Storefront City Chicago

Archive for the tag “lakeview”

27 Jun 2013

Fish Bar

fishbarchicago.com

fishbarchicago.com

WHAT: Fish Bar
WHERE: 2956 N. Sheffield Ave.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

David Morton and Michael Kornick, heads of the DMK Restaurant Group (including Ada Street, MK, DMK Burger Bar and the soon-to-open County Barbecue), bring Chicagoans Fish Bar, a casual seafood joint serving sustainable (buzzword) seafood goods along with cocktails in mason jars.

fishbarchicago.com

fishbarchicago.com

With the feel of a seaside fish joint that you’d perhaps find on the south-east coast, Lakeview’s Fish Bar is brimming with briny character that seems at once authentic and tongue-in-cheek. We recommend you try and snap up some of the outdoor seating, as its beautiful in the summer to eat fish en terraza, even if the nearby hospital sometimes makes this a noisy experience.

Adam: When I’m reviewing places, I try to shy away from the specials for two reasons: 1. they might not be available when you go there, and therefore you are left in a bemused state as to what to order, and 2. specials are secretly a way for chefs to get rid of surplus ingredients that don’t necessarily fit the bill. That being said, I was drawn to try Fish Bar’s special the day I went, reeling in a tasty lake trout for good measure.

But, for starters, starters. Our waitress was kind enough to provide us with a complimentary dish of crispy lemon, onion and jalapeno that has to be one of the oddest vegetable medleys to have passed my lips. Very interesting (the most adventurous part being the lemons), I would highly recommend it for the flavor, but be warned that it won’t fill you up.

My lake trout was nicely put together and steamed to a seething flakiness that made it clear that Fish Bar was truly a fish restaurant. Accompanied by greens and a delicious acidic sauce, I was truly sated after this, and would venture to say that it was a medium, rather than small plate.

Alicia: While Po’Boys and Maine Lobster rolls seem to be the most popular menu items, I instead tried Fish Bar’s seafood gumbo paired with their Octopus a la Plancha. The gumbo was slightly thick with the perfect level of spice with a healthy dose of blue crab and andouille sausage. I could have done with a bit more crab, but all in all this was a very filling and delicious start to my meal.

And now for the main event, the Octopus A La Plancha with grilled octopus, preserved lemon, fried caper, chili flakes and parsley. To be perfectly frank, the star of this dish, the octopus, wasn’t the best I’ve ever had. It wasn’t too chewy, but it was just a little dry and uneventful, and while the dressing for the dish proved light and with a nice bite, the seafood itself was just one-noted. And really, fried capers just don’t do capers justice, so I could have done without all of that extra oil and frying. Ultimately, however, I was pleased enough with the dish, and while I wouldn’t order it again, I’m glad to have given it a try.

Final Thoughts: Be warned that while Fish Bar advertises as a fully fledged restaurant, it is really a small plates affair, as the server will tell you when sitting down. We do take issue with this – such information should be made apparent to customers before dining and we consider it rather cheeky to only let your diners know of something of such import upon sitting. Let’s be clear – if you’re small plates, you’re small plates. Ultimately, the plates were relatively medium-sized, so all in all perhaps a bit overpriced. While reservations are for parties of three or four only and most media says that the place is packed out, we managed to comfortably sit five at an outside table with ease. Overall, definitely a yummy and unique take on seafood…for Chicago.

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

D.S. Tequila Company

WHAT: D.S. Tequila Company
WHERE: 3352 N. Halsted St.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

(dstequila.com)

(dstequila.com)

Tacos. Tequila. Outdoor patio. This all sounds quite dandy, especially when D.S. Tequila Company serves up half-priced food on Mondays and All-you-can-eat tacos on Thursdays for ten bucks. But don’t let the specials fool you – this Lakeview taco/burger/tequila joint is not so special.

(dstequila.com)

(dstequila.com)

Adam: I understand, I’m spoiled. I like my food hot and good, my drinks cold and interesting and my ambiance beautiful and intoxicating. I’ve been to taco joints all over the city, and whereas Bullhead Cantina and Antique Taco stand out as highlights, D.S. Tequila Company might as well start with a different set of letters. Unfathomably small portions, and a taste that’s not much to write home about, you can certainly boycott this place to your heart’s content.

