avasmom's Profile
Bongo room or Toast for breakfast tomorrow?
Mmmm....I've definitely reading about the sweet stuff...bongo it is! Btw, amazing meal at boka last night and lunch at topo today. Headed to Spiaggia now! Thanks for all your help!
-----
Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Bongo room or Toast for breakfast tomorrow?
Which do you like better? I had planned on Toast (we liked it when we lived here 10yrs ago), but I've been drooling over the bongo room menu since nxstasty suggested it in another post. Also, if we go w/bongo room do you suggest one location over the other?
Thanks!
Opinions on choices for 10th anniversary trip this week?
Again, thank you so, so much. I really appreciate your time! I am SO excited to try some of these places. I'm printing this all out to bring with us.
Opinions on choices for 10th anniversary trip this week?
nsxtasy-
I can't say thank you enough for taking the time to review all of my choices! I am feeling really good now about our decisions. We're headed to O'Hare by train on Saturday.
Are there any bread shops/pastry shops/cupcake shops we shouldn't miss?
Thanks again!
Stephanie
Opinions on choices for 10th anniversary trip this week?
Hi-
We're coming to Chicago Wed-Sat for our 10th anniversary. We lived in Chicago while my husband was in business school and haven't been back in 10 years.
We're staying at the Elysian. I have resevations at a couple of our favorites. I didn't include Mia Francesca. I remember loving it, but wasn't sure if I should fit it in on this trip w/all of your new restaurants. We don't need Chicago pizza. My husband is a pretty adventurous eater (more than I am, I don't eat much red meat, lamb, etc.) DH doesn't eat sushi. We love local farm fresh restaurants, love Italian, Mexican, Nuevo Latino, great burgers, great desserts. We've been to Charlie Trotter's so I didn't even try to get a reservation there. I would love to go to Alinea, but I wasn't sure if there were too many things I don't eat. I'm kind of regretting it, but I'm sure there's no way we'd get a reservation now. Same w/Girl and the Goat.
Wed dinner: Boka (we're going to see Jeff Garlin at Steppenwolf at 7:30 so I wanted something close. I'm very open to other suggestions.)
Thurs lunch: Topolobampo (one of our favorites restaurants anywhere, we planned the trip too late to get a dinner reservation...I'm still holding out hope our concierge may be able to help, but not counting on it)
Thurs dinner: Spiaggia (my husband still talks about our meal here 10 years ago and I just finished reading How Italian Food Conquered the world so I thought we should go back. I was kind of surprised how easy it was to get a reservation here.)
Fri lunch: we're going to the Cubs game. I just read about DMK Burger, thinking we might go here first, but I'm totally open to other suggestions.
Fri dinner: North Pond (I put this in when we couldn't get in to Topo. I've read mixed reviews here and again am open to suggestions.)
Sat: our flight is at 3. Would love ideas for breakfast, lunch or brunch.
Thank you so much for any advice you can share!
-----
Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Boka
1729 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614
Charlie Trotter's
816 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610
Mia Francesca
3311 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60657
Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
DMK Burger Bar
2954 Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Lunch near Times Sq tomorrow?
We're bringing our daughter to her first show tomorrow and want to go to lunch first. She's 5, so we need somewhere kid friendly, but we'd also really like great food. We're up for pretty much any cuisine. Any suggestions?
Sarah's Wine Bar (Ridgefield CT) - A great mid-priced alternative
Glad you made it Sarah's JFood! It's one of our favorites. My only complaint is the horribly tired decor both upstairs and downstairs. I ignore it though for the quality of the food! Did you check out the wine specials? Oh, wait, I think you don't drink. For those who do (I'm far from a wine expert) they have a pretty large list of special bottles for $25.
Sushi midtown/UES
I have a friend who is going in for the night this week for a post-Valentine's celebration w/her husband. They're staying at The Palace and they want to go for sushi. Any suggestions for a good celebration place, great food (but not quite Masa prices ;) ?
Thanks!
JFood...New Canaan question
Thanks for the info. I posted on that link. This change makes no sense at all for how ppl in FFD county actually go out to eat.
