Blink, and you might miss it. Skewerz is a bit of a small space, filled entirely with island-inspired décor (tiki torches, bamboo seating, and masks). The menu is also small, offering a variety of grilled meats and veggies on a stick: red-and-black-pepper- or soy-marinated chicken, filet mignon(?!), salmon, tuna, shrimp, tofu, or combination of veggies. Each skewer can be enjoyed on its own or part of a combo that includes rice (jasmine, brown, or fried) and a condiment (peanut sauce, chili sambal, mango chili, and more).

If you can, you’ve got to order the yucca fries with banana ketchup. It sounds crazy, I know, but trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

With colder temperatures around the corner, Skewerz may make for a great Hawaiian getaway, just short of going to the actual islands.

Photo credit: (c/o SXC) marsy

Skewerz ($): 1560 N Damen Ave; 773-276-9805
Sun – Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 50, 56, 72 or Blue Line train (Damen)
http://skewerz.net/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

• Dia de los Muertos is still over a month away, but you can begin celebrating this weekend at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Dia de los Muertos: La Vida Sin Fin is the nation’s largest Day of the Dead exhibit, featuring local and international artists. Friday’s opening reception will include hot chocolate, free pan (sweet bread), and traditional candy skulls for sale. (Sept 26 – Dec 14)

• Why wait for Halloween for a fright fest? The Chicago Horror Film Festival is a three-day movie event including almost 30 frightful short flicks and feature-length films. (Sept 26-28)

• If horror isn’t your thing, check out the Asian Animation Film Festival, featuring films and shorts from Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan. (Sept 24-27)

• Fall is here, meaning it’s time for the second annual Wrigleyville Fall Crawl. Participating bars will be offering $2 beers, food specials, and giveaways. (Sept 27)

• Prost! An admission fee of $25 at First Saint Paul’s Oktoberfest will get you a plate of dinner (bratwurst, sauerkraut, strudel, and more) along with two glasses of wine, beer, or soda. (Sept 27)

• Prost! The DANK-Haus is hosting its own Oktoberfest with German food, beer, folk dancing, and live music. (Sept 27)

• Estrojam 2008: Decibelle features local and international female musicians, artists, educators, activists, and community leaders in dozens of events across the city. Partial proceeds benefit the Young Women’s Empowerment Project and FAIR Fund. (Sept 24-27)

• You won’t see this at the Olympics. In the New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride, teams of two engage in a bike-riding scavenger hunt to find checkpoints around the city. At each station, the teams will have to complete a quirky challenge. Past obstacles have included bike limbo, modified Big Wheels, and tiny bicycles. Registration fees benefit West Town Bikes. (Sept 28)

• The Broadway production of Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage arrives in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. (Sept 28 – Dec 7)

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) peppergrasss, R Tys Tyk, sanja gjenero

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Shochu, a restaurant bar in Lakeview (formerly Platiyo, three doors north of Andalous), is named after a popular beverage in Japan. The alcohol is low in calories (15-20 in one ounce) and is distilled from a variety of starches (including barley and sweet potatoes). Its incredible versatility results in numerous delicious flavors. The lounge offers over a dozen versions of the signature spirit, all of which make their way into a long list of mixed drinks. I particularly enjoyed the Izumi—rice shochu muddled with kiwi and lemon—but if you prefer a stronger, bolder flavor, try the Black Dragon—barley shochu with blackberries.

Supposedly, those who imbibe shochu won’t suffer from strong hangovers, but to ensure that, you can partake in the menu’s Asian flavors. Food comes in tapas-style small plates or entrée-sized dishes. Be on the lookout for great maki and nigiri, as well as Kobe tartare, blueberry teriyaki quail, and miso-marinated New York strip.

So when you and your friends are looking for something new, you can say, “I’ve got something to Shochu.”

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Cresny, Andrew Huff

Shochu: 3313 N Clark St; 773-348-3313
Sun, Tues – Wed: 5:30 p.m. – 12 midnight
Thurs – Sat: 5:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
(Brunch Sat – Sun: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
Street parking difficult, valet available
Public trans: Bus # 22 or Red Line train (Belmont)
http://www.shochuchicago.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

10. Shanghai Terrace. With elegant art and a beautiful view, this Asian restaurant offers delicious sophistication.

9. Cyrano’s Bistrot and Wine Bar. The River North eatery serves French basics amidst casual, rustic surroundings.

8. Le Bouchon. Authentic and delicious French dishes at remarkable prices make this bistro one of Bucktown’s best.

7. Angelina Ristorante. In Lakeview, the popular date spot provides authentic Italian in a comfortable setting.

6. Firefly. Amidst the Boystown bars, this French-influenced restaurant receives glowing reviews.

5. Le Lan. The chefs here put great effort into perfectly bringing together the flavors of French and Vietnamese cuisines.

4. Juicy Wine Company. The chic wine-and-cheese bar gives patrons a chance to relax, enjoy a glass (or five) of wine, and even take home a bottle of their favorite vintage.

