trick or treat.

Happy early Halloween everyone! What are you going to be this weekend? I'm between a few options but my days of buying expensive pre-made costumes are over. My plan is to have two nights of costumes ready to go for under $10. Here is a sneak peek of what I have in mind... 

 Good luck with your costumes and have a great weekend!

Eat at Eatt

Last night after a concert at House of Blues, Steph and I stumbled upon Eatt on Hubbard & State. With an adventurous spirit we decided to try it even though the giant "Come here for Dinner" poster outside wasn't a good sign. Never a good sign when a restaurant is telling you it's open. Inside the decor is fit for a steak house with dim lighting, bow-tied waiters, etc. but the host was friendly (and not noticeably disgusted at our jeans) so we sat down. And we're glad we did. The food was fancier diner food and was very reasonable. Fresh baked pretzel rolls to start were delicious, but our main courses were what really solidified the fact we'd be coming back. I got an ahi tuna sandwich that was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Steph won however... here is a [crappy blackberry] picture of the house specialty - bacon wrapped meatloaf.

Bread topped with mashed potatoes, topped with meatloaf, topped with mushrooms, topped with crispy onions.... it's a lot. It even had a barbecue flavor that was really yummy so clearly we can see why this dish is a hit. Steph will probably be eating it for another two days so I'll report back on microwavability.



Eatt has a bit of an identity crisis which I suspect might be the reason they are hurting for customers. The fancy staff and interior didn't exactly blend well with the diner food and 80's greatest hits playing on the speakers. Once they work out those kinks, I think they will be fine, but the food alone (and the decent prices) make this a great option for good quality food north of the loop. 

Restaurant Week 2010!

One of my favorite times of year to live in Chicago is Restaurant Week. There are over 160 amazing restaurants participating this year. I came across a helpful article in the Chicago Tribune today that includes some tips for Restaurant Week. Might be good for any first timers:

1. It's not a week. This year's Restaurant Week, the third annual, runs from Friday through Feb. 28, a full 10 days of discount dining.

2. More than 160 restaurants are participating, a nice increase from last year (144) and a big jump from the inaugural Chicago Restaurant Week in 2008, when 35 restaurants signed up.

3. Restaurants are offering three-course lunches for $22 and three-course dinners for $32. That's less than the cost of a single entree at some of these restaurants, such as Il Mulino, NoMI and The Lobby (in the Peninsula Hotel). Those four-course, $43 fondue dinners at Geja's Café are only $32 during Restaurant Week.

4. Participating restaurants served more than 225,000 customers last year.

5. It's so popular that many places sell out. Yes, they do. A colleague of mine is still smarting from last year, when she got shut out of Naha's lunch. You snooze, you lose. And you eat at your desk.

6. Most participants are in Chicago, but there are a few suburban players, including Atwater's in Geneva, Jack Binion's Steakhouse in Hammond and Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook.

7. A lot of high-end cuisine is being offered, but I count 22 steakhouses in the mix, and I probably missed a couple. Carmichael's, Ditka's, Harry Caray's, Kinzie Chophouse, Morton's, N9ne, O'Brien's, The Palm, Rosebud Prime, Ruth's Chris, Smith & Wollensky and Wildfire are just some of the names you'll find.

8. Though the site contains the occasional glitch (Brasserie Jo is at 59 W. Hubbard St., not 50), eatitupchicago.com lists all the participating restaurants, lets you view their menus and lets you make instant online reservations.

9. Last year's Restaurant Week ran eight days, but it was such a success that most restaurants agreed to extend the deals for another week. Fingers crossed.

Pass on the Deep Dish

I know, I know.. I seem to be the only person in Chicago who hates deep dish pizza. Hate is a strong word. I'd eat it if I had to, but I live in a city of thousands of more delectable options. That includes many other wonderful pizza options beyond the greasy, two-inch thick slab of cheese. Yuck.

This is a classic example of Chicago-style pizza. It looks like lasagna to me. Unappetizing.

My favorite pizzas always seem to come from Piece Pizzeria. Very dependably delicious and I love the thin crust and fresh toppings. The BBQ Chicken pizza has quickly become one of my go-to options when I just can't bear my kitchen. They also have great salads and supposedly yummy, unique toppings like mashed potatoes. I haven't tried that, but I'm sure if anyone could do it well, Piece could. They also brew their own beer which is great with the pizza, and even better in a take-home growler – complete with a discount on refills.

