Mom's night out

Long time reader, first time poster...

So I'm getting taken out on a hot date with DH. We don't want to spend a ton, but want good food, great drinks and a nice but not ridiculous wine list.

We usually would take advantage of having a sitter and go drown ourselves in mussels and Trippel Karmeliet at Hopleaf, but Mom is turning 30 and needs something a little more intimate.

I turn to you, LTH, where should DH take me?

I was thinking maybe Tweet, or the Tomboy chef's new place...
or the old standby of Kiki's....

TIA,

kafein wrote:I was thinking maybe Tweet, or the Tomboy chef's new place...

I was at Tweet Friday night, and felt it didn't live up to some of the reviews I read. I had a pork tenderlion with sausage dish that was just okay, and kinda salty. The lady friend ordered a fish dish, which the waiter said they were out of (I don't remember the species; tilapia, maybe?). Then the waiter came back and said they could make the fish dish with red snapper. The amount of fish was generous, but I think it would have worked better with a thinner filet. It was better than my pork.

But what amazed me most - The reviews (apparently dated) said it was BYOB, so we brought a nice Sauvignon Blanc. But when we got there, apparently they've since gotten their liquor license. We were told we could still drink our wine, but there'd be an $18 corkage fee. Particularly amazing considering their (very reasonably priced) wine list included a number of bottles at $17 or less.

I believe there's been some turnover recently in the kitchen there, too. Ah, just found it - Here's the quote from Chicago Mag's Dish from 9/8:

This Bird Has Flown
Janice Martin, chef of Tweet (5020 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-728-5576), is gone. She's off to Sonoma, California, where she's going to run the kitchen at Carneros, a wine-oriented restaurant and she's none too pleased with the way things ended at Tweet. "My vision for Tweet was really specific and if that wasn't going to happen I didn't want to be a part of it," she says. The pastry chef, Kimberly Stewart, is still baking at Tweet, but is also pursuing a degree in food science. According to the owner, Michelle Fire, an exec chef search is under way. "I'm hoping to find somebody who can deliver an elegant yet simple menu," she says. "A little bit more bistro-style and a little simpler in its delivery. But for now, the sous-chef is holding the kitchen and we are still doing our organic food and harvest menu." OK; who's the sous-chef? Fire's answer: "That person will remain nameless at this moment."

And a followup from the same dated 10/20:

A Bizarre Conversation
We called Tweet (5020 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-728-5576) this week to check on some whispers heard through the grapevine. The following ensued:

Dish: Hi. We heard you promoted your sous-chef to chef there.

Tweet: Yeah. Gary Walker.

D: And he was promoted from sous-chef?

T: Sort of.

D: Huh?

T: Well, I'm Gary and I was in the second round of promotions.

D: Huh?

T: Andrew Lakin was promoted when Janice Martin left, but that didn't last long. He became chef and I became sous-chef. But then he left and I became chef.

D: Were you a line cook before you became the sous?

T: I was a waiter.

D: Huh?

T: I went to culinary school "Peter Kump's in New York" and I wanted to get some front-of-the-house experience. But then the passion called me back to the kitchen.

D: So did the owner.

T: Yes. And we want this to work.

D: So is the menu going to change?

T: We still have primarily a French influence. I lived and traveled in France, but I'm also expanding to do more comfort foods. We are doing Kobe-beef meat loaf [$17], and a special fried chicken with organic collard greens. The focus is still on organic fare, local farmers, sustainable agriculture. We are rocking and rolling; nothing but good food for nice people.

You mentioned Tomboy - I haven't been there in a while, but the former owner, Jody Andre now runs Speakeasy (Devon, a couple of blocks east of Clark), and has just revamped The (former) Room into South (Broadway south of Peterson). Haven't tried the latter, the former is very good; both are BYOB.

Speakeasy is the place I was thinking of. it's an ironic name for a restaurant with no liquor license.

I do have a great Zin I've been saving for a special occasion...maybe we'll do that. We can always visit Hopleaf for cocktails afterwards...

