Unity "The Yelp Oddity" O.'s Profile

Hey you...yeah you, yes you who is the massive lazy butt on a Sunday morning.  You need to get your ass up earlier on Sunday & get here for breakfast/brunch so that I do not have to wait when I come waltzing in at 12:30pm.  Listen here, I cannot come earlier on a Sunday cause I go to church (yep, I do) and I would appreciate it ever so much if you could just wake up earlier.  K...thanks!

Alright, now that I got that out of my system...time to review.  Nookies is a very welcome addition to this area...I had been waiting for it to open since I kept hearing that it was going to come.  Plus, I drive by this place every day on my way home from work.  So, when I noticed it was actually open...there was no hesitation to get there.  I have been a couple of times & I'm kind of in love with it.  

Here is what I love:
*Ambiance...the dark colors, the lighting, the space (huge)--it has a lovely open & airy feel, the mixture of tables & booths, the long bar area...feels very welcoming
*Staff, one thing they do very well is make you feel at home & that they are happy to see you.  Even on a CROWDED Sunday afternoon.  They are attentive, without being overbearing nor do they rush you out.
*FOOD...if you know me at all or have ever been out with me, you know I always say this before & after every meal: "I love food".  Well, Nookies does not disappoint on that front.  Now, I have only been for brunch & I have to say the portion sizes keep you full for almost the whole day.  FYI---try the green goddess skillet, it is YUMMY.
*Entertainment, I mean what passes by on the street.  This Nookies is right near the "L" stop on Bryn Mawr so the litany of characters that pass by the window=fun entertainment.

So, why only 4 stars instead of 5...truth be told it is for the coffee (I'm picky yo!).  I like a good cup of coffee with my brunch and the coffee served has been a little weak & bitter.  Still, it definitely won't keep me away.  

Here is a nice touch I learned from Robert one of the hosts...if you call ahead on a Sunday...like when you are on your way, they will get you on the list to get seated--AWESOME.  Still lazy butt, get there earlier...OK!

I am an afternoon tea sort of gal minus the "tea" part.  As much as I try, I cannot get a taste for tea & trust me, I have tried several different kinds.  I always say that is the one thing keeping me from living in England...you know, the Queen would never have me over & that makes me sad.  I am more of a coffee gal & lucky for me the ladies I do tea with accept me & love me all the same...PHEW!

You should know that I look forward to these monthly teas with the ladies, I always get so excited for the company, the setting, and the finger sandwiches.  To me a tea is about the FOOD...scones, sandwiches, pastries & sometimes little candies.  Some places do this really well, others not so much.  I was excited to try Russian Tea Time as I had never been before and I must say my expectations were a bit high.  Unfortunately, I was not impressed & while I am glad for the experience, probably won't return.  Here is my recap good, bad & ugly style:

The GOOD:
*Greeted promptly at the door.
*seated right away (1/2 our party was already there).
*service...the wait staff are attentive, prompt & nice.
*huge space (unfortunately they also know how to PACK it).
*the Tea sandwiches & the scones.

The BAD:
*Entirely too many large parties seated at the same time.  Felt entirely too cramped.
*The bathroom...so small & apparently not built to accommodate that many peeing ladies (sorry to be crude).
*the decor & atmosphere...it was pretty dark in there & it felt more like a cafeteria to me.  Not entirely pleasing.  

The UGLY:
*The sweets, 1st there were no chocolate ones (SAD!) and 2nd, there were no good ones.  Maybe my taste buds were off, but the entire selection of sweets was unappetizing to me.
*cramped tables...our table was so full of service items that unfortunately our server knocked over a glass full of water on me.  It was not too bad, but maybe less on the table would help avoid that.

All in all an ok experience & I am glad to have went...just not sure I would return.

I am about to EXPLODE...no, seriously my stomach is bursting with Italian goodness.  I think I ate more at this meal that I did the ENTIRE holiday season.  The food just kept coming out (I secretly think they were trying to kill us...in a good way of course). Appetizers. 3 courses & then dessert=Unity being a GLUTTON (oh it hurts so good).  

This event was the BEST CMYE event...hands down.  What I love about these events is that they are small & intimate...you have a chance to not only enjoy the food & drink, but also the company.  The folks at Viaggio know how to treat their guests...it was like we were family.  Viaggio closed for this event...so we LUCKY yelpers took over the place.  I was greeted at the door by our hottie CM...Johnny & our 2 lovely yelpterns Yanyoa & Linda, they explained how the evening would go & made me feel right at home.  

This was a sit down affair...think wedding style, but with the best wedding food you have ever had.  At table places, we each had a menu of what the evening had in store & I can tell you it was AMAZING.  The service was top notch...our server Matt was super attentive, nice, and knowledgeble about the food...he was delightful.  Also he was quick...there was never a time where if we needed something he was not available.  

