Diner 23

Cooper's Hawk Naperville,IL

2011-08-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

This is a restaurant that is part of a chain. They have been open for 3 weeks. Cooper's Hawk bills themselves as a winery and restaurant. Most of their grapes come from Sonoma Valley, Ca. The wine we sampled was ok. They have many varieties. Their menu has a lot on it. Italian dishes, American dishes like burgers etc. Our opinion is if you make everything how good can it be? Cooper's Hawk needs to fine tune their menu. What are they about? Is it the wine? Our server did not know what a zinfindel was..because she brought a white zin..shudder...If you are a regular reader of this blog you know how I feel about sauvignon blancs..their version was ok. Not bad, not great. Two of my food adventure partners chose burgers. The food was good. Asian slaw was an alternative to french fries..it was good. The fries were ok. The fries at Portillo's are better. I chose mini crab cakes. I chose poorly. The crab cakes were fishy smelling, the breading did not adhere to the crab cake and the crab was canned. The worse part was the crab cakes were swimming in a soup of mustard sauce. I hate to do this but I had to send it back. Our server was very nice..seemed to be overwhelmed but nice. One thing I did not like is when you walk in you see a wine tasting bar..and a gift store. Cracker Barrel with wine? My first impression was not good but maybe after a while Cooper's Hawk will find their legs and go for a run. Right now I think there are too many people trying to do too many things with no direction. Sorry...I will be back and give them another try.

Sable Kitchen 505 N. State st. Chicago,IL

2011-08-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

Diner23 would like to recommend not getting your car towed before you plan to go out to lunch at a nice Chicago restaurant. Total buzzkill.

Sable Kitchen is a very sleek place. It is connected to a hotel, but like Glen Prairie in Glen Ellyn, it pulls it off nicely. You walk into Sable Kitchen and you see leather chairs, bar stools and couches. The floor to ceiling windows give you a nice street view where you can people watch or..make sure your car is still parked where you left it, if you are lucky enough to park nearby. We ate in the bar. It was a bit later in the afternoon so the place was a little quiet. That was fine with us, we needed to chill. Sable Kitchen bills itself as a gastropub. Well, the food might reflect that but the ambiance is more..trendy be seen spot. They actually call themselves a gastro-lounge. Ok that will work.
Our bartender/server was very nice and chatted with us. He was right on with food recommendations. First of all..you have to try their deviled eggs with truffle oil and black trumpet mushrooms. We wanted to order more but..we had other things to try. I had the Gruyere Cheese-Red Onion Jam-Watercress on rye bread grilled sandwich. It was so good. The grilled cheese sandwiches come with tomato bisque. Let me tell you, this tomato bisque is not your sunday afternoon Campbell's soup variety. It was so good, I was sad when it was gone. Another person in our party had the
Crispy Pork Belly Bahn Mi on crusty baguette with asian slaw and cilantro. This Bahn Mi was so incredible and tasty our friend wants to go back asap to eat it again. This is a lounge/restaurant so their beer, wine and spirits list is very good. You can get what you want here and if you try sometime you may get what you need. Diner23 gives Sable Kitchen 3 triangles for food and beverages and 3 triangles for their ambiance.

Publican 837 West Fulton Market Chicago,IL

2011-08-15T07:54:00.001-07:00

We have dined at Publican a few times. Each time we sampled something different. This place is visually beautiful. Clean lines throughout the room, warm wood floors, tables and chairs with earthy brick walls. Minimal decorations.. pictures of pigs adorn the walls. The menu is "ecclectic featuring simple farmhouse fare" This quote taken from their website. Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de cuisine Brian Huston fashioned their restaurant with a European beer hall look. The food is from local farms and vendors. The vendors providing organic and sustainable products.

The list of available beers takes up a whole page on their menu. Wines available by the glass is mildly impressive, although this diner would like to see a wider selection. Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, in this writer's opinion falls very short of being what a SB should be. Let the New Zealand vinyards do it folks, they have it all sewn up.
We have taken the Publican's menu in sections. There is way to much to try. We've had their fine, fresh selection of oysters. Sampled the mussels with celery butter and garlic. Their frites are a close second to Brasserie V's.The Benton Country Ham with goat butter and peasant bread. The Market Salad and the Little Gem salad all very good. The Market Salad has tomatoes, string beans, quinoa, farro and manchego. The Little Gem salad has pig ear strings, radishes, basil dressed with a buttermilk vinaigrette. We have yet to try any major main courses. Guess we will just have to keep going back until we try them all. Oh well somebody has to do it. I recommend you do it too. We give Publican 3 triangles for beer, 2 for wine, 3 for food. Hope to see you there!

