Storefront City Chicago

Archive for the category “Eat It!”

25 Mar 2013

Nellcôte

WHAT: Nellcôte
WHERE: 833 W. Randolph St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

It seems that every week we bring you something European in Chicago, and this week is no different. One of the newer additions to the Randolph Street corridor in the West Loop, Nellcôte was modeled after the Villa Nellcôte, leased by Keith Richards in 1971 for the Rolling Stones to use as a recording space for Exile on Main St. Storefront City crashed a Chicago bloggers event held here the other week and liked it so much we came back for brunch!

(nellcoterestaurant.com)

(nellcoterestaurant.com)

Enter Nellcôte: a French-style industrial villa with a punky elegant personality, and connected through its kitchen to famed RM Champagne Salon. The food, with all wheat products deriving from chef Jared Van Camp’s (of Old Town Social) in-house mill, is diverse yet simple, and provides a welcome comfort to the more gastronomically challenging fare offered in similar locations elsewhere.

(nellcoterestaurant.com)

(nellcoterestaurant.com)

Alicia: A little bit vintage, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll and a lot 1960s French chateau. Crown molding, herringbone flooring, custom chairs, silk drapes and antique mirrors are contrasted against exposed cement pillars, Italian marble tables, and punches of rich and crazy colors through handcrafted Hermes orange Tolix bar chairs and a series of art installations. Even the bathrooms were reminiscent of said French opulence, but of course with some pictures of Jagger and the like on the doors. Oh, and don’t forget a 12-foot-wide, eight-step white Italian marble staircase near the back of the restaurant and 18-foot-high Art Nouveau wrought iron gates at the entrance. It’s an elegant eclectic-chic pastiche that defies the overdone ‘rustic’ decor concept pervading the city. It was almost like Gaga’s “Paparazzi” video had a baby with Andy Warhol. Almost.

With a mix of Spanish, French and Italian influences, the decor matches their melange of European-influenced food, and one is nostalgically greeted to an $18 prix fixe brunch menu offering a variety of entrees and a charcuterie/cheese/pastry plate for the table to share. In addition to a sampling of a cheese and a meat, the plate also came with preserved figs, mini brioche and nutty madeleines, along with some homemade strawberry jam, clotted cream and deliciously creamy lemon curd.

But on to the main event, the pain perdu: crispy french toast with chopped apples (the fruit garnish changes with the seasons), crème Chantilly, and caramel sauce. Not at all what you might call a “light” breakfast, but as you can probably tell by now, I am definitely a baked goods at brunch kind of girl. Anyways, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by this dish. After my first bite I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take another one, as most of the flavor seeping into my taste buds was actually of oil and the fryer the bread must have lived in for a good while (they soak day-old brioche in caramel custard and fry it), and which came out looking perhaps a bit too overdone.

But I let myself take a few more bites and once I got into the center I was able to appreciate the airy brioche (soaked like a sponge in cream and still retaining its caramel custard it was slathered in prior to frying-time) with caramel and apples, with only pieces of the charred and oily outside that added flavor, rather than overwhelming the bite. An okay dish, definitely an off fryer day, but really that pastry plate in the beginning and the ambiance of the place both redeemed the whole experience.

Adam: When we initially came to Nellcôte, as has been mentioned above, we were attending a bloggers event in celebration of the Oscars. For this, we were privy to three interesting and diverse cocktails from their beautiful long bar. While not regularly available, if you jot down the ingredients, we’re sure they’ll put them together for you (in the kitchen, which is where they make all their drinks).

"Les Mis"

“The Silver Lining”

First was the Les Mis, a combination of Moët Imperial Champagne, Grand Marnier, Angostura bitters and, yes I’m serious, gold. Other than feeling that it couldn’t be further from representing the revolutionary world of 1830s Paris, I felt that it had decent enough contrasts to recommend it. Providing a classic base, the Moët Imperial essentially makes this a sparkling cocktail, with hints of other flavors. While the bitters were a tad overpowering, this is a solid pre-dinner drink.

"Zero Dark Thirty"

“Zero Dark Thirty”

Then, it was onto the Zero Dark Thirty, consisting of Hennessy VS, rum, Rare Tea Sellers Earl Grey, Blood Orange, Cherry Heering, and Moët Imperial. Perhaps the most confusingly named (I can’t think of anything that links the ingredients to the film), it presented an extremely odd taste that will not be up everyone’s street. The Hennessy and rum provide a harsh duet, while the tea and Cherry Heering give the entire drink a cordial flavor that makes one think this was intended for a 19th century British India officer suffering from some incurable tropical malady.

The sure winner was The Silver Lining, of Belvedere, Combier Grapefruit, lemon and Yellow Chartreuse Rinse. Delicate and delicious, the Belvedere provides a decent base, while grapefruit and lemon give all the appreciated sour needed. Chartreuse is obviously fantastic, and I was convinced that the monks who made it would have been pleased with this cocktail.

