Browsed by
Category: Chicago

Behind The Doors Of EL Ideas: Chicago’s Secret Dining Gem For Inventive, Unforgettable Cuisine

Behind The Doors Of EL Ideas: Chicago’s Secret Dining Gem For Inventive, Unforgettable Cuisine

Comments 0 Comment

EL Ideas is the kind of place that you dream about when you book a special, Michelin-starred dinner. It’s located in a hidden, one-way street in the middle of the Douglas Park neighborhood of Chicago, which is mainly industrial; there is only room to seat about 20 people; it’s BYOB, so you won’t be paying marked up prices for booze (and allows the chef to really focus on the food); Chef Foss is there every day, hosting his intimate dinner…

Read More Read More

Chicago’s Hottest New Bar? Charis Listening Bar Delivers Funky Beats, Friendly Vibes, and Stellar Cocktails

Chicago’s Hottest New Bar? Charis Listening Bar Delivers Funky Beats, Friendly Vibes, and Stellar Cocktails

Comments 1 comment

I was so excited to hear that a new, hip, craft cocktail-forward joint was opening in Bridgeport, Chicago, that I had to round up a few friends and check out Charis Listening Bar (pronounced Care-iss) as soon as it was possible to find a free night. After our first evening here, when we shut down the place (at midnight), we went back the next weekend, just to shut it down again. The Bridgeport local owner, Alex Jandernoa, warmly recognized us…

Read More Read More

Smyth Chicago: The Best Michelin-Starred Fine Dining in the City

Smyth Chicago: The Best Michelin-Starred Fine Dining in the City

Comments 0 Comment

Let me just start this post by saying, WOW! My husband and I came to Smyth for a special anniversary dinner in February, 2025, and it vastly exceeded all, very high, expectations. This three-star Michelin eatery honestly deserves four stars, not only for their impeccable food, but also the over-the-top service. Everything you would expect from a three-star experience is here, along with amazing extra touches throughout the evening, with so many extra special gifts, you feel like a celebrity…

Read More Read More

Il Carciofo, Chicago: Joe Flamm’s Much-Hyped Roman Bistro Falls Flat

Il Carciofo, Chicago: Joe Flamm’s Much-Hyped Roman Bistro Falls Flat

Comments 0 Comment

After experiencing the fresh and exciting Rose Mary restaurant in Chicago, I was thrilled to score a tough to get reservation at Il Carciofo, Joe Flamm’s newest spot in the West Loop. I ate here on a chilly Sunday in March, 2025, and unfortunately, I didn’t think that Flamm’s ode to Roman cooking lived up to the hype. Il Carciofo is located in the exciting West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, surrounded by all sorts of incredible restaurants including Smyth, Elske,…

Read More Read More

RPM Italian: Deeply Disappointing Dinner in Chicago

RPM Italian: Deeply Disappointing Dinner in Chicago

Comments 0 Comment

We recently dined at RPM Italian, excited to try their restaurant week menu. However, when we arrived and realized that the price for restaurant week ($60) was not worth it for the food options offered, we decided to eschew restaurant week for their normal menu. Unfortunately, the food here was extremely disappointing, and they really need to work on describing the food better on their menu, not only here but at RPM Steak as well. It was so bad, that…

Read More Read More

Esme Chicago Review: Culinary Brilliance That Deserves A More Inviting Setting

Esme Chicago Review: Culinary Brilliance That Deserves A More Inviting Setting

Comments 0 Comment

It’s restaurant week (more like month!) here in Chicago, and I always try to check out a few new spots each year, since the menu is usually such a great deal. Often, there are a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants offering a shortened tasting menu. Last year we checked out Boka, which I thought was really excellent, but had a somewhat uninspired restaurant week menu, making me want to go back and check out their normal prix fixe fare. This year,…

Read More Read More

Ritz Carlton, Chicago Festive Tea: A Luxe Tea At A Reasonable Price

Ritz Carlton, Chicago Festive Tea: A Luxe Tea At A Reasonable Price

Comments 0 Comment

I’ve done a few reviews of high tea around Chicago and around the world on the blog, as it’s a great way to spend an afternoon while traveling and enjoying local culture. Additionally, my cousins, my mom, and I go to tea in Chicago during the holidays as a tradition that has been going for over 20 years. This year, we decided to try out the Festive Tea at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago in mid-December for a lovely holiday…

Read More Read More

Top 5 Restaurants for 2024: Chicago Edition

Top 5 Restaurants for 2024: Chicago Edition

Comments 0 Comment

This year, since we’ve eaten so much amazing food, I’ve decided to do two Top Five Restaurant lists – one for Chicago, and one for around the world. This year, the Top Five list for Chicago is going to be really steak heavy, but it’s all leading up to my Top Five Chicago Steakhouses list, which I hope to publish sometime in 2025. We ate really well here in Chicago this year, and I’m looking forward to another year of…

Read More Read More

Celebrating at RPM Steak Chicago: A Modern, High-Energy Steakhouse In Chicago

Celebrating at RPM Steak Chicago: A Modern, High-Energy Steakhouse In Chicago

Comments 0 Comment

Our annual outing for Brian’s birthday usually brings us to a steakhouse in Chicago, and with seemingly zillions to choose from, there’s always something different to try. Also, I’m really trying to hone and curate my top five Chicago steakhouse list before publishing, so they are top of mind right now. We visited RPM Steak in Chicago on November 30, 2024, and were pleased with a lot of the nice, celebratory touches they added to our meal to make it…

Read More Read More

Rediscovering Old Favorites At Francois Frankie: Chicago’s Carousel Bar & Brasserie

Rediscovering Old Favorites At Francois Frankie: Chicago’s Carousel Bar & Brasserie

Comments 1 comment

Did you know there is a French-American Brasserie with an actual working carousel bar in the middle of Chicago’s Loop Theater District? Well, now you do! I’ve enjoyed Francois Frankie a few times in the summer/fall of 2024, and I’m here to give it a resounding recommendation for drinks and dining in Chicago! Francois Frankie opened in Chicago in 2019, but has garnered more attention this year, when Matt Ayala became the Executive Chef. Bringing back his signature “Cochon Volant…

Read More Read More