Sushi Wabi four years ago. Tank is a newer sushi joint in Lincoln Square that can be classified in the "trendy sushi restaurant" category, but doesn't have the obnoxious prices or attitude that some of the other restaurants have. You walk into a dimly lit, simply-designed space and you instantly feel comfortable. There are also 2 shoji screened rooms for larger parties. The space is small, so reservations are recommended and it did fill up at the prime-time dinner hour so I would suggest going a little earlier on the weekend.

For an appetizer, we ordered the fried oyster platter with Hawaiian ketchup, which was fantastic! The oysters were juicy and the ketchup had a nice tangy kick to it. Then, between my dining companion and I, we ordered 4 sushi rolls, along with a small side order of curry potato hash and a 2-piece ikura order for me. (Ikura is my favorite! It had the salmon roe on top. I thought the side dish was only okay.)

The speciaty rolls we ordered were the rainbow roll, tropic thunder (yellowtail, shittake, mango, avocado), orange crush (crab, asparagus, avocado, salmon) and spicy tuna. They were all scrumptious--the fish was fresh and the flavor divine! (Although, the spicy tuna roll was just a bit spicy for my palate.) If you check out their web site, you can look at the list of all the specialty rolls for the descriptions--there are so many choices you will have to go back multiple times!

For dessert, we had the chocolate chip cookie dough egg roll. It was presented so cute on a platter with a dish of pureed raspberry sauce, which was meant to look like the sweet and sour sauce. The dessert was very rich and sweet, a little too sweet for me.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience! I would definitely go back to try some other rolls.

de cero

2005-03-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

814 W. Randolph St.
312.455.8114
Mexican

De cero is a newer Mexican restaurant located right on the Randolph St. restaurant row. The atmosphere is open and semi-trendy, while being a tad Mexi-rustic. The music is lively and the lights are dim-a place where you can take a date or dine with a group of friends.

We ordered the chips and salsa which were quite addicting. The chips were perfectly crisp and salty, the green salsa spicy and flavorful. It didn't take me long to decide what I wanted to order once I saw the selection of tacos they had. The way it worked is you can order regular entrees or a la carte dishes. We opted to go "a la tacos". There were like 15 different types of gourmet tacos, combining unique flavors and meats. My favorite was the catfish taco, which was lightly battered and had the perfect blend of sauces and spices-some sweet and some spicy. The catfish was crisp on the outside, yet tender on the inside. I also tried the ahi tuna taco, which was tasty but I found the tuna to be a little dry. Others that are worth trying are the skirt steak, which had a smokey flavor, and the salmon taco. I also had the shrimp taco which was interesting to me... I felt the shrimp didn't really mesh well with the flavorings it was paired with. The one taco that I would not recommend was the duck. It was paired with a corn salsa (which was decent) but the duck was dry and bland.

Overall, I liked the concept of ordering the tacos a la carte for the variety. It is exciting to entice your palate with so many combinations of flavors. And even though the tacos are small, they are quite filling! I had about 3 and a half tacos and was stuffed. I would definitely suggest going to de cero for the Mexican flair on tacos.

a tavola

2005-02-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

2148 W. Chicago Ave.
773.276.7567
Northern Italian

A Tavola is a cozy and quaint restaurant in Ukranian Village. You walk in and you feel like you are in someone's home, not a restaurant.

The menu is pretty limited, with only a handful of appetizer and entree choices, but the ones they offered were pretty appealing. They also offer pastas, which are more of a second course, so it is larger than an appetizer but smaller than an entree.

I opted for a pasta dish, gnocchi with brown sage butter and parmesan cheese, with a side of rosemary potatoes. The gnocchi was fabulous! Very light and flavorful, with crisp sage leaves. The rosemary potatoes were also very good with parmesan cheese crusted on top.

This restaurant is a very cute find. It is a little out of the way from other things, but it is well worth the trip out there.

She She

2005-02-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

4539 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-293-3690

I was on my way to Bistro Campagne for brunch on Sunday and found a sign in their window stating no brunch for the remainder of winter. Since it was icky and raining we went across the street to She She. I had always wanted to try it. Seating was pretty uncomfortable with very close quarters. I had the special - fried eggs with salsa verde, tomatoes, refried beans and some kind of baked tortillas with cheese. My Mom had the poached eggs on artichoke heart with creamed spinach and leeks and my sister had the green eggs and ham omelette. While it wasn't awful, everything on the plate was undiscernible and I mean all three plates. While I don't mind my food mixing with each other, I prefer to know what I'm eating. I also think items on the plate of little consequence (usually called garnish) should not be included in the menu description. My salsa verde was drizzled on the plate. I could go on and on, but I would much rather wait and talk about a more pleasant experience.

