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

Featured in my International Chicago series, the small space is spattered with Peruvian posters and photos, and it’s obvious how much owner Cesar Izquierdo loves his home country. More impressively though, he shares that love through the menu. Seafood lovers will appreciate the generous portions of ceviche offered as appetizers, served with onions, corn, and sweet potato. Popular dishes include the pariuhuela (a huge, mixed seafood soup) and the aji de gallina (shredded chicken in a walnut cream sauce). Others swear by the tallarines verde (pasta with a spinach and basil sauce) or the lomo saltado (rib eye sauteed with tomatoes and onions). The fact is, everything on the menu is superb, so you can’t go wrong.

Taste of Peru also offers tasty (virgin) pisco sours and Inca Cola, but feel free to take advantage of their BYOB policy and cheap corkage fee.

This hidden gem is no longer a secret; it is now a shining treasure on Clark Street. The quantity and quality are a big hit, so be sure to call ahead for a reservation.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Taekwonweirdo

Taste of Peru ($): 6545 N Clark St; 773-381-4540
Sun – Thurs: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Free parking lot
Public trans: Bus # 22, 155
http://www.tasteofperu.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

The small area can be a bit crowded but cozy, as servers in white T-shirts cover the two rooms. The front room provides a visually-clean area with little décor to distract from the big flavors. In the back, the vibe is a bit warmer and more romantic with exposed-brick walls and wood accents. During warmer months, seating is available outside which may offer a touch more personal space.

Feel free to bring your own bottle of wine (no corkage fee!) and a big appetite. Begin the evening with appetizers like empanadas (turnovers with beef, chicken, ham with cheese, or spinach with cheese), prosciutto served with hearts of palm, or the specialty matambre (veal rolled and cooked with vegetables, served cold). As you can guess, beef is the star at Tango Sur, and the restaurant is filled with the aromas of various cuts of meat. From boneless strip steak to sirloin to a half slab of range-grown flap meat, all the dishes are well-seasoned and are usually served with potatoes (wedges or mashed) and a salad. For a special treat, order a parrillada (for one or for two), a selection of different meats served on a table-top grill.

There are also a number of chicken and veal dishes, like the pechuga de pollo (grilled chicken breast) and milanesa de ternera (breaded and seasoned veal). And while this is a steakhouse, vegetarians aren’t completely ignored—the berenjena is oven-baked eggplant layered with spinach, three cheeses, and a tomato cream sauce.

Romantic and full of sizzling heat, it’s no coincidence that this restaurant is named after Argentina’s sultry dance, the tango.

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

Tango Sur ($$): 3763 N Southport Ave; 773-477-5466
Mon – Thurs : 5 :00 p.m. – 10 :30 p.m.
Fri: 5:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Sat: 3:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Sun: 12 noon – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 9, X9, 22, 80, X80

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

The eclectic phenomenon begins the moment you walk in the door. Energetic and fun, the sound of a salsa beat greets hungry patrons. The spacious restaurant is divided into several sections, each with its own atmosphere and personality. From the rooftop lounge to the sleek circular sushi bar, the spaces are just as attractive as the people who fill them. This is a great place to do a little people-watching, so don’t be surprised if you catch someone checking you out.

The menu features an array of small dishes, featuring appetizers like tuna tataki (tatsoi, heart of palm, avocado, lemon, yuca chip, and aji panca coulis) and butter lettuce wraps (with crispy rock shrimp, uni ailoi, peas, and black truffle vinaigrette). “Samba rolls,” a.k.a. sushi rolls, include Samba rio Roll—which brings together lobster tempura, red leaf lettuce, cucumber, avocado, and rice cracker—and the Bobo Brazil—seared kobe-style beef, avocado, kaiware, shiso, red onion, and chimichurri ponzu. And if you’d prefer a traditional one-plate entrée, try the crispy red snapper in spicy red curry sauce or organic chicken teriyaki.

Of course, a place this hip serves up excellent cocktails. Try a traditional caipirinha, pisco sour, or mojito, or order one of the restaurant’s signature drinks like the “Sambatini.”

The colors are bold, the menu is daring, and the people are lively. Sushi Samba Rio isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a party.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Khaotikit, leighrowan

Sushi Samba Rio ($$$$): 504 N Wells St; 312-595-2300
Sun – Tues: 11:45 a.m. – 12 midnight
Weds – Thurs: 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:45 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Street parking difficult; pay lots nearby; valet available
Public trans: Bus # 11, 65, 125, 156
http://sushisamba.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Actually, the menu is Cuba-born. More than 50 years ago, the founder opened his own restaurant in Bainoa, Cuba. When he decided to move to Chicago, he brought all his recipes with him and opened a casual, family-operated eatery in what is now the Bucktown neighborhood. The atmosphere is very relaxed while the live music is always energizing. Take a seat, and before long, you’ll find your worries just drifting away.

