Mo L.'s Profile

Sullivan's has some of the best steaks in the city.  I was fortunate to enjoy my meal on the pharmaceutical company dime.  We started things off with ahi tuna with outer seasoning that had quite a bite.  There were also finger egg rolls that were pretty good for a non-Chinese establishment.  Next was the oh-too-long wait for the steak.  I had the 16 oz. New York Strip which was cooked to a fairly even medium rare level of doneness.  I'm not sure if it was Choice or Prime grade, but it was certainly very juicy, succulent, and tender.  The sides were decent portions of mashed potatoes, broccoli, and mushrooms.  To top things off, enjoy a delicious slice of sinfully rich strawbeerry cheese cake.

Yummm!  Thanks to my Korean friend for introducing me to this very tasty Korean restaurant.  Word is that this is the best Korean BBQ in the city.  Sure it's a little bit out of the way, but it's well worth the drive.  The kalbi or beef short ribs are phenomenal, grilled in the built-in gas stove at the table.  The overhead fan keeps smells to a minumum, but I still wouldn't recommend wearing anything fancy that might absorb the aroma.  We got refills on rice and panchan (appetitzers) during the meal as well.  This is comparable to if not better than the best Korean BBQ in Annandale, VA (near DC), which is high praise to be sure.

I ate here with nine of my friends just recently.  Among their appetizers, the beef empanada was really good.  The Aborrajado, hot plantains with guava and melted cheese, was also pretty yummy.  The fresh fruit drinks and mojitos were excellent.  Meanwhile, the Colombiana soda was way too sweet.

I had high expectations for their Churrasco, which my friend raved about.  It was cooked to the requested medium doneness and had pretty good flavor.  However, it was a bit salty for my taste.  The quality of the beef was ok for the price, but certainly not prime grade.  I wish there were more fried yuca on the side, one of my favorite foods.

The good thing for us is that we were there on a non-busy Wednesday night and, probably because of the size of our party,  the wait staff was very accommodating of our outside beverages and dessert.  This allowed us to 1) enjoy pretty attentive service, 2) not-so-surreptitiously bust out various Belgian ales and other alcohol (my friend brought in a freakin' mini-cooler into which we rotated our next alcoholic beverage periodically), and 3) enjoy Sweet Mandy B's chocolate cake for which the wait staff kindly provided us plates.  We tipped them well for our shenanigans.  All in all, a very enjoyable birthday dinner!

I must thank my friend for treating us with the yummiest group birthday treat: a chocolate layer cake from Sweet Mandy B's.  The cake was fluffy and perfectly moist, while the frosting was the perfect balance of sugary and buttery goodness.  I'll have to check out the shop for myself to try one of their famous cupcakes.

200 East is a classy yet homey restaurant located on the main level of the historic Seneca Hotel, next to Water Tower Place and the John Hancock Center.  The menu offers Italian fare in a sophisticated atmosphere, a great way to experience a unique take on the traditional Midwest supper club.  The spinach and artichoke dip and crab cakes were pretty good (although being from Maryland originally, I am reserving my crabby crab criticism).  The tomato, onion, and mozzarella salad was a good segue to the main course for our table: Rotini with cipriani sauce (cognac tomato cream) and Chicken Francaise.  Finish things off with an apple and almond dessert a la mode.  Yummy!

Crimson Lounge isn't a bad place to hang on a Saturday night.  Upon entering the lounge, the first thing you notice is the lush decor.  Although the dance area is spacious, seating is limited and it definitely gets crowded near the bar.  You may have a rather long wait to get your drink.  The selections on tap are limited and the drinks are rather pricey, but at least there's no cover.  The DJ was pretty good, mixing everything from hip-hop to pop to 80s to reggae.

T plus 14 hours, and I'm still full.  Fogo is f-ing amazing.  I ate until I damn near ruptured my lower esophagus.  What made things even tastier was that it was all on the drug rep company dime.  Anyway, about the food!  First of all, heed the advice of others: 1) Fast beforehand the day of and 2) Go light on the salad bar.  The salad bar is very tempting with fresh salads and vegetables and yummy prosciutto and smoked salmon.  I'm warning you, don't do it!

Heed Cartman's advice: You see Starvin' Marvin, these are what we call appetizers. Marvin:, Ap-ee-tizer. Cartman:, This is what you eat before you eat, to make you more hungry.

On to the main event: The highlights are the Beef Ancho (prime rib eye), the Picahna (impeccably seasoned sirloin), and the Filet Mignon.   Among other sirloins, the Alcatra (top) is better than the Fraldinha (bottom), as you'd expect.  The beef ribs and pork ribs are excellent.  The pork tenderloin was a bit dry.  The Cordeiro (lamb) was pretty good, as far as lamb goes, but I much prefer to load up on beef.  The Frango (chicken drumsticks and chicken wrapped in bacon), and Linguica (pork sausage) were pretty good as well.

For dessert, loosen your belt and pack in the molten chocolate cake served a la mode, and enjoy it with a cup of decaf.  Then go home and pass out.

Run, do not walk from your vehicle to Blu 47.  Just kidding; the Bronzeville neighborhood isn't that bad.  You may drive past some shady areas to get there though.  This once proud blues/jazz/arts district has been making a comeback since its decline in the 60s.  Blu 47 is tucked away in a neat little complex called the Marketplace which includes Blu 47, the Spoken Word Cafe, a Jamaican market, and the Afrocentric Bookstore.  It's one of the trendiest places on the Southside, but the restaurant is hard to find unless you know it's part of the Marketplace since there is only a tiny sign.  The decor is soothing and comfy, and the food is an eclectic blend of American, Cajun/Creole, and soul food.  The calamari was crispy and tasty.  I had the grilled pork chops with coconut rum and caramelized pineapple sauce.  The sauce was on the side of the plate instead of sloppily smeared on like a boring chutney; the pork was flavorful on its own.  The black beans and rice added a bit of South American flair; quite a fusion of flavors for the taste buds.  The fancy asymmetric plate/bowl hybrids made it difficult to cut my pork chops though.  The portions were substantial and I had no room for dessert.

I generally don't venture to Uptown for any reason, but I had to check out Tweet after hearing all of the glowing reviews.  I must say, I was not disappointed.  Expect a 20-40 minute wait, possibly on the longer side for Sunday.  We had a choice of fresh fruit or apple compote.  The OJ was fresh squeezed and the coffee was delicious.  The Country Benedict is a must-have, with yummy biscuits topped with a Southern style uber-rich gravy, poached eggs, and Amish sausage with crispy, wonderfully textured hash browns on the side.  The waitress was attentive and personable.  The staff had no problem re-seating us indoors when our al fresco dining experience was marred by a minor infestation of bees.  My brother's French toast was yummy as well.

Irazu redefines what you should come to expect from a hole-in-the-wall dining establishment, and I mean that in the most endearing sense.  On the unseasonably cool summer night when I ate there, I felt like I was eating in Old Town San Diego.  But not to confuse Costa Rican food with Mexican food...the family-style food has a charm and flavor profile all its own.  I felt like I was eating authentic home cooking.  The cheese empanadas weren't great but they're certainly better than Hot Pockets or mozzarella sticks.  I know...not a ringing endorsement.  However, the oatmeal shakes were surprisingly good; I can't believe such a shake works, but it does.  The Bistec Tico was slightly overcooked in parts, but the fatty, properly cooked morsels were absolutely delicious with the side of beans and rice, plantains, fresh cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers.  The portions are gargantuan so come hungry!