Mangia Chicago!

My favorite place for dinner is anywhere in Chicago's Greektown. I love walking through the neighborhood, listening to the Greek music spilling out from open windows and smelling the wonderful cooking!

Quick Tips:

Virtually every ethnic neighborhood is chock full of undiscovered dining gems. Get off the beaten track and discover one for yourself.

Best Way To Get Around:

In the city, public transportation is cheap and convenient. Once you get into the "burbs", you really need a car to get around.

Elephant and Castle....sounds like a British pub, right? Well, it is, or at least a decent imitation, down to the red telephone booth in front! The menu features traditional pub fare such as bangers and mash, fish and chips, and Shepherd's pie. I was here at lunch on a Saturday with two friends, and one tried the Shepherd's pie. This is a dish of ground beef, topped with mashed potatoes and served with a salad (she did not recommend it). Another friend had the Crispy Chicken sandwich; a lightly breaded chicken breast served on a roll with Remoulade sauce and looked absolutely delicious! I had the Castle Club, which is a tasty combination of roast turkey breast, bacon, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise served with English chips. The menu also offered salads, burgers and pasta dishes, as well as a nice selection of beers and ales.

The service was efficient and friendly, and the atmosphere very relaxed. While I thought it was a bit pricey for "pub grub", I figure you're paying for the ambiance....and it's cheaper than a flight to London! It's cute, different, and a nice place to linger over lunch on a lazy fall Saturday.

My girlfriend and I followed an evening of shopping with dinner at Stir Crazy. One of the unique things Stir Crazy offers is a sort of "do-it-yourself" wok dinner. You have a choice of various meats, vegetables, sauces, etc. which you select at the market counter and then cook to your unique taste. I guess we were both a bit lazy, as we opted for entrees on the menu rather than cooking our own!

For an appetizer, we shared an order of Vegetable Spring Rolls. You get three pieces of crispy rolls filled with shredded carrots, cabbage and other veggies. The dipping sauce adds just the right touch. Julie picked Sweet and Sour Chicken for her entree, which is chunks of chicken breast, green and red peppers, carrots, onions and pineapple in a tangy sweet sauce. I tried a bite and it was the best sweet and sour I've had. Usually it seems to be either too sweet or too sour, but this was just the right balance of flavors. I picked Bangkok Noodles, which is shrimp, green beans, bamboo shoots, basil and noodles in a red curry sauce. It was spicy but not too hot; just the right touch of pepper. For dessert we shared a tropical fruit concoction with a sort of coconut sauce. It was a refreshing finale to a great dinner!

The atmosphere is casual, the service attentive, and there is a nice selection of beers and wines to accompany your meal. It was the first time either of us had been here, and we weren't disappointed. In fact, we've made a promise to return soon and eat our way through more of the menu!

Wildfire is primarily a steak and chop house, noted for flame cooking and spit roasting over wood, giving dishes their unique flavor. There is a large bar offering an even larger martini menu. For an appetizer, try the Baked French Onion soup or perhaps the Crab Cakes with Mustard Mayonnaise. Menu staples are pork chops and steaks, including a 22 oz. Chicago cut prime rib, with optional peppercorn crusting. There is a nice selection of fresh fish and seafood. I had Coconut Shrimp, which is shrimp on skewers, served with a ginger coconut sauce....terrific! Sandwiches, such as char-grilled burgers, are available. Vegetables are offered as sides - try the red skin mashed potatoes - and salads are big enough to share. The service is friendly and very efficient. Anyone who craves meat and potatoes should definitely give Wildfire a try.

