Chicagoist: Northwest Side Restaurant Review: Midori

Linda

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:48:13 -0600

I hope the "Check Please effect" doesn't apply to Chicaogist reviews or I'll never be able to get a table at Midori again! This has been one of my favorite sushi restaurants since I moved to Chicago back in the early 90's. The lack of pretension, high quality food, and good prices make this a very accessible sushi dining experience. However, I'd never call the service "attentive." While sushi chef Roberto is a delight, I consider the slow service one of the trade-offs. When I truly want to pamper myself at a sushi restaurant, I go to Katsu on Peterson. The sushi is beautifully presented, although I wouldn't say it's of a higher quality than that found at Midori. It's also more pricey!

woodlawnchuck

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:06:29 -0600

Sushi and the people who've clung onto it over the last five years are truly $$$-snoots. A perfect example is WIcker Park. There are going to be five restaurants in the area that cater to sushi lovers by years end. I'm sure the original wave of sushi lovers in this country were sincere about it, but the next 9 tidal waves were nothing but people who wanted to be seen doing it, or at least talking about it (in between pretending to eat it and running to the jake to spit it up). Seriously. Be who you are! And for those that truly love it, this does not apply to you.

navin

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:11:26 -0600

Geez, do we really have to fuss over it's spot on the compass? Besides if you were in the loop and had to give directions would you tell the person to go North or Northwest.

MJK

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:00:15 -0600

The NW side is growing by the day. I think anything west of Western (maybe California) and north of Chicago can constitute NW side. Before, when riff raff was all over the place and these neighborhoods weren't gentrified, areas were called the Near NW Side. That's my NW side opinion, from a NW sider. Not a wikipedia fact.

CC1st

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:51:05 -0600

I live really close to Midori, a few minutes from my house actually and I never really considered it the Northwest side, until I saw this review. What are the boundaries exactly? I consider the Irving Park area the closest neighborhood in the Northwest side. Does it really extend to this part of Bryn Mawr?

J3K

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:02:49 -0600

Thanks for the explanation and for the call for suggestions, Chuck. And thanks for the review of Midori, Meghan. Keep on truckin', Chicagoist!

navin

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:13:59 -0600

As somebody who's lived and worked in the Humboldt/Logan/Hermosa area for a long time I'm happy to see these reviews. Cheers!

Chuck

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:37:23 -0600

As one who grew up on the Northwest side and still has a soft spot in his heart for Cragin, Hermosa, Avondale, the Brickyard, Riis Park, and Harlem Irving, it was my feeling before the call for new writers last month that the Northwest side was largely neglected. Laura's review of Smoque in January planted the seed; the reviews posted by Amelia and Meghan so far proved I was right. I'll try to not be remiss on my South Side coverage. If there's a place you'd like me to try, or think might be worthy of mention. I'm not hard to find or contact. The same goes for our other food and drink contributors. Let 'em know.

Joe

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:13:07 -0600

A couple months ago people were asking for Chicagoist to branch out and they responded with the Northwest Side reviews. Cut them some slack. They do have a South Side reviewer but could use at least one more.

I'm just being sarcastic because its fun to get people worked up about this!

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:41:45 -0600

J3K, The reason for the northwest side majority reviews is that they can't review Lincoln Park restaurants because they are way to cool to admit it is a nice neighborhood, and they can't review stuff far south or west because they have never been there (except to hit the freeway back to Naperville or New Lenox where they just recently moved from).

j.w.

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:37:39 -0600

I love the Northwest side focus! Go Northwest side!

J3K

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:12:59 -0600

Sorry to ask an irrelevant question but what's up with the recent majority of the restaurant reviews being on Northwest Chicago restaurants? Is there a large Chicagoist demographic there? Again, sorry for the irrelevance and thanks in advance to the editors for a response.