What About These Restaurants?

>Va Pensiero--comfortable, quiet, good food, a little pricy last time I
>was there, but I haven't been often.

Va Pensiero is wonderful.  The cuisine is Italian in essence.  The chef has a great touch with soups.  Chocolate fiends must try the boudin for dessert. Didn't think it was pricey in comparison with other places in its league, actually it's a good value comparitively.   It does have an understated, quiet ambience.

Salpicn is quite good.  The food is creative/authentic Mexican somewhat along the lines of Frontera Grill / Topolobampo.  The similarity is no surprise because the chef/proprietor of Salpicon is Patricia Satkoff who cooked in Bayless' kitchen.  [Satkoff and Bayless must still be on good terms because his latest book contains at least one recipe (properly credited) that she developed while working at his restaurants.]  She runs the place along with her husband (I think) and they are both extremely personable and accommodating.  On my last visit Patricia gave me some pointers on making a very tasty mole de olla.  Also, the food has been getting better over the last year or so which makes it fun to keep going back.  To top it off the wine list is genuinely interesting.

The food *is* different than Frontera/Topolo.  The food at Salpicon is a bit more straightforward and earthy but sometimes all the more satisfying for that.  In general, hot dishes are hotter at Salpicon, which is a big plus for chile-heads like me.  That said, there is plenty of creativity on display, and the place just seems to be getting better as I mentioned above.  Clearly, some deity of Mexican cooking has smiled on Chicago to be blessed with both Salpicon and F/T.

Reservations are pretty much required for Fri/Sat, although they sometimes can be gotten on the same day.

Finally, I agree with Mr. Kelly that NN Smokehouse is a bit overrated.

--Keith Frey