$$$ - Casual Dining
September 13th, 2009 at 07:19pm
Under $$$ - Casual Dining
I haven’t written on here in a long time, definitely not since I moved to San Francisco from Chicago. My meal at Umami was so good, I had no choice but to write it up.
After strolling all over the Marina without finding anything that looked all that worthwhile, we stumbled on Umami (http://www.umamisf.com). It was hidden down a side street off Union and it was dark enough that we couldn’t read the menu posted outside. Luckily enough, the atmosphere looked about right for a Sunday night dinner - laid back but nice heavy wood decor.
Upon looking at the menu, it was clear that there was at least one mandatory order - Edamame Hummus. There isn’t too terribly much to say other than that two of the most glorious appetizers in the world combined into a single mind-blowing creation is something I’m definitely into. I could have grubbed 2 orders of this.
The best item of the night though was based on the recommendation of the waitress - White Tuna Tataki. After ordering this blind based on her recommendation, I really didn’t think twice about it until the guy put a skillet down on the table and before I knew what was going on, poured some steaming hot oil into the skillet and the fish in the skillet was sizzling and steam was shooting into the air and everybody in the place was staring mouth agape at our table begging to know what it was that we being the sophisticated, clearly in-the-know people (who had never heard of the place 20 min earlier), had ordered. Of course, having not even looked at it on the menu, I had no idea what to tell them, and quite frankly didn’t even know the name of it until I just looked it up now. All this rambling and I haven’t even begun to talk about how amazing this dish was. The fish ends up perfectly seared by the oil, with the outside getting nice and warm but leaving the middle of each piece cool and refreshing. The sauce and flavors coming out of that pan were beyond good as well. Overall, this is a straight rock star dish.
After some good enough but largely forgettable sushi rolls, we were preparing to leave and had requested the bill when we decided with nothing to do on a lazy Sunday evening, we might as well take a look at the dessert menu. I’m not much of a dessert guy, especially at Asian restaurants (green tea ice cream is straight yuck). That said, I only saw one item on the dessert menu and upon seeing it, was a changed man forever - Chocolate Chip cookie dough ice cream roll served with a chocolate dipping sauce. If that doesn’t sound amazing to you, check your palette. It was better than it sounds and it sounds life changing. I found a picture of this glorious roll.
Overall, everything came together for me at Umami, the atmosphere coupled with a couple of amazing dishes made for an incredible meal even though it included some fairly uninspired sushi.
Umami is located at 2909 Webster St. in San Francisco.
By admin
April 27th, 2007 at 07:13am
Under $$$ - Casual Dining
After being drawn through the doors and up the mirrored escalator to this spot that overlooks Michigan Avenue in an absolutely prime location by tales of a glorious chicken sandwich, I was slightly set back to not even find such an item on the menu. However, this may have been a blessing in disguise as the blackened fish sandwich I settled on at Bandera was excellent and it would have been hard for any chicken sandwich to top.
A small wait stood between me and this amazing grilled fish sandwich upon entering this popular and fairly upscale eatery. Luckily the bar was large and inviting and the jazz trio at the center of the room added a quality ambiance with their music. The drinks were good albeit a bit pricey and the service exceeded expectations. Soon enough we were seated and slightly disappointed that the small menu we had seen at the bar was in fact the entire menu for the evening.
Though it was small, there were a few intriguing items but ultimately my fish sandwich decision was a rather easy one. My biggest hesitation was the accompanying item – peanut sauce cole slaw. I can’t say I’ve ever really enjoyed cole slaw. It always seems like a visual garnish that nobody really expects you to eat. However, when my plate arrived, I was pleased to see something resembling more of a salad than the slaw in a small cup that I had envisioned. Once I tasted this glorious concept, I realized my hesitation toward it had been completely unfounded. It was simply delicious and the perfect accompaniment to my sandwich.
