The classical music, chiaroscuro paintings of fruit on the walls, and the sumptuous white leather chairs all quietly signal that Pelago isn't a simple trattoria, but a petite palazzo of a modern Italian eatery.
Splash Out At Pelago
DiSotto Enoteca: A Possibly Perfect Wine Bar
This Streeterville wine cellar is an unspoiled hideaway, where the antipasti are satisfying enough to make for a light meal in themselves and the servers all double as affable, unpretentious sommeliers.
Naha Serves Up Homemade Peeps
These may be the first Michelin-starred peeps! The posh version of the ubiquitous marshmallow treat will be served at Naha until next Monday.
Last Minute Plans: Dine For Free At Mercadito Tonight
If you get lucky, you can get your bill comped for Leap Day.
Now Open: Estate Ultra Bar
Take a look at some pictures of the new stylish space with a great view of the river and the skyline.
Watch This: Alinea's Edible Helium-Filled Balloon
Even the string is edible on this balloon. Plus you can suck the helium to get that chipmunk voice your date will love.
Next Advertisement For El Bulli: "The Spirit Lives On"
Next produced a new advertisement for their latest menu; you can be guaranteed to get a table if you have about $4000.
Burgers Reinvented With A Korean Kick At bopNgrill
Korean-influenced burgers dominate the menu at the new location of bopNgrill in Rogers Park. On a day like today, some kimchi fries sound awfully good.
Hot Tamales At Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero
If you have the taste for one of these delectable treats, look no further than Rogers Park's Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero.
Tapas Valencia Helps Feed Those in Need on Thanksgiving
The restaurant is throwing open its doors and offering a free Thanksgiving meal to those in need.
Recreate Next's "Paris: 1906" Menu with iPad Cookbook Released Today
Now that Next Restaurant is onto their Childhood menu, all the hype about their amazing take on turn-of-the-century French cuisine has faded. Now you can make all of the courses from that menu at home with the "Next: Paris 1906" cookbook for iPad.
Sticky Rice Impresses
If you're tired of boring old pad thai, head up north to Sticky Rice for a taste of Northern Thai cuisine.
Rittergut is Ritter-GOOD!
Rittergut Wine Bar and Social Club may have a mouthful of a name, but it's a great place to stop in for a quiet lunch.
Toni Patisserie Brings a Touch of Sweetness to the Loop
Don't be fooled by the name - Toni Patisserie is a good source for all your favorite French cafe standards, sweet and savory.
iNG Launches Flavor-Tripping Dinner Series with an Ode to Squash
Take a "trip" with iNG and the miracle berry.
Miko's Flipside Cafe Pops Up for the Season
A new pop-up coffeeshop, only around for six months. We love it, and you will too.
Snappy Shrimp for a Fried Food Fix
In Midwestern Chicago, quality seafood places at relatively reasonable prices are hard to come by, but those willing to trek to the North Center neighborhood can find some seafood steals at Snappy’s Shrimp House.
What to Drink at Masa Azul, Now Open
Agave rules the bar at Masa Azul, the newly opened Logan Square restaurant serving a mix of Mexican and Southwestern food. More than 70 varieties of tequila, 10 mezcals and (very soon) even a few bottles of rare-to-see sotol line the colorful tile-backed shelves of Masa Azul's bar. And there is scarcely a mass-market tequila brand among the collection - a testament to the efforts of owner Jason Lerner, a passionate and knowledgeable connoisseur of independent, small-batch agave-based spirits, who has taken pains to assemble a kind of personal all-star team of intriguing, high quality products, discovered over the years at seminars and tasting events and during his travels.
Review: Pho's Hot and Spicy
Don’t be misled by the “pho” in the name--this quintessential hole-in-the-wall restaurant offers what might be the hottest, spiciest Thai in town.