The FOOD...it was not only delicious, it was plentiful (it just kept coming).  They offered several dishes from their menu (their most popular eats) before each course our awesome chef came out & explained the dish.  Explained how it was prepared, what ingredients were used, and where the food came from.  It was a wonderful touch.  It was nice to eat food that has been explained properly.  My favorite course was the 1st one, the rigatoni with Sunday pork gravy...hearty without being too heavy.  Followed by the dessert...the bread pudding with vanilla whiskey sauce was heavenly.

Thank you to Johnny our AWESOME CM & the FANTASTIC crew at Viaggio for what was a most wonderful evening!  You made me feel like family & that is truly appreciated...I will be back!

This review of is for the afternoon tea service since The Living Social deal 1st let me know they even offer afternoon tea.  Here are a few things to know about me before getting too far along in this review:

I HATE tea, do not like it at all (I go to afternoon teas mainly for the company & the lovely little finger sandwiches)
I am a bit of kleptomaniac (not proud of it, but there you have it.  Mainly I steal pens, but I like trinkets too ;-)
I am a chocoholic...truly, I have a problem
I love me some deals (cheap is good, FREE is better!  It's my mantra for life).  

Ok, now that you have been prepped...let's get to the review.   Afternoon tea service seems to be a newish thing for Cafe Des Architectes, but you would not really know it from the service & all the lovely touches throughout.  The tea is served in smaller room that the restaurant that is off on the other side of the Soifitel Hotel.  I was a bit sad not to be in the main dining area, but I got over that pretty quickly when I saw the room.  It had an intimate feel that seemed pretty proper for an afternoon of catching up with the tea ladies while sipping our cares away.    One downside is that there was nothing to really absorb sound, so there was a constant buzzing in the air with all the folks enjoying an afternoon of tea sandwiches, desserts, and hot beverages.  I always have coffee at these monthly afternoon teas & the tea ladies do not hold it against me (PHEW!).

As I mentioned above, I sometimes take things that are not mine & man was I sorely tempted here.  There were so many nice touches at the tea that I had not encountered at other teas.  Here is a list of things I wanted:
*glass long tube with 6 divots for sugar...there was 6 different types of sugar (it was great).
*an hour glass item with 3 different settings so you can have tea the way you like it.  Oh man, I so wanted to through that thing in my purse.
*wooden boxes that contained jars of teas something like 8 different kinds.  The jars were open so you could smell the different types.
*the bamboo tray that the treats & sandwiches out on.
*the spoon holder.
*the honey jar...if you saw it, you would understand.

Alright before you start thinking me an awful person, I did not steal anything but as you can see, they really went to town on the atmosphere & table service.  Speaking of service, the staff was attentive without being overbearing.  They were available for questions & any items that were needed, but they did not rush us or make us feel unwanted.  Now the food was alright (so-so if you will) and it pains me to say it since I really wanted to love it.  The pastries while nice, where not fabulous and the tea sandwiches were decent (there are better to be had at other places).  My hope is that Café Des Architectes will work out what type of sandwiches & pastries.

While I loved my time here, I think you should know that this service does not come cheap.  It is $30 per person...that is rather a steep price for what is offered.  There are many other places that offer stellar afternoon teas for that price (or a little less).  Not sure if I would come back for tea at that price, but if a deal is offered, then for sure.

One last nice touch is that each of us received a cardboard box containing a cherry & goat cheese tart as a parting treat...so that pushed this 3 star experience to a 4 star one.  It is the little things people.

Have you seen the SIZE of the appetizer portion of the pizza they serve here?!?!?  I for sure thought when I ordered a slice as an appetizer that it would be this piddly little thing...man, I was wrong!  Having decided that I was going to get Pasta for my entree & not pizza, I decided I wanted to at least try a slice of it.  Huge bonus points to P.R. for selling it by the slice (or squares I should say).  I knew the night was off to a great start once they delivered my appetizer (seriously I am drooling thinking about it).

I think my head & my tummy were having a battle that night.  You see I thought I had ordered the Pollo Grigliato as my appetizer, but apparently I ordered the Verdure Grigliato instead...those in my party confirmed that while I said I wanted the Pollo, I pointed to the Verdure when ordering...my have thrown our server off & so she decided that I needed veggies.  So, even though I was surprised when I got it, I still gobbled it up...so very delicious.  Buttery crust (light, not heavy), covered in veggies, not smothered in sauce, and just the right amount of cheese.  It was happiness in my mouth.  Again, it was a healthy portion...2 squares.  If you are heading there, and you don't necessarily want just pizza...order a slice for an appetizer (good stuff!).

For my entree, I ordered the artichoke ravioli with pomodoro sauce.  While the portion on this was not big, the entree was terrific...lots of artichoke goodness.  If I were alone in P.R., I would have totally licked my plate clean.  However, seeing as I had dining companions who might tease me to no end, I opted not to go that route.  Still, the food is that good.  

