Alinea creators coming to Fulton Market with Next Restaurant and The Aviary!

Brought to me by the weekly Fulton River District Association bulletin, the creators of the world-famous restaurant, Alinea, are making their presence known in the Fulton Market.  Currently under construction, two new businesses are taking shape at 953-955 W. Fulton Market.  

Next Restaurant will explore world cuisine and instead of taking reservations, your booking will be made more like a theater or a sporting event where your tickets will be fully inclusive of all charges, including dining service.  Obviously, ticket prices will depend on the time and day of your visit. 

The Aviary won’t technically be defined as a bar or a lounge, really.  They’ll have chefs producing the drinks so not only will they have the classic cocktails, but you can bet they’ll have some amazing and beautiful cocktails to compliment the menu at Next Restaurant. 

Both Next Restaurant and The Aviary are slated to open later this year. 

Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea and one of his food creations.

It’s Mayfest time! Head up to Lakeview for some food and music!

Located at 3100 N. Ashland Avenue in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, Mayfest lasts from May 21st through May 23rd so you still have two full days of Mayfest fun to be had. 

Description
Mayfest kicks off the summer festival season for Chicago. This event features great music, lots of food and plenty to drink. Dont miss it. A courtyard of fantastic merchants, artists & corporate booths

Performers
Chicagos Best Entertainment! Maggie Speaks, Mike & Joe, 16 Candles and many others.

Times
Fri 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sat and Sun 12:00 pm – 10 :00 pm

Admission & Parking
Only $5 / parking is not offered at event.

Come check it out.  I went to Mayfest last year and had a good time, mostly because I love food and there was plenty of it.  Also, the bands are pretty good and let me reminisce about my college days…er, last weekend if I’m talking about 16 Candles.

 

Awesome barbecue at Smoque BBQ. Ribs, Brisket, Mac-n-Cheese, Cornbread, Ahhh!

Soooo, the other day my friend and I had quite the Chicago food adventure.  First we paid our second visit to Smoque BBQ and then it was on to Mac-n-Cheese Pizza over at Ian’s Pizza.  But of course I’ve already posted about Ian’s so now it’s all about Smoque BBQ in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood.  Located at 3800 N. Pulaski Road, Smoque has been featured on tons of Chicago media outlets and even Diners Drive-in’s and Dives on Food Network.

When you’re walking up to Smoque, you can already smell the smokey goodness and when you get inside, it’s even better.  It’s totally no frills, you look up at a huge menu written in chalk, order up at the register, and then take a seat at one of the packed tables.

I ordered the Sliced Brisket Platter which comes with cole slaw and two sides (mac-n-cheese and fries) for $10.45.  My friend ordered the Sliced Brisket Platter and cole slaw with peach cobbler and cornbread for $10.45.  He also ordered an extra ‘taste’ of pulled pork for an additional $3.00.

I definitely recommend that everyone check out Smoque as soon as possible because you wont be disappointed.  The brisket was so tender and flavorful and their BBQ sauce isn’t your typical mass produced sauce.  Smoque is open every day of the week except for Mondays but definitely check out Smoque’s website for a menu and more! 

Photos courtesy of the uncrate website.

Epic Burger expanding to North Avenue! I LOVE Epic Burger!

Ever been to Epic Burger’s original location in the South Loop/Printers Row neighborhood?  Well, Epic Burger, located at 517 S. State Street in the mega-dorm has become so successful that they’re planning on expanding to the North Avenue retail area at 1000 W. North Avenue. 

Epic Burger goes with the whole sustainable and going green route and their food is, for the most part, all natural.  Plus, Epic was pretty smart to open up their restaurant on the ground floor because I would think almost any good restaurant would do well when there’s a couple thousand hungry college kids around.

Chicago Gourmet Burger Brand Expands

[2009-12-18]   Epic Burger is set to open its second location in Spring 2010 at 1000 West North Avenue in the former Transitions Bookplace in Lincoln Park. The first location launched in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood in May 2008 and introduced Chicago to “a more mindful burger”.

In a time when authenticity and value is top of mind, Epic Burger offers its customers a better burger experience. The new location will introduce Lincoln Park customers to a mindful menu that features 100 percent all natural, never frozen, hand-packed beef and turkey burgers, all-natural chicken breasts and portabella mushroom sandwiches, all cooked fresh to order. Customers can also choose from unique flavor additions like: cage-free organic fried egg, nitrate free bacon, and all natural cheeses. Epic Burger buns are baked fresh daily and have no preservatives or artificial ingredients. Fries are made with fresh, hand cut potatoes cooked with zero trans fats and seasoned with pure sea salt. The menu also features shakes and smoothies made with all natural ice cream and fat free frozen yogurt….

Check out the full QSR Magazine article HERE!

Photo courtesy of Epic Burger.

Mac & Cheese Cheese Pizza at Ian’s Pizza by the Slice in the heart of Wrigleyville!

Yes, you read right…mac & cheese pizza.  As weird as this sounds, thanks to a couple friends, I recently had the pleasure of eating a piece a month or so ago.  The pizza was forever engrained in my mind so the other day I was driving through Wrigleyville and I had to go back in to Ian’s Pizza by the Slice and get a slice of their mac & cheese pizza.

Ian’s Pizza by the Slice, located at 3463 N. Clark Street, offers a ton of different pizza’s and a lot of them aren’t the normal cheese and pepperoni.  This month’s special is a sloppy joe pizza which has the meat, pickles, french fries and more on top of it.  And as odd as that sounds, I bet it tastes awesome.  Check out Ian’s website for their pizza of the week special.  Each large specialty pizza slice is $3.75.

