Blair "Blairtheblur" M.'s Profile

The Wrigleyville branch definitely has its own feel, while also staying true to the Ian's name.

For example, the restaurant is painted in traditional bright Red, with the lovable Ian's Pizza pie logo. But, they pay homage to their proximity to the Cubs and include a baseball in the logo.

One not-so-pleasant difference between this location and the Madison one is the music. They prefer to play loud, weird stuff. Not the best when you're trying to yell your order to a worker with lots of people around.

They have some cool regional varieties of pizza that Madison doesn't have, my favorite being S'mores pizza.

When I went with my friend Felicia, we both got two slices, which we agreed was more than filling. I grabbed a slice of a chicken parmesan and a piece of S'mores pizza to add a dessert.

The chicken parmesan featured rigatoni noodles with chicken and delicious cheese. It was cooked to perfection and tasted awesome.

They made the S'mores pizza while I waited (it only took about 14 minutes), so I got it when it was nice and fresh. With toasted marshmallow, bits of graham cracker, chunks of hershey chocolate bars and a nice drizzle of chocolate syrup, it was amazing. The end of the crust was a little overcooked, but that was a small worry, as the rest of the pizza was freckin' sweet.

Overall, I am pleased that there is an Ian's branch to serve my homesickness when it gets really bad. Nothing is the same as the one in downtown Madison, but this is a nice alternative!

The Price Rating: The Journalist- Kids who are doing alright- this is the middle of the road. They are good with money, but aren't going to get rich in an industry of dying newspapers

When in D.C. some time ago for a conference, I was with a  group that was in the mood for something outside of the ordinary.

An interesting mix of different Ghana cuisine including goat meat and spinach.

This led to me trying a genre of food I was unaware that even existed- Ghana food.

The Republic of Ghana is located in west Africa, and their food is unlike anything I've tried before.

The menu at Ghana Cafe was a little confusing, and I wasn't quite sure what I was ordering and how much it cost.

I eventually settled on a sampler, which featured a soup, some veggies and something which contents were disputable.

I also ordered a ginger beer, which, according to the description, seemed like a natural version of ginger ale.

Wrong.

It was hell. It tasted like a ground-up, watery version of the ginger you get with sushi. I tried a tentative sip, and my throat literally burned.

It looked almost radioactive in its greenish tint, and I tried in a variety of ways to drink it. I first began with trying small sips, alternating between a small sip of ginger beer (which I will refer to as radioactive elixir), and a hefty sip of water.

The drawback: After playing this game for about 4 minutes, I ran out of water. No problem, I thought... certainly a bus boy would be kind to me and refill.

Wrong.

As I continued to gingerly (haha, gingerly...) sip at this radioactive elixir, I could literally feel my throat close up a bit. Was I allergic? I decided to set the drink aside, for fear of going into anaplastic shock.

We got our food at random intervals, not receiving everything at the same time. I asked several times for a refill on water... but that apparently was not going to happen.

I received soup as well as veggies and an unknown substance, and was not terribly impressed. The soup was served lukewarm (maybe that's how it's traditionally served, but it would have been better hot). The vegetables were skimpy, there really wasn't much.

Maybe it's me being wholly American, but when I think of "sampler," I think of a nice variety of food. I got three little servings, and paid $13.

My friends got several different entrees, one involving stew and a ball of dough to pick up the stew with. They enjoyed it for the most part, and I was somewhat envious of this large dough ball stew entree... it looked more filling than mine.

While I was happy to have tried a new cuisine, I really wasn't impressed. The service was lacking, the food wasn't particularly cheap, the menu was hard to understand, and the ginger beer may have just given me bad memories.

The Price Rating: The Advertising Major- Kids who know they'll get filthy rich soon enough- is the moderate category. Picture a kid with a briefcase and a blazer jacket.

Ping Pong is interesting. From its name, to the loud music played in the minimalist establishment to the fact that they serve their check on a ping pong paddle, they are not a typical restaurant. But, it works!

My friend Renea and I were hungry a few nights ago, and decided to simply walk about Lakeview late one night.

As we strolled past Ping Pong, music blared and the ambience of the dimly-light restaurant lured us in.

We were greeted by a polite server and immediately seated. A cute waiter brought out a appetizer of peanuts that were soaked in something (they looked fancy). He also gave us these nifty warm clothes that you use to clean your hands before eating (extra fancy).

I was feeling 5% awkward, as I had never experienced a place that offered such delicacies as marinated peanuts in shell or the luxury of washing your hands outside of the bathroom.

They had a few specials- and we decided to sample a maki roll. We also each got a noodle dish. I got glass noodles, Renea got pad thai.

The maki was awesome. Made with ingredients that were bursting with freshness, it was just a little spicy and made a perfect app.

Our noodle dishes came just a few minutes after, and they were also very fresh and very yummy. We were both unable to finish, and had our food boxed.