Big Bowl's specialty is noodles, presented in Pan Asian style in many variations. You may want to sample their Shanghai Noodles, or Chinese egg noddles mixed with tender chicken and vegetables. On a cold Chicago day, the Vietnamese Chicken Noodle soup - chicken, noodles, spices - is sure to warm you up. Since the tempting menu made it virtually impossible to pick just one thing, I ordered the Ultimate Combo, one of their most popular dishes. The combo features Imperial Roll, Chicken Potstickers, Chicken Satay, Vietnamese Summer Roll, and Sesame Peanut Noodles. The Imperial Roll was very good, although it had an unusual flavor: I almost think it might have been made with shredded beef, rather than the usual pork or shrimp. A tangy mustard sauce nicely accented the Chicken Potstickers, which were filled with shredded chicken and vegatables. The Chicken Satay was very unusual: not the peanut sauce I'm accustomed to, but more a slightly spicy-sweet barbeque flavor. The chicken was so tender it practically fell off the skewers. The Vietnamese Summer Rolls are rice paper wrappers filled with shrimp, greens and finely chopped peanuts. The soy dipping sauce was a nice accompaniment. Surprisingly, the Sesame Peanut Noodles were cold, not hot. These are round noodles with a rich creamy peanut sauce mixed with sesame seeds and cilantro. The combo comes with three dipping sauces: a spicy mustard, a sweet sauce and a soy sauce. My beverage of choice was the made-fresh-daily Fresh Ginger Gingerale, which has to be tasted to be believed! Service was polite, quick, attentive; very impressive. The decor was dominated by a primarily red and black color scheme. The furniture was a sort of faux black lacquer look, which was set off nicely by the touches of red on the tabletops and walls. Giant white, round, paper lamps suspended from the ceiling added soft lighting. I liked the huge abacus sculpture that served as a sort of room divider. From downtown Chicago you can take the el or subway to State and Lake and walk from there (across the river just a few blocks) or you can transfer to the 146 bus at State and Lake and get dropped off almost at the front door. This was my first visit, but by no means my last!

Russian Tea Time is a delight, from the moment you step into this restaurant within steps of the Art Institute, Symphony Center and the Theatre District. Despite a busy lunchtime crowd and several people waiting, the polite, welcoming hostess was quickly able to find a spot for a solo diner and assured me I would easily make an afternoon matinee of the Nutcracker. Settling into a cozy corner, I admired the red tablecloths, dark wood, framed Erte works on the walls, and Russian folk art objects scattered throughout. The brass chandeliers glowed softly, while Russian music played and lent an authentic touch. My server appeared and his, "Hello, nice to see you, welcome" made me feel as if I was an old friend, instead of a first time visitor.

I enjoy trying all types of beer, and decided on Moscova, a Russian beer. For an appetizer, I choose Stuffed Mushrooms; four mushroom caps stuffed with a tasty spinach mixture and presented with a dollop of shredded marinated carrots. For an entree, I opted for the Chicken Paprikash Moldavian Style, which is chunks of breast of chicken, red pepper pieces, paprika, and sour cream served with polenta. This was accompanied by a side dish of another serving of the shredded carrots plus a dish that was (I think) made of beets, green apples and one or two other things I couldn't identify. As a general rule, I don't like beets, but whatever this was, it was fabulous: no one taste stood out, nor was it too sweet or too bitter.

As much as I wanted to try the blinis for dessert, I passed, as I was already full and didn't want to fall asleep during the ballet.

This has to be one of the finest restaurants in Chicago. The food is fantastic, the service some of the best I've encountered, and the ambiance is delightful. While the prices are a bit steep for frequent dining, this is certainly the place to splurge for a special occasion. If you're traveling by the el, take the Brown or Green line to the Adams stop, and walk east one block.

The environemt is non-smoking; in addition to lunch and dinner, Russian Tea Time also serves a traditional afternoon tea from 2:00-4:15, complete with scones and Devonshire cream.

Star of Siam, located just off the bustle of Michigan Avenue, is a must for anyone who loves Thai food. The space is very open, with red brick and exposed pipes, which are painted red to match the brick. The color scheme is carried through in the red cushions and colorful wall hangings.

A couple of us stopped here for lunch Saturday, including one friend of mine who loves really hot spicy Thai dishes. We started with an order of Satay, which are skewers of beef and chicken (3 of each) marinated in spices and coconut milk and served with a creamy peanut sauce and cucumber salad. I tend to rate a Thai restaurant by the quality and quantity of its peanut sauce. This was one of the creamiest I've eaten, and you get a large portion of it to slather on your satay-yum!!!

