Storefront City Chicago

Archive for the tag “restaurants”

05 Feb 2013

Butcher & The Burger

WHAT: Butcher & The Burger
WHERE: 1021 W. Armitage Ave.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

(butcherandtheburger.com)

(butcherandtheburger.com)

A lot can be said for this lovely little spot that takes the old fashioned concept of the burger and gives it a modern twist. In keeping with the times, Butcher & The Burger allows for full customization, with patrons picking their meat (a choice of prime beef, turkey, grass fed beef, pork, salmon, elk, lentil brown rice, portobello, shrimp or bison), spice blend (everything from kosher salt and black pepper to umami), bun and toppings. All of this is served on a chopping block, which accentuates the location’s butchery credentials.

(butcherandtheburger.com)

(butcherandtheburger.com)

The ambience is old-timey and evokes an epoch where your local butcher was your friend and the burger shop a major hangout for the kids. No McDonalds back then, and a good thing too. While space is extremely limited, the coziness lends something to the experience that makes you okay with being squeezed up against the wall.

Adam: OK, I know what you’re going to say: why did you order the vegan option at a burger joint? And the answer is: it just seemed right. My philosophy is that if a place is going to have a solid menu, then the vegan option is perhaps the most important part–if you can succeed at that, you’re pretty much good all around. And boy, did they succeed!

(butcherandtheburger.com)

(butcherandtheburger.com)

My lentil burger was meaty and full, and only fell apart towards the end, which is more than I can say of other vegan burgers I’ve had. I went with the Chicago-style steakhouse rub, for a bit of traditionalism, which gave it a rather local kick. Encased in a whole wheat bun and topped off with lettuce, tomato, onion, wasabi mayo (this is great!), pickles, BBQ sauce, and goat cheese, I felt I was in luck.

(butcherandtheburger.com)

So why, you might ask, did I say you should only chance this spectacular burger experience? Well, it’s the little things. For example, on all our burgers, the cheese was a sprinkling at best, providing practically no flavor and therefore making me wonder why it was being offered. I also observed that some of the spices (such as sun fiery ghost pepper and coconut curry) were so very spicy that they overwhelmed any other essence in the burger. Such flavors need to be a little more balanced when it comes down to it.

(timeoutchicago.com)

(timeoutchicago.com)

Another issue was the price vs. size/what you get ratio. My burger cost $7.50 (they range up to $14.50 with no extras), and that included no sides, no drink, no nothing. You might argue that this is a gourmet restaurant with a special experience. The burgers are pretty good, but not that good. They should at least throw in a fries or drink, otherwise, the pretentious a-la-carte nature of the menu outweighs the homestyle cooking. I’m sorry, but you just can’t have a soup called Grandma’s onion soup and foie gras on the same menu. My verdict: perhaps go once to try it out and get a super customized burger you can’t get anywhere else. Then, don’t bother coming back.

Alicia: Yes, I went vegan too, but one of our guests went for the prime beef, so we do offer an account of an actual burger in this review. She ordered the burger medium on top a pretzel bun (which happens to cost $.50 extra, and worth it, according to her) with some other accoutrements. The burger came out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and boy was it vertical. Medium-sized patty at best, but darn tasty.

(butcherandtheburger.com)

(butcherandtheburger.com)

Meanwhile, I went a little crazy with my order. I really wanted a portobello burger, but they were out of that (disappointing), so I went with the lentil-brown rice option with their coconut/curry/honey spice blend, goat cheese, delicious dijon mustard and wasabi mayo, onions, pickles and -get this- a LETTUCE bun. All of this placed between two slices of iceberg lettuce. You’d think all of these additions (and on top of that a burger made of lentils) would be the messiest thing I ever ate. Not the case! It all stayed perfectly within the ‘bun’ and I was able to enjoy all of the tastes without muddying it with bread (I hate that). The coconut/curry/honey spice blend was the perfect level of spiciness and uniqueness without being too un-burger like. All-in-all, a win!

