The City That Eats

Restaurant Review--Souk

A very good find, and one that goes a long way towards satisfying my desire to find new and interesting places to dine. As far as appetizers go, keba is an excellent choice and was delightfully consumed. And the kabob khish khash made for an excellent main course (I know, this meal was rather heavy on the red meat and the next time I go to Souk, I shall endeavor to diversify at least somewhat). The only thing that struck me the wrong way was the Moroccan mint tea, which was too sweet and not strong enough for my tastes; I am used to strong tea. But the atmosphere was good, the surroundings were inviting, the service was quite enjoyable and the bill was reasonable at the end of the proceedings.

As I say, a good find. Now, go ye forth and patronize it.

Restaurant Review--Morton's

Morton's, as every Chicagoan knows, is an institution of the Windy City. It's legend and place in the Chicago Gustatory Constellation has reached near-mythical status. In part, that is because of the many city heavyweights that hang out at the restaurant. Also, it is because the place is Just. So. Darn. Good.

It's really nice to go to a restaurant where people identify you immediately and treat you like a good friend after only a couple of visits. The greeting staff, the management and the wait staff are extremely friendly, extremely helpful and incredibly diligent. It's easy to get spoiled on that kind of service and congeniality and one misses it immediately when visiting restaurants of lesser quality.

And then there is the fare The double filet mignon is one of the better ones I have had. Very tender, very juicy, succulent and can be made rather quickly to boot. The baked potatoes are mutant-sized. The wine selection is very good (the pinot noir is recommended by yours truly) and the cappuccino will make you curse Starbuck's the next time you frequent it (the merits of Starbuck's notwithstanding). I am anxious at some point to try their seafood selection, but that would mean forsaking the double filet and I am not sure how I will muster the willpower to do that.

Of course, Morton's is pricy--all good steakhouses are--and so perhaps one cannot enjoy it as often as one wishes. It should be noted that there is a bar where some lower maintenance fun can be had. And of course, so long as one is measured in enjoying indulgences, those indulgences can still be enjoyed. In any case, give Morton's a try, and soon. It's hard to truly understand Chicago without doing so. And if you do not have the privilege and honor of living in the Windy City, rest assured: Morton's is all over the place.

Restaurant Review--Shiraz

Shiraz (corner of Montrose and Cicero, no link found) is a new Persian restaurant. The interior decor is very nice, though it suffers from being in a poor location. The food is potentially good, but since it is new, the attendance is sparse and I suspect that the kitchen staff does not feel as motivated to get fresh food as it would if there were lots of people going to the restaurant and fresh food was constantly in demand. The wait staff was nice, but at times, they just seemed lost and incapable of following directions or carrying out requests.

My kabab? I asked for it medium, but it turned out to be more on the well-done side. My rice? Good grief, how much salt are we supposed to put in that again? The restaurant does not yet have a liquor license and its capability in processing certain forms of payment appears to be limited.

I almost didn't want to write this review. I wanted instead to let Shiraz get its bearings, and then go again when it had and when the crowds were bigger. I might yet do that. But even though I am not prepared to write them off, I have definitely had better meals. Better Persian meals as well. Despite the fact that it may be going through some growing pains, I see no reason why Shiraz could not have come out with more of a bang. And if they don't do so soon, this restaurant may not be long for the Chicago culinary world.

Review--Taste of Chicago

This isn't exactly a restaurant review per se, but it seems important enough for the purposes of this blog. I attended the Taste of Chicago on the Fourth of July and while I enjoyed it overall, I do have a gripe.

It is, of course, axiomatic that Chicagoans love good food and that much of that good food is supposed to be rather bad for one's arteries. Thus, witness all of the attention paid in Chicago to deep dish pizzas, hot dogs, steak houses, etc. There were plenty such establishments at the Taste plying their wares. I don't begrudge their existence and I certainly like my share of unhealthy food (he says guiltily).

But where was the healthy food??? Surely, there had to be some. And Heaven knows, I looked. Perhaps I chose to look on the wrong day. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough. But even if both of these hypotheticals were true, it would still lay open the possibility that healthy food was too hard to find. And that is unacceptable.

