Help me with my birthday dinner...Is Arun's any good?

Alright, I have researched this to death and the consensus seems to be that Arun's is nothing special at all (and I have to cancel my reservation tomorrow if I decide against it!).

Now then, I'm trying to figure out what that means exactly...

I'm hoping that Arun's is NOT traditional Thai. What I want Arun's to be is Thai fusion. Is that what it is? And, if it is, is it good? Are the flavors interesting? Is it a fun place to eat? This is for my birthday and I just wanted to try something a little different from the norm. And I want to go some place I can't ordinarily get my hubby to go to

In an ideal world, I'd go to Alinea or Moto for something fun and crazy, but we can't drop 600 bucks (for 2) right now. Instead, I am opting for two nice meals this weekend for a total of 400-500. I was thinking Arun's would be the adventure and Perennial sounds really good and the restaurant, itself, looks really cozy.

However, if Arun's is bland and uninteresting, I do not want to go there. I would love to leave the restaurant wondering what I just ate (in a good way)...is this possible or is it just not good anymore?

I have always thought the Beard nominee list is a good way to try restaurants, and it really hasn't let me down for the most part. Arun was nominated this year...but I do realize his nomination may be the result of some active campaigning on his part.

If there is anyone who likes Arun's, and has been there recently, speak up.

If not, does anyone have any recs for another "fun" restaurant, with a tasting menu, I could go to?

Thank you so much!

It'll sound like a broken record, but check the GNR list.

I think Arun's is a step above "traditional Thai," but it's not Thai fusion, either. If you're set on Thai, you might think about TAC Quick - surroundings aren't as fancy as Arun's, and there's not as much fancy vegetable carving, but the food is generally better.

Not sure what you mean by a "fun" place, but for a multi-course you might want to consider Sweets and Savories. Or, if in a festive Italian mood, there's always a tavola.

I'm sure others can come up with even better suggestions.

Arun's was one of my first "fine dining" experiences, and it really wowed me at the time...but looking back on it now, it really wasn't all that "wild & crazy". We definitely didn't encounter any of the funky, unique flavors associated with real Thai food. I guess you could say it was fancy, high-quality/high-end Ameri-Thai cuisine.

Honestly, if you're really set on the adventurous Thai idea, then I second nr706's advice: pick up some nice wine and head over to TAC Quick. As long as you're open minded and willing to do a bit of research, you will walk out of there saying, "I'm not totally sure what we just ate, but it was delicious." However, I will also second nr706's comment about the surroundings: think normal neighborhood Thai restaurant, maybe a bit more modern.

If you're looking for a nicer atmosphere and an adventurous menu, but are willing to consider any type of food, you could try The Publican. Organs, oysters, various delicious pork preparations, beers worthy of sipping and toasting...good times.

TAC Quick
3930 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-5253

The Publican
845 W. Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
312-733-9555

tripc23 wrote:I have always thought the Beard nominee list is a good way to try restaurants, and it really hasn't let me down for the most part. Arun was nominated this year...but I do realize his nomination may be the result of some active campaigning on his part.

I was appalled to see that Arun's was even mentioned in the same breath as other Beard nominees.

Now, I haven't been to Arun's in maybe 12 years, but nothing I've read has suggested that anything has changed, and I'd return to any of the restaurants mentioned in this thread (Perennial, Sweets & Savories, TAC Quick, etc.) before I went back to Arun's. In this economy, there are probably going to be empty tables at these and other restaurants tonight.

And happy birthday!

Also, if you use the search function in "topic titles only" for "Arun's" you will find threads titled "Is Arun's Worth It?" and "Any recent Arun's opinions" which will go much further in backing up the general opinions on the place expressed in this thread.

Best,
Michael

Are you able to cancel your reservation on such short notice? I fear you're going to be charged if you do.

I ate at Arun's around 18 months ago. It was not bad, and for $85 a head, I want a bit more than 'not bad.' I recall nothing qualifying as fusion or even being terribly interesting beyond the one bite salad.

If you're looking at roughly the same pricepoint, want interesting (though admittedly, not ethnic), tasting menu, and last minute reservations, the restaurant that screams to me is Lockwood in the Palmer House Hilton. I had a tasting menu there around eight months ago and thought the food was outstanding (service was iffy, but I was eating alone and my waiter seemed more awkward about it than I was).

http://www.lockwoodrestaurant.com/

I was also impressed the first time I ate at Arun's, some 10-15 years ago. A more recent visit (perhaps 5 years ago) let me feeling similar to many of the reviews here: good (but not great) food, and simply not worth the cost. Arun's is somewhat different from what you'll find at many of the GNR Thai restaurants. Arun's is notably more upscale in its decor, atmosphere, and presentation. Although I am not terribly experienced with Thai food, my impression is that the food at Arun's is somewhat more creative. Arun certainly describes the restaurant as "fusion".