(butcherandtheburger.com)

(butcherandtheburger.com)

Final thoughts: We give Chef/Partner Allen Sternweiler’s place props. They’ve offered a location where foodies and those who just like burgers can both be happy. On top of that, it’s BYOB, so you can carry in your favorite 6-pack without breaking more of the bank than your burger might already. But would we go back again? Perhaps not for their normal lunch or dinner burgers, but we WOULD come back to try their frozen custard perhaps, and definitely their breakfast burgers, which cost the same as they do at lunch and dinner but also come with two eggs any style and small fries. Fancy a burger brunch anyone?

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

Perennial Virant

WHAT: Perennial Virant
WHERE: 1800 N. Lincoln Ave.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

(perennialchicago.com)

(perennialchicago.com)

If there’s one thing that you can take away from Lincoln Park’s Perennial Virant its the ever-changing menu that moves with the turning of the seasons. One can view this from two perspectives: either it provides an endlessly rotating variety of fare and dissuades palate boredom, or it makes the process between visits majorly confusing. We would say that Perennial Virant manages to tread the line between the two quite well, but not well enough for us to outright recommend it.

Adam: When you enter Perennial Virant, the first thing you are struck by is the cacophony of voices intermixed with inappropriately loud music. OK, that is a little harsh…you are also greeted by a beautiful open space with the modernist touch of raw open metalwork and comforting leather seats. However, the sheer pulsating nature of the music required us to ask for its lowering, a request that was only partially fulfilled.

But, I’m too glum! The wait staff were immediately attentive to our service needs, providing the table with deliciously delicate complimentary bread, and a choice of wine. While I decided to sip on the Sauvignon Blanc, Quintay “Clava” 2011 (Casablanca Vly, CHL), I can highly recommend the Grenache Blanc, Famille Perrin “Reserve” 2011 (Rhone, FRA), which was enjoyed by Alicia.

(perennialchicago.com)

(perennialchicago.com)

We decided upon a starter to share, and honed in on the butternut squash panna cotta, mainly because of its unusual combination of the aforementioned squash with caramelized egg, prairie breeze cheddar, apple, and pickled onions. I am afraid to say, we were not impressed. It, honestly, seemed dull, and once you got over the fact that panna cotta could be an appetizer as well as a dessert…well, let’s just say you would be wiser to try the beet salad (fantastic and worth a taste).

(perennialchicago.com)

(perennialchicago.com)

For an entree, the duck leg confit did me nicely. Almost unnaturally, wafer thin slices of duck graced the platter, laid so daintily that it might almost be sacrilege to move them. Drizzled lightly with duck jus accompanied by vanilla melon jam, perhaps the most interesting side was the persimmon pudding cake which embodied the traditional elements of a real pudding: supple and succulent with a most wonderful, herby taste. Persimmon was known to the Greeks as the “Wheat of Zeus”, after all. Pickled sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes) and red cabbage complete this dish, which is to be highly recommended as a fine piece of duck.

Tea finished the night, and a good selection they have too. I enjoyed the Earl Grey, served in full teapot with loose leaves. Definitely a good cap to the evening.

(perennialchicago.com)

(perennialchicago.com)

Alicia: My favorite aspect of Perennial Virant is the aesthetic, in particular the clear light bulbs that fully occupy the space and hang all along the ceiling. It’s trendy in a very unassuming and homey way, and had me thinking ‘Nikola Tesla on vacation to the farm’ the entire night. My least favorite aspect were the oddly placed bathrooms, which were located outside of the actual restaurant in the lobby of the Hotel Lincoln.

For a Chicago Gastropub/New American restaurant, Perennial Virant is a little more vegetarian/pescatarian friendly than others, but it’s still pretty limited. Many in our party, including myself, ordered the pan-roasted rainbow trout, which was accompanied by grits, greens, a sweet corn medley (what they call “chow chow”) and a spicy butter sauce. You would think this dish sounded okay for pescatarians, but in fact the greens are cooked in bacon fat and are accompanied with bits of bacon as well. Luckily, I’m not limited in this fashion, but it’s really annoying when a place doesn’t list all of these components in their menu descriptions, and when they severely limit one’s options if they have any dietary restrictions. Worse yet, our vegetarian had one option, a vegetarian skillet, and even that was so spicy as to be unpalatable. After taking a bite, even I had to have a few sips of wine before I could enjoy eating anything else.