2011-06-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

Lettuce Entertain you has lost it's edge. What is happening? For a restaurant group that is as succesful as they are..this is a sad situation. Reel Club with their uninformed reservation staff and very unhelpful manager, Wildfire with their chaotic service and snotty attitude. Hmm I hope it changes and soon. Please LEY fix this slippage and return to your usual high standards. Oh and you better not mess with Antico Posto..Diner 23 will be very sad

Depot Diner 5840 West Roosevelt Rd. Chicago

2011-03-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

Depot Diner is a great diner. The menu is simple and the food is good. We've tried the fried chicken, turkey sandwich,corned beef hash,tuna and chicken salad. Guess what? They are all very good. This place gets busy, don't expect a reservation, hostess or a seat for that matter. It is first come first serve. I highly recommend the donuts and mocha for your app or dessert. Yummm to the tenth degree. The service is honest and true the food is too. 3 triangles for both.

Glen Prairie Restaurant

2011-02-19T14:51:00.000-08:00

1250 Roosevelt Rd. Glen Ellyn,Il

This restaurant is amazing! We saw it and always said we have to stop in and give it a try. Finally, after a friend's recommendation we tried it! You walk in and the clean fresh lines of the restaurant welcome you right away. Smoke glass windows mute the light from outside giving the room a warm glow. The bar is right in the dining room, the light bulbs hanging above the bar give the area a bit of an urban feel and it really works. Our app starter was their buttermilk fried stuffed mushrooms with garlic aioli. YUMM! This night I had the White Flatbread pizza. Simple..fresh mozz, basil, garlic olive oil. I added some sauteed spinach and it worked for me. Another member of our party had the pulled pork sandwich and declared it a victory! The wine by the glass list is very good and the selection of beer and spirits are good as well. The second time we visited I had seared scallops with mushroom risotto and baby carrots. The plate presentation was beautiful and the food tasted out of this world. My son had their New York Strip steak crusted with bleu cheese special. He ate every morsel on his plate. We were able to sneak a bite and it was cooked to perfection. This place is a find. Their commitment to local sustainable organic providers makes us like this place even more. Now..I will tell you something that initially may be off putting. It is attached to the new Crown Plaza hotel. I must say I am not always a fan of "hotel restaurants". Well have no fear..this place is fresh, crisp and will stand out on it's own. The service is very good and friendly. We sit at the bar but I listen to what is around me and everyone so far seems very happy. I give them 4 triangles for food and service. The prices are very reasonable too. They are open for breakfast and lunch, we have only visited for dinner.

Rant Time!!!

2010-10-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

OK..we are at a local breakfast/lunch place in our community. There is a group of people waiting to be seated and we see a man looking in the door assessing the situation. He leaves, a few minutes later I see him come in the back door and he and his friend seat themselves at an open booth. Ok..clever or just rude? I know how I feel about it, I was waiting and it was supposed to be our table. OH..the restaurant staff knew what happened and chose to just let it go.

ART BAR Riverwest

2010-08-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

This is the coolest place I have been to in a long time. Art Bar is a very fun place to have a beverage. Not really a place to eat, they do have snacks but I would hang here before and or after dinner. The local art on the walls for sale is interesting and actually the best I have seen in a while. The neighborhood is a fun up and coming place that has long held the title of cool, it is just that not every one knew it. The crowd is diverse and interesting. Bartenders are hip, young yet know their craft. We went when it was not too busy. We LOVE ART BAR.

Centro Cafe RiverWest Milwaukee Wi

2010-08-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the thing, Centro Cafe is an amazing gem. It is a small space, there will be lines..but it is worth it. I started with the Rocket Salad; arugula with lemon herb vinaigrette and shaved parm. My main course was Capellini Al Pomodoro. Very good! Fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil. I had a side of spinach, sauteed spinach in evoo, garlic and lemon. The bread was crusty, warm and soft on the inside. Good wine by the glass list too. The only down side was it is a small space and it is noisy. The service is attentive and caring. The circuses can be interesting because of the close quarters. Diner23 gives this place 4 for food and 4 for circuses.

Chubby Hot Dogs

2010-07-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

Special Alert! Hurry, run don't wait make your way down to Kenosha Harbor on Saturdays this summer to enjoy a tasty Chubby Hot Dog. Look for their cart..near the civil war museum. Grab a hot dog go for a stroll along the lakefront and take in the beautiful view. Enjoy and please let them know how much you liked it. The CHD crew works very hard to bring their customers one of the finest hot dogs I have ever eaten.

