Mary T.'s Profile

This review is rated V for Vegetarian.

I wasn't really sure what to expect when trudging through the snow past the likes of Girl & the Goat and Sushi Wabi to a white, sided doorway. The interior of the restaurant was not what I expected on this trendy stretch of restaurant row; in my head, I envisioned a much larger space, but liked the cozy feel. The inside is dark, simple, and country; not yee-haw, Toby Keith country, but 'my grandma lives on a farm, quilts and makes jam country.' A large, black, 3-d steer silhouette is the focal point of the one wall. A long counter, more apt for dining than drinking lines the other. In between are five family-style wood tables that seat 8 people each. I loved the little touches like the mismatched plates and flatware, but I would like to see them ditch those cafeteria-style trays.

I was part of a large group, 17 in all at two tables, and felt like our meal moved at a "country pace" which was fine at first, but as we approached the three hour mark, this city girl started to get a bit twitchy. Our table started out with beverages and three of the four appetizers. Hopped up on cold medicine, I opted for iced tea, but drooled over my dining companion's Hound Dogs - vodka, fresh grapefruit juice and brown sugar. I would come back just to try this drink, served with a wedge of grapefruit.

I tried two of the three appetizers we ordered - the grilled vegetable basket and the old fashioned chips and dip. Of the two, I preferred the veggies paired with a tasty garlic mayo. I found the chips disappointing and fragile and the dip, with diced onions too big to scoop up - unmemorable.

I went with the homemade wild rice veggie burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup and bleu cheese. Overall, I was disappointed with my burger. Not only was it messy, falling all over my napkin and plate, but it was bland save for the bleu cheese and ketchup. While I truly appreciate a veggie option, it needs work (read: zing) to bring it on par with its meaty compatriots. I also think they should offer topping combo deal, like $2 for any 3-$1 toppings. At $9 to start, a burger (without side) can get expensive once you start adding premium toppings. To accompany my burger, I ordered the hand cut fries. The fries are cut in thin, steak fry-like wedges; they were crispier than I would have liked, if I return I'd opt for something else.

For dessert, I opted for some fresh churned ice cream - the walnut chocolate chip cookie. Served with hot fudge and with chunks of walnuts and cookie peppering the ice cream, this was by far my favorite part of the meal and the perfect way to wrap it up. Even if you're full - make room for ice cream!

Our server was extremely friendly and attentive to our large party. When our meal lagged, he proactively gave us updates. Unfortunately, there were still a few diner's that got their burgers well after most had finished without so much as an offer to comp a side, appetizer, etc. for the inconvenience. The only other hiccup was unexpectedly receiving one bill for our two tables, which was extremely tedious to settle up. Since we were basically treated as two parties throughout the meal, one per table would've been ideal.

Bottom line: 3.5 stars. Don't let the name confuse you, this burger hall has plenty to satisfy veggies and meat eaters alike. I'd definitely give it another chance, but this time with a smaller party. Not to sound antisocial, but I don't think their kitchen is well suited to serving large groups. I also might skip the burger and stick to Hound Dogs and ice cream with a side thrown in for variety.

In a word: generous

Food - generous, really generous; I especially loved the smoked salmon on rye.
Specialty cocktails - generous, delicious and dangerous - I have the monster headache to prove it!
Wine pours - über generous, who doesn't love heavy handed pours
Staff - amazingly generous - everyone left with something and no, I'm not talking about Yelpsticks and buttons*

It's been years since I've ventured into a Sullivan's; while my memories were fond steakhouses don't typically make it to the top of this non-red meat eater's list. However, last night has me rethinking that; everything was wonderful from the food, to the friendliness of the general manager and his staff.

Well played JT and crew. Well. Played. I'd write more, but like I said my head hurts.

* Not that there's anything wrong with Yelpsticks and buttons, of course.

I'm loyal, if not monotonous at times; my work day eating routines are just that - routine. It's not that I loathe variety; it really comes down efficiency and simplicity. The majority of the time I bring my lunch to work, but when I don't, odds are you'll find me at Hannah's Bretzel or here. And since Hannah's is rather spendy, here most often.

Despite being the loyal sort, I don't consider myself the salad sort. It's not that I dislike salad or even vegetables - quite the contrary. It's just highly unusual for me to order salad as my main course. Except when I'm at Mezza. At Mezza, the salads are my main focus, the rest of the menu is pretty much dead to me. I blame it on the salad dressing; I'm convinced they put crack in it because simply typing about it has me jonesing for it.

My salad of choice is the chopped salad - romaine lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, blue cheese, pita chip croutons (which I forgo) and their addictive homemade white balsamic vinaigrette. All of the salads are made to order and can be topped off with chicken, shrimp or steak (I prefer mine without). The salad portions are quite generous and also come with pita bread on the side. No matter how many times I get this salad, I enthusiastically devour every bite.

While the salads keep me coming back to Mezza, I have strayed a few times and tries some other menu items. I quite enjoy the "spicy" grilled shrimp wrap, red pepper hummus wrap, falafel and the soup/salad combo. In the winter months, they have a creamy tomato basil soup that is quite tasty and the perfect sidekick to my salad when I opt for the combo.

Mezza also caters, the catering menu offers large tray options, sandwich baskets and boxed lunches. I've used them once when hosting a large lunch meeting; the boxed lunch option, which comes with chips, a dessert, and their feta pasta salad was very well received.

My only complaints are that the layout of the store is awkward at peak times and the website. Elements of the website have been "under construction" for as long as I can remember, particularly the online ordering function and nutritional info. Soon is not *that* relative of a term, they should just hide those features at this point.

Mezza has a little something for everyone and never disappoints me. I like that they note which items are vegetarian and vegan on the menu. I can't speak to it's authenticity, but to me the food tastes fresh and not terribly Americanized like places like Roti.

TIP: Pick up a frequent diner punch card.

I love the warm, friendly feeling I get when I dine here. It's reminds me of a dinner with family; minus the thinly veiled hints about marriage and grandkids.

On all of my visits, I have been more than satisfied with my meals. Like many of their competitors, Abyssinia divides their menu by protein (vegetarian, lamb, beef, and chicken). The veggie combo, an assortment of all of the vegetarian items on the menu, is a great way to eat your way through the entire veggie menu in one fell swoop. There really isn't anything on the vegetarian menu I dislike (quite unusual for me), but the beets and potatoes deserve a special shout-out. While I like Abyssinia's sampler, I do prefer the way Ethiopian Diamond offers their veggie sampler; you pick three items, focusing on a more substantial allotment of your favorites. The vegetarian Abyssinia special is one of my favorite dishes; powdered beans cooked with onions, garlic and pepper, give the dish a slight spiciness that makes it addictive. In addition to your main entree, all diners also choose two of four available sides.

Service is the only area where Abyssinia falters. Maybe I'm jinxed, but my visits have been a cornucopia of comedic confusions and inattention; nothing serious enough to give me pause about returning, if anything, it has helped commemorate each visit.  Despite the hiccups, I'm only knocking off 1 star; even though service can stand to be tightened up, it's always effusively kind and well-intentioned. Every time I've dined here, the owner has come to the table to thank us for dining; it feels  feel like he's bringing you into his home.

Excellent food, reasonable prices, friendly staff, BYOB without corkage, http://restaurant.com coupons and Open Table reservations make dining here pretty much a no-brainer in my book (unless you're looking for a quick meal). In fact, it puzzles me why it's always empty.

TIP: There are two Abyssinia Specials on the menu, one vegetarian and one not. Be sure to specify or you might end up with an unwelcome surprise.

Holy 5-star service Batman!

Several years ago, I inherited two small, antique glass table lamps. Unlike my cat, I've never liked the shades I bought for them; she is obsessed with them - rubbing her face all over them incessantly. I hesitated to replace the shades; not only are shades expensive, but they come in about a bagillion different styles.

Fixing up my bedroom, renewed my lampshade hunt and after some searching, I found the perfect shades at Ikea. Sadly, it was not to be; barring some serious jerry-rigging, Ikea shades *only* work on Ikea lamps. ((womp womp))

Looking for something similar to the Ikea shades, I found the perfect replacement online from BBB and for only $12.99 to boot. Not wanting to pay shipping, I went in search of a brick and mortar with them in stock. I found them in Wilmette and a clerk verified that they were in stock. Unfortunately, they were not; I'm not sure what method the clerk used to verify the existence of said lampshades, but the only ones in stock were either the wrong shape, wrong size, wrong color or wrong price. Annoying!

Since I had plans to return the Ikea lampshades in Bolingbrook, I decided to call the Downers Grove store. I was put in touch with Donna, an associate in fine china helping out the housewares department. Donna went above and beyond to help me; she checked the computer and then checked the physical shelves, periodically popping back on the line to let me know what was up. Striking out, Donna suggested I check other stores; when I explained my wasted trip to Wilmette she stepped up her game. Donna apologized profusely and told me the Wilmette store should have ordered the shades and waived shipping for me due to their error and my inconvenience.

Here's the good part, Donna said I could stop in and she would order them for me and waive shipping. BAM! She also reminded me to bring in coupons, so I could save some coin. POW!

When I arrived, Donna was busy, but had taken copious notes about my situation. Her colleague Megan, also profusely apologetic, jumped in without missing a beat. Megan entered my order, confirmed the shipping details and advised me that any store would apply BBB discount coupons after-the-fact, if I brought them in with my receipt. By the time I got to my car, I already had an email confirming the details of my order. KABLAMMO!

Thank you Donna and Megan for turning my frown upside down!

From the time we walked in until the moment we walked out, service was inattentive to say the least and, at most times, unfriendly to boot. We entered into a room that housed the sushi bar, host stand and a few tables accommodating larger parties. The restaurant appears to be a series of rooms, and I'm glad that we were seated in a different one - the constant interruption from other patrons and likely cold breezes would've annoyed me. The room we ended up in was quiet and cozy, my only complaint was that the tables are rather tiny.

We were seated with menus and water and waited for our server. We waited and waited some more; apparently we were wearing our invisibility cloaks as she had no trouble acknowledging the table across from us. About 15 minutes passed before we were greeted with an brusque - "ready to order?!" as if we had just walked up to the counter at McDonald's. Is foreplay a lost art? You know small talk, an apology for the slow start, anything before we start spending cash at your restaurant? There were no questions about whether we'd like an appetizer or a drink to start, and if there were specials, we were none the wiser.

The menu is large, a composition of sushi and all sorts of asian fusion. I like that they denote which dishes can be made vegetarian; there seem to be a fair number of veggie-friendly dishes.

Having ample time to review the menu, we ordered everything at once - two drinks and four dishes to share. We ordered the Clay Pot Mussels, Mango Seared Scallops, Singapore Crab Rangoon, and Malaysian Roti Canai - most, if not all, of these were denoted favorites.

I can deal with poor service, to an extent, if the food warrants it; this did not. Our dishes ranged from good to mediocre and the portions didn't live up to their price tags.

Clay Pot Mussels - for approximately $10, we got 5 large mussels in a lemony coconut broth. While these were tasty and by far our favorite dish, I couldn't help but compare them to my mussels at Revolution days earlier. For $2 more, I got a heaping bowl of mussels and a side of bread - a meal on its own.

Mango Seared Scallops - for approximately $10, we got 4 medium scallops in a mango-avocado salsa. The dish was good, reminiscent of ceviche (a dish which already resides on the menu), but the mango and tartness of the salsa almost eclipses the taste of the scallops. Again this dish seemed rather skimpy.

Singapore Crab Rangoon -when I saw this on the menu, billed as spicy Singapore style crab rangoon with jalapeno, I was really excited to try it. Sadly, this was a miss. While the wrappers were light and not oil laden, the rangoons seemed light on filling and were devoid of spice. Not the worst crab rangoon ever, but even compared to regular crab rangoon they were nothing special.

I can't speak to the last dish, as I didn't try it, but my companion did note that it wasn't great compared to other Roti Canai he's had.

We were essentially ignored throughout our meal, we even refilled our own waters (we were fortunate to sit near the oddly placed refill station). We only saw our waitress again after our meal; *if* they were short-staffed, it would have behooved them to tell us so we could temper our expectations. While we were waiting to pay, the hostess attempted to step up service (busing the rest of our dishes, bringing back the check, making small talk), but frankly by that point it was too little, too late.

A pan-Asian menu is great if you can execute the various cuisines well; Thalia Spice's menu has too much variety, they could stand to pare it back and really rock those dishes. All in all, the company was great, but the food was average and the service downright sucked; with a http://restaurant.com coupon the final bill seemed fair, at full price not so much. I don't foresee returning, there are too many other great eateries to visit and revisit in the city.

