Category Archives: Illinois

Michael

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***** (5 stars)

A really top-notch French restaurant with extremely reasonable prices for what you get. The wine pairings, in particular, are extremely attractive.

The restaurant is the latest project of award-winning chef Michael Lachowicz. During our Thursday night visit the place was almost full. What we received was a delicious five-course French meal for two people with matching wine pairings. Each course was super, and the matching wines paired perfectly with the food. We had:

   goat cheese puff amuse bouche (we were actually served this twice, which was great!)
   corn soup (paired with an Italian white)
   zucchini with goat cheese in pastry
   seared salmon (paired with a white Burgundy)
   roast pork in pastry (paired with an Argentinian Cabernet Sauvignon)
   chocolate souffle with chocolate sauce and strawberries
   chocolate truffles

Service seemed well-intentioned, but not really at the caliber of the food. This was one of the dressier restaurants I’ve been to around Evanston, with many of the men in coats and ties. That was ironic, because the owner is extremely friendly and casual, working the front desk in jeans and a short sleeve shirt!

This place has definitely made it onto our regular dining list.

Michael
64 Green Bay Rd
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 441-3100
http://www.yelp.com/biz/michael-winnetka

Terra an American Bistro

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***** (5 stars)

This is a small plates sort of place, so we sampled some smoked salmon, hummus, Margherita flatbread and some fish tacos. It was all good, and the hummus plate, which is more like a whole Lebanese meal including falafel and olives, is a particularly good deal.

The menu is really interesting, and warrants several repeat visits. Service was well-intentioned but not quite as professional as the food. The place was very busy, due to the trendy vibe and good prices. The bar looks nice, too.

Terra an American Bistro
2676 Green Bay Rd
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 563-9100
http://www.yelp.com/biz/terra-an-american-bistro-evanston

Girl & the Goat

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***** (5 stars)

The Girl and the Goat is the new restaurant by Stephanie Izard, winner of Top Chef. Barely open a year, it has already won a James Beard award, and is the hottest restaurant in Chicago. I reserved our table three months in advance.

I was a bit wary of going the day after Moto, and some of the menu items seemed a bit scary (oven roasted pig’s face). What a delightful surprise this restaurant turned out to be! We loved all the plates we shared. We tried all three fresh baked breads of the day. Each was served with two different accompaniments, such as Worchestshire butter. Our favorite dishes were:

Wood fired chicken with fried pickles and grilled naan.
Sauteed cauliflower with pickled peppers, parmesan cheese, mint leaves and pine nuts.
Goat belly confit with lobster and crab.

Service was really professional yet friendly, and the vibrant environment and wood smoke filled room is the perfect setting for such fun and tasty food. The Girl and the Goat is a new Chicago favorite.

Girl & the Goat
809 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 492-6262
http://www.yelp.com/biz/girl-and-the-goat-chicago

527 Cafe

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**** (4 stars)

Cafe 527 is a new Asian place that had the nerve to open next door to the popular Joy Yee’s Noodle Shop. The plan seems to be working, as 527 was packed when I was there for lunch. The atmosphere is bright and the counter service is friendly. The Korean BBQ taco I had was delicious, filled with bulgogi beef, kimchee, rice and cilantro, and served on seaweed rather than a tortilla. The miso shrimp salad was also tasty, although the shrimp was the least interesting part. The crunchy lettuce and cabbage mixture was enhanced by green peppers, scallions, and edamame. It went well with a miso based honey mustard dressing. There are lots of choices posted on makeshift signs, so be sure to check out the offerings not on the “official” menu board. Definitely a great new Asian option for Evanston.

527 Cafe
527 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 332-2233
http://www.yelp.com/biz/527-cafe-evanston

Mumbai Indian Grill

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**** (4 stars)

This small restaurant offers quite tasty and authentic Indian food, and at least at lunch the prices are quite fair. I had the Chicken Korma. There seems to be some disagreement about what goes into Korma sauce, with some places adding spices that turn it pink or red, while others make the traditional white. This was the pink variety, and it was savory and delicious, and mild as advertised. I love garlic naan bread, so I ordered that, rather than the plain naan that comes with the lunch, and took rice instead with my chicken. Both the rice and the garlic naan were excellent, and the two chutney accompaniments — tamarind and cilantro — were perfect. A tiny salad was as also on the plate, really just some shredded lettuce that might have been lightly dressed, but it actually served well to clear the palate. The two fried bits of smashed and breaded cauliflower aren’t really my thing, but they were good with the chutneys. A lot of food for ten bucks. Service was attentive and friendly. There’s free wifi, too, due to the fact that Starbucks is next door! No complaints, and I’ll be back.

