Sunday Celebration Dinner

All right hive mind, here's the situation! My parents, brothers and mate are coming to town this weekend for to celebrate my dad's birthday. Sunday night is the only night we can all be together. We've gone through a list of 20 possibilities only to have to rule out each one one by one. So I come to you, with a chicago restaurant puzzle.

Here are the restaurants that would've been perfect:

Blackbird - closed on sunday, we've been there half-dozen time, it is awesome

West Town Tavern - closed on Sunday - otherwise would've been perfect - unpretentious, honest food.

Timo - closed for special event this sunday; looked just right- we all love really-o italian, but not red&white tablecloth italo-american-ish

Vie - closed on Sunday (too much fruit with the meat)

Places that have been vetoed:
Spring - too pretentious
Custom House - too precious
Sweets & Savories - too much fruit with the meat
Parlor - too sceney; not right for the occasion
Fulton's - too commercial, doesn't like steakhouses, not everybody loves an oyster.
Scylla - menu is too fruity
Hot chocolate - not comfortable enough; too loud
Osteria di Tramonto - too far away
Copper blue - no foam allowed
Kevin - fusion menu doesn't appeal
Primehouse - doesn't like steak.
Sola - too sweet

So, where does that leave us? Need honest, informal, non-pretentious food, preferably italian but not italian american, or american but not foamy or scientastic, not chinese, celebratory, maybe french, especially provencal, not astronomically expensive, lord what a list.

Perhaps one of you has a proposition - one of the new-school mexican places (may st doesn't really appeal)? One of the bistros? Help!

I don't see Spiaggia/Cafe Spiaggia on the list, have they been vetoed also? What about Follia or Merlo?

Seth Zurer wrote:All right hive mind, here's the situation! My parents, brothers and mate are coming to town this weekend for to celebrate my dad's birthday. Sunday night is the only night we can all be together. We've gone through a list of 20 possibilities only to have to rule out each one one by one. So I come to you, with a chicago restaurant puzzle.

Here are the restaurants that would've been perfect:

Blackbird - closed on sunday, we've been there half-dozen time, it is awesome

West Town Tavern - closed on Sunday - otherwise would've been perfect - unpretentious, honest food.

Timo - closed for special event this sunday; looked just right- we all love really-o italian, but not red&white tablecloth italo-american-ish

Vie - closed on Sunday (too much fruit with the meat)

Places that have been vetoed:
Spring - too pretentious
Custom House - too precious
Sweets & Savories - too much fruit with the meat
Parlor - too sceney; not right for the occasion
Fulton's - too commercial, doesn't like steakhouses, not everybody loves an oyster.
Scylla - menu is too fruity
Hot chocolate - not comfortable enough; too loud
Osteria di Tramonto - too far away
Copper blue - no foam allowed
Kevin - fusion menu doesn't appeal
Primehouse - doesn't like steak.
Sola - too sweet

So, where does that leave us? Need honest, informal, non-pretentious food, preferably italian but not italian american, or american but not foamy or scientastic, not chinese, celebratory, maybe french, especially provencal, not astronomically expensive, lord what a list.

Perhaps one of you has a proposition - one of the new-school mexican places (may st doesn't really appeal)? One of the bistros? Help!

Bruna's or Agostino's?

Not glitzy, but I've recently enjoyed both brunch and dinner at Erwin. Both times, my food was wonderful, but not too fluffed up. Reasonable prices for this type of food, and they seem to have a good following.
www.erwincafe.com

I also had a great meal at Cafe Le Coq in Oak Park over a year ago. However, I think they just changed the chef.

How about a wine bar, such as Bin or Volo?

I'm hitting Scylla this weekend, www.scyllarestaurant.com.

Spiaggia is too expensive - Cafe Spiaggia has been a Zurer favorite in the past - but is also a bit pricy - not sure why it didn't come up in this round of negotiations, maybe because it's a perennial fave. However I'll suggest it. Follia, I've never been to, might be a good option. Current leanings are toward Spacca Napoli, especially if we can swing a reservation for the party of seven.

Yeah, maybe I'm too much an Evanston booster. So shoot me.

Try these:

Reasonably upscale Italian:

Campagnola
815 Chicago Ave., Evanston

Va Pensiero
1566 Oak Ave., Evanston

or eclectic American (quick, before Check Please next week)

Chef's Station
915 Davis St., Evanston

Bruna's & Agostino's - these places seem a little more on the spaghetti&meatballs end of the Italian restaurant spectrum...i know that both places have boosters. I will see what the family reaction is - thanks for the ideas!

Erwin may be a good option - i'll propose it. I haven't been since a long-ago chowhound conversation about a kimchee burger.

WIne bar might be good - I love the food at volo, but it is closed on sunday. Bin is an interesting option.

Evanston is a little bit of a trek for a sunday night... we have to get back to Logan Square after the meal..but i appreciate the suggestions.

Fonda del Mar? Right in the neighborhood, one of chicago's new upscale mexican joints, well reviewed.

I second bin wine and erwin, also.

