Red Rooster
Location – 2100 N. Halsted
773-929-7660
In one word – Criminal
Food – My fellow food-lovers on a budget, welcome to The (French) Holy Land. With great food at great prices this hidden gem is more than a steal; it’s criminal.
Red Rooster is the cheap but equally classy sister of Café Bernard, a Lincoln Park favorite that’s built a well-deserved reputation during it’s 30+ years in operation. The two restaurants are in fact located right next door to one another and actually share a kitchen, a chef (owner Bernard LeCoq), and some of the exact same menu items; but at Red Rooster you can get them at a lower price. If you want to get a great deal on a good deal, I recommend going to Red Rooster on a Sunday-Thursday night so you can take advantage of their three course Prix Fixe menu for $20. You get your choice of soup or salad, your choice of entrée, and your choice of dessert. I recently returned to Red Rooster last Thursday with a large group from Trusty’s office and their Prix Fixe was fantastic.
As always, I had their Signature Grilled Salmon with Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce, normally $19.95 if you don’t go for Prix Fixe. This is one of my favorite meals in the city. The salmon is grilled well and is a very large portion—this is one big, burly salmon—so you can either bring your appetite or plan to leave with lunch for the next day. It comes with hearty roasted root vegetables—baby red-skinned potatoes, fennel, carrots, and red cabbage. The super-star of the dish is the rich cabernet sauvignon sauce. If you’re a sauce lover this sauce is your soul mate. I’ve asked Chef Bernard if it can be bottled for purchasing, but alas, he tells me that because it’s rather finicky and can easily separate, there’s just no way.
Others in our group tried their Duck Confit and Braised Lamb Shank for the Prix Fixe entrée; both were very moist and flavorful. For dessert the Flourless Chocolate Cake, as dense a flourless chocolate cake as you will ever meet, was enjoyed by many. The Strawberry Rhubarb Compote, which was tart but sweet, was another popular choice.
Drink – The wine menu is extremely affordable by the glass or by the bottle.
Service – The staff is very gracious but unobtrusive. Even after paying the bill, our party lingered at the table without feeling any rush to leave.
Scene –Beautiful, whimsical hand-painted walls and romantic lighting adds to the cozy and charming ambiance. As you can imagine, this is the perfect place for a date. But, you’ll also see lots of big groups.
Dress – 2nd date dress-wear is perfect: dressy, but comfortable.
Cost – 20 bucks for 3 whole courses. With wine, tax, tip: 30.
If you like, try – Brasserie Jo, Bistro Zinc
Written by hungry yuppie
Tempo
Location – 6 E Chestnut St, on the corner of Chestnut and State
In one word – Bustle
Food – Having moved huge masses of people in and out of its doors over the years, Tempo is a Gold Coast/Chicago institution and a well-oiled brunch machine. It’s a good place to take big groups and out-of-town visitors, and while my high school girlfriends were visiting me this weekend Tempo did not disappoint.
Here’s how the production line works. First, you wait for a table. Reservations aren’t accepted for Saturday or Sunday, so unfortunately this prerequisite is part of the Tempo weekend brunch experience. Get there early (before 9:30) or late (after 12) and depending on the size of your party you’re more likely to be looking at a wait that’s 15-20 minutes or less.
Once you’re seated you’ll be faced with a more pleasant challenge: choosing what to order. Their menu is huge and has something for everyone. Try one of their legendary 3 egg omelets served with a thick slice of white or wheat toast, home-made marmalade and crispy, country-fried potatoes ($8-$14). A Tempo omelet is truly a thing of beauty. It is basically an open-faced frittata the size of a Frisbee (I dare you to finish an entire one on your own). Whether you order it with egg-whites-only or not, it is as light and fluffy as a Sarah Palin interview answer, and there’s a huge variety of ingredients to choose from. Between the eight of us, our group sampled the Artemis (artichoke, tomatoes and Swiss), the Veggie (spinach, zucchini, and broccoli), and the State Street (broccoli, ham, mushroom, tomato). If you ever try either the Jamaican omelet (banana, walnut, honey) or the Michigan omelet (apple, cheddar), let me know how it is–I’ve always wanted to try them but can never stray from my usual orders. Our group also tried the Banana-nut Buckwheat Waffle ($12), topped with a heap of banana slices, walnut confetti, and thick maple syrup, and the Eggs Benedict ($12), which had a smooth, tangy hollandaise that had it’s way with everyone (cholesterol schmolesterol). No matter what you order there’s a good chance that even after you stuff yourself, there will still be so much food left over that you’ll leave feeling slightly inadequate.