Caravan was picked for a quick bite before a performance at Annoyance Theatre down the block. Arriving first, I was caught off-guard by the lounge/club-like vibe. Unlike the other reviewers, I wasn't taken with the decor; the overabundance of multi-hued uplighting and silver beading erred on the garish side for a restaurant.

The restaurant has two sections, the front with a large bar and the back, which seems more suited for dinner service. We were seated in front, off to the side in an odd, fish bowl-like, narrow room. Up a few steps from the regular restaurant and encased by a glass wall, I was glad the restaurant was relatively empty, otherwise I would've felt on display. Although, closing the sheer curtains could make it nice a semi-private, small group space.

When my friend arrived, our server dropped off complimentary starters - naan, veggies, and feta - to nosh as we perused the menu. It's worth noting that the menu is light on veggie-friendly entrees, mostly salads, including caesar. Fortunately, I think one could cobble together a nice vegetarian meal off the appetizer menu. Our server seemed overly eager to take our order,  checking on us several times before we opted to split the salmon kabob and shrimp kabob.

Our entrees came with a choice of rice - white or dill - lima beans and grilled veggies. Each kabob contained approximately 6 pieces of protein. I can't say which kabob was best, I really enjoyed both of them and their wonderful lemony flavor. The salmon was cooked perfectly, moist and flavorful, I savored every bite.

Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Caravan and would return. While the menu is pretty meat intensive, there is something for everyone. Well suited to groups, I wasn't surprised that it was empty when we dined, late on a Sunday.

I had high hopes for Spring Cafe. I would have loved if it were my new go-to neighborhood breakfast spot, but alas it is not. My first and only experience doesn't have me itching to return; while my experience wasn't stellar, it wasn't a disaster either. Here's what they got right:

1) Service. My server was awesome; attentive and friendly, I wanted for nothing.
2) Decor. Golden Cup was your average Greek diner through and through - average food and average decor. Spring Cafe has done a pretty good job erasing all traces of a diner and opening a simple, but nice restaurant. From the pale yellow walls, nicely tiled floor, to the dark wood tables and chairs - the space feels classier; smaller somehow, but classier.
3) Beverages. While I don't drink coffee, I couldn't help but notice the long list of coffees on their chalkboard menu. They also have espresso and a full bar, including mimosas and bloody marys during brunch.
4) Food. My breakfast potatoes were quite good, I would order these again.

Here's where Spring Cafe needs some work:

1) Service. While my service was spot on, the rest of the crew seemed a little aimless; friendly, but aimless. While I appreciated their concern, I was asked several times if I needed a menu or had been helped. I had and this made the whole operation seem disorganized.
2) Music. For the love of all things holy, please find a new radio station. I felt trapped in an episode of the show Taxi. Think: http://tinyurl.com/6ov...
3) Decor. Why the TVs? Completely unnecessary in my opinion, especially if you're going for something more upmarket than a diner. Their only redeeming value was their potential to drown out the smooth jazz hell I was stuck in.
4) Food. As an egg-hater, I was lukewarm on the menu, but opted for the mango pancakes; I had two main issues with this dish. First, I was expecting mango-filled pancakes, rather than the jarred strips of mango on top. Second, it's a risky decision to add syrup to the dish for the diner. How one eats their pancakes is a lot like how one drinks their coffee - it's a personal decision, not one to be guessed or dictated by the kitchen. By the time I made it through my pancakes the syrup had been soaked up like a sponge making them brittle.
5) Plating. Both of my dishes were too big for their plates. I love square plates, but not when I have to eat my meal gingerly to avoid sending food onto the table.
6) Timing. The kitchen's timing needs to work; my server brought my potatoes and a random, unexpected side of toast because he feared they'd get cold waiting for my pancakes.
7) Prices. New restaurants have kinks, but one thing they need to ensure is that they're charging their customers stated prices. The price of a side of potatoes was wrong in the register - 60% more than it should have been. Once I pointed it out, my superstar server was quick to address it and eventually removed it from my bill when they couldn't easily adjust the computer.

While 2.5 stars may sound harsh for a new place, it seems fair. Spring Cafe has potential; if they can work out the kinks and tighten up the execution of the menu, I can see myself making a return appearance.

Coco-locks and the Four Banh Mis:

Once upon a time there was a girl called Coco-locks. She went for a walk in her office. Pretty soon she came across a menu for Banh Mi Express. On four occasions, she strolled over to the address and entered a depressing little food court. At the Banh Mi Express counter, she ordered a shrimp and garlic banh mi. Coco-locks was hungry.

