geg5150's Profile
Restaurant Week 2012
Totally agree. You can't just give me a flourless choc cake and call it restaurant week.
Restaurant Week 2012
Bummer about PS, ChicagoIl. It is truly one of my faves. To be honest, I think their regular menu us pretty reasonable, and you can easy do $30 for dinner with 1/2 portions of pasta and a starter.
I mentioned that Boka wasn't a win for us. Saigon Sisters, however, was excellent! We loved everything savory! The desserts were good, not great. I will definitely go back.
Friday night we did Ceres' Table, which was a great value as it was your choice of anything from the menu! That being said, I thought the regular menu prices were a tad high. A few hits and a few misses. The fritto misto was excellent as was the article char dish. The aranccini and pasta was not up to snuff. Desserts were a little week. Likely, we wont go back.
Tonight is Chizakaya and I'm hoping for good things.
chicago for four
I think that we're weak in dim sum compared to SF and NYC. But, there are passable options in the thread mentioned.
My fave Chinese in Chinatown is Lao Sze Chuen for hot pot.
Also love Tank on Argyle for pho.
If you want an upscale Vietnamese option, check out Saigon Sisters on Lake St. We were there for the first time last weekend and it was excellent!!
Balut in Chicago.
Yep, Argyle is your best bet. My BF eats it regularly. I'm not a fan.
Romantic date restaurant but not too pricey!
I think The Bristol is a great choice, very hip. We were there last week and did two courses each with two cocktails each and the bill was $125ish. It's dim and cozy. Sounds like you might be driving and it's right off 90/94 with relatively easily street parking.
I also love Piccolo Sogno! Although, I've never eaten inside. They're patio is gorgeous, but closed for the winter. So delicious!
For a real romantic night check out Bon Soirée. A BYOB prix fixe well within your budget. A tiny (26 seats), cozy and hip place. One of my faces in the city!
Have fun!
Restaurant Week 2012
We did Boka last night, and I have to say, I was not impressed. The service was great, cocktails were good, but the food was underwhelming. The starters seemed like they'd been plated and waiting for a while. I will say that my chicken was cooked to perfectly. Based on last night's experience not sure I'd go back.
Tonight is Saigon Sisters. Their menu looks pretty good and I've heard nice things. Next weekend is Ceres' Table, which looks to have the most generous menu -- basically its mix and match your own choices from the entire menu.
Piccolo Sogno is a fave of mine, I think you'll like it. I havent been to Perennial Vivrant, but he's the former chef at Boka, so here's hoping your time is better than mine.
Second visit to chicago, already here...
If you haven't made a decision about brunch tomorrow, check out Nightwood in Pilsen. Easy parking if you choose to drive. My fave bloody Mary in the city and bacon donuts! Bacon Donuts! Delicious. The brunch burger is divine if you're more interested in lunch than breakfast. A had a dish with burrata last I was there and it was fabulous.
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Nightwood
2119 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
Wrigleyville and dinner for 3 college students
If you're willing to navigate the el (and I highly recommend you do, it's cheap and efficient), head on the red line directly from Wrigley north to Argyle and it'll drop you right in the middle of "Little Saigon". Hit Tank for delightful pho or Ba Le for tasty bahn mi. Both are BYOB, so hit a liquor store for a six pack and you can eat like a king for under $10!
Or continue farther on the red line to Berwyn and walk west to Clark and you'll find Hopleaf, IMO the best beer bar in the city with a focus on Belgians. A great spot for food, too! If you're there before 6 or so you shouldn't have to wait to sit in the restaurant. I prefer the sandwiches to the entrees. The Nueske Ham & Gruyere is fabulous and $10 with a load of great frites! The beer will set you back more than the food here.
Have fun!
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Hopleaf Bar
5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Visiting from San Francisco -- Need a couple of more "Must Do's/Eats"!!
Oh, I adore NOPA! Enjoy your stay here in Chicago.
