Nellcote
In one word – Elegant
Location – 833 W. Randolph (Randolph & Green)
Food – We started with the shaved pumpkin, which is literally that, shaved pieces of pumpkin (with pickled persimmon, mint, gouda and almonds). While it’s fresh tasting, note that the portion is very small (as are most of the portions here). We then had the saffron risotto, which was served with fava beans, bone marrow, pecorino and gold leaf. Good, not great. Not worth ordering again. We ended with the grilled sturgeon with english peas, vegetable fricasse, sorrel and pancetta – this was my favorite item of the night. Nellcote makes their pizzas with flour made in-house, so I felt compelled to also order the tomato sauce pizza (they are about 9″ and could easily serve one person to fullness). Maybe it’s because I ordered the pizza without cheese, but I wasn’t that impressed. Someone else get one with cheese and report back.
Drink – I had the Vodka cocktail which has Grey Goose, orgeat and mint. It’s a good light drink that’s not too sweet.
Service – My eating partner has a gluten allergy, and I was really pleased that our server had a sheet of paper outlining what my eating partner could and could not eat. Other than that she was pleasant and chatty, no complaints.
Scene – I would describe the space as trendy elegant. This old Marche space has been transformed into a sleek spot. There is a bar area that enables patrons to people watch over the entire restaurant and reminds me of some of my old Manhattan haunts.
Occasion – I think this is an ideal place for a girls night or a festive date.
Price – March is my birthday month, so several of my meals have been gifts from my eating partners. But, if I were to guess, I think you could eat here for about $45-50/person.
If you like, try – Tavernita, Girl & the Goat, Avec
Meze Tapas Lounge
In one word – Lackluster
Location – 205 N. Peoria (Peoria and Lake)
Food – So I’m going to be frank, I was really not impressed by Meze. The food was just adaquate. Let’s start with the best, which were the bacon wrapped dates. Obvi, you can’t really mess those up (unless they’re cold). And, ours were piping hot, so I was happy. The rest of the meal was just “eh.” We had the Goat Cheese and Tomato Tart, which felt like a Trader Joe’s frozen appetizer to me. Not impressed. Then we had the Grilled Baby Lambchops with Red Pepper Puree. I felt like it was defrosted and then served. Maybe it wasn’t, but it felt like it was and that’s what counts to me. Finally we had the Greek Pomme Frites. They are french fries. How do you mess them up? They were soggy and I didn’t think that the feta cheese enhanced the dish (I can’t believe I just said that).
Drink – I had the Pinot Noir, which I actually liked. I wish I had written the name down so I can get it on my next trip to Trader Joe’s (ha.).
Service – My favorite moment during the meal was when our server asked us if we needed more time to decide what we wanted to order and when we said yes, he responded with “Ok, I’ll come back in 3 minutes.” Even though he was precise at the beginning, it later became impossible to get his attention for the rest of the meal. I had to resort to waving my arms over my head to get his attention (which I’m not above doing).
Scene – When we came it was empty, like really empty. But, I blame that on going during the holidays when most seem to be out of town. If it were to be filled, I would imagine that this would be a place to dress to impress.
Occasion – You could come here with friends or on a date…that is if you were to come here at all (aw snap, GB).
Price – My portion of the meal was $53 with tax and tip. So not worth it.
If you like, try – Cafe Ba-ba-reeba, Cafe Iberico, Emilios, really any other tapas place
Nightwood
In one word – Overdelivered
Location – 2119 S. Halsted (21st and Halsted)
Food – OMG, I am so into Nightwood. I came upon several recommendations from friends around town and was not disappointed. My eating partner and I started with the roasted Japanese sweet potatoes served with breadcrumbs, parsley, capers and aioli. You know when you take a bite of something and then do a double take because there is a party in your mouth. Well, that happened for both of us. If you come here, I insist you have this as an appetizer. For entrees, my eating partner when for the spit-roasted half chicken served with mashed potates, rapini and gravy. The portion was huge and he was really happy with the execution. I went for the farfalle served with venison and mint. It was a small dish that was super filling – the venison was ground, so the sauce was more a slightly creamy ragu. I was closed to licking my plate clean. We were so full, so we skipped dessert. Next time, I will ensure I plan my meal better so I can indulge in sweetness.
Drink – We each started with a cocktail. I had the Wuthering Heights – Broker’s gin, earl grey tea, Cocchi Americano, egg white, rosemary and orange bitters. It felt like fall – felt like apple cider meets egg nog. Absolutely loved it. My eating partner had New Amsterdam – Buffalo Trace bourbon, Averna amaro, tawny port, brandied cherries and Nightwood bitters. He is a real bourbon lover and was raving about his drink.
