Dedalus's Profile
Recs for dinner w/ picky guests and child
I'm looking for a restaurant that will accomodate my 7-month old son (so, casual w/child seats -- kid menu not necessary) and two picky guests. For good and casual, I usually go to ethnic restaurants (Indian and Ethiopian spring to mind), but my guests aren't adventurous eaters. Anywhere downtown or north side should be fine. Suburbs won't work. Suggestions?
Sonoma Wineries
Thanks all for the thoughtful responses. We're traveling with our four-month old son, so we have to take it easy and be a bit flexible. I figure a day in and around Sonoma (Gundlach Bundschu was recommended here and elsewhere), a day up by Westside Road (w/ lunch or dinner in Healdsburg), and a day in and around Spring Mountain. I plan to schedule a tasting at Pride. Are there any tasting rooms open in that area (Spring Mountain) that do not require an appointment?
Sonoma Restaurants
I'll be in Sonoma next week (Monday to Friday), staying at the Sonoma Mission Inn. I'm looking for restaurant recommendations. We've made reservations at the Girl and the Fig. Other suggestions? I'm particularly interested in laid-back places that can accommodate our four-month old -- meaning a place to park his car seat -- and still serve great food.
Sonoma Wineries
I'm visiting the Sonoma area next week and I'm looking for recommendations, particularly off-the-beaten path wines/wineries. We're staying about an hour south of Healdsburg (in Sonoma itself), but plan to take day trips to the Russian River Valley, etc. Thanks.
3 Brothers w/ Wives in 3 nights (6 'Hounds)
Well, if they think it's great then it's great to them. That said, I've been twice and I really dislike it. Nice people, nice atmosphere, but bland food.
casual eatery near Michigan
Bandera is a good choice in that area (actually on Michigan Ave.). Underrated, I think.
Birthday Dinner--Steak Frites
My personal favorite is Bistro Margot. I'd drink the left-over butter off the plate if I thought my wife wouldn't die of embarrassment.
Bice?
My wife and I had some very mediocre food at Bice. You're not missing anything.
Cafe Babareeba
I've been quite a few times, but not recently. My favorites: bacon-wrapped dates and the spicy potatoes. And I'm a big fan of the paella as the weather gets colder.
Chow Challenge
Ditka's is local in the sense that the name of everyone's favorite football coach is above the door, but otherwise it's your standard steakhouse. Bistro 110 is pretty good, but it's traditional French bistro fare. For local and progressive I'd go with Blackbird (which is downtown) or North Pond (which is in Lincoln Park--which is a 10-15 minute cab ride away, depending on traffic). A bit more expensive, but not outrageously so. Onesixtyblue is another possibility, just a short cab ride west of downtown, or Custom House, a short cab ride south.
Cleveland Special Occassion
Looking for recommendations for dinner for seven people for a special occassion. Moxie has been suggested, but I've been there a couple times. Preferably not a chain (no Ruth's Chris, etc.). We've got two really picky eaters in the bunch, so unfortunately I think ethnic restaurants are probably not a good option for us. Suggestions?
For Chicagoan's, What restaurant is on top of your list to try?
In no particular order after #1:
1) Charlie Trotters (been to several of the other high end spots around town, but not the most famous of all)
2) Arun's
3) Moto
4) Coal Fire
5) Sepia
6) Schwa
'Burbs
I made a trip up to Evanston to go to Oceanique this past weekend. A great recommendation, thanks.
Butter Restaurant
I didn't care for Butter, myself. Not bad at all, but not especially memorable either. And I respectully disagree that there's anything cutting-edge about it. Seems on a par with a lot of other moderately ambitious restaurants in the city. Doesn't strike me as especially trendy, though. Boka, on the other hand, is as trendy as they come. A nice restaurant, but expect to be surrounded by a lot of folks on their way to the clubs. Custom House is a good option, if they'll accommodate a party as large as yours.
Where to eat near Belmont and Clark/Halsted
Across from the Landmark movie theater that someone just mentioned is Le Creperie. As advertised, they serve crepes (savory and sweet), and they have a good by-the-glass wine selection. Nice brunch, as well.
Bistro Margot v. Trattoria Roma
Bistrot Margot is great, I think. It's not romantic in a candle-lit kind of way, but does have a nice, relaxed atmosphere. My favorite steak frites in the city.
