J Bistro, Chicago: 4 Stars!

Chicago South siders come out to J Bistro (ignore J&J sign outside); 4 Stars!, 9836 S Western @ 99th next to Subway. 50 cent wings, $2.50 domestic drafts during Bulls Game. Sunday dinner today smothered chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh sautéed green beans. 4 Stars!

Ruth's Chris 5 Stars!

I always love a Ruth's Chris meal!

One SixtyBlue: 5 Stars!

1400 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607
312.850.0303
http://www.onesixtyblue.com/

One SixtyBlue, Michael Jordan's restaurant, has absolutely fabulous contemporary American food and beautiful presentations. What I love most is the fact that many of your vegetables where grown and picked freshly from One SixtyBlue's onsite urban garden. That right, it has a full beautiful garden in the back parking lot and growing on the side of the building. Amazing use of space and proof that you can grow whole foods right in the middle of city. A great reason to eat all your vegetables. Thank you One Sixty Blue!

Some of the dishes that remind me how I became a foodie:

• The poached egg duck salad
• Virginia soft shell crab
• The Washington Wild King Salmon, with red bliss potato, duck fat has potatoes (yes 2 super delish potatoes), grilled scallions, and horseradish cream
• The Charred Octopus & Grilled Squid, with goat meatballs, Wisconsin watercress pesto, chickpeas, pickled baby turnips, and chili oil

And dessert - I don't care how full you are, you must order something preferably several things. Believe me it's worth the gluttony.

SPECIALS

MONDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS

First Monday of each* month, 6, 7 & 8pm seatings, @ Blue Bar only. Savor a six-pour flight perfectly paired with a seasonal six-bite tasting menu for only $47, INCLUSIVE of tax & gratuity. Winery and menu changes monthly.

*one sixtyblue will host our next flight night the 2nd Monday in September.

FRIED CHICKEN & CHAMPAGNE

Wednesdays @ Blue Bar only. Dine on our $8 fried chicken dinner served with Asian pear slaw, house-made waffle with truffle butter and hand sliced potato wedges. Add a bit of fizz to the evening with Champagne by the glass.

BURGERS, BEERS & BEATS

Thursdays, 6–10pm @ Blue Bar only. Start your weekend early and join us Thursday evenings for $4 signature burgers, $4 craft beers (selection changes weekly).

Gilt Bar: 3 Stars!

230 W Kinzie St (at Franklin)
Chicago, IL 60610
312-464-9544

This new River North restaurant and bar features a 100-year-old brass-topped bar, mismatched reclaimed wood tables, cushy sofas, classic cocktails and a relatively low cost menu. I highly recommend the Death's Door Daisy, a Wisconsin based vodka martini.

Chicago Restaurant Week Extended

Through this Sunday 45 of the 165 participating restaurants participating in Chicago's 3rd annual restaurant week are extending their participation, and will continue to offer three-course lunches for $22 and/or three-course dinners for $32.

It is expected that the number of restaurants extending their participation will increase. I recently dined at The Palm (4 Stars!) and C View (3 Stars!) and the deals were fantastic!

Some restaurants have extended their deals through March 4. Some will feature the deals through March 6 or 7. And a few will offer their Restaurant Week menus through March 31.

So for those of you who missed to date, you still have a chance. You can go to opentable.com, which should have a list of participants that are extending their $22 and $32 menus, and for how long. Bon Appetit!

January Favorite Eats n Drinks - Chicago

Otom Restaurant: 4 Stars!
http://www.otomrestaurant.com/
$5 Martini Mondays
Get the burger, super yummy - fried green tomatoes, pancetta, fontina, beet chips -$13
Wings were good too - black wings - black vinegar, soy sauce, togarashi ranch - $9

Ruth's Chris: 4.5 Stars
http://www.ruthschris.com/Steak-House/7734/Chicago
Winter Special: 3 courses from $39.99

Four Seasons Hotel Lounge: 5 Stars!
http://www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs/dining/seasons_lounge_and_conservatory.html
Must try the Fireside Martini and the smoked salmon and caviar flatbreads. Absolutely delicious.