Michelle Fire,is that the owner of Big Chicks?

kafein wrote:Speakeasy is the place I was thinking of. it's an ironic name for a restaurant with no liquor license.

They don't have a liquor license, but they do have a program where they'll store a case or two of wine for you under ideal conditions in their cellar. Not sure of the cost (if any) but a friend of mine does that. I think the ability to come and order your own wine speaks (easily) to the name ...

Oh, and yes, Michele Fire does own Big Chicks as well as Tweet, which is part of the resaon they're next doort oeach other.

the space came available and they opened the restaurant. then there was a big hullabaloo about the liquor license. it turned out big chicks/tweet were too close to a house of worship and BC almost lost their license.

obviously, this all got resolved. but apparently nerves were thin for a while. there was an article in the reader or concious choice about it last year

Hey upstairs, happy (early) birthday!

The wife and I have enjoyed Pasteur for something different. French influenced Vietnamese food. Surprisingly good wine list with stuff at all ends of the spectrum. It'd be a good 30th birthday place, I think.

I posted a small note the other day about Magnolia's pumpkin creme brulee, and since I keep thinking about it, realized this might be the place for your for your birthday.
When we ate there a few weeks ago, everything was wonderful. The wine list is manageable, our appetizers of squash soup and proscuitto/celery root salad, and dinner of braised beef w/ spaghetti squash and roasted trout were all wonderful.
It's a warm and cozy atmosphere, perfect for a romantic night for the 2 of you.
Magnolia Cafe
1224 W.Wilson
773 728 8785

these are all GREAT suggestions. DH is not a fan of Vietnamese. And i like Magnolia, but i think it's a little pricey.

I'll plug Ixcapulzco again. It's not too expensive, but you feel like you are at a classy place.

Two standard "date" place for my wife and I:

Mon Ami Gabi - Lincoln Park, not Oak Brook. To my eyes, the room is so glamorous and romantic and the bistro food is very satisfying. There are always tons of great wines by the glass.

Hugo's Frog Bar - Maybe just a tad more than you wanna spend. Again, for me, there is something glamorous and romantic in going to Rush Street, not classically romantic, but chic in its own way. It makes me feel quite the adult. Hugo's food is not gourmet (to the extreme), but a lot of their stuff is highly delicious. Personal favorites include the sauteed perch, the crab cakes and the shrimp de jonge.

Rob

thanks! i was rereading the bistro thread earlier today. you like mon ami gabi better than say tournesol, campagne, or kiki's?

i like mon ami gabi - i've only been there once, but i think i recall liking kiki's better. was it less expensive?

kafein wrote:thanks! i was rereading the bistro thread earlier today. you like mon ami gabi better than say tournesol, campagne, or kiki's?

i like mon ami gabi - i've only been there once, but i think i recall liking kiki's better. was it less expensive?

The problem with these things is, I really like Mon Ami, so I seldom stray--I just do not eat this kind of food that often (although I love it). I have never tried Tournesol or Campagne. Kiki's, I had a great meal way back in 92 or so, but then a very not so great meal around 96, and well, I've never needed to go back. So, I can be of no help from a comparison persepctive.

Rob

Have you ever tried Genesee Depot? It's on Broadway a little south of Irving (3736). "Eclectic American cuisine served in a casual country atmosphere" and BYOB. It's my neighborhood old reliable. Romantic in the same way a country inn is romantic, especially since it's in the middle of the city.

I'll plug one of my favorite "date" places: Sabatino's on Irving Park Road. Get one of the private "grotto" booths, order at-the-table preparations (Dover sole, steak Diane, etc.), enjoy the old-school style and serious professionalism of the waitstaff. Order an expensive wine and enjoy having the owner take care of wine service. And then spend the rest of the evening at the piano bar enjoying the fantastic Manhattans. Sabatino's skirts with but avoids cheesiness (and replaces it with charm) based on (1) seriousness of intent and (2) quality of food.