3. Mirai Sushi. In Wicker Park, you’ll be sure to impress your date at this sleek and stylish lounge.

2. Tango Sur. Carnivores will fall in love with this Argentine steak spot with sensible prices.

1. The Tasting Room. Whether you’re new to the wine scene or an old vet, this wine bar is ideal, offering over 100 wines from around the world to enjoy by the glass or the bottle.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) ulterior epicure (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), patrickparsons33, polomex, DDanzig, Taekwonweirdo, (c/o SXC) Gary Fordham, Quentin Houyoux

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Chalkboard, a contemporary American restaurant in North Center, is just that: a restaurant with oversized chalkboards that list the specials of the day. Rather than constantly reprinting menus, the owners are able to easily change these boards on a daily basis. Aside from the namesake wall-length chalkboard, the small dining room features white molding, linen-clad tables, and chandeliers. The menu includes beef stew, crunchy Southern-fried chicken, and tasty pork tenderloin. There’s even a decent wine list… with its own chalkboard, of course.

Sura is an upscale establishment without the upscale prices. Between Cupcakes and Intelligentsia, its Thai-inspired cuisine with a French influence is offered in small dishes, enabling diners to try a variety of flavors in one sitting. If the plates appear like little works of art, it may be due to the very modern décor of the restaurant itself. Feeling a bit like an art museum, Sura is dressed all in white, except for the occasional accent or accessory. While most of the menu consists of tapas like coconut-crusted shrimps or scallops ceviche, there are entrees available, like the teriyaki-glazed tilapia and tamarind cashew chicken.

Finally, the term “supper club” may sound old-fashioned, but the Cordis Brothers Supper Club is far from old and dusty. Beneath the brass chandeliers and tinted mirrors, families and couples of all ages enjoy the establishment’s concept: pay one price for a complete meal. Unlike many other restaurants where salads, soups, and side dishes are all listed a la carte and priced separately, here you can find an affordable way to enjoy a great-tasting dinner. I recommend the restaurant’s signature dishes: baby back ribs or the pork chop parmigiana (butterflied, flattened, sauteed, and buried under marinara sauce and mozzarella).

With great flavors and excellent service, these restaurants are sure to last the long haul.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex (1, 2, 3)

Chalkboard ($$): 4343 N Lincoln Ave; 773-477-7144
Afternoon Tea
Sat – Sun: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Dinner
Weds – Mon: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult (Do NOT park in the lot across the street)
Public trans: Bus # 11, 78
http://www.chalkboardrestaurant.com/

Sura ($): 3124 N Broadway Ave; 773-248-7872
Mon – Thurs: 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 12 midnight
Sun: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 36, 77
http://www.surachicago.com/

Cordis Brothers Supper Club ($$$): 1625 W Irving Park Rd; 773-935-1000
Sun, Tues – Thurs: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Free parking lot; valet available
Public trans: Bus # 9, X9, 80, X80
http://www.cordisbrothers.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

With a sleek dining room and trendy lounge (between Crust and Bravo Tapas), Mirai is often full of Wicker Park hipsters relaxing over sake and wasabi. Fresh fish is flown in daily, ingredients for the menu’s various rolls, entrees, and delicious appetizers like the grilled shrimp and steamed pork buns. Standout dishes like king crab in spicy mayo and steamed whitefish with shiitake mushrooms are sure to make your evening memorable. After dinner, you can head upstairs and unwind in the low-lit lounge over sake or martinis.

‘Mirai’ means ‘future’ in Japanese. Here’s hoping your special evening is the start of a great mirai.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) DDanzig

Mirai Sushi ($$$): 2020 W Division St; 773-862-8500
Reservations Recommended
Mon – Thurs: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult; valet available
Public trans: Bus # 50, 70 or Blue Line train (Damen, Division)
http://www.miraisushi.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Inside and outside, (a block north of the Apple Store) the restaurant serves up elegant French-influenced Asian fare in a lustrous environment with beautiful art and hand-carved woodwork. Hardwood floors grace the small, intimate space (seating for approximately 80) along with comforting music and soft-spoken servers.

Along with the view and the art, folks come here for the sophisticated (and pricey) menu, featuring dishes from southeast Asia. Appetizers include a sashimi platter, Kobe beef roll, and crispy Mongolian eel served with pickled papaya salad and sesame vinaigrette. For dinner, the five-spiced duck breast is simply served with mushrooms and seasonal vegetables, but it is tender and full of flavor. The steamed Cantonese-style cod fish (with ginger, scallions, and coriander soy sauce) is one of their signature dishes, and the wok-fried lobster is a must-have. You’ll be dropping quite a pretty penny for your experience here, so you might as well treat yourself to some dessert. I was a fan of the persimmon date pudding with Brazil nuts and banana milk chocolate ice cream.