Check out The Publican. Belgian Brasserie atmosphere, heavy emphasis on Belgian style beers, pork, seafood and offal. Communal seating and a very lively atmosphere. They do take reservations.
Another option to explore for brunch is Nightwood in Pilsen. Bacon donuts is all I have to say. A tad off the beaten path but easy enough to get to on the Orange line. They also do take reservations, but sit at the kitchen counter. I've not been for dinner.
Great Lake is great, but particular. I was there a few weeks ago and it was $100 for three pizzas. Tasty, but you could have a crazy wait on Memorial Day weekend. I've gotten there at 5 on a Saturday an they're already full for the night.
If you're into beer at all, check out Hopleaf in Andersonville, arguably the best beer bar in Chicago. (Love Monk's Cafe in the Mission, btw.)
Another option for dinner -- look into Bon Soiree. Prix Fixe, BYOB and tiny -- 28 seats. Pan Asian with classical French touches. Exposed brick, white table clothes and perfectly acceptable to have dinner in jeans. The chef is young and hip and they have a star.
Violet Hour is super cool. It gets crazy though, not unusual to have a 90 minute wait at 9 on a weekend night. I suggest going when they open at 6, sit at the bar, talk to the bartender and enjoy a pre-dinner drink. The Whistler is a cool bar, too, a little off the beaten path, but close-ish to Bon Soiree.
I second the rec to skip the Sears Tower and have a drink at the Hancock instead. You skip the entrance fee and it's only one floor below the observation deck.
Sable is good for cocktails and a snack.
Have fun!
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Hopleaf Bar
5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Great Lake
1477 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Violet Hour
1247 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Bon Soiree
Chicago, Chicago, IL
Looking for Best Ribs in Chicago - 2011 Updates Preferably Southside, but will travel
So funny!! I'm from Bossier Parish, right next door to Shreveport! While LA isn't "known" for BBQ, people are making awesome BBQ all the time!
I too have been less than impressed with ribs and BBQ in general in Chicago. I definitely need to get down to the southside to do some more exploring. My BF lived in Austin for a while, so he's well versed in BBQ and has also been disappointed here.
I'll be interested to hear your opinion of Smoque. I was not impressed. I felt that it's wildly overpriced for the quality. Gale Street Inn wasn't great and certainly not BBQ. I've been to Brand BBQ -- pass. And Smokey Bear's in Albany Park is good, probably the best value. I've heard that Honey 1 is a guy who came to Chicago after Katrina, so I'm interested to try that.
I'll learn from your experiences!
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Gale Street Inn
935 Diamond Lake Rd, Mundelein, IL 60060
North Pond/Sable/Purple Pig dish recommendations for this week would be so appreciated
Clearly, it depends on your tastes.
At PP, I love the beets & whipped goat cheese with pistachio vinaigrette. Also love the roasted butternut squash with sage, ricotta salata & pepitas. I adored the pig ear and the chicken thighs with smashed potatoes and tzaziki are also on our tab. Didn't care for the chorizo olives, sounds better than the salt bombs they actually are. Whatever the arrancini is, get it. Last spring it was mozzerella with mint and peas. Lately, it's been something with butternut squash.
Have fun!
Bonsoiree Wine Question
I recommend a bottle of Champagne or the like. I've had great luck with bubbles and their starters and dessert even. I always offer a glass to the server and send a glass or two of various things to the kitchen.
Enjoy! Bonsoiree is a fave of mine!
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Bonsoiree
2728 W Armitage, Chicago, IL 60647
Best Korean in Chicago?
So sad that Kang Nam has recently closed. They had the best bibimbop!
San Soo Gab San is great for BBQ. So is Chicago Kalbi on Lawrence.
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Kang Nam Restaurant
4849 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Hot Spot or Lounge Recommendations in Chicago
You're my kind of girl! Sounds just like when my girlfriends and I travel and want to have great meals and cocktails. I'm not a fan of a too loud club.