But, enough on drinks – food is paramount here. After hearing plenty about the supposed best choices (complex pizzas vs. simple pastas), I chose the Sunnyside-Up Egg Pizza, complete with organic fried egg lovingly positioned atop a bed of arugula tossed in a lemon and olive oil, along with fontina and mozzarella cheese on the pizza itself. It is essentially a salad on a pizza, which is such a nice change from the greasy norm you get elsewhere. Highly recommended for brunch, it shows Nellcôte can do both modern and classic admirably.

((nellcoterestaurant.com)

((nellcoterestaurant.com)

Final Thoughts: Nellcôte is new, chic, and amazingly fun. Not too loud during the day, it hots up at night and becomes a full-scale bar, complete with DJ. Perhaps the perfect combination of classic and modern, you are sure to be pleased with what you find. And, if you are a little strapped for cash, let us recommend the Savant Special for starving artists. Monday to Friday from 5-7pm with a pizza and a beer all for $10.

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
21 Mar 2013

Joy Yee’s Noodles

WHAT: Joy Yee’s Noodles
WHERE: 2139 S. China Pl.

OUR RATING: Do It!

Huge portions, wholesome food and hot plates mark Joy Yee’s Noodles out as one of the most unique and fun experiences in Chinatown and Chicago itself. The bowls of food are literally giant and served traditionally in stoneware and metal, while bubble tea flows freely from the alcove out front, purportedly the first location to serve the concoction in Chicago.

Can’t make it down to Chinatown? Not to worry! Joy Yee’s has a plethora of other locations, including Joy Yee’s To Go in Lakeview, and locations in Evanston, Naperville and University Village.

Alicia: Everything about Joy Yee’s is big and loud. The place is always bustling, so you’ll probably wait a bit for a seat, and when you are seated, just be prepared for the meal to be loud and crazy. And then you get the menu and your head will spin, with page after page of fruit drinks, bubble teas, and an unending food menu. The picture to the right is just one page of many for just the drinks…

Bubble teas, etc, are good and all, but I don’t often order them. Yet, with Joy Yee’s offering an extensive menu of teas inside (as well as offering to-go windows on one end of the restaurant), I just had to order one. My sister and I split the Lychee Bubble Tea and the gigantic glass arrived at our table chock-full of fresh, delicious lychees and a plethora of beautiful tapioca pearls. It took quite awhile, but we savored every last drop of its sweet and refreshing tastiness.

As I’m all about contrast, the day I ordered the Lychee Bubble Tea was the same day I discovered the Korean Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup. Spicy broth housed luxurious noodles and an ongoing supply of shrimp, octopus, scallops and a white fish. The bowl was so huge that I had to bring more than half of it home. It was certainly spicy and is sure to clear your sinuses, but it isn’t so spicy as to completely overwhelm the delicate seafood, so it’s definitely a win-win.

I’ve been to Joy Yee’s more times than I can count, but my favorite visit was probably when Adam and I split their Korean Sliced Beef with Spicy Tofu Soup. But I’ve talked about food enough, and I’m hungry again for Joy Yee’s…so I’ll leave this one for Adam to describe!

Adam: Being a huge fan of exotic food, Joy Yee’s really fits my bill excellently. With cuisine from across Asia, you can take a quick trip to China, before hopping onto Korea and sailing down to the Malay Peninsula. I’ve had two experiences here and both of them resulted in very different responses, so bear with me.

The first dish I ordered here was the Lemongrass Spicy Chicken, which was, disappointingly, more lemon than spice. This might be due to its simplicity – you want to order extravagantly at a place that serves some of its food inside massive bamboo shoots. The citrus flavor of the lemongrass was, however, much appreciated, even if the overall dish cannot be recommended.

Now, onto the main event: Korean Sliced Beef with Spicy Tofu Soup. Perhaps the best item on the menu, it’s massive, easily split between two people and a perfect reflection of several Asian cuisines. A hot stone plate piled high with grilled beef and a tangy spicy sauce are laden upon one side of your wooden tray, whilst a stone bowl of steaming soup lulls deliciously on the other, complete with vegetable broth and numerous tofu pieces afloat within it. Definitely recommended and only for the hungriest of people, this meal is worthy of a visit in itself to this staple of Chinatown, Chicago.

Final Thoughts: To be honest, Joy Yee’s may not be for everyone. If you don’t like loud restaurants, you may want to think twice, and if you don’t like making decisions on what to eat, then this place will certainly test you. Another word of warning is that Joy Yee’s sometimes skimps on your leftovers. What we mean is, if you ask to take home your leftovers, they will only give you back an amount that fits in one takeout container, so if you have more than that, they will just toss the rest.

Other than these slight drawbacks, Joy Yee’s will provide a crazy and enjoyable experience whether you are on a fun date or hanging out with a bunch of your friends, and we’re sure you’ll leave feeling like you just ate a whole giant fish. Which, of course, is actually an option.

