Chicago Bites - Restaurant Reviews & Dining Podcast

The orecchiette tartuafate was very tasty, but too rich to finish.

Prosecco is the new Italian offering on the Wells Street dining corridor that takes the place of the old Xel-ha restaurant. The two places couldn't be more different -- Yucatan cuisine has been replaced by rich, well-served Italian pastas and seafood. Do we think this restaurant will last longer than its predecessor? Tune in and find out.

(19.3 M)

00:00 - 01:45 Are they in business? Appearances.
01:46 - 02:57 Restaurant Week
02:58 - 05:30 Starting at Prosecco
05:31 - 08:35 Portions & pastas
08:36 - 09:56 Surf & turf
09:57 - 12:46 Desserts & service
12:01 - 14:03 Ratings and sign-off

Prosecco
710 N Wells St.

Bridget's Ratings:
Food Quality: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Overall: 7/10

Tammy's Ratings:
Food Quality: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Overall: 7/10

Average price per person: $60

The calamari was one of our favorite appetizers.

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana
Leonardo's
Terragusto
Trattoria Trullo
Xel-ha (even though it's closed!)

On-line buzz about Prosecco:
Metromix
Yelp

Check out our Prosecco photos on Flickr.

The homemade pastas will keep us coming back.

Posted by Tammy at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What the roasted olives lacked in presentation, they made up for in taste.

You can't mess around with pizza in this town. Bridget and I have high expectations for our pie. Were they met at La Madia? Listen in and find out.

(24.5 M)

00:00 - 01:10 Keeping track of pizza
01:11 - 03:50 Issues with appetizers
03:51 - 06:20 Preconceived notions of pizza
06:21 - 08:08 Blandness of pizza
08:09 - 09:30 Fresh? Or Digiorno?
09:31 - 12:38 Mischief, mayhem. Our waiter, the service.
12:39 - 15:07 Desserts! Cookie controversy.
15:08 - 17:50 Twigs and wrappin' it up

La Madia
59 West Grand Avenue

Bridget's Ratings:
Food Quality: 3/5
Value: 2/5
Service: 2/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Overall: 4/10

Tammy's Ratings:
Food Quality: 2/5
Value: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Overall: 4/10

Average price per person: $35 will get you sub-par pie, a good bottle of wine and cookies for dessert.

An example of La Madia's pie.

Related Chicago Bites Post:
Fornetto Mai

On-line Buzz about La Madia:
Metromix
The Stew
Yelp

Check out our La Madia photos on Flickr.

Posted by Tammy at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Peppermint ice cream with hot fudge is a yummy and nostalgic holiday dessert.

Tammy and I recently ducked into Petterino's to escape the winter chill and discovered dining designed for theatergoers. Attached to the Goodman, this restaurant is in the heart of the theater district, and the locations and start times of the hottest shows in town are printed along side the dinner menu. But is Petterino's worthy of a standing ovation? Listen in and find out.

(5.9 M)

00:00 - 02:11 Theater draw, singing and waiters
02:12 - 05:14 The cast-iron harbinger and catering to touristy diners
05:16 - 07:46 Sweet black cod, scallops, a huge sweet potato and pasta
07:47 - 09:53 Falling down cake, peppermint ice cream, smashed memories & cobbler
09:54 - 11:35 Service and theater listings
11:36 - 12:49 Arguing to agreement and signing-off

Petterino's
150 N. Dearborn

Bridget rates Petterino's 5/10
Tammy rates Petterino's 5/10

The cod with crimes committed against it.

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Adessgo
Terragusto

On-line Buzz about Patterino's:
Citysearch
Metromix
TripAdvisor

Check out our Petterino's photo set on Flickr

Posted by Bridget at 11:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trattoria Trullo's crabcakes are served with end of season asparagus and lots of sauce.

Tratttoria Trullo is freshly relocated from Evanston to Lincoln Square, but will the change of locale boost their fortunes? Listen in as Bridget and I run down our recent experience at this family-friendly Italian restaurant.