Announcement: New Board Breakdown for Chowhound
I know other people have said this, but I wanted to let you know how dissatisfied I am w/the new board arrangement. Moving FFD county to Southern New England makes no sense in terms of how people actually go out to restaurants. It's made these boards much less user friendly. I'm assuming that the goal of the board changes was to make them more user friendly and therefore encourage more traffic. This has not been accomplished at all and makes me much less likely to come here. I really hope you'll fix this problem. People who live in FFD county generally eat in FFD county and Westchester. I live in FFD county and NY is 5 minutes from my house. I really hope that the chowhound team is looking into this and considering fixing the problem. Thanks!
JFood...New Canaan question
Hi JFood-
I know you're the NC expert...I feel like I either read or heard about a "new" restaurant in NC sometime in the past year. I think it's on Elm. Not Harvest Supper, not Pain Quotidien...it's a dinner place. Is Chef Luis relatively new? Is it good?
Also, I've clearly been gone for awhile! What happened to our board? Why don't they make a FF County/NYC burbs board that really reflects where we're most likely to be eating? (I'm sure this has been discussed, just surprised by what I found when I was looking for you this morning!)
We have reservation at one of your favorites tonight...Aloi.
Thanks for any info!
rocco's in new canaan
Mr. Shane's is closed, but the ice cream is sold at Deborah Anne's Chocolate Shop on Main Street. (but I agree, the gelato shop in NC blows away any ice cream we can get here in Ridgefield.)
40th Birthday Dinner
Thanks so much! I'm not sure on the price or type of food yet, just trying to help a friend out. I don't think she's looking to rent somewhere out, so I had crossed your top three of my list b/c of the size. My friend had thought of Barcelona. I haven't been to Paci, but I've wanted to try it, I'll suggest that. Another thought I had was Market or Tarry Lodge. I hadn't thought of 121, that could definitely work. (a Richard Gere sighting would be great too!)
40th Birthday Dinner
Hi-
Wondering if anyone can make a suggestion for a restaurant for a 40th birthday dinner for about 30 people in Fairfield County?
thanks,
Steph
Martha's Vineyard help please!
Hi-
We didn't think we were going to be able to go out w/out the kids this year, so I didn't make any reservations. We just found a sitter and now I'm kicking myself.
We really want to try State Road, but they don't have anything we're on the wait list. Sweet Life (our favorite on past trips) can only take us at 6:30 and I really want the kids down before we go out.
Any other suggestions where we might be able to get a 7:30 reservation? We tried Mediterranean last year b/c the board seems to really like it, but we didn't love it. We've also been to Beach Plum, Outermost Inn, Alchemy, Chescas and we're not dying to go back to any of them, and guessing we probably couldn't get in to Beach Plum or Outermost which would be most appealing to me b/c of the settings. Oh and we went to Deon's last night. Has anyone been to the new Chilmark Tavern?
Any other suggestions?
Thank you so much!
Stephanie
Challah and brioche, where to get it FFD
Ross' Bread in Ridgefield. I haven't tried the brioche yet, but I love the challah and everything else. Make sure you call first before you go to see if what you want is available, I've been disappointed before when I get there too early (or too late and they're sold out of something I want.) . http://www.rossbread.com/Welcome.html
Fab CUPCAKES fairfield county
try Georgetown Bake Shoppe on Rt 7 right on the Ridgefield/Wilton line. You need to call ahead and make sure they're open and also to order ahead. She'll do any kind of decoration, she did adorable Elmo's for me and she usually has a few decorated w/flowers. It's not a regular bakery though, there isn't much to walk in and buy, it's almost all orders. http://georgetowncakeshoppe.com/
Another new restaurant for Wilton/Ridgefield
Thanks for the report! Looking forward to trying it.
Ross Bread in Ridgefield, CT
I was there on Friday buying bread at Ross', ordering brownies and cookies for a party next week (the brownies are delicious, they don't have them all teh time) and buying my fruits and veggies next door and I peaked into 109...where I saw Monica from Cellar 15 talking to one of the workers. I stuck myhead and asked if it was her shop and she said yes. I'm really excited, I think it's going to be great. I'm so excited about what's going on in that little plaza.
Anything replacing old Balducci's in Ridgefield?
I'm a fan of the Cutting Board for lunch, not cheap, but they use lots of organic ingredients. I just had the curry chicken salad wrap today. The new bread store has a small sandwich selection, we've only had them once, but they were great. We used to get sandwiches from Balducci's every weekend. :(
Anything replacing old Balducci's in Ridgefield?
a private equity firm bought a few stores and shut them down. see my post above for my replacements! the organic market is great!