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
18 Mar 2013

Julius Meinl

WHAT: Julius Meinl Coffee Shop
WHERE: 3601 N. Southport Ave.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

(meinl.com)

(meinl.com)

Julius Meinl, the well-known Viennese coffee house, came to Chicago many years back and operates three purported “Austrian” cafes on the north side. While everyone seems to give this place rave reviews, we tend to disagree, and seriously suggest you stick with less “upscale” venues for your coffee in the future.

Adam: Let’s me be clear: Julius Meinl coffee is well-established and respected in Europe. Previously one of Austria’s largest coffee and gourmet grocery companies, it was forced to vacate Austria by the Nazis, but now had re-established itself as a quality brand. However, it’s blatantly apparent that this quality has not translated well across the Atlantic, and I for one believe that the Meinls would be smart to rethink their business strategy in this part of the world.

(meinl.com)

(meinl.com)

With abominably high coffee prices (you can pay up to $4.50 for a simple cup!), we weren’t out to a good start, but what really made our visit truly shameful was the baked goods we had been led to believe Meinl was so well known for. We ordered the special lemon ginger torte (actually a tartlet), consisting of lemon ginger curd, white chocolate mousse, topped with candied ginger and gold leaf. Sounds delicious! Only problem is that it’s dinky (literally, only 3 inches in diameter) and doesn’t taste like much at all. One could not detect the slightest hint of chocolate, nor much of the ginger either (except, of course, for the candied ginger – but I could have bought this and eaten it without the tartlet).

I’m not impressed, but then again, it does take a lot to impress me. Let’s just say that I expect my foods to be full-flavored and my drinks strong. Neither was to be had here.

(meinl.com)

(meinl.com)

Alicia: My entire experience at Julius Meinl, with the exception of the food quality, was an exact replica of my experiences at beautiful European cafes with terrible customer service (well, that latter part is pretty specific to Paris). When I walked into Julius Meinl, I thought I was in my own version of Wonderland – the Austrian cafe version with its Austrian built furnishings and fittings – and I was loving every minute of it. Until we sat down.

While the cafe wasn’t very full, it took an exorbitant amount of time for us to receive a menu or even a hello from our waiter, and once we did, while pleasant enough, there was a certain coldness radiating from him. Clearly unhappy at our minimal order of pie, he made a big deal out of us wanting two waters to come with it (as if that was unheard of). And then, it took ages upon ages to get a check, no matter how many times we tried to get his attention.

(meinl.com)

(meinl.com)

I wanted so badly to love Julius Meinl. In fact, I still so badly want to fall in love it. With the atmosphere. With the nostalgia and romance it brought back. With the pastry list. With their nights of live Classical and Jazz music. So maybe next time I will order a coffee served in a ceramic cup with a glass of water served on a silver platter, typical Vienna style. Or maybe I’ll just try another location. But I definitely won’t ever order their “pie.” Or torte. Or tartlet. Whatever they call that bastardization of lemon gingery goodness.

Final Thoughts: Pretty upon entrance, Meinl will leave you wanting anything but what they have to offer. The slow service will be making you think you’re on an episode of “No Check, Please!” while the food will make you sad you paid the check at all.

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
15 Mar 2013

Primebar

WHAT: Primebar
WHERE: 155 N. Wacker Dr.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

(primebarchicago.com)

(primebarchicago.com)

Situated in Chicago’s Loop, Primebar defines itself as a contemporary ale house, offering food, beers and cocktails. As soon as you walk in it’s clear the clientele who frequent Primebar are the Loop’s business men and women who probably work in a shiny skyscraper Downtown for a law firm and who pop in this place for a lunch meeting or after work happy hour. If you don’t fit this bill, or even if you do, we suggest skipping this spot and dining elsewhere for a happier happy hour.

(primebarchicago.com)

(primebarchicago.com)

Alicia: I must admit that Primebar’s urban interior with leather booths, tiled floors, salvaged lighting and recycled wood is very inviting, and we were lucky enough to snag a quaint table in the back room with lovely sepia portraits and a very warm and romantic feeling. But that isn’t the first impression you get from walking into the place. As soon as you do, you’re berated by dozens of plasma televisions and a loud and aggravating crowd of off-work women in pencil skirts and men with two drinks in their hands shouting at each other over high tables.

I was excited to be able to escape the main room, however, and gladly ordered Primebar’s strawberry fresco salad with spinach, strawberries, spiced pistachios, queso fresco and a lemon vinaigrette. At $10 a plate, I didn’t think this was a bad deal. And when the salad came to the table, I was pleasantly pleased at the large portion size. But after taking one bite, I was sorely disappointed.

