Category Archives: Illinois

MingHin Cuisine

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Entry

Interior

Menu

BBQ Pork Crepe

Oyster congee

Fried shrimp roll

Duck

Siu Mai

Shrimp dumpling with chive

Fried pot stickers

**** (4 stars)

This is probably the most nicely decorated and modern restaurant in Chinatown. It’s populated mostly by locals, not tourists, so you know you are going to get a very authentic experience. Fortunately there is an extensive pictorial menu, so you can get a pretty good idea of all the dishes before you order.

Be aware that this is real Chinese food and dimsum, not the variety served at the Chinese restaurant in the mall. As such, many of the items are going to be more gelatinous than you are used to, so examine the pictures carefully. Crepes, for example, are not what you think they are.

Of all the things we tried, we liked the Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) the best.

At lunch time, the dim sum is very reasonably priced. We left stuffed for under $30 for two of us.

MingHin Cuisine
2168 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 808-1999
https://www.yelp.com/biz/minghin-cuisine-chicago-3

Tavern On Rush

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Exterior

Upstairs

Upstairs

Lemon hummus

Tuna tartare

** (2 stars)

I really wanted to like this place, but there were problems on so many levels.

It’s divided into two levels that are nicely decorated, plus extensive patio seating. We sat upstairs, which is horse racing themed.

The menu is extensive, and the kitchen is fast, if not particularly talented. Lemon hummus was quite good. Tuna tartare was pedestrian and the tuna was tired.

My Bellevue Salad was described as coming with rock shrimp, but they were just small, regular, flavorless shrimp. The kitchen also forgot the balsamic vinagrette dressing.

The sliders were fine, but the kitchen forgot the cheese.

These problems could have been corrected had our server been available more often than once every fifteen minutes. But with as almost two hours invested in a forgettable lunch it didn’t seem worth the effort.

Incidentally, the wine list is nice and fairly priced.

Tavern On Rush
1031 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 664-9600
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tavern-on-rush-chicago

BLVD

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Exterior

Interior

Interior

Seafood tower

Whipped avocado toast / Hamachi

Chicken pot pie

Patty melts

Yuzu curd

***** (5 stars)

Even though it had only been open a few weeks when we visited, this place hit a home run as far as we were concerned. The decor is spectacular, certainly the most beautiful restaurant in Chicago. The ambiance is great, too, with a cool soundtrack at just the right level, and enough acoustic treatment to keep the general din manageable, even when it is packed.

We tried a lot of dishes and loved each one. The concept here is really geared toward sharing, and not just family style. Most of the dishes we ordered came with four discrete items, so it would be perfect for business dining, too, as there is no awkwardness involved in the sharing process.

We started with the seafood tower, an extravaganza of lobster, crab, shrimp and oysters that was perfect for three or four to share. The shellfish had all been carefully separated from the shell which made it easy to eat. At $125 it was very reasonably priced for the amount of seafood included.

Next we had the hamachi. Although described as being served in plum sauce, it wasn’t sweet at all, but had a nice citrus component that perfectly complemented the delicate fish.

Whipped avocado toast was also excellent, with a nice light avocado mixture and greens atop tasty, slightly charred sourdough.

The chicken pot pies were a clever presentation, with delicate puff pastry we filled ourselves from the accompanying cast iron dish. This kept the pastry flaky until we were ready for it.

Patty melts were a nice, filling way to end the meal. The dish included four individual sliders, each with a generous serving of perfectly cooked burger, melted cheese, grilled bread, and the pickle on top, in case you didn’t want it.

I honestly wouldn’t have changed a thing about any of these courses; they were perfect.

We finished with a dessert described as a Yuzu curd, although it was closer to key lime pie. It was fine, but not my favorite.

The wine list is extensive and fairly priced, and there are some interesting wines by the glass.

The service was professional, friendly and attentive at all levels, including waitstaff, front desk, and manager.

BLVD
817 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 526-3116
http://www.yelp.com/biz/blvd-chicago

Leña Brava

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Interior

Upstairs

Cured salmon laminados

Lena ceviche (albacore)

Hiramasa laminados

Chesapeake wild striped bass aguachiles

Huarache

Plantains

Short rib

Duck

Artichoke

Blueberry tart

*** (3 stars)

This is an interesting new concept from Rick Bayless that is different from his other restaurants, and anything else in town, too.

The menu is almost entirely plates intended for sharing, divided up somewhat arbitrarily into groups such as ceviches, aguachiles (which were a lot like the ceviches), cockteles (which were a lot like the ceviches), laminados (more like sashimi), etc. All four of those categories are mainly raw fish prepared with different sauces. We tried four of them and found the sauces interesting but the fish inferior in quality to what you would expect in a good sashimi bar. The salmon, in particular, was largely inedible, with a third of each piece so tough and stringy it could neither be cut nor chewed. Sure, we could have sent it back, but it should never have been served in the first place, as it was visibly flawed.

More successful were the two wood-fired dishes. The duck had a nicely lacquered coating and excellent flavors. Short ribs were less interesting, as the sauce and the accompanying mashed cauliflower were quite bland.

