North Shore Saturday night with friends

Maybe a movie before or, more likely, after.

Any nice, reasonable suggestions? We don't know this couple real well so like to have a spot where we can talk. Looking for maybe $75/couple. Not fancy.

Anything new? Highly recommended? Easy to get into? LOL

TIA

Not sure where on the North Shore you are going to be, but if Highwood is convenient we recently enjoyed a long lost favorite with another couple when we had plans to go downtown but were stifled by the weather. Below is the thread on Del Rio

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... 169#165169

Del Rio Restaurant
228 Green Bay Rd.
Highwood, IL 60040
847-432-4608

iblock9 wrote:Not sure where on the North Shore you are going to be

Exactly, slightly more specific and it would be easier to respond with a suggestion.

Color me embarrassed for my lack of specificity, I'm kinda open minded but indeed we had considered Highwood and didn't know where to go there. I'll read the Del Rio thread for sure...it didn't come up when I searched Highwood.

I've never been to Gabriel's, and would like to, but I think it may be out of our price range. Sage Grill not getting glowing reviews here on LTH.

We could really do anything, only food completely out of the question is Indian. I want someone else to decide! LOL

sujormik wrote:'ve never been to Gabriel's, and would like to, but I think it may be out of our price range.

Gabe also owns Miramar, a slightly Cuban take on a French bistro, at a lower price point than Gabriel's. It's an interesting, fun room. For an all-Gabe evening in Highwood, you could grab a nightcap, and maybe listen to live music, at Gabe's Backstage Lounge (the former Pops for Champagne space).

Miramar
301 Waukegan Ave.
Highwood, IL 60040
847-433-1078

Gabe's Backstage Lounge
214 Green Bay Rd.
Highwood, IL 60040
847-266-1313

Hi,

If you don't want to spend your whole budget giving it over to the Viti empire, then you could go to Froggy's (next to Gabriel's) for dinner.

Miramar is not conversation friendly. Between the hard surfaces, music and the crowds it attracts, it is loud. I am not too enthralled with their food, either.

I have not been to Gabe's Backstage Lounge, but that is not my thing.

Froggy's French Cafe
306 Green Bay Rd., Highwood
(847) 433-7080

Regards,

With entrees ranging from low twenties (Froggy's) to mid twenties (Miramar) to mid thirties (Gabriel's), you may have a tough time keeping it under $75/couple including starter and/or dessert, alcohol, tax, and tip at any of these three places.

You might be able to squeeze under your budget limit at Cafe Central, a French bistro in Highland Park, where entrees are in the high teens. The food is very good; it's owned by the folks at Carlos. As an added bonus, it's right next door to the Highland Park Theater, which fits in perfectly with your movie plans. Cafe Central accepts reservations but only for 6:30 pm and earlier (which also fits well with an after-dinner flick).

Click below in case you'd like to check out the menus (including prices) on their websites.

Gabriel's
Miramar
Froggy's
Cafe Central

Thanks all, I'd actually forgotten about the Pops space, though I never went to the one other than the Sheffield/Wellington location long ago. I am a little eager to hear some music somewhere now that we won't return home smelling like ashtrays!

Anyway, I think we just may try Del Rio...sounds like just the thing for a non-adventurous husband!

Anyone know of great Korean on the north shore by any chance?

sujormik wrote:Anyone know of great Korean on the north shore by any chance?

Well, Glenview isn't exactly 'on the shore' but Ko Chi Jip in Glenview is a great Korean spot. It's not a full-on Korean BBQ, although a few items are prepared in that manner (in the kitchen) and are subsequently brought to the table.

They provided a nice assortment of panchan and happily replenished each of the ones we asked for -- some more than once. Soup was terrific, too. The dolsot bibimbap was especially well-prepared and there was a house special spicy pork dish that was delicious as well. Some friends took us there and I'm very happy they did. I would have driven by this place many times before I'd even seen it, if I didn't know to look for it.

A bit farther out is Kim's Korean Restaurant in Mt Prospect. It looks amazing but I've never been there. I plan to rectify that tomorrow afternoon.

=R=

Ko Chi Jip
773 N. Milwaukee Ave
Glenview, IL 60025
847 486-8048

Kim's Korean Restaurant
1827 W. Algonquin Rd.
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
847 545-9210

For Italian, you could do

Francesca's Hole in the Wall
254 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062

By ordering pasta, I'm sure you'd be well within you budget. The food is very good. The big problem with this place is that it's very small and they don't take reservations. You can call and they'll put you on the list. If you don't mind waiting around, this could be a good choice.

A point of information on Miramars. I don't think it's noisy anymore. At 6 or 7 on a Friday it usually half to two thirds full, no more. I think the place had a hot spell when it first opened and was packed. Things have simmered down a bit. I happen the like the food quite a bit, but if you were to order appetizers and entrees, it would push your budget.

Jonah

How about trying Casa de Isaac? For $75 a couple you could probably order a couple of margaritas with your meal. There's a thread somewhere on the restaurant but I'm too bulletin board challenged to know how to link the thread. Maybe someone else could assist.
A word of caution - Note that they're closed on Friday nights and open on Sat. about an hour after sundown. They get a bit jammed around 6 pm, but they could easily accommodate your party later in the evening.
Best,
Grandpa Bob

La Casa de Isaac
431 Temple
Highland Park, IL
847-433-5550

Thanks for all the tips everyone, I feel I have to touch base and advise that despite my best effort to try Del Rio, the others were in the mood for sushi. We went to Sudaya (I think, sorry) in HP facing the tracks (1st Ave??) because we could walk from Renaissance theatre. The sushi was fine, we had a whole bunch of rolls basically and everything was delicious and fresh. Portions struck me as a little small, usually I think we see 8 pieces of maki and most of these had 6, but service was attentive without being intrusive.

On a side note, we saw The Savages with Laura Linney & Phillip Seymour Hoffman, both excellent, but despite being billed a black comedy it was not a comedy in any way and was NOT a good choice of movie for someone whose dad passed away 6 weeks ago.

Ron, lets lunch at that korean place in Glenview some time!!