Margherita at Pizzeria Da Nella Cucina Napoletana
Nella Grassano is an established name in Chicago pizza, with a stint at Spacca Napoli and a turn partnering with Davanti Enoteca's Scott Harris on Nella Pizzeria Napoletana, before opening...
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Traveler cocktail at Bodega
What's the appeal of being served a drink in a flask? Everything. Is it a gimmick? Definitely. That would be troublesome if Bodega were charging $13 for a bad drink...
Churro waffle ice cream sandwich at MAD Social
The first time I ate at MAD Social, I fell in love with the churro waffle: churro batter poured into a waffle iron, formed into a golden grid and fried...
Double cheeseburger at Johnny’s Grill
I know: You love the burger at Au Cheval. You love it as much as you love the Lower Wacker scenes in "The Dark Knight" and as much as you...
French fries at Beef & Barley
A good french fry is pretty easy to find. A great french fry? Much harder. It's a Goldilocks situation: These fries are too crispy. These fries are too soft. These...
Tokyo Old-Fashioned at Gilt Bar
When you're tucked inside a cozy bar, it doesn't matter what time of year it is in that faraway place called the "outside world." The lights are dimmed, the A/C...
Apple oatmeal cookie Summer House Santa Monica
The apple oatmeal cookie ($3) in the front bakery at Summer House might be my perfect match. (Certainly better than the guy with the two-word vocabulary of "hey" and "hi.")...
Chicken & Doughnut at Green Street Local
Why are fried chicken and waffles so good? ... is what I ask myself every time I spend Sunday afternoon in a brunch-induced stupor. The answer is simple: Fried chicken...
Amaretto sour at Roister
Oppressively sweet, like Birthday Cake Oreos drowning a sad death in a pool of Pixy Stix dust, amaretto sours are the anthem of ill-begotten bachelorette parties and/or 21-year-olds. It had...
Goat liver mousse at Girl & the Goat
Chef Stephanie Izard's goat liver mousse, silky with a sheen the color of toasted creme brulee, is somehow rich and delicate at once. The best analogy I can make is...