Mercadito 4 Stars!

www.mercaditorestaurants.com
108 West Kinzie Street
Chicago, IL 60654-4508
(312) 329-9555
Subway: Clark/Lake

I love this new Chicago hot spot. The restaurant has replaced an old favorite La Pomme Rouge. Mercadito has completely redesigned the space and its festive and fabulous. As the name suggests, Mercadito serves Mexican/Latin cuisine and has a top notch Tequila selection. I highly recommend the cucumber cocktail listed on the menu.

The food is very good. It is a great spot for group dinners. The group prix fixe menus are reasonably priced and portions are ample. I love the fish tacos.

Mercadito also has a small upscale lounge downstairs, Double A. Reservations are required and I understand they are very discerning.
Best regards,

Neonu
www.neonujewell.com

Bar Novo, Renaissance Chicago. 4 Stars

The Renaissance recently opened a new bar, Bar Novo. It is a spacious modern bar/lounge. They have a true full bar selection and use fresh ingredients to prepare cocktails. I highly recommend the strawberry champagne cocktail. The bar menu is upscale. All of the plates I saw looked good. The wings (a bit oversized) and calamari were quite tasty. New Bar Novo at Renaissance Hotel Chicago 4 stars!

Renaissance Chicago Hotel
1 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601 USA

Lucky Strike Fried Chicken Salad: 5 Stars!

Nothing healthy about a fried chicken salad, but they sure can be delicious! Try the fried chicken salad the next time you are bowling, drinking, or watching the game at Lucky Strike. This one comes with all white meat nuggets, avocado, bacon, corn, and tomato on a bed of lettuce with ranch and bbq dressing. Super Tasty. 5 Stars!

Graham Elliottt. 4.5Stars!

Graham Elliott still serving delish, fun, upscale food. On a recent visit my food included cheeze-its, marshmallows, and cornnuts. All wrapped into complicated upscale cuisine that was plated beautifully. And, of course, Lynn House is still the resident rock star mixologist. 4.5 Stars!

Cafe Milk & Honey 3.5 Stars!

1920 W. Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
773.395.9434
www.milkandhoneycafe.com

A busy Wicker Park cafe serving salads, gourmet sandwiches, house-made soups and pastries. Breakfast is served daily with a weekend brunch until 2pm. For brunch I recommend the Orange Brioche french toast with Toasted Almonds or the vanilla yogurt with fresh fruit and house-made granola. Order the Bloody Mary, which is garnished with tomato, cheese, and a deliciously spicy pickle. Portions at Milk & Honey are substantial, so think sharing.

The staff was friendly; but, I particularly appreciated the graciousness of the hostess who ensured we were seated promptly at a table of our choice and recommended the french toast.

Milk & Honey is cafeteria styled dining. You stand in line to order your food and then are given a number to take to your table and receive service. Seats turnover fairly quickly, so it's worth the wait.

Reviews

See http://twitter.com/neonusinsite for more

• Kristin Scott Thomas in the French film "I've Loved You So long" - 5 Stars! on DVD
• Book Review: "Persuader" the 7th Jack Reacher Thriller by Lee Child (my 1st) - 4 Stars! Fast-paced mystery led by Reacher, an ex-military cop
• Book Review: Dan Brown's "Deception Point" and E Lynn Harris' "I Say A Little Prayer" 4 Stars! Walter Mosely "The Long Fall" 2 1/2 Stars!
• U in or going to NY make reservations at Anissa. Fantastic culinary experience - 5 Stars!
• Rick Bayless' Frontera restaurant in Chicago. Arrive before it opens at 5 to stand in line for seating or get reservations. Packed by 5:10. Frontera Mushroom Fundido 5 Stars! Angus steak and Top Chef Masters' Tongue is off the hook

Tavern on Rush: 2.5 Stars!