Anything replacing old Balducci's in Ridgefield?
It's really too bad, but I've sort of found a replacement, have you been to the organic market? It's great, the owner Lisa is wonderful as are the people who wcork there (they've been carrying my groceries to my car when I'm there w/all my kids!) I get all my fruits and veggies there as well as milk and great organic pasta sauce and great cheese. Oh, and great frozen ravioli, homemade guacamole. It's not a hige store but Lisa used to work at Balduccis and she carries a lot of specialty products they carrried. The best part is Ross's Bread is now next door, amazing bread and scones, cookies, etc (try the Lizzie's...homemade Oreo's, incredible). We're not big meat eaters but Ridgefield Prime is in the same shopping center and the butcher from Balducci's is there...you can get Balducci's (Peter Luger) Buurgers there. I've been able to do most of my shopping in that little plaza. Also, be sure to try The Cutting Board if you're there...the best challah french toast made w/ross's challah. The owners Brian and Rachel are so nice and he'll make you anything you need. We get our sandwiches and salads there now....so basocally that little shoppng center is my Balducci's replacement and it's all local businesses which to me makes it even better!
Anyone know what happened to Koo in Ridgfield?
Hungrykids- Thanks! I had to post back...the friend who told me about the new name must have been at Dimitri's at the exact same time as you! That's where she was when she noticed the sign.
I think it would be great if they had a larger entree menu, we haven't been to Koo in quite awhile b/c dh doesn't eat sushi and he always found the menu kind of limited (and he never really loved what he had.) We'll have to give Jun Mai a try.
Ross Bread in Ridgefield, CT
I know they always have the challah at the farmers market on Fridays, it's great.. Have you had the french toast at The Cutting Board? They use Ross' challah...it's SO good.
I've been in twice so far. We've had the olive bread...delicious and two loaves right out of the oven...the sweet life (I think that's the name) and the cheese bread...YUM. The kids and I couldn't resist and were eating it in the car. (my car smellled amazing too!) Oh and I've also sampled the chocolate chip scone...heaven! and the chocolate chip cookie (good, but not my favorite style of ch ch cookie, it's crispy).
SO happy they decided to open in Ridgefield...btwn, Ross', Ridgefield Prime, Ridgefield Organics (I just had baby #3 and they've been playing w/my kids while I shop AND carrying my bags to my car...how nice is that??) and The Cutting Board, I am so happy with that little shopping center. I've heard a rumor that a cheese shop may go in there also.
Anyone know what happened to Koo in Ridgfield?
A friend just told me that it has a new name...anyone know the story?
Aloi or Harvest Supper (New Canaan)
I think sibeats said it very well. I love Aloi, very fun and cozy in the winter and fabulous if you can sit outside or near the front windows in the summer. The food is very, very good, but I think Harvest Supper is just a step up. (just realized my first sentence didn't relate to your question at all!) (oh and I do wish HS would get different chairs!)
Anybody try Ritz Asia in Ridgefield yet?
We've had it the past two weekends for take-out and we've been really happy w/it, but we were lookiong for decent Asian take-out and it met our needs. a)We haven't ordered Asian since the whole Wild Ginger incident so we were happy to have Asian again. b)we'd been out to dinner almost every Saturday night for 6mos, but haven't been out for 8 weeks since #3 was born (and have been eating frozen pizza, etc. c)they delivered to us even though we're totally on the other side of town....so I guess you could say our standards may not be that high right now ;), but we had two really good meals...
loved the edamame, the rock shrimp was great even though it wasn't really crispy b/c of transport, the calamari was very good and the sauce w/it was amazing. We loved the pad thai (ours wasn't orange). I hate leftovers and I actually ate the pad tjai the next day. DH had a beef stir fry that he really liked. We had Kung Po last night which was really good, very different than your typical gloppy sauced Chinese restaurant Kung Po, we also had the thai pineapple fried rice which I loved b/c it was made w/sticky rice (the white rice that came w/the dishes is also sticky rice) LOVE that instead of regular white rice at most restaurants.
Anyway, for our needs of good takeout we're thrilled to have something new in town and hope they stay in business. I hope that going there to eat doesn't change my mind, I'm still grossed out by the horribly dirty carpet that was there when it was Biksbees...I'm hoping they replaced that at least!