Another bonus to this place...it is BYOB.  BYOB is always a good choice for this non-drinker.  You might be wondering WHY?  Well, I like to go out to eat with people who did imbibe...so BYOB is the way to go.  Also, on a more personal note, it doesn't feel weird that I don't drink at a BYOB place for some reason.  

Overall, if you have not been here...get your butt on over there.  It is worth it!  You should note, that this place has a small interior...so either go early to avoid waiting or make a reservation, they do take them.

You know, it takes me a LONG time to get to popular eateries.  It is not that I do not want to try the place; it is just that I tend to shy away from super popular places.  I am always convinced the food cannot live up to the hype.  Plus, I tend to not live anywhere near the popular hoods (Bucktown is not so close to casa Unity).  So, I finally tried Irazu...I kind of feel like I fail as a Yelper since it took me this long.  Not to worry, situation has been rectified!

A couple of friends & I were looking for a place to eat for a monthly dinner date.  Since Irazu is relatively close to where one of us works and 2 of us had never been...it was time to check it out.  Being Puerto Rican, I am familiar with Latin Cuisine and am somewhat convinced that it is all fairly similar.  There are definite differences, but the staples are pretty much the same: rice, beans, plantains, and little salads of lettuce & tomatoes.  It is the subtle differences that make me appreciated the different cultures in Latin cuisine...mainly how the proteins are flavored.

I had never had Costa Rican food prior to this outing and was very much looking forward to it...not to mention that I was HUNGRY!  I was the 1st to arrive from our party & was promptly greeted & seated as I entered the door.  I was not blown away by the ambiance of the place...a little too hipster trendy for my liking.  Also, you walk right past the open area where the food is being prepped to be seated in the back...I am not a fan of that.  However, the service was prompt & friendly and the complimentary chips were a bonus.  For my entree, I went for the Casado with Chicken...I wanted something authentic.  It really was the way to go.  Good portion, tasty beans & rice, comes with an egg over it; my only complaint would be that the chicken was over salted.  I was not blown away by this place as I was somewhat expecting (it's all the hype!), but I found it was a good place to grab some grub.  

Overall, I enjoyed the meal there and will definitely return someday to try more of their food. Going on a weekday would be your best bet for getting seated right away...this place is on the small side.

It was date night & there was much debate on what to do & where to go.  See, it was either go to a show or go to dinner...there was not time to do both.  So after much sighing & lamenting over the fact that both could not be accomplished...we picked going out to dinner.  Now, that may make some scratch their head (sorry Nick!) or give me the old eye roll...but hey, I usually always pick food.  

So, we hoped onto the http://gdine.com site to see what they had to offer.  Now, I know some folks are on the fence about that site, but I like it.  Anyhow, since we were booking with only about an hour to spare...we reviewed our options.  Branch 27 popped up as a choice & the time was perfect.  Having never been there, of course I checked reviews here 1st.  I noticed that several people I know & trust had given this place a "thumbs up".  With that knowledge, I booked a 7:30pm time slot.  Also, I am married to a librarian so the thought of eating a place that used to be a library...was very appealing.

I overestimated how long it would take to drive to Branch 27 & arrived 20 minutes before our reservation.  Also, they have valet, but I found street parking pretty easy.  Right by the park there is plenty of free street parking...so save that valet money for drinks or food. Even though we were early, that was not a problem; we were seated right away and made to feel very welcomed. I would like to mention here that the staff are fantastic...polite, courteous & attentive (even though we prepaid).  

We were seated in the atrium area & it was very cozy and intimate back there.  The HUGE sky light ceiling is a bonus, I am sure in the daylight it is very lovely back there.  The ambience is more romantic & intimate in the atrium area...it is also less noisy.  It honestly was very difficult to imagine that this place used to be a library...I could not get a sense of it at all.

Ok, let's talk food...my husband & I really enjoyed what we ate here.  Since we had the pre-fixe deal, the menu to choose from is not their full menu.  So we chose 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a dessert (trust me this is the way to go).  Our server was very helpful in getting us to select the best of the menu.  She steered us correctly, plus she knew the food well.  We started with one of their flatbread pizzas...not only was it a huge portion, it was tasty.  Then for entrees, he ordered a pasta dish that had pork, duck and an egg over it.  It was so rich & hearty...fantastic meal for a chilly night.  I was a little jealous, but I also knew there was no way I could finish it.  I ordered the cast iron skillet lasagna...just the right portion and it also had a bit of heat to it (tingly lips).  Now the dessert is where it is at...BREAD PUDDING!  It was just so warm, moist, and cinnamony....I am drooling thinking of it.  Plus, it comes with a scoop of ice cream.  It was the perfect cap to a great meal.

I will definitely go back sometime soon.