(primebarchicago.com)

(primebarchicago.com)

Not only was the lemon vinaigrette muddy and sour, but the salad was drowning in the stuff, and there were barely any strawberries (and no pistachios) to try and salvage the mess of a salad. The spinach was crisp and fresh, but you couldn’t really separate it from the disaster of a dressing, so needless to say I couldn’t really stomach the whole thing.

Adam: I must say that I completely agree with Alicia: Primebar looks fairly excellent from the outside and on first inspection, but none of that care is reflected in its clientele, wait staff or food, all of which are uninteresting and brash.

I ordered the prime rib sliders, complete with arugula, swiss cheese, horseradish cream and fried onion strings. Let’s be frank: prime rib has a reputation to uphold, as does arugula (the ancient herb of Virgilian fame, who claimed it was an aphrodisiac). Unfortunately, a prime rib sandwich at Primebar is apparently just a roast beef sandwich, with a touch a wilted arugula and a smidge of horseradish cream (which certainly was not worth its weight in gold, as the Delphic Oracle told Apollo). The one redeeming feature of the dish was the fried onion strings, which they really should have called onion frites, for that is what they were.

(primebarchicago.com)

(primebarchicago.com)

Additionally, service was a tad spotty, with our waitress being talkative, yet obviously a dullard of the first class, and not very present. She certainly managed to ruin Alicia’s salad by not placing the cheese on the side as asked, although Alicia is too polite to mention this above.

Final Thoughts: Ultimately, Primebar was less prime than bar and far more irritating than an eatery should be. Regular food that doesn’t suit the opulence around you, we’re sure that all the furnishings were done Disneyland style, with a touch of paint and faux wood. Not on our radar and not on yours anymore.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
12 Mar 2013

Salt & Pepper Diner

WHAT: Salt & Pepper Diner
WHERE: 3527 N. Clark St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

While the Salt & Pepper Diner location on Lincoln Avenue is closed, you can still celebrate a good ol’ 50’s/60’s throwback retro diner at this Lakeview spot, perfect for Cubs’ fans on game days, and even more perfect for casual brunch fun on any other day. Actually, now that we think about it, this place must be a gold mine for families with kids on game day, with the rest of the Wrigleyville area pretty obsessed with the 21+ scene.

(cityowls.com)

(cityowls.com)

Cheap, delicious food in a really fun, friendly, and laidback atmosphere with chrome walls, faded leather booths, and high boy tables, Salt & Pepper also has your must diner counter to munch at and drink your cup o’ Joe. All it seemed to be missing was some music from the 50s/60s, rather than a current hits list. But like other deli/diner/sweetshops in the city, you can even grab a table and play a board game while you wait for your food…and we suggest you do!

Adam: Number one of my list of excellent things about Salt & Pepper are the Bloody Marys. At $3 for a massive glass, they are definitely the cheapest ones in town. While more Bloody than Mary, they are excellently prepared with ample vodka, tomato juice, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, a hint of Tabasco, seasonings, lemon, lime, a celery stick and celery salt on the rim: this has to be one of the best Bloody Mary’s I’ve had in a long time.

I paired this with a barbequed chicken (pulled) sandwich. Absolutely tender and juicy with Sweet Baby Rays (perhaps the best barbeque sauce ever?), it came with a great side of tater tots and the necessary pickle, so rather normal diner food. But, for its cheap price and great chicken (and not to mention the substantial and rather large portion size), this is definitely a winning dish!

Alicia: As soon as I saw the Banana Nut Bread French Toast item on the menu, I knew I had to have it, and when it arrived, I was in heaven. In front of me were placed three delicate pieces of freshly baked banana nut bread that had been very, very lightly french-toast-ified with egg, and then topped with pecans, fresh bananas and powdered sugar. And of course, the necessary vessel full of maple syrup on the side along with a dollop of butter.

And those slices of banana nut bread were killer. Sure, maybe I would have liked a little more egg on them and a little caramelization of the pecans, but for $6.50 this plate was gigantic and the bread was definitely some of the best B-bread I’ve had in a very long time. It, of course, didn’t pair at all with my delicious, delicious, delicious bloody mary, but with a few sips of water in between I was able to satisfy both my savory and sweet desires. The only drawback of this place was the service, but I think that was our particular waitress, so hopefully next time we come back we’ll have better luck.

(cityowls.com)

(cityowls.com)

Final Thoughts: We would go back here in a heartbeat, and probably always order a bloody mary. But we’d venture out too, as their pancakes, burgers, omelettes and peanut butter milkshakes do sound pretty tantalizing. A full brunch for two with drinks for about $20? Yes, yes, yes please!

P.S.: If you can’t make it to Salt & Pepper, but still want a Bloody Mary, we’d suggest Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasoning added to your tomato juice – a bit Russian, but the obvious choice for any real bartender.

