Chef’s Station

**** (4 stars)

I love the outdoor ambiance of this place on a nice evening, although inside is cozy and pleasant, too. Service is great: professional yet friendly. It’s a good sign when I see the same personnel year after year. The food is really top notch, and I feel under-appreciated, as this is a much better meal than at Oceanique, and it’s actually even more French than that place. One of the best upscale dining experiences in Evanston for sure.

Chef’s Station
915 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 570-9821
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chefs-station-evanston

Quince

**** (4 stars)

Quince is almost a great restaurant. The service is superb. The dining rooms are homey and a touch formal. And the food is good. There’s just no over the top dish to take it to the next level. A good reliable upscale meal in Evanston, better than Oceanique, not as good as Stained Glass.

Quince
1625 Hinman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 570-8400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/quince-evanston-2

Siam Splendour

**** (4 stars)

A pretty decent Thai restaurant that has parking, quite the novelty in Evanston. The barbecued pork skewer appetizer and the Thai salads are the stand outs, and the Pad Thai is pretty good, too. The chive dumplings were doughy and undercooked. Extensive menu, so there’s lots to explore.

Siam Splendour
1125 Emerson St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 492-1008
http://www.yelp.com/biz/siam-splendour-evanston-2

Thai Sookdee Restaurant

*** (3 stars)

This is a completely mediocre Thai restaurant with one killer dish: Pad Thai. Their preparation of it isn’t even exactly traditional, but it is delicious, with medium dark noodles that really sop up the flavorful sauce. Unfortunately every thing else on the menu is quite forgettable. Our strategy is to order the Pad Thai delivered, and then add our own accompaniments.

Thai Sookdee Restaurant
1016 Church St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-8012
http://www.yelp.com/biz/thai-sookdee-restaurant-evanston

The Olive Mountain

**** (4 stars)

This place offers really authentic Middle Eastern food and at lunch the prices are crazy cheap. A great falafel sandwich, delicious side of hummus and a beverage is under $6. That’s nuts! PLus, it’s full table service, and the owner is always there to make sure things go right. Great restaurant.

The Olive Mountain
610 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-0380
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-olive-mountain-evanston

Trattoria Demi

*** (3 stars)

There aren’t a lot of authentic Italian places in Evanston, so Trattoria Demi is probably as close as you’re going to come. They make a good Caesar salad, and the pizza is serviceable. There’s nothing about the place that will really fool you into thinking your in a Trattoria in Italy, but it’s a perfectly fine restaurant.

Trattoria Demi
1571 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 332-2330
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trattoria-demi-evanston

Joy Yee’s Noodle Kitchen

*** (3 stars)

This place has a massive menu, with all types of Asian food. It’s big and busy and loud, and probably the best reason to go is for their huge assortment of beverages and ice cream drinks. 527 Cafe, right next door, offers better Korean and Thai food in a quieter environment.

Joy Yee’s Noodle Kitchen
521 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 733-1900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/joy-yees-noodle-kitchen-evanston

Cozy Noodles & Rice

*** (3 stars)

Cozy Noodles is a funky little cafe near Ace hardware, on Davis, but on the other side of the tracks from the business district. The striking thing about the place is the collections of tin toys, Pez dispensers, license plates, canned good, and other oddities that line the walls. Despite its name, it doesn’t serve comfort food (unless you’re from Southeast Asia), but rather Chinese and Thai food. Our food was good — “spicy” definitely means spicy — and the prices are very reasonable.

Cozy Noodles & Rice
1018 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 733-0101
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cozy-noodles-and-rice-evanston