While the food at Laguardia is full of spices, it’s not picante (spicy-hot). The extensive menu highlights traditional Cuban meat and seafood dishes, including appetizers like ground beef croquettes and beef or shrimp empanadas. Servers will be happy to bring you hearty portions of the house specialty, paella Valencia, made with mild yellow rice and mounds of clams, chicken, and shrimp. Try the ground beef criollo cooked in spicy tomato sauce with raisins, onions, olives, and potatoes. Feeling adventurous? Order the squid cooked in its own ink and served with rice. Just take note: even the menu warns that it’s “an acquired taste.” Finally, you can always take the advice of Rachael Ray, who had a Brazilian red snapper filet served with rice and cachaca sauce the last time she stopped by with her Food Network crew. The fish is flown in daily, but only about 30 pounds (13.6 kg) at a time, so don’t be surprised if this popular dish is no longer available in the later hours of the day.

The cabana-style bar mixes up an excellent mojito, but the caipirinha (limes, sugar, and rum) is among the best. Best of all, there are drink specials every night of the week. It’s a good thing too, because even with a reservation, you may find yourself waiting a while for a table. Also, dishes are made to order, and some can take up to 45 minutes to prepare.

So come for the rum, and stay for the day!

Photo credit: Cafe Laguardia

Café Laguardia ($$): 2111 W Armitage Ave; 773-862-5996
Mon – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sun: 12 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Street parking available
Public trans: Bus # 50, 73
http://www.cafelaguardia.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Most of the food isn’t truly authentic; it’s contemporary Latin. The term “Nuevo Latino” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot, and, I have to admit, it’s not one I particularly care for. It’s all rather subjective. But whatever you call it, Mas takes influences from several countries in Central and South America and combines them with modern styles of food. Using regional farmers and producers whenever possible, the menu flourishes with Latin products and spices but isn’t overdone with them. Begin with appetizers like the arepa (spiced fried shrimp, Colombian corn cake, and beberete salsa), which has so many different flavors and textures to enjoy. From tuna-papaya tacos to chile-cured tenderloin, standard Latin fare is given a contemporary kick. Among entrees, seared rare yellowfin tuna rubbed with chimichurri is impressively tender, and the New York strip served with cabrales butter, tobacco onions, and chipotle mashed potatoes is a hit among meat-eaters. However, the most acclaimed dish is the vegetarian’s delight: an appetizer offering empanadas stuffed with wild mushrooms, goat cheese, and walnuts.

A remarkable list of cocktails accompanies the menu. Don’t be afraid to give into the mojito or the Brazilian specialties, the caipirinha and the cocorissima. The Mas y Mas margarita, the restaurant’s signature cocktail, is a delicious combination of blue agave reposado tequila, orange liqueur, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Or ask about the Mas y Mas con vino if you’re a fan of sangria. On Mondays, you can enjoy mojitos, margaritas, and martinis for just $5 each.

The music is loud and so are the people, giving Mas and its diners an energetic Latin boost they won’t soon forget.

Mas ($$$): 1670 W Division St; 773-276-8700
Sun – Thurs: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking, valet available
Public trans: Bus # 9, X9, 56, 70 or Blue Line train (Division)
http://www.masrestaurant.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Many Latin restaurants start you off with a free basket of tortilla chips and salsa. However, La Peña offers something delectably different: thinly-sliced plantain chips. I guarantee you: those won’t last long, so you should probably grab something from the appetizer menu. The empanadas are absolutely delicious, as are the humitas and the tortillas de papa (potato pancakes stuffed with cheese and topped with homemade peanut sauce). And sip on a fruit shake while waiting for your meal! I’d recommend the strawberry (fresa) or Andean raspberry (mora).

The restaurant specializes in ceviches (the shrimp cocktail is the most popular) and other seafood dishes, like the encocado de camaron—steamed shrimps with coconut sauce, served with rice and fried green plantains. There are also plenty of traditional South American platters of grilled steak, chicken, and lamb. Flavorful menestra de pollo (grilled chicken breast) comes with a mound of rice and a side of beans, and the churrasco is always tempting, served with a fried egg, French fries, avocado, and white rice. Dessert options include rice pudding, fried sweet plantains, and coconut flan.

The stage hosts traditional Latin-American folk music Thursdays through Saturdays. Don’t be surprised to see people dancing on the itty bitty dance floor. The celebratory air may even have you passing on the shake for something more potent, like a glass of sangria or the rave-worthy locura latina—tequila, brandy, Licor 43, and Bacardi 151.