Chicken Fajita Taco and Coffee Steak Taco

Chicken Fajita Taco and Coffee Steak Taco

I started out with a chicken fajita taco. Simple is best, right? In this case, completely wrong. This grilled chicken was as dry as a bone, accompanied by a smattering of refried beans and queso fresco that was almost undetectable. I slathered on hot sauce because I would rather have my mouth burning like the Savannah than consigned to the dry depths of Death Valley. Next, sampling the steak taco with trepidation, I was slightly surprised. This taco is decent, but that may have more to do with the coffee spice rub than the steak. And at $3.89 for one measly sample size, you might as well go to a more upscale place and enjoy yourself a little.

Jalapeno Slaw & Elote Corn Hash

Jalapeno Slaw & Elote Corn Hash

As for sides, they are wildly disappointing. Jalapeno Slaw sounds really great, but when the mayonnaise overpowers even the slightest hint of jalapeno, I wonder why I am going to a Mexican restaurant at all, and not just buying slaw and dumping giardiniera on it at home. Trust me, the homemade recipe would be hotter.

Tangibly dreadful fare at shockingly inflated prices, D.S. Tequila needs to move over for more reputable competitors. Seriously, it’s like they’re trying to cheat you here.

Tequila Shrimp Taco & Grilled Fish Taco

Tequila Shrimp Taco & Grilled Fish Taco

Alicia: Being big into seafood, I was super excited to try some fish and shrimp tacos here. D.S. Tequila’s grilled fish taco served me alright, with jalapeno cole slaw and spicy aioli. There was plenty of sauce and a good amount of bite, but the mayonnaise in the coleslaw kind of drowned out the rest of the taco. Actually, coleslaw was most of the taco, with a frighteningly-small serving of grilled fish hidden somewhere in there.

(dstequila.com)

(dstequila.com)

With these lukewarm feelings I then attempted the tequila shrimp taco with red cabbage, pineapple salsa and spicy aioli. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, this taco was basically three pieces of shrimp in a corn tortilla with some raw red cabbage. Pineapple salsa? Spicy aioli? Pretty non-existent, and really just some diced pineapple. Tequila? Yeah…not sure that was in there either.

(dstequila.com)

(dstequila.com)

Ultimately, I found each of these tacos pretty underwhelming, with little to no love given to the food inside the tortillas, let alone the dry and boring tortillas themselves. I was even more disappointed with elote corn hash. The name sounds fun, but really I was just served a bowl of corn and some type of light cream with some crumbled queso fresco. It tasted like cream corn, but even less flavorful. It was pretty horrific, and gives elote a bad name.

(dstequila.com)

(dstequila.com)

Final Thoughts: If we hadn’t been lucky enough to get in on this food on a Monday (i.e. we paid half-price), I think we would have been in an uproar to pay full price for what we got. With mediocre food, sub-par service, and a forgettable ambience, D.S. Tequila Company is definitely a place you can skip over if you want some good Mexican food. Sure, the outdoor patio is alright when the weather is nice, but a park bench will do you just as good.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
30 Apr 2013

Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships

WHAT: Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships
WHEN: 8pm on Saturdays
WHERE: Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave.)
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 30 minutes, no intermission (can vary)
WHO: The Cupid Players
PRICE: $20

OUR RATING: Do It!

Picture 18The fact that Chicago is the King of Comedy shouldn’t be surprising to any reader by now. But, if all you’ve seen is The Second City, you’re just scratching the surface of this vibrant and evolving scene that is perhaps best reflected in small productions at less well-known venues. The Cupid Players’ weekly show at Lakeview’s Stage 773 is Chicago creativity at its best and is in fact funnier than most of its more mainstream counterparts elsewhere. An all-musical production with big ensemble pieces and hilarious solos, each night is an extravaganza and completely different to the last.

Picture 22Adam: There’s one word that comes to mind when thinking of The Cupid Players: ensemble. This is a strong team who, after at least a decade of work, have become flawlessly enwoven to create a wonderful variety of hilarious, all original works.

Located in 773’s Cab theatre, decked out cabaret style with tables, chairs and booths, the intimate space allows for maximum interaction with the characters being forged before you, who sometimes jump right into your seat. And expect them to be singing something extremely dirty while they’re coming for you…that’s part of the game. With musical genres deriving mainly from Broadway, but also Rock and Barbershop, the group moves effortlessly between characters, highlighting everyday troubles in the most elevated manner, from the walk of shame to more taboo topics in songs like “Bathroom Time” and “Parents.”

Witty, vulgar, fun and full of energy, I was laughing through every minute of their material. After being around for over 14 years, let’s hope they stick around for another 14 and more.