(chicagomagazine.com)

(chicagomagazine.com)

However, when the waitress was made aware that some of our party could not consume pork, she was readily able to assist in menu recommendations and even warned me that my dish contained pork once I ordered. As for the dish itself, while the sauce and corn were almost too spicy, I thought the dish as a whole was a success. The fish was beautifully cooked and stood up to the loud and savory greens, with the spicy corn and butter cutting through it all with a sweet punch. I expected a few more surprises and more unique flavors, but it was successfully ‘homey.’

(perennialchicago.com)

For dessert, our party ordered pastry chef Elissa Narow’s mint chocolate sundae with chocolate clusters and fudge sauce, a maple cheesecake and a caramel apple crepe with butterscotch ice cream, candied chestnuts and fresh cooked apples. All three desserts were delicious, with fresh picked mint enveloped in dark chocolate for the sundae and a sumptuous crepe with tangy caramel. Our favorite of the night by far, however, was the maple cheesecake, which was amazingly luxurious with exciting cameos from fresh, tart cranberries.

Final Thoughts: Perhaps our only real criticisms of Perennial Virant are Chef Paul Virant’s inconsistent menu and the unwarranted racket. It’s not that good food isn’t served here, it is–as our enjoyment of most of it goes to show. But, the “virant” of quality is not really up to snuff: a restaurant needs to have a menu that is delicious for all who patronize it, not just the few who are lucky enough to choose the right dishes.

Tea!

Tea!

If you’re vegetarian, this restaurant has nothing of real merit for you, and we would advise you steer clear. If not, start out with the beet salad, accompanied by one of their white wines. Order the duck for your main and the cheesecake or a scoop of plain ice cream for dessert and finish the night with a cup of Earl Grey. With this particular menu, the right choice is everything.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
28 Jan 2013

Falafill

WHAT: Falafill
WHERE: Loop: 72 E. Adams St.; Lakeview: 3202 N. Broadway Ave.; Oak Park: 1053 Lake St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

(eatfalafill.com)

(eatfalafill.com)

If you are in the Middle East, fast street food is probably not your first port of call as a tourist, with everyone fervently suggesting that you only dine at “proper” restaurants to avoid any Curse of the Pharaohs that might befall you. Our personal experience in the region has taught us that this couldn’t be further from the truth, and so Falafill makes perfect sense to us: good, wholesome, Levantine food right here in Chicago.

(eatfalafill.com)

(eatfalafill.com)

At Falafill, if you don’t go veg, go home. Well, they do offer wraps with steak, turkey or spicy sujuk sausage, but don’t be a chickpea cop-out. Instead, choose from their classic garlicky falafel, their yellow curry falafel, or a seasonal falafel (we’ve heard they serve up a mighty fried butternut squash delicacy).

(eatfalafill.com)

(eatfalafill.com)

You then have three container options – a pita, a wrap or a bowl (which also comes with pita). If you’re completely ravenous, we suggest you ‘go bowl’, as you can fill the bowl up with unlimited salad bar options. Yet, if you’re smart and sly about it, you can almost fit as much into the wrap (average price of about $6) as the bowl, if you’re not afraid of it completely falling apart on you, and you’ll save a buck or two.

Mezza Bar (examiner.com)

Mezza Bar (examiner.com)

The ultimate victor at Falafill, however, is the Mezza Bar, which you hit up after you receive your freshly made wrap/bowl (or, which you can instead order a la carte). Yes, there’s your usual hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh and Jerusalem salad, but wait – there’s more! You can continue piling high with muhammara (roasted red peppers, walnuts, chili & pomegranate), minted cabbage, couscous with fruit, roasted beets, black beans and corn, bazergan (cracked wheat with pomegranate molasses), sauces and a bunch of other mouth-watering additions.

(eatfalafill.com)

(eatfalafill.com)

Alicia: Knowing that Falafill was a chain, and having eaten falafel everywhere from London to Toronto to Paris (L’As Du Fallafel in the Marais district is still, hands down, the best falafel anywhere), I didn’t have high hopes for this place. I wasn’t going any way but pita (I mean, come on, that’s where a falafel belongs), but I decided to be a bit more adventurous and ordered the curry falafel (a marriage of Mediterranean flavors and curry, perhaps the best spice in the world?). I then piled on the pickled vegetables, especially the turnips, because I was really a rabbit in another life. And luckily, compared to other Mediterranean salad bars in the area, this one isn’t priced by weight.

Oak Park location (custommade.com)

Oak Park location (custommade.com)

By the end of the salad bar, I was a master at stuffing as much as I could into that pocket without it falling apart, but I definitely looked like a pig doing so. But oh was it worth it. The curry falafels were slightly crunchy on the outside and moist and soft on the inside, with a slight kick. I’ve had better, yes, but paired with the huge array of accoutrements, this place really raises the bar for Chicago falafels.

(eatfalafill.com)

(eatfalafill.com)

Adam: As I’m writing this, it’s snowing outside and freezing cold. All I am longing for is to be under the hot sun, and what better way to replicate that experience than by visiting a Middle Eastern eatery. Falafill is true to its name, and really lets you pack it in. I also ordered the curry falafel (why not) and loaded on the usuals of hummus, tabbouleh and Jerusalem salad, but I wanted to go spicer, so harissa (Tunisian hot chili sauce) and plenty of it. My concoction can thus be considered a thoroughly north African affair, with the final addition of vegetables and za’atar.

(eatfalafill.com)

(eatfalafill.com)

Let’s be frank: this falafel left my mouth as hot as the Negev in July (and that’s pretty darn hot). And that’s how I like it, so it was perfect to warm my bones.

Another worthy feature of Falafill is the interior design. It’s not particularly regionally specific, but evokes a clean and natural environment conducive to relaxation and consumption. So, yes, I’m a fan.

Lakeview location (chicago.eater.com)

Lakeview location (chicago.eater.com)

Final Thoughts: Creamy hummus, falafels that stand on their own, and a superior mezza bar make this place a definite go-to. The only real drawback is the limited (and slightly uncomfy) seating, so finding a spot to sit for a larger group of friends might be a bit difficult.

They also have what’s called Chefs for Charity, where local Chicago chefs create unique sandwiches on a monthly basis, and proceeds go to their charity of choice. Where else might you get a chance to taste the culinary delights of Stephanie Izard (Girl & the Goat) and Bill Kim (Urban Belly) for a mere $6, AND get a chance to donate to charity while scarfing down your dinner?

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
25 Jan 2013

Raj Darbar

WHAT: Raj Darbar (Indian Cuisine)
WHERE: 2660 N. Halsted St.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

(rajdarbar.com)

(rajdarbar.com)

As connoisseurs of Indian cuisine (with backgrounds in both American and British Indian cookery), the Storefront City team was elated to find a subcontinent restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood which we could enjoy. Boasting north Indian food based on Mughal recipes, we really did believe that this location would whisk us to the imperial royal court after which it was named. Unfortunately, the only thing royal about this place are the prices that crown your bill, while the food is unfulfilling and inauthentic and the service lackluster at best.

Adam: Due to my upbringing in England, I have extensive experience with British Indian cuisine and have been consuming these delicacies since childhood. My local Indian establishment was frequented by my family and I for many years, and I have enjoyed Indian food across the UK, from Edinburgh to London and even on the Dover coast. Nearly all of it was fabulously exotic and delivered to my palate a sensual experience.

(chicagodining.com)

(chicagodining.com)

Raj Darbar cannot even claim to be a decent Indian restaurant. I decided to try the chicken shahi korma, as I am partial to the dish, only to find that, according to this restaurant, said korma contained zero almonds (one of the very bases of the korma). Additionally, it seemed to me that a locally produced cheese had been added (extremely strange), along with cashews and raisins. I’m not particularly against the latter two items, but let’s get one thing clear: this is not the korma you are looking for! For a real (and cheaper) experience, try Devon Ave. or London.

