hyde park suggestions?

A friend and I are heading to the Court Theatre in Hyde Park next week, and since it's been a while since either of us were down there we thought we'd make an evening of it and get something to eat.

My usual haunts are Valois and the Florian, and occasionally Pizza Capri, but I'd like to try something different. We are both open to anything, although I'm a vegetarian so I'd prefer someplace that had a few meat-free offerings, even if it's just in the appetizer category . . . thanks in advance!

La Petite Folie? My husband and I had a nice dinner there before a show at the Court Theater back when we didn't have a child and actually did stuff like this. For something less white-tableclothy, what about that Carribean place whose name escapes me?

I've been to Cedars a few times and it's fairly good Mediterranean with plenty of veggie-friendly items on the menu. It's also BYOB, which makes it easier on the wallet. Just don't bank on finding a good bottle at the liquor store next door. Terrible selection.

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen
1206 E. 53rd St. (in Kimbark Plaza)

My favorite is Calypso Cafe - 5211 S. Harper Ave. (in Harper Court - bring quarters for metered parking) 773-955-0229 - I recomend the plantain nachos (not 100% sure they are vegetarian though)

I've also had good experiences at:
Dixie Kitchen (right across from Calypso - owned by the same folks I think) 773-363-4943 (southern food)
Mellow Yellow 1508 E. 53rd St. 773-667-2000 (I always end up getting the crepes, even when I go there to get chili, I just can't resist)
Snail Thai - 1649 East 55th 773 667 5423 arguably the best Thai in Hyde Park. That's not saying a great deal, but I like it, so I thought I'd add it here.

Places other people like that I don't:
Medici (I mean, at some point if you live in Hyde Park I guess you have to eat here, but I'm not too sure why you'd have to go back - except for the strawberry lemonade - if you really want to contribute to this Hyde Park institution, go get a sandwich at the University Market next door, or pick up some baked goods at the Med Bakery - all owned by the same folk)
Cedars of Lebanon (I'm really frustrated that I haven't had a good experience here, everyone I know enjoys it)

I really want to go to La Petite Folie at 1504 E. 55th St. (in the courtyard adjacent to the Co-Op and Wallgreens at 55th and Lake Park - french cuisine) but when I lived in Hyde Park I couldn't afford it, and now that I'm out, I always have somewhere else in mind for a dinner like that (although rumors that one of my favorite professors occasionally cooks there might get me to come in) 773-493-1394

Another choice is Picolo Mondo (1642 .56th St., 773-643-1106), a quiet Italian restaurant with quite a few vegetarian offerings. Enjoy the Court's Glass Menagery; I thoiught it was great.

Where are you travelling to Hyde Park from?

If you're coming from at all north or west, why not dine in Chinatown instead? Lao Sze Chuan or Spring World, maybe? [Both in the same, easy to find mall on Archer Ave.]

Hyde Park suffers too much, IMHO, from 'captive audience syndrome'. Restaurants in the neighborhood aren't too good because it's a bit difficult to leave the neighborhood to eat without a car.

Or, at least, Chinatown is what I do when I go to Hyde Park....

Giovanna

Not to be curt, but I agree with the Chinatown rec. Mersmann: will you disclose the identity of suspected chef-professor?

You might try Rajun Cajun for a vegetarian combination of the Indian variety. It's cheap, the people are very nice, and I believe it's come up on LTH before. It doesn't match Devon's offerings, but it's good enough for general purposes. Try the spinach or the lentils. Some people are turned off by the restaurant's furniture: it's left over from a Subway location that had once occupied the space.

Rajun Cajun
1459 East 53rd Street
773-955-1145

I can say that one of his hypotheticals was dealing with the issues which could arise from the Regents convenience store selling "Dean Doug's Delicious Dough-sert" brand ice cream.

He also likes to talk about his (non-existant) red porche.

Thanks for the hints. I'm at a loss, however, and I've certainly never had him for a class. Maybe I'll ask around. Cheers.