Picture 20Alicia: The Cupid Players and their production moved from the iO Theater to Stage 773 back in 2011, and both Stage 773 and their Cab Theatre serve as the perfect venue for this intimate and hilarious crew, named by the Chicago Reader one year as “Best Sketch Comedy Group”. Directed by Brian Posen, this talented crew of comedians were the longest running revue in iO history and continue in popularity on their newer stage.

Picture 19I’ve had the opportunity to see The Cupid Players perform twice, each time incorporating different material with a few of the same songs here and there, all originally written and all completely hysterical. The repertoire is diverse, with anything from ballads to pop, and even a little bit of rap and rock n’ roll, just to keep things interesting. They even mix things up, with some numbers performed by a single individual, but with plenty of group numbers to kick things up a notch. And sure, most of their songs are a little raunchy, so this probably isn’t the kind of thing you want to take the kiddies to, but the songs are smart and catchy, so it all balances out in the end to create a night of extreme fun.

Final Thoughts: Relationships might be painful, but the only pain you’ll get with The Cupid Players and their musical guide to relationships will be the pain in your side from laughing too hard. Go for a crazy fun night out, and laugh the night away.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
25 Apr 2013

Angela’s Burrito Style

WHAT: Angela’s Burrito Style
WHERE: 2556 N. Clark St.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Cheap, giant burritos offered late at night in Lincoln Park. Their menu includes some relatively unique sounding burritos, including the California Burrito with fries hidden inside a flour tortilla. With burritos starting at a mere $4, and with hours going until 5am on the weekends, this place seems to be paradise. But maybe just a hungry drunk’s.

Adam: Burritos are the world’s earliest takeout food. When the Spanish arrived in the New World, they saw markets bustling with activity, as Aztecs accompanied their shopping with the purchase of a burrito or two. Due to its storied history, anyone who doesn’t appreciate these little gems is a little out of touch. Angela’s provides a solid burrito, but it’s honestly nothing special when compare to other takeout places (think Pepe’s).

abs4I ordered the Grande Chicken Burrito, fully stocked with all the requisite ingredients, it was large, but was heavier on lettuce (a little wilted) than chicken and sauce. I needed to add a lot of hot sauce to this one, which suggests their certainly catering to less fiery tastes than mine.

For health reasons, a bean burrito might be more suggested, being high in protein and low in saturated fat. If it’s black bean, you get the added benefits of fibre and phytochemicals. But, chicken is just as good for those who don’t mind so much about such things. An OK burrito at a cheap price.

Alicia: This place is teeny tiny so the only real way to order is to order to go, but you might be able to snap up a seat if you really want to. What I really wanted to do on my visit to Angela’s however, was to get my food and plop on the couch at home and be the biggest couch potato you’ve ever seen.

I ordered a junior vegetarian burrito at a mere $4, and when I finally received the foil-wrapped burrito I thought I had just won the lottery. The burrito was gigantic, fresh, warm, and I spent mere pennies to get it. And when I opened the wrapping my stomach growled and I was ready to dive right into a succulent flour tortilla burrito with all the trimmings. Except…there weren’t many.

The vegetarian burrito came with your typical lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream and beans. Despite the sour cream and the cheese, the burrito was dry as a bone, and the old dry tomatoes and stale lettuce screamed for some loving. So I added their green tomatillo sauce, which helped balance out the dryness a bit, but really anything would, so this sauce wasn’t really anything special. It needed avocado, or guacamole, or really just some fresh produce would have been lovely. It was filling, but that’s about all I got out of it.

Final Thoughts: Don’t get us wrong. Angela’s has a lot going for it. If you’re on the northside late at night and have the post-drinking munchies and not a lot of cash in your wallet, you will be perfectly happy here. But if you’re sober and want a darn good burrito for dinner, this is not the place to get one.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
17 Apr 2013

Cheesie’s Pub & Grub

WHAT: Cheesie’s Pub & Grub
WHERE: 958 W. Belmont Ave. (also 622 Davis St. in Evanston)

OUR RATING: Do it!

Grilled Cheese: an American classic, or at least a quick bite. Cheesie’s Pub & Grub, located in Lakeview right next to Berlin and near the Belmont Red Line stop, seems set to take the esteemed position of hangover hangout. It’s definitely divey, with some fun and colorful revamps of famous paintings littering the wall and chalkboard tables. With ten or so quality grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu, it’s hard to go wrong if you want basic food at cheap prices, and also if you want to be convivial in a laid back atmosphere. Complete with a full bar, you can continue your revelry inside, or just grab a sandwich and settle down – we leave the choice to you.