Alicia: The menu at Raj Darbar is really exciting and different from most Indian menus in Chicago, and contains dishes you won’t find at the more well-known India House and India Garden, such as Baigan Piaz Masala (sauteed eggplant with ginger root) and Malai Kofta (minced vegetable balls in a cream sauce with cashews and raisins). To complement our meat dish of Chicken Korma I ordered the Vegetable Jalfreazi, an assortment of vegetables with tomatoes and onions in a curry sauce, which sounded pretty unique without being too heavy, as I knew the korma would be cream-based. Boy was it a disappointment – the vegetables were overcooked and the sauce both oily and gloopy.

(chicagodining.com)

(chicagodining.com)

But it wasn’t just the food I found disappointing (although our accompaniments of vegetable biryani and naan were equally underwhelming). The service was absolutely terrible and incredibly awkward. The waiter didn’t bother to refill our glasses even once, even though we were practically the only customers in the restaurant. And when he did serve us, such as taking our order, he seemed very twitchy, nervous and unfriendly. Not the best customer service.

(rajdarbar.com)

(rajdarbar.com)

Final thoughts: It is perfectly apparent to us that Raj Darbar has duped the neighborhood into thinking that north Indian food should be served in this sub-standard, slapdash fashion. Try out Hema’s Kitchen for a better taste or even the Curry Hut in Highwood for fantastic Nepalese and north Indian food. Raj Darbar might name itself after the Royal Court, but it only deserves to be cross-examined in the Court of Reviews and found grossly, wantendly and plainly guilty of providing a criminally terrible experience.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
22 Jan 2013

Bullhead Cantina

WHAT: Bullhead Cantina (Taco and Whiskey Bar)
WHERE: 1143 N. California Ave.

OUR RATING: Do It!

(bullheadcantina.com)

(bullheadcantina.com)

Interestingly, this particular eatery is west, rather than south, of the metaphorical border that is bourgeois Chicago. Yet its distinctive blend of hole-in-the-wall roadtrip interior design, artistic taco selection and hipster tunes beating through concealed speakers means that you will be enjoying more than just snacks at this cantina.

We decided to visit the Humboldt Park’s Bullhead Cantina on Thursday, because we’d heard that their epic 12 taco sampler, an array of three different taco morsels from their extensive menu, was only $12. Unfortunately, that doesn’t include the steak, brisket or tilapia, but who cares–this place is a winner. We had two guests with us, so we ordered two platters, and were able to try six different varieties of taco:

(yelp.com)

(yelp.com)

Beer Grilled Chicken – A Mexican classic, except this one is tossed in PBR with a hint of lime along with lettuce, tomato and sour cream. We recommend you drizzle it with a chimichurri sauce or the spicy lime sauce for a less traditional combination. Of all the tacos we tried, this is perhaps our least favorite, but the sauce makes up for most deficiencies in the preparation of the chicken.

Grits & Kale – While not your typical taco filling, or a filling for anything, really, these creamy stone ground grits were accompanied by sautéed kale in white wine, garlic and harissa, and a pineapple bourdon reduction. The grits were mouth-watering, but our biggest concern with these tacos was the severe lack of kale. The lack of veg in these impelled us to add a bunch more lettuce and pickled cabbage which accompanied our twelve tacos.

(chicago.seriouseats.com)

(chicago.seriouseats.com)

Taco de Avocado – The butter of the Incas is presented in a new light here, along with tomato, gypsy pepper (first time we’ve heard of that!), lettuce, grilled onion, and a topping of cheese and chile sour cream. It’s a rich one, but the eloquent spicing of the avocado creates a new type of experience worth the extra calories.

Marinated Grilled Portobello – These mushrooms were grilled to perfection, and laden with avocado, grilled red onion, roasted corn, rustic tomato sauce and finished with sour cream. Their texture was riveting and their smokiness intoxicating – especially when paired with their house chipotle sauce. This isn’t like anything you could get on Portobello Road.

(chicago.seriouseats.com)

(chicago.seriouseats.com)

Grilled Sweet Potato – We’ve seen these new-age tacos before, but these came with pickled cabbage, grilled red onion, roasted corn and a creamy lime and avocado sauce. Well, at least that’s what the menu said. However, we didn’t receive any corn and really, while perfectly tasty, these were particularly underwhelming.