That is not to say it over-shined the main entrée though. This sandwich could easily hold its own against most of the food I have experienced recently. Perfectly cooked and seasoned and served on a soft, full bun with a very good tartar sauce component that added to the flavor of the fish extremely well. I don’t tend to be a big fan of most tomatoes, but the tomatoes served with this sandwich were so red and fresh, I couldn’t help but peel them off and eat them before even trying the sandwich.
Overall, I was extremely pleased with my visit to Bandera. From the food to the ambiance to the service, this spot hit on all levels and I strongly recommend it to any locals as well as any tourists who stumble on this little known street tucked away in the darkest recesses of Chicago.
By admin
April 10th, 2007 at 11:25pm
Under $$$ - Casual Dining+ $$$$ - Fine Dining+ $$ - Good Eats+ $ - Fast Food+ $$$$$ - Ridic Dining
While I love eating a great many places, very few elicit the title of perpetual favorites. Portillos is one of those places. I really have been dreading this write-up just for fear of not doing justice to the sacred walls of this glorious establishment.
I first came to terms with my problem when during my freshman year of college at the University of Wisconsin, I received for my birthday not one but two entire cakes of chocolaty heaven. Other people had clearly been introduced to my inner fat guy. I am not a religious man, but if I were, this cake would vie for the position of my deity. While a single entire cake is indeed gluttonous and possessing two at the same time approaches extreme levels even I quiver at the thought of, even the single slices served at the restaurant can put everything that is good in the world within reach of your fork.
I knew that this piece would inevitably digress into a love note to mi amor chocolate cake but I promised myself that I would fight to keep it on track. With that in mind I would like to get into some of Portillos’ other offerings.
The most astonishing thing about this spot is that while everyone loves it, each has his or her own reasons. While conversations with Coldstone lovers are always going to get back to cake batter ice cream, conversations with Portillos lovers are unscripted and spontaneous.
Following the obligatory affirmation that he is in fact a fan, the portillos lover will follow with an utterly unpredictable reasoning. “The Italian beef makes my heart sing.” “The grilled chicken sandwich is better than watching dragonflies fuck.” “The chili dog is more soothing than diarrhea when you’re constipated.” The list goes on. I have never heard of a spot where nearly every menu item is at the top of someone’s list. How can everything be so damn good?
Personally, I have experienced periods in my love for Portillos, much more akin to those that Picasso experienced than those which visit chics monthly. I began young and innocent with my cheese dog period, before exploring my slightly deeper cheeseburger side. The cheese fries were a comforting constant, a shoulder to lean on if you will, through this otherwise tumultuous period.
I then grew slightly more health conscious and my palette expanded forcing me into a long, drawn out grilled chicken sandwich period. The flavors that result as the mayonnaise plays on the seasonings of the perfectly grilled breast are nothing short of beautiful when combined on such a soft but substantial bun. Lately my emotions have been getting the best of my health conscious mind and I have been falling into the darkness that is the chili dog. While the chili is not all that noteworthy, I can’t help but love the experience.
If I die of heart disease, there is almost no doubt that my drawn out romance with Portillos played some part, but that is ok because everyone knows that in heaven, food orders are hastily scribbled on the backs of red and white striped paper bags.
By admin
April 5th, 2007 at 09:02pm
Under $$$ - Casual Dining+ $$ - Good Eats
If asked my favorite bar in Chicago, the vast majority of the time, I would answer with the simple, fake word “Rockit.” However, though their name doesn’t appear in the dictionary, nothing else about this place is faked.
By all accounts celebrities tend to hit this spot when they visit town. While that may conjure the image of asshole elitists circling around crispy white tables sitting in uncomfortable chairs staring at one another’s perfectly styled hair while odd trance music plays (but I digress), Rockit is far removed from any of these visions. This fairly dark, rustic space with heavy wood tables and booths seems more inviting for a gathering of old friends than MC Hammer hanging out with his groupies. Add in a friendly, albeit fairly ubiquitous staff and you have a very nice spot to spend an evening.
The areas where it really counts are where Rockit really stands out though. Food and drink. So what if they have a great atmosphere? If the food and drink sucks, I won’t be going back. Luckily though, this place has it all.