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
11 Mar 2013

Sprinkles Cupcakes

WHAT: Sprinkles Cupcakes (ATM)
WHERE: 50 E. Walton St.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

(sprinkles.com)

(sprinkles.com)

Sprinkles Cupcakes is not actually a Chicago native, but a California immigrant who arrived on the scene a little while ago. What they didn’t really publicize was their newest nifty little method of cupcake delivery, which comes in the form of a 24-hour cupcake ATM outside their location in the Gold Coast. We love the futuristic, Japan-esque feel to the machine, as well as the super fast way they shoot out. But the cupcakes themselves leave quite a bit to be desired.

(sprinkles.com)

(sprinkles.com)

Adam: Sprinkles Cupcakes has a fantastic concept and the money to implement it. By creating the novelty of a vending machine imbedded in a wall (their “ATM”), Sprinkles manages to attract a line at 11:40pm that fills their entire entranceway. The excited energy that surrounds the event of dispensation mirrors that of some fad item that everyone has to try.

When I arrived at the machine, I must admit, it was pretty damn cool. Rows of beautifully boxed cupcakes line the glassed off case covered with a pink metal lattice. An LCD touch screen flashes welcomingly at you, as you make your selection and pay by card (no cash option available). At this moment, the cupcake whizzes out and down a chute (filmed and relayed to the screen, of course) and you are ready to enjoy. A fairly excellent adventure in futurism.

But, the cupcakes themselves are so very saddening. For example, my Red Velvet, which they assure you would have an “upped…chocolate quotient” and a “rich cream cheese frosting”, wasn’t particularly more chocolatey than any other red velvet I’ve had, nor was the frosting that creamy.

Alicia: While standing in line for the cupcake machine late on a Saturday night, I was sure the ATM would be out of both of the flavors we wanted, as Red Velvet is their most popular cupcake and Irish Chocolate is their special from March 1 – 17. I was super excited, however, when we were able to snag both, and get in on a scrumptious baked goods at a time of day I usually crave them the most, but when most shops are closed.

Picture 21When I opened the cute box for my Irish Chocolate cupcake, I was greeted by a large green shamrock. What was it topping? Belgian dark chocolate cake topped with Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheese. Then for the main event: I pulled the cupcake apart and made sure I had all the flavors together and popped it in my mouth. Moist cake…and some frosting. Not very Belgian Dark, and not very Bailey’s or cream cheesey. Kind of just chocolate cake and frosting. There was some hint of some kind of liquor in there, more likely whiskey, but that was super faint.

Final thoughts: A great concept, a fun delivery method and a beautiful presentation, but ultimately, the cupcakes just don’t take the cake, especially for the price tag. On the small side for the price ($4 for a special and $3.50 for a regular), seemingly regular tasting and not always what’s promised, Sprinkles doesn’t really hold a candle to Molly’s or Crumbs, both of which provide bigger, tastier, more moist and creamier deliciousness. Therefore, our evaluation is this: Sprinkles spent a lot on the machine, but the cupcakes are normal and not quite worth it. Perhaps go once, just to try a new flavor, but forget it after that.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
07 Mar 2013

Balena

WHAT: Balena (Italian)
WHERE: 1633 N. Halsted St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

A place providing physical ease, the relaxation of invitingly comfy furnishings, a spacious atmosphere and a bold simplification of food, Lincoln Park’s Balena is an upscale Italian eatery perfect for pre-show cocktails or a full-on meal. Complete with an impressive cocktail menu, an array of pizzas and other small bites, it also has a nice dessert menu. To be certain, this place is definitely a bit upscale for one’s wallet, but you’re sure to find something you love here.

Margherita Pizza (Photo: Nick Kindelsperger)

Margherita Pizza (Photo: Nick Kindelsperger)

Adam: Pizza: traditional, Italian, fun! And not what I would normally get at an Italian restaurant! But, with all the talk of Balena’s magnificent pizzas, I just had to make an exception. Trying both the margherita and mushroom pizzas, I can honestly say that Balena gets this right. Fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato make for an established choice, named for Queen Margherita of Savoy, who thought the colours resembled the Italian flag. It’s fitting that Old World basil, the King of Herbs, is paired with the New World tomato here, for the merging of cultures elevates this dish to new heights.

Mushroom Pizza (opentable.com)

Mushroom Pizza (opentable.com)

I also tried their mushroom pizza, topped with fontina cheese, taleggio cheese (so ancient that Cicero talked of his liking for it), scallions and thyme. Very Italian, delicate and delectable, you can imagine yourself taking supper on Lake Como with this fabulous combination.

Having a penchant for wine, I decided to try two, both a red and a white, to go with the margherita and mushroom pizzas, respectively. The red was the lovely Stefano Farina “Le Brume Langhe”, a mixture of Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Merlot, from Piedmont (2007 12 / 39). Quite full and a perfect complement to tomatoes, black plum comes through strongly, with a definite blackberry flavor and a hint of coffee. Most certainly recommended, Pliny the Elder drank a variety of this wine while in Piedmont – if it’s good enough for old Pliny, it’s certainly good enough for me!

