2 knives, 2 forks, 2 napkins, 5 house BBQ sauces, tray. Lillie’s Q, 1856 W. North Ave., 773.772.5500
Category Archives: new restaurants
On the table: Lillie’s Q
Filed under great for date, I like to eats, new restaurants, on the table
On the table: Watershed
Votive. Watershed, 601 N. State (under Pops).
Filed under great for date, new restaurants, on the table
Hiramasa crudo at Girl & the Goat
I love the detail of the sign, right down to the font
The bad part about trying to snag a table at Girl & the Goat these days without a res on a Saturday night is that, well, it’s impossible. BUT, with patience and appropriately affixed bar-stool eagle eyes you can, maaaybe, get a seat at the bar. That’s what happened to me my first time at the white-hot restaurant, and with an awesomely attentive bar staff (even when they are slammed!) and full menu, the experience was still amazing. From the housemade breads and butters (uh, coffee butter?) to the braised short ribs with edamame and fudgesicle dessert, everything we tried was truly ridiculous. But…I have to admit that I can’t stop thinking about the hiramasa crudo. A suggestion from our bartender, the combo of juicy crisp pork belly with aji aïoli and hiramasa crudo (yellowtail) lingers in my taste memory and is pretty much the first thing I utter when people ask me what they should order. I love not only the combo of crispy, juicy, warm pork belly, creamy aji aïoli cool crudo too delicious for words, but it’s just different, and new, and a refreshing menu item I haven’t seen or tried elseware. A lot of the dishes at the restaurant display ingredient combination brilliance: Smoked goat, black kale and ricotta on pizza, pig face, a sunny-side egg and cilantro, whipped fat back and bourbon, scallops and marcona almond butter..I could go on.. This restaurant is perpetually packed for a reason, with reservations on Open Table booked through October I hear (really?). So I will just have to keep the memory of the crudo in my mind until my next visit when I fall in love with another dish. Girl & the Goat, 809 W. Randolph, 312.942.6262
Hiramasa crudo
Filed under great for date, new restaurants
5 things I love about Nana…
1). Fresh yellow watermelon punch with sparkling water and blueberries..refreshing, not-too-sweet and would even be better with a splash of bubbly.
Watermelon punch
2). Delicious Mexican-inspired brunch dishes that are fresh, not-too-heavy and full of fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Huevos rancheros with crispy tortillas
3). The Benedicts…especially the Nanadict served on a pupusa corn flatbread with homemade chorizo.
Nanadict
4). Hearty waffles, like the corn oat with Greek yogurt and fresh raspberries. Other interesting options? Banana-hemp cakes and other whole wheat cake concoctions that change out.
Corn-wheat waffle with Greek yogurt
5). The bright, cheery room and Bridgeport bakery/antique exploration opportunities in the neighborhood…Nana, 3267 S. Halsted, 312.929.2486
Filed under cheap, tasty brunch, great for date, new restaurants
On the table: Urban Burger Bar
4 glasses, 4 napkins, 4 knives, 4 forks, 4 coasters. Urban Burger Bar, 1578 N. Clybourn, 312.255.0055
Filed under new restaurants, on the table
Coca-Cola Freestyle at Pei Wei
A preview of the new Pei Wei Asian diner chain (officially opening next Tuesday) had us stuffing our faces full of Korean barbecue beef, spicy tea-smoked chicken, pork pot stickers, wok-fried shrimp pad Thai and crab wontons, but we also couldn’t get over the Coca-Cola freestyle machine, a soda fountain of the future where obscure flavors like caffeine-free raspberry Coke, peach Sprite Zero, flavored Dasani waters and other Franken-flavors are available at the push of a touch screen (literally). The technology to create the “100-drink soda bar” involves precise measurements of various concentrated syrups and flavors spewed from inkjet printer cartridges so that raspberry meets classic Coke, strawberry meets Sprite, and peach meets Fanta with the perfect balance. Of course there’s Coke, Sprite plain-old water and the rest of the usual suspects, but there’s also lots of room for carbonated experimentation (read raspberry Mr. Pibb). Pei Wei, 2709 N. Elston, 773.687.0290
The home screen of Coke Freestyle
Sleek design, obscure flavors amid the originals
Filed under new restaurants, random spottings
Urban Burger Bar
Urban Burger Bar chalkboard sign
Tuna sashimi burger
The For-getta-bod-it...in daylight
Tempura mushrooms..damn this came out dark, but trust me they are still good
Malted milk ball shake
Filed under great for date, I like to eats, new restaurants, quick lunch
Sprinkles Cupcakes…finally
I blogged about the storefront, but the cupcakes behind the sweet façade are here after what seems like a five-plus-year wait. A super-fun opening party allowed us to try an array of flavors..my favorites? Red velvet (of course), Key lime (only available until Sept. 6), ginger lemon and peanut butter chip…must-try-soons? Summer cherry (you only have until Aug 1!), pumpkin, carrot..hell…pretty much the whole luscious lot. Enjoy a few tasty pics and head over their to support the “trend,” that, um, yeah, I’m not sick of. Sprinkles, 50 E. Walton, 312.573.1600
Sprinkles cupcakes for the tasting
Daily changing, seasonal selections abound
Oh, delish.
Attempt your own at home!
Filed under great for date, new restaurants, red velvet cupcake report
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