One for the guys...

John's Place in Lincoln Park is known for its great food and reasonable prices, but today the specials got even better. Friday nights now offer your choice of steak for only $10. Where else can you find a great steak for $10 in this city? They didn't forget the ladies either - Friday's also have half-priced Svedka cocktails. Also- have to give note to my favorite night of the week at John's Place... half price martinis on Wednesdays!

Second City for $15!

Love going to Second City or need a cheap date idea? Every Monday night, Second City hosts a "The Best of The Second City" show for only $15! (You can also go see a Saturday matinee of the show for $20) Just as expensive as a movie and guaranteed great entertainment.

total necessity

A absolute life saver for the holidays, and a must for any online shopping experience: Retailmenot.com. For anyone that knows me, I love to save even a penny if I can. I search and search on the internet for the best price for everything and this site is my savior. It drives me nuts when I buy something online and don't have a discount or promo code to plug in and Retailmenot has more codes and is easier to navigate than any other site I've found. It's amazing. I'm hooked.

thanksgiving halibut?

Quick interruption from the Chicago front to highlight a very Chicagoesqe restaurant spotted in... dare I say it... Des Moines, Iowa. I had a wonderful trip back home for Thanksgiving, and as usual, my family does not celebrate any holiday traditionally. We did the whole turkey thing so we weren't total outcasts, but the best meal of the weekend by far was at East Village's Lucca. Now I realize I'm probably the last Des Moines resident to go here, but if you haven't gone, you're in for a treat. Dinner is a prix fixe two course menu and there are a dozen combinations. The food was amazing, and it perfectly matched the interior. Even though it would've been even more beautiful inside if it was done by Shiffler Associates Architects, the premier modern architects in Des Moines... shameless plug... the simplistic white furniture against the wood floors and brick walls was a delightful change of pace for what I'm used to seeing around Des Moines. Huge bonus points for creative bathrooms. All white boxed-in bathrooms with plexiglas ceilings so you can see into the restaurant from the top.

not just another numbered restaurant...

I'm not sure if Chicago has so many restaurants and we've run out of names, but it is getting ridiculous the amount of restaurants with numbers. To clear up any confusion, possibly just my own, here is a guide:

Hub51 - Anyone who lives in Chicago has heard of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. This new restaurant is the first venture from the famous chain's sons. I first visited this restaurant with my incredibly hard to impress father (sorry, dad) who also happens to be a modern architect, and he was raving about the interior. This sports bar meets modern restaurant hybrid is the perfect equation for someone who is looking for a fun, yet classy environment with great food. The inventive menu was a refreshing treat, and let's be honest, a quick way to my heart is a phenomenal bathroom. I'm in love.

Room 21 - A sister restaurant to Carnivale and Opera, restaurateur Jerry Kleiner quickly made me one of his biggest fans after one meal. (NOTE: I was here for a work dinner in which we ordered about every dish... and every bottle of wine on the menu, so my critique might be a bit biased) Regardless, this place is amazing. From the enormous zebra mirror behind the bar to the plush chairs and walls, this restaurant is lavish from beginning to end. The food is equally as exquisite. The circular tower of red velvet cake was a personal favorite. Fabulous girls night spot!

Table 52 - To sum it up, go make your reservation now. This restaurant was amazing, but hard to get into! I was lucky enough to have a great boyfriend call two months in advance for our anniversary. The owner is Art Smith who is Oprah's past chef. Let's be honest, Oprah wouldn't settle for anything but the best, and from the looks of it, she can eat. I'm not a huge fan of the term 'comfort food' (I think that adjective should be reserved only for clothes and couches), but it especially applies here since the generous portions are so good you won't be comfortable afterwards. Goat cheese and chive biscuits start off a guaranteed great meal. The ambiance wasn't especially my style - it's like you walked into a country kitchen (and I don't mean that in a Cracker Barrel way) but I appreciate any place that ties the interior into one cohesive theme. It all worked.

Park 52 & ZED451 - Park 52 is another Jerry Kleiner restaurant like Room 21. Pink leather couches [See below] at a restaurant? ZED451 is new as well and apparently can be summed up as Brazilian churrascaria with a great deck. [Photo of interior at bottom] I've never been to either, but from the looks of the interior photos, I'm going to need to go to both soon. Will report back!

Well that's it for a number of Chi town's numbered restaurants. Feel free to share any more you've heard of!

appetite stimulus

Nov. 17-21, Chicago hosted it's first Appetite Stimulus Plan (think NYC restaurant week) where you can have a great three-course meal at some of the best restaurants for a bargain price. All of the dinners were $35 and the lunches were $25. So being the aspiring foodie that I am and loving to find a great deal, I made reservations.

Dinner: Aigredoux
I know I tend to say this a lot, but this was one of the better dining experiences I've had in Chicago. The ambiance was beautiful - the decor was smart and very minimalist. The food was amazing. We split right down the tasting menu so we could try all the menu items and the veggie bruschetta and flan (I know, I said it, flan) were amazing. HIGHLY recommended! A tad pricey, but worth it.

Lunch: Fulton's On The River
Went here with some co-workers and were pleasantly surprised... and stuffed. The three courses were huge but all equally delicious. Highlights included the Cashew Crusted Tilapia with Vanilla-Rum Butter and the Key Lime Pie. The food is reasonably priced so I'm not sure the prix fixe was an amazingly good deal, but still a great spot. Definitely a good idea for anyone looking for a long lunch in the loop!

resolution (almost) completed.

Hello blog world! My new year's eve resolution last year was to be a smarter Chicagoan. I had lived here for almost a year at that point and didn't know much about the city beyond the bars within three blocks of my apartment. I've always loved exploring and discovering new things, so why not in this amazing new city? That's when I decided to start the ultimate Chicago challenge. One new place each week. No excuses - I had to go to a new restaurant or bar each week. (I've now since extended it to new store openings and attractions as well.) So here is my blog about new things I love, and maybe not so love, in the city of Chicago. Welcome!

About

Chi Town Savvy is devoted to money-savvy women who live in the moment and want to have the best of everything, without spending big money. I'll share restaurant/bar reviews, deals and steals from Chicago and beyond to help the frugalista inside of all of us maneuver life a little easier. In January 2010, I celebrated my third year in Chi Town, so by all means I'm no expert. I work in Public Relations by day and aspiring foodie by night. I'm always up for a new adventure and despite some possible initial hesitations; I eventually will try anything once.

Thanks for reading.



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Want me to review a product? Want to advertise? Interested in booking Kirby for speaking engagements or TV spots? Please send all comments, requests, press releases, pitches, invites, news and tips to chitownsavvy@gmail.com.