And of course, no one says that healthy food has to necessarily be bad. Fish is incredibly good for you and quite tasty as well. And hey, we have a lake in Chicago! We can catch fish from it. So where was the fish? Why couldn't we have some--if only to alleviate all of the guilt we might have felt as a result of ingesting too much pizza and hot dogs?

'Tis a mystery. I hope someone chooses to resolve it by the time the Taste of Chicago rolls around next year.

Restaurant Review: Ambria

After one trip to Ambria, it has qualified as one of my absolute favorite restaurants ever. Ever. Let us examine the reasons why.

For one thing, the meal started out delightfully with a very refreshing cold broccoli soup. It is meant to cleanse the palate and does a very good job of that, but it is also quite tasty--causing one to wish that it came in a slightly larger bowl (it comes, in fact, in a small cup). That was followed by a duck consommé soup which was hearty and superb. Very highly recommended.

Another palate cleanser--this time a lemon sorbet--followed. Again, quite refreshing.

Then I had the rack of lamb. (See the menu for the full description.) For those of you who wonder about how I might quantify the lamb, let me say that it was, perhaps the Best. Lamb. Ever. Despite the fact that it was cooked medium rare, it did not come out tough or excessively bloody, which I appreciated a lot. The lamb jus and the black coco beans complimented it especially well. Again, extremely hearty and very enjoyable. Also--unlike a number of foo foo dishes at French restaurants--this will fill you up. Fear not.

The coffee was gourmet quality. The raspberry sorbet was fruity and cool, but not too cold to administer brain freeze. Then there were chocolate candies that were delivered and they were just excellent. You have to eat them fairly quickly after handling them because otherwise they may begin falling apart in your hands, but that is just testament to how fine and how exquisitely they are made. And when you actually do pop them in your mouth, the experience is heavenly.

A very good wine list is available, including wines that are served by the glass. Unfortunately, the list of wines served by the glass is significantly less than the wines that one can buy by the bottle, but that is to be expected. Additionally, there is a bar at the front of the restaurant that is very well-stocked.

Note that you will have to pay a pretty penny in order to eat at Ambria. And when I say "pretty penny," I'm not kidding--a meal for one can easily cost $75 and maybe as much as $100. Also, jackets are required for both men and women, so be sure to dress properly.

But it's worth it. It is so worth it. Ambria easily qualifies as a very good "special occasion" restaurant where one can celebrate enjoyable happenings. And as I write this, I am plotting and scheming as to how to engender another "special occasion" so that I can go back.

Restaurant Review: Petterino's

I didn't have much time to savor Petterino's. I stopped in for a quick lunch and told the people there that it needed to be quick. But they impressed me nonetheless. I was waited on swiftly. I was served a very good and very hearty corn chowder. I got an excellent salmon--the dish's only fault was that it came without a baked potato (though in its defense, it came with some very good cooked greens). And I got my bill quite quickly as well. The only reason I had to end up paying more than $20 was that I tipped. But still, the price was reasonable.

Now, the next time I go to Petterino's, I'll be able to enjoy the surroundings more (very cozy and clubbish), the fact that it is in the same complex as the Goodman Theatre, and the fact that the restaurant has more to it than just very good soup and fish. But I think it is worth pointing out that if you want a good meal done quickly, then Petterino's is a good option to have at hand.

Restaurant Review: Bistro 110

Bistro 110 has the advantage of both a prime location and excellent food. It is a very nice sit-down place to which one can retire after a day of successful shopping and sightseeing in Chicago's Magnificent Mile. the place does get filled up pretty quickly, however, so it is best either to go early or to make reservations.

I like asking the wait staff at any restaurant about how they prepare their food and the wait staff at Bistro 110 is quite good about answering. What they told me about the Robuchon lamb (dinner menu here) was delightful and caused me to order it. They cook the lamb in its own juices for 20 hours, along with various vegetables that take on the aroma of the lamb and therefore go especially well with the meal. The result is delicious and impressive. As I am a French onion soup fan, I was pleased to sample Bistro 110's soup, which is quite good. Props have to be given to the wine list as well. For whatever reason, many restaurants simply refuse to sell wine by the glass or to have an extensive wine-by-the-glass selection. Happily, Bistro 110 resists this trend. Would that more eating establishments follow its example.