Roasted Beets – The table favorite, these beets were tossed in a citrus reduction with grilled red onion, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, chile powder and shredded cheese. Decadent, simple, savory and sweet in all the right places.

What really made these tacos special was the hand-made corn tortillas, which were just the perfect thickness to hold up against all the food and sauces packed into them, but still melt in your mouth. After going through them all and still having fillings leftover, it was almost painful when we didn’t take our waitress up on her offer for more of these, but our stomachs were quite full enough already.

(yelp.com)

(yelp.com)

What we missed out most on, perhaps, was their huge whiskey selection, and we would definitely come back for their every day special, which for a measly $6 gets you one of their scrumptious tacos paired with a PBR tall boy and a shot of the whiskey of the day. And if we weren’t lucky enough to come back here on a Thursday, we would jump at the chance to try their steak and brisket tacos. We would probably drop the beer chicken, sweet potato and grits, but we’d never part with those beets and avocado.

(bullheadcantina.com)

(bullheadcantina.com)

Make sure you bring cash, because this place is so focused on the food, they forgot to bring along the credit card scanner. Service was brisk and consistent, although starters were seemingly offered as freebies (they are NOT), so make sure to check the menu before acquiescing to the server’s gracious offers.

You don’t always think of tacos, whiskey and Hot Chip going together, but Bullhead Cantina does this effortlessly and makes the trek out there completely worth it.

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

La Gondola

WHAT: La Gondola (Italian Cuisine)
WHERE: 2914 N. Ashland Ave.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

(lagondolachicago.com)

You don’t have to travel to the boot of Western Europe to enjoy some amazing Italian food. Chicago is jam-packed with restaurants serving this popular cuisine, and not just in Little Italy. But next time you’re craving some homemade pasta or some thin crust pizza, stay far, far away from La Gondola.

La Gondola has two Lakeview locations, one at 1258 West Belmont Avenue and the other at 2914 N. Ashland Avenue. We don’t understand why they would place their two locations so near to one another and cannibalize each other’s market, but frankly, we couldn’t care less.

(tripadvisor.com)

(tripadvisor.com)

We made reservations at La Gondola hoping for a relaxed and intimate evening, enjoying one another’s company. When we arrived at the Ashland site we were a little surprised at its strip mall location, but undeterred. Some of the best foodie spots are off the beaten path.

The interior of La Gondola is extremely tiny, fitting a little more than half a dozen tables. Intimate? Yes, we suppose it’s pretty cozy, albeit a bit claustrophobic. The decor is nothing particularly special, but you’re able to get away from the parking-lot exterior rather well.

(lagondola.com)

(lagondolachicago.com)

Once we sat down, our night quickly got off to a terrible start, with our waiter bringing [warm, fresh] bread to our table and speaking to us in a horribly annoyed and condescending manner. We’re not entirely sure what his problem was, but again, we don’t care–just know that we were immediately put off. We’ve had our fair share of poor service (or lack thereof), so we tried to move on and instead focused on their gigantic and delicious sounding menu.

(lagondola.com)

(lagondolachicago.com)

Despite usually ordering two different things to try new flavors, we both loved the sound of the Mostaccioli Salmanate with fresh sliced mushrooms and smoked salmon in a tomato and cream sauce over mostaccioli. After ordering with Mr. Horrible Waiter, we waited what seemed like ages, only to receive two [heapingly] cold plates of salt with salmon pasta. Don’t get us wrong – we love our salt, but this was the saltiest dish we’ve ever tasted, and almost sent it back. However, after waiting such a long time and having to deal with Mr. Horrible Waiter, we really just wanted to eat and get through the dinner.

Soon ready to leave, we presented our waiter with a Groupon we had purchased. However, apparently, we were $2 off the necessary amount ‘needed to use the Groupon’ (we’ve never had that problem before), so we ordered a cannoli to try to round out the night. What did Mr. Horrible Waiter bring instead? Basically a few tiny dry rolls stuffed with minimal pistachios. Yum.

This place is way too pricey (entrees average around $20), way too rude, and way too unexceptional for you to even step foot in their parking lot, unless you plan to shop at another store in the strip mall.

