Kate Stahl | October 19, 2011 9:00 amOne of the season's most anticipated new eateries, Vera (1023 W. Lake St., 312-243-9770), officially opens its doors in the West Loop today! The wine bar, run by restaurant industry veterans Elizabeth and Mark Mendez, pairs Spanish cuisine with food-friendly wines from all over the globe.Read More
Rebecca Taras | June 1, 2011 3:20 pmYour weekend zenith doesn't have to be a night out on the town. Enjoy good food, drinks, and company even before the sun sets at Market Bar and Grill's decadent weekend brunch, taking place on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Read More
Kate Stahl | March 25, 2011 8:02 amIt had been a few years since I'd been to Blackbird (619 W. Randolph St., 312-715-0708), which is kind of odd since I still consider it one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. My first experience at the restaurant, which was around the time that Mike Sheerin joined Paul Kahan in the kitchen, was simply transcendent.Read More
Kate Stahl | March 14, 2011 8:03 amIf you've ever been to Protein Bar (235 S. Franklin St., 312-346-7300), the health-conscious eatery that specializes in smoothies, juices, and low-cal, filling breakfast and lunch options, you know how deliciously the spot melds nutrition and flavor. And last week, Protein Bar launched a brand-new menu with some awesome lunch options.Read More
Kate Stahl | March 9, 2011 8:01 amNews broke this week that super-chef Stephanie Izard (shown above), former Top Chef and the brains behind Girl & the Goat, will open a neighboring spot in the West Loop, a diner/bar/bakery called The Little Goat. The place will be a traditional diner, but obviously will have Izard's gourmet spin, with house-baked breads, house-made bacon, and more. Izard envisions the casual spot as a place that diners would frequent often, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with late-night meals.Read More
Kate Stahl | March 3, 2011 8:03 amChicago has gone crazy for burgers in the last couple of years, and one of my favorite newcomers, Epic Burger (517 S. State St., 312-913-1373; 1000 W. North Ave., 312-440-9700), is expanding to keep up with the demand.Read More
Kate Stahl | February 17, 2011 8:00 amHomaro Cantu doesn't do anything the easy way. Waffles are made with sorbet (shown below), berries promise miracles, and dinners come by the dish — or by the hour — at the mad scientist/chef's latest restaurant, iNG (951 W. Fulton Market, 855-834-6464).Read More
Kate Stahl | February 8, 2011 8:02 amI had my first Maude's Liquor Bar (840 W. Randolph St., 312-243-9712) experience recently, and I was totally, totally blown away. There are those meals you look forward to repeating, and then there are those dining experiences when you walk out of the restaurant in mild shock that food could be that good .Read More
Kate Stahl | January 21, 2011 8:01 amTwo of my favorite eateries, Avec and Mana Food Bar, which both strangely have interiors that look a bit like saunas (see Avec, above, and Mana, below), recently announced new menus for Winter. I love any excuse to visit them again, and a lavender-scented rabbit terrine and Brussels sprouts with miso mustard are calling my name!
Avec (615 W.Read More
Kate Stahl | January 4, 2011 8:02 amHere's a 2011 prediction: Maude's Liquor Bar (840 W. Randolph St., 312-243-9712) will become one of the year's hottest spots. The West Loop restaurant/bar is scheduled to open tonight, taking on classic French fare but giving it a modern twist (a combo that's shaping up to be a hot culinary trend).Read More