Chicago Restaurants

<I>(4 years ago)</i>

ouch.

what do people think of lula these days?

I still love it, for brunch much more than dinner though.

Still pretty solidly good.

Favorite brunch spots in Chicago in no particular order (by moi):
* Vella (new - at Western stop on blue line - tons of crepes, french toast)
* Flo (mexican influenced - lots of great egg dishes & french toast)
* Jane's (have only eaten there once but loved it)
* VICTORY'S BANNER (duh)
* Lula's

Hillary's used to be my fave. I'm so sad they never reopened. :-(

xxxpost re Lula: About the same as I did 5 years ago, it's just more popular now. I do love that it's able to stride the line between trendy organic and cheap eats: you can go there and get a bowl of fusilli with brown sugar and butter for like $8, or else you can have a special farm-raised pork loin, with wilted spinach in a balsamic reduction for $22. Last time I was there I had a great cheese plate, with hazelnuts.

Vella (new - at Western stop on blue line - tons of crepes, french toast)

Kr and I have been very curious about this place, it's just not in our hood, so it'd be kind of a long drive for brunch.

Tweet???

Another fantastic brunch place: Over Easy (on Damen, halfway between Lawrence and Foster).

Tweet is ok, but then again I've only eaten there once too.

Ooh... I should try Over Easy. I've always been curious about Orange, but the one time Nick let me drag him there the wait was entirely too long.

I do love that it's able to stride the line between trendy organic and cheap eats: you can go there and get a bowl of fusilli with brown sugar and butter for like $8

how is that cheap? I can eat for a week on $8 with a little planning.

$2 hot dogs, $3 falafel, $4 cold cut sandwiches -- this is what cheap means to me

It's plenty cheap for a trendy New York Times-approved restaurant that takes pains to use local, organic ingredients. My point was also that they started out as a quirky neighborhood cafe with a menu mostly under $12, but even though they've added elaborate $20+ specials and cheese plates and the like, they've still kept the old menu, which I think is cool.

Tweet has good breakfast.

Thai for me is Sticky Rice. They also serve insects!

I should check out Pars Cove.

and then check in to a hospital har har.

Orange sucked hard core the one time we ate there.

I generally find that most brunch is overrated, if merely for the fact that it is always too crowded and overpriced.

Speaking of overpriced, I want to try Alinea now. As much as food that has been vaporized and foamed bothers me, I think it would be fun. I would wildly anticipate sniffing some of that salmon air.

Brunch is for fags.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/graphics/2004/08/11/bvborat199.jpg

Anybody been to Sticky Rice? Is it really much different from your standard Thai place? What's good there?

Orange is an extremely cute space and all the food is cute and the wait staff is pretty good looking but the food is either super bland or one note sugary and the service is usually kind of crappy. I keep getting tricked into going back but it is just not good, certainly not good enough to justify the "if u want substitutions in ur omelette go 2 golden angel" note on the menu, at least government issue cheese and cigarette ash constitute discernible flavors. Bongo Room is a far superior always-crowded microchain and even that's not worth waiting in line for.

Pizza Capri

* Flo (mexican influenced - lots of great egg dishes & french toast)

i thought this was a Brazilian place

Brunch is for fags.

-- kenan, Friday, July 13, 2007 1:39 AM (10 hours ago) Bookmark Link

Cue one of the 10,000 photos of kenan posing wistfully in his thick-framed glasses with a copy of Plato or some bullshit artfully placed just in the background.

Nah, Flo is basically a bunch of variations on huevos rancheros, but it is awesome.

Currently my favorite place in the world is Bin 36. This has to do with the fact that these days I am interested in subsisting only on wine and cheese.

Do yourself a favor--go to Bin 36 (I've only been to the downtown one, right next to the House of Blues and 10-Pin between State and Dearborn). The reasons:

-Flights. Flights of wine are the best way to discover wine. In the bar area (can't remember what they call that area) the wine list is arranged by 4-pour flights. You can either order the full range or by the glass from the flight. Each wine has a very accessible description. Also, 1/2 glass pours are available for all of their glass pours. And they're always happy to let you taste before you buy.

-Fun. The servers know their stuff, and even as they're pouring la-de-da $$$$ wines, the uniform in all areas is a black logo T-shirt.

-CHEEEESE! An amazing cheese list, and a cheesemonger who is eager to help you discover new stinky and tasty yummies.

-Great for impressing a date. I forget exactly what the details are, but they have a nice-looking prix fixe deal that includes wine pairings for a relatively decent price. I mean prix. The atmosphere is slick and hip, but in a remarkably comfortable, approachable sort of way.

I need to post that to Yelp.

where do y'all eat in Wrigleyville?

nowhere

What kind of food do you want to eat in Wrigleyville? If you are willing to walk two or three blocks east on Addison until Broadway, I could make better recommendations.

good food. Chicago food. I've got legs and I know how to use them.

Goose Island brewpub has great beer and pretty good food. The one on Clybourn is better though.

I've eaten here twice and have had excellent meals both times:
http://www.homebistrochicago.com/

cool, thanx

Good Italian, excellently situated for people watching: http://www.angelinaristorante.com/

Good burgers, nice beer garden in the back: http://www.dukeofperth.com/

Nice date place: http://www.lacreperieusa.com/

Breakfast, personally a big fan of the "Country Benedict": http://www.nookiesrestaurants.net/edgewater/facts.html

Vegetarian: http://www.veggiediner.com/wp/

This site has bar/food deals. If you can get to Bar Louie on a $1 burger day, your day will be made.

Lots of decent bar food in Wrigleyville, actually, as long as it's not a game day. Otherwise, Penny's at Roscoe/Sheffield is tasty Thai and BYOB; Tango Sur on Southport is Argentinian churrasco steaks.

Oh, duh, this place is great: http://www.sheffieldschicago.com/

People go to Wrigleyville to consume things other than hot dogs and Old Style? Huh.

Sheffields is pretty good! I like their BBQ.

Good beer selection, too.

Uncommon Ground is in Wrigleyville and it's good.

The Billy Dec Asian fusion place that just opened has gotten bad reviews, but besides that there's a lot to choose from.

Dan's been missing out.

Arco de Cuchilleros does pretty decent tapas.

If we're considering places south of Belmont, I like Sura Thai Bistro.

We order delivery from Sura Thai all the time and I agree w/ John.

Dan's been missing out.

Have I? Have I really? jk

Actually I have enjoyed La Creperie, Duke of Perth, Goose Island, and Sheffield's before, so it's no big. That area's not what comes to my mind first when considering dining options, is all.

I could go for a crepe right NOW.

Alinea = best restaurant in North America

I think I am going to have to go to the duke of perth one of these days.

It will be required of you.