Summer Better than Others
If the title has you a little confused, you can rest assured that this is indeed a restaurant review. A play on the name of the eatery, however, was too good to pass up. If you are going to name your restaurant after most folks' favorite season of the year, it better live up to the moniker. We have written before about the dangers of setting the bar high on your food and service by choosing a name with grand connotations. Thanks to the fun, fresh flavors we encountered at Edgewater's Summer Noodle & Rice, we can say that here the name is more than apropos.
First Look: The Scout
The Scout may be exactly what the South Loop needs - a comfortable, upscale bar. While we're not huge fans of the scads of big-screen TVs, sports watchers will love it. And we are definitely partial to the beautifully-renovated space, the reclaimed wood bars, the wonderful natural light and the huge beer list. The Scout took over the space that formerly housed Opera, the Jerry Kleiner-designed temple to over-the-top red velvet and mosaic tiles. The new owner, Chris Bravos, has done such extensive re-building that even Opera fans will hardly notice that it's the same space.
"Skynet/The Matrix" Continues to Impress at Moto
When we first visited iNG, we were more impressed by the computer systems than the food. Well, the computer, which iNG servers refer to as "Skynet" (is that creepy or awesome? will it poison us?) has just gotten even better. Chef Cantu is just about to release a new system into the world, which he calls "The Matrix." He gave us a hint of this a few months ago, saying that he planned to distribute the amazing software that runs the complex menus at Moto, and now it's ready to go. The Feast got a full-scale run through of the software last week, and it's worth watching for any foodie, nerd, or foodie nerd. And yes, it can also play Pandora.
A Harmony of Flavors at Schubas
There are many ways a watering hole can work its way into the hearts and psyches of a city and its denizens. Sometimes it is an atmosphere or a vibe that reflects the soul of its environs. Others, it is the characters in the crowd that call themselves regulars. Schubas may lack the quaint, hokeyness that was everyone's favorite sitcom bar, but it is every bit as representative of the Windy City as Cheers was of Boston. It's got our grittiness, our gregariousness, and our lust for life and good time. As this is a restaurant review, we are also happy to say that it offers some damned good food too.
Hold the Beef: Step Up to The Counter
Hold the Beef is a monthly series exploring Chicago's vegetarian burger scene. If you know any veggie burger joints that we should check out, post them in the comments!
Get Curried Away by New Flavors
Some things were simply meant to go together. Take for instance, peaches and cream, gin and tonic, or even Starsky and Hutch. To quote the old Reese's commercial, they are "two great tastes that taste great together". But what about curry and pizza? It may not sound like a match made in heaven, but then again we neither eat with our ears nor our eyes. If this combination strikes you as even the least bit intriguing, then head on down to Curried in the Loop and get a little taste of something divine.
Cozying Up to Icosium Kafe
Don’t be fooled by their simple appearance. Crafting the perfect crepe is anything but an effortless endeavor. Thin and delicate, they take a skilled hand and plenty of precision. Most importantly, great crepes require creativity in both execution and presentation. They should be works of art - great tasting works of gastronomical art. Luckily, the folks at Icosium Kafe have some real artists in their kitchens.
In Case You Didn't Get to Next Last Weekend...
If you didn't happen to get one of the reservations (that sold out in 2 seconds) for Next's new Thai menu, we've got a Monday treat for you. A video, released by the restaurant on Friday, which goes behind the scenes and shows off many of the new dishes. Like everything released by the Next/Aviary team, it's absolutely gorgeous - and will make you want to stuff your face full of cilantro, if you're anything like us.
First Look - Tribute, Opening Today
Tribute, the long-awaited (and long-suffering) South Loop restaurant in the Essex Inn finally opens today for business. After chef drama, a delayed opening and some minor licensing drama, they started serving breakfast today at 6 A.M. We visited last night for a first look, and we're cautiously optimistic.
Markethouse Garden Serves Up Freshness All Summer
Chef Scott Walton tends a serious rooftop garden that provides some great ingredients to the kitchen.

