|
This place gets five stars for the wine list and cheese plate alone. Great upscale casual dining...
More 11 months ago
This place gets five stars for the wine list and cheese plate alone. Great upscale casual dining and Tuesdays are half price wine bottle night. The salads are especially varied and well presented.
Hide
|
|
I have written before but some things have changed that I have to tell you about.
First of all...
More
I have written before but some things have changed that I have to tell you about.
First of all they have added duck to the menu. A half of a roasted duck, totally boned, and marinated in a delicious sauce. It was so good I dreamed about it afterwards. Definitely worth a trip back.
Viet Bistro has their liquor license now and to add pleasure to your meal, try the perfectly chilled sake. You can buy a small bottle of any one of three varieties. Ours had the light sense of jasmine. You can also get it by the glass and try them all.
Now that the experienced crew has moved over from Pasteur the service is very good. Your water glass can't even get half empty. The food comes up timely. My only complaint was they were out of the dessert I wanted to try, a lemincello flavored dessert.
Pros: the food, the service
Cons: Should not have run out of dessert so early in the evening
Hide
|
|
Twist
Category:
People Watching
3412 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago,
Illinois 60657
This is by far the best tapas in Chicago. I recommend the tilapia and bacon wrapped dates, but...
More
This is by far the best tapas in Chicago. I recommend the tilapia and bacon wrapped dates, but you won't be disappointed with anything on the menu. The staff is friendly and will always offer suggestions. The resturant is small and you'll probably wait, but it's well worth it.
Pros: friendly staff, cozy,
Hide
|
|
As we arrived at Tocco at 8:28 PM for our 8:30 reservation, we were told that things would take 20...
More 2 months ago
As we arrived at Tocco at 8:28 PM for our 8:30 reservation, we were told that things would take 20 minutes since they were “waiting” for a few tables. Not a good start. But before we could even take a sip of our first round, we were seated and on our way to the tastiest Italian dinner we’ve had in a while.
The chef/owner of Tocco is not new on the scene. His Folia restaurant in the market district was one of the most affordable and tasty Italian meals in the city, occupying that rare nook of the Italian spectrum between La Scarola and Spiaggia. And with Tocco, he does it again.
For some reason, Italian restaurants have, over the years, become caricatures of themselves. Giant portions, overdoses of garlic, oceans of tomato sauce, and pasta pasta pasta. Fine-dining Italian was a contradiction in terms for those unfamiliar with the potential of a Spiaggia but even mid-priced restaurants like Topo Gigio kept the caricature alive and pretended to be fancy just by increasing prices. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.
How refreshing it then is to taste some very mainstream Italian dishes and be overwhelmed by their uniqueness. Pizza, ravioli and pasta may not sound like the makings of a memorable meal but Tocco did a truly amazing job with them. The Pomodorini pizza was as good as any Folia did and at budget-busting $16, the most expensive item of the night. It was pretty big though. Enough to stuff 2 normal people, just not us. And speaking of stuffed, the ravioli had a mix of ground seafood including crab, shrimp and probably whatever else was past its prime on refrigerator shelves. But you know what? It was great. When you order a seafood ravioli, you had better expect it to taste mildly fishy and here it only added to the flavor. Despite all this delicacy, the loudest applause must be bestowed upon the Pappard Bisamzio pasta. Steaming hot, it was prepared in a tomato/cream sauce that must have been the best ratio of tomato to cream I’ve ever tasted. Here was one dish that we could have eaten 5 times over but as before mentioned, Maggiano’s was never in the building.
In closing I would like to thank the Tocco management for not gouging their customers on drinks. A Martini these days can cost anywhere from 12 which is somewhat inappropriate, to 18 dollars which is the pinnacle of greed. Points then to a restaurant that still charges $10. It will not be forgotten. Unless, of course, I have a dozen of them.
Pros: Pasta, Pizza, Service, prices!!
Cons: Slightly disorganized.
Hide
|
|
Tapas Valencia
Category:
Spanish Restaurants
1530 S State St
Chicago,
Illinois 60605
|
|
|
|
Tapas Cafe & Grill
Category:
Spanish Restaurants
3952 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago,
Illinois 60613
Just keep walking -- The Chicken Bruschette was very dry - the peppers were soggy. The grilled...
More
Just keep walking -- The Chicken Bruschette was very dry - the peppers were soggy. The grilled shrimp was a little rubbery. The "Spanish Olives" were ok. The Sangria or was it Sprite - I've had better. And to finish it off it was over priced for what they served.
** The cafe latte was very good.
Hide
|
|
Shochu -- CLOSED
Category:
Restaurants
3313 N Clark St
Chicago,
Illinois 60657
(773) 348-3313
Unique dining experience - brunch has unusual but very tasty selections - recommend Hungryman...
More 2 years ago
Unique dining experience - brunch has unusual but very tasty selections - recommend Hungryman Futomaki, Pear ginger French toast & the Red Curry Shrimp. The best part is the food is good for you! Tried them a second time for after theater dining - small plates, wide variety & fun time. The skirt steak wrapped in butter lettuce & the bacon wrapped quail breast were exceptonal. Service is excellent and friendly. We shall return with friends. Shochu drinks are unique & interesting to order. Left feeling good!
Pros: Ambience, variety, unique menu items, private paito setting in back court yard
Cons: Shochu is new concept - doesn't define it as a restaurant
Hide
|
|
Sangria
Category:
Tapas Bar
901 W Weed St
Chicago,
Illinois 60622
My coworkers and I recently celebrated our bosses bday with a night at Sangria. My boss is a...
More
My coworkers and I recently celebrated our bosses bday with a night at Sangria. My boss is a pretty uptight guy but the service and menu here were so good that even HE had a good time! The staff was prepared to handle our large party (17) and even very nice about helping us. We're working on booking our holiday party there now. The valet helped TREMENDOUSLY!
Hide
|
|
Rustico Grill
Category:
Casual Date Spot
2515 N California Ave
Chicago,
Illinois 60647
|