Perennial Virant

This past weekend I went to brunch with a girlfriend at Perennial Virant, which is one of my favorite restaurants in Old Town. The decor is extremely cozy with a touch of modern. I want whoever decorated this place to come and decorate my house! The lighting is always set just right so it's a great date spot.

Perennial Virant has the most amazing diverse menu and I really never feel like I've stuffed myself after eating here. They are known for their farm-to-table dining, and the ingredients are super fresh and locally sourced. Be warned though, the brunch menu is very savory. There was only one sweet entree item. They also have craft cocktails, which are quite yummy.

Overall I highly recommend coming to this place. You will not be disappointed.

Little Goat Diner

The other week I went to Little Goat Diner for a later dinner with a girlfriend. This is the sister restaurant to Girl and the Goat, although on a very different scale. And they have a rooftop, which would make this an amazing place to come for a cocktail on a summer night (before an expensive dinner at one of the other Restaurant Row places).

Little Goat serves an amped up diner menu, and the food is definitely the greasy food you'd expect to have from a diner. For the Restaurant Row location, it is a great price point. You can easily get out of there spending twenty bucks or less with tax and tip. The atmosphere is relaxed, so this is definitely not a place you'd need to dress up too much for.

Little Goat has a bakery and coffee bar attached to it, which serves fresh baked bread all day. If I live over in the West Loop area, this is definitely where I'd be coming to stock up on baked goods! They open at 7am and close at 6pm, although the restaurant stays open much later and turns the coffee area into a bar.

The Aviary

I have been dying to try The Aviary for a while, but the high prices of the cocktails meant I'd have to find a very specific person to go with me, who would be willing to shell out for this kind of experience. That person would be my friend Michelle. We finally settled on a date and went to The Aviary to try their cocktails, only allowing ourselves to indulge in one, because they are so pricey.

The Aviary is in the Fulton Market area, and is part of the same team that owns Next, which is next door. The Aviary's website does a pretty spot on job of describing who they are; "where cocktails and service are given the same attention to detail as a four-star restaurant; where bartenders are trained as chefs; where the produce and herbs are carefully sourced and procured fresh daily; where the name and branding of the spirit mixed is less important than its actual flavor; where drinks are made quickly and consistently in a state-of-the-art drink kitchen; where innovation and tradition are both honored."

I have to give this place credit that the cocktails were out of this world. If coming here, I would highly recommending splurging and getting the three flight cocktail. You will already have a hard time choosing which cocktail to get (if only choosing one), so getting the flight will save you that agony. Take note though that if you are just coming for a cocktail, they put you in an area next to the kitchen where it is standing high tops only. So if you want to sit just buck up and make a reservation. The atmosphere is dark and sexy, and it's pretty neat to be able to see in the kitchen where the magic happens. You should also know there aren't true meals here, just snacks. Very expensive snacks.

Balena

Last weekend my sister and I went to Balena, which is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Halsted across from Steppenwolf. I have heard rave reviews about this restaurant, and in October it made the Eater 38 list. Balena is an Italian restaurant and is part of the Boka and Bristol restaurant groups.

They have a great sharing menu, so my sister and I ordered a charcuterie plate, salad, pasta and a pizza. Literally everything was phenomenal. We got a lemon arugula salad to have some greens, and what could have been just another boring salad was absolutely amazing. I am dying to know how they made their dressing. They also have an expansive wine list, and delicious craft cocktails. The restaurant has very high ceilings, yet still does a great job of feeling cozy. The service was also great.

I would highly recommend that you come here, whether you live in Chicago or are visiting from out of town. You won't be disappointed.

Jam Restaurant

This past weekend I went to Jam Restaurant in Logan Square for brunch to celebrate a friends birthday. You can wait hours to get a table for brunch in Chicago, and at this place, even though they quoted twenty minutes, we got a table within five minutes. Fabulous. I found this confusing though, as the restaurant was packed, but I'll take it. Maybe we just got lucky?

The chef at this restaurant has quite the notable track record, working at Charlie Trotter's and North Pond in his past. This menu has a fantastic mix of sweet and savory, and the dishes are beautifully presented when they come out to the table. I could have ordered so many things, but I got the eggs benedict. The food was great although the portion was very small (probably a good thing for me).

The interior decorating at Jam is very bright and clean, definitely giving the feeling that this is more of a daytime place, as they aren't open for dinner. That being said, you can rent their space out for private events, which would be so fun for an evening get together. The chef will cook for you and they just acquired a liquor license, so you could throw quite the fun party!

If you are a regular brunch goer and lover like me, I highly recommend you put this place top of your list for some good eats.

Webster's Wine Bar

A couple of weeks ago I went to Webster's Wine Bar with a girlfriend for a long overdue catch-up session. This is one of my all time favorite places in the city. The atmosphere is quaint and relaxed, and they have great small plates and a huge wine selection. You can also generally always get a reservation, or even just walk in, so it's a good place to go for a laid back night, in which you won't be rushed. And if you want to make a night out of it, go across the street to see a movie before or after your wine.