(Photo: Eric Kleinberg)

(Photo: Eric Kleinberg)

Onward then, to the white wine, a Salviano “Orvieto” of Procanico grapes (first cultivated for the Pope) from Umbria (2010 11 / 39). Making an excellent and light pairing with the mushroom pizza, pear is the dominant flavor, along with apple and a minerally aftertaste. Refreshing and relaxing, this wine makes for the perfect end to an evening.

A highly enjoyable experience, which I hope to repeat soon.

(balenachicago.com)

(balenachicago.com)

Alicia: Balena mixologist Debbi Peek crafts some crazy cocktails that explore a variety of Western European bitters and, more specifically, Italian Amari. The bitterness of each of their drinks is rated on a “1-10” scale, a “1” representing the least and a “10” the most bitter. I must admit that my palate hasn’t quite accepted bitters favorably in the past, so I went for a safer option with their Rosemary No2, a well-balanced mix of campari, aperol, fresh sour, egg white, and delicately flamed rosemary. Definitely a fun drink and a great immersion into the world of bitters, with subtle, yet dangerously potent flavors.

(vodamagazine.com)

(vodamagazine.com)

After kicking off the night with a cocktail, I ordered their spicy sausage, red onion, tomato and mozzarella pizza with a glass of their Andrian “Somerto” Chardonnay, Alto Aldige 2011. You might hesitate to mix these two, as red wine is usually a safer bet to pair with sausage. But I was crazy to try their Somerto so I just went for it. The wine was delicate with a hint of peach, but I failed to really catch the mango and grilled nuts as listed in the description. It was nonetheless crisp and refreshing, and I give major thanks to Balena for their more than generous pouring.

Mushroom Pizza (Photo: Nick Kindelsperger)

Mushroom Pizza (Photo: Nick Kindelsperger)

As for the pizza, I usually don’t go for sausage, as I always think most places overcook their meat, but Balena’s sausage was tender and juicy. It wasn’t very spicy, which was fine by me because the lack of spice and the delicate mozzarella cheese paired with my wine quite nicely. And the dough was perfect: thin but substantial, with puffy, chewy edges.

(balenachicago.com)

(balenachicago.com)

Final Thoughts: Chef Chris Pandel works wonders with Peter Becker, who runs the restaurant’s bread program, and we’re just itching to go back and try some of their other breads and perhaps dig into a bowl of pasta or two. And while we didn’t save room with our trio of pizzas and glasses of wine, we hear pastry chef Amanda Rockman’s desserts really do rock, so we’re definitely headed back for more. If you get a chance, don’t forget to check out their cavern-esque cellar/event space downstairs as well!

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
05 Mar 2013

Little Goat Diner

WHAT: Little Goat Diner (American)
WHERE: 820 W. Randolph St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

We’ve been wanting to try the famous Stephanie Izard’s newest foray into the world of goats since it first opened on the Near West Side. But, until recently, this spot’s been such a hot ticket that, with no reservations taken, it was a very long wait. Not so anymore, which means it’s a perfect time to get in on the action and experience a diner with a twist. Who knows, perhaps you’ll even spot Izard making your food in the visible kitchen.

(littlegoatchicago.com)

(littlegoatchicago.com)

Little Goat Diner actually feels like an odd mix of traditional American and gastropub, complete with the pre-requisite all-day breakfast, beautifully maintained (yet uniquely secreted) bathrooms, comfortable booths for differently sized parties, and even a diner counter facing the open kitchen. Not to mention a gigantic menu with over 75 offerings. We went for dinner, but that didn’t stop us from ordering a whole bunch of breakfast food!

Adam: Little Goat Diner provides a fun experience at reasonable prices, with intricately interesting food to match. Located across the street from the famous Girl and the Goat, Izard’s diner scores major points on large portions and delicious innovation.

(chicagomag.com)

(chicagomag.com)

Our party tried three dishes, which are so large they can be easily shared, to fully experience a possible three course meal at LGD. We started out with the Kimchi & Bacon & Eggs & Pancakes Asian Style Breakfast Tasty Thing (without the bacon). Apart from an extremely long name, this appetizer comes complete with a balsamic vinegar side for all your drizzling needs. The acidity of this, plus the fabulous kimchi, make for an unusual and rather good starter. I’m not entirely sure if I would order it again, but it was certainly innovative.

(metromix.com)

(metromix.com)

Next, we moved on to the Sloppy Goat burger, with rosemary slaw and a squish-squash roll. Quite lovely (I’ve never had a sloppy joe before!) and made all the better because of the slaw, one struggled to taste the goat itself, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a darn good burger.

Alicia: To quickly close up Adam’s comments on the Sloppy Goat, I must first comfort you, dear reader: I WILL make sure Adam enjoys a REAL sloppy joe in the immediate future. Although the Sloppy Goat was quite delicious, especially with some de-seeded jalapeno slices, the lack of any sort of tomato made me question the ‘sloppy’ and the overwhelmingly spiced meat made me wonder where the goat went.