Mindy's Hot Chocolate on Damen in Chicago

2010-07-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

First off this cute, busy little nook on Damen really has a good concept going. The service is helpful and attentive for the most part. The desserts are amazing good. Not a bad wine by the glass and beer list either. The food selections are very interesting and appealing..until you eat them. Chef please hold off on the salt. That is pretty much all I could taste : ( Our table had a nice assortment of apps and entrees. The mussels came with an interesting broth that we all liked. The savory monkey bread with prosciutto was very good. Pork tenderloin with pork belly, linguine with small shrimp, bacon cheeseburger with fried egg and a lamb sausage pita sandwich..again a good concept but..too salty. I really want to give this place another try so for now 3 triangles for service and 1 and 1/2 for food.

Maya Del Sol

2010-07-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

What a gem in Oak Park! Great service and food. Try the sopas de tinga for a starter. Crispy corn mesa cups with savory chicken tinga, avocado, roasted tomatoes and fresh cheeses. The cochinita pibil is the greatest thing on the menu. Slow roasted pork in achiote marinade served with pickeled red onions and black beans. Be careful the habanaro salsa is muy caliente! The outdoor patio seating is very nice and fun. 3 triangles for food and service.

caffe DeLuca

2010-07-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

This Italian restaurant in Forest Park is restful and fun. The food is very good and the service can be "iffy" but it all works out. For starters the steamed mussels and the garlic shrimp are a big GO! I'd leave the smoked mozzarella for another..no just leave it. The flat bread or small thin crispy crust pizzas are wonderful. Try the Napoli or the Milano very good! Chicken DeLuca is MMMM! Just to name a few tasty choices. They have a full bar and the wine by the glass is good. This neighborhood place is quaint and restful. Diner23 gives this place 3 triangles for food and 3 for ambiance.

There is a need for an update. Recent visits have proved to be even better than before. Try the Vegetable Lasagna, very yummy. Service has improved too.

Gratto Italian Tapas Glen Ellyn,IL

2010-04-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

We had the pleasure of eating here on their opening day! Not bad for a first day. Bert the bartender took very good care of us. We visited a few more times, on a weeknight and found the food and service to be much better since our first visit. We were there again on a Friday night. The place was hopping! We were happy Bert the bartender was still there. Even though the crowd was a bit loud and pushy our experience was good. I hope this place does well, they really seem to be trying! We have yet to venture into the dining room, but for now the bar area is just right for us. I say the food and service (in the bar) gets 3 triangles.

Mon Ami Gabi- 260 Oakbrook Ctr,Oak Brook,IL

2009-11-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

Mon Ami Gabi-More to come!
I really love this place. I know, I know so it is part of a "chain". Big deal, it delivers the goods. You have to give Rich Melman snaps, he really does know what he is doing. This fun, cozy place gives you exactly what you want. The raw oysters are fresh and tasty, the bread is crusty and moist on the inside, the cocktails are amazing and good. I've had their mussels, very good, except I would include frites with the small in addition to the large order. I like the casual but attentive attitude of the staff. Now, a few doors down at The Reel Club..can't say so much about the intial feeling we got from the front staff cause their rudeness and don't care attitude was so annoying that we left and went to Mon Ami!

Marigold Kitchen-118 S. Pinckney Madison,WI

2009-10-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Marigold Kitchen is a great place to enjoy fresh, organic food. The urban location and feel really makes this place rock! Madison is a very hip, intellectual, politically informed city, with a lot of like minded people. I think most them eat here. It really is ok if you are not pierced or have cool tats, you can still enjoy this place. They have a system of wait in line, order, take a number and wait for a seat. It really works. Each time I've been there I have not been standing holding my food waiting for a place to sit. I will say that the high-ceiling-ed open room does lend itself to a loud noise level.
The food is amazing good. First of all the Marigold potatoes are some of the best I have ever eaten. One item; French toast brioche drizzled with pastry cream, berry puree, seasonal berries, shaved almonds and pure maple syrup was some of the best French toast I have ever had. The ham, green onion, Gruyere cheese omelet was so good I ate every last bit of it. Very good coffee, not so good ice tea, in my opinion as it was all flavored. This is a great place to head to after the farmer's market in the square. I've been tempted to try their Bloody Mary's..next time. Diner23 gives Marigold Kitchen 3 organic and sustainable triangles for food.