While prices were a little higher than I'd usually pay, the total came to just over $30, and that includes an app, two entrees and two very full bellies!

The Price Rating: The Advertising Major- Kids who know they'll get filthy rich soon enough- is the moderate category. Picture a kid with a briefcase and a blazer jacket.

This warm, welcoming Mexican restaurant is just a hop, skip and jump away from Columbia College's urban campus. Zapatista is nestled just far enough away that it is new and refreshing, but not prohibitively far away, making it within walking distance.

Traditional Mexican tiling and decor makes the place pretty legitimate, and excellent service and food solidifies this. ChicagoNoms hit them up last week to put their menu to the test.

Accompanied with my buddy John Trierweiler, who introduced the place to me, I was excited to try it out. While it was a week night, we had to wait about 10 minutes to get a table, attesting to the popularity of the restaurant. If you plan on coming on a Friday or on the weekend, I'd recommend calling in advance or being prepared to wait.

"My favorite part about Zapatista is the atmosphere," John said. "The unique charm and energy of the restaurant makes you feel outside of the south loop."

Once seated, we were served traditional tortilla chips with a delicious, not-too-spicy salsa. Guacamole is optional, for an extra charge.

The menu is impressively large, encompassing all traditional Mexican fare. According to John, they have an astounding one hundred different selections of tequila. I selected the vegetarian enchilada, with John choosing the tacos- featuring a chicken, fish and steak varieties.

"I love the tacos, because you can choose three different styles and experience some new and unique flavors you might not be used to," John said.

Our food came out very quick, and it was hot, fresh and tasty. My enchilada was good, but slightly uninspired. There could have been just a bit more flavor, but it certainly wasn't bad. John enjoyed his tacos, until he got to the fish.

"The chicken chipotle tacos are a must!" he said. "With generous pieces of chicken dressed with tomatoes, onion, and cilantro, the flavor ignites in your mouth, definitely my favorite of any around."

He took one bite out of his fish taco and had a displeased look, it definitely wasn't sitting well with him.

"Fish tacos are tricky, I think you either like them or you don't. They have a lot of flavor, almost too much flavor-Tilapia with a mixture of pickled vegetables- that didn't sit well with me."

By and large, it was an enjoyable experience, and I would definitely recommend the place to a college student looking for a fun night out. The prices are a little high for a college kid- I payed about $13 for my enchiladas- but it's nice for an occasional splurge.

The Price Rating: The Advertising Major- Kids who know they'll get filthy rich soon enough- is the moderate category. Picture a kid with a briefcase and a blazer jacket.

I recently traveled to Tennessee with a friend to visit her family. While there we ate out an

immense amount, and I'm certain I gained 5 pounds. Alas, it was enjoyable and I hit up some absolutely delicious places.

One of which was Maggiano's Little Italy in Nashville. I'm a big fan of ambience, and this place had it going on. Antique photos lined the walls, warm lighting welcomed you in and little signs of Italian culture were everywhere.

Unfortunately, we decided to visit during the local prom night (yikes), which led to some waiting (starting with our 9 p.m. reservation). Our waiter wasn't seen very often, but it was obvious that he was quite busy, and not off in the back napping.

We started with an order of garlic bread, and it was absolute nom. Anything garlic is usually win with me, but this stuff was particularly good.

My friend's mom, Shirleen, was pleased. "It's toasted to perfection, crispy outside yet still soft inside," she said.

They also had the typical complimentary fair of bread and olive oil if you were in need of a more economical carb fix.

The menu had everything you could want in the Italian food genre. Meals were offered at half and full portions. Note: do not get the full portion. It should be retitled the "feed a small country portion," as I couldn't even finish my half-portion.

I ordered the linguini and clams in a white sauce. While it was good, there wasn't tons of flavor and I was thinking (perhaps erroneously) that a white sauce equated to a white cream sauce. I got a garlic butter sauce, which was a little too light tasting, I think it could have been a tad heartier.

I sampled with jealousy my accompaniment's food- which was all tots delicious.

Shirleen got Chicken Spinach Manicotti and was very pleased.

"I liked how the chicken was finely shredded and the subtle taste of the ricotta cheese," she said.

Her husband, Toe, wasn't quite feeling his Lobster fettucini.

"It's a little bit dry to me. The artichoke heart wasn't really good with it, but the hame was awesome," he said.

None of us were able to finish our meals, showing how massive these "half-sized" portions were.

The bill wasn't cheap- over $100, but that includes three huge entrees, two martinis, a sangria and a soft drink. It's a little pricy, but it's the perfect place to go for a fancy night out (just make sure it's not prom night!)

