Eclissi - Italian - Skokie

Thanks, to nr706, who organized today's lunch at Eclissi. I went into it somewhat skeptically; thinking that, as is too often the case with LTH lunch group events, the company and chat would be great and surpass the food. Well, the company and chat were great as usual, but the food might have been even an iota better.

It wasn't until I walked in that I started to remember some things I'd read about Eclissi. There was a familiar face in the kitchen but at first I didn't recognize it. However, once I sat at our 6-top on the restaurant's comfortable back patio, I saw the chef's name -- Ruben Villanueva -- on the menu. Ruben was the chef who opened Avli Estiatorio in Winnetka, a very wonderful Greek restaurant, which also happens to be a GNR.

The 6 of us ordered 2 appetizers, 2 salads and 2 pastas . . .


Eclissi - 8018 Lincoln Ave, Skokie



Bread Basket
The bread was great. It had a crusty exterior and the crumb was uneven and flavorful through the chew. I also enjoyed the cheese-encrusted flatbread.



Seppie Salad
This delectable cold salad featured cuttlefish, which had been cooked very delicately. The texture was pleasantly chewy and the flavor was clean and briney.



Arugula Salad
I really enjoyed this salad, especially the tender, peppery arugula and the chickpeas. There may have been a tad too much dressing but since the dressing was so tasty, it didn't bother me at all.



Arancini



Arancini, open
This was a great rendition. The exterior was very crispy and the interior was delicious and moist. The rice broke apart into grains, with no hint of mushiness. I also loved the sauce, which was bright and bursting with intense tomato flavor.



Grilled Octopus
The grilled octopus at Avli is one of their strongest dishes and this was delicious but it was texturally uneven. The smaller pieces were tender but the thicker ones were a bit chewy. Still, a very nice dish and one that I would confidently order again.



Seafood Risotto
Honestly, if it were up to me, I probably wouldn't have ordered this one on a Monday but I'm glad my tablemates did. The fish and seafood in this dish were not only very fresh-tasting but they were present in big, wonderful, recognizable pieces. The rice could not have been cooked any more perfectly, with just a hint of chew at the finish. The sauce was rich and really compelling.



Cavatelli with Oxtail
These cavatelli were light and pillowy with a bit of pleasant chewiness -- a familiar theme -- at the finish. I cannot remember having a version that was so texturally satisfying. The rich oxtail sauce was a great match for the cavatelli and the thin planks of pungent cheese accented the dish very nicely.

The setting on the shaded patio was really comfortable. Other than some occasional "exhaust" that wafted over from the cigar shop next door, it was just about perfect. On more than one occasion during our meal chef Villanueva came out to the patio, with scissors in hand, to gather fresh herbs and take them back to the kitchen for inclusion in the dishes he was preparing. I really could not believe how delightful this lunch was, though in retrospect, it shouldn't have surprised me. Chef Villanueva is talented and in my experience, his food has always been deftly prepared. Considering that Kabul House is no more than a couple of blocks from Eclissi, downtown Skokie may actually be developing some dining mojo. I'm excited that my office is only about 5 minutes from Eclissi. I look forward to returning on a regular basis.

=R=

Eclissi
8018 Lincoln Ave
Skokie, IL 60077
847 675-8800

Great photos, Ron. The Cavatelli looks delicious - glad it's on the dinner menu as well. Their website does not yet have any prices listed, would you mind giving us a range?

incite wrote:Great photos, Ron. The Cavatelli looks delicious - glad it's on the dinner menu as well. Their website does not yet have any prices listed, would you mind giving us a range?

I wasn't paying close attention but with a 20%+ tip, the above meal cost the 6 of us right around $100.

I took a carry-out menu but left it at my office. I'll try to check it and report back here on Tuesday.

=R=

I agree with Ronnie on much of what he said - Eclissi is a fine addition to Skokie dining. However, I was more disappointed that he was with both the calamari and the octopus. Both were surprisingly tough and chewy. They were the kind of preparations that make many people avoid them. However aside from this, the salads were tasty and presented well, and the starches were excellent (particularly the risotto). The setting is very pleasant for a late August lunch.

Prices rand from $6-8 for salads, chicken is $13, pasta ranges from $10-18 (the cavatelli oxtail ragu is $12).

GAF wrote:I agree with Ronnie on much of what he said - Eclissi is a fine addition to Skokie dining. However, I was more disappointed that he was with both the calamari and the octopus. Both were surprisingly tough and chewy. They were the kind of preparations that make many people avoid them. However aside from this, the salads were tasty and presented well, and the starches were excellent (particularly the risotto). The setting is very pleasant for a late August lunch.

Prices rand from $6-8 for salads, chicken is $13, pasta ranges from $10-18 (the cavatelli oxtail ragu is $12).