This place is owned by the same people as Bluebird and Telegraph. They also have a lot of fun special events; I am on their email list and there are always things happening that I actually want to go to (but have yet to do so). Although this isn't a must-go place in Chicago if you're here from out of town, if you are local, it should be on your list.

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

This weekend one of my very dearest and oldest friends was in town from New York, so we wanted to go to a fun dinner at Bavette's Bar & Boeuf. I have been wanting to go to this place for dinner since I had a cocktail here last year. This restaurant is owned by the same people as Maude's Liquor Bar, Gilt Bar, and Au Cheval, some of the best restaurants in the city.

We tried making a reservation two weeks in advance, but there was nothing open until super late. We decided to walk in and try to get a table, which didn't prove successful. We had to wait two hours before they texted us saying a table was available. Good thing we had already ordered at the bar. Sitting at the bar was an awesome experience. The bartender was phenomenal and was making us delicious craft cocktails. We had such a good experience at this restaurant. I would highly recommend that anyone come to this place, both for out of town visitors and those local to Chicago.

The Bristol

This past Sunday I went on an impromptu dinner date with one of my girlfriends. We both love eating at posh places, and decided on The Bristol in Bucktown. I am a dedicated reader of Chicago Eater, and although this place opened five years ago, it was just listed in the number one spot on their Eater 38 list.

You walk in and immediately feel welcomed. The restaurant is so cozy with wooden ceilings and a chalkboard wall. The lighting is very dim, just the way I like it. We had the nicest waiter, and when they were out of the bottle of wine we ordered, they brought over two recommendations of other wines, and offered to give them to us at the same price as the wine we originally ordered. The menu has starred items, which are items of the day, being a more seasonal menu. They also have their classics, which I would highly recommend ordering. The duck fat fries and the pan-roasted half chicken are must order items. The chicken was so good that I had to refrain myself from eating my entire half while my friend was in the bathroom.

Overall, I highly recommend coming to this place. The ambiance, service, and food are all great. I've also heard they have good cocktails, even though we just stuck with the wine.

City Winery

Last week I met up with a dear friend at City Winery. This girl and I could chat for hours on end so we always need a place that will let us hang.

City Winery opened on Restaurant Row earlier this year. They are a music venue, restaurant, and also the only wine producer in the city of Chicago. This place is absolutely massive and it's almost amazing how many private event spaces they have. There is also a huge outdoor area. I was wondering how the music venue portion of this restaurant worked, and it is legit an entire separate room from the restaurant.  There is a bouncer at the door, and you need a ticket to gain admission.

The menu is great for sharing, my usual favorite. The order of hummus was truly the largest shared plate of hummus I've ever seen at a restaurant - this could have fed five people. They have an expansive wine list, but if you want to see the larger wine menu, you need to know to ask for it. The only wine menu they provide you is a much more limited version.

Overall, I would highly recommend coming to this place if you live in Chicago. If you're just visiting, I think there are better places to go (it's a good problem to have when there are too many good places).

Big Star

I have been dying to go to Big Star forever, but because they don't take reservations, it took me a while to get there. This place can have a wait lasting several hours on a weekend.

Big Star has a very fun, relaxed atmosphere. They have an amazing outdoor patio, and rumor has it they're expanding. Any space with cafe lights always becomes a favorite of mine. The prices are reasonable and because each order only comes with one taco, you can order as much or as little as you'd like. This also allows you to try several things, which is great because they have a very creative menu, including a hot dog (that was delicious), a walking taco (in a Frito-Lay bag), and great classics like a fish taco.

Overall, if you live in the downtown area, I would highly recommend coming to this place for a casual night out. You won't be disappointed.

Billy Sunday

Last week I went to Billy Sunday in Logan Square with some girlfriends. This seems to be my new favorite neighborhood for trying restaurants. Billy Sunday is a craft cocktail bar, and was named one of the best new cocktail bars in America by Details magazine.

We sat outside, which was great because it was October...and warm enough to be outside. That being said, it isn't the best outdoor seating, as it's right against the street. The indoors is extremely cozy and would be a great place to come for a winter date night.

This place had a really creative cocktail menu, along with the classics. At first I ordered a bitters cocktail, which I quickly learned I do not like. My friend told the waitress (in a very polite way) that I didn't like my cocktail, and they were nice enough to replace it with something...less bitter. I appreciated the kind gesture and good service. The small plates were also great, and the crab dip is a must. I couldn't get enough of it.

Overall, this place is a must if you are local to Chicago. The Logan Square neighborhood has so many good spots that you could easily grab dinner somewhere else, and come to Billy Sunday for a late night cocktail.

Three Dots and a Dash

Last week I went to Three Dots and a Dash in River North. The idea of their being a tiki bar in downtown Chicago intrigued me, although that's not my normal vibe.

This place is so weird. You walk down an alley (the nicest alley ever) that is lit with tiki torches, and are greeted by a bouncer wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a blazer. The bar is in the lower level of a building, and right when you walk in you see bright blue lit up skulls and dim lighting. I was thinking this place wouldn't be packed, and we'd be able to get a seat right away so we could have a couple drinks and apps. Well, I was wrong. Turns out there was an hour wait.