Or what about Sabatino's? Yes, more toward the spaghetti and meatballs end of the spectrum than Spiaggia, but they have a surprisingly refined touch in the kitchen.

Fonda del mar is a good idea. Sabatino's is not the right fit, i think, but thanks for the suggestion.

Sol de Mexico is in the same vein as Fonda del mar, as in upscale Mexican.

Your lucky to have a family whose so food opinionated. I guess your current dilemma is the challenge it sometimes presents. My family will go anywhere as long I can guarantee they will all like it. Yikes!

Regards,

If you're not committed to Italian, how about Bistro Campagne on Lincoln or Cafe Matou on Milwaukee?

How about North Pond? And what's up with the fruit hating?

I'm with hellodali on Bistro Campagne - great idea. I had a bad experience (actually, it was quite horrible) at Cafe Matou, so can't recommend it. I'd choose Le Bouchon over Matou any day. But, I checked and of course Le Bouchon is closed on Sunday!

Bin Wine Cafe, 2 blocks from our house, is always packed on Saturday nights, but since you're talking Sunday it could be a great option. Not as spot-on perfect as West Town Tavern, as it is less "special" and more buzzy than cozy, but it could be a close fit for your criteria.

Sweets & Savories has too much fruit with the meat? Jeez, if anything I've experienced quite the opposite. But if you guys have already decided no on that one...

Maybe you could be brave like me and try Aigre Doux on its opening weekend? It sounds like it will be up your alley in terms of food and environment. Someone mentioned chandeliers in the bakery. However, I have no idea if they're serving on Sunday.

How about Magnolia Cafe on Wilson in Uptown? It's upscale comfort food in a comfortable setting with polished yet casual service.

Northpond was one of my first suggestions as well, but it seemed to be just over the line pricewise.

Fruithating - we zurers have a complex relationship with fruit, especially as regards cooked fruit in combination with the meats of the world. We like our fruit fresh and raw, or baked into a pie. But when it accompanies pork or chicken or beef it causes creeping despair and a generalized malaise. Not sure why, but that's the way it is!

I'll pitch the mexican, thanks again everybody.

I see you list Osteria via Tramonto -- why not Osteria via Stato? It's downtown, very little pretention about it -- very warm and comforting inside and the food is outstanding. Plus it's sort of a family style, prix fixe thing -- i loved it -- plus you sort of feel like you're in Tuscany when you dine there. Well, I did. I've never been to Tuscany so I had no real life experience to compare it!

It's also open on Sunday.

What about something like Shaw's or Joe's Stone Crab? Very little fruit in the food there. <grin>

Osteria Via Stato
620 N. State St.
312-642-8450

Thanks for all suggestions......this has been a "more-difficult-than-it-should-be" decision for the Zurer family.

>>How about North Pond? And what's up with the fruit hating?<<

I love fruit....I just don't want it in my main courses.

Having just realized that my favorite restaurant in DC--Kinkead's--has effectively priced itself above my comfort level (I guess I can afford it but it seems too much to spend for food), I was dismayed to see the price creep (entrees in the high $20.00s and low $30.00s) hit many of the places under consideration.

Also what seems to be in vogue are what appear to be super trendy, excessively creative, fusion cuisines--which may be wonderful for some--but which leave me cold. And the trend towards foams and deconstructing food is not appealing. I prefer places that are casual but serious (in a more traditional way) about food preparation. For a long while, my favorite Chicago place was Zinfandel and West Town Tavern would have been fine if open on Sunday.

Anyway, Seth and I will review the additional suggestions and see if Spacca Napoli gets replaced.

Jim Zurer (Seth's dad)

Here's a somewhat odd suggestion, as it's so corporate*, but I've recently enjoyed two meals here: Brasserie Jo. This is an absolutely great room for celebrations, and it may be one of the prettiest rooms in all of Chicago. The entrees stay around $20, with some even less. It's French but a bit different, with some Alscatian specialites. The cooking on my 2 recent visits has been quite good.**

My other suggestion, if you want something more in the Chicago vein, is Greek. I'm always happy in Greektown, and find Pegaus, Parthenon, Greek Islands and Santorini all hitting the spot as needed. Hell, do a whole lamb or pig at Santorini, that's fun, no?

Rob

*I have a post to post soon on the joys of corporate dining.

**Granted, on one visit Jean Joho was present; I believe that kicked things up a notch.

I generally don't like to mix sweet and savory elements in my entrees, either, but your comment about Scylla being too fruity left me scratching my head. I have only been there once, and nothing about my meal or my companion's would have led me to this conclusion. In fact, my only complaint was with the dessert, which I thought was too savory! (It was an ice cream sampler, and had at least one herb-flavored ice cream included...to the best of my recollection, none were fruit-flavored.)

When I first read about Scylla, I was very intrigued but I came to the sweetness conclusion after reading the menu posted on the Scylla web site. Perhaps it is misleading? I also reacted to the foams and the vanilla bean additive.

Here is the menu as posted.....

Main

baby romaine with white anchovy, nicoise olives and manchego cheese,
roasted garlic vinaigrette 6
cup of sunchoke soup with almond foam and spiced biscotti 6
goat cheese bavoroise with shaved beet salad and olive tapenade,
vanilla bean-white balsamic 7
shallot custard with apple and endive salad 8
grilled shrimp stracciatella soup 8

kumquat calfoutis with duck confit and wild mushrooms, ginger-balsamic syrup 9
seared scallops with braised chard and smoked pear compote 11
grilled baby octopus with grilled proscuitto and treviso, peruvian white beans and
preserved lemon 9
crisp skate wing and house cured pork belly with fingerling potatoes,
quail egg and maple jus 10
escargot cassoulet with tongues of fire and flageolet beans 9

paella risotto with grilled calamari, spanish chorizo and mussels, romesco broth 15
braised pork raviolis with house smoked bacon, romanesco and pear butter,
rosemary vinaigrette 13
pappardelle with grilled shrimp, pancetta, roasted quince and manzanilla olives 15
sautéed french gnocchi with roasted butternut squash, shiitake mushrooms, gorgonzola and pecans 12
crisp smoked gouda and ham filled carnaroli rice balls with smoked tomato
and apple ragu 15

braised short ribs with gorgonzola and brioche pudding, roasted cipollini onions, escarole and pomegranate 18
pan roasted amish chicken breast and braised leg meat with creamy polenta, leeks, braised pistachio and blood orange 16
lamb shank with curried cauliflower and brussels sprouts, roasted grape and preserved lemon gremolata 17
grilled fennel stuffed whole fish with grilled endive, fingerling potatoes and capers, bagna cauda M.P.
sautéed trout with caramelized sunchokes, ruby red grapefruit, cerignola olives and sliced almonds 16

Sides 5
marinated olives
creamy polenta with mushrooms
roasted garlic fingerling potatoes
brussels sprouts with prosciutto
creamy brandade

chgoeditor wrote:I generally don't like to mix sweet and savory elements in my entrees, either, but your comment about Scylla being too fruity left me scratching my head. I have only been there once, and nothing about my meal or my companion's would have led me to this conclusion. In fact, my only complaint was with the dessert, which I thought was too savory! (It was an ice cream sampler, and had at least one herb-flavored ice cream included...to the best of my recollection, none were fruit-flavored.)

Scylla just changed their menu around, and the new one is *definitely* fruity.

Some dishes, in order, no skipping, from the menu:

braised pork raviolis with house smoked bacon, romanesco and pear butter,
rosemary vinaigrette 13
pappardelle with grilled shrimp, pancetta, roasted quince and manzanilla olives 15
sautéed french gnocchi with roasted butternut squash, shiitake mushrooms, gorgonzola and pecans 12
crisp smoked gouda and ham filled carnaroli rice balls with smoked tomato
and apple ragu 15

braised short ribs with gorgonzola and brioche pudding, roasted cipollini onions, escarole and pomegranate 18
pan roasted amish chicken breast and braised leg meat with creamy polenta, leeks, braised pistachio and blood orange 16
lamb shank with curried cauliflower and brussels sprouts, roasted grape and preserved lemon gremolata 17

pear, quince, (pecans), apple, pomegranate, blood orange, lemon and grape.

Wow.

gleam wrote:Scylla just changed their menu around, and the new one is *definitely* fruity.

I remember back at the Green City Market shindig, Scylla's featured dish was skirt steak with a stone fruit vinaigrette. Not a big fruit/savory fan either, but this dish was quite good.

But no fruit of any kind in the sides!

And who can fault them for using a tiny bit of lemon with the seafood?

I just love the fact that they are (primarily) seasonal fruits and sound like interesting condiments. It makes me want to try Scylla again. It's understandable about the less-seafood-intensive menu. But the prices seem rather in keeping with the "old" menu, don't they?

Even if the Zurer family decides not to go the Scylla route for this meal, I need to thank you guys for a great "reminder" list!

Another vote for erwin. We've always had really good meals there. Not pretentious, laid-back, unfussy food, reasonable prices. Recently, we had dinner plans with our neighbors and West Town Tavern (another favorite) was booked for the night. We ended up at erwin and had a totally enjoyable meal. Not much fruit on the menu, either.

Not trying to push Scylla. But have to say that I really don't care for sweets of any kind mixed in with savory dishes-but at Scylla, the chef incorporates them in a very unobtrusive manner.

I just took a look at Scylla's menu, and do see that it has more fruit than I remembered.

What about Terragusto? Or are you looking for something closer to downtown?

naha might be a good fit. carrie's food is upscale but also well-grounded in traditional flavors.

it's a nice restaurant, definitely a good place for a celebration, but not overly stuffy or fancy.

Great call on Naha. Very underrated, always overlooked, but really great food.

Seems like italian would be a good choice for your group (though, of course, tomatoes are technically a fruit )

Sabatino's
Merlo on Maple
or Caro Mio

would be my recs: make certain you make reservations at ALL three and be prepared to still wait a tiny bit if going to Caro Mio--they have really, really, really great pasta and good servers, but their front of house can ocassionally be a bit disorganized.