As nsxtasy mentions, most hotels are in the loop, so you'll likely end up staying there. Here are a few recommendations, so close to the loop, others farther afield. I highly recommend that you look into taking the el/buses as our public transit system is easy to navigate and will save you some cash.
Sable in the Hotel Palomar has great drinks and it's right in the loop area. Fun, inventive and great food, too.
I haven't been, but I've been hearing all about Maude's Liquor Bar for food and drink. In fact, it was just reviewed in Time Out. Everything I'm hearing is positive. It's not my BF's scene, so I'll be hitting it with my girlfriends. Located in the West Loop area. http://timeoutchicago.com/restaurants-bars/restaurants/215183/restaurant-review-maude%E2%80%99s-liquor-bar
I adore The Publican which is also in the West Loop. The focus is on pork, seafood and beer here. It's community style seating and get a little loud at times, but I enjoy the boisterous atmosphere. The mussels here are the best I've had in the city. Great Belgian beer list. It's one of my fave places! I haven't been for Sunday brunch, but want too.
For drinks, consider a few places:
The Bar at the Peninsula Hotel. It's a lovely bar -- dark and cozy and great drinks.
For a touristy thing, bypass paying to go to the viewing deck of the John Hancock and just go to the Signature Room Bar. You'll get a decent cocktail, but the view will be spectacular.
Violet Hour is a "speakeasy" type bar in Bucktown/Wicker Pack. Very easily accessed by the El, as it's just a few doors south of the Damen Blue Line stop. No markings on the door and no sign. Dark and very crowded as the night goes on. I prefer to go as soon as they open at 6 p.m. and get a seat at the bar. All artisan cocktails and mixers. They make their own bitters, juices, tonics & tinctures. It's a cool experience. I highly recommend it for a pre-dinner cocktail. They have tasty snacks, too!
A bit off the beaten track is Bar Deville in the Ukrainian Village pretty much directly west of the loop, you'll need a cab here. This is a small, cash only bar. Looks like a dive, but with great artisan cocktails. Not quite the scene that the Violet Hour is. Although, I've only been during the middle of the week and on a Sunday night and it was pretty quiet.
The Wit is the new(ish) Doubletree Hotel in Chicago and the rooftop bar is pretty great. Lovely views of the city and right in the loop.
C-Vu at the Affinia Hotel is also a rooftop bar right in the loop. Fun and cozy.
If you're arriving Thursday night late, I highly recommend that you check out The Purple Pig for a late dinner/snack and drinks. The kitchen is open until 12 and the food is stellar. Small plates with a Med influence. Great wines by the glass and reasonably priced bottles. Also a good option for a lunch. They do not take reservations and it's community seating. I recommend it for "off" time periods -- late or early dinner or lunch is best.
All of these have websites and are worth looking into. Have a great visit. It'll still be cool here, but you should have great weather!
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Violet Hour
1247 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Decisions, decision - girls in a whirling food frenzy, please help!
Consider brunch at Nightwood in Pilsen. It's my current favorite brunch spot. Local ingredients, interesting preparations. AND...They have a bacon donut on the menu! It's an easy cab ride or hop on the orange line to Halsted and it's about a 10 minute walk. Bonus is they take reservations. Great brunch drinks, too. Oh, but I think they only do brunch on Sunday. Check it out.
I am familiar with Prune and love it!
You could realistically do brunch/early lunch at The Purple Pig on Saturday and have much less of a wait. I was there on a Friday afternoon with a party of six and had a wait of 15-20 minutes. Kindly, they will take your cell phone number and call you when your table is ready. Head over to Eno, the wine bar in the Intercontinental Hotel across the street for a pre-lunch glass of wine. It's a lovely wine bar.
Urbanbelly and it's sister restaurant BellyShack are both great, reasonably priced and BYOB options. They're both a bit farther afield. BellyShack is located directly under the Blue Line at Western, so it's very easy to get to on the el. Urbanbelly will likely need to be a cab ride. Bill Kim is great and I adore both of his places.