Great signature beverages – a first visit wouldn’t be complete without trying the Bomb Pop (raspberry and lemon vodkas, blue Curacao, lemonade and grenadine). This outstanding cocktail combines the flavor you loved as a kid with a buzz that would make any 20 year old long for a birthday. If you’re feeling daring, a Blueberry Pie (Stoli Blue, splash of blueberry puree, pineapple juice, splash of ginger syrup, splash of roses, lime shaken and strained) should be a decent departure from your average bar fare.
However, as much as I love a great cocktail, even I throw enough crap into a shaker and pour gold once in awhile. Food on the other hand takes a bit more delicate touch. The food at Rockit is outstanding. While I can’t recall a single negative comment, I have repeatedly heard praise from all directions. Whether it be directed to the standard dinner menu or the scaled down late-night version, praise for Rockit’s food runs long.
Personally, I list their Cajun Salmon with Pasta amongst my favorite meals in the city. Coming in at just $18, this dish consists of excellent salmon resting on a bed of incredible pesto pasta. The pesto sauce was fresh and tasty and the pasta a filling counterpart to the wonderful salmon. As far as late night fare, my choice has repeatedly been the Grilled Chicken Sandwich. This rather gourmet take on a standard bar food dish features pesto mayonnaise and is served on a really quality roll.
I am almost embarrassed to say that I have never tried the signature Rockit Burger but I suppose that gives me a reason to go back. It also shows just how good these other two dishes are that I keep going back to them though I am utterly intrigued by another menu item.
I recommend Rockit to visitors and locals alike. The food, drink, and atmosphere are all superb and the price is quite low for such a sought after and classy establishment.
By admin
March 31st, 2007 at 06:45pm
Under $$$ - Casual Dining+ $$ - Good Eats
A prime River North location, valet parking outside, innovative menu, not a place I want to pick up the check. Or is it?
Quartinos (Corner of State & Ontario) labels its offerings as italian tapas. As someone who loves food, I tend to be very indecisive when picking up a menu for the first time. Tapas is the perfect answer for those times when everything looks good. I also love quality Italian food as much as anybody who has lived off store-bought marinara sauce and spaghetti for the better part of college and fallen in love at first sight with hundreds of super hot Italian girls. However, I have never heard of a restaurant offering a combination of both of these dining pleasures. I was intrigued and ready to pay for it.
Once inside the crowded, yet surprisingly comfortable bustle of this friendly spot, we ordered clams and a carafe of cabernet sauvignon to start. The wine was impressively good - even before considering the $18/L price tag. The clams were deserving of a similar reaction. Coated in an excellent sauce and served in a generous helping, this was good eating. For the next course, we ordered the cavatelli. Touted by our friendly and fast waitress as a potato pasta similar to gnocchi, this dish was impeccable. I have not had pasta this good in quite some time. The sauce was bursting with flavor that was brought out perfectly by fresh ricotta cheese spread across the dish. This dish alone makes me want to return to Quartinos very soon.
Following this dish we settled on calamari as our final dish. The generous helpings made three dishes seem like the perfect number for two people. The calamari was the first and only falter of the entire meal. A bit undercooked and rubbery, they were still not horrible and I have certainly seen far worse served at higher priced establishments. We were well into our second carafe of wine by this point and decided that dessert was a must upon seeing the nutella paninis seductively lighting up the menu. When they were brought out, it was clear that these small sandwiches dripping with chocolate were the perfect end to a very enjoyable dinner.
I have no doubt that I will return to Quartinos in the near future. If I were to only consider the food, I would draw the exact same conclusion. Add to this that my girlfriend and I were able to enjoy 3 generously sized tapas dishes, dessert, and plenty of wine for less than $50 and I am just salty I didn’t hit here any earlier.
By admin
March 31st, 2007 at 06:43pm
Under $$$ - Casual Dining+ $$$$ - Fine Dining
I’ll skip the urge to say something super weak right here like holy cow. Instead, I’ll go more along the lines of what the dick? Who knew?