Drink – Order a smoothie ($4)—we tried the Casablanca, a combo of cantaloupe, strawberry, and fresh orange juice—or you can get just a freshly squeezed glass of juice ($4)—I recommend carrot-apple. Pop, coffee, and specialty coffee drinks are available, but coffee hounds be forewarned—there are no free refills.
Service – The staff here are seasoned pros and they do not mess around. The service is usually impersonal, but very efficient. You’re expected to order quickly, but you can expect your food to arrive just as quickly. Plan ahead, because if you’re going during Sat/Sun brunch rush-hour you will not be seated until your entire party has arrived. They only accept cash, so leave your credit or debit cards at home.
Scene – There’s not much to the decor; Tempo is basically a clean, bright, busy diner. If it’s nice out, try to stick out the wait so you can sit in their great outdoor patio area—you’ll be rewarded with some top-notch people watching. Their clientele runs the gamut—you’ll see tourists, locals, students, families, big groups, couples, Chicago’s finest and more.
Dress – There is no dress code. Tempo is open 24/7 so depending on what time you go, you could wear PJs to sweats to yoga-wear to jeans.
Cost – About $13-$15 per person before tip.
If you like, try… Ann Sathers, Yolk
Written by hungry yuppie
Jane’s
Location -1655 W. Cortland Street (between Marshfield Ave. & Paulina Street)
In one word – Simple
Food – My Trusty Sidekick’s family was in town for the weekend, so with Mom, Dad, and Brother Sidekick, as well as our friend, we headed to Jane’s, located in Bucktown, for a Saturday night dinner. Trusty’s mom is a very conscious eater, so on top of my pesco-vegetarian restrictions it was important to go to a restaurant whose menu would offer healthy choices. With lots of vegetarian options, fresh seasonal ingredients, and simple, but well-prepared food, it definitely fit the bill.
Trusty’s mom ordered a mixed-greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette and goat cheese “croutons” (Melba toast with goat cheese spread) ($7) and the beans and brown rice dish with vegetables ($16), and she was very happy with her choices. Trusty’s dad ordered the soup of the day, which was potato leek ($7) and had the black Grouper with a sake-ginger sauce and Asian vegetables ($22). After everyone at the table tried a bite of the Grouper we were hooked—it was cooked and seasoned perfectly.
Try the corn chowder ($6), which Trusty ordered to start. It has lots of crunchy chunks of garden vegetables (not just corn), and tasted fresh, not heavy. For his main meal, Trusty went with a spinach salad with grilled vegetables and julienne carrots ($14), which he thought was good, but in a chlorophorillicious way (healthy but unmemorable). None of the appetizers caught my eye while I was ordering, but along with Trusty’s brother I ordered the vegetable risotto with artichoke hearts, broccolini, asparagus, and red peppers ($16) for my main meal and it was far more than enough food (I ended up taking half my meal home). We both thought it was very rich and satisfying, especially for a vegetarian dish. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, the nutty flavor of the artichoke hearts came through, and the risotto was perfectly cooked with a little toothiness.
Everyone agreed that the portions were very generous across the board and the only one to finish his meal was our friend, who ordered the seafood risotto with lots of calamari, mussels, and shrimp ($22), a dish which our waitress revealed had just been added to their menu. In addition to the Grouper, the seafood risotto was the other super-star at the table. We all agreed that when coming back in the future, we would order one of these two choices.
I must point out that you needn’t be a health nut to enjoy Jane’s. If you are a meat and potato eater, there is a black pepper crusted New York Strip, with scallion garlic mashed potatoes and port reduction ($25) on the menu. There are also very tempting dessert choices, which unfortunately we were too full to try, including rotating gelato flavors ($7) as well as a chocolate and caramel turtle brownie. Next time.