The Huarache was one of the best dishes. It was a sort of corn flatbread with what can best be described (but wasn’t so described on the menu) as a vegetable mole.

Two sides were pretty good: the artichoke hearts were nicely cooked al dente, and the plantains were nicely caramelized.

Both the corn crisps and the tortillas that accompanied several courses were quite good.

Perhaps the best thing we had was the blueberry tart, a large, hand folded pastry with a nicely charred crust, served with ice cream.

The wine list offers a very eclectic selection of wines by the bottle and glass. It’s eclectic enough that I’ll wager you’ve never heard of 90% of the producers.

The restaurant is divided into a number of smaller rooms, with the outdoor seating and upstairs the quietest areas. Service was efficient.

Leña Brava
900-902 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-1975
http://www.yelp.com/biz/le%C3%B1a-brava-chicago-2

Arun’s Thai Restaurant

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Exterior

Bar

Interior

Interior

Cocktails

App 1

App 2

App 3

Tuna

Lemon grass soup

Vermicelli

Snapper

Lobster

Scallop

Beef

Dessert 1

Crepe

**** (4 stars)

I’ve had many tasting menus and I’ve had many Thai meals, but I’ve never had a Thai tasting menu, so it what great fun to visit Arun’s, where you get to taste modern variations on many classic dishes.

We began with some of the very thoughtful cocktails, which were a cut above average, even in very cocktail-oriented Chicago.

The twelve-course menu begins with many courses that are just one bite, although it’s often a very large bite. One of my favorites was the first course, a betel leaf with a complex assemblage surmounted by coconut.

Everyone’s favorite course of the meal was the last of the starters, an extraordinarily flavorful lemongrass broth served from a miniature teapot.

Four main courses were served family style. The best of these was the Massaman beef curry. Also good were the lobster and scallop. The only real miss of the evening was the snapper in sweet Thai chili sauce, a fairly conventional Thai dish, and this one wasn’t as crispy or interesting as the traditional version.

We finished with two desserts, both fruit-based, that were a refreshing conclusion.

On the whole, we felt that every single course was beautiful, and quite a few were extremely delicious. A few didn’t quite live up to their exotic appearance but were pleasant nonetheless.

One of us had the wine pairing with the dinner. There were some interesting wines and some good matches, but if you’re knowledgeable about wine I think you will do better ordering off the interesting, extensive and well-priced list. The sommelier was quite personable and informative.

Our waiter was also very friendly, and the many members of the serving staff all took pride in their fine restaurant.

Arun’s Thai Restaurant
4156 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 539-1909
http://www.yelp.com/biz/aruns-thai-restaurant-chicago

Guildhall

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Exterior

Bar

Interior

“Tarte flambe”?

Bucatini

Burger

**** (4 stars)

Guildhall is a reliable restaurant with a nice ambiance both inside and on the sidewalk. The menu offers a fair variety of American bistro food with nods to some international cuisines.

You just can’t take the menu dish names too seriously. For example, “Tarte Flambee” has no characteristics in common with a tart, and is not flambeed. It’s actually a flatbread with a generous layer of cheese and ample piles of bacon. And it’s big enough to serve as an entree, or for a table of four to share as an appetizer.

Yet the other appetizers we tried were much, much smaller. The delicious Ahi Tuna Crudo was just five small bites. And the also good smoked salmon was five slightly larger servings that were two or three bits each. Both would be a good appetizer for one person.

We also shared the seared shishito peppers. These were good, but were far spicier than I’ve had elsewhere; perhaps it was just this batch, but we ended up seeding them to make them more palatable.

Squid Ink Bucatini was just so-so. The shrimp and calamari were generous, but the bucatini was overcooked. Because it is essentially spaghetti with a hole through the center, it is very delicate, and needs a defter touch.

The Guildhall Burger was the best entree we tried. It was generous and juicy, topped with nice condiments and veggies, and served with well-crisped fries.

Skip the espresso, which is very bitter.

Service wasn’t quite at a fine dining level, but was certainly adequate, and sufficiently attentive for an enjoyable meal on a very busy Father’s Day evening.

Guildhall
694 Vernon Ave
Glencoe, IL 60022
(847) 835-8100
http://www.yelp.com/biz/guildhall-glencoe

Reilly’s Daughter

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Burger and crisps

Chicken tenders

**** (4 stars)

This bar became a full-service restaurant with the May 2017 remodeling of the Midway foodservice.

The intimate space is hard to find because it’s not really visible except from the back of the food court. As a result it may be possible to be seated, even when there are long lines at other places. That may not help you beat the rush, though, as service can be quite slow. But if you aren’t in a rush to catch your flight, this is a good place to hang out, away from the bustle of the airport, and the food is good.

I had the bacon cheeseburger, and it was much better than typical airport food. The patty is smashed thin and cooked within an inch of its life, but this gives it nice charred edges. The bacon and accompaniments were excellent, and the bun had some texture to it. The accompanying potato chips were house made, crunchy and good.

My companion didn’t care for her chicken tenders because they were very thin, more like planks, but I liked them, and the accompanying barbecue sauce.

To me, this is one of the best options for killing time at Midway.

Reilly’s Daughter
5700 S Cicero Ave
Midway Triangle
Chicago, IL 60638
(773) 838-1496
http://www.yelp.com/biz/reillys-daughter-chicago

Goosefoot

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Interior

Menu

Egg ramp garlic peas

Foie gras, melon gaspacho, tea

Crab, apple, avocado

Corn soup

Mushroom tortellini

Beef

Macaroon

Yuzu, cherry and peach tonic

Espresso

Rose lime kiwi / strawberry white coconut (below)

Goosefoot Chocolate

***** (5 stars)

If you assume that fine dining is an inherently serious business you need to check out Goosefoot. Chris and Nina welcome you into their “home” and cast aside the pretensions and stuffiness, providing a fun experience of discovery and camaraderie.

The multi-course tasting menu features twelve dishes of stunning beauty and complexity, each served in a unique and playful way. It’s remarkable that two people (and an unnamed helper in the kitchen) can provide this level of culinary and service perfection.

Each dish is accompanied by a story, delivered individually, often by Chef Chris, who interacts with guests table by table and course by course more than I’ve ever encountered. How he finds time to cook and arrange each delicate offering is beyond me.

The restaurant seats no more than twenty people, in a single, synchronized seating.

On the service side, it would be easy to assume that with only one person–Nina–providing all the service for the restaurant, details such as place settings and napkins replacement, ice bucket refreshing and so on would be impossible. You’d be wrong. Service was consistently at Michelin level.

You might also assume that a BYOB restaurant would have minimal glassware, but again you’d be wrong. A full set of Riedel sizes was available and provided, matched to each wine guests brought.

in the end, the two things I will remember most about Goosefoot are the beauty of the food, and the ebullience of our hosts.

Goosefoot is one of the best fine dining values in Chicago, and it’s certainly the most lighthearted one.

Goosefoot
2656 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 942-7547
http://www.yelp.com/biz/goosefoot-chicago

Howells & Hood

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1/2 Bacon cheeseburger

1/2 Ahi chopped salad

Sea bass ceviche

Korean wings

Exterior

**** (4 stars)

This is a really delightful place to sit outside under the forest of umbrellas and enjoy a summer day. The inside is equally expansive, but seems a bit confined compared to the lovely outside space overlooking the plaza.

The menu is eclectic American bistro, with some sports bar touches. The beer list is very well organized and described, with many representatives of all styles, and is claimed to be Chicago’s widest selection.

We started with the Sea bass ceviche, which wasn’t really a ceviche at all, but more like a thickened lime soup with vegetables and some pieces of completely cooked sea bass added at the last minute, rather than raw fish “cooked” by the lime juice. Still, it was good.

We also tried the Korean chicken wings. These had a very crispy, almost crunchy crust, and were slathered with a spicy sweet sauce. Delicious, but thank goodness they came with two wet wipes per person, as my fingernails are still orange!

For entrees we had the kitchen split a burger and salad. The Bacon Cheeseburger was perfectly cooked, juicy, served on a bun with some substance so it didn’t disssolve, just the right accompaniments of lettuce and sliced onion, and with nice crisp bacon. Pretty much a perfect burger.

The Ahi Chopped Salad was also excellent. Despite the name, the tuna is not chopped, but rather coated with togarashi spices, seared rare, and thinly sliced. The rest of the ingredients were indeed chopped: napa cabbage, romaine, bok choy, bell peppers, daikon radish, and green onions. It was finished off with mandarin oranges and crispy wonton strips, and lightly dressed with sesame ginger vinaigrette. Delicious.

Despite the fact it was obviously our server’s first day (and we were possibly his first table) service was excellent. We liked everything we tried, and really enjoyed our entire experience. I’m glad Howells and Hood is close to us, and I wish we’d tried it sooner.

Howells & Hood
435 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 262-5310
http://www.yelp.com/biz/howells-and-hood-chicago

Chicago Curry House

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Delivered items are very well packaged. This is a single vegetarian dinner, plus just three additional items.

*** (3 stars)

This review is for delivered food. The online menu (via GrubHub) is very extensive, and offers all the standard Indian fare, plus a number of Nepalese items.

The complete dinners are very complete indeed. The Curry House Vegetable Special Dinner was very extensive, with four entrees: dal makhini, palak paneer, aloo ghobi and navratan korma. It came with basmati rice, naan bread and kheer. They were all good if not great, and medium was plenty spicy.

I also ordered papadums, which arrived very crisp and delightful, although the accompanying cilantro and tamarind chutneys were thinner than I am used to.

In addition to naan, I tried the garlic naan. both were fine for sopping up sauce, but they didn’t travel as well as the other items, and should probably be broiled upon arrival.

My favorite item wasn’t Indian, it was the Nepalese Vegetarian MoMo appetizer, a sort of cross between dim sum and a samosa.

The pricing is very reasonable, particularly since the vegetarian dinner all by itself is enough for two people to share.

Chicago Curry House
899 S Plymouth Ct
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 362-9999
https://www.yelp.com/biz/chicago-curry-house-chicago-6