Did we have calamari? Is that the cuttlefish?

I thought the octopus -- and all the treasures -- in the risotto were perfect but yeah, the grilled dish had some chewy pieces for sure. I loved the texture of the cuttlefish, which I'd describe as al dente.

=R=

How much for the wings with blue cheese and the philly cheesesteak?

The Seppie (Cuttlefish) was perfectly cooked, and, as Ronnie said, al dante. The seppie salad was excellent. I thought that there was calamari in the risotto, which I found chewy.

Kennyz, I never know if you are teasing but the answers are $6.95 (Philly) and $5.75 (6 pcs. wings). You ask, and we supply.

GAF wrote:Kennyz, I never know if you are teasing but the answers are $6.95 (Philly) and $5.75 (6 pcs. wings). You ask, and we supply.

I like to keep 'em guessing. Seriously, nice job with the ordering, which made for a meal that looks like it could have come from an actual Italian restaurant. I was going to try to make this event, but when I looked at the menu and saw wings, Philly Cheese, blackened tuna sandwich and more, I decided to find a different date to partake in the excellent company of the Evanston Lunch Group.

Kennyz wrote:How much for the wings with blue cheese and the philly cheesesteak?

Well, Mr. Z., since you ask.... For you, the cheesesteak is just $6.95. (I took the take-out menu.)

Seriously, we were a bit puzzled comparing the in-house menu, which only had the sorts of dishes we ordered, and the take-out menu, which includes the dishes you're interested in. We saw some other people getting sandwiches but didn't consider ordering them. I suspect Eclissi has those things on the menu for the wild and crazy Skokie lunch crowd (not including ronnie_s).

I agree for the most part with ronnie. The octopus was a bit disappointing. I liked the cuttlefish salad quite a bit--I too found it toothsome, not tough. The arancini were just a tad salty for me. The risotto and pasta were both really good, especially the risotto--thick, creamy, with great seafood flavor.

Re: Italian...the reason I titled the thread the way I did is because it's how the restaurant bills itself, on the menu and the facade. Based on what we ordered, what we saw on the carry-out menu and what we saw being served at other tables, I'd describe it as eclectic with some amount of focus on Italian. I'm guessing that EvA is correct that some of the more conventional items are accomodations to one faction or another. That said, a burger that passed by our table looked great and if it was half as good as the lamb burgers I've enjoyed at Avli, it'd be worth ordering.

=R=

Driving by last month, there was just something about the vibe of Eclissi that made me feel like it'd be worth checking out. I enjoyed it all - even the pieces of grilled octopus - the pieces I had were a bit on the chewy side, but nothing bad, and the grilled flavor came through. Otherwise, I agree with the comments above. It's a surprisingly small space inside - I doubt there were many more than twenty seats in the front room. (The patio capacity was much larger, but I doubt that will help them much come December.)

In addition to the herb garden in the patio, there was a large smoker, which the chef said he'd been using for whole pigs recently, plus a large barrel which he used exclusively for cooking fresh corn. It's clearly a labor of love for Chef Villanueva, who told us stories about several all-nighters he'd pulled at the restaurant recently, getting ready for some local festivals.

So now I'm in a quandry. Next time I'm going for dinner in downtown Skokie, where to go? Yolo, Kabul House, Eclissi ... so many choices.

I wish them the best of luck in that spot. When I worked a block from there, that was known as a Death Spot -- in the 20 years I was there, it probably had as many owners -- most of them hot dog stands, but Thai at least twice, Vietnamese for less time than I could actually eat there, and Indian once (which turned out to be a satellite of a Devon shop, with frozen curries they'd reheat to order -- still very very good, but not enough trade to stay open).

That's a very small spot with a tiny kitchen space. It's going to be tough for them to serve enough people to make a profit.

Nice! I'm glad someone ordered the oxtails; I was really interested in trying that. I guess I'll be going to Eclissi next time I forget to make lunch!

ronnie_suburban wrote:Re: Italian...the reason I titled the thread the way I did is because it's how the restaurant bills itself, on the menu and the facade. Based on what we ordered, what we saw on the carry-out menu and what we saw being served at other tables, I'd describe it as eclectic with some amount of focus on Italian. I'm guessing that EvA is correct that some of the more conventional items are accomodations to one faction or another. That said, a burger that passed by our table looked great and if it was half as good as the lamb burgers I've enjoyed at Avli, it'd be worth ordering.

=R=

I imagine the take out menu differs and strays from Italian to cater to the tastes of the customers of Cigar King next door; of which there are many. Ruben is a fine Chef and very nice guy.
Michael

Drove by this morning. Windows papered over and "Closed" sign taped to the window. Phone number's disconnected.