(6.5 M)

00:00 - 01:20 Shades of Fiddlehead
01:21 - 02:00 Shades of Vegas
02:01 - 03:45 Hating on asparagus and tomatoes
03:46 - 06:40 Bobby Flay has ruined me
06:41 - 08:03 Bread and olive oil and photography
08:04 - 10:03 Running down the entrees
10:04 - 12:30 Sassy desserts
12:31 - 14:11 Ratings and sign-off

Trattoria Trullo
4767 N. Lincoln Ave.

Bridget rates Trattoria Trullo 5/10
Tammy rates Trattoria Trullo 5/10

The tiramisu was memorable only because it photographed well.

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Adesso
Leonardo's
Mario's

Check out our Trattoria Trullo photo set on Flickr

Posted by Tammy at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Pasta is the big draw at Terragusto.

Sorry for the recent delay in weekly podcasts, but some technical chop suey needed to happen to upgrade our blogging software. However, things seem to be back on track both with the blog and our publishing schedule, so no more delays!

Bridget and I make a return to the Chicago restaurant scene with our review of Terragusto, a rustic Italian eatery in Roscoe Village. Terragusto goes a long way to live by the organic, 100-mile-diet aesthetic, but can they successfully balance their food ideals with an ideal dining experience? Tune in to find out...

(7.0 M)

00:00 - 01:20 Organic stuff
01:21 - 02:40 Grocery vibes
02:41 - 04:22 Testing the wine experience
04:23 - 05:09 Heat in the kitchen
05:10 - 06:00 Menu deconstruction
06:01 - 08:05 Antipasti
08:06 - 10:52 Shiny pasta
10:53 - 11:40 Salmon reflections
11:41 - 13:07 Bring on dessert
13:08 - 15:18 Ratings and sign-off

Terragusto
1851 W. Addison St.

Bridget rates Picasso 7/10
Tammy rates Picasso 5/10

Baked Fall Fruit Crespelle - one of Terragusto's seasonal desserts.

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Adesso
Figo
Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana
Osteria via Stato

On-line Buzz about Terragusto:
Metromix
Yelp

Books referenced in this podcast:
Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Heat by Bill Buford

Check out our Terragusto photo set on Flickr

Posted by Tammy at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tammy's pasta was angry, just the way she likes it.

Our good friends Caryn and Dave joined Tammy and me for dinner at Adesso, a BYOB in Lakeview. Expect to get a good Italian meal at a reasonable price. And sometimes live entertainment!

(5.7 M)

00:00 - 02:42 Ups & downs of BYOB's
02:43 - 06:06 Bring the anger! And other entrees.
06:07 - 07:40 Desserts, yummy desserts
07:41 - 10:22 Sideshows, neighborhood vibes, and what Adesso wants to be
10:23 - 12:18 Ratings and sign-off

Adesso
3332 N. Broadway

Bridget rates Adesso 8/10
Tammy rates Adesso 7/10

This chocolate is bliss. No matter what it's called.

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana
Mario's Gold Coast Ristorante

On-line Buzz about Adesso:
Yelp
Metromix

Posted by Bridget at 9:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The three bean salad was a lovely summer option.

Osteria Via Stato offers a three-course prix fixe menu with optional wine pairings, so we headed over to enjoy the "Italian dinner party" on the patio. The complementary bottled water and second helpings did a lot for our appetites, but was it worth the money? Listen in and find out!

(6.4 M)

00:00 - 02:15 Having a sparkling Italian dinner party
02:16 - 08:40 Bring us some wine, bring us some food
08:41 - 12:28 Desserts & other issues
12:30 - 13:57 Ratings and sign-off

Osteria Via Stato
620 North State

Bridget rates Osteria Via Stato 7/10
Tammy rates Osteria Via Stato 7/10

Bridget loved the meaty pasta.

Related Chicago Bites Post:
Figo
Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana
Leonardo's
Mario's Gold Coast Ristorante

On-line Buzz About Osteria Via Stato:
Menuism
Metromix
Yelp

Posted by Tammy at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Left to Right) Bridget, Lingo, Tammy and Phil toast to an evening of suburban dining and good company. If only I could learn to keep my eyes open when the camera flash goes off. Grrr!

We ventured outside city limits to join fellow podcasters Phil and Lingo from The Brit and Yankee for dinner at Figo, a restaurant in St. Charles. Listen in to find out what we thought of the burbs, the sparkling company and the food.

