Your Guide to Chicago's Northcenter, Lincoln Square and Ravenswood Manor.
Restaurants
Dorado Restaurant
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Dorado Restaurant (tucked away at 2301 W. Foster Ave.) is often referred to as a “hidden gem” by its fans who appreciate Chef Luis Perez’s unique take on fusion cuisine. The chef claims the cuisine is a blend of Mexican and French influences, but I found that Mediterranean flavors stood out during a recent visit [...]
Chicago Joe’s
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“If you can’t stop by, smile as you go by.” That’s what the sign on the side of Chicago Joe’s friendly Northcenter location says. It offers belly-busting entrees and an all-you-can-eat buffet on Sundays. Their specialty is ribs, so they’ll be a formidable opponent in the Ribfest competition.
Budacki’s Drive In
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Serves up Chicago specialties from Italian beef to Chicago-style hot dogs and Polish sausages. Try the fries — better and cheaper than any old McDonald’s. And great milkshakes for hot summer afternoons.
Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro
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Mrs. Murphy and her sons officially celebrate St. Patrick’s day from March 1-17. But hungry people looking for satisfying portions of comfort food served with a side of warm hospitality know that the Irish spirit lives on throughout the year in their Northcenter restaurant. The Irish bistro was the vision of Jim Murphy, owner and [...]
Prix Fixe Restaurant
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Offering a limited menu at a fixed price might seem like a restrictive business plan in a neighborhood that offers almost every cuisine known to mankind, but Prix Fixe restaurant (4835 N. Western Avenue) plays to its strengths and deserves to be a new dining destination in Lincoln Square. The transformation of the space is [...]
Due Lire
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I am extremely picky when it comes to Italian restaurants, but when friends ask for a recommendation in Lincoln Square I do not hesitate to point them in Due Lire’s direction. Because a place that can get me excited about olives (among other things) deserves to be known throughout Chicago. I was originally going to [...]
Wolcott’s On Montrose Is Open For Business
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I have watched the building at 1834 W. Montrose transform from paper-covered windows to a bustling now open-for-business institution. Finally, Wolcott’s is open for drinkers and eaters! Those skeptical few out there might believe Wolcott’s is just another bar in a city of endless bars. But, skeptics hold your tongue. This establishment is different. Wolcott’s [...]
Da Rae Jung aka “Korean Restaurant”
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I’ve been disappointed in previous Korean restaurant experiences, so I wasn’t in any particular rush to try any of the spots that form a northern ring around Lincoln Square. But after a soul- and stomach-satisfying experience at Da Rae Jung, 5220 N. Lincoln Ave., I kicked myself for waiting so long. In the dead of a [...]
Slim’s Diner
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It has always been my goal to be live near good eateries. I judge the city I live in solely by the quality of food it offers. Before I lived in Chicago, my neighborhood had the best Mexican joint, the best Italian ristorante, the best locally-owned café and a good Chinese take-out joint. All in [...]
Pizza D.O.C.
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I hate to insult the folks at Pizza D.O.C. by plagiarizing another restaurant’s tagline, but when I’m there, I really do feel like part of the family. The restaurant does double duty as both a date-night destination as well as a family restaurant (where the food is actually tasty and not just fast), with the [...]
La Sierra, Ecuadorian
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Passing by La Sierra (1637 Montrose Ave.) always made me curious. In my mind, I would get around to eating at La Sierra someday, but it never happened. Sunday night, I finally stopped in and I am glad I did. La Sierra, the 25-year-old Mexican/Ecuadorian restaurant in Ravenswood, is not only delicious, it is reasonably priced. Having a [...]
First Slice Cafe
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Lillstreet Art Center was in the middle of redesigning its exhibit space when I stopped at First Slice Café for a quick lunch, but the hustle and bustle did not seem to dissuade others. But it would probably take a lot to keep people from the pie case. Normally a quick treat or leisurely meal [...]
City Provisions Delicatessen
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I had the opportunity to participate in one of City Provisions’ farm dinners last year at Rushing Waters trout farm in Wisconsin, so I was happy to see a familiar name on the deli menu when I stopped by for a quick lunch. Chef/owner Cleetus Friedman had started promoting the deli last summer, and this [...]
Laschet’s Inn: Authentic German Cuisine
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As the recent German-American Festival descended on the heart of Lincoln Square, there was no doubt an influx of new faces (and appetites) to the heart of the Square?s gemulichkeit, the Chicago Brauhaus. ?Unfortunately for them, far fewer will likely have taken the opportunity to amble further south to dine at Laschet?s Inn, where the [...]
Royal Thai
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Royal Thai is one of the few Thai places in the city that is open on Monday. How cool is that? Besides that unique feature, the restaurant boasts a bevy of basic Thai dishes, all of them excellent – Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, (etc.) – plus lunch specials that come with soup and an [...]