Lux Bar 18 E. Bellevue Pl.

2009-10-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Lux Bar is a fun place to go. The food is good. It is similar to Hugo's (all owned by the Gibson's Restaurant network) menu but has a few extras and differences. We visited on a cold, windy Saturday afternoon. The place was packed. The customers sort of looked like "OK my hangover is almost gone..I think I need some food and a Bloody Mary" type crowd. Now there was college football on the TVs so I am sure that was a draw too. We like to sit in the bar, I have explained this in other reviews, so I will move on. We didn't have to wait long for our menus or our beverages. Lux has a great wine by the glass list. The beer on tap is good. I liked that they had a nice, average priced prosecco or champagne by the glass too. We ordered the Lux burger, some Gold Coasts sliders, a tuna melt on a lobster roll and some fries. All was very good. Upscale bar food. Can't beat that! The only problem is Lux Bar is NOISY! OM Goodness! As nice as the interior is, dark wood bar, big mirror and lots of windows, the huge open warehouse like space ends up being an echo chamber. I hate shouting at my table guests when I go out to eat (even if they irritate me : ) I would so go there again, if I was in the area. Lux is right next door to the Orginal Pancake House. Just an FYI. Oh, and we walked around (in the cold, windy weather) looking in nearby shop windows. All I am going to say is, I started to walk into one to browse..the reaction from the staff there was..I will use this quote "We have nothing here for you..Please leave". I guess cause I didn't pull up in a limo, I wasn't viewed as their kind of customer. : )

North Pond

2009-07-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

North Pond was a quite an experience. Let me just get this out of the way Diner23 gives North Pond 4 triangles for food and 4 for service/ambiance. The location in itself is beautiful. Lincoln Park pond and the trees all make it an amazing place to be. The building used to be an ice skating rental shelter. The warm arts and crafts style interior draws you in. The bar is small and not entirely a good place to hang out unless you are waiting for a table. Most of their libations are from local, organic, small distilleries. They have a nice wine by the glass list too. Once seated you are asked if you want to have the seasonal tasting menu, which is an assortment of Chef's selections starting with appetizers all the way to dessert. It is a great way to experience all they have to offer. WE chose to go with the regular menu. I think we felt we would be way to full at the end of the tasting menu. We tried the seared foi gras, it was tasty but, I think this diner was expecting it in a pate form. I had the Pork, Grits Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop, Suckling Pig Pavé, Bing Cherries, English Peas, Creamy Artisanal Grits, Pork Jus. It was very good. My friend (of 30 years : ) had Grassfed Beef, Cauliflower Grilled New York Strip Steak, Warm Purple and Gold Cauliflower Timbale, Almond Bulghur, Shallot Cream. All was expertly prepared and presented. There were times, briefly we half expected to see Agent Cooper stop in for some damn fine coffee.. Just the feel of the building I think. WE really liked it and yes we had room after dinner for some champagne at Pop's.

Lakeside on Lake Tomahawk

2009-07-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

Lakeside is a great spot to fuel up your boat and fuel up your body! The only restaurant on Lake Tomahawk, Lakeside is a good one. There are plenty of spots to dock your boat, outside seating with umbrella tables and a gas pump for those who are low on boat fuel. The inside is decorated with pine beadboard paneling. Windows are on 3/4 of the walls, allowing ample sunshine in to make the place bright! The bar is equipped with just about anything you'd want and the people who work there are young and friendly. The food is pretty good. It is your basic bar food menu. Burgers, fish sandwiches, onion rings, wings etc... Their Bloody Mary gets high marks! Not too salty, not too spicy.. plenty of vegetables on a spear soaking in the tomato goodness. Don't worry about a dress code. Most people eating here have just got off their boat. I must say one time, only one time I was here, a lady came in wearing a thong bikini. Lets just say good thing Lakeside has plastic chairs...OOOOH!
Diner23 gives Lakeside 2 1/2 triangles for food; 3 for ambiance and service.

Mama's

2009-07-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a place that to say the least is a tradition in the Northwoods area. It really is quite unique! Initially it looks sort of ..well..like a hole. BUT! If you really look at it, it looks like a quaint little well worn place, on a lake with great views. It is worn because it is well liked. We have been coming here for probably 10 plus years. There are people working here that were here when we started visiting. The cross, funny, sarcastic bartender that has to be at least 70 plus..makes any drink you could possibly want, as it should be made. The food is good. There are sub par selections, but honestly I think it is because the place is so popular quality can sometimes take a detour because of the volume of food that needs to be produced. Pizzas are expertly made with fresh ingrediants. Love the thin crust. Fish fry is very good, Herb chicken is a go to also. Mama's has been in Minocqua for 55 years. That says something! Mama's gets 2 1/2 triangles for food and 3 triangles for drinks and service.