(6.5 M)

00:00 - 02:00 To the burbs we go on a train!
02:01 - 03:35 Hip aspirations and suburban character
03:36 - 12:40 The food: diplomacy vs. pickin' a fight
12:41 - 14:03 Ratings and sign-off

Figo
110 N. Third St.
St. Charles, IL

Bridget rates Figo 4/10
Tammy rates Figo 4/10

Phil ordered his meal salt-free, and he was glad he did.

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Mario's Gold Coast Ristorante
Fornetto Mai

Posted by Bridget at 6:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Our baby octopus appetizer. Just staring at me. So I cut off his head!

Tammy gives me a mini Italian lesson in this podcast. That’s because Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana isn’t easy to pronounce. Still, I learned the name of this restaurant and you should too. The food is good and the atmosphere is cozy. But the best part is that Fiorentino's offers half-price bottles of wine on Monday nights. You can eat and drink like a king for a price that’s an absolute steal!

(5.5 M)

00:00 - 01:04 Italian Names and Bouncing Heads
01:05 - 01:47 If You Can't Say it You Can't Order it
01:48 - 02:42 Half-Price Bottles of Wine on Monday
02:43 - 10:19 Fiorentino's Review
10:20 - 12:00 Ratings and Sign-Off

Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana
2901 N. Ashland Ave.

Bridget rates Fiorentino's 7/10
Tammy rates Fiorentino's 7/10

My meaty pasta dish... a hit at the table. Dave helped polish it off.

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Mario's Gold Coast Ristorante
Leonardo's

Posted by Bridget at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Bowtie pasta is one of the many excellent house specials available at Mario's

Mario's is waiting for you around the corner! It's a friendly spot with good food and a warm, neighbor-hoody vibe. Mario himself works the room to make sure his customers are taken care of - what's not to love? Enjoy a great selection of affordable pasta, great wine and yummy desserts. Bridget and I may have found a new favorite hang-out. We hope to see you there.

Though we don't mention it on the podcast, we did find that Mario's is handicap accessible. At least, the dining area is -- the bathrooms appear to be on the lower level of the dining room.

(9.9 M)

00:00 - 01:18 Intro
01:19 - 02:55 Malbec Monte Reserve & Wine List Chat
02:56 - 09:48 Mario's Review
09:49 - 11:02 Sign Off

Mario's Gold Coast Ristorante
21 West Goethe

Bridget rates this restaurant 9/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 8/10

Enough tiramisu to feed an army!

Posted by Tammy at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looking for something light? Quartino's, which opened at the beginning of the summer, specializes is small plates that are great to share with friends after work. The food it tasty and affordable, and so is the wine. The house wines I've tried have all been good. And they serve it Italian-style-- no fancy stem wear at this place! It's all about lounging on the patio and munching on a-little-bit-of-this while sipping a tad of that.

The restrooms are wheelchair accessible, but you have to take a ride in the freight elevator to get to them. I didn't mind... I was escorted by a cute waiter and also took a peek into the super-clean kitchen along the way. Taking the scenic route does have its advantages.

Bear with us on sound for this one.... Tammy will fade back in! We're still learning!

(7.5 M)

00:00 - 00:33 Intro
00:32 - 06:57 Quartino Review
06:58 - 08:10 Wrap-up & Sign-off

Quartino
626 N. State St.

Bridget rates this restaurant 6/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 5/10

Posted by Bridget at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tasty salmon served on a plank

I can never remember the name of this place, but that’s just because Viand is so much a part of our lexicon that Tammy and I refer to it as "that wine place around the corner." Now you'll know what what we're talking about! The restaurant features a very nice wine list, good service, and alfresco seats great for a leisurely sip.

Hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July full of good summer fare and fun!

(8.6 M)

00:00 - 00:36 Intro
00:37 - 07:01 Viand Review
07:02 - 09:22 Wrap-up & Sign-off

Viand
155 E. Ontario

Bridget rates this restaurant 6/10 (A tad drab... according to our verbal rating... but it's so much better than that.)
Tammy rates this restaurant 5/10 (Dull as dishwater)

Ahi tuna and Fried Green Tomatos

UPDATE!
Since this review, Viand has undergone some changes -- a completely new menu and chef. We hope to check it out and report back to you soon!