(urbanspoon.com)

(urbanspoon.com)

We ended our meal with the Fat Elvis Waffles with banana, peanut butter-butter and maple syrup. Usually, the dish is served with bacon maple syrup, but this time around we stuck with good ‘ol normal maple syrup. The portion size was huge! The waffles were dense and chewy, so if you’re a fan of the fluffy kinds this might not be for you. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the peanut butter-butter was insanely fun, creamy and divinely delicious without feeling too dangerously sinful. What am I saying? It was peanut butter-butter, of course it was sinful!

(littlegoatchicago.com)

(littlegoatchicago.com)

Ultimately, LGD was not quite up to the high bar I had set for the place, as I probably wouldn’t reorder any of the dishes we had. Yet, I would definitely try some other stuff, and Little Goat Diner won’t fail me in that respect, as the menu is almost limitless. Specifically, I would go back during actual breakfast so as to get in on their oatmeal and their freshly baked goodies from their bakery next door.

(littlegoatchicago.com)

(littlegoatchicago.com)

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Little Goat Diner was the service, as the waitress we had was extremely pushy and kept on asking if we still had the appetite to order more (as we only ordered three dishes with four people). We were asked this more than 7 or 8 times, and on top of this, we got some pretty rude backlash comments from her when we asked if it was possible to get some of the dishes without bacon. She came back and said the chef would make an exception: YES, because Stephanie Izard clearly understands customer service and dietary restrictions, and this waitress clearly did not.

(littlegoatchicago.com)

(littlegoatchicago.com)

Final thoughts: LGD is affordable, laid back and friendly and comes highly recommended for a casual meal with solid interesting choices. All of this from a Top Chef who seems pretty down-to-earth badass in her purple bandana behind the lines who’ll edit her menu for customers-in-need. Two horns up!

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
27 Feb 2013

Paris Club

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

WHAT: Paris Club (French)
WHERE: 59 W. Hubbard St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

It seems that Storefront City has been in a decidedly French mood lately (but then again, we’re always a little bit Gallic at heart). So, when we trotted over to Paris Club this week for a Belgian beer and food tasting, we got a aangenaam [pleasant] combination of libations and hors d’oeuvres from the fields of Flanders, as well as the more traditional Parisian nourriture [food].

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

When you enter Paris Club, a sense of class descends upon you, although you would not feel out of place here in some very nice jeans. Perfect for an afterwork treat, it’s beautiful, chic, fun and countrified. We had a peek at their dining room, and it looked lovely and rustic, complete with brick walls, yet still had a very modern Chicago feel. The space is very open, with their “bar room” associated with, but still apart from, their more elegant dining area. With high leather backed chairs and intimate lighting, the bar area is great for a drink and a quick bite, too.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Adam: Specifically, we had come to Paris Club to enjoy a Belgian beer tasting from the likes of the Duvel Moortgat Brewery of Breendonk, Liefmans Brewery of Oudenaarde (est. 1679, so very old indeed), De Koninck Brewery of Antwerp, Maredsous Abbey of Denée, and Brasserie d’Achouffe. However, since we have an all-beer monthly special coming up later this week, we thought we’d save our reviews until then and concentrate on the wonderful food offerings from Paris Club that you can get any time.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

While many delicious appetizers were available, I’m only going to talk about the best, so you can order them too! Firstly, make sure that you have a large hunk of bread ready. Sourdough or fresh French bread is provided for no extra cost, and goes fantastically with the smoked trout pâté, although this particular offering is not always available. Make sure that you try their cheese also, as they are pretty standard in France, but not in America. I recommend the Normandy camembert (if available on the day you visit), along with the bonne bouche (actually a Vermont cheese), although the latter lacks some of the typically creamy character of a goat cheese. Actually, you can try this cheese either on your sourdough or on a wonderfully savoury pretzel croissant ($4.95), as the soft, buttery bread complements the harder cheese most excellently.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

For a slightly heartier dish, try out the poutine ($9.95), a generous heaping of frites, beef short rib, gravy and cheese. This dish is actually Québécois, and relatively new on the food scene (yet nonetheless exploding in popularity), but truly speaks to the Francophone credentials of the Paris Club (even Vermont was once French, hence the name and the presence of Vermontian cheese on the menu).

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Alicia: Despite my German heritage, I am not the biggest consumer of pork, but Chicago is really into the charcuterie scene right now, and Paris Club has joined in on this fad. To get the best feel, therefore, I sampled their very unique and delicate country pâté filled with pistachios and their thinly sliced saucisson sec, both of which were complemented by a stone ground mustard just bursting with flavor. I also sampled their pork rillettes, which brought me back to my first accidental grocery purchase when studying abroad in Paris. The smoky/salty/peppery pork was luxurious, and perfect when paired with the acidity from pickled mini gherkins and onions.