Service – By now, you should know that I have a love for unpretentious, yet helpful service at a restaurant. Our server at Nightwood was perfect. She was this adorable hipster who didn’t push us through our meal and offered (really spot on) recommendations when we were ordering.
Occasion – I think you can come here for anything. Dinner with friends, a date, a birthday meal. I hear Nightwood has an excellent brunch, too.
Scene – So Pilsen is turning into the new Logan Square. The restaurant was hopping and was filled with those yuppie hipsters (you know what I’m talking about, they bathe but still wear plaid). The vibe of the restaurant is energetic. Awesome exposed brick, a beautiful bar, this AMAZING outdoor patio with a fireplace where you can wait for your table. I thought that that the tables were a bit close together. I had to suffer through listening to my neighbors say mean things about the University of Chicago (my alma mater) and could not interject my opinion.
Dress – Wear something that shows off your personality. There is no need to dress up. But, if you had an occasion to look nice, no one would look twice.
Price – I spent $46 and felt like it was a good value.
If you like, try…Lula (who also own Nightwood), Longman & Eagle, Publican
Cafe 28
In one word - Potential
Location – 1800 W. Irving Park Road (Irving Park and Ravenswood)
Food – Come to Cafe 28 for Cuban and Mexican cuisine. Overall, I was satisfied with the food. We skipped the appetizer portion, mainly because I foolishly loaded up on the bread and the sweet chipotle butter. Our server was apologetic at the top of our meal because at 7:3o, they were already out of the day’s special. For my main, I went with the almond crusted halibut. It was a chunky size of halibut, I was expecting something much lighter. It was served with jalepeno mashed potatoes and veggies. I ended up much fuller than I wanted to be. Because I have an obsession with plantains, I ordered a side of sweet plantains, which were perfect. One of my eating partners went with the ropa vieja – again, another huge portion. She gave it top reviews but noted it was a bit salty. My other eating partner opted for the vegetarian comal – which is basically veggie fajitas. I will give them props for the amount of veggies they served her – it was like a farmers’ market on a plate. We skipped dessert, partially because they were out of half of the desserts by the time we had finished the meal – again our server was extremely apologetic about being out of those choices.
Drink – One of my eating partners and I both chose the cocktail special – which had muddled lemon, rum and cava. It was a tad sweet, but it definitely grew on me and was substantial enough to last the entirety of the meal.
Service – I wasn’t impressed with the front of the house staff. I really get bothered when I am skipped in line because I am small, so not always seen in a crowd. This hostess did exactly that to me – not cool. I had to be Manhattan assertive to let her know that I had arrived. Then we waited about 20 minutes to be seated despite having made a reservation. Our server at the table was apologetic about not having many of the dishes available, but beyond that, I found her a bit forgettable. Then when the dishes came out, the runner mixed up who each plate was supposed to go to. If the service aspect was up to par, I would have been much more satisfied. For now, I will say they are just not living up to their potential.
Scene – On the Saturday of Halloween weekend, there were a lot of older couples and 30-somethings looking to find a way to avoid a costume.
Occasion – This place is ideal for groups or just couples. It’s got a casual and festive vibe throughout the restaurant.
Price – So my halibut was listed as “market price” and I got stuck with a $27 entree, much more than what I was expecting. I walked out of there spending $54 including tax and tip. A bit overpriced if you ask me.
If you like, try…Coobah
one sixtyblue
In one word – Thorough
Location – 1400 W. Randolph (Randolph and Loomis)
Food – Remember that one sixtyblue existed? Yeah, I forgot too until we stumbled upon it as a Plan B option when avec gave us a 2 hour wait time. We were celebrating one of my eating partner’s 30th birthday, so we decided to go all in for the night. I started with the Heart of Palm and Mango salad, it was served with a macadamia nut dressing. I thought it was light and fresh, so overall I was pleased. My eating partners had the Ceasar salad (they were eh about it) and the tomato and oyster soup (#winning). For mains, I went with the Porcini and Ricotta Ravioli. Perfect portion size for me – the dish was pretty decadent. The raviolis were filled with spaghetti squash, swiss chard and bechamel. Two eating partners shared the Burgandy Truffle Pasta. I thought it was rich, but uber satisfying. My other eating partner had the Hanger Steak which was served with brussel sprouts, squash, coffee sauce and hot chocolate foam. He was nervous about all the toppings to his steak, but in the end, he was satisfied. I also got an order of corn bread (which they make gluten free), for the table. Sweet and soft – I could probably live off of that stuff. For dessert (we had to, there was a birthday!), we had the chocolate chip banana cake. I thought I was full until I had a bite. When you add nutella ice cream, pralines and chocolate-coffee ganache to cake, I managed to muster more space in my full stomach to indulge.
