Fun Required

Hi All,

I've been given the task to find a "fun" dining place for my cousin and I. She is 38 and I'm 28.

We're open to all kinds of food and our price range is about $50-60 per person after tax and tip.

We both live on the northside (Edgewater and Andersonville respectively), but I have a car and am willing to drive. We could cab it too.

She just got engaged on Sunday, and this will be the first time I'm seeing her, so it's a very exciting time. We're also exchanging belated Christmas gifts.

I would like to pick something lively, with great food and an upbeat atmosphere. I've thought of Carnival, but would like other suggestions too.

I suppose my only caveat which might directly affect your ideas is that I want the noise to be at a level where we can talk to one another.

TIA!

Isn't there a lounge level to Japonais? That might be fun. I also like the top floor lounge area of Mirai.

Just a few suggestions...

Marche on Randolph is a loud, vibrant atmosphere - pretty good french/american food, interesting carnival or "circus-y" decor, like umbrellas used as light fixtures. Had a birthday dinner there and it's a festive place for a celebration.

Cafe Iberico on LaSalle is also a fun place to try lots of little plates - order a pitcher of sangria, order tapas one by one (or in a bunch, but be prepared to have not enough space on your table) and feel free to take your time. While it's rather bustling in there, I've never felt rushed to leave.

In the same vein, Cafe BaBaReeba (Halsted) is another fun tapas place, but to me it seems more expensive with fewer choices. Just one opinion.

Living in Bucktown, Cafe LaGuardia is a nearby option for mojitos and fairly standard Cubin/Latin food. No real stand outs for me with food - although I do enjoy the plantain nachos - but it's a fun sorta retro lounge (think leopard print and red christmas lights) and some couches to lounge on by a fire.

Any more help about what "fun" means to you in this context, or examples besides Carnival (which is a great place, IMO), would be helpful.

How about Hopleaf:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8606

Or Avec:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=2780


The Hopleaf Bar
5148 N. Clark St.
Chicago
773-334-9851

Avec
615 W. Randolph
312.377.2002

I have not been to Carnivale but several of my friends had been there in the past and had very good feedback about the athmosphere. Apparently, it’s pretty colorful and fun.

I’ve been to both Café Iberico and Café Ba-Ba-Reeba. Both are fun places, packed with people. Personally, I like Café Ba-Ba-Reeba better than Iberico when it comes to being festive and the food. I think the vibe is better. However, I agree with Amyliz that the prices will be higher in Ba-Ba-Reeba.

We've settled on Cafe 28, both for location, price and atmosphere.

I'll have to check out Carnivale another time!

Thank you for all of your suggestions!

If you like meat- maybe Fogo de Chao would be your speed- watching the cute waiters run around in tight pants with meat on swords?
Drinking caipiranhas (I just know I spelled that wrong)
anyhow I think it's kind of fun....