Favorite Chicago Restaurant?

Someone wrote:

: Robert B. wrote:

: > In article , [email removed]
Pup K. wrote:
: >
: > >I will be going to Chicago soon and I am looking for some suggestions  for : > >dining there. Lunch and dinnner suggestions would be of great help. I would : > >be interested in any suggestions from famous to not-so-famous restaurants. : > >Also, if you could tell me a little about the restaurant (location, prices, : > >and menu) that too would be greatly appreciated.

Chicago has some of the greatest restaurants in the world, and Charlie Trotter's is surely one of them.  The closest I've ever been to paying high prices for this type of food is Ambria in Chicago, which was splendid and unforgettable.

I usually spend much less, and eat very well indeed.  My favorites keep changing, but right now I favor Brasserie Jo (Near North) which has superb Alsatian food.  I love the perfumy Alsatian wines they sell, and you can buy them by the half glass.  I usually order an array of them, and drain them from dry to sweeter.  The onion tart as opener is good, for entree try the choucroute Alsatienne or the shrimp bag (which is a prize winner). For dessert, bread pudding.  Rather heavy fare, but delicious, and the ambience is very French indeed.

Other recent good visits have been Va Pensiero in Evanston and any of the Pizza Capri eateries.  The much-touted Mango was a disappointment, twice.

Howard Slenk

Topolobampo is probably one of the best Mexican restaurants in the U.S.

Mike

Howard S. wrote:
>
> Someone wrote:
>
> : Robert B. wrote:
>
> : > In article ,
[email removed]
> Pup K. wrote:
> : >
> : > >I will be going to Chicago soon and I am looking for some suggestions  for
> : > >dining there. Lunch and dinnner suggestions would be of great help. I would
> : > >be interested in any suggestions from famous to not-so-famous restaurants.
> : > >Also, if you could tell me a little about the restaurant (location, prices,
> : > >and menu) that too would be greatly appreciated.
>

I always eat well in Chicago.  Ate at Cafe
Barbariba (sp?) last time, a tapas bar, and it was very nice, good spanish wine selection.  Also try Bossa Nova, ate their a few years ago when it opened and this was also very good.  There are many good thai places, too many to remember, get some local suggestions on that one.  Good Luck

SnewsLanguage: English

>Other recent good visits have been Va Pensiero in Evanston.......

Va Pensiero is wonderful.  I've found the soups are very good, the chef seems to have a special touch for soups.  I've taken to usually ordering the specials, but most of the regular menu is quite dependable. On the dessert list, the ice cream assortment is homemade and at least one of the flavors is bound to be outstanding. For chocoholics, the boudin is a must.

Aruns, which is mentioned in another message, is a particularly outstanding Thai restaurant in many ways - decor, service, menu selection.

Someone wrote:
: Topolobampo is probably one of the best Mexican restaurants in the U.S.

: Mike

A few years ago, Craig Claibourne, food critic for the New York Times, called Frontera Grill (Topolobampo's older sister) the best Mexican restaurant in the world.  This was before the Bayless's opened Topolobampo.  Both are unforgettable.

Howard Slenk