Did you do something different with your hair?
Thanks for noticing! Yes, there have been some changes made to the site, including a new layout. Gastronomic Bypass has started a philosophy of Toyota-style continuous improvement as the 5 year anniversary of the site approaches (November 26). You’ll see minor and major changes to the site, so tell me what you think of them. Everything is reversible if you don’t approve.
Thanks!
GB
Chilam Balam
In one word – Unwelcome
Location – 3023 N. Broadway (Broadway and Wellington)
Food – Given that head chef and co-owner, Chuy Valencia, is on this season of Top Chef, my eating partners and I had to go check out what the hype was about. Note: They serve their food on small plates, so despite the extensive list of food that follows, we weren’t porkers during the meal. We started with the guacamole. There was nothing truly unusual about the execution, but they executed well. We then had the young green salad, which was served with jicama, oranges, avocado (they didn’t skimp!) and candied pepitas. Those pepitas were an awesome alternative to the candied pecans you usually see in a salad. Then we had the shitake mushroom empanadas. This was probably my least favorite item – I wanted it to be more substantial, but that was tough to do with just a veggie filling. After that, we had chicken flautas, which were served in this flavorful chipotle sauce. This was my favorite dish of the night – highly recommend. We finished dinner with the mahi mahi special of the day. It was a substantial piece of fish and was served with blue potatoes (love) and brussel sprouts (also love). Impressed with the dish, but liked the flautas more. Now time for dessert (no judgment please): We picked the chocolate mousse which had a spice goat cheese center and was served with marshmallow sauce. My eating partners exhibited restraint when eating this treat. But, not me! I pushed through despite the richness of the dish. No regrets!
Drink – It’s BYOB here, cost saver!
Service – This is where I have my beef. I made a reservation and happened to be 10 minutes late (LSD traffic is OOC these days!). Our server was giving my eating partners (who were on time) a hard time about it. He made it very clear that they need to turn over tables fast – not the way to make your guests feel welcome. On the menu, it advises you to “eat it and beat it” and dictates a 2 beer maximum…for a BYOB place. What is this? Ed Debevics? I get that they want manage their tables, but you can’t do it at the expense of the customer experience. Honestly I felt unwelcome during the entire meal. Not cool.
Scene – The restaurant itself is very vibrant and filled with energy. That being said, the vibe of the place is super casual.
Occasion – There were a few larger groups seated and the rest of the tables were filled with 2-4 people. The space itself is not that big, so it’s probably better to come with a small group. Because of their need to turn tables, I wouldn’t come here for a leisurely date. Come when you want to experience good food in the most efficient way.
Dress – Don’t bother with the fancy dress, keep it comfortable and casual.
Price – Cheap! All that food was $25 per person including tax and tip. #BYOBswinning
If you like, try…Anywhere in Pilsen, Adobo Grill, Salpicon
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
Woah, Is Gastronomic Bypass Back?
The answer is yes.
After 3 years of both tremendous guest posts and tremendous periods with no activity whatsoever, Gastronomic Bypass is back!
Don’t expect the world, but I promise by the end of the summer, this site will once again be churning, typos and all.
GB
Calling All Aspiring Food Commentators
If you consider yourself a food lover and like expressing that love in the written form, consider contributing to Gastronomic Bypass. If you’ve got an interest, shoot me a note.
D4 Irish Pub and Cafe
Location – 345 E. Ohio (Grand and McClurg)
In one word – Amicable
Food – I typically only come here for drinks, but last week I sampled the happy hour menu. I was surprised by the bang for my buck. I ordered a little afternoon snack, sloppy joe sliders. They were a buck a piece! No, it wasn’t the best seasoned sloppy joe I’ve had, but I was pleased that I only was spending $2 for two. And they toasted the slider buns, so I will forgive and forget.
Drink – Being an Irish pub, they are well stocked in the beverage department. They even have a personal favorite, Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc. They are well stocked with European beers, as well.
Service -Normally I would not have much to say on this topic. I have always had pleasant service at D4. However, during my last visit, our server went above and beyond. Dare I say he wanted to be our friend (well not my friend, but my eating partner’s friend). We almost invited him to sit down with us to chat. We talked about Chicago, the great summer weather, MBAs at various local schools, his life story, my eating partner’s life story. Honestly, at a certain point I felt like the third wheel! Nevertheless, his intentions were good, and we came at a slow time, so no harm, no foul.
Scene – The pub is right below the Streeter apartment building, so you will encounter many residents and those living in nearby buildings. This seems like the place to just get together with friends.
Cost – Because I’ve been drinking cheap beer of late, my usual bill is about $10, but this will all depend on the caliber of drink in which you choose to partake.
If you like, try… Beer Bistro
Fresh Choice
Location – 1534 N. Wells (North and Wells) or 233 N. Michigan (Illinois Center)
In one word – Smoothie
Food – I had a craving for a sandwich and smoothie, so my eating partner and I headed to Fresh Choice in Old Town. The meal totally satisfied my craving. I had the Avocado Sandwich – Avocado, Provolone, lettuce, roasted peppers, tomatoes and mayo. The only thing I didn’t like about it was the bread. They used submarine bread instead of regular loaf bread.
Drink – Fresh Choice is really known for their smoothies. They are made with skim milk, so they feel lighter than your average smoothie. I chose the raspberry smoothie and was not disappointed. My eating partner was raving about his strawberry and pineapple smoothie.
Service – There’s not too much to say about the service. You order at the counter and then they bring you your food. No negative things to say about the staff here.
Scene – It’s your average lunch spot. We came on the weekend and ran into Old Towners, people headed to a movie at Piper’s Alley and a few cops. They have an outdoor seating area in the front of the restaurant, which is nice for a quick lunch.
Dress – Um, just have a shirt on and you’ll get service. There’s no dress code here.
Cost – For my smoothie and sandwich, I paid $11. It was sort of expensive in my opinion, but the meal definitely was filling.
If you like, try…Potbelly’s
