Evanston Lunch Group™ Wed Jan 9 12:30 Omaggio

Peering in the window the other day, Omaggio looked promising. Others seem to think so, too:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=16698

http://centerstage.net/restaurants/omaggio.html

It's from the people behind Koi, La Petit Amelia and Über Burger - a reasonably good pedigree.

See you then.

Omaggio
1639 Orrington Ave.
Evanston
(847) 570-0500

I'm there!

I'm there as well. I wish that I felt that the other restaurants in the list were better than OK. (And Uber Burger was uber-disappointing, although perhaps I was expecting a really uber burger).

I think I can make it; I'll let you know as we get closer.

Depending on the vagaries of parking in downtown Evanston, I plan to be there....

I'd love to be there but it'll be a game-time decision, as several of my partners will be away on business that week. If the office is relatively quiet, I'll be there. If not, I'll probably have to bow out.

Thanks, for setting this up.

=R=

We will be there. The parking garage on Davis between Orrignton and Benson isn't too far off, and there should be parking there if nowhere else.
Robert and Catherine

FYI: Not sure if this has gone into effect yet, but Evanston is trying to reduce the use of parking meters downtown by making it less expensive to park in the garages than at meters...

Hi,

I am in the same position of Suburban Ronnie. I will have to make almost a last minute decision to attend.

Regards,

I'll be there.

- Mike

Just FYI: Omaggio is featured on page 84 of the January 2008 issue of North Shore magazine.... (I searched for a link to the article online, but it does not appear to have been posted yet.)

chapulin wrote:The parking garage on Davis between Orrignton and Benson isn't too far off, and there should be parking there if nowhere else.

Yup. There's another one not too much further on Church just east of Chicago, which is convenient if you also need to go to Whole Foods or the library.

Both garages are free for the first hour, and $2 for 1-2 hours.

I've been a couple times now, and have some recommendations for you (I can't make the lunch):
Pappardelle with Boar Ragu -- this item is outstanding, perhaps overdressed by Batali standards, but what Italian-American eaters expect.

Olives - Get at least one platter of olives for the table. It's generous and lots of variety

Pizza Fratelli del Diavolo (sp) - spicy salami and giardinera

Pork tenderloin Milanese

FYI - we're reserved under the name "LTH" for approximately 10 at 12:30, although if that number varies ± 8, I think we'll still be okay.

might be 2 more

nr706 wrote:Peering in the window the other day, Omaggio looked promising. Others seem to think so, too:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=16698

Yikes, why do I sense a wave of hate about to be unleashed my way?

I hope lunch goes well, but just in case let me attempt to weasel out of any responsibility: I can only comment on the deli meats, which I was excited to find were of good quality. The stuff that the restaurant actually did with these ingredients was poor or ill-conceived (and a couple subsequent experiences were no better, which I may post on later).

(I do think Amelia is somewhat better than "OK", but I agree with the general sentiment -- the new additions to Evanston's restaurant scene are great at "concepting" and promotion. Cooking, not so much.)

Oh, and don't order anything with meatballs. Just don't.

Oh I don't see any hate coming your way. Maybe differing opinions but that's why there are 31 flavors.

I moved my schedule around and am 95% sure I will be there.

No hatred, but we will order some of those meatballs to throw your way.

GAF wrote:No hatred, but we will order some of those meatballs to throw your way.

I can almost feel the welts and bruises already.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I am in the same position of Suburban Ronnie. I will have to make almost a last minute decision to attend.

Regards,

Unfortunately I cannot attend this time. Sometimes duty calls!

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I am in the same position of Suburban Ronnie. I will have to make almost a last minute decision to attend.

Regards,

Unfortunately I cannot attend this time. Sometimes duty calls!

Regards,

We are indeed in the same boat today, Cathy. My attending the lunch would leave only 1 person in our office. So, I will catch you guys and gals the next time around. Thanks again, for putting this together.

=R=

Can't write...too full...here are my pix...


Antipasti with GAF's book in the background.


Stuff to dip into the fondue, which hopefully somebody else got a shot of


Arancini


Polenta with sausage and peppers


Insalata frutti di mare


Fritto misto


Winter Caprese: sundried tomato, mozzarella di bufalo, roasted peppers in olive oil


Venison, chestnut and mushroom risotto


Trout...some kind of cabbage? IIRC wrapped in some kind of ham?


The staggering size bag of leftovers I took home, filled almost to the top with little boxes (GAF, if you feel at all left out for leaving early, PM me and I'll bring you some leftovers)

I do so enjoy everyone's company! Thanks, Nr706 for setting up...maybe I'll post more about the food after I've digested it; Cathy and Ronnie, sorry to miss you, hope we'll see you next time...

Beautiful pics, MHays!

I'm especially jealous now, knowing that there was fondue and some sort of trout doobie!!!

=R=

I'm still stuffed. Here are a few more pix:


Herbed cheese fondue (sorry, don't remember the type of cheese) - worked well with the bread, toasts, and apples. A less inspired choice to pair with the strawberries.


A stuffed pasta with cheese (again, sorry, don't remember the actual name). An especially filling entree for the psuedo-vegetarian in the group (who also seemed to enjoy the trout wrapped in speck).


Feather-light gnocchi in a cream sauce. (Notice the unusual shape. Also notice the less-unusual sight of Octarine chomping at the bit to get the picture-taking done, so he could chomp on the gnocchi, as reflected in the spoon.)


The famous, previously discussed meatballs - really, not bad.

cilantro wrote:Oh, and don't order anything with meatballs. Just don't.

Since apparently we still appeared undernourished, the kitchen came out with several platters of cookies for dessert.

Many thanks to all who showed up, especially Octarine, who knew the owner (Robert LaPata, a vet of LEYE and other well-known restaurants) and asked him to just bring us whatever best represents what Omaggio does. He said that his plan is to feature an homage to a different Italian region each season; currently the menu is derived from favorite foods of Alto Adige (I believe) - the smallest, coldest and least populated province in Italy.

theres one dish missing.

soooo much food

Right you are, Gus.

Mushrooms, polenta and ratatouille

Actually, I think that's braciole, unless I missed a dish. I think the cheese fondue was Fontina with white truffle oil; I've recently realized I'm not a fan of truffle oils (not real truffles, I'm not in that tax bracket) though I did like the fondue -but not with the strawberry, which was obviously not really intended to go in it, even though I tried it just to be weird. I'm with cilantro on the meatballs - though I didn't find them heavy, just less meaty than I prefer. I really enjoyed the antipasti and the polenta in particular.

I now offer my fullest apologies to GAF that my family snarfed the leftovers before he got to me...

My heart is sad I missed the delicious looking cookies but my belt is grateful.

The dishes you had differ a bit from what I'd seen -- are those the pumpkin gnocchi, or a new one? The menu through December was Tuscan, they're featuring a different Italian region each quarter but I don't remember when the break points are. I don't recall the trout at all from when I was there, but I didn't look at the fish much. The risotto is an of-the-day, and you lucked out over me -- I don't remember what it was, but if it were venison, chestnut and mushroom I'd have been on it like white on, um, risotto?

But so far, I've mostly seen pix -- how'd you folks like the food, the ambiance?

JoelF wrote: I don't remember what it was, but if it were venison, chestnut and mushroom I'd have been on it like white on, um, risotto?

the risotto had to much clove for my taste