Pane Caldo and Aria

2009-06-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

Well, We are in Chicago walking down the MM, it is raining, with our quickly purchased umbrella we are hurrying toward a warm inviting beacon sign..Pane Caldo. The warm wood bar with sandy yellow walls made us feel extremely welcome. It was early in the day, we were two of four people in the place. We wanted a light lunch. I ordered a pizza margarita and the one who is my one ordered the potato omelet(this was the star) with watercress and tomato. We both indulged in a lunch time glass of wine and I must say the whole lunch was amazing. Rain spattering the windows outside, warm, inviting enviornment, effective service and good food made this an exceptional experience. 3 triangles for service and 2 1/2 triangles for food.

Aria- 200 N. Columbus. We walked from our hotel, in the rain to enjoy some very interesting food. Aria lists itself as a new world Asian cuisine restaurant. We sat in the bar area. It was cozy and fun. I had wine and my companion had something called a Mandaran Sting....hmmm after a few of these it certainly can sting. I had a selection from The Wok. It had chicken, assorted oriental veggies and a light sauce. It was good. It was not WOW, but it hit the spot. My companion had sushi selections that were fresh and tasty. The service was very good.
Snaps to our server for knowing what a Sazerac was!! 3 1/2 triangles for ambiance/serivce and drinks. 3 triangles for food.

The Violet Hour

2009-06-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

The Violet Hour-1520 North Damen. What an interesting place! Original, interesting drinks that will amaze and intrigue you. I highly recommend, having said that though, don't clog up the place I still want to be able to get in and have a seat.
We are in the Northwoods, talking to a young bartender who wants to do some time in Chicago..We of course suggest TVH!! Be cool young man, be cool!!

SPRING

2009-04-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Spring restaurant on North Ave. in Wicker Park, Chicago.
This place is beautiful. Clean, fresh lines with warm wood and pastel hues. The service is amazing. The food is divine. The experience was over the top good. Now here is the review: Malaspina Oysters black pepper and cucumber mignonette/tabasco & citrus 'caviar'. All parts of this recipe is good, except the oysters were a bit fishy. Braised Short Rib Dumplings very good, tender and tasty.Seared Maine Sea Scallops braised oxtail/wild mushrooms/sweet soy Very good, except my scallops were gritty. Gulf of Maine Skatewing pumpkinseed vinaigrette Fresh, delicious very good. The wine selection is very good. The bartender did an amazing job on my martini! Old school-gin with vermouth. Frosty cold goodness! Diner23 gives Spring 4 triangles for food and 4 for service.
We will be back!

DINER23 RANT

2009-03-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

Picture this..I am in bed. I have the tv on in the backround. Tyler Florence's low and slow brisket recipe being spoken quietly in the backround. Next thing I hear is this whiney female voice talking about ground pork and beef, canned mushrooms, canned cream of mushroom and cheddar cheese soup. Beef and onion soup mix, onions, shake and bake packets, evaporated milk and an egg. AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!! It's Sandra whats her name and the evil meatloaf in the crockpot recipe!!!!!!!!!!

Hugo's Frog Bar Naperville,IL

2009-02-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

Hugo's Frog Bar. A great place to have a hearty cocktail, glass of wine from an amazing wine by the glass list and a few great beers on tap. The food is? We like to eat in the bar. Order mini sliders or mini lobster roll sammies with a side of shoe string fries. Salad first? Ok, how about a nice iceberg wedge with yummy bleu cheese dressing for a $1.00? How about a dinner salad for a $1.00? You can try a bowl of creamy, chunky clam chowder! Oysters? Yes, you have come to the right place. The briny, meaty little buggers are fresh shucked and brought to you with a vinegar spice dip and the traditional horseradish-ketchup sauce. The wait staff is very friendly and efficient. This place does a great business. It is always busy. We usually do not eat in the dinning room. The main menu food is ok. We have had hit and miss experiences in the dining room. Bloody Marys are good but the bartender forgot to include the "garden". You know you have to have celery, olives maybe brussel sprouts?
We do like this place, yes it is owned by the same people who own Gibson's. So they have a good formula. One other thing, sometimes as the evening goes on, the bar gets very crowded and noisy. The place really swings.

