Bice

I know that Bice is nobody's favorite Italian restaurant here, but it happens to be where I'm going for lunch tomorrow. Since it won't be cheap, I want to choose wisely. Any recommendations, things you've particularly liked, things to avoid? Thanks.

Bice Ristorante
158 E Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60611
312-664-1474

I'll be curious too. I actually ate there once, about twenty years ago. And I honestly thought that it had been gone for a long, long time. I find it intriguing that it's still here and still flying beneath the radar (or at least beneath my radar). Funny, I have no recollection of the meal, the people I ate with, or anything else about the meal except that it was exorbitant.

I had a wonderful Artichoke and Fontina risotto here a little over a year ago. Also a very solid fried veal chop with arugula and lemon.

Bourbon

I looked for that risotto on the menu with the intention to order it, Bourbon, but it's not in the rotation now. Just as well, perhaps, because what I did order, I enjoyed quite a bit: the spaghetti chittaruci, a version of "frutti di mare"--clams, mussels, shrimp, octopus, all flavorful; nicely al dente homemade pasta that tasted homemade; very interesting, not overpowering red sauce. While expensive for a lunch item ($22), I cannot say that it wasn't worth it, because it was.

Had a great meal at Bice tonight on a ridiculously cold January evening. The restaurant was pretty empty tonight -- but the food was very good.

I hadn't been to Bice in a while -- the service was bored and so we had refills on our water when they were a 1/3rd empty all night but aside from some shaky hands, it was inobtrusive -- i think they were trying to keep busy with an empty room. Great super tuscan by the glass, and a very nice Stracchiatella with spinach soup to start. Perfect for tonight's frigid cold -- lovely delicious broth. Then I had a pork tenderloin, wrapped in bacon, dressed with a lip smackingly delicious sage and red wine reduction sauce and accompanied by a parmesan risotto that was perfect. My dining companions had the osso buco (perfectly rendered) and a nice looking red snapper in broth with clams and sundried tomato. Very light and healthy and also delicious.

Dessert was very good coffee and a bread pudding that had an outstanding vanilla gelato accompanying it. The bread pudding was good with some dried fruit mixed in -- not a mind blower but we ate it all. The chocolate molten cake was also ordered but I would not say it was my favorite rendition of that particular item. It had a sort of texture to it that didn't appeal -- almost a waxy quality. But I will also say that the molten cake isn't really my favorite dessert anywhere -- so I may not be the best judge of this item.

The price points at Bice are a little higher than I would normally spend on italian food -- and so I don't often think of going there but, honestly, it was a really delightful meal. I think I'm going to move it on up the list of possibles when italian dining comes up. I will also say it took quite a long time to decide what to have because the whole menu seemed really tempting. That, in itself, is a reason to return.

While I didn't find anything terrible, the only item I really enjoyed was the tomato and fresh mozzarella salad. Drizzled with balsamic, it was simple and enjoyable.