Aigre Doux No. 160 Blue Yes.
I went to Aigre Doux on Friday and had service glitches similar to what wak described. Just all around slow and inattentive. The lamb was excellent (although a bit lukewarm by the time it arrived at our table), and I liked the toffee pudding. The sweatbreads special was not nearly as good as a similar dish I had at Blackbird a month or so ago, but that's not a big deal. Some dishes work and others don't. The service, though, should be better. In particular, please stop by and acknowledge that the kitchen is a bit behind or whatever the problem is.
Best Restaurants in Lincoln Park (defined as North to Diverey, Clark to Western)
If the parameters are the "best" and within the given coordinates, aren't we missing Alinea and Trotters? Not the types of places you can just pop into on a random Friday night, but they do fit the bill. Much, much more casual: R.J. Grunts. You can walk off the cheeseburger at the zoo nextdoor (and pick up your car from the valet afterwards, incidentally).
Eating before a cubs game
Off the beaten path, but near Wrigley (6 or 7 blocks due west): Tango Sur. They specialize in Argentine steak. It's a fattier, chewier steak, and not the same grade as you'll find in the high-end Chicago restaurants. I like it, but mileage varies. On the other hand, it's a quaint storefront restaurant (can't say that often about a steak place) and hugely popular with locals. It's byob, so if you go, you can grab a bottle of red wine at the wineshop across the street (Que Syrah).
Pops for Champagne? Any 411?
I like it, although not as much as I did at its old location in Lakeview. Now they have more customers than they know what to do with. Good for them, not so good for me. Very loud and tough to find a comfortable spot on the weekend. But definitely worth at least one visit. Last Friday I drove by around 4:00 and saw folks sitting in the sun at a table outside the restaurant, drinking a bottle of champagne. That's more my speed.
Looking for recs for an upcoming trip to Chicago
Even less threateningly gourmet than Gage is Hackney's. More like your traditional pub. Several delicious but threatening breakfast options near you: Orange and the Bongo Room. Safer: Eleven City Diner and (maybe) Yolk.
The Gage, Loop
I've been twice and enjoyed it. It's convenient to where my wife works. If you like that upscale pub concept (would you call it a gastropub, with so few beer selections?), there's also Mrs. Murphy's Irish Bisto in North Center (on Lincoln, just south of Irving Park).
$30-$50 a plate near Belmont and Southport
As much as I like Sola, it is a very loud restaurant. Often seems to be the case with those converted storefronts.
Business Dinner in Downtown Chicago
I suggest Custom House, which is a short cab ride from AON. It's very good, not stuffy, but not so trendy that that you'd feel out of place on a business dinner. If proximity to AON is important, there's a very good restaurant next door in the Fairmont Hotel--Aria. Unfortunately, on a Monday, I'm thinking Aria may be dead.
Best wine you've had under $15
In the $15 neighborhood (under $20 I'm pretty sure): 2004 Julien Meyer Heissenberg Gewurztraminer.
Small Plates Going Out of Style?
My personal take is that you can pretty much count on an uneven experience the first time you try any small-plate restaurant. The pace of the meal, how much to order, what goes well with what, what to drink with so many different types of food. And with so many other options, I rarely make it back to give a restaurant a second chance unless I'm really happy with the experience the first time around.
Small Plates Going Out of Style?
Evidently Graze recently closed (after recently opening). Ditto X/O, the small-plates style restaurant in Lakeview. The chef at both restaurants (and isn't that a bad run of luck?) opines:
"I don't think the city of Chicago wants it," he says of diminutive plates. "They're great in concept, but it's a hard sell. Everybody still wants to see a big steak."
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2007/06/graze_closes_wi.html
What do you think?
looking for restaurant with unusual food combinations
Sushi Samba Rio springs to mind. It has a couple locations outside Chicago, but nothing on the West coast. Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian fusion. Very trendy, but then you're not likely to find a lot of mom-and-pop fusion joints. The atmosphere is not my thing, especially, but I've enjoyed eating there nonetheless.
5 Days in May Report
The food-science debate is interesting. For one thing, I think it demonstrates the conservative strain in high-end cooking. Traditional and simple is best. And if you want to know how to make a dish properly, you must go back to the source (e.g., Italy for pasta). I think for a lot of folks that's self-evident, and there's a similarly conservative principle at work in the preoocupation with authenticity.