Drink – The wine menu was short but had some good selections, like Au Bon Climate, that you would see at trendier restaurants. Most choices were California wines, but there were some international options also. The waitress also recommended three seasonal beers they were offering, including an apricot wheat beer that Trusty’s Dad really enjoyed.
Service – We made reservations (which I would recommend) and were seated immediately, even though half our party hadn’t arrived yet. Extra gold stars for that. Our waitress was very nice and the cooking staff accommodated Trusty’s Mom’s special requests, but I felt like we were a little rushed. At two different points, someone tried to clear our friend’s plate before he had finished. There was an automatic 20% surcharge for our group of six, which is a little steeper than the standard 18% usually applied to a larger group.
Scene – Overall, Jane’s feels like a casual, intimate neighborhood restaurant that would be a perfect “I-discovered-it!”-candidate for the popular local show, “Check Please.” Architecturally, it is a long, narrow room with a barn-like roof. While the peaked-ceiling is unique and a homey feature to a Chicago restaurant, the narrowness of the space makes it difficult to completely escape the feeling of being a little crowded. However, despite our lack of elbow room, we had a very pleasant conversation and I was able to hear everyone even at our large table for six. Jazz music played throughout the evening, but not too loudly. Be forewarned that the restaurant is very dark with candlelight only. As in, if you were going to Jane’s for a date it’s a little past romantic mood lighting–you may be squinting across the table at your sweetheart.
Dress – I was surprised that the crowd at Jane’s was extremely casual, especially for Bucktown. We all dressed in jeans, even the ‘Rents, and this was perfectly fine. A bachelorette or birthday party came into the restaurant during our meal and they were a little dressier, but still fit in with the crowd. So, if you’re going out after dinner and want to be a little more polished or stylish for the evening, as long as you’re leaning towards a stylish Anthropologie-esque look, versus a smokin’ hot look, you won’t be overdressed.
Cost – Without drinks, tax or tip, the total per person was about $25-$30 dollars. The most expensive item on the menu is $24, but with the double-sized portions, it’s a great value for what you’re paying.
If you like, try… Feast, Karen’s Cooked
Written by hungry yuppie
Shui Wah
Location – 2162 S. Archer (Archer and Cermak)
In one word – Omnivore
Food – Wanting to try out a new dim sum location, we ventured beyond Phoenix and Happy Chef and tried Shui Wah. Overall my eating partners and I were impressed. However, here’s the general tip for Shui Wah, if you have any eating restrictions, beware. The pork dumplings have shrimp, the chive dumplings have pork…you get the idea. My favorite selections were the pork and egg congee (it’s a Chinese take on Cream of Wheat), the lotus paste buns (sweet and super filling) and the steamed egg-yolk cream roll (best Chinese dessert I’ve had).
Drink – We chose the Jasmine tea, and I proceeded to drink 12 cups of it.
Service – Lucky for me, one of my eating partners spoke Cantonese, which definitely made ordering more efficient. It was a bit difficult to get the wait staff’s attention when we needed anything, but given how cheap the meal was, it’s hard to complain about that.
Scene – We were the only non-Chinese folks in the restaurant, which I took as a good sign. I always assume that in that situation, the food is more authentic and less Americanized. Also, we came on a Monday morning and it was pretty packed. I’d imagine that you’d have to wait to get in on the weekends.
Dress – Dim sum is really casual, so there’s no need to dress up.
Cost – For 8 dim sum dishes (enough to heartily fill 3 people), we each paid $11. Definitely a great deal!
If you like, try…Phoenix, Happy Chef
The GB Mac and Cheese Crawl
Today my eating partner and I set forth to determine the impossible; we ventured through the city to find Chicago’s best macaroni and cheese. As my arteries are only so wide, we tested just three locations. I acknowledge that there are more locations to add into the mix, but I really believe that the restaurants below should be included when grouping the best mac in the city.
