Help...In need of a really good restaurant suggestion!

My parents are coming to town in a few weeks and I always like to take them somewhere different. So far, we have been to Blackbird, Crofton on Wells, North Pond, Le Lan, Spring, Green Zebra, Salpicon and Aigre Doux and probably some others that I am forgetting. We have loved them all with the exception of Le Lan, which I thought was so-so and Aigre Doux which varied but admittedly went there in the first weeks that it was open. So basically, I am looking for a nice but not ridiculously expensive restaurant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

A few of my favorites that fit the bill.

Chalkboard
4343 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago
(773) 477-7144

Kevin
9 W Hubbard
Chicago
(312) 595-0055

ecs-

Welcome to LTH Forum! I would recommend you check the GNR winners here to see some board favorites. Otherwise, the search function is helpful to find information on restaurants you have in mind. Browsing through the board is another way to get a sense of what is liked and disliked.

Enjoy!

I use three strategies when trying to learn about new restaurants:

1. Read the GNR award winners and the related threads.

2. Skim past threads in "Eating Out in Chicagoland".

3. Finally, read threads about restaurants I know about. Usually people compare one restaurant to another and inevitably a comparison is made to a restaurant I haven't heard of.

Thanks so much for the help! BTW, Chalkboard is one of the restaurants I have been thinking about trying...I am glad to hear you recommend it!

Reviews of Chalkboard here have been more than mixed. Also, it can get very loud.

If you have not dined at Naha, One Sixtyblue or MK, those would be excellent choices that seem to fit into the dining/atmosphere category that you've listed.

BR wrote:Reviews of Chalkboard here have been more than mixed. Also, it can get very loud.

Can something be "more than mixed"?

I loved my one meal at Chalkboard, though the waiting area is really small and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I wouldn't put it at the same level as many of the places you already mentioned. It's aspirations aren't as high. My one meal at Naha was great and I've been meaning to go back. Salpicon is probably my favorite in the city.

Darren72 wrote:

BR wrote:Reviews of Chalkboard here have been more than mixed. Also, it can get very loud.

Can something be "more than mixed"?

Hmmm . . . good point . . . pureed? Can't remember all of my blender settings.

Darren72 wrote:Salpicon is probably my favorite in the city.

Not to hijack thread, but I'm curious . . . what is it that you really like about Salpicon? Recently, my meals there have been meh. Underseasoned, boring, meat slightly above-cooked. I've recently "rediscovered" Frontera after years of general malaise with its food. In fact, my recent Frontera meals have been so far above Salpicon that I've concluded that avoidance of maddening crowds is the only reason to go to Salpicon over Frontera (and not a bad reason, I might add). Salpicon has a good wine list . . but I feel like I'm missing something here about the food -- why do you like it? What particular dishes?

BR wrote:Reviews of Chalkboard here have been more than mixed. Also, it can get very loud.

If you have not dined at Naha, One Sixtyblue or MK, those would be excellent choices that seem to fit into the dining/atmosphere category that you've listed.

Just read the thread attached above and all I can say is WOW! My 4 experiences at Chalkboard have not been anywhere near those desribed.

I will admit that on our first trip there we became friendly with Gilbert and now that he knows I'm a foodie in the neighborhood, perhaps he pays us a bit more attention.

I admit I have never tried the fried chicken so I can't comment there. $20 for fried chicken just gies against my midwestern sensebility I guess and the room can be a bit noisy.

Anyway, NAHA, OneSixtyBlue and MK are great choices as well.

aschie30 wrote:

Darren72 wrote:Salpicon is probably my favorite in the city.

Not to hijack thread, but I'm curious . . . what is it that you really like about Salpicon? Recently, my meals there have been meh. Underseasoned, boring, meat slightly above-cooked. I've recently "rediscovered" Frontera after years of general malaise with its food. In fact, my recent Frontera meals have been so far above Salpicon that I've concluded that avoidance of maddening crowds is the only reason to go to Salpicon over Frontera (and not a bad reason, I might add). Salpicon has a good wine list . . but I feel like I'm missing something here about the food -- why do you like it? What particular dishes?

I rank Salpicon right up there with Frontera and slightly prefer Salpicon. And I would hardly consider the menu to be boring. Most recently, I had a fantastic poblano chile filled with huitlacoche. On multiple occasions, I've had their quail with ancho chiles and honey and loved that too. I've always considered Salpicon a restaurant that does not get as much praise as it deserves.

aschie30 wrote:

Darren72 wrote:Salpicon is probably my favorite in the city.

Not to hijack thread, but I'm curious . . . what is it that you really like about Salpicon? Recently, my meals there have been meh. Underseasoned, boring, meat slightly above-cooked. I've recently "rediscovered" Frontera after years of general malaise with its food. In fact, my recent Frontera meals have been so far above Salpicon that I've concluded that avoidance of maddening crowds is the only reason to go to Salpicon over Frontera (and not a bad reason, I might add). Salpicon has a good wine list . . but I feel like I'm missing something here about the food -- why do you like it? What particular dishes?

I originally started going to Salpicon precisely to avoid the crowds at Frontera, and have been going back simply because I love the food. My experience has been totally different - I've never thought their food was underseasoned or overcooked. Hum.

We usually get a lot of appetizers to share and then one main course for two people to spit. We do this mainly to try a lot of dishes. We also generally order as much as we can from their weekly specials list. I remember the quail dish being particularly good, but off the top of my head I can't remember the various other things I've had in the past.

I really enjoyed my first two experiences at Salpicon, but I must admit that I went there a few weeks ago and was quite disappointed. My friend and I went there after a movie and shared I think three or four appetizers and dessert. We asked for the appetizers to come out in courses, but they all came out within five minutes of each other. The first was the tamale trio and the server just plopped it on the table without telling us which tamale was which. The appetizers got cold because they came out too rapidly which may be why the food was not nearly as impressive as I had remembered. Unfortunately, with so many fantastic restaurants, it is hard to imagine returning to Salpicon.

aschie30 wrote:Not to hijack thread, but I'm curious . . . what is it that you really like about Salpicon? Recently, my meals there have been meh. Underseasoned, boring, meat slightly above-cooked...Salpicon has a good wine list . . but I feel like I'm missing something here about the food -- why do you like it? What particular dishes?

I've posted this EXACT sentiment numerous times here. I REALLY want to like Salpicon, but after three meals there, I've given up. Went with three other ppl twice, and two other ppl once. Entire table had the same results each time. Bland, meh, boring, dumbed down. I still find myself wanting to like this place because of all the praise, but I'm not sure if I can bring myself to pay up for that kind of disappointment again. I'm convinced it's gotta be me, since from my trials, I cannot understand why this place gets any praise except for the fact that they have some great tequilas.

In response to the OP...I recently had good meals at both Table 52 (really really good, actually) and Sepia, so those might be good places to take the parents!