So we went to the bar and ordered some drinks. I don't know what I was expecting with a tiki-themed bar, but all the drinks were super expensive and were sugary beach cocktails. They do however come in statement glasses, which you can buy as a souvenir to take home (are we at Disney?). There also were not enough cocktail tables at the bar area. As this is mostly a cocktail joint, with a small and limited menu, they should have had more hang space to make it more enjoyable for the people just grabbing a drink.

Although I had fun (solely because of the company I was with), I will not be going back here. If this was on your Chicago bucket list, cross it off. There are so many other good places to go.

Gather

So I've been gone for a while. Sorry. Life's been busy, aka I was housesitting at my parents and they forgot to leave the WiFi password.

Anyways, two Saturday's ago I met up with a friend in her Lincoln Square neighborhood. We went to Gather, which has been on my list for a while. This place was amazing, and so worth the trip to a neighborhood further north. You walk in and feel so cozy in this space, and they have an amazing outdoor patio out back (which is my favorite because you avoid the street noise). The place was also packed, which is a sign of something good.

Everything we ordered was amazing, particularly the whipped ricotta with honeycomb and balsamic. I am starting to drool just thinking about it. We also ordered the carrot and hummus gnocci and diver scallops.  The service was great too and the staff was so friendly. Their was a very large table next to us, so our food took a while to come out, and the staff could tell we were getting antsy so brought us a free round of cocktails to apologize.

I would definitely like to come back to this place and highly recommend that anyone come here. Maybe next time I'll enjoy one of their "Sunday Dinners" or their brunch. Or I could snag a seat at the bar facing the kitchen. The options are endless.

Kuma's Too

Today I went to an impromptu lunch at Kuma's Too with a girlfriend and her hubby. I have always heard how good the original Kuma's Corner was, so when we were out shopping and very hungry, this was the perfect place to come across our path.

There is nothing special about the atmosphere of this place, it is supposed to give the vibe of a biker bar and has loud heavy metal playing (not my normal scene), but their burgers are what it's known for. Apparently at the original location you can wait in line for as long as four hours to snag a meal. The entire menu is totally over the top and every burger has more topping than the last. I would only recommend coming to this place if you are starving, and want to stuff yourself. Although it was really good, it wouldn't be on my must go to list when making recommendations.

Telegraph

Last week I went to Telegraph in Logan Square with a girlfriend. This is another place that has been on my list forever, and because I own a car now, it makes it easier and more appealing to head to Logan Square.

Telegraph is owned by the same people that own Webster's Wine Bar, which is an all-time favorite of mine in Lincoln Park. I've also since learned, it is the same owners as Bluebird and Reno (right next door). At first, I was nervous because the menu seemed small. Then I realized how many good things were on this small menu. We ordered an amazing heirloom tomato and house-made ricotta salad, pommes frites with garlic aioli, hand-cut pappardelle with braised rabbit and chanterelle mushrooms, and buttermilk cheesecake. We were absolutely stuffed by the end of our meal, and had such a fun time trying lots of different things.

Overall, I would highly recommend coming to this place. Similar to Lula Cafe, as it's right across the street, there are several other options to continue the night going after eating here.

Lula Cafe

Earlier this week I went to Lula Cafe with my sister. This place is impossible to get into on a weekend so I was pleased to get a weekday reservation. Although this place has quite the reputation, it looks like a small neighborhood restaurant when first walking up, and you can tell it's been several storefronts combined into one. The inside is very cozy though, and almost has a homey feeling.

The food was phenomenal and I had the best pasta of my life, literally. I had never heard of bucatini, which is a thick spaghetti like pasta with a hole through the center of the noodle. The dish was called Pasta YiaYia and had bucatini with feta, brown butter and cinnamon. Those do not sounds like the usual suspects for a dinner pasta dish, but it was so amazing that I've been dreaming about it.

I did some googling, and found an adapted recipe. I am going to have to try to make this. Soon. Definitely come to this restaurant and order this dish, even if sharing with the table, it's a must.

¾ lb. bucatini
6 tablespoons butter
1 head garlic, each clove sliced very thinly crosswise (slices will be petal-shaped)
4-6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
½ teaspoon cinnamon (Café Lula uses Moroccan cinnamon, I only had regular cinnamon)

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.
While pasta is cooking, heat butter over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Just as the butter turns to turn golden-brown, add the garlic slices. Continue to cook the garlic and the butter until the butter is browned and the garlic turns dark golden-brown and crispy. Remove from heat. Do not overcook the garlic or it will taste bitter.
With a slotted spoon, remove the garlic slices and set aside.
Drain the pasta and add to the butter.
Add the cinnamon to the noodles. Stir until noodles are coated with butter and cinnamon.
Plate the pasta on individual plates.
Divide the feta and the garlic slices evenly between the plates.
Sprinkle with additional cinnamon, if desired.