Drink – They really shined here. We started with a round of cocktails. I had the Quennville’s Cup, which is a take on Pimm’s Cup – uber light and refreshing, highly recommend. The rest of the table sampled the Falling for Apples (apple cider and cognac, a bit sweet for me), Cinnamon Soho (rye-based, I believe) and the Matador Lopez (wine-inspired drink with gin, blackberry/gooseberry juice and balsamic reduction, super interesting!). For the meal, we went with the recommended Leroy Bourgogne Rouge. It was a great bottle, and I’m now on a quest to find this in the store (let me know if you have seen it!). As a complimentary present, the sommelier brought us a sparkling drink – I totally missed what it was – but it tasted like fresh strawberries and effervescence.
Service – You know when you are on a bad date and you think: ”There’s nothing wrong with you. I just don’t think we get each other.” That was our relationship with our server. He made excellent recommendations, but we just didn’t love his vibe. I’m sure he will find another table one day though who will like him for who he is.
Scene – Not going to lie, it’s a little senior citizen central in here, but it worked for us. After being at super loud restaurants this week, this was a welcome change. If you need more activity, you can sit and eat in the bar area.
Occasion – We dropped a pretty penny here, so I would come here for an occasion like a 30th birthday or something of the like.
Price – If we had divided the meal across the 4 of us, it would have been $95 including tax and tip.
If you like, try…Morton’s, Gibson’s, or any of those Chicago steak institutions
Publican
In one word –Accomodating
Location – 837 W. Fulton (Fulton and Green)
Food – Among my eating partners, there was a gluten allergy and a shellfish allergy. Our server didn’t flinch and was knowledgeable about what was in bounds and out of bounds for us. I was impressed by the willingness to accommodate. And even with our restrictions, holy food coma. You go to the Publican for meat – and mission accomplished. We started with the Taste of 3 Hams, which was consisted of a platter of serrano, country ham and an american cut from Iowa. This dish is falsely named – it is actually just 3 Hams. There is so much pig on this plate, so order only if you are a big eater. We then partook in the Hamachi Crudo, which was a great lighter option. Then the Half Grilled Chicken with Summer Sausage and Frites appeared (how much did we order?). The chicken was succulent and the sausage was nicely charred (it wasn’t my favorite, but my eating partners loved it). I wasn’t impressed with the frites, but let’s be real, after eating 3 pigs on a plate, I didn’t need to eat french fries. What dazzled my palette was the Suckling Pig – it was sweet and simple. It’s just a bowl of confit-style pig. Moving to the sides (yes, my eating partners and I are fatties), I was most impressed by the Brussel Sprouts, that are served with both burrata cheese AND parmesan. I was really excited by the Squash Gratin, but let down in execution – I just thought the cheese was too overpowering (yes, I know what gratin is, but still). The Cauliflower was forgettable.
Drink – We drank cider – which was perfect. With the amount we ate, we couldn’t afford to get full on beer. Try both the Basa Jaun and the E.B. Poire.
Service – I mentioned how accommodating and knowledgeable our server was. Overall I found service to be very good.
Scene – We were seated at the communal table, so I found it a delicate balance of shouting to be heard and speaking softly enough so that my gossip didn’t become common knowledge for my stranger neighbors. Also, single ladies – there are a lot of men in this restaurant.
Occasion – This is a great place for groups. Some of the tables are singled off into pig pen type set-ups ideal for parties of 4. I think the occasions to come to the Publican are varied and broad – anything from a nice Friday out to a special birthday or anniversary.
Price – When you order the farm, you pay for it. I paid $63 for my share including tax and tip.
If you like, try…avec, Longman & Eagle
Sable
In one word - Thoughtful
Location - 505 N. State Street (State and Illinois)
Food - I had heard good things about Sable but wanted to evaluate it myself. It’s all about sharing small plates – so we devoured the following: Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with bleu cheese, bacon jam, tuna tartar tostadas and the buttermilk chicken & waffles. I was less into the tuna and chicken & waffles – they just didn’t stand out. The bacon jam, however, was reason enough for me to come back.
Drink - My eating partner and I each grabbed a glass of wine upon recommendation of our server. I have heard that the cocktails are worth trying here, I just didn’t have it in me to go for it.
Service - Here is where Sable really stands out. First, our server was nice and informative. He stopped us from ordering a flatbread because he said we’d be getting too much food then (oink, oink). What I was most impressed with was this: My eating partner and I were celebrating a birthday, and they gave her adorably packaged cake mix from Sable and a card signed by the staff to recognize that day – and this was at the table when we sat down. While I do love a mariachi band serenading a table with “Feliz Cumpleanos,” I did really appreciate the thoughtful and distinctive manner that Sable celebrates an occasion.
Scene - We ate on the early side, so things weren’t hopping yet (seems to be a trend in my life lately). However, when the night gets going, the bar is a good place to be seen.