The price per head will probably end up being more than $20 per person, so beware. But it is food well worth paying for. Additionally, when you ask for a card, the restaurant staff gives you one with a recipe worth trying. A nice touch, as it even enhances your culinary experience in your own kitchen.

Restaurant Review: Edwardo's

Edwardo's is yet another star in the Chicago pizza constellation. It is famous for its stuffed spinach pizza--which is consistently excellent--but other pizzas should be given a try as well when you visit (I am told that the Special and the All Meat Combo are particularly praiseworthy, though I haven't tried them because of all of the non-kosher food products they come with). And of course, there are sandwiches and calzones to keep you amused as well.

Of course, merely because you should try all of these food selections does not mean that you will. And who can really find fault with you for that? After all, the stuffed spinach really is heavenly and it is the reason everyone comes to Edwardo's. Oh sure, you order it and then you promise yourself that the next time, you will try something different. And it never quite works out that way, does it? Pretty soon, the wait staff (or the delivery folks) know you by the sound of your voice, have memorized your name, number and address and practically have the pizza in the oven before you call. It is the way of things.

A word of advice: stuffed spinach pizzas--even for one--can be quite overwhelming, so if you go by yourself for dinner, be ready to take some leftovers home. Not that you will mind, of course. But if you go for lunch, you will be able to get a mini-stuffed spinach pizza which is eminently digestible in its entirety by one person and comes with a salad and a drink. With tip, you still shouldn't pay more than $10. A good deal.

Restaurant Review: The Capital Grille

While in New York a couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to dine at The Capital Grille. Put simply, this is one of the best steakhouses I have ever eaten at. The chief downside is that the restaurant does not sell wine by the glass, but that really is the only downside that I can think of. The French Onion Soup I was privileged to have was without a doubt the best I have ever had (and I am a huge French Onion Soup fan, so I have had quite a few). The filet was just excellent. I didn't have to wait long for it and even if I did, it would have been worth the wait. I find it amazing that so many steakhouses fail to get "medium" right, but this one did. A chief attraction: The Capital Grille sells old style Coca-Cola in old style bottles (the kind I had when I was a kid growing up in the 1970's). Old style Coca-Cola is, of course, infinitely better than the current brew and the waiter--who was quite the nice guy--actually was kind enough to give me a bottle to take for the road. You can't find that kind of class in most places.

The ambience and decor of the restaurant is very old school, so one should be sure to dress accordingly. A suit and tie are not needed for gentlemen, but business casual would be the way to go. Also, as one might expect from restaurants of this caliber, the bill was quite pricy. Quite pricy. But still, very much worth it. The Capital Grille is efficient, charming and serves up excellent food that can be very difficult to prepare, but is prepared extraordinarily well. What's not to love?

Oh, and they have a Chicago location. Again, I ask: What's not to love?

Restaurant Review: Spring Street Natural

This is not, of course, a Chicago restaurant, but I thought that it might be nice to have a little variety in this here blog. So variety ye shall have. If you are into the health food scene, Spring Street Natural is actually a very good choice with a rather expansive menu, and very good service. Especially recommended is the free range chicken--which I especially enjoyed because it was not as tough and stringy as chicken unfortunately has the tendency to be. I do not know why, however, there were no offering of free range beef. Presumably, such an offering would have been possible, and I kept scouring the menu to see whether I had missed it. Alas, I had not. But the menu did not suffer for lack of variety.

The environs of the restaurant--both on the inside and on the outside--make it attractive as well. A SoHo location does a great deal to help the restaurant do business, but location, of course, is not enough if one's gustatory offerings are deficient. I suppose that it is possible to find said offerings deficient at Spring Street Natural if one is not into the health food scene. But if you are serious about health food or if--like me--you can tolerate it, Spring Street Natural is a very good find.