After 35 years in the restaurant business, Madeleine and Kaveh Mirani felt it was time for a change. So they shuttered Mirani’s, their lovely French bistro, after a 10-year run on Elm Street in Winnetka (22 years after they first opened the original Mirani’s Gourmet Deli on Green Bay Road) and moved around the corner […]
The Scott Harris restaurant empire started in 1992 with the opening of the first Mia Francesca on North Clark Street in Chicago, a trattoria-style Italian joint that was vastly different from the red-sauce restaurants of Taylor Street. The food was both rustic and seasonally driven, with a handwritten special menu that changed frequently, depending on […]
Just named one of Livability’s “Top 10 Best Downtowns,” Evanston has no shortage of strong suits, from the lakeshore, to charming Victorians, to Northwestern University, to easy access to the “L.” But what really sets it apart is the depth and breadth of its restaurant scene, a fact that goes seemingly unnoticed by the folks at […]
An important thing to note if you choose to venture to downtown Wilmette’s newest hotspot, Napolita: there will be a line. Get on the List Sure, you can call ahead and put your name on the list, or even make a reservation for a party of 6 or more, but you’re still going to wait. […]
It’s an unprepossessing location sandwiched between the bustling Gigio’s Pizza and a sadly empty Asian Express, but the small new storefront that is Table to Stix Ramen on Evanston’s Davis Street is poised to make a big impact. It’s the first true ramen restaurant on the North Shore (you can find a few farther afield […]
I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, because it’s already crowded, even on a recent Tuesday night when the Cubs hadn’t yet thrown in the towel. But the truth is, you need to know about La Principal, a new full-service Mexican restaurant in Evanston. Authentic Mexican Street Food Located on the site of the old […]
Just as the fall is a harbinger for new fashion trends, so is it a time for brand-spanking new restaurants. There’s a lot of news to share: restaurant openings (and closings – sob!), singular food and wine dinners, and special events. Get your stomachs – and wallets – ready. Hot New Restaurants “Top Chef” fan […]
I’m a food tourist. I spend part of every vacation dragging my family to visit the local food markets and grocery stores. Nothing in Paris makes me happier than the organic market on the Rue de Raspail, where I can happily ogle the goat cheeses for hours. And no trip to New York could be […]
Until now, I’ve resisted doing a full review of an uber-fine dining, very expensive restaurant for this column. Why? Places like Alinea and Next provide rarefied experiences that are difficult to share on paper. It’s virtually impossible for anyone to get a reservation, and once you do, the meals are filled with sleight of hand, […]
Lake Forest’s South Gate Café just reopened as Market House on the Square. New owners, new décor, new chef, new menu. And it’s worth your attention. James Beard Award-nominated Chef Dominic Zampano was brought in from Umami Moto in Milwaukee to serve up a new vision for one of Lake Forest’s favorite locations. He provides […]