Dave148 wrote:Drove by this morning. Windows papered over and "Closed" sign taped to the window. Phone number's disconnected.

I did warn you.

JoelF wrote:

Dave148 wrote:Drove by this morning. Windows papered over and "Closed" sign taped to the window. Phone number's disconnected.

I did warn you.

Yes you did. Why anyone would open a restaurant on that side of Lincoln Ave is beyond me. Poor storefront layout and a lack of parking doesn't help matters much.

Dave148 wrote:

JoelF wrote:

Dave148 wrote:Drove by this morning. Windows papered over and "Closed" sign taped to the window. Phone number's disconnected.

I did warn you.

Yes you did. Why anyone would open a restaurant on that side of Lincoln Ave is beyond me. Poor storefront layout and a lack of parking doesn't help matters much.

And such a small space. One wondered if they could even do enough business in the colder months when the patio in back wasn't available. I'm going to miss getting lunch from here. The seared tuna sandwich was great, as were many of the salads. Chef Ruben Villanueva is an extremely talented guy.

IMO, this leaves Kabul House and Siunik Grill as the only 2 viable lunch options in downtown Skokie.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:IMO, this leaves Kabul House and Siunik Grill as the only 2 viable lunch options in downtown Skokie

I only went to Tub Tim Thai once as i don't spend a great deal of time in downtown Skokie, but thought it was pretty darn good.

deesher wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:IMO, this leaves Kabul House and Siunik Grill as the only 2 viable lunch options in downtown Skokie

I only went to Tub Tim Thai once as i don't spend a great deal of time in downtown Skokie, but thought it was pretty darn good.

That's what I thought after my first meal there a few years back. Go back a few times. You'll be far less enamored. In fact, lunch from TTT last week was one of the worst meals I've had this year -- a relatively late entry in the category but an entirely convincing one.

=R=

Don't forget De Jred!

Pie Lady wrote:Don't forget De Jred!

I didn't forget it. I remembered not to mention it. My one meal there was not worthy of a return visit.

=R=

Different strokes, I guess. I found De Jred pretty good on carryout at noon, when everything appeared fresh. Haven't been there since I moved my office out of downtown Skokie.

RE: Tub Tim Thai, I remember an Evanston Lunch Group there a few years back, when the owner named Pam, a middle-aged Thai woman, was the proprietor, and we all liked it. Somewhere around 2010 (I think), she either sold out or some younger family members began to run the place, and from then on it just seemed that the tastes weren't as vibrant, the dishes more pedestrian. Maybe it was just me, but like Ronnie I thought TTT had gone downhill.

So yes, downtown Skokie has tried SO hard to rejuvenate, but Siunik Grill and Kabul House seem to be the only destination-worthy spots, with the possible inclusion of Libertad, that South American fusion place on Lincoln Ave. near the old Skokie Theatre that I found quite tasty on my one visit after they just opened. That 'hood was my old stomping grounds, and am hoping that the area comes back in my lifetime.

jnm123 wrote:Different strokes, I guess. I found De Jred pretty good on carryout at noon, when everything appeared fresh. Haven't been there since I moved my office out of downtown Skokie.

RE: Tub Tim Thai, I remember an Evanston Lunch Group there a few years back, when the owner named Pam, a middle-aged Thai woman, was the proprietor, and we all liked it. Somewhere around 2010 (I think), she either sold out or some younger family members began to run the place, and from then on it just seemed that the tastes weren't as vibrant, the dishes more pedestrian. Maybe it was just me, but like Ronnie I thought TTT had gone downhill.

So yes, downtown Skokie has tried SO hard to rejuvenate, but Siunik Grill and Kabul House seem to be the only destination-worthy spots, with the possible inclusion of Libertad, that South American fusion place on Lincoln Ave. near the old Skokie Theatre that I found quite tasty on my one visit after they just opened. That 'hood was my old stomping grounds, and am hoping that the area comes back in my lifetime.

Libertad has been consistently great since it opened. Absolutely worth visiting, as is Yolo, on Brown.

Ronnie's context was lunch, which Libertad and Yolo do not serve.

I am partial to the goat curry with sides of cabbage and rice/peas at De Jred, but I understand why Ronnie would not want to return after such a bad initial trip.

I wonder why Libertad stopped serving lunch. Maybe it's a seasonal thing and I'm in the wrong season?

Pie Lady wrote:I wonder why Libertad stopped serving lunch. Maybe it's a seasonal thing and I'm in the wrong season?

I know they served lunch at one time but my visits in the past year or so have been for dinner or brunch so it never occurred to me that those were their only hours now.

I've never been to Yolo but I used to like Libertad. However, my last couple of meals there were remarkably bland (like, no salt bland) and I stopped going. But, as TiS posted above, they're no longer open for lunch anyway.

=R=