The Price Rating: Poorgeoisie- Rich hipsters who pay a lot to look poor- is the most expensive category. Imagine a snooty kid with a trust

Ambience definitely made this place go from good to great.
Warm lighting welcomed us in as we made our way from the near twilight into the restaurant. Intense conversation of other patrons provided a soft backdrop of sound for us, and we were seated.

Old-fashioned light bulbs gave a delightful ambient cast to the restaurant. Old wooden tables were stacked end to end, meaning the couple next to us sat a little closer than would be in a typical restaurant.

I was in D.C. for a conference, with three other friends on the last night of our trip. Commissary was a perfect ending, giving a relaxed setting with unique menu options and pricing that wasn't cheap but didn't break the bank.

Below their logo reads "Your neighborhood place. Honest Pricing"
We started our order with two appetizers- a quesadilla with spinach and goat cheese and a garlic hummus pita spread. While they weren't that cheap (about $10 a piece), they were absolutely delicious.

My friend Phoebe ordered a Bowtie Ceasar and Grilled Chicken salad, which she enjoyed.

"It was mild but flavorful at the same time," Phoebe said. "A nice combination of lettuce and pasta, it's a good summer dinner. It want to try making it at home!"

I sampled am awesome blackened chicken sandwich, which was one of the favorites of our waitress (who did a perfect job of taking care of us). I ate it with what was the second-best root beer I had ever had (the first being the one brewed my home town by Gray's Brewery).

With real honey and lots of flavor, it was worth the many calories that were in it.

Our food came out pretty quickly, nice and hot, and very fresh. If I weren't a broke college student, this place would be perfect to me. Alas, I live on a shoestring budget and wish the price point were just  a bit lower. As it was our last night in town, I was happy to splurge a bit for a treat. Had it been a typical night out, though, I would hesitate just a tad.

The Price Rating: Poorgeoisie- Rich hipsters who pay a lot to look poor- is the most expensive category. Imagine a snooty kid with a trust fund.

Combining the short-order feel of places like Waffle House (a foundation of the south), and the Chicago feel of awesome service, The White Palace is a college kid's dream.

Not only is it right next to Columbia College's campus (located a little bit past Target, and accessible via the 18 or 12 bus), but it is dirt cheap and features delicious food. Oh, and it's open 24 hours!

"It's always an interesting place to go," said my accompaniment, Aubrey Feinen. There are mural not only on the walls but also covering the lights. The price of the food is very reasonable for the portions, and it's always super good."

There are various paintings and newspaper articles talking about the restaurant. A piece from 2002 states "White Palace so old, it's new again."

This still holds true. With a white and red color scheme and an old-town diner feeling about it, I certainly felt like I was taken back to a simpler time.

Aubrey got the B.L.T, which was a very generous portion, served with two sides. I decided on a burger, getting the A-1 burger. As you can guess, it was a burger with some A-1 steak sauce poured on top.

Our soup, chicken noodle, came very quickly (and was remarkably good), and our food came right as we finished.

The food was what you'd expect: slightly greasy, very satisfying, and probably unhealthy. My burger was done very well, and had a big slice of American cheese on top.

The fries were done to golden perfection, with a crunch that was very satisfying.

As we munched away, the waitress made sure our drinks stayed full, but aside from that she let us be to chat.

As we finished up, I marveled at how cheap it was: only $16.44 for two full meals. In downtown Chicago! Nice.

The Photo Major- The true "starving artists"- is the cheapest category. Photo majors spend what little money they don't use on chemicals and film to buy ramen. Imagine a cute kid trying to struggle to survive, all in the name of art!

Washington, D.C. is where ends meet for our country, with many foreign embassies and a wildly diverse population. This is a natural conduit for interesting restaurants, and when I made a recent trip there I certainly was not disappointed.

The group I was with was in the mood for Thai. We stumbled across a place called Thai Coast. Decorated in light pastels and some decorative lights, the place is very laid-back with a bit of a 90's feel.

The menu selection is pretty decent, with a good variety of spirits and some Thai beer (yum!). Pricing isn't bad for D.C. (which has a pretty high cost of living), but you should definitely watch what you get if you're on a budget.

A friend of mine got the Peanut Chicken, and found it to be a bit mediocre.

"There's a lot of peanuts, without much chicken. I'd give it an 8 out of 10," said Maddie Rozwat.

Samantha Betysing found her selection of mussels to be more satisfying, however.

"It's aromatic with basil, a nice little crunch with friend bell peppers," Betysing said. "The mussels are delicate but firm at the same time."

I sampled the fresh spring rolls. While there was some yummy fresh basil, the bulk of it was cabbage. Other thai places I frequent add a little more variety, so I was a bit disappointed.

The service was very quick, with our food out just a few minutes after cooking, which I was a big fan of.

Overall, this place was a pleasant experience, with stellar service and a decent menu selection. Choose your menu item carefully, being sure to ask your waiter some specifics and checking the price before making a final choice.