Having said all that, I love the GNR Thai restaurants, specifically Spoon Thai, Sticky Rice, and TAC Quick. They are casual, though, and perhaps not what you are looking for if you are looking for an upscale restaurant.

Coincidentally, there is another thread started today asking about tasting menus in the $130-$150 range (including wine).
See viewtopic.php?f=14&t=24735

Khaopaat recommended Schwa and L20. I haven't been the L20, but Schwa is an incredible restaurant. I'd also add Sweets and Savories, which does a tasting menu for something like $60-$90 (I don't remember the exact prices, but they have two tasting menus). Excellent food and an even better value. Another idea is Topolombapo.

Khaopaat wrote:If you're looking for a nicer atmosphere and an adventurous menu, but are willing to consider any type of food, you could try The Publican. Organs, oysters, various delicious pork preparations, beers worthy of sipping and toasting...good times.

The Publican
845 W. Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
312-733-9555

I loved my recent trip to The Publican but be forewarned that it's pretty loud and not what I would describe as a conversation-friendly place. I thought the food was awesome, though, so depending on what kind of evening you want, it might be a very good fit.

=R=

Darren72 wrote:Coincidentally, there is another thread started today asking about tasting menus in the $130-$150 range (including wine).
See viewtopic.php?f=14&t=24735

Coincidentally...it's the same poster.

(not meant to be snarky, so hopefully it doesn't come across that way.)

Vie might be a nice alternative. They are offering a multicourse meal ($70) with optional wine pairings ($30?). A certain amount of the dinner cost goes to charity. This might be a weeknight only option, so call ahead.

Vie Restaurant
4471 Lawn
Western Springs
708-246-2082

Thank you everyone. I ended up going to North Pond (which I love) and it was delicious.

Their current tasting menu is fantastic (although maybe not quite as fantastic as the winter tasting).

The amuse bouche was sufficiently good. There was three items (carrot drink, beef tartare and golden beets with beet puree in the middle). To me, the beets won. I don't think I've ever had golden beets before. Yum!!!!

As for the regular courses:

Course 1: The tuna, salmon, caviar first course was awesome! I'm not usually the biggest caviar fan, but the caviar which was used in the dish was out of this world. I could eat bowlfuls of it.

Course 2: The halibut second course was my least favorite, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. The halibut, itself, was the highlight. It was melt in your mouth, full of flavor, and fantastic. It also had artichokes, fava beans and turnips with an olive oil (?) broth. I also really enjoyed the turnip.

Course 3: Lobster, Mushrooms
Roasted Lobster Tail, Black Trumpet and Royal Mushroom Ragoût, Lemon Confit, English Peas
AND
Course 4: Lamb, Asparagus
Lamb Saddle Medallions, Asparagus Caponata, Sheeps Milk Ricotta Tortelloni, Pine Nuts, Olives

I can't decide if I liked the third or the fourth course the best. It's hard to beat lobster and there was some kind of mushroom that blew me away. Also, the peas were huge and plump and wonderful.

But then there was the lamb. Come to think of it, I think this is the winner for me. Every component of this dish made me happy. The asparagus caponata was amazing and was the best thing on the plate, although the lamb was super tasty and the tortelloni was a nice creamy contrast.

Pre--dessert treat: Strawberry sorbet and some kind of foam. Tasty. It was fine. My husband really liked it, though.

Dessert: Chocolate-Coconut Cremeux, Fresh Mango, Chocolate Cake, Long Pepper Ice Cream

This was fine. I will say, though, that the ice cream was great. I'm a big fan of spicy and sweet so it was right up my alley.

The wine pairing was nice. It was champagne, pinot grigio, pinot gris, I can't remember the next--but it was an Austrian red (interesting and went really well with the lamb--I wish I could remember what it was!), and a muscato (my fave dessert wine, so I was happy with it). They were good, but nothing blew me away necessarily. But it was a very generous wine pairing, which was nice.

Overall, a wonderful and unique meal, but I was a bit less surprised than when I ate there in the winter. And, Bruce Sherman, himself, was there overseeing everything, from cooking to plating .

Thanks for all of your advice. I will definitely try Vie sometime, but I'm pretty sure tasting menus only happen on weekdays there.

North Pond over Arun's = very wise choice.