(parisclubchicago.com)

Country Pâté

To celebrate the Belgian beers on hand, servers also brought a variety of sliced sausages to our table, which I believed to probably have been weiβwurst, knackwurst and bockwurst, all of which were super juicy and delicate, and well paired with their sweet and spicy Dijon mustard.  Not items that I think are usually on offer there, but they definitely knocked them out of the park.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

I think what ultimately impressed me the most about Paris Club, however, was really the service provided by their staff. Despite this being an entirely free event, I felt as if I must have paid a pretty high price to get in here, because not only was there an ambitious selection of food available to sample, but I almost felt like we were waited on constantly. Sure, the waiters did try to push us a bit to order from the bar, but they were all very friendly and every time we looked around there was always another waiter to offer us a croissant (and they always pronounced it right, too).

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Final thoughts: Highly recommended for some pre-dinner snacks and drinks, we’d love to come back to the Paris Club and try their mains, which sound traditional and affordable, of course with some fun twists. And of course, their associated nightclub Studio Paris is also on our future docket. Well done at bringing a little bit of Paris to the Near North Side!

P.S. We’re going back to Paris Club on Monday, March 11th to taste Mauritson’s Wine from 5-8pm and try out another selection of hors d’oeuvres. The event is totally free, so we hope to see you there! If you are coming, let us know!

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
26 Feb 2013

The Grid

WHAT: The Grid (Bar)
WHERE: 351 W. Hubbard St.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

The Grid – a strange bar with a strange name in a strange part of town. Unusually, we would jump at such supposed exoticism. In this case, we can think of nowhere more undeserving of your time and money that this ridiculously confused, rude and rotten little space in River North that dares to call itself a venue of “class and comfort”. As connoisseurs of both the aforementioned virtues, we can categorically say that The Grid lacks them in abundance, and we would be pleased to see the whole place shunned by our readers for inflicting itself upon your beloved authors.

Adam: As a critic, one must keep an open mind about a venue, trying not to judge it too harshly and thinking empathetically about the time and effort the proprietors put into providing your experience, thus mitigating your vitriol to a more acceptable level. I shall not be doing that here as The Grid doesn’t deserve such unabashed charity. In fact, I will be dissecting this establishment piece by piece in order to illuminate for you the most lurid details that will serve to shock and disgust.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

We attended The Grid as invitees for their customer appreciation day Gratitude Party. Off the bat it looked like a great idea, but when you subject your guests to something for which they are wholly ungrateful, one cannot help but laugh at the complete ignorance of the event planners. To start, doors were supposed to open sharply at 2pm. It being brisk as a witch’s teat outside, I was eager to get in and warm up a little. Of course, we waited, and waited and waited…only to be granted access at the intolerably late hour of 2:30! Rule of thumb: if you invite the press to an event, don’t make them bloody cold outside.

The fiasco that followed is best related to you by my co-author, and you can look forward to it below, but I will touch further here on some other problems we encountered. The venue itself is boring. Small, cramped and dark, it serves little purpose and reminds one of the basement of a rather ordinary home, done up to look posh. With one bar and a few alcoves, the imagination is not fired (despite numerous vent-less fireplaces), and you immediately get a feeling of foreboding that you have entered at all.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

On the upshot, the drinks do sound fascinating, but tend to be extremely sweet and non-alcoholic. It’s obvious that this establishment is trying to sell me a piece of coal as a diamond: what an utterly useless business strategy. Similarly, the food is sterile at best, even when served in jars that are supposed to make you coo with joy, and yet contain what might be WWI trench rations.

Alicia: Having worked in a variety of customer-centric companies in my life, I have a very strong opinion on what customer service should be and believe that there are enough businesses around and so many people in need of work that only the most fit and customer-friendly should survive in this economy. In this case, The Grid and its employees have no business being patronized for their complete lack of customer service.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

Basically, they completely trampled all over the meaning of customer appreciation. After making us wait outside in the bitter cold, when we were finally invited in there were only two or three tables open for dozens of guests to use – all of the booths were reserved for who knows who. And right after taking a seat and shedding our warm gear, we were told that there was a mandatory $2 coat check, and that all we were getting as part of ‘gratitude day’ was no cover, and that all drinks and food were normal prices, etc.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

First of all…what would we be paying cover for? Nothing! Okay, so I was getting into a restaurant/bar with no live music or drink/food deals at 2pm on a Saturday…wow, really grateful for THAT. Then, to have the gall while I am still getting settled to tell me coat check was mandatory (and not saying that upfront in advance, or at the door) and that absolutely nothing was provided for customers on appreciation day? Yeah, they were really grateful I was there, I’m sure.

Final thoughts: Boring, horrid and unbelievably and awfully dull, with no appreciation for its customers, The Grid can remain off your grid forever and for all eternity. Skip, tell your friends to skip it, and let’s make sure they never darken another afternoon again!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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