The Price Rating: The Advertising Major- Kids who know they'll get filthy rich soon enough- is the moderate category. Picture a kid with a briefcase and a blazer jacket

A combination between bookstore, bar restaurant and cafe, Kramerbooks & Afterwords is one of the most amazing restaurants I've been to.

The place is open 24 hours on weekends, and on the Saturday I went it was absolutely full of life. As well as very stylish, cute people. Apparently D.C. is a lot more attractive than previously assumed.

The group I was with had to wait about 30 minutes to get a table, but the wait seemed like nothing: our waiting area was a massive book store featuring thousands of excellent titles.

Live music played as we browsed books and chatted, enjoying the intellectual ambience.

"It's alive with an intellectual energy," said Phoebe Chastain, one of my companions. "It's unlike anywhere else I've ever been. I can't wait to come back!"

Eventually "table number 7 was announced over microphone, and we went back to the restaurant portion. It was hidden away from the rest of the store and it was an unexpected, but beautiful, change.

While the book store was well-light to foster reading, the restaurant had warm, sexy lighting. It featured a lot of glass and exposed materials, and was a bit quieter than the book area.

Prices were a little high ($7 for apple crumble), but as we were all ordering dessert, it was manageable.

Everyone really enjoyed what they got for the most part. My apple crumble was beyond words delicious. (After all, it was my waiter's favorite).

Filled with soft, sweet apples and gooey filling, the outside crumble was the best I've ever tasted. Undertones of cinnamon and some graham cracker made it irresistible.

The only complaint one of my companions had, which I find hard for it to be a bad thing, was that her key lime pie was too rich.

"It was great for one or two bites, but a whole slice is overwhelming," said Hanna Sothern.

However, she went on to describe it as "Not too tart, yummy crush with raspberry sauce." Hmm. I sampled some, and I can agree that it was a bit rich, so I'd say it's perfect for a date or a few friends to share. Ask for it with no whipped cream, as it was unsweetened and seemed like boring calories.

One oddity (albeit somewhat fun) is that their rest rooms are up about three floors, and require a token from the waiter. We didn't discover this until walking up the three flights, but were able to sneak in as someone else left.

We left content. It was such an awesome experience, and I highly recommend you to check it out if you ever head to our nation's capital!

The Price Rating: The Advertising Major- Kids who know they'll get filthy rich soon enough- is the moderate category. Picture a kid with a briefcase and a blazer jacket.

Some of the best places in Chicago are completely hidden to most people. Elate restaurant, located relatively close to the Clark and Division Red Line stop, isn't widely known to college students.

I discovered the place because my friend works in the kitchen. She is well-educated in the restaurant industry, and demanded that we go. Monday nights are "industry night," as it's the least busy evening in the field. That means half-price menu items.

The first thing I noticed as I entered the restaurant was the awesome ambience. With faux tea-light candles flickering a warm, LED light.

The restaurant is decorated in a somewhat minimalist, but comfortable, design. It is a little industrial and the lighting is kept low.

As my friend works at the place, we got a few extra treats. The first of which was what they call an "amuse," a term I had never heard before.

Essentially, it's just a little nom. The first they brought us was a small slice of salmon with a garnish on top of a few avocado slices. Yum!

We then split A pork flat pizza, topped with dried cherries, adobo pork, feta, arugula and pork fat.

It featured some pretty intense ingredients, and was a delicious step out of the ordinary for me.

They treated us to another amuse, this one the creator referred to as "sweet bread." It wasn't until he left that my friend told me that meant it was a part of a brain from an animal battered and cooked. Ahh! I love how they give it an innocent little name- sweet bread- to lull you into a faux sense of security.

It didn't taste bad, quite the contrary actually. But I couldn't get it out of my mind that I was eating something's neurons. I felt kind of bad. But at the same time, I was happy that they were using as much of the animal as possible.

After that semi-scary experience, we chose a dessert- the ice cream trio. It actually came with four flavors (another favor of the kitchen). Featuring peanut butter and jelly, burnt caramel, strawberry banana and a local take on Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby, it was super satisfying.

But they weren't done. As one final treat, the back kitchen brought us out rice pudding with a cocoa foam. I felt like we were being ridiculously spoiled, but I loved it.

"Elate restaurant, just north of downtown Chicago, is bringing much experience from several great resturants in the city to its small kitchen," my accompaniment, Renae, said. "Aside from just putting out great food, the staff is constantly changing menu offerings, creating new dishes and dreaming up new food combinations daily."

I couldn't have said it better myself. It was an awesome experience, and it's the perfect spot to take your mom or dad when they come to visit. It shows off that Chicago is a restaurant city, but it won't break your wallet.

Price Rating: The Journalist- Kids who are doing alright- this is the middle of the road. They are good with money, but aren't going to get rich in an industry of dying newspapers.