Posted by Bridget at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tucked away in the Whitehall Hotel, Fornetto Mai is my new favorite hang out. Tammy and I went there for brunch and dinner before reviewing it, and we enjoyed it so much that we've been back since with more friends in tow. Its upscale atmosphere is surprisingly unpretentious, and the dinner menu is particularly tasty. I crave the veggie pizza, which is the perfect size to share (if you’re trying to eat healthy and watching those Weight Watchers point values). And the chocolate fall-out cake? It defies description. The first bite literally left me speechless. And that’s really saying something!

(11.4 M)

00:00 - 01:02 Intro
01:03 - 02:15 Mini-Wine Review
02:16 - 09:55 Fornetto Mai Review
09:56 - 12:24 Wrap-up & Sign-off

Fornetto Mai
107 East Delaware Place

Bridget rates this restaurant 8/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 7/10

Posted by Bridget at 6:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tammy and I walked into Leonardo’s not knowing quite what to expect. Julia, one of our listeners, recommended the place. So we all decided that it would be fun to meet up and eat dinner together there.

One thing’s for sure… Julia has great taste! We knew we were most likely in for something good because she promised to buy us drinks if we didn’t like the food. But I don’t think there’s any way you couldn’t find something to love on Leonardo’s menu. This neighborhood favorite is a must try! We spent a delightful evening there. And Julia, we look forward to dining with you and Andy again soon!

Got a recommendation for us? Drop us an e-mail!

(11.5 M)

00:00 - 00:20 Intro
00:21 - 01:06 Mini-Wine Review
01:07 - 10:06 Leonardo's Review
10:07 - 12:36 Wrap-up & Sign-off

Leonardo's
5657 N. Clark

Bridget rates this restaurant 8/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 7/10

Posted by Bridget at 5:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Brunch at Vines on Clark is a find, plain and simple. I’d been forewarned, but I still did a double take when I saw that everything on the brunch menu, from breakfast stuffs, to pizza and pasta was a whapping $5. And the food is good too! Top that off with $2 Mimosas and Bloody Marys and you have a little piece of brunch heaven. It almost seemed too good to be true.

And it was. Sort of.

Shortly after recording this podcast, we were ruefully informed that the $5 brunch deal is only available during the off season. And baseball season literally just started! Bummer, huh?

Don't get me wrong. I love Cubs games. And I'm overjoyed that spring is here. But $5 brunch? That is fantastic!

So we decided to go ahead post our review anyway. After all, I went so far as to give brunch at Vines a 10! My first 10! File this gem away for when the leaves turn and the gates at Wrigley close. It’s worth the wait.

(7.6 M)

00:00 - 00:15 Intro
00:16 - 01:31 Wine Mini-review
01:32 - 07:25 Vines on Clark Review
07:26 - 08:14 Wrap-up & Sign-off

Vines on Clark
3554 N. Clark St.

Bridget rates this restaurant 10/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 8/10

Wine mentioned during this podcast:
Seven Deadly Zins

Posted by Bridget at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Hey there food lovers! Welcome to your latest and greatest dining-out-in-Chicago guide (if we don’t say so ourselves).

Chicago Bites is inspired by all of the wonderful dining experiences we have had with our friends in fantastic restaurants throughout the city. After all, there is nothing better than lingering over a good meal with good company. And we love to eat out! The very fact that Tammy and I use my kitchen as our studio should be a testament to our expertise in dining out. Of course, it's very important to both of us to stay healthy too. So let the dining adventures begin!

In this first episode of Chicago Bites, we review the Improv Kitchen in Wrigleyville and Fly Me to the Moon, which just happens to be right across the street from the Improv Kitchen.

Yep. There’s a story there. Hear all about it!

(9.3M)

00:00 - 00:29 Intro
00:30 - 05:56 Improv Kitchen
05:57 - 09:35 Fly Me To The Moon
09:36 - 10:04 Sign-off

Bridget rates this restaurant 4/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 3/10

Fly Me To The Moon
3400 N. Clark St.

Bridget rates this restaurant 6/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 6/10

Posted by Tammy at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)