Mac & Cheese Pizza. Photo courtesy of Time Out Chicago

Little Mel’s Place on 18th Street in Pilsen opened by a great, young couple!

After a second time eating at Little Mel’s Place, located at 1800 S. Jefferson Street, in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, I realized I should have posted about this place after my first visit.  I’m all about no frills places where I can actually leave full and satisfied for not much money and where I know I’m contributing to a small neighborhood restaurant.  A very nice, young couple were the ones to open up Little Mel’s and they will also be the ones to take your order and cook your delicious food…plus, they happily took my townhome brochures which was extra cool.

Both times I visited, I was lame and got the same thing but I swear I only did so because it was so good.  I ordered a double bacon cheeseburger meal which includes a drink and fries.  Let me tell you, the burger was massive and with the pickle spear, lettuce, tomato and onion, I could have died a happy man right there.  BUT, I’m not one to turn down these fries because they taste similar to McDonalds fries but are a bit bigger.  I also skipped the pop and went with a large strawberry shake which was perfect for the 95 degree day.  All of this set me back a little over $7.00…not bad for being able to fill me up.  Kudos Little Mel’s, kudos.

Thanks to “Yelper” Southside S. for the photo of Little Mel’s.  I couldn’t find any picture of the place.

New location for Orange Brunch, with a peel at Halsted/Grand/Milwaukee!

About two weeks ago, Orange opened its fourth location at 730 W. Grand Avenue, in Chicago’s Fulton River District.  Orange is the newest culinary addition to the neighborhood where they specialize in all things brunch.  Orange’s new restaurant will be open seven days a week and is often descibed as Charlie Trotters in his jammies, or the fine dining version of brunch.  From looking at THE MENU, it looks like omelete and pancake meals generally run around $8.95 and they sound pretty good.  I haven’t paid a visit but will definitely do so pretty soon.  I love me some pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice…too bad I work weekends…

A taste of Latin America at Lito’s Empanadas in Lincoln Park! (5/5 Stars)

I LOVE LITO’S EMPANADAS!  Lito’s, which is located in a small storefront at 2566 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.  I first started making my own empanadas after seeing a recipe in my high school Spanish book…random I know…so when I saw Lito’s open up, I immediately went in to check it out.  If you’re driving by, you may easily miss the restaurant because of its small presence from the street.  Inside, there’s only a small bar with about five stools to eat at making Lito’s good for carry-out. 

Whenever I go, I order one ‘Beef’ which includes ground beef, olives, raisins, potato, tomato and onion ($2.29), one ‘Chicken’ which has chicken, rice, tomato and onion ($2.19) and one ‘BBQ Chicken’ which is made with slow-cooked BBQ chicken and potatoes ($2.29).  One is a snack, two can make me content, but I always get three so I can enjoy my uncomfortable fullness.

According to their website, Lito’s now delivers and caters their empanadas which range from sweet (Choco-Banana), savory (Beef and Rice), and even vegetarian empanadas…all for a pretty awesome price.  I have to give props for their marketing efforts because I constantly see articles on them in places like the Red-Eye and Time Out Chicago.

Uncomfortably full, but so good at Texas De Brazil! (5/5 Stars)

I randomly signed up for Texas De Brazil’s eClub program and they emailed me a buy one dinner, get one free for their all you can eat dinners.  Texas De Brazil, located at 51 E. Ohio Street, is one of two prominant Brazilian steakhouses in Chicago, Brazzaz is the other. 

The concept of Texas De Brazil is that you have a harvest table which is full of vegetables, types of salads, cheeses, small dishes, sushi, and much more.  This table is basically an all you can eat buffet.  BUT, I don’t like to waste my time on this “filler” table.  Texas De Brazil gives each person at the table a two sided token.  Flip the token to the green side, the servers bombard you with different cuts of meat, ranging from shrimp to filet mignon.  Flip the token to the red side, and the servers ignore you until you switch back to green.  And if you actually have room in your stomach for dessert, a friend and I tried their bananas foster and key lime pie and they were both amazing.

Texas De Brazil is huge, I’m talking about two stories tall and seating for what seems like 1,000 people.    Prices are not cheap, that’s why I only go here when I have a buy one dinner, get one free coupon.  Plus, you literally have to prepare your body so you can accommodate this much food.  STILL, I highly recommend you pay a visit at least once because Texas De Brazil knows how to cook amazing food.

 

One of Pilsen’s most talked about new restaurants: Simone’s Bar

I FINALLY got to pay a visit to Simone’s Bar in Pilsen, the neighborhood’s most talked about new restaurant and bar.  Luckily, I got to combine work with pleasure as well, due to a lunch meeting with a coworker and a great contact in the Pilsen neighborhood, Norma Alanis.  Norma owns and operates Chocolate For Your Body Spa, located at 1743 S. Halsted Street.

Simone’s Bar, located at 960 W. 18th Street, opened a few months ago and already has quite the following throughout the area.  The inside of Simone’s is decorated with recycled materials such as old bowling lanes for tables and the bar and glass bottles for light fixtures so it’s pretty unique.

Their outdoor patio recently opened so we all decided to eat outside because the weather was so nice.  I ordered the Simone’s Burger which is a 100%  hand pressed beef patty filled with bleu cheese and served with a mixture of hand cut regular and sweet potato fries ($9.00).  Norma ordered the Cheeseburger with American cheese, also served with the mixture of fries ($8.00), and Zev ordered a cup of tomato soup and had a panini sandwich which was the special for the day (price not known).

Overall, our server was very attentive and the food came out very quickly and I’m always a fan of outdoor eating which made the experience even better.  The food was great and I look forward to trying some other entrees the next time I pay a visit.  Simone’s Bar is open from 11:30am – 2am daily so definitely check them out!