Occasion - Come on a date or a dinner with the gal pals. You need to come soon because the chef there is going to be on Top Chef come November 2. After that airs, I assume Sable will suffer from “Girl & the Goat” syndrome – you will only be able to get a reservation at 4:15 pm three months from now. The restaurant is right where all the tourist roll, so we will be really screwed to get in.
Dress - Because of the scene, put some effort into it. Squeeze into your skinny jeans or something.
Price - It’s a nice night out. We skimped and still spent $47 per person.
If you like, try…Girl & the Goat, Publican, avec
Girl and the Goat
In one word – Sugo
Location – 809 W Randolph (Randolph and Halsted)
Food – Let me just say it plainly: I loved my meal immensely. Top Chef Stephanie Izard can do no wrong in my mind. My eating partner and I, both famished and overwhelmed by the menu, followed the instructions of our server when ordering. To start, we had the sautéed green beans with fish sauce. I was skeptical because they are just green beans, however they flavor it so that you never want the dish to end. Then we had the sugo and papperdelle, which is essentially just a ragu with pasta. This dish made me love life more. I have been thinking about it in my sleep. It is so simple, but so delicious. As a finale, we got the rhubarb and lemon shortbread/panna cota. Our server showed us how to get the perfect bite of the dessert, but I was dreaming about the sugo, so I couldn’t focus.
Drink – They had an extensive wine list and cocktails galore. You will take advantage of it – especially if you were foolish like us and waited 90 minutes to eat. Our punishment for coming without reservations.
Service – Well intentioned for sure. Our server was really pleasant and knowledgeable. Every recommendation he made was spot on. I do think he was spread too thin around the restaurant. I had to wait a while and remind him twice to get more wine – not a deal breaker, but no one likes a wine-less GB.
Scene – It’s unpretentious, no need to bring out the Sunday best. Everyone who comes is really really excited to be there, so there is awesome energy pulsing through the place. A little note about availability, the next available table according to Open Table is 7/6 at 10:45 pm. That being said, they start serving food at 4:30 pm. They will seat you if you come ready for the early bird special. We popped in at 5 pm – that’s 30 minutes too late. You really need to show up at 4:30 pm if you want to eat without a reservation.
Dress – Honestly, you just have to show an ounce of effort and you’ll be fine.
Occasion – A date! It’s fun, good energy (it is a little loud though).
Price – I’ve been in NYC for a while, so maybe my understanding of reasonable is off, but my eating partner and I split a $80 meal including tax and tip. In my book, eating incredible food in a fun atmosphere for $40 is a steal.
If you like, try… Purple Pig, Publican
Le Bouchon
Location- 1958 N Damen, Damen and Armitage
Website- http://www.lebouchonofchicago.com/
In one word- Cozy
Food- The appetizers that we ordered were classic French bistro fare, moules marinieres (mussels in white wine with herbs) and escargots. For someone who had been craving simple French food, it was heaven. Plenty of fresh bread came alongside to sop up all the delicious sauces. The main courses that we had, though tasty, paled in comparison to the simple dishes that preceded them. I had a braised duck leg that was good, but it was served with too much sauce,
and I thought that the presentation could have been better. My companion had rabbit, and pretty much had the same reaction. Over all, the main courses were well prepared, as well as a pleasant diversion from the ordinary (when was the last time you had rabbit?). The appetizers were spot on, we could have been in Paris.
Drink- An ample wine list for a small neighborhood restaurant. The focus was most definitely French, as it should be, and both the glasses of white and red were great. You paid the premium for the French imports, but it definitely enhanced the overall experience.
Service- There were only 2 waiters, and at least 15 tables, maybe more. That being said, they did a great job making sure we were taken care of. We had a reservation for 7:30, and were really hungry, so we showed up at 7 and were
seated immediately. As the night went on though, the place was definitely packed. It wasn’t the sort place that you’d expected to be waited on hand and foot, and in turn, it wasn’t. The tables are packed in pretty close together in a
small space, and you have to embrace the bistro atmosphere.
Scene- If you want to be whisked away to a small bistro in (almost) Paris, than this is the place for you. The food is good, the service is ok, and the scene is cozy. Probably a great place for a third date where you want talk, drink and get to know one another. This is the sort of place, just outside of the hubbub of Wicker Park, to start the evening, but it won’t be enough to make an entire evening.
Dress- Casual, jeans with a nice shirt, a jacket would be fine.
Occasion- Craving French bistro food and atmosphere? This is the place for you. Start the evening here, and move on to more engaging venue south in Wicker Park.
Cost- Appetizers $10, Entrees under $20. Reasonably priced wine list.
If you like…, try- Kiki’s Bistro
written by ieatthis