FLO Chicago ave. Chicago,IL

2009-02-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

Flo is a very good Mexican restaurant to enjoy a meal. It has ambiance, comfortable friendly wait staff and oh did I mention good food? We had a wonderful dining experience. I had a pounded chicken breast that was stuffed with goat cheese, pepita pesto and spinach. The sauce was a wonderful spicy red sauce. I had a side of jalapeno cheddar potatoes that rocked my world. Oh and the margarita's were exceptional and good. One of our dinner guests had steak tacos, it was a special. The steak was chopped into small bite size pieces and was tender to the max. The desserts are fab!! Coconut cake was tender, moist and flakey. OK you get it this place is one of our favorites. The price was right too. Try Flo!

Glen's Diner on Montrose, Chicago, IL

2009-02-01T16:02:00.000-08:00

Well, we tried to eat there. We tried to experience the hub, the buzz the thread that is about this place..only to be told "no room at the inn". Too busy was Glen's, no food did we try! Ok enough Yoda..This place does have a "force". We felt it in the few moments it took for them to tell us to leave..I really do want to like this place and I want to be able to review it for you. Till the next time.
UPDATE: We made it in. It was a Sunday. No fish specials on Sunday : ( The food was pretty good. I can see the value on the fish specials. I had crab cakes. They were ok. I have had better. Everyone else had a great meal. Marlon, Sturgeon, Salmon all good. The potatoes and asparagus that came with those meals were cooked perfectly. The clam chowder was brothy vs. over creamy (I like it that way) a lot of clams, veggies to make it good. Nice wine list and the service was very good. I could see that being an issue when they get very busy though. This particular Sunday there were a lot of families with small children there. The place seems family friendly, although I wouldn't try it on a busier night. Over all I give them 3 Triangles for food and 3 Triangles for service.

BrasserieV Madison,WI 1923 Monroe St. Madison, WI

2009-01-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

You are in Madison Wisconsin, maybe you were there to catch Willy Porter @ the Barrymore..anyway want to dine at a fab gastropub? BrasserieV is your place. There is not a lot of seating but no one seems to mind. People wait, chat, have a refreshing Belgium beer or glass of wine and hang out. The feel of this place is warm and inviting, the vibe is comfortable and friendly. The very talented chef Rob creates delicious food offerings sure to please any one's palette. We eat there every chance we can. The menu changes so there is always an anticipation of excitement when you dine there. The beer menu changes too and even though you may feel sad a favorite brew has gone, there will be another one to take its place. Give it a try you won't be disappointed. We give them 3 Triangles for food and service. Great Job!!We were just there again, in town for the Madison Food and Wine Show. I had the Moules-Frites – a heaping bowl of mussels prepared in the House broth (a classic Belgian preparation of garlic, wine and butter), AMAZING!!! Another member of our party had the Glazed Maple Braised Pork Belly, Pleasant Ridge Polenta, Potato-Crusted Fennel. There was also the Steak-Frites12 oz. flat iron steak, cabernet pan sauce, sauteed greens & frites enjoyed by Colin a member of our dining party. All good! This place really is a gem of a find. I think Diner23 might have to change their triangles from 3 to 4. I'm thinking....

Rustik - Logan Square at 2515 North California, Chicago, IL, 60647.

2008-11-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

Rustik is closed..so sad it was a great place.

Veerasway-Fresh Indian 844 West Randolph, Chicago IL

2008-10-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

This little spot on Randolph is a fresh innovative bright spot in the dining scene. Let us get something straight, I am NOT a huge Indian food fan. Now, I must say that I loved the food here! My dining mates (who do love Indian food) love this place too. Win, win right? Yes! The staff was helpful, fun and very knowledgeable. The decor was clean, crisp and very welcoming. Our server was very good and totally steered us to the right things. I had the Veera green cups salad. It is butter lettuce topped with endive, yellow tear drop tomatoes, red onion, paneer cheese, cashews and spring mix sprouts. The dressing is a coriander leaf vinaigrette.
We had the Monsoon Mirchi as an app. Banana peppers stuffed with lentils and Indian cheese that is fried in chickpea batter. This dish was hot!! We were warned and we were not disappointed. I had the tamarind date chicken kabobs. Delicious! This is dark chicken meat kabob and onions are basted with a sweet and spicy tamarind-date glaze then char grilled. Others in our group had the Spring mutter paneer which is curried fresh green peas with Indian cheese in a cream tomato sauce topped with fresh pea sprouts. The Masoor lentils accented with red chiles, toasted cumin seed , garlic and curry leaves was fabulous. FYI this was the stuffing in the Monsoon Mirchi. They have a pretty good wine/beer list. Their mixed drink list is interesting. One member of our party ordered the drink "Bengali Tiger". This spicy,green cardamom, black cardamom and vanilla bean infused vodka, tamarind-date puree, pineapple with spicy ghost pepper drink was WOW. It was wow if it was an app. This drink and its consistency was like a soup. It was good but not as a drink. They do have other options that are good like Mumtaz Maharita. This Indian version of a Margarita is really WOW.
Diner23 gives Veerasway 4 triangles for food, service and ambiance.