If you're going to Violet Hour (and I highly recommend you do) go early! It turns into a scene the later the night gets. I always enjoy it most at 6 when then open and you can sit at the bar and converse with the bartender. It's a fun place with killer cocktails! Bar Deville is also great cocktails, kinda in the middle of no where, but way more laid back.
M. Henry in Andersonville is great brunch, but it's a bit of a hike from the loop, although easily accessible from the Red Line. If you wanted to spend some time roaming around in A'ville, it's a good choice and Andersonville is a super neighborhood.
I agree with Sable. It's a great bar and the food is good. Consider at least stopping in for a drink and snacks.
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Violet Hour
1247 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Best Thai in Andersonville?
Check out Indie Thai & Sushi on Broadway, technically, I think it's in Uptown, but they deliver to Andersonville. Good, solid Thai.
Need recs to impress Dad
If you're willing to travel to Andersonville check out Anteprime, it's spectacular. Not your typical "red sauce" Italian. Pastas are wonderful and made in house. The fish is always great and their ribeye with arugula is my fave!
favorite byob places
A fave is Semiramis -- Lebanese in Albany Park. Easy to get to from the 'burbs and parking is easy. Love it!
For a special occasion place, I can't recommend Bon Soiree enough. www.bon-soiree.com
Pick up a copy of BYOB Chicago at most liquor stores, it's a great resource.
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Bon Soiree
Chicago, Chicago, IL
Gimme Your Local, Delicious, Divey Faves
Thanks y'all for some great suggestions.
We're back from SF full and satisfied! We loved Yamo. I'd never had Burmese food before and this was a great intro. It's an "interesting" place to say the least. The food was great. I loved the tea salad. The gyoza was a little heavy on ginger for my tasty, the wrapper was perfect and delicate. Our two noodle dishes were hearty and filly.
We also hit Katana-Ya for ramen and a little sushi for a snack on Sunday afternoon. The placed was packed. Very tasty ramen and the fish was super fresh.
An obligatory trip to In-N-Out was required. I love that place, that my BF was a virgin, so he loved it!! He was bemoaning that we have a stupid Five Guys in Chicago and not an In-N-Out. Love it!
Curries at Shalimar did not disappoint.
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Katana-Ya
430 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Yamo
3406 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Gimme Your Local, Delicious, Divey Faves
Thanks y'all for all of the great recs. Clearly, we're going to need to spend some time in the Mission. And PPQ is looking like a winner for pho and crab.
I'm up for tacos and Mission burritos, too. Any good trucks?
Keep the ideas comin'...I promise to give you a post report.
Oh, and we arrive tomorrow afternoon, so if there are any places with specials on Thursday nights let me know!
Toronto Foodies Coming to Chicago
Welcome to Chicago!! As for fine dining, I second the recommendation for Bon Soiree. The food is fine dining, but the atmosphere is more "casual elegant", nice jeans and a jacket are ok for men. The food is lovely and it's BYOB! In fact, they partner with a local wine shop that will pair wine to the menu and have it delivered to the restaurant for you. Inventive with Asian and French twists. Their signature scallop motoyaki is divine. It's a little off the beaten path, but an easy cab ride. Note that they don't take reservations on Saturday night, so shoot for Friday. www.bon-soiree.com
Yes, try deep dish. It's not really my fave either, but I take out of towners and it's always a fun experience. I recommend Uno's or Due across the street. There can be a wait, but they'll take your order and begin cooking while you wait.
Hot Dog & Italian Beef at Portillo's is a good quick choice.
Offal. Good stuff. I second Publican and Purple Pig. I'd suggest Purple Pig at an "off" time so you don't have to wait. I was there two Thursdays ago at 2:45 and it was still 80% full. Totally worth it. Not offal, but they have a butternut squash dish with pumpkin seeds, sage and ricotta salata on the menu right now that is fabulous! The Publican is a combo of community seating and private tables, make your recommendation when you make your reservation (although I believe I've heard they don't guarantee the table preference). If you're concerned about how loud it is, I'd recommend going earlier for dinner -- before 7 even.