Piece Pizza - thin and crispy

Next up is Crust Organic Eatery. My roomie Andie and I attended a party there and after we tasted one piece of their Italian sausage pizza, we quickly devised a plan to take turns going through the buffet so we could get the maximum amount possible, without looking like lunatics. It was seriously just that good. I’ve been back a few times and many of the other pizzas are fantastic as well including eggplant/arugula and mushroom/spinach/béchamel/goat cheese. They have a wide variety of organic beers and my personal favorite – homemade infused vodkas. I tried the raspberry-infused vodka and had trouble stopping at one. On a side note, for any naysayers that aren’t into organic or think organic pizza would taste bad, take my word for it and try it for yourself. There is nothing “healthy” tasting about these amazing pizzas.

Crust's outdoor seating and eggplant/arugula pizza.

MK has done it again

The owner of MK Chicago (one of my all-time favorite restaurants in the city) has recently opened DMK Burger Bar in Lakeview. DMK Burger Bar has a simple plan... and it works. The menu lists about a dozen inventive burger options and a few sides and fries. The only complicated thing is making your way through the extensive beer list and deciding between all of the delectable burger options. Just pick a burger, a side and you're done. Make sure to come early or late - the dinner crowd is heavy and there isn't very much room to stand around and wait. But despite the wait, DMK is a low-key, reasonably-priced dinner option that is sure to stick around.

New life at New Line

New Line Tavern is a new restaurant/bar in the West Loop that took over the former Powerhouse restaurant at Clinton and Lake. (No website yet, but this will do for now) Same layout, but they've spruced it up a bit and took the menu from fancy seafood/steakhouse to dependably delicious bar food. I've been there a few times since it opened and can successfully say it has made it to my happy hour arsenal. Every time I've been there the staff has been attentive, drinks are well made and the food is a little inventive, but still maintains the qualities of the bar food everyone loves.

Today I had the BBQ Black Bean Burger which had a great consistency as far as veggie burgers go and was perfection when paired with the pretzel bun. They were very accommodating about altering the items too which I really appreciate, so instead of fried I had hummus and pita. Although I did regret not upgrading to the New Line Fries which were deliciously sprinkled with asiago cheese.

Best part of all, this place is very affordable. Our big burgers with sides and a drink came out to $12 each. A great lunch or after work option. Just be careful after work - it's a small space so it fills up very quickly.

West Loop Outing Round 2

Day Two: Butterfly Sushi
Continuing on my sushi kick (yesterday was Meiji - YUM), we decided to throw an engagement dinner for friends at Butterfly Sushi on Grand. As far as sushi restaurants go, this one is pretty close to perfect. First of all, they accommodated my giant group like pros, had every bottle chilling in ice within minutes and the best part - BYOB with NO corkage! The food is spectacular. It's a mix of sushi and thai food and everything we ordered was delicious. Highlights for the group included chicken satay with peanut sauce, veggie egg rolls, chicken pad thai... and all the special maki received rave reviews. To top it all off, the food is very reasonably priced. The BYOB helps keep the cost down obviously, but the quality of the food is amazing for the price. And they deliver. This is pretty rare for me, but I literally can't find a flaw with this place. Go try it for yourself!

New Modern Wing FREE This Week

The Art Institute of Chicago is opening its new $283 million Modern Wing THIS Saturday, May 16th. I can't wait!! The best part about it is that admission is FREE May 16th - May 22 compared to the usual $18 for people 12 and up. The wing was designed by the famous architect Renzo Piano and the released photos look amazing. And after an afternoon of wonderful works of art, you can eat at Terzo Piano with chef Tony Mantuano and sit in the little piece of heaven below. Hopefully I'll have photos of my own to upload later!

Hump Day Date Night

With the current economy, so many restaurants are offering dining deals, it seems silly to go out and not do one. My current favorite: Le Colonial. Every Wednesday night you and your significant other can enjoy one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert for $20 per person! The food is normally much pricier so take advantage. It will be more than enough food for 2 and possibly you'll feel so good about your wallet that you'll splurge on one of their delicious martinis - my recommendation, Lychee.

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.