Fulin's Asian Cuisine

2008-09-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

OK, you are in Murfreesboro, TN. You want some sushi, good Asian cuisine all while sitting in a place with great ambiance. So, where do you go? Fulin's Asian that is where you go. This little gem is nestled in a brand new outdoor shopping area known as The Avenue. The restaurant is decorated tastefully with dark wood tables and chairs and red fabrics. The tables are well spaced and the dining area is not overly noisy. Service was good and so was the food. We started with some Edamame, it was just right. There is a great lunch special menu that offers tasty food for reasonable prices. You get an egg roll or spring roll and a choice of brown or white rice included.
We ordered some mu shu pork, kung pao chicken and of course sushi. The food was fresh and delicious. No MSG!! There is absolutely no reason for any food any where any time to have msg.
The wine list is creative and there are many good choices by the glass. The prices are reasonable too. So next time you are in Murfreesboro,TN and want a good place for sushi/Chinese/Japanese food..head to Fulin's. Diner23 gives Fulin's 3 triangles for food/ambiance and service.
There are a few of these restaurants throughout TN and coming soon in Decateur, Alabama.

Fulin's Asian Cuisine
2615 Medical Center PKWY, Suite 2300 Murfreesboro, TN

Marty's Place North, Minocqua WI.

2008-09-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

This place is one of the coolest in the north woods. It is the Supper Club of all Supper Clubs. Here is the thing, this place is everything you would want in a northern Wisconsin supper club. First there is the bar, ok you see a thread here, I do like a nice bar ambiance, it is very inviting and comfortable. The place is decored in dark wood with leather cushioned chairs. The bartenders are talented and efficient. Call ahead because this place gets busy, a reservation would not be a bad idea. The dining room is stocked with tables, yet it is not over crowded. The servers are competent and know the restaurant's menu very well. I love the little appetizer bar. It has crock cheese spreads, crackers and bread sticks, cherry peppers, carrots, celery, tuna salad (with peas) ham salad spread and more. It is the best!! Don't load up though, the steaks are juicy and well prepared, the fish options are good too. It is our opinion that the steak and fish choices are the best options. Now, here is the little secret that is the best of all..They have a man who performs in the bar after about 6pm or so. He plays a Hammond organ. This guy can cut up the Hammond like no other. Snaps to Pete Peterson! The ambiance is perfect. I think the owners know it really is a gem.

Honestly, Diner23 gives Marty's Place North 4 Triangles for food and 3 for service. Oh and 4 Triangles for ambiance.

Natalino's 1523 Chicago Ave. Chicago,IL

2008-09-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

This place is very nice. The staff is accommodating and informative, the service is pretty good. I really liked the vibe at the bar, bartenders are cool but not aloof, talkative but not annoying.
You walk in the place and it is warm with dark wood walls and bar. Fun bar stools around an inviting bar. The dining room has warm lighting and dark wood tables that make you feel comfortable as soon as you sit down.
So..We ate dinner in the dining room, that was a good experience from an ambiance point of view. Our server was great, he took very good care of us. The server made great suggestions and even steered us away from what was possibly a BAD choice. The food was good! I would suggest these things as a starting point:
For an App: Rolled Eggplant, it is thinly slice eggplant rolled and stuffed with ricotta and Parmesan cheese baked with an imported provolone cheese and a tomato ragu.
Salad? Ok, here is a good one: Martini Salad, it has beets, apples, mixed lettuce, mangos, bleu cheese in a light raspberry vinaigrette.
Entrees: Well, Mine was good except the rapini was so bitter I could not get past it. I know, I know what the flavor is but..could they have done better? I had the Chicken Joey. Overall it was wonderful. Again the Rapini was too bitter. White Beans, tomatoes good..So what was the problem? I don't know. The food was good overall. One of our friends mentioned that the meatballs were a bit dry. Hmmm, well we liked this place and we will be back. You know, the cocktails were good and the service was good. The food was pretty good too. Over all was it a choice, or was it the food? I just know that this place has so much potential and I will be back.
Diner23 gives Natalino's 4 triangles for ambiance and 2 1/2 triangles for food. They are a great go to spot and deserve another try!

