Restaurant Week/Chef's Week Report

I took advantage of both Restaurant Week to try out a restaurant I've never been to.

Thursday night I dined at Devon Seafood Grill
$32 menu included a number of choices for appetizer, entree and dessert.

Our meal began with the calamari for 2. This dish was the highlight of the meal. Perfectly fried calamari with fried fresh jalapeno pieces to give the whole dish a nice kick. Accompanied by a remoulade and a spicy sweet and sour sauce.

For my entree I ordered the Scallops with Lemon Risotto and shaved fennel salad. The scallops were dusted with cajun seasoning before being pan seared. They were cooked very well but were overly salty and the risotto was a bit underdone. The shaved fennel on top of the dish was a nice touch and the basil olive oil and balsamic reduction gave the dish a nice flavor. I couldn't get beyond the saltiness of the scallops.

My SO ordered the Maryland Crab Cakes which were, true to what the waiter said, 95% crab meat. They were not my idea of a traditional crab cake since they are baked, not fried. He loved them. Option to choose a starch and a vegetable, he got mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus.

Desserts were not stellar. Creme brulee with berries was a hurried version with caramelized topping not covering entire ramekin. SO's chocolate velvet cake (cake, mousse, ganache) had an off taste to it.

This meal would have cost us $80 at regular prices and cost us $64 so it is a great value and a good excuse to try new restaurants.

Devon Seafood Grill
39 E. Chicago Ave.
312-440-8660

Anyone else hit up restaurant/chef's week?

Restaurant Week has been extended to next Friday, March 6. Don't know about Chicago Chef Week.