This outdoor facade of this straight American bar I pass each day on the way home from work hiding white tablecloths and expensive steaks behind its 2 story neon baseball bat. What a sneaky nice restaurant.
Ok, truth be told, my mom actually tried to convince me that the food here was the real deal. Of course I’m still not grown up enough to listen to a word that comes out of that broad’s mouth so I went on convinced that the best thing Harry Caray’s could put on a plate was some fries to soak up the drink. Apparently my mom does know what she is talking about and this place fancies itself as a legit restaurant.
Even more odd, the food fully backs up this notion. Everything from our crab cake appetizer that could make even an Orioles fan drool through to the tiramisu was delicous.
I was joined by my favorite person able to pull off a skirt and we decided to split two entrees after the oh so good crab cake. We opted for the Grilled Rare Yellowfin Tuna and the Penne with Pesto. The tuna was fantastic. While I am not normally a huge fan of seared tuna that is essentially still raw, this fish was incredibly tender and the sauce was so good I would not have wanted it any other way. My only beef with the dish was the lack of included sides. I feel like a dollop of mashed potatoes or a little asparagus would have gone a long way to improving the dish even more.
The Penne with Pesto was also very good. At first I was impressed by the freshness of the pesto. The green hue of the dish was so intense and the fresh pesto supplied it with flavor to match. The portion was enormous which I can always respect. I had two small gripes about the dish. 1. The oil in the dish really dripped to the bottom, causing the start of the dish to be relatively dry (which I liked) but the finish was too oily for my taste. 2. ( and the far more minute gripe) The asparagus in the dish was small cuts of the base of the stems. I would have preferred to see more of the leafy ends.
We concluded with an order of tiramisu which was pretty standard fare, yet very good. Though its been a while, Maggiano’s tiramisu comes to mind as a close comparison.
Though the meal wasn’t perfect, overall it was very good. The staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was lively for a lazy Sunday evening with more than a couple birthdays being celebrated and families with children in the room.
Overally, it was a very good dinner and I think a fan of steak would probably enjoy Harry Caray’s even more than I. If I ventured back, I would probably order a fish and then one of the very reasonably priced and nicely sized side dishes.
By admin
March 31st, 2007 at 06:42pm
Under $$$ - Casual Dining+ $$ - Good Eats
bis·tro [bis-troh; Fr. bee-stroh] noun - Spot with weak food during the day that pops super late with wicked good food and alcohol til the sun comes up.
Based on two recent trips to Bijan’s Bistro (663 N State St. I won’t even waste your time with their janky website) the above definition is pretty spot on. Who knew? honestly…
Let me set the stage a bit.
Trip 1
Out meeting people for brunch, disappointed to see a meager breakfast food offering, ask waitress for recommendation, enthused by her asshole sounding suggestion of the salmon tartine until it comes out and I realize I got lox & bagel minus the bagel while everybody else seemed to get heaping mounds of better looking whatnot. I decided to place the blame straight on the spot, leaving my shoulders free of the burden and vowed to never return.
Trip 2
Fast forward a few weeks. Bijan’s Bistro has all but faded from my memory when I arrive home late one Saturday evening with my memory faded. My roomate hatches a plan to eat at Bijan’s because it is apparently open until 5am. With the strange feeling that I may miss out on a golden experience I join him. As we enter we can’t believe the crowd amassed in this small eatery at nearly 3 in the morning. And it seems, no one is planning on going anywhere soon.
We get a table after a short wait and both order the pesto chicken sandwich. Mine is accompanied by incredible cottage fries while my friend opts for the french fries. I’m blown away by how good everything is. Apparently I was wrong about his place and see many hazy nights in the future being spent amongst the industry folk within the mahogany walls of Bijan’s Bistro.
If you’re ever looking some good eats late night in River North I have to recommend giving Bijan’s a try. I’m almost thinking I might give it another shot during the day especially considering the outdoor patio I saw popping out there today.
By admin