White Chocolate Grill Naperville,IL

2008-09-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is a part of a chain. Now we will all get over that and look into some details. It is located in a strip mall area ok,that could be a minus. You walk inside and now it becomes a plus. Dark cool wood decor with cozy lighting. The smell of the wood fire oven is not overpowering. I recommend eating in the bar area. The mirrored wall behind the bar has liquor bottles arranged by color on the tiered shelves. It really gives a stained glass effect to the room. The chairs and booth benches are soft leather and most tables give you enough quiet privacy so you can actually hear your conversation. Service is pretty good. Actually, the best service we've had was in the bar area from the bartender. Now about some of the food.
Salads are good and portions are plentiful. My favorite salad here is the:
WCG Bacon Blue Cheese Salad
Mixed greens, Maytag blue cheese, Smoked Bacon, candied nuts and red onion.
Entree fave is:
Perfectly Grilled Atlantic Salmon *
It really is good, perfect seasoning and done just right!
Their burgers are good. I did not care for the Maytag Blue Cheese Burger. There was too much cheese and for me it was overpowering.
WCG has a great wine list. Having written that, there is a phenomenon out in the 'burbs where more and more restaurants are charging way too much for a glass of wine and the pour is not even where it should be. Now WCG is guilty of this and I say to all the restaurants that do this;
SHAME ON YOU, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! Come on folks even Houlihans gets it! Houli's has a great wine list, good pour and the prices are acceptable.
White Chocolate Grill gets 2 1/2 Triangles for food and 3 for ambiance.

Mexique 1529 W.Chicago Ave. Chicago

2008-09-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well, This place has very good food. Chef Carlos Gaytan has created a fun, interesting menu that will surely please most palettes. The ASADA Grilled Flank Steak, Spinach, Asparagus, Roasted Red Peppers, Fingerling Potatoes and Spicy Goat Cheese Fondue is very good. The PUERCO ALCAPARRADO Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Potato & Poblano Pepper Galette, Ratatouille,
Alcaparrado Sauce (Tomatillo, Caper, Rosemary, Chile Guero ) is also tasty and fulfilling. The service was very good, maybe a little over the top but not obnoxious. The only complaint or point of correction I would give them is this: You really need to have a full bar and a bartender. The place really was too still and cold. I like minimalness and I like simplicity, but..the place was too much this way. You have a fine wine list..but it would warm things up if you could offer Margaritas or Tequila flights..you get what I am saying. A little wait time at the bar for a table is fun and frankly we went to another local spot for drinks while we waited for our rezzy time.
Diner23 gives Mexique 3 Triangles for food 2 Triangles for atmosphere. It is worth a Diner23 second vist...

Carnivale 702 W. Fulton Market Chicago

2008-09-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

OK, this place rocks!! The atmosphere is bright, creative and festive. The bar is fun, noisy but a great place to enjoy the creative, delicious drinks. Go ahead- go into the dining room, be greeted with an explosion of color and ambiance. The large high ceiling room has lights, mirrors and creative use of color to make you feel you have arrived at a fun filled destination.
The service is good. Sometimes you might feel a little under attended but..not so bad. The food is very good and I love the fact they are totally into local growers and sustainable products.
Favorite app? Oh that is easy:
Ropa Vieja
Sweet plantains, braised beef,
spicy mayo, queso fresco
Favorite salad? Easy again!
Remolachas
Beet salad, manchego cheese, spiced walnuts, arugula,
sherry vinaigrette
Entree? Here you go!
Pollo
Guatemalan-style chicken, jalapeno-parsley mojo, potatoes,
olives, green beans
Now, don't get me started on the specialty drinks, you really need a few days to try all the wonderful concoctions of deliciousness you can experience in their cocktail choices! The
wine list has many offerings and the prices are not too extreme. Oh, and did I mention the terrace overlooking the Kennedy is really the coolest? I know, there is an L track but..it is the city!!
Go now.. run, do not walk to Carnivale.
Diner23 gives Carnivale 3 out of 5 Triangles.