Contenders: Cafe Selmarie, Stanley’s and Handlebar
Winner of GB Mac and Cheese Crawl: Handlebar
(Smoked Gouda Mac ‘n Cheese)
Location: 2311 W. North Avenue (North and Western)
Cost: $3.50 (side dish price)
Positives:
- Simplicity: In this case, less is most definitely more. Just macaroni covered with a gouda cream sauce. No breadcrumbs, no baked cheese, just the basics. This dish tasted truly homemade, helping to reiterate the fact that mac and cheese is the epitome of comfort food.
- Cheese: Smoked gouda’s taste is distinct without being overpowering. Handlebar’s gouda sauce resembles an alfredo sauce. Believe it or not, going this route makes the dish feel lighter and fresher than baking the macaroni with cheese.
Negatives:
- Size: It’s a side dish, not a main. I wanted more. It gave me so much love.
Second Place: Cafe Selmarie
4729 N. Lincoln (Lincoln and Lawrence)
(Macaroni and Cheese)
Cost: $9.25 (entree size)
Positives:
- Complexity of Taste: So this dish uses six cheeses (gruyere, swiss, white cheddar, queso rico, pecorino romano and bleu). You can detect each of those cheese while you’re working your way through the dish. Additionally, they put leeks in. It’s more subtle than an onion, but still provides added flavor.
- Texture: Selmarie bakes bread crumbs on top of each serving, which provides the right amount of crunch. The cheese does that thing where because the cheese is warm, it’s stringy between your mouth and the plate (this is a good thing, think “Cheese-y, Cheese-y from those old Little Caeser ads).
Negatives:
- Bottom of the Dish: The big issue was that there was a milky oil liquid at the bottom of the dish. I understand that’s a by-product of the cheese, but it was kind of gross.
Loser: Stanley’s Kitchen and Tap
(Toasted Macaroni & Cheese)
1970 N. Lincoln (Lincoln and Armitage)
Cost: $8.95 (entree size includes 1 side)
Positives:
- Portion: It’s big. Like really big.
- Side Dish: The entree comes with a side. As we were at Stanley’s, we chose their famous tater tots and were not disappointed.
Negatives:
- Oil: There’s a whole lot of oil in this dish. When you have macaroni and cheese, you expect your cholesterol to rise a bit, but Stanley’s take on mac and cheese could send you to the ER. The level of oil and grease made the dish almost unappetizing to me. I bet this dish could cure a hangover in seconds.
- Bland: They use just one cheese, cheddar (granted there’s a whole lot of cheddar in the dish). Compared to the cheese profile at Selmarie and Handlebar, the taste was a bit pedestrian.
Shaw’s Crab House
Location – 21 E. Hubbard (Hubbard and Rush)
http://www.shawscrabhouse.com/
In one word – Premium
Food – We came here for a work lunch, so I wasn’t the one shelling out dough for the bill. Right now I’m on a kick to eat healthy. Perhaps you’ll see that reflected in my menu choiced. I started with the chopped salad. I was expecting something bland and was pleasantly surprised. The salad, with cherry tomatoes, bacon, croutons, a light vinegrette and a little bleu cheese, felt really fresh. My eating partners opted for the cold appetizer combo, it was a tower of crab, shrimp and oysters. It came with a frozen sauce they really seemed to like. For my main, I chose the Grilled Gulf Yellowfin Tuna. It was covered in this soy ginger dressing and served with crispy rice noodles and peanuts. This dish packed a whole lot of flavor. We sampled the desserts. I LOVED the peppermint ice cream. There are chunks of the candy cane in the ice cream, and it’s served with chocolate sauce.
Drink – I had a glass of their pinot grigio. It went down really smooth.
Service – It’s Shaw’s, so there’s old school service. I liked our server, though he wasn’t really willing to give us definite opinions when we asked for recommendations.
Scene – When we were there, a lot of groups from work were dining. A Chicago faux-lebrity sat behind our table, Corey McFerrin, the sports anchor from Fox Chicago. I always get giddy when I see even the smallest celebrity and almost texted my father at the table to let him know about the siting.