1031 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 664-9600

Big Disappointment. Unacceptable service from such a pricey restaurant. It began with my salad, which had the wrong dressing. I should have sent it back, but I did not. When my filet came I had to send it back. It was grossly undercooked and looked like mystery meat! The waitress actually flinched when she looked at it. The only reason this is rated as high as 2.5 is that my dinner companion's pizza was very good and the onion rings were good. But seriously, when pizza and onion rings are the only thing you can order from a restaurant where apps are $15 and mains are $30-$50, you should just skip it!

Simone's Bar: Where the Cool Kids Hangout

Simone's Bar: 3.5 Stars!
960 W 18th St
Chicago IL 60608
http://www.simonesbar.com/

Eclectic and Hip Pilsen neighborhood bar with an urban cool decor featuring a pin ball machine theme. There is a diverse beer selection that includes both local and international beers. You can also find fun cocktails like a whiskey or rum hot toddy. The music like the spot is hip and as it gets later there is a DJ. The food is normal bar food. The staff is friendly. The primary downside is that because it's a neighborhood spot, parking is difficult. It's still worth checking out.

Chicago Summertime Bars

C-View Rooftop Bar: 4 Stars!
166 E Superior St at the Affina Hotel
Good drinks, friendly staff. Awesome roof bar for summer. Music good, but volume too low.
Hours: 4pm - Midnight

Nomi: 3.5 Stars!
800 N Michigan Ave
http://www.nomirestaurant.com

Chaise Lounge: 4 Stars!
1840 W. North Ave. , Chicago
http://www.chaiseloungechicago.com/

Vertigo: 4 Stars!
660 N. State St., Chicago
http://www.danahotelandspa.com/rooftop-lounge/index.cfm
hours: Wednesday thru Saturday 5pm - 2am

Citizen Bar: 3 Stars!
364 W. Erie St., Chicago
http://www.citizenbar.com/


For a full list of Chicago bars/lounges click here

The Publican: 3.5 Stars.

837 W. Fulton Market, Chicago IL 60607

The seating is family style and the menu focuses on fine pork, shellfish, and beer. I will start with my favorite dish on the menu. The $5 appetizer, spicy pork rinds. Absolutely delicious! They were like no pork rinds that I have ever tasted. They were light and airy, yet crispy with a hint of vinegar flavor, which I generally don't like in a chip. Other dishes that were really good were the mussels, oysters, and bread (specifically cheese crackers, sourdough, multigrain, and french). The country ribs (really just a pork chop) and the sausage dish were average.

The waiters should be better trained about the beer and wine menu. The beer menu is extensive, but they will not sell those more expensive great European beers if the waiters can't make recommendations of describe the beers' flavors.

Also, The Publican is a restaurant in need of a story that sets the diners' expectations for the evening. The waiters should explain to new diners the type of food they will find on the menu, Brasserie cooking, and that the service is family style.

Other notes. The bathrooms are unisex and there are no mirrors. Ladies need mirrors in the bathroom. The music in the background was very upbeat, which was great for me (e.g., they played the Beasty Boys and LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali.").

5 Guys Moves to Chicago: 5 Stars

By Neonu Jewell


My favorite burger joint in D.C. is now in Chicago. Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened its first Chicagoland restaurant in Oak Park (1115 Lake St.) yesterday. Five Guys started in Arlington Virginia and has spread to over 300 locations in 25 states.

Why do we love Five Guys? It is the taste, quality, options, and price. Meals are approximate $8.

• There are over 250,000 possible ways to order a burger at Five Guys.
• They use only 100% all-American fresh ground beef.
• There are no freezers in Five Guys locations, just coolers. Nothing is ever frozen.
• They use only Peanut oil.
• They use only Idaho potatoes.
• The menu is trans-fat free.

Five Guys has already secured four additional Chicago locations. Next month a Lincoln Park (2140 N. Clybourn) location will open. In early 2009, stores will open in Schaumburg and Orland Park. I am spreading the word about Five Guys for those of you who don't already know, because they do not advertise. They rely on word of mouth. It works. After you eat there, you will tell your friends. See you there!

