We will be six people on a Friday night so already that’s an issue. We will be in the Lincoln Park/Old Town area (although nearby ok too). Not looking for Michelin fancy. Nor do we want steaks or BBQ or pizza. Ideas? Suggestions? Although I would love a good and reasonably priced wine list, I’m not going to be too fussy about that either.
Oh, and we’re going out to my SIL’s place in MI and dining at Granor Farm. Has anyone been there?
Here are a few options. None are crazy expensive, and should have good wine lists. They’re also in or close to Lincoln Park/Old Town (no more than 20 minutes driving)
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba - Spanish tapas
Aba - Great rooftop, Mediterranean, shareable plates
Mott Street - Asian-American fusion, communal dining
Cabra - Rooftop Peruvian
Galit - Israeli-inspired, four-course menu, strong Middle Eastern wine list
Topo Gigio - Classic Italian, generous portions, good patio
I could give you about 50 more, but I’ll let others chime in as well with suggestions
You will find many “best of” lists that feature the same host of names. Alinea, Asador, Kasama, basically anything on West Randolph, etc. And these are all well and good.
But if you want a truly singular experience, for me the answer is easy: Hermosa.
Cambodian fine dining by a gem of a chef, Ethan Lim. Pre fixe menu. The meal is pricey (I think it came out to $175/pp). The restaurant is tiny, which makes for an intimate dining experience. It’s a bit of a hike from the city proper. The parking is difficult, so I would recommend taking an Uber.
It’s BYOB. No wine list. No corkage. They have excellent stems and decanters. It has become sort of a magnet for wine people in the city, akin to what Noreetuh has become for NYC. It is THE place I take my wine friends when they visit from out of town, and they still fondly recount their meals there years later. Yes, you can go to Avec or somewhere else in the West Loop and have a great time, but if you want a meal you won’t forget, Hermosa is your place.
Well, that sounds very interesting but not right for the evening because one person is kosherish (i.e., no pork or shellfish) and another is pescatarian. So a place with a fixed menu is no go.
S.K.Y. (typo corrected) and Mon Ami Gabi are both located in the Belden-Stratford building across from the Lincoln Park Zoo. Google to get a better feel for the style of each.
I live near Granor Farm in Three Oaks and buy produce from there regularly. I have not yet tried one of their dinners and am curious to hear what you think.
I had a fantastic dinner (and some outstanding wines) several months ago at John’s Food and Wine. 2100 block of Halstead. Was so great and so much fun that the next night I canceled plans and ran it back with another friend…