Adam: Grilled cheese is not perhaps the first thing I think of eating late at night – Chinese probably takes the top spot. But, with a pleasant environment and tasty food, Cheesie’s definitely has a lot going for it. Very aware that I should be balancing out the preponderance of cholesterol in the run-of-the-mill grilled cheese, I gravitated towards their Caprese. While I think that anyone from Capri would probably be furious with me for accepting what they would think of as a bastardization, I was absolutely loving the thick mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and basil all smashed together inside a sourdough bun. A side of sour cream and chive dipping sauce made this event of a sandwich even better. My stomach wasn’t completely blitzed, which means this light(er) meal is great late at night.

To supplement this, I tried some fried pickle chips – a crazy good idea. Tart and crunchy they worked a treat and are perhaps the most innovative item on the menu. In fact, I’d love to add these to my Ploughman’s Lunch in the future, but I’m sure I’d have to buy a frier for that, so it probably won’t happen. But further decadence was to be had. For the strong try the 10% abv Root Beer Beer Float. With a dollop of vanilla ice cream in root beer flavored beer, this was adult drink paradise, and upped the diner credentials of Cheesie’s at least three notches. I can see them absolutely prescribing this at an old time drugstore – highly recommended if you want a fun, extremely unusual drink.

Alicia: When I was little, I actually hated grilled cheese, mostly because I couldn’t stomach cheese at all, or any dairy products for that matter. American cheese was the worst. Yet over the years my palate has ‘matured,’ so I’m as big a fan as any of some hot bread and cheese sammies. While American cheese is still my least favorite, and while Cheesie’s sandwich of the month sounded pretty tempting (Veg-e Tales with smoked gouda and veggies on sourdough), I really wanted to go as classic as possible here, so I stuck with the good ol’ Original.

Cheesie’s original grilled cheese sandwich is composed of two thick and luxuriously grilled pieces of Texas Toast, housing both American and Merkt’s cheddar cheese within, and with some must-have tomato soup dipping sauce on the side. My favorite component of the sandwich was definitely the thick slices of Texas Toast, and I was as happy as a clam that while cheesy, the bread was still the ultimate player here, and that grease barely played a part in any bite. The tomato dipping sauce was a bit weak and somewhat odd tasting, but with copious amounts of ketchup available on the table I didn’t fret. Ultimately, I felt that something was missing from this sandwich, and I think I could have gone for a slightly more salty cheese or some kind of herb to add to the mix, but when you ask for classic, that’s pretty much what you’re going to get.

While we thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance of Cheesie’s, the service was rather horrific. The cashier was exceptionally rude and the bartender that served us didn’t seem to know what she was doing. After what seemed like ages, we finally got our receipt from the bartender, but we had waited so long the ice cream in our float had practically melted, and our food was getting cold.

Final Thoughts: This place is open super late, and is a great late-night/post-partying option for those who might have the munchies. Whether you go classic or are up for some experimenting, Cheesie’s won’t disappoint you, at least in regards to their comfort foods. Just be careful ordering from the bar.

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
04 Apr 2013

Native Foods Café

WHAT: Native Foods Café
WHERE: 1023 W. Belmont Ave. (also 218 S. Clark St., 1484 N. Milwaukee Ave.)

OUR RATING: Do It! (Choose certain dishes)

nf6

Welcome to the small chain offering fast-casual made-from-scratch vegan food, Native Foods Café. Founded in Palm Springs, California, this establishment has locations in California, Oregon, Colorado, and of course its three restaurants in the Loop, Lakeview and Wicker Park. Native Foods Café aims to please vegans and non-vegans alike with seasonal updates of hearty dishes, desserts and homemade beverages, all inspired by the travels of their chefs. Their entire menu is 100% plant-based (and also non-dairy), including homemade tempeh and seitan, and their “Native Cheese.”

Alicia: I almost ordered the Baja Tacos, but as I’ve gone relatively taco crazy the last few days, I decided to try something else: the roasted corn and basil polenta bites. From a friend’s suggestion I also ordered the soup of the day, the Moroccan lentil soup. The soup came first, along with a small piece of toast, and was ultimately pretty good. Chunks of carrot mixed with red lentil puree which offered a bit of heat, along with some fresh ginger for some crunch. The soup was a little watery for my taste and I felt the need to add some extra heat with some ground black pepper, but all in all I was satisfied.

