Category Archives: new restaurants

Basking in the glow of the heat lamps set up on the spacious front patio of the new Old Oak Tap last week, my friends and I randomly began to lament the loss of former Division Street Tiki bar, Rock-A-Tiki. With fruity cocktails, a sand floor and palm tree trunk bar stools, the place teetered on cheesy Cancun vacation spot, but warmed us up just the same. So I was thrilled to read Phil Vettel’s post in The Stew about the reopening of retro Tiki bar Trader Vic’s, slated for the end of November. Zombie cocktails? I’m intrigued.

Butterfly is one of the restaurants that I love and hate because it offers both Japanese and Thai cuisine on their menu. My first thought is, how good can it be when they are trying to cover two major culinary bases? My second thought is, I don’t have to decide on only one Asian-food craving when I go there. They actually have some pretty decent sushi if I remember correctly, tasty rice dishes, teriyaki and a great pad see ew. Apparently, they also have some sort of deep fried golden chicken wing thing that I have yet to try. I’ve gotten take-out and dined in at the location at 1156 W Grand Avenue, and I was happy to spot a second West Town location opening at 1421 W. Chicago Avenue at the end of this month. I like that it’s going to be located in one of the older buildings on the street with a fire escape in front, and not lodged into some empty storefront of a new construction condo. I also liked looking up and seeing this guy:

The streets were flooding and the rain just wouldn’t stop, but there was still a line outside of Urban Belly last night. Chef Bill Kim’s (formerly of Le Lan) new dumpling house may be in a strip mall, tucked between a laundry mat, dry cleaner and dollar store, but ever since it opened late summer the masses have flocked to the cozy B.Y.O.B spot for dumplings, rice and noodle bowls. Come to think of it, never-ending downpours are actually a great excuse to indulge in chef Kim’s comforting pork and cilantro dumplings, udon noodles with shrimp and sweet chile lime broth and pork belly and pineapple rice. The counter service and communal dining tables make things casual, and the service is speedy and friendly, although slight tension ensued when our table-mates tried to gank our pork and cilantro dumplings. Their order arrived quickly thereafter and we both happily devoured our own made-from-scratch, refreshingly non-greasy dumplings. These dumplings are not to be messed with, and after the pork and cilantro, we went for the Asian squash, slightly sweet and served with orange segments. We’ll be back for duck and pho and chicken and mushroom. Although the rice bowl portions could be bigger, we were left feeling the perfect amount of full and properly warmed up for the nasty night (or maybe that was the side of spicy kimchee still in our system). Urban Belly’s open for lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun., torrential rain or shine. 3053 N. California, 773.583.0500

Pork and cilantro dumplings

Short rib and scallion rice

I’m not sure if too many people will notice the new Sully’s House (formerly Cafe Allure), but I am very excited to have a brand, spanking new lunch option (with beer!) near my daytime office. The casual spot will serve pub grub, sandwiches, salads with free Wi-Fi to boot. The owners (also of Salvatore’s Ristorante in Lincoln Park) are shooting for a mid-September opening. 1501 N. Dayton St.

Sounds strangely pirate-like, no?

Cocoa bean panna cotta with a crushed Whoppers-esque garnish (photo by TK)

I love me some Las Palmas, but I have very little love for the Bucktown Mexican restaurant when I walk in at 9:30PM after a party on Wednesday night and they’ve stopped serving dinner. Que pasa con that? Anyway, it was actually all meant to be as my hunger situation forced me to try Mado up the street. I was pretty much starving by the time the Lake Superior whitefish with cucumber and chili oil and the creamy polenta arrived at our table, but I would’ve displayed some serious scarf-action anyway. The smell from the wood-oven (there’s also a rotisserie and a wood-grill!) fills the place, but not so much that you smell of wood chipper when you leave. Mado uses it for their chicken with charred onion panzanella, lamb leg and said whitefish. We didn’t think it could get better until we got to dessert, which includes the best shortbread I’ve ever had, cocoa bean panna cotta, cheese and fresh fruit tarts. Run by husband and wife team Robert and Allison Levitt, the menu at Mado (written on a chalkboard along with local farms they frequent) changes daily with what’s in season. I still love the Palm, but I’ll be back to Mado for antipasti, meats, and the wood-grilled hanger steak. 1647 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.342.2340

The menu

Not ice cream, but buffalo ricotta with honey (yes, ridiculous) (photo by TK)

Sliders..cute, but I couldn't shake my meat cravings

Fresh maki sans the sashimi

Baja corn on the cob

"This ain't no beef" bulgogi

After an unfortunate lunchtime run-in with some strangely salty chicken at Pizza Capri (don’t ask), I was eager to enjoy a meatless (and presumably preservative-free) meal at the new Mana Food Bar on Division Street for dinner. The vegetarian restaurant is a welcome addition to the beer, baseball cap and bar food-soaked street, and reminded me of an urban tree house with cool carved wooden bar stools, wooden light fixtures, carpeted booths and exposed brick painted white. The tiny place was packed and perhaps understaffed, so it took a while to finally place our order, but once we did, the small plates arrived at the perfect pace. There are large options of virtually everything on the menu, but the small were big enough to share, and with all of the vegetables, rice, and more vegetables, prepare yourself for a world of bloat…in a good way. We loved the baja corn, perfectly spicy, salty and buttery and cut on an interesting diagonal. Vegetarians and health nuts will worship the truly veggie maki,  seasonal vegetables wrapped in collard greens. Carnivores at heart will want to douse them heavily in the ponzu sauce or mix in some of the “bulgogi” which is actually seasoned tofu. We liked the spicy sauce on the sliders but couldn’t help wanting the rice and mushroom “patty” to be an actual beef patty. The fresh asparagus ravioli in a spicy tomato cream sauce was actually the hit of the night, that and the fresh squeezed juices (carrot, orange and apple was delish, but a bit overpriced at $7 for what seemed like 8 Oz). Even without the meat, we left feeling full (but somehow still had room for bubble tea from Chinatown). But as for Mana, I’ll be back to try: sake cocktails, the avocado shake, the chickpea salad, more of the ravioli and green tea mousse for dessert. 1742 W. Division Street, 773.342.1742.