It’s a perfect way to ruin a date though, if that’s what you’re after.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
02 Jan 2013

Ethiopian Diamond

WHAT: Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant & Bar
WHERE: 6120 N. Broadway St.

OUR RATING: Do it!

Chicago has a huge amount to offer in terms of more exotic cuisines, so much so, in fact, it is often easy for one to try a cuisine at a sub-par restaurant and have your opinion of that region’s delicacy tainted. Don’t let this happen to you and try only the best!

(Photo courtesy of chicagogluttons.com)

(Photo courtesy of chicagogluttons.com)

Ethiopian Diamond, luckily, is well above sub-par, and is perhaps Chicago’s finest food from the Horn of Africa. We say this as people who have tried the other Ethiopian restaurants in town, to find none better in character and flavor than the Diamond. Perhaps you would not think of African as your first cuisine of choice, but we can assure you that this up-and-coming region has unknown delights that any true cosmopolitan should make it their duty to try. From the tinny, but welcome buzz of traditional music, to the giant oil murals paintings adorning the walls, depicting the great sites of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Diamond creates an atmosphere of foreign exploration.

Injera

Injera

One of the most unique aspects about Ethiopian Diamond is the ritual of communal eating. Although you may order individual entrees, all entrees are served on the same platter atop injera, a pancake-like bread made of wheat and teff flour. Diners are also served individual pieces of injera, from which smaller pieces are broken off to serve as utensils for the many foods. Injera from Ethiopian Diamond is a little more light and lemony compared to some other Ethiopian restaurants we have been to, and we love it.

Sambusas (ethiopiandiamond.com)

Sambusas (ethiopiandiamond.com)

Ethiopian Diamond has an enormously extensive menu, with a wide variety of vegetarian, beef, chicken, lamb and seafood entrees, most in the form of watt, a stew. Dishes range from mild to pretty spicy. They also serve sambusas for appetizers, which are quite comparable to samosas, with a thin dough shell surrounding vegetables or minced meats. The dough of sambusas, when compared to samosas, is, however, much thinner.

Although we have frequented Ethiopian Diamond several times, on our latest visit a group of five of us ordered five unique vegetarian dishes. We ordered the Yemisir Watt (red lentils with onions in a spicy sauce), the Kik Alicha (split peas in a more mild sauce with onion, garlic and ginger), Gomen (chopped collard greens in a mild sauce with onions and garlic), Quosta (chopped spinach in a sauce with onions and garlic), and Tikel Gomen (cabbage and carrots cooked in a mild sauce).

When our platter arrived, we discovered that our dishes were also lovingly accompanied with a small portion of Yatkilt Watt (string beans, carrots and potatoes in a mild sauce of onions, garlic and ginger), Dinich Alicha (potatoes and carrots in a mild sauce of onions, garlic and ginger), and the usual light salad of romaine lettuce, onions and tomatoes in the center of the platter.

Starting at top left (Tikel Gomen, Quosta, Dinich Alicha, Yemisir Watt, Kik Alicha, Yatkilt Watt, Gomen, and salad at center)

Starting at top left: Tikel Gomen, Quosta, Dinich Alicha, Yemisir Watt, Kik Alicha, Yatkilt Watt, Gomen (also, salad at center)

Our party was more than happy to dig in, with service having taken a little longer than we have experienced in the past. Table favorites included the Tikel Gomen and the Quosta, with the Gomen coming in last (but delicious nonetheless). A word to the wise – when consuming this delicious (and GIANT) platter, make sure to save a little room for the injera separating the serving platter from the stews. The juices from the stews permeate the bread making every last bite more and more succulent.

While a fantastic experience in all, some individual policies of Ethiopian Diamond might rub diners the wrong way. Although entrees are large, sharing when each individual has not ordered an entree incurs a $5.00 fee, which seems slightly antithetical to the stated aim in the menu where it is claimed that sharing should be encouraged to foster “bonds of loyalty and friendship”. This policy leads to the ordering of plenty of food and the definite need to box-up the leftovers. In essence, you get to keep enjoying the food long after you’re finished at the restaurant, but we personally don’t like being charged artificial fees that control our dining choices. Additionally, like many restaurants, a $5.00 corkage fee is added to each bottle of BYOB, which is clearly meant to encourage patrons to purchase the wide variety of excellent wines and beers on offer. However, such a fee rings out as unnecessary small print to a customer. If you are at a restaurant, the last thing you want to think about are rules and regulations. Wait staff are friendly and cordial, however, offering frequent refills on water and bread.