(nativefoods.com)

(nativefoods.com)

And boy was I glad I had ordered the soup to go along with their polenta bite appetizer, as the plate that came next was relatively small with three polenta bites served on top of some fresh arugula. Yet, despite being tiny, these polenta bites definitely packed a bunch of flavor. The basil baked polenta cakes were dense but moist, and the fresh roasted corn, basil, red pepper, onion and Native Cheese on top were a fresh and creamy contrast to the cakes. Only afterwards did I realize the cafe offered some fresh green salsa on the condiment stand, which I surely would have added to my dish. Upon completion I was a little unsatisfied as to the amount of total food I ordered for the price compared to Adam’s gigantic bowl of food, but after a few minutes digesting those polenta cakes I realized just how filling they really were.

Finally, I washed it all down with their watermelon fresca, with fresh watermelon, a touch of mint and sweetened with organic agave. It was refreshing and not too overwhelmingly sweet. I did really want to add fresh mint to the glass, which is usually on offer, but the establishment had failed to refill this delectable herb while I was there.

(nativefoods.com)

(nativefoods.com)

Adam: Veganism, vegetarianism, pescetarianism, the list of -isms is endless, and makes one sound more like they are describing their political persuasion rather than their eating habits. Here, I stuck with veganism, and added to it a little gluten free, so I was all around feeling good about my choices.

For a hefty dinner, I tried the Rockin’ Moroccan Bowl with tofu, which laid two skewers of tofu atop a heap of quinoa, and plenty of currants, almonds and mixed vegetables, all topped off with a Moroccan sauce. It seems that you are indeed embarking upon an international experience, with Asian tofu, Andean quinoa, European currants and Middle Eastern almonds lumped together, but I suspect there is very little of Morocco in this dish.

(nativefoods.com)

(nativefoods.com)

That said, it was filling and tasty, although I might spice it up a little next time, as I do like my foods to have a variety of flavors. However, the more mellow flavor might be appreciated by some who don’t like spice as much as me, so don’t see this as negative.

I paired this with their Lavender Lemonade, created through steeping French lavender in fresh lemonade sweetened with (organic) sugar. Honestly, it was a little too sweet for my taste and one must have to have a fairly sensitive palate to appreciate the lavender, which was completely absent when I sipped it. Stick to the food, steer away from this drink.

(nativefoods.com)

(nativefoods.com)

Final Thoughts: After talking to some die-hard lovers of Native Foods Café, and with our recent experience, we’ve come to realize that this vegan-friendly spot is a bit hit or miss, with definite hits in their hearty and delicious bowls of food and fresh mock meats. We’ll definitely be back to try their seitan and tempeh, perhaps their $10 daily specials, or even their dairy-free pastries in the dessert case. Pair a dish with their organic, natural and local selections of beer and wine and you’ve got a perfect match.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
03 Apr 2013

Butt Trash

WHAT: Butt Trash
WHEN: Sundays at 8pm, March 24 – April 28
WHERE: Chemically Imbalanced Comedy (1422 W. Irving Park Rd.)
RUNTIME: 1 hour, with an approximately 5-minute intermission
WHO: Fanny and Dumpster, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy
PRICE: $10

OUR RATING: Do It!

Lakeview’s Chemically Imbalanced Comedy has a ton of shows going on right now, so Storefront City headed over to see one of their newer improv comedy shows, Butt Trash, featuring female improv comedy groups Fanny and Dumpster.

Adam: Our night began with Fanny, a group of women providing excruciatingly hilarious character acting, positively accurate group dynamics and strong comedy that seemed reminiscent of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; I was most certainly bursting with laughter at these girls.

Made up of Blair Beeken, Claire Mulaney, Sarah Shook and Lily Sullivan, Fanny managed to take the annoyingly complicated suggestion of ‘municipal’ and turn it into a full-fledged ridiculous drama, replete with underage alcohol supply, sexual tension, eating disorders and the most broken social group I’ve seen presented on stage (and that’s a good thing).

What I like most about Fanny is their unashamed comedic antics. Leave your prudishness at home and wallow in the clever skits they produce, otherwise you’ll end up shocked and unamused. Standing out for me were performances by Claire Mulaney, who perfected the awkward overly long-dwelling on a subject that somehow makes it irresistibly funny, and Lily Sullivan, who managed to drop us right in the middle of the most timidly approachable subjects while remaining absolutely straight-faced.

Stream of consciousness and delightfully wonderful improv, Fanny are masters of their art and should be seen at all costs.

(cicomedy.com)

(cicomedy.com)

Alicia: After the briefest of intermissions came the next quartet, Dumpster, whose motto is “the Devil never closes a door without opening a dumpster.” Composed of cast members Jill Fenstermaker, Ellen Haeg, Molly Hall and Amy Speckien, the ladies in this group have credentials ranging from stints at iO Theater, The Gift Theatre, and plenty of other shows at CIC.