Photo credit: La Peña

La Peña ($$): 4212 N Milwaukee Ave; 773-545-7022
Tues – Weds: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Thurs – Fri: 4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Sat: 4:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
Sun: 12 noon – 2:00 a.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 54, X54, 56
http://www.lapenachicago.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

As soon as you walk in the door, you can smell all the delicious meat in the room; however, you’ll probably also notice the immense salad bar with a wide selection of greens and sides, enough to satisfy even your vegetarian friends. The white tablecloths and exposed wood beams tie everything together in a sophisticated atmosphere.

The fixed price menu is worth every penny of its $50. You’ll start off with the unlimited salad bar. More than likely, you won’t even make it all the way around before you start wondering if you should’ve brought a second plate. Cured salmon, crisp veggies, hearts of artichoke and palm, wild mushrooms and asparagus, prosciutto, and more can all be found among the salad bar’s staples.

Save plenty of room because now it’s time for the meat of the matter. The menu boasts 15 different fire-roasted cuts, including lamb chops, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, smokey chicken breast, prime rib, top and bottom sirloin, well-seasoned pork loin, fragrant pork sausages… the list goes on and on. At your table, you’ll be equipped with a two-sided disk to control the pace of your meal. The green side reads, “Sim por favor” (Yes, please). Be prepared! Flip to this side, and, within seconds, gauchos will come from every direction with skewers of sizzling meats to carve at the table. The meat-wielding men will keep coming until you flip to the red side, “Nao obrigado” (No thanks). Enjoy your meal, and when you’re ready for more, flip back to the green side.

Waiters will also arrive with a variety of sides, including mashed potatoes, polenta, and fried bananas. Or, if you can manage to get yourself out of your seat, you can make another trip to the plentiful salad bar for the sides offered there. The restaurant’s award-winning wine list and traditional Brazilian beverages complement the dining experience.

Desserts are also available, including an intensely rich café latte cheesecake, creamy flan, and crème brulee. Of course, that’s assuming you have any room left after dinner.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) hkboyee, lisastroud 2000

Fogo de Chão ($$$$): 661 N LaSalle St; 312-932-9330
Lunch
Mon – Fri: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Dinner
Mon – Thurs: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Sat: 4:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Sun: 4:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Valet parking
Public trans: Bus # 11, 22, 66, 125, 156 or Brown/Purple Line train (Chicago)
http://www.fogodechao.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

It is definitely the place to be when it comes to summer in Chicago, and I try to go every year. Located right behind the Art Institute, admission is free, but you buy food and beverages with tickets you can purchase at the entrances of the event. A strip of 11 tickets costs $7. How much does the food cost? Well, that depends on what you get. Large portions (like a huge turkey leg) will probably go for about 10 tickets, but most other dishes range from 5-8 tickets. Your best value is probably the “taste portion” that every restaurant booth offers: a small sample of one of their specialties for only 2-3 tickets. Soft drinks, water, and alcoholic beverages are also all available at the Taste of Chicago.

Keep an eye out for a few favorites. You’ll find throngs of people waiting patiently for one of the giant barbecued, slowly-cooked turkey legs at Helen’s (Booth 30). For a sample of Chicago pizza, try the Home Run Inn (Booth 36), which also serves frozen grapes, great for the hot summer days. Of course, this is Chicago, so there are more than enough pizza places to sample, including Lou Malnati’s (33), Suparossa (13), Connie’s (47), and more. Vegetarians should check out A Natural Harvest (59), a strictly vegetarian restaurant at the Taste, offering tamales, roasted corn on the cob, and cheese nachos. And for dessert, you can’t go wrong with chocolate-dipped cheesecake from Eli’s (22). I can never go without the fried dough from Harry Carey’s (32) or a chocolate-dipped frozen banana from Aunt Diana’s Candy Makers (18).

The concerts that are held at the Petrillo Music Shell are free! The seating area opens up to the public a half hour before each concert. There are a limited number of seats however, and it’s a first-come-first-served basis, so check the schedules and be sure to get there early.

And then, there’s the incredible Independence Eve fireworks show. On July 3, the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m., and the fireworks are launched from Monroe Harbor at 9:30 p.m. The show draws a massive crowd, so claim your spot early.

The Taste of Chicago is a great place to sample foods you’ve always wondered about and discover restaurants you may not have known about before.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Peter Fuchs

The Taste of Chicago: 200 S Columbus Dr; 312-744-3315
June 29 – July 8: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
*July 3: closes at 10:00 p.m., July 8: closes at 8:00 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 (Van Buren)
http://www.tasteofchicago.us/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler