Feast | CFP Restaurant Listings
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 18:54 — Admin
The Chicago Free Press Restaurant guide.
Agave3115 N. Lincoln Ave. | 773-404-1800 | agavebarandgrill.com |
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Agave offers a different approach to the typical Mexican restaurant. There’s a passion for the finer things in life, such as 100-percent blue agave tequilas, margaritas made with freshly extracted juices and regional cuisine that is true to its roots while displaying a contemporary flair. All this is showcased in a comfortable space that sets itself apart with imported handcrafted accents, intimate lighting, original art and eclectic music.  |
Arco De Cuchilleros3445 N. Halsted | 773-296-6046 |
| Arco features authentic Spanish tapas served in a cozy dining room. And with their location in the heart of Boystown, they’ve been proudly serving the community for 16 years! They also offer a great selection of wines and ports. Check out their beautiful patio—weather permitting. Tue-Thu 5-11 p.m, Fri-Sat 5 p.m.-midnight, Sun 4-10 p.m. Arco is closed on Mondays.Valet parking daily. |
Halsted’s Bar + Grill |
| The only remnants of the high-cuisine X/O Chicago are popular mussels—steamed with lemongrass, garlic, ginger, shallot, white wine, diced tomato and cilantro. Everything else at this sports bar and grill is far more casual. The menu features quesadillas made your way, a variety of chicken sandwiches, burgers, fish or shrimp tacos, pasta bowls and old school meatloaf. But food is just a starter here: come for the people-watching, and cute waitstaff and, on a warm night, the patio. |
Hamburger Mary’s5400 N. Clark St. | 773-784-6969 | hamburgermaryschicago.com |
| Located in the heart of Andersonville, Hamburger Mary’s is casual and open daily from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. In the brief time it’s been open, it’s become one of the hottest gay scenes in Chicago. Brunch is served every Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Recommended: Cala Mary with Mary-nara sauce, Capn’ Mary’s fish sandwich, The Proud Mary burger, Grandma Mary’s meatloaf and the Mary Mojitos. After the meal, head upstairs to Mary’s Attic and enjoy a few drinks and good entertainment. |
mk |
| Chef/owners Michael Kornick and Lisa Koch-Kornick and executive chef Erick Simmons create great meals—try the yellowfin tuna tartare or pan-roasted wild striped bass. If you’re really hungry, they offer a great grilled 16-ounce prime New York sirloin, a 12-ounce filet mignon or a grilled bison ribeye. Mouth-watering desserts include a crème brulee with classic Tahitian vanilla custard and “gone bananas,” a banana brioche bread pudding. They also offer an extensive selection of more than 600 wines, with a staff that’s more than happy to help create perfect pairings for any meal. Open since 1998, this is truly one of Chicago’s fine dining gems. Reservations are recommended. |
Pie Hole |
| Hidden in the "right ventricle" of the heart of Boystown, Pie Hole has become the established go-to joint for sobering up after the 2am bars close. Famous for late-night hours (open til 3am most nights, 5am Friday and Saturday nights) you should also consider them for an early hour cocktail-and-a-slice rendezvous and weekly events in Pie Hole's expanded lounge space. The live entertainment lineup includes Creaoke karaoke on Wednesdays, "Soul in the Hole" Open Mic and Poetry Slam on Thursdays, and "Pop Goes the Gio!" coming soon to Sundays. And of course, take advantage of "All-You-Can-Shove" pizza and fountain drinks every Wednesday night for only $7.99. |
Provenance Food and Wine2528 N. California | 773-384-0699 | provenancefoodandwine.com |
| An everyday grocery carrying supplies for the evening’s dinner, simple yet elegant appetizer items and gourmet gift baskets. Delivery & shipping available; regular classes and other tasting events; wine club memberships available in three, six, nine and 12 increments. Convenient Logan Square and Lincoln Square locations. |
Salpicon |
| Salpicón, Priscila and Vincent Satkoff’s colorful, intimate restaurant in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, has established itself as one of the city’s finest upscale Mexican restaurants. A true joint effort, Salpicón is a balance of Priscila’s traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine and Vincent’s knowledge of fine wine and management. Menu highlights include grilled tiger shrimp with avocado-tomatillo sauce, poblano chilies stuffed with huitlacoche and fresh vegetables and grilled lamb with pasilla chile sauce. Sunday brunch offers a chance to try Chilaquiles Rojos or other brunch specialties. |
Sola |
| She once cooked for the likes of Jack Nicholson and James Garner, but these days, L.A. native Carol Wallack is cooking for appreciative Chicagoans in a sleek storefront space in North Center. Named one of Chicago’s best new restaurants (Chicago Magazine 2006), Sola features contemporary American cuisine piqued with Asian and Hawaiian flavors. Average price of an entrée—wasabi-crusted scallops, miso black cod, ginger-glazed salmon—is about $20. Besides the food, a big draw here is waiter Dale Levitsky of “Top Chef” fame. Chances are he won’t be waiting tables for long, so make your reservations now. |
Tomboy |
| Cozy and casual, funky and romantic, Tomboy is a place to see and be seen. Candlelight, exposed brick and great music contribute to the chic New York loft-style atmosphere that has been entertaining the Andersonville community for over six years. Owners Linda Raydl and Stacy Malow have put together an eclectic menu featuring everything from a filet mignon with gorgonzola cream sauce to spaghettini pasta with shrimp, asparagus and roasted tomatoes; Cajun crab cakes to risotto cakes. Specials are offered every evening and include such favorites as the wasabi marinated yellow fin tuna steak served with wasabi mashed potatoes. Closed on Sundays. Reservations recommended. |
Tweet |
| Tweet, Big Chicks’ sister restaurant, is the place to go for a gay-friendly breakfast, brunch, lunch and cocktails. Open everyday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. except Tuesdays, the fare here is mostly organic and very hearty, with a large selection of burgers, plus Reubens, meatball sandwiches, beer-battered French fries, chicken wings with homemade blue cheese dip, corned beef hash and eggs, buckwheat pancakes and a signature red velvet cake. Come here to fortify yourself after a late night out—you’ll leave feeling much better. |