While not as successful as their predecessors from Fanny, Dumpster began and ended their show with a group scene, with different characters and combinations in between. The two weakest aspects of the performance was the group’s inability to stay on topic with the audience suggestion (merely using the subject to initiate the first scene, and then never referring to it again), and the constant rotation of changing characters that was hard to follow and which felt like somewhat of a letdown after Fanny’s consistent character profiles.

Yet, Dumpster’s focus on neuroses, family dynamics and a healthy variety of character acting led to fast-paced fun that definitely kept the audience at the edge of their seats wondering what might come next. With a suggestion of “toaster,” this dynamic quartet presented scenes anywhere from neurotic housewives reading romance novels and discussing their feminine problems, to an all-out family war at the dinner table sparked by a little bit of sibling rivalry. With Dumpster, you’re never sure what’s lurking around the next corner, or in the next garbage bin.

bt6

Final Thoughts: Chemically Imbalanced Comedy is producing new comedy at highly affordable prices. Easily accessible and rarely frequented, you are almost definitely guaranteed a seat and plenty of laughs at this independent and developing venue.

Posted in Performing Arts, See 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
25 Feb 2013

Headquarters Beercade

WHAT: Headquarters Beercade
WHERE: 950 W. Wolfram St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

The beer-cade. If you were a kid growing up in the 80s or 90s and you haven’t gotten in on this concept yet, you’re A) Behind the Game; and B) probably going to sh*t yourself.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Headquarters Beercade, located in Lakeview, offers 37 vintage arcade games and craft beers. Chicago is home to another older beercade, Emporium, in Wicker Park, but now the North Side has realized how necessary this concept is for using the millennial generation’s nostalgia to profit their businesses. Headquarters is not your average Lakeview bar, nor does it cater to the usual North Side/Wrigleyville-esque crowd.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Alicia: To be perfectly honest, the closest I came to playing in an actual arcade was when I went to the Enchanted Castle or Discovery Zone, where I much more enjoyed playing redemption games like Skee Ball rather than video games, partly for the physical actions required, and mostly for the tickets.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t played arcade games before, even if my memories of Dig Dug are associated with my first real PC, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reminds me of my Super Nintendo set (which, by the way, I still play when I go home). Each of these games, however, is available arcade-style at Headquarters, and I was more than happy to play both – for free! Not to mention Pinball…the mere action of manipulating the spring launcher was enough to bring back a whirlwind of fun memories.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

I really enjoyed Headquarters, with my two major loves being their amazing original artwork all over the place and the FREE game playing. While I completely didn’t understand why sports were playing on their televisions (yes, I understand they’re trying to hit all demographics, but this didn’t seem to fit at ALL branding wise), I’ve heard that when there’s nothing big going on in the sports world they actually do air old episodes of shows like Double Dare and the like. I don’t know…I really think they should be airing Legends of the Hidden Temple. Then they’d have me hooked for life.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Adam: In actual fact, I haven’t really frequented that many arcades, nor do I think I would have wanted to when I was younger. Similar to Alicia, I too have fond memories of playing arcade-type games on the old Windows 95 or Nintendo, but having rarely physically visited an arcade myself, Headquarters was a bit like a blast from someone else’s past. Not that this mattered: the games are myriad and absolutely fun, while the atmosphere is laid-back, with friendly doormen and patrons alike.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

I got a chance to play (and complete) their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, located on the slightly raised upper level towards the front window. This is a four person game, so great to play with friends and, since it’s free, it doesn’t matter how many times you’re KOed. Other games on offer seemed extremely interesting and I’d love to return to play some more! In terms of the bar, I was slightly less impressed on this front. Somewhere between a craft beer spot and a regular joint, beers start at $6 for (supposedly) craft varieties, even though their craftiness is questionable. I would perhaps get the beer flight in future, but there’s no need to blow money on the bottles.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Final thoughts: A great group hangout spot, with many games available for multiple players simultaneously. On Tuesdays you can build your own flight of 5 craft beer tastings for $11, and on those days there are even Sitcom wars where they show two different sitcom episodes. Headquarters offers a sweet variety of arcade games to fill your need, whether you are a pinball fiend, a racer, a sports fan, or just want to play table space invaders with a beer in hand. A great place to bring out and really celebrate the kid inside of you, who’s just been waiting to pounce.

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

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