Honey Wine (ethiopiandiamond.com)

We were much too full, but the restaurant also serves a variety of desserts, honey wine, and really legitimate Ethiopian tea and coffee. They also serve a special $15 lunch menu from 11am-3pm every day, which includes an entree and coffee or tea. If you make a trip to their second location in Rogers Park (Ethiopian Diamond II at 7537 N. Clark St) on a Sunday, you can also dig into their all-you-can-eat buffet. We’ve never done this, and aren’t quite sure it’d be the same communal-eating experience, but who knows?

If you want to sample all of these delicacies in one trip, however, you may need to fast for a few days beforehand and you better make sure to bring lots and lots of friends!

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
27 Dec 2012

Glazed and Infused Doughnuts

WHAT: Glazed and Infused (doughnuts)
WHERE: Lincoln Park Location (939 W. Armitage Ave)

OUR RATING: Do it!

Ever since those Dutch settlers introduced the United States to doughnuts in the distant past, America has had a love affair with the delectably fried treat. From Dunkin’ to Krispy Kreme, doughnuts have been a staple of the working American in need of a quick treat while on the way to work or on the road.

Glazed and Confused staff (courtesy of DNAinfo.com Chicago, Paul Biasco)

Glazed and Confused staff (courtesy of DNAinfo.com Chicago, Paul Biasco)

In keeping with this tradition, we stopped off at the pre-grand opening of the new Lincoln Park location of Glazed and Infused to pick up a free holiday treat. Glazed and Infused have four other stores: West Loop (813 W Fulton Market), Wicker Park (Francesca’s Forno – 1553 N Damen Ave), Streeterville (Rafaello Hotel – 201 E. Delaware Pl) and Little Italy (Davanti Enoteca – 1359 W. Taylor St).

It was fate for us to stumble upon this joint in our own backyard after having seen their location in the Rafaello Hotel on the night of “Sweet on Scotch,” and while also having sampled some of their mini doughnuts when visiting Topman/Topshop’s Pop Up Shop.

Glazed and Infused - Lincoln Park (courtesy of goglazed.com)

(Courtesy of goglazed.com)

This location of Glazed and Infused is conveniently located, being mere steps away from the turnstiles of the Armitage Brown/Purple Line. For the pre-grand opening, apparently, a swarm of commuters had descended upon the store (which has not officially opened yet and is still undergoing renovations) and had picked the place clean. Luckily, this gave us time to peruse an info card with all the possible flavor combinations on offer.

(courtesy of goglazed.com)

(courtesy of goglazed.com)

All items on the Glazed and Infused seasonal Winter menu are priced at $3 (except for the Vanilla Bean, at $2). Doughnuts include: Raised – vanilla bean glazed, candy cane twist, apple fritter; Cake – classic old fashioned, gingerbread old fashioned, carrot cake; Specialty – salted caramel crunch, chocolate chip cookie, egg nog-bourbon bismark; Premium – maple bacon long john, mint chocolate cake, crème brûlée. They’ve also got a few additional doughnuts on their regular menu.

When the truck carrying our long-awaited morning snack arrived, we were more than pleasantly surprised. The doughnuts were HUGE and not at all your traditional doughnut (thus totally worth the price point). These candy-cane shaped peppermint flavored gems, deliciously iced in red and white with just the right amount of space to hold on during your eating experience. In fact, we couldn’t finish the whole thing in one sitting, and managed to salvage it to go with afternoon tea later that day.

Candy Cane doughnuts (courtesy of Glazed and Infused)

Candy Cane doughnuts (courtesy of Glazed and Infused)

Our verdict on Glazed and Infused is simple: these are darn good doughnuts! Skip Dunkin’ and move aside Krispy Kreme, Chicago has a new guy on the block and we’re nuts for their doughnuts.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Post Navigation

Newer Entries →