She ate her first banh mi. "Too wet, too bland!" she exclaimed.

She ate her second banh mi. "Too dry, still bland!" she exclaimed.

She opened her third banh mi. "Pâté?! WTF?" she exclaimed, unable to eat her sandwich.

She tasted her fourth banh mi. "Ahhh, this banh mi is just right," she said happily and ate it all up.

THE END

Banh Mi Express is a nice departure from the sea of Subways, McDonald's, Potbelly's, Dunkin Donuts and other Loop staples. My only real issue with Banh Mi Express is one of consistency; it's taken me four tries to get a sandwich that I can really enjoy. On my first visit, my sandwich was swimming in sea of mayo. Not a fan of the white stuff, I nearly gagged at the mountain of mayo I scraped off. I also learned jalapeños are optional on all of the banh mis.

My second sandwich was better, close to what I had hoped, but the mayo content went from feast to famine; they were also stingy with the jalapeños. My third sandwich was apparently a mistake, they confirmed that pâté is *not* supposed to come on the shrimp garlic banh mi - a very unwelcome surprise for someone who abstains from the stuff.

It took some trial and error, but for me the key to a satisfying sandwich is mayo on the side, extra jalapeños, and no pâté (for good measure). It's still not as good as banh mi you can score outside the Loop, but it's enough to temporarily satisfy a craving.

They serve more than banh mi; noodle and rice dishes, pho, and parfait are among other things rounding out the menu. I can't help but stare quizzically at the cans of grass jelly drink in their refrigerator case when I wait for my sandwich.

Service is always friendly, they are generous with the $1 off cards, there are usually free samples out, and food is 50% off between 4-7. Banh Mi Express probably won't blow your mind, but to me it's good; a welcome departure from the monotonous Loop lunch choices.

Up until a few years ago, I wasn't much for celebrating my birthday. It comes after realizing that it's the perfect excuse to round friends for a nice meal and nice conversation.

For the work birthday club edition of my birthday meal, I chose Province. I picked Province for three main reasons: (1) reasonable proximity to work, (2) positive reviews from friends and (3) the menu, particularly the dessert lunch menu.

The restaurant's space is interesting - earthy and colorful. Branches jut out from the ceiling and accent the space.  The walks are pink and white and multicolor clipboards that resemble easels support the menus. A LEED certified space, there are sustainable and recycled touches that give it an earthy, yet polished air. I'm not sure if it was a fluke, but the day we dinged they were devoid if any real lunch crowd - if you want to play it safe, they take reservations.

The lunch menu is a composition of small plates and mains. We were interested in the ahi tuna taco as a starter, but balked at the $8/taco price tag. I'm not sure what about the tacos commands such a price, but it seemed a little ridiculous. Instead, we opted for the tetilla fondue, which our server noted was apt for sharing. I loved the fondue; the beer cheese was flavorful and I'm a sucker for pretzel bread which was supplied for dipping.

For my entree, I was torn between the smoked salmon sandwich and the special, a swordfish sandwich with serrano chili tartar sauce. Fortunately, a colleague was intrigued by both and we decided to split the two items. Typically, I think ordering off the menu is playing it safe - something has to be tried and true to earn a permanent spot on the menu. Unfortunately, I found the smoked salmon, a menu staple, entirely average, if not disappointing. I'm not sure if it was a matter of over-smoking, but the salmon was tough; it made the open face sandwich difficult to eat. The swordfish sandwich style the show and took this from a 3-star experience, closer to 4. This sandwich deserves a permanent spot on the menu; the fish was succulent and the serrano tartar gave it a perfect kick. The only thing I would have changed about the dish was the side of slaw; not a fan.

From the moment I saw the lunch menu, I had my dessert order picked out. Coffee + "donuts" dessert = amazing. The dessert is comprised of churros that resemble beignets, coffee ice cream and a demitasse of mexican hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is more akin to straight melted chocolate than  a cup of Swiss Miss. Dip your churros and ice cream in the hot chocolate and take the remaining beverage as a chaser. Don't even attempt to share this dish, it's too good not to savor every bite.

While I didn't always think the Latin influence was apparent in the plates, Province is a solid choice for a nicer lunch. It works well for a business lunch and they have private dining rooms for group functions.

TIP: The lamb is no longer on the lunch menu, but you can request it.