Kelley "YelleK" F.'s Profile

Dear Spizzico,

I don't know how to say this. I know we've been through a lot over the years - Superbowl parties, pizza/movie nights, last minute dinners...But I'm afraid it's just not working for me anymore. The spark is gone and I fear it is just time to move on.

This isn't easy - believe me.....

For so long you were a default, an entry on my SIM card. I just don't feel the effort from you anymore and a relationship is a two way street! Maybe I just need some space. Maybe a little distance and perspective will change things.

At least for the both of us, there are other fish in the sea and I think we'll both be just fine. I'll keep in touch, from time to time, you still make a good egg plant Parmesan sandwich!

Yours,

K

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A few years ago, in a class I took, I was taught that people fear change and understandably so. While there are times when change is good (such as deciding to remove them from my regular rotation),  there are times when change is bad and then there are changes that are just downright awful. Now, I can't be specific about *what* changed but a year ago, this review would have come with 4-stars - sadly something at Spizzico has changed and not for the better. I'm afraid this is a case of downright awful.....

I used to be a fan of their wings. Alas, I stopped ordering wings from them months ago - I am not sure how to describe what is trying to pass for chicken in their wings....dry, stringy, unpredictable. These may be wings, but from chickens they're not.

I used to be a fan of their stuffed spinach pizza - amongst other varieties - the last two times I ordered the pizza was flat and over cooked. I get a sense that quality is no longer a concern, which is a shame.

Saturday morning breakfast was thoroughly disappointing though the service was nice, staff friendly. It was a busy morning and the wait was confusing - it apparently was a challenge to cross names off the list after patrons were seated. People were seated ahead of those who had been waiting. 5 minutes after we were seated, our name was called again. This continued throughout the whole meal, and I have to admit, it was amusing as long as your seat wasn't given to someone else.

The food was sub-par and close to completely tasteless. I had a Greek omelet - the tomatoes were sparse and the feta cheese was bland. The omelet was flat and a little over cooked while the hash browns were hardly cooked at all. Thankfully, they carried Louisiana hot sauce and I was able to add some much needed flavor.

The french toast was only so in name  - pathetic thin pieces of white bread, any spirit broken, they laid limply on the plate, just asking to be put out of their misery. Even after a liberal splash of syrup, they still couldn't be coaxed into tasting like much of anything, acting more just like a vehicle than anything else.

The only saving grace to Louie's Grill is the staff - very nice and patient. It was a  hectic morning and they managed to keep their cool.

Needless to say, I doubt I'll be back.....

I was in dire need of some relaxation and restoration and turned to Yelp for a recommendation. Between the reviews and her proximity, it seemed like a good choice.

And I was not to be disappointed! Bobbie is charming, inviting and welcoming - which only enhances her excellent skills. The massage was amazing, truly amazing. She focused in the area of my upper back where I tend to carry most of my stress, working every inch until the knots and tension melted away.

I found the setting relaxing - much more so than a commercial spa. Everything was perfect, from the hot stones to the calming music...

I loved every moment and will book her again!

I'm a long time customer of Mancini's. The food is great and consistent. I love their vodka cream sauce for pasta - they have fantastic pizza and salads, as well. But I have to say, I'm even more of a fan of their service. Their staff  is always friendly and always good humored, which is just as appreciated as their good food.

Love is....no, it is not some naked cow-eyed child on the pages of your daily paper...Love is Thai and Japanese in one meal. Love is ordering online. Love is Bua Hana.

Bua Hana appeals because I am one of those people who often wants a little bit of a variety of things and Bua Hana certainly delivers! Speaking of delivery, they have teamed up with one of my other faves, http://GrubHub.com. This may seem trivial but being able to order and pay online is a huge bonus. Fewer mistakes, don't need to have cash, etc.

Finally, their food is awesome, and as such, I am a repeat offender (twice this week). Tonight's menu included tom yum soup, avocado rolls and their veggie tempura roll. All three, out of this world good. Earlier this week it was massamun curry and shiro maguro. Again, both were delicious. I cannot say enough good things!

The ingredients are fresh, your meal comes complete with chopsticks and napkins, and it's all delivered on time, with a smile.

I won't be back. I think the concept is lost on me. I don't care to cook, so I'm not sure why I'd go out to eat and then be expected to be that involved in my meal. We had brunch there this past weekend and I can't say that I was impressed.

The staff was friendly but often not around when you needed them. I had multiple questions, being a first timer and all, but there was simply no one to tell me how many eggs were actually used in the omelet when the question arose. Maybe I put far too much thought into my onion to egg ratio...

Frankly, I find the whole concept irritating at best and the food was mediocre. I find the use of all those darn sticks stupid and confusing. I didn't care for the options that could be added to the omelets either - very basic or weird (edamame?). Don't get me wrong, I love edamame but couldn't quite wrap my head around putting it in my eggs...I know, where's my sense of adventure, right?

While there were few other patrons, everyone was stepping all over each other adding things to their bowls. And I did love the Roti bread, I woulda killed for a piece of toast.

And come on, only one kind of cheese (it was some sort of plastic-y version of "cheddar")...

I love Jak's! We order it for lunch quite a bit because they offer such a variety of food that almost everyone can find something - we've got several people who are primarily vegetarian. They are always friendly when taking the order and while delivery can be a little slow, they've never once screwed up an order.

I love their Mama Nature and their fish and chips. I also love the fact that I can get a fruit cup rather than fries (I'm not a big fry fan) and its actually fresh fruit.

I've never actually dined in so I have no clue about the atmosphere. However, being in the West Loop area we don't have a huge selection of places for lunch. And when we're ordering for the entire office its nice to have a place that offers so much variety.

Ok, I love cheese so it's no surprise that I would highly rate a cheese shop - however, were the shop to be poorly staffed or annoying, I might be inclined to rate it lower, at the expense of good cheese. That all said, the Marion Street Cheese Market is fantastic! The staff is wonderful - so nice and so very helpful. My sister and I stopped in just before the holidays and during a time many retail employees were just at their wits end, but the Market's employees seemed happy and genuinely interested in helping us make our selections. They gave us samples and recommendations. The selection is a nice one and they offer a variety of things to pair the cheeses with, from wine to olives. Overall, an excellent experience. It was my first visit but I can promise it won't be my last!

This place has quickly become one of my favorite places to frequent.

I've now dined here four times and each visit has been an exceptional experience. I've had their beet and goat cheese salad a couple of times and it's out of this world - as long as you love beets as much as I do!

I've also had their pizza "The Goat" (yes, I've got some sort of goat/beet fetish) and their butternut squash ravioli - both better than I expected.

I find their prices reasonable and their wine list is pretty good. I like their down to earth staff and clean but cozy decor. I would recommend eating here. Apparently we were pretty lucky tonight. We showed up around 6pm without reservations and I heard them turning people down who didn't hold reservations up until at least 8pm. If you're in the area, stop by - they're worth it!

----UPDATE-----

So, now I'm a regular here - I love the atmosphere, the friendly, relaxed staff and, of course, the great food. I think I dine here about every other week (or more) and my friends and family are about as taken with 225 as I am.

They just posted that they do brunch now, so I'm going to have try it out.

If I could give something a million stars, WCPT would be the recipient. I love this station and wish I had more time to listen. Their shows allow for actual debate, present the facts without distortion and their hosts aren't there to just listen to themselves speak!

I am a huge Stephanie Miller fan too and glad they play her show every morning!

I just got word that they're moving from AM 850 to AM 820 - just FYI.