Mas

2005-02-16T09:33:00.000-08:00

1670 W. Division
Chicago, Illinois
773.276.8700
Latin
www.masrestaurant.com/masrestaurant/

"Mas," in spanish means "more," so you would think that a restaurant by that name would have one wanting more. I don't know if that is the case with me. My meal was a decent one, but I wouldn't classify it as exceptional...I think I was expecting more...

I absolutely had to start out with a mojito. And that was well worth it...not too strong and not too sweet. Then they brought out a starter...instead of the standard chips and salsa, they served a small loaf of bread with a chipotle spread that was really good.

For an appetizer we ordered the tuna tacos. Now, you are probably thinking "why get tacos at a nice restaurant?" But these were not regular tacos. They had tender, fully-cooked ahi tuna (sometimes I find cooked tuna to be tough, but this wasn't at all.) with papaya, rosemary and salsa. The dish had a very pleasant flavor and the tacos were HUGE! They came out open-faced, 2 on a plate, with the filling overflowing and practically taking up the whole plate. All that for only $9!

I probably went a step too far in ordering the seared rare yellowfin tuna with chimichurri (like a cilantro pesto) and yuca frites. I think it was "tuna overdose"... because I just wasn't that into the entree. The tuna was really fresh, premium-grade ahi, but the flavor with the chimichurri just didn't do it for me. However, the frites were really good...crispy and salted just right.

I also had to try another one of their drinks, so I ordered the prickly pear margarita. It was a little too sweet for my taste buds, but I am glad that I tried it since I had never had prickly pear juice before. For dessert, we ordered the flan. The flan had a good flavor but the consistency was a little stiffer/creamier than I like. It came garnished with cinnamon pecans, which were really good with the flan, but they were literally just crumbs.

The atmosphere of Mas was dim, but lively. It has a really good "date" feel to it. Overall, I was satisfied with my meal, but not impressed with it...not for the price, at least. It is a nice, trendy restaurant and I definitely think it is worth trying, but not necessarily worth going back for "mas".

Hopleaf

2005-02-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

5148 N. Clark St.
Andersonville
773.334.9851

This Belgian bar is probably my favorite bar in the city. It has the most extensive beer list I have ever seen...having a large selection of beer from all over the world. What is also cool is many of the different beers come in their own individual style of glass. The only thing better than the beer here are the mussels. They come in two flavor choices, one cooked with white wine and herbs and the other in a tomato based sauce. I have only had the white wine one and it is amazing! They come in two servings-"mussels for one" or "mussels for two." The "mussels for one" is perfect to share between two people and the "mussels for two" is a huge bucket perfect for four. It is the perfect appetizer to go with a pint of good beer. The mussels come with a cup of fries that you can dip in this yummy garlic aioli. Just talking about this is making me want to go back already!

I have been to Hopleaf for dinner as well and it was good, but personally I would just go for the mussels. Their food menu has more of an "European" flair, usually serving entrees such as rabbit, venison and more specialty items, and usually ranging from $20-$25 an entree.

The bar is not big, with a small dining room in the back, and almost every time I have been there it has been really crowded... so I would suggest going early or on an off-night.

Osteria Via Stato

2005-02-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

620 N. State St.
312-642-8450

This was my second visit to Osteria, the newest Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. I love the concept - order the type of water you want (plain or bubbly-no extra charge) and order your entree. The remainder of the food is served with no decisions. Since I love all food this works well for me and most of my dining companions, but may not work well for everyone. First they brought out some wonderful foccacio and a variety of olives. Next came the oil cured salmon with radishes which is to die for. Along came a plate of salami with celery salad. This isn't your typical salami. Before we knew it someone dropped off a "welcome back" plate of the best prosciutto I've ever had. Two more appetizers - grilled onion rounds with cheese and a radicchio salad - and already I'm getting full. Did I tell you they have a fixed price of $36, desserts are extra. The next two courses were pasta. The first a rigatoni and fingerling potatoes in a pesto sauce and then parpadelle in a bolognese sauce (one of my favs).

Entrees came next. They have a selection of about 10 entrees, that include grouper, salmon, chicken two different ways, short ribs, pork shank, steak for two (with an extra charge) and I had the calves liver. Now liver is something you either love or hate and I happen to love it, but don't eat it that often. It was delicious with a veal au jus sauce with sauteed onions and pancetta.

Even though I was really full by this time, I had to have the pomegranet granita. If you've never had granita - try it. It's flavored water that's frozen and scraped with a fork to form ice crystals. It is really refreshing and a perfect end to a big meal.

Visit Osteria before the prices go up. You won't be disappointed.