Table 52 for comfort food is a good bet! I'm not a fan of Smoque and it's not super easy to get to from your hotel. Skip it.
Love the hot pot at Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown.
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Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Table fifty-two Restaurant
52 West Elm Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Bon Soiree
Chicago, Chicago, IL
Gimme Your Local, Delicious, Divey Faves
The BF and I will be in SF for a long weekend tacked on to some business for me. I've been to SF many times, but this will be his first time. He is not at all interested in fancy, fussy or overly pricey dining. Here in Chicago, he's happy with fabulous pho, creative curry and magnificent Mexican -- the cheaper the better. So, I'm thinking I need your help for the down and dirty.
We're staying at the Harbor Court near the Ferry Building, but are proficient in public transit and are willing to travel. Ethnic is great! A dinner or fun breakfast place is good and a spectacular beer bar is required (the Hopleaf here in Chicago is the best!).
We'll be hitting Shalimar in the Tenderloin for Pakistani food, I love that place. The one possible "fancy" meal will be Nopa, which I've been to and am requiring a second visit. We'll also hit Blackbird in the Castro for drinks. Visited Contigo on my last visit and it was good, but won't be hitting it again. We don't have great sushi in Chicago (it's all soooo expensive and just eh). I'd love a good, hole in the wall sushi place. He doesn't love Thai but adores Vietnamese. Middle Eastern is good. Really good Mexican, not Tex-Mex. We like pretty much anything. Italian is probably not a necessity.
I'm talking dinners under $50 here (sans cocktails). I'm making this a little bit of a challenge for myself to complete. Give a gal a hand?
Thanks in advance!
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Nopa
560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Contigo
1320 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Lunch in London -- Layover at Heathrow
We ended up going to Windsor to visit the Castle and a nice lunch a a cafe in Windsor. Easy enough to take the bus and be back in plenty of time.
I'm at a loss...Dinner tonight near Apollo Theatre
I cannot think of a thing! I have a friend in town and we're going to see a show at the Apollo at 10:30 tonight. Need recs for dinner before hand near the Apollo or anywhere off the Brown Line between Kedzie and Diversey.
We went to The Purple Pig last night and tomorrow we're going to Hopleaf. We're not looking for anything fancy, just casual, really tasty dinner. I was thinking about Chilam Balam in Lakeview. Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance and sorry for the short notice!
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Hopleaf Bar
5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Suggestions of where to grab a first date drink...
Carag's suggestions are spot on. The Violet Hour will be tough at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. You'll easily have a wait, possibly up to an hour which is a downer on a first date.
Two other options: Gilt Bar right near Merchandise Mart. A more funky, off the beaten path option is California Clipper in Humboldt Park. Great cocktails, no tvs.
Have fun!
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Violet Hour
1247 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Phx expat coming home (for a bit)
Since moving away from Phoenix almost four years ago I've been pretty absent from the boards and haven't spent much time trying new places on my visits back. I've tended to go back and visit my old favorites and haunts. I'll be back in late October for almost a week and think I have some time to try some new places. I'll pretty much be exclusively in Central Phoenix and will require my friends to travel to me!! (Hey, I'll be on vacay and it's my birthday, I can make demands.)
For points of reference, here are some of my faves.
I will DEFINITELY be having brunch/lunch at Dick's Hideaway, the carne adovado is the best! No trip is complete without. I need another breakfast option for a Saturday morning. Typically, that choice would be LGO to hang out and get tasty bites and visit with friends. I'm willing to try something else. Someone suggested St. Francis or The Vig on 16th Street. Thoughts?
Casual dinner on Friday night. My flight gets in a 6:30 and I'll want to have a casual dinner with a few friends. Something like Phoenix City Grille, The Rokerij, Delux Burger. Nothing too fancy, preferably a place that we won't need a reservation or have a wait. Under $100 for three people. What's new?
