Divine Intervention at Raw

By Hanna Aronovich in Food on Jun 6, 2006 3:32PM

In the drunken wasteland that is North Clark, Raw Bar & Grill is an oasis. At 3720 N. Clark, Raw's unique approach provides relief from the oversaturated sushi market. The "eclectic seafood" menu (ranging from $20 to $30) includes exotic options such as blackened ostrich, alligator and grilled baby octopus, in addition to the standard crab, shrimp, lobster, salmon and calamari dishes. For those with an aversion to entrées from the sea, pizza, chicken, ribs, burgers and pasta dishes are all available.

Open until 2 a.m. on Friday and 3 a.m. on Saturday, Chicagoist stopped by to sample the extensive martini list, which ranged from chocolate to dirty. The Martini Feta-ish features VOX vodka garnished with stuffed feta cheese olives. Fruit lovers can opt for the Melontini, the Pomegranate or the Orangetini Fizz.

The overeager award of the night goes to our waiter, who asked us if we needed another round when our glasses were still almost full. He came back two more times in the next 10 minutes. But, we suppose hyper service is better than nonexistent service.

We sipped our drinks in the low-lit, art-deco-style front room. Although crowded, a table or two were available. The back room often features live jazz on weekends and creates a relaxed, but festive atmosphere. On Sundays, Raw hosts open mic comedy nights for a $5 cover.

Understated amidst the Cubs ruckus, Raw is a nice break from the Wrigleyville scene.