Dress - You could wear a suit here, but I don’t know if it’s absolutely necessary. Definitely no jeans.
Cost – I already noted that I didn’t pay. My guess is that my meal was about $45.
If you like, try…Joe’s Stone Crab, Ditka’s
Midtown Kitchen + Bar
GB Note – I went back to Midtown yesterday and now feel like I need to update my review from December 2007. New thoughts are in italics.
Location – 203 N. LaSalle (LaSalle and Lake)
http://www.restaurants-america.com/Midtown/Chicago.html
In one word – Appalling
Food – This Americana menu is decent, but I have always felt it’s better on paper. What I’ve liked here – Cheeseburger sliders and mini quesadillas with brie, apple and lime sour cream. Today I tried the veggie burger. The best part? The fries. The burger was all mushy. I couldn’t finish it.
Drink – They have a variety of martinis and cosmos. I’m not really a fan of either. Luckily you can get a decent number of beers on tap.
Service – While a bit slow today, the service was good. We’ve had a large work event here and rented out the entire top floor. They seemed to pull that off well too. It’s interesting that I initially noted that they were slow back in December 2007. The situation has only gotten worse. Here’s a timeline:
12:05 I walk into Midtown and seat myself.
12:10 Our drink order is taken. We tell our server we need a minute to decide on food.
12:20 Waiting for our server.
12:25 Still waiting…
12:28 Grab the nearest employee (who happened to be the General Manager). We give him our order. We also tell him we’re in a rush.
12:40 Waiting for food. I alert our original server that we’ve been waiting for a while for our food. He said he’ll comp our drinks. We ordered Cokes and Ice Teas. How generous. I tell him that we weren’t waiting on drinks. We were waiting on food.
12:47 Our appetizer comes and we finish it in about 2 minutes flat.
12:55 Our entrees come. One of my eating partner’s burgers is all wrong. They have to take it back. I tell our server that I need a box because DESPITE THE FACT THAT I CAME HERE TO EAT AN HOUR AGO, I will not have time to eat my lunch in their establishment.
1:00 The new burger for my eating partner comes out. It’s still wrong. He tells our server about the mistake but still eats it. I receive my box, pack my lunch and leave.
1:20 The rest of my eating partners pay (entrees were half off and drinks were comped). Had I been there, I would have put up a stink and not paid for any of the meal. It’s lunch time in the Loop, properly staff your restaurant.
Scene – I love the decor of the place – simple with mahogany-looking wood. It feels rich. The scene is more lunch/after work, so you’ll see suits and business casual at the tables.
Cost – I paid $18 for a beer and a burger. It was more than I wanted to spend…
If you like, try…Sidebar, Bin 36
Hai Yen
Location – 2723 N. Clark (Clark and Diversey) or 1055 W. Argyle (Winthrop and Argyle)
http://www.haiyenrestaurant.com/home.html
In one word – Pho
Food – I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not the expert on Vietnamese cuisine. Luckily my eating partners knew what they were talking about and guided me well. I started with the Bo Lui, which are beef skewers covered with soy sauce, honey, lemongrass and sesame seeds. I dug them. For my main, I chose Pho Ga, which is a rice noodle soup with chicken. Post meal, I learned that the proper way to eat Pho is to go for the substantial items (meat, noodles, etc.) first. Only after you’ve taken on the big items do you drink the broth. I was a fool and got sucked in by the broth (it’s so tasty!). As a result, like a novice, I filled up too fast and not on the hearty stuff. I took the rest home, so I’ll practice my Pho eating skills again tomorrow.
Drink – They’ve got bubble teas here. I went for a glass of wine, a pinot noir, which was actually pretty good.
Service – We had a little confusion regarding a Thai iced tea over. But, the mishap was taken care of quickly and quietly. Other than that, service was good.
Scene – It was more chic than I expected. The place has a very warm, rich feel to it.
Dress – However, don’t feel like you need to dress to the nines. Everyone was really casual, jeans and sweaters work just fine.
Cost – We split our bill, and I paid $20. All in all, a decent deal.
If you like, try…Pho 777 (haven’t been myself, but my eating partners recommended it)
