Kristin "Kfunky" C.'s Profile

I had not been to Maza in years up until recently when Mike and I decided a dinner out was in order on a random Tuesday night. I was in the mood for some Lebanese action, so we headed to Maza and thankfully, it was a quiet night. We started with a glass of (that soon turned into a bottle of) the red table wine and it was very good. We also ordered the falafel appetizer (BEST falafel balls I think I have ever had) and then a minced lamb favorite Mike knew about. Mike stuck with the lamb for his entree and I went for the chicken shwarma and hummus. Oh. My. Lord. Everything was so fresh and tasty. . I was stuffed and had leftovers that I ate for days after (and I usually don't eat my left overs). I can't wait to come back here to enjoy the best Mediterranean food I have had in a long, long time.

This place opened on November 4, 2009 so I had to come check it out on my birthday the next day. I was impressed! It is reasonably priced and also a good hybrid between sports bar / wine bar / Italian restaurant. I had a bottle - o - Cabernet that was excellent and ran under $30. Since I saw them tossing pizzas in the back, I had to get one and I must say, mighty tasty and fresh. Even the green salad I had was better than average - the balsamic was to DIE for. . .mmmm.

I will come back for sure. . .glad to have this new, fun affordable place in my 'hood.

I've seen two shows here now and the venue is cute - friendly staff, intimate stages, good bucket-o-beer specials and a spacious bathroom facility.

Recently, I went to see "Bye Bye, Liver." It made me relive some awkward / not fun times from my 20s. . .so if you are past that stage in life, I do not recommend this show!

Erin Gallagher is the best place to go for custom made jewelry in the city, hands down.  I LOVE that the store changed locations too - this spot is much more CTA friendly :)

Erin helped me design my wedding earrings and they are gorgeous . .I love them so much but can't make myself wear them again because they are so pretty. . .hmm probably need to get over that soon!

I also got my maid of honor a gift certificate here and she was super excited to come in and  pick out her own jewelry!  There are so many different styles to choose from here and if you don't see what you like - you can request something different and have it made!  Perfect!

I have yet to come fro brunch but I am increasingly satisfied each time I come for lunch or dinner. The food here is just GOOD - fresh, tasty, not too complicated. . .almost rustic. I love the burgers here and the salads and mashed potatoes are excellent. The decor here wins me over as well - just simple and yields a very relaxed vibe.

Jane's is also just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the Bucktown / Wicker Park chaos (heeellllllooooo six way North-Milwaukee-Damen). I can't wait to come back for brunch!

So Motherbutterstuff  is across the street from my office building and I went here once when it opened and then again today.

First things first, it is WAY overpriced.  Seriously.  $8.00 + for a bag of gourmet popcorn?  Who the hell is making it back there and why so pricey?  Ugh.

Part of the reason for my rage is that the Chipotle Cheddar variety is AMAZING.  And I haven't been able to find a decent Chipotle Cheddar since Chicago Popcorn Works closed.   Sneef!

The candy selection is good enough to satisfy my sour gummy fix but could use some work.  I want candy stores to be more Wonkaville-like!

All in all, could be better - more variety, lower prices, spunkier vibe.  I will go once in a blue moon to get my chipotle cheddar fix but that's it!

Seriously, Ed and Jean's is always a good idea. Of course as the night goes on, it becomes a better and better idea (admit it, not a bad idea after Cleo's and before Riptide).

Great jukebox, laid back crowd, nice "homey" (like this could be your grandma's garage-homey) feel - I love it! A word of advice - stick to beer or other bottled / canned items. The mixed drinks are sometimes off. Oh, and never make a face if you get a vodka soda and the soda is flat - this will not win you points. Just suck it up and suck back a cheap flavored shot (prepared earlier in an old liquor bottle by Ed and/or Jean). Sick of Cleo's? Wweandjd?

I have been wanting to try this place for a long time so when I was driving by last night and there was ONE open parking spot in front, I knew it must be destiny. . .

I immediately loved Four Moon.  Really laid back and homey - I felt comfortable right away.  The beer selection is impressive - they had Allagash White on tap and a bunch of other good brews.  I tried their IPA special which was a good deal at $4 a pour.  My date told me they had excellent chicken fingers so I had to spilt an order and try them.  . .hot damn they were good!  There is some type of pepper in the batter and each finger is HUGE.  Who doesn't love big fingers?  Nicely done, Four Moon.

Like:

Free Pizza
Tasty Drinks (specifically the gin ones - oh gin, how I neglect you)
Free Pizza
Cool bartender
Free pizza

Dislike:

Skinny Jeans
Tasty free pizza can take a while
Skinny jeans
Strange downstairs club
Skinny Jeans

So basically - come for the free pizza and tasty drinks but block out the skinny jeans. . . I like this place even though it doesn't LOOK like a place I would like . . . if that makes sense? I think the drinks are really excellent and reasonable - think Violet Hour without the primo price tag. I will be back for that pizza and smooth booze soon. . .I'm sure of it!

I feel that I must do my fellow Yelpers a service and write this review ASAP. . .

For starters, nothing has succeeded in this space since Jack Sullivan's - Barleycorn, Varsity Club, nothing. I don't think it is such a weird location (it is in my hood, what is weird about that?). In fact, I think it is in a prime spot - on the outskirts of the LP but close enough to Webster Theater. I like the space too. But Cagneys, it's new inhabitant? Not so much. . .

On Saturday I decided to swing by Cagney's for lunch INSTEAD of heading to Flounders. Shocking, yes, but I can be adventurous when I want to be. The place had a decent crowd and this was probably due to their brunch special - $22 all you can drink bloodies and a reasonably sized breakfast menu. There are no dude waiters here - just little women in fedoras and suspenders. Odd.

We waited for about 10 minutes before anyone came over to us. Annoying and an eternity in bar time. It was about 3 (well 3:10 now) when our waitress surfaced and I wanted lunch and a bloody. Our waitress was nice enough and went away to let us decide what to eat. . .

Mike put down his menu and refused to order. Why? Overpriced, overpriced, overpriced! We are in an an economic crisis! $12 for a BLT? $12 for a meatless salad? And nothing was remotely healthy looking (I guess that is the Irish theme they are going for). Mike couldn't find one thing and I could have but felt like I didn't want to blow a ton of cash on this late lunch. When would I ever it's a bar! Bar food! Don't rip me off. .

Embarrassingly enough, the waitress came back and we asked for our check. Totally not her fault but she pressed us on why we were leaving - SUPER awkward. I told Mike I would get these drinks if he got lunch at Flounders - stupid me. Our bill came and it was $15 for one dinky, tasteless bloody mary and two diet cokes. $15??? Seriously?????

At this point, I couldn't get out of there fast enough (and don't worry, that measly bloody was easy to throw back - two sips!). I will NEVER come back here, sorry. Disappointing and all wrong. Ireland is cheap, I've been there. And bar food doesn't cost that much unless it is made out of gold. Minutes later, we were settled back in at Flounders, drinking huge $4 bloody marys and wondering why we ever checked out Cagneys at all.