Lucia Ristorante

2005-02-11T08:09:00.000-08:00

1825 W. North Ave.
Bucktown
773.292.9700
Italian

I was craving Italian food so we went to this cute restaurant on North Ave. I had heard from multiple people that the food was good so I figured I would give it a shot. You walk in and there are two sides, the deli and the restaurant. We went to the restaurant section. It was a very small room that felt like a dining room in an apartment. But it was quaint and cozy, with the walls painted like you were sitting in Italy and with Italian music lightly playing through the speakers.

The waitress brought out a basket with two kinds of bread. One of my favorite parts of Italian restaurants is the bread. There is something so enjoyable about dipping bread in good olive oil with parmesan and pepper. YUM! And I was very impressed with Lucia's bread. It was warm and soft--the best kind!

We ordered the grilled calamari for an appetizer. The flavor was rich with the "grill taste" and perfected with the slight squeeze of lemon. The tentacle parts were more tender than the rings, but overall I was quite pleased.

For my entree I had the gnocchi alla romana. It was gnocchi in tomato sauce with basil and parmesan. The gnocchi was a little on the chewy side-often sticking to the roof of my mouth, but the flavor was good. The sauce was very light, the basil was fresh, and there was a slight sweet aftertaste that was pleasant but not overwhelming.

And for dessert I had my favorite Italian sweet, tartufo. I am very particular about my tartufo. This one was a mound of chocolate gelato with an ameretto gelato middle, covered with shaved chocolate powder and rolled in chunks of more chocolate. Although it was a lot of chocolate, I still enjoyed it. I prefer the kind of tartufo with almonds in it, but this was decent.

Overall, Lucia was a cute place and I would definitely go back there. There were so many mouth-watering things on the menu that I want to try and the prices were reasonable. I also would like to go back and try out the deli side.

Le Bouchon

2005-02-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

1958 N. Damen Ave.
(Armitage & Damen)
Bucktown
773.862.6600
French

Le Bouchon is a cute little french bistro. I went there a couple months ago and I would definitely go back. The restaurant is really small, so when you walk in it is a little cramped. But the atmosphere is welcoming-making you feel as if you were in France. It is also pretty loud in there since the tables are close together.

I started with a french onion soup, one of my favorites! I was truly impressed...it was a huge portion and there was lots of melted cheese baked over the top. And the broth was light and not as salty as typical french onion soups. I also tried the warm goat cheese salad, which was very good as well-it was tossed in a light, tangy dressing. For my entree I had the ragout of duck over mashed potatoes. (It was a daily special.) It had a decent flavor, but was a bit on the salty side. The portion was large, two bone-in duck pieces...I had enough for lunch the next day! I also tried my dining companion's entree, monkfish with spinach and tomato ratouille. The monkfish was tender, with a good consistency and the ratouille was very flavorful. For dessert, I tried the lemon tart which was too tart for me but my dining companion liked it.

Overall, I would definitely come back here. The dining experience is intimate and warm and you get high quality food for very reasonable prices.

Lao Sze Chuan

2005-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

2172 S. Archer Ave.
Chinatown
312.326.5040

I have been here twice now and have been very pleased with the quality of food. (That really says something since I am not usually impressed with Chinese food.)

Lao Sze Chuan specializes in the szechuan style of Chinese food...which means it is HOT! I like spicy food, but can't handle it sometimes, so I asked for mild dishes. This time I ordered ma po tofu and hot and sour soup. The hot and sour soup was the perfect "hot" and the right amount of "sour." I would definitely get it again. The ma po tofu came out in a huge bowl and I was amazed at how red it was! Since I requested it milder, it was not too spicy at all. It had a good flavor, a little salty but great over the white rice. I also tried my dining companion's dishes, which were crab rangoon and crispy eggplant with ground pork. The crab rangoons were very plump and flavorful. And the eggplant was just the right texture-crispy when you bite in and tender throughout. And there was just enough saltiness on the outside.

Overall, this place is quite a find in Chinatown. The food is flavorful and not too oily, the service is fast and attentive, the portions are huge, and the prices are reasonable. If you were to venture out to Chinatown, I would definitely recommend it! Bring a group of people because it is the perfect place to order a few dishes and eat family style. Just be aware that it does get pretty crowded on weekends.

Simply Soup

2005-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

2142 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL
773-871-7687
www.simplysoupco.com

What a disappointment. I was so excited when I read about this place, because I LOVE soup. I tried 4 different soups and each one was worse then the other. The lemony chicken with wild rice had no hint of lemon or chicken. The award (?) winning BLT was just as bad. Good soups are not that difficult to make. Go to Dappers where the soup is 100 times better and much cheaper. They also serve sandwiches and salads, but who wants to take a chance on those after eating the soup.

one sixtyblue

2005-01-27T18:37:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-18T11:27:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-18T07:15:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-14T19:59:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

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

2005-01-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

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!