G Cue Billiards & Restaurant: 3 Stars

157 N. Morgan St.
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 850-3170
Prices: $

By Neonu Jewell

If you are looking for a nice place to play pool, then G Cue in the West Loop is your spot. G Cue is a pool bar/lounge with 15 plasma televisions, 24 regulation pool tables, and 2 official billiards tables. The food is basic bar food and the chicken fajita salad is pretty tasty. They promote the availability of over 30 specialty martinis and 40 premium beers. I suggest sticking to basic cocktails and beer. Through the digital jukebox, you can enjoy the music of your choice on a great sound system while you play or watch the game. G Cue is also a great casual date spot.

Ajasteak: 5 Stars

By Neonu Jewell


Location: 660 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610 Web:http://www.danahotelandspa.com/restaurant/index.cfm
Reservations: 312.202.6050
Price: $$$$

Ajasteak is located at the Dana Hotel & Spa in Chicago. Ajasteak has an East Asian inspired menu ranging from sushi to variety of meat cuts, including Kobe Beef, American Prime, Chops, and Wagyu. The modern design is subtle and warm. Downstairs is the main restaurant and bar; upstairs are a sushi lounge and private dining rooms.

The staff was immediately and consistently welcoming and helpful. We dined at the bar and Susie our bartender was very attentive. We were attending the Maxwell concert after dinner, and Susie was very conscious that we were on a time schedule and made sure our dishes came up fast. The General Manager came by to introduce himself and to confirm that we were enjoying our dining experience. The answer was an unequivocal, yes!

We started with the Kumamoto oysters on the half shell with a soy mignonette of Red onion, capers, lime. If you have not had Kumamoto oysters, you must try them. They are small, plump, and flavorful. For dinner we ordered the 6 oz. Wagyu filet mignon, iron seared main lobster, and whipped potatoes. The filet was butter knife tender, cooked a perfect medium and was served with a choice of side sauce and butter. I chose the standard ajasteak sauce with smoked tamarind chipotle and white truffle butter. The ajasteak sauce had a delightful light bbq flavor. The lobster, which was also cooked perfectly, (I still don’t understand why so many restaurants under/over cook lobster) was served out of shell on a bed of yuzu basil butter succotash. Yum. Sides are sold a la carte. We chose the truffle whipped potatoes. They were buttery, fluffy, heavenly delish.

For dessert we ordered the coconut creme bulee with fruit cerviche and macaroons and the Oreo dessert, which was two homestyle chocolate cookies with a whipped crème center and side of milk.

Joe's Seafood Primesteak & Stone Crab: 4 Stars

60 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
312-379-5637
http://www.icon.com/joes/index.html

By Neonu Jewell

Joe Weiss opened up a small lunch stand, Joe's Restaurant, on Miami Beach over 90 years ago. Before long it was internationally known for its stone crabs. Thus, the name change to Joe's Stone Crab. In 2000, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab™ opened its doors in Chicago. A Las Vegas location opened at the Forum Shops at Caesars in 2004.

I grew up in Maryland. So I take crabs very seriously and am seriously biased toward Maryland Blue Crabs. As a foody, however, I am always ready to give other crabs a chance. The stone crabs at Joe's in Chicago are quite sweet and you can choose your size. I prefer the king crabs which are also offered. If I am going to work hard to eat crab, then I prefer to stick with whole crabs. Joe's serves a hearty portion of the king crab claws. They are very large, meaty and easy to eat. Also delicious were the fried oysters and the cod. The cod melted in my mouth with a lovely lingering buttery flavor.

Joe's Chicago is a very vibrant (some might say loud), fine dining establishment. Think traditional upscale steakhouse (although seafood is the focus) with white tablecloths and people everywhere. The service was good, not great. We did wait too long for our food, but the staff recognized it and were very apologetic.

Joe's Seafood Primesteak & Stone Crab Chicago is great place to celebrate a business success or special occasion. I plan to revisit to try some of the other seafood options.

Things you should know:

Reservations necessary

$$$$

Valet available