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Happy National Margarita Day!

Posted by chicagobites

Feb 222011

Cheers to thoughts of the warm summer days to come, full of Chicago food fests!

Get Your Official Chicago Michelin List!

Posted by chicagobites

Nov 162010

Chamomile at Alinea -- a three-star experience!

Looks like some Chicago Michelin guides were shipped early, and last night’s Yelp post was right on the money! Read all about Chicago’s dining stars under “recent news releases.” Of course we’ve known for quite some time that Chicago is a world class dining city.

Thanks to all who joined us at the Violet Hour last night — especially our friends Geo, Caryn, Dave, and Pattie who helped us make the place glow! Good times.

In the kitchen at L20 -- congrats on your three stars.

Lokal – Prix Fixe

Posted by chicagobites

Jul 062010

Conveniently located along North avenue, near the Blue Line Damen Stop.

The best time to hit Lokal is on Monday nights when they create a five course menu with wine pairings for $40 a person. The meal is made with fresh, in-season ingredients and served with European flair.

We knew about the prix fixe menu when making the reservations, but it wasn’t clear that this was the only meal served on Mondays. As someone with dietary restrictions, I prefer to know upfront what I’m dealing with. However, substitutions were handled with minimum fuss and my meal was as excellent the others served that evening.

Seared pork tenderloin, thyme gnocchi, hon schemidji mushroom ju

A seared pork tenderloin comes served atop thyme gnocchi.

Pan roasted snapper with parsnip puree, pork tenderloin over gnocchi and duck pierogi courses each vied for top billing at the table. The dessert was also notable — I can’t recall a shortcake that tasted as good as this. And the berries and freshly whipped cream? To die for. Everything we ate was well prepared, presented and enjoyed.

The only real complaint was wine service. The meal did not begin with a wine pairing and the first thought was that our drinks were forgotten. Not to quibble, but eating is thirsty work and we should have had something to start. The wines, by the way, are from Eastern Europe and showcased the highs and lows of that region. Prepare yourself for adventure on that score.

As far as atmosphere, I’m not sure the black and white Sherlock Holmes movies that played above the bar added anything to the ambiance even though Basil Rathbone was something to look at back in the day. Exposed brick, flat white surfaces, trays of succulents and pastel abstract paintings round out a modish look. It’s a comfortable place to linger over a meal.

Next time you’re in Wicker Park on a Monday, make a point of stopping by for dinner. It’s a great value and a good time. Want to see the entire meal? Check out our Facebook photo album.