Where to Go this Saturday Night, Challenge

One vegetarian, two tee-totallers, three lovers of food and one lover of drink as well. Looking for a good to great place to go this Saturday night in Chicago. Going to Spacca Napoli on Friday night, so that is out. Don't feel like Graham Elliot and one of us is not thrilled with Lula. So given those limitations, suggestions?

pairs4life wrote:One vegetarian, two tee-totallers, three lovers of food and one lover of drink as well. Looking for a good to great place to go this Saturday night in Chicago. Going to Spacca Napoli on Friday night, so that is out. Don't feel like Graham Elliot and one of us is not thrilled with Lula. So given those limitations, suggestions?

Green Zebra has a veg-centric menu and some interesting non-alcoholic drinks: http://www.greenzebrachicago.com/

pairs4life wrote:One vegetarian, two tee-totallers, three lovers of food and one lover of drink as well. Looking for a good to great place to go this Saturday night in Chicago. Going to Spacca Napoli on Friday night, so that is out. Don't feel like Graham Elliot and one of us is not thrilled with Lula. So given those limitations, suggestions?

We have taken folks to Simone's for dinner. There are enough veggie options between the soups, entrees, pizzas and salad to cover meatless options and good burgers, etc. for those who crave meat. Drinks are good and the last time we were there they made virgin covers of some of there cocktails. Decent beer and wine list as well.

http://www.simonesbar.com/

I was going to say Green Zebra as well. Been a couple years since we went last, but the vegetarian dishes are very creative (not the same old ascetic tofu and seitan), the flesh-eaters can find interesting choices, deliciousness ranged from slightly above average to excellent, and while they respect the non-drinker they take alcohol seriously--vodkas are "locally sourced," for example. So, something for everybody.

How about GNR Winner Sabatino's? It's got pasta for the non-meat eaters and a bar for those who wish to indulge.

Sabatino's
4441 W. Irving Park
Chicago, IL
773-283-8331

MK just had such a fabulous review on check please, and they have a lot of veg offerings on their apps, perhaps they would expand them into entree sizes?

How about Russian Tea Time on Adams & Michigan?
http://www.russianteatime.com/dinner_menu_print.html

Pie Lady wrote:How about Russian Tea Time on Adams & Michigan?
http://www.russianteatime.com/dinner_menu_print.html

Forgot about them...love that place.

I'd suggest Mana Food Bar on Division. Great, creative vegetarian small plates menu. And terrific sake-based cocktails. They are tiny and don't take reservations, so go early. I loved the meal I had there a few weeks ago.

www.manafoodbar.com

We just had lunch at Russian Tea Time last weekend and those pumpking vareniky were great-
Huge baked dumplings with shredded pumpkin, nicely spiced and sweet inside-
Had a starter of of the largest cup ever of mushroom barley soup (not sure if the broth was veg)
For the meat-eaters-
my sons had a dinosaur sized tender falling off the bone lamb shank
and the other son had two beautiful lovely delicous quail served with polenta and very fresh spinach.
The polenta and spinach could be a nice veg entree on their own...

and then of course ther's the wonderful tea.....

I think Arun's fits your bill if you think they would like Thai.

http://www.arunsthai.com/

I'm gonna say Sweets & Savories...and they're one of the few that can still accommodate a party of 4+ at most times this Sat. night.

Sweets & Savories
1534 W Fullerton
Chicago, IL 60614

Update:

We went to Mana on Division. The drinking omnivore chose it from the list offerings made here. Thanks for the input.

I would go back. It is the cutest space I have ever seen, but very, very tiny.

The booths have very little padding on the seat, so be forewarned. They are also small. I think the small plates concept is appealing because it will probably be small plate eaters who enjoy this.

If you are like me and love a bunch of different tastes, this concept works quite well.

We grabbed a booth, placed all the coats and purses on the side of the booth that had only one person and commenced to ponder all of the offerings. I ordered a fresh squeezed grape juice. My husband went for the cucumber and ginger combo.

I ordered the blue cheese tart with carmelized onions mentioned on an earlier thread about Mana. It was quite good. Even better, the side of quick cooked red cabbage was outstanding. I tasted the Thai pineapple salad. It had sliced chilis throughout the dish and cucumber, this number was refreshing. Next up, the half brown rice half black beans and seared collard greens. This was perfect for the southern girl in me. The brown rice was really really good. Generally, I detest brown rice.

I would go back. I don't think my husband thought there was anything wrong with the food but it is not on his list for a return visit. We frequently have this issue, the food, for him, was just okay.

Good Luck and Good Night