I'll be celebrating my birthday dinner out with a few good friends and my parents. Looking for nice atmosphere and great food. $75 a head with drinks would be the max. Coup de Tartes was one of my faves for a special occasion meal. Other past b'day dinners included Tarbell's, Durant's, T. Cook's, elements. What would you recommend, or should I stick with tried and true faves? No steakhouses, please. I was thinking possibly Noca.
One interesting request...on a Sunday afternoon/early evening looking for a central meeting spot with drinks and snacks for a group of friends to gather, but come and go as they please. Mostly, just to hang out, but tasty bites and drinks are important, too! Past locations would have included The Monastery (so sad, that it's gone), Duck & Decanter or even Spinato's on 16th Street. There will likely be 8-12 of us and probably a couple of kids.
I'll have a few other lunches open, so let me know what I should check out. Cocktail bar suggestions are good too, I love a good drinking hole. My faves have been the old El Charro, Jade Bar at The Sanctuary, Merc.
Thanks in advance, y'all! Let me know if you'll be in Chicago...my new city is a great dining town and I've made it my job to try as many great spots as possible!
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Phoenix City Grille
5816 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Delux
3146 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Dick's Hideaway
6008 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Rokerij
6335 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Noca
3118 E. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Favorite Cafees / Coffee in Chicago?
A little off the beaten path but VERY accessible by the El is Beans & Bagels at the Rockwell Brown line. The coffee is Metropolis, but the patries...oh, my the pastries. The ham & cheese croissant is divine. The pastry chef is from France and it shows. Bagels and sandwiches are good too. This is a very cute part of Ravenswood Manor, very "local" not a lot of tourists. Just two stops west of Lincoln Square if you're going to be in that area at all.
Oh, which makes me thing of Julius Meinl, the Austrian coffee shop that for some reason has a couple of locations here in Chicago. Good coffee and great sandwiches and pastries. My fave location is on Lincoln and Montrose in Lincoln Square, just head south from the Western Brown Line stop.
Have fun!
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Beans & Bagels
1812 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Choco-banana hunt
Trader Joe's sells them. I've seen them in the freezer section of the store on Lincoln.
anyone tried gaztro wagon (naanwich)?
We went last weekend to the store in Edgewater. It's a tiny store front. There are probably 12 seats and it's tight. No matter.
They were sold out of the boar belly. We had the short ribs ($8) and the lamb gyro ($7) and an order of plantain chips ($2). The chips and drinks ($2 each) came up first. The plantain chips with chimichurri sauce were very tasty, light and not oily at all. The only complaint with the chips was how they're served. In a huge bag, actually I think it's the type of brown paper bag that's lined with a little film that's used to "you grind it" coffee at the grocery stores. A very sturdy bag, but it seemed like wasteful packaging to us.
The naan it's really naan, it's more like chapati maybe? Chewier than naan I'd say. Tasty, but not authentic naan. The first thing that we noticed was the discrepancy in size. My short rib sandwich was much larger than the lamb gyro. The short rib was served with tomato, raw onions and some flat leaf parsley (which was billed as and "herb salad" on the menu). There was also some kind of mayo-y sauce, that was good.The short ribs were really flavorful. The onion was a little strong for me, so I took them off. The lamb gyro came with "gyro fixings", but that didn't seem to happen. There was a little tomato & raw onion and that's it. No tahini or sauce of any kind, no feta, nothing. It was tasty, but the beef was much better.
We wrapped it up with fudge pies ($4 for 2) from Fritz Pastry. Again with the coffee bags, excessive packaging. Oh, these fudge pies were divine. Remember Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream pies? We'll that's the idea here, but with chewy chocolate cookies and chocolate butter creme filling. The cookies are moist and chewy with a pretty large crumb. Dense and chocolatey without being too sweet. Just enough salt to notice. Very good!
Overall, it was tasty, but nothing spectacular. The store front is pretty dim, no atmosphere at all. Our dinner ended up being $30 and my poor friend was still hungry (of course, he's ALWAYS hungry). I taught it was a little overpriced.