Hands down these are my favorite Yelp events. Not only can you actually talk to other yelpers...rather walk past them giving air kisses or shout at them because you cannot hear anything (OK, that makes me sound old), you get to have more than a 5 min conversation with our pretty fantastic CM (HI JT!). Also, the owners of the establishments where OH are held usually come out & talk us up. They get to show off their products & beam with pride at showing off their places. It is pretty cool.

This OH was pretty fantastic from start to finish. I arrived a few mins early since it was held so close to where I work. I was there when the food was brought out...THE FOOD was not only bountiful, it was delicious! The food table was never empty...they kept just bringing more & more of it out...booyah!

Here is a run down of what was offered:
Bagels...a variety of them
Cream Cheese...several different kinds
Cheese plate with crackers
pizza...lots of NYC style pizza (HELLZ YA!!)
Garlic Knots...my friends these were to die for.
Beverage

On top of all of that...we got to tour the kitchen area where all the magic happens. We got to see how the pizzas are made...toss in the air & everything. How they may the sandwiches & learn what they do with the left over bagels (the give it away to food banks---awesome!).

The owner is one pretty fantastic guy..full of enthusiasm & knowledge about their products.

I look forward to returning to try some of their sandwiches. Thank you to NYC Bagel Deli & Yelp for this truly superb Office Hours!

This stretch of Lincoln Square is definitely "date night" lane.  There are quite a few places for a couple to nosh in romantic settings.  If you are looking for a cozy & intimate place to dine check out this area.  With the likes of Bistro Campange, LM, Tank & now Due Lire...you are sure to impress your S.O.

For our anniversary dinner, my hubby decided to take me here since he knows my love of Italian food.  Seriously sometimes I doubt I am Puerto Rican since I cannot get enough of the carb loaded goodness of Italian dishes.  

We strolled up a few minutes early for our reservation...the place was packed.  Now, I should warn that even if you have reservations, you should be prepared to wait.  The place is quite small & people do not seem to be in a hurry to leave even if they are done eating.  I would also state that since the place is small, there is not a much to absorb the sound in there.  It can get rather loud, especially if there are large groups...it seems the hubs & I picked group night to try this place out (IT WAS LOUD!).  

Once seated, our server was prompt & very attentive.  She was very knowledgeable about the menu.  She was very patient with our questions & you could tell she was excited about the food served there.  I love that in a server.  Heck even one of the owners came over to see if we were okay.  

The food:  They have a focus on small plates (seems to be the trend nowadays) for sharing.  Since it was date night...we were all about that.  We had 2 appetizers to start, the Arancino Milano & the Rustico crostini. Both were delicious, but we favored the crostini since the arancino lacked a little in the flavor department.  For our main course I ordered the short rib ravioli which is actually quite rich & my husband ordered the Fettuccine Bologna also very rich.  Even though small portioned, they are very filling...we both walked away full.

We opted out of dessert since our meals were so filling...but I look forward to a return to get the full experience.

Have you heard of this site: http://www.gdine.com/?  If you have not, you should check it out.  It offers deals on pre-fixe menus for several downtown establishments.  You can also book a reservation, pay for your meal in advance, and also pay for the tax & tip.  It is pretty sweet.  

You are probably wondering why I am mention that site since this is a review for Bin 36...well, I used the site to make lunch reservations for Bin 36.  I was looking for a place where a friend & I could have a good lunch that does not break the bank.  Well, Bin 36 offered a menu that said friend & I could get on board with so we booked it.

Fast forward to our lunch date...I was running a little late & when I got there my friend was already seated.  When I walked in the door no one was at the hostess table...but that was quickly rectified.  As I entered the seating area, I noticed how chic the place is.  I loved the open space, the colors, and the fact that I could see into the kitchen (feels very airy & light).  Even though it was a large open space, it somehow felt cozy.  I could see having a romantic dinner here.  

Well, that is the most positive the review is going to get.  Another reason I mention the website in this review is because I feel that we were basically ignored by our server because everything was prepaid.  Now, I should state that it was not really very busy for lunch so there was no real excuse for making us wait long to be served.  Our server was not the friendliest nor was he in a rush to get to us.  Tables seated after us, got his attention 1st.  

That aside, the food was decent, but not great.  They have a heavy hand in the salt area.  We both ordered a salad as our 1st course...it was a decent size & rather tasty.  For my 2nd course I ordered the burger with fries.  When delivered it came without the cheese which is usually not a problem, but I was already a little miffed about being ignored.  The burger was decent...although salty.  The fries that came with it were also very salty.  My friend ordered the fancy grill cheese which when it arrived was fairly greasy.  Now, I know the grilled cheese can be greasy...but this looked unappetizing.  She only ate 1/2 of it if that tells you anything.

So, while I am glad I tried this place, I doubt I will be back.  Not my favorite.