Let’s get one thing straight: Don’t expect this review of Cotes du Rhone to include any verbose visual descriptions of the food. Not that we can’t wax poetically with the best of them, mind you, it’s just that this bistro is really really dark. So much for eating with our eyes. But don’t let that stop you from checking out this recently opened Edgewater restaurant. While there are still some kinks to work out — the ventilation system needs work — this French boite shows promise, especially if they continue to be BYOB (hey, nothing wrong with saving some green now and then; save even more when you come on your birthday and receive an entrée for $5 with a valid photo ID). We were told they were giving it some serious thought. We’ll keep our fingers crossed. more ›

Chicagoist often thinks of restaurants like friends, and thus our experiences with restaurants are oftentimes described in terms of human relationships. For example, one restaurant we eat at is a go-to kind of friend; always open, never a hassle, no complications. Another restaurant we like to go to keeps letting us down because our expectations are too high ... and yet, we keep going back for more. more ›