Mumbai Indian Grill
1728 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 859-2453
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mumbai-indian-grill-evanston-3

Al’s Deli

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**** (4 stars)

Al’s Deli was founded in 1949 by Al Pottinger, a francophile, who offered European groceries, baked goods, soups and sandwiches. His sons took the business over in the 1970s, and are still there. They offer traditional french sandwiches such as brie on a baguette, plus homemade soups. The Soup au Pistou I had today was wonderful, a cup full of chunky vegetables with a dollop of garlic aeoli that turned it into something you might find in a bouillabaisse. They also make six types of enormous, tasty cookies themselves. The place is a short walk from NU, in the charming little area around Noyes and Sherman.

Al’s Deli
914 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-9400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/als-deli-evanston

Graham Elliot

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** (2 stars)

I’ll admit it. I don’t understand places that play music so loud you can’t communicate. Why go on a date with someone you don’t want to talk to? And particularly when the place bills itself as a sophisticated dining venue, what’s the point if you can’t hear what’s in the food, or discuss it as you dine?

I was extremely disappointed in Graham Elliot. The food is okay, but the ambiance is non existent. Because of the deafening, non-stop techno/grunge/rock/rap/pop soundtrack so you can’t even hear the descriptions of each dish. We had 21 courses and 18 matching beverages. 50% of the courses were completely forgettable, the others were good, but not one was as good as a typical course at Moto, Tru, Charlie Trotters or any of a dozen other places nearby.

I’d heard that the courses were small, which doesn’t bother me, but you should know that “small” here often means one bite. Most dishes have many, many ingredients (couldn’t hear what) but don’t seem to combine to create a whole greater than the parts.

The wine list is mostly boutique novelty wines, no depth, and little variation. The wine carafes are 2 liter chemistry flasks, which tends to make everything look like a lab specimen. The  waiters wear jeans and t-shirts.

On the plus side, I thought the price was reasonable; expensive, yes, but for what they are trying to do, and the amount of effort put in, not bad. And it was neat to have a different beverage to match nearly every course, but 80% were mixed drinks, not wine.

Overall, there are many, many better options.

Graham Elliot
217 W Huron St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 624-9975
http://www.yelp.com/biz/graham-elliot-chicago

Cellar at The Stained Glass

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***** (5 stars)

The Stained Glass is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world, so it’s not surprising that The Cellar, which is owned by The Stained Glass, is now a new favorite. It’s just around the corner and a block down, and shares much of the same culinary philosophy.

When I go to The Stained Glass, I like to graze on the appetizers, ordering everything tapas style. At The Cellar, that’s the normal operating procedure.

Everything is delicious, and the prices are extremely reasonable. If anything, the portions are too big for tapas style dining; I’m sure two people could share a couple of items such as the salmon flatbread and Short Ribs sandwich and leave stuffed, with a tab under $30.

I just got home from a visit, and already I’m thinking about when I can go back!

Cellar at The Stained Glass
820 Clark St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-8678
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cellar-at-the-stained-glass-evanston

Walker Bros Original Pancake House

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***** (5 stars)

Justifiably famous for their apple pancake, which is more of a cross between a tart and coffee cake. Omelets are good too, and come with pancakes, so you don’t have to choose. The sprawling place is always packed, often with a line out the door, and there’s a reason.

Walker Bros Original Pancake House
153 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-6000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/walker-bros-original-pancake-house-wilmette-3

Moto

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***** (5 stars)

Moto is just plain fun. After you’ve tried the other great restaurants, it’s the place you keep coming back to for astounding food and an always memorable meal. Sure, it’s expensive, but you’re getting twenty crazy courses: A Cuban sandwich that looks like a cigar, fruit that looks like cheese, duck confit in the form of a cannoli, and a banana split served with pipets on my last visit. The wine pairing is very good, and the service isn’t stuffy at all. Come to relax and enjoy. It’s a meal you won’t forget.

Moto
945 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 491-0058
http://www.yelp.com/biz/moto-chicago