Consider this a forewarning: this restaurant is centered on flavors rather than filling. Think quality, not quantity. While every dish will be absolutely refreshing and tasty, those with heartier appetites may not leave quite as full as they’d like.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) ulterior epicure

Shanghai Terrace ($$$$): 108 E Superior St; 312-573-6744
Reservations recommended
Lunch
Mon – Sat: 12 noon – 2:30 p.m.
Dinner
Mon – Sat: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult; valet available
Public trans: Bus # 3, X4, 10, 26, 66, 125, 143, 144, 145, 146, 14, 148, 151 or Red Line train (Chicago)
http://chicago.peninsula.com/pch/shanghai-terrace-restaurant.html

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

8. Red Apple. This Polish buffet just keeps on going and going and going…

7. Reza’s Restaurant. As if the extensive Mediterranean menu wasn’t enough, the Sunday brunch buffet offers an incredible number of options.

6. Mr. Greek Gyros. Everything from hot dogs to pork chops to souvlaki can be found at this 24-hour Greektown spot.

5. Joy’s Noodles & Rice. The atmosphere is just as light and refreshing as the popular Thai cuisine.

4. Hema’s Kitchen. On the far north side, you’ll be lucky if you can see your plate underneath all the Indian food.

3. Lindy’s & Gertie’s. For over 80 years, these two establishments have been keeping hungry South Siders full and satisfied.

2. MacArthur’s. The soul food here was popular long before Barack Obama sang its praises.

1. Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli. This well-known South Loop staple has been serving up huge sandwiches for over 60 years.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) minvervah, polomex (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), JOE M500

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Admission is free, but the food and drinks aren’t. Tickets come in strips of 11 for $7. Entrees can cost anywhere from 5-10 tickets, depending on the size of the portion. Every booth also offers a “taste portion,” a smaller serving of one of the menu items, which only requires 2-3 tickets. Personally, I try to get more of these smaller options, so my handful of tickets lasts a little longer, and then I get larger portions of my favorite foods.

While the Taste is well-known for its fried foods and people stuffing themselves with irresistible delicious dishes, the city wanted to provide visitors with plenty of healthy options also. So, new to this year, every restaurant that applied had to list at least one healthy item on their planned menu. The result? Plan on seeing items like whole wheat spinach and basil pizza from Father & Son (Booth 37), organic barbecue tofu skewers from A Natural Harvest (Booth 60), and vegan sweet potato pie from Soul Vegetarian East (Booth 2). Mind you, the judgments here were a bit lax and were taken “in context”. Hence the potato chips at Billy Goat Inn (Booth 6) are “healthy” (potatoes are a vegetable, right?) when compared with the rest of their menu: steak sandwiches and cheeseburgers. Bakeries like Eli’s Cheesecake and JR Dessert Bakery had a bit of a difficulty also, but they included sugar-free desserts or items with fresh fruit.

This year’s Taste will be healthy for the planet as well. The cooking oil used during the ten-day festival will be recycled into bio-diesel fuel. This is especially good news as gas prices continue to rise.

Finally, like every year, there are big names lined up for musical performances: Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Plain White T’s, Joss Stone, Fantasia, and Bonnie Raitt, just to name a few.

Grant Park, free concerts, and more food than you could imagine: there’s no better way to celebrate summer in Chicago.

Photo credit: Peter Fuchs (c/o Flickr), City of Chicago

The Taste of Chicago: 200 S Columbus Dr; 312-744-3315
June 27 – July 6: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Ticket sales end one half-hour before closing time.)
*July 3-4: closes at 9:30 p.m., July 6: closes at 6:00 p.m.
Pay lots available in the area
Public trans: Bus # 1, 2, 3, 4, X4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 26, X28, 29, 36, 62, 126, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151
Orange/Purple/Pink/Green/Brown Line train (Adams)
Red/Blue Line train (Monroe, Jackson)
Metra Electric Line (Van Buren)
http://www.tasteofchicago.us/
(Coolers, dogs, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.)

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Joy’s delivery area is only about 8 square miles (22 km²), so most of the diners here are Lakeview locals. The brick-walled dining room, while usually packed with hungry customers, is comfortable and airy. French doors at the front make window seats perfect for people-watching.

Start off your meal with baby egg rolls (so tiny!), chicken satay, or khanom jeeb—steamed shrimp Shu Mai served with special soy sauce. Simple Asian dishes are divided into noodle, curry, and rice items. There are traditional favorites like pad thai and pad see eiw, along with spicy options like chicken coconut curry and pad prik. Best of all, entrées average $7-8. You can even bring your own beer or wine, and there’s no corkage fee. Stop on by for lunch, and take advantage of their wallet-friendly lunch specials, which include an entrée and an appetizer sampler.

These low prices and great flavors will have you jumping for Joy’s.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex

Joy’s Noodles and Rice ($): 3257 N Broadway St; 773-327-8330
Sun – Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 36, 77
http://www.joysnoodlesandrice.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler