EricMatthew "I was Born Nostalgic" H.'s Profile

Alright this place is really growing on me!! I'm sitting here right now for the third time, ordered an iced Jasmine tea and a muffin. (tea was really good, muffin, a little to sweet)  The music is UBER AWESOME, catering to my mid 90's pop rock nostalgia! plus Ive been here for like two hours taking advantage of the wi-fi to which they have not said a word!

5 stars because its also about ambiance and presentation, not just  food.

 I finally had dinner at Wakamono last night, and was extremely impressed. Having been a patron of Ping Pong for a couple of years, i went in with high expectations but also an idea of what my experience would be like, loud music, bitchy waiters and Pretentious gay boys (scratch the last one, otherwise i could be viewed as a hypocrite) All asspects i can live with!
 While waiting for the rest of our gang, my friend and i grabbed a drink in the coolest part of the restaurant, the bar. I bit secluded from the rest of the place, it was like sitting in the bedroom of a ruined 1920's geisha. the overly period design of this space, in stark contrast to the, stark yet organic dining area only added to the wonderfully visual experience. I also have to commend, Loren the bartender for whipping up a mean Hendricks and tonic. The cucumber was a great addition.
 Moving on to dinner, we were grateful because one of the gang is a raw fish fanatic, and always orders the BEST assortments, no mater where we go. The rolls and sashimi were extremely fresh, wonderfully displayed and OH SO yummy. As simple as it was, one of my favorites was the Shitake Tempura Maki , topped with a dollop of spicy mayo.
 What really made me love this place was their wasabi tobiko. This is truly one of my all time favorite Japanese dishes. Forget the fish, the rice, the tofu... I want something that makes my eyes water, throat sting and vision blur. Sadly, there are few places in Chicago that have wasabi tobiko that good. I'm always hoping that its SO strong i have to bang my fists on the table, and at Wakamono i actually did! Total brownie points!
  This would be, and probably is a great date, restaurant... because the food is beautiful presented and fresh, the drinks are colorful and strong, and it wount turn your bank account into WaMu. Great Place, i will most defiantly be back!

We had a discussion the other night about this place, our conclusion?

It's a front for the MOB.

I've lived by this place for almost 18 months and on two occasions strolled in around 5:00 to be told they were closing up for the night?  huh....ok?? Ever since then whenever I walk past, no matter the time of day the door is wide open and there is a man behind the register but all of the chairs are stacked up on the tables. Occasionally I'll see a group of men standing in a close huddle. The lights are on but no one is home, unless your in the mood for an arms purchase under the counter. Just make sure you know the password!    there is something very sneaky going on here..... very sneaky indeed!

I walk past this place EVERY day to and from work. on occasion I've wondered what was beyond that discreet brown awning, knowing full well that anyplace with hanging outdoor silver streamers, is a place I should be! :)
I went on a walk with my neighborhood buddy / partner in crime, last night and we got to chatting  about how sad it's been since Gentry's on Halsted closed. Adding insult to injury, its replacement is the new Armpit of the Gay Mile, Scarlet...... This got my wheels turning.... "I think there's a really mellow bar called 3160 Over on Clark??"
To our delight, it was not only mellow but has LIVE musical performers and cabaret. Tue-Fri. Even though its a fairly new establishment, it has the feeling of a bygone era, or at least seniority. It was a bit empty but there was an open mic and a couple of wonderful singers, crooning the standards. (one girl even sang an Edith Piaf number,  mega impressed) It's a little off the main strip of debauchery, but well worth the extra two block detour. The bartender and patrons alike made me feel like I was a regular, even the cute boys! Which was surprising because there are not many places in boys town where people even break their poses to look in your direction, let alone SPEAK to you, heaven forbid!

Through and through... I cant wait to go back on a little busier night, but I think im really going to like bouncing in for that mid week cocktail with my possie. A little gin, some low lighting and a cute boy singing Cole Porter numbers, cant get much better than that!

........im honestly stumped on this place, im going to go to bed and get back to you on this one!?!?!  hope thats ok?

YOUR EFFING KIDDING ME........This guy has a yelp!!     I LOVE it!!

From friends I have heard the stories of these INFAMOUS tamales, and the wonderfully punctual, but allusive messenger known simply as "The Tamale Guy". That was until I saw him first hand....

.... I was at Guthrie's on Wednesday night hoping to join up with the "Geeks Need Love Too" speed dating something or another, but alas one of the people in our group got a little shy, so we ended up just playing charades at the bar...... 6 Stella's later I hear "TAMALES....TAMALES" and there he is, an angel of goodness, sent from heaven (the part of heaven that floats over Mexico) My friend, while in the middle of acting out a "purple thought potato" or a " hippopotamus" im not quite sure, says, "oowwwww tamales" and is gone in a flash. I look over and there are a throng of people grabbing at the Tamales with vigor I've never seen before especially for anything coming out of a cooler. Upon returning to the bar she has Two HUGE baggies of cueso and pello tamales.......plus green and hot salsa, forks and napkins (this guy is prepared)  YUM YUM YUMMIE IN MY DRUNKIE BELLY! they were sooo what I needed after a night of beer guzzling and impromptu charades!!

Thank you Tamale man, or Jesus walking among men....... whoever you are!?!?

Plagued by a angry stomach after not eating lunch, I swung in here after getting off the brown line commute home yesterday. I must have walked past this place about 600 times and never gave it a second glance. Partly because I have an unvocalized love affair with Sultans Market, and the cute Mediterranean boys who  work there..... Any who.... The interior was bright, clean and kitschy. I ordered a Hummus and Falafel sandwich and a cheese and spinach pie  (gotta have those carbs!!) tossed it in my bag and proceeded to eat at home. That way I wouldn't miss Americas Got Talent (shhh, my guilty pleasure) The cheese and spinach pie was great, flaky pastry with wonderfully salty cheese, but moving on the the falafel sandwich I was MARJORY disappointed.... The actually falafel was so dry I thought I was going to choke, plus the over all sandwich was just kind of gross, the lettuce tasted like it had been frozen, the hummus had a funny sour taste and there was nothing remotely authentic tasting about it.
They were quick and cheap, but I'll calk this place up to a drunk or hangover quality establishment. If you want a KILLER falafel sandwich head down to Sultans Market on Clark, just north of Fullerton!

Although most of the exhibits were closed, and will be until 2012, i thoroughly enjoyed myself here, last weekend! Being an architecture nut, i have to say that the juxtaposition of the original structure, the previous addition and the current architecturally relevant addition, were a welcomed surprise. In general the entire grounds of this building are very well taken care of and show a wonderful cross section of early 20th century urban planning and landscape architecture!
 The main (original) building was the only open exhibit space, but the layout was wonderful, not to mention the armor room, wow! I would love to go back once the new modern wings are completed! DID I MENTION THAT ITS FREE..... FREE.... every day all day!  cant beat free art!!
until then 4 stars!

On our way to Saltin's Market last night we made a quick decision to try something new, Tarascas. General opinion:
                                 Meh!?!?! ::while shrugging shoulders::

 We wanted so sit outside, it was Labor Day, there was a wait.... No problem. Although I'm glad we waited. In the fifteen minutes we sat inside waiting for a table, I think my blood pressure doubled. Call me crazy but I felt like I was in the middle of an ant colony, watching the whole thing from a perch. It might have been the lack of background music, bus boys and waiters sprinting from the back to the front while meandering through the labyrinth of chairs and tables, or the moment while I was in line for the bathroom and was almost impaled by five or so bus boys with armfuls of various restraunte accoutrements. I think I witnessed about 4 near disasters involving a waitress caring a full tray and a bus boy with a rack of drinking glasses, it was all VERY chaotic.

 For dinner the two of us were not starving so we decided to share the Empanadas appetizer, a ceaser salad and the tostadas main course.
 First strike was when the margaritas came out...... I like a strong drink like everyone else but these were ridiculous, I could have ordered a shot of WELL tequila.....and it would have been equivalent. I ended up not finishing mine an opted for the water, buzz kill. The empanadas were the best part of the night, two HUGE greasy pockets of beef and cheese with an amazing cilantro, red pepper oil pesto. Awesome.
 Strike two came when they brought out the salad and tostadas; about 2 minutes after the appetizer arrived.... umm this table is only so big ladies and gents!! After telling the waitress twice that we were sharing all this she never brought out plates for us so we ended up using the little 5 inch appetizer plates for dinner..... Not fun!! Plus we looked like total slobs afterward with a ring of cast off food that didn't quite stay on the plate. The tostadas were fresh, tasty and bountiful, typical mex/american faire. The Ceaser salad was something else...... something straight out of a bad 70's horror movie! While we received a large portion, the dressing tasted like it was made with mayo, butter and cream...... vomit...... it tasted nothing like ceaser.... total disappointment.
 Strike three was when we were getting ready to go and we had about a quarter of the salad left, the friend I was with, wanted to take it home because he apparently liked the nursing home quality dressing. To each their own:
  Friend:    "Do you have a little box I can put this in?"
  Bus boy: "put what in?"
  F:             "the salad"
  B:             "That? You want to take THAT home"
  F:              "Yes do you have a box?"
  B:              "You want to take THAT? I guess!?!? Ill try!"
 
 Ummmmm.... I don't care if I order ONE grain of rice, eat half and request to take the rest home..... I'm paying for it, I get to take it home if I like! Please drop the tude!!

If you looking for a casual Mexican place with great food and respectable service try  Buena Vista on Broadway just south of Belmont, a lot less expensive, without the attitude, and Frantic Chaos element!

Once was enough for me!!

Stopped in yesterday afternoon, after taking a half day at work.
Upon strolling up to the window I saw they were having a 50% sale....... and there were no acceptations here... if it was in the store it was leaving at 50% less. My heart started fluttering and my palms got sweaty

"Its on....lets thrift" I said to my self!

One Paul McCobb style leather and steel foot stool  $5.00 ( YAY)
One Better Holms and Gardens Hard cover cook book circa 1963  $.50
One Mod Lucite tea Tray for my bed $4.00
One $80 unworn tags still on, shirt from Shirts on shettfield $7.00

Carrying your finds home 10 blocks in 80 degree weather wearing suit........ PRICELESS

it was good day! a very good day indeed. Again if your a fan of the hunt, this suprisingly organized CLEAN resale shop is for you!