I had my usual, which is Pad Thai: thin rice noodles with fried tofu, onion and served with ground peanuts and lemon. The delicate flavor was a treat, but I also tried a few bites of it doused in the red pepper sauce on the table...and drank lots of water after that!

I recommended that my friend try Pad Prik, which is meat (chicken, beef, or shrimp) stir-fried with hot peppers, onions and bamboo shoots in a spicy sauce. It must have been spicy enough, because he never bothered to add any of the red pepper sauce to his food!

Appetizer, entree and beverage will cost you about $10-12 for lunch; dinner prices are slightly higher. Star of Siam is open daily from 11:00 AM-9:30 PM; Friday and Saturday until 10:30 PM. If you're taking public transportation, get off the Red Line or Green Line at State and Lake, and walk north on State Street cross the river about four blocks.

Greek Town is one of my favorite ethnic areas in the city, and Greek Islands is one of the "Old Guard", existing on their spot on Halsted as long as I can remember. During the last Democratic Convention held in Chicago, Greek Town and several other nearby neighborhoods were spiffed up a bit, as they are close to the Stadium, site of the Convention. Greek Islands underwent a facelift as well, the most notable change being the additional of a large bar area. Sometimes friends and I just enjoy meeting for "mezedes" and drinks. Mezedes, "something small and delicate", (appetizers to you and me) can be either hot or cold, and Greek Islands has a generous selection from which to choose. Four of my friends and I took a co-worker here for a farewell party and decided to just make a meal of appetizers and drinks. We had several orders of Saganaki, which is cheese flamed at your table and served with shouts of "Oopah!" by your server. I have to admit, I can't tell whether I really love the dish itself or just like to watch the waiter set fire to it...perhaps I have hidden pyromaniacal tendencies? Another selection we made was Tzatziki, which is a dipping sauce made of yogurt, cucumbers and garlic. Be sure to order plenty of toasted pita bread to eat with it. We also had Tarmosalata, which is a fish roe spread, kind of a poor man's caviar. This also goes well with the pita or spread on the generous hunks of fresh Greek bread at your table. I choose Keftedekia, which are small Greek meatballs, served in a nicely spiced tomato sauce. We had orders of Pan Fried Calamari and Broiled Octopus: this is cooked in olive oil, herbs and a vinegar sauce. A great time and plenty of food was had by all: for appetizers and drinks, the cost was under $15/person. The cheerful waiters, Grecian taverna atmosphere, and Greek music make for a truly enjoyable dining experience.

A co-worker recommended P F Chang's so this past Saturday a friend and I decided to give it a try. P F Chang's has three locations in the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as a growing number of restaurants nation-wide. The concept seems to be a melding of traditional Chinese food and American rock and roll culture. The menu is fairly extensive, offering some traditional Chinese fare such as shrimp dumplings and spring rolls, along with more innovative dishes. We decided on spring rolls for an appetizer. Having ordered these, our server asked us what degree of spiciness we liked in our food. We said moderate, not being sure what "moderate" meant to him (in some places moderate has seared flesh!). He proceeded to mix hot pepper sauce, hot mustand and (we think) soy sauce together for us to use to flavor our selections. The spring rolls were reasonably crisp, filled with mainly shredded lettuce and carrots. Decent, but not impressive, although the prepared sauce added a nice touch. For an entree, Tom ordered Spicy Ground Chicken and Eggplant. Eggplant and spices are sauteed with ground chicken and scallions; you have a choice of white or brown rice. I tried a bite and it was good, though not terribly piquant. My selection was Double Pan Fried Noodles, which are egg noodles stir-fried with vegetables and your choice of pork, beef, chicken or shrimp. This was enjoyable, although rather salty for my taste. The service was quick and attentive, although they kept trying to clear our table when we were interested in lingering and chatting. Without even being asked, our soft drinks were replenished constantly.

The decor is modern; the color scheme mainly black, terracotta and slate. With dark woods, low lighting and hand-painted murals, it's a very attractive place. I particularly enjoyed the replicas of some of the Terracotta Warriors of Xi'An.

P F Changs is located at 530 N. Wabash, you can take the Red line and get off at Grand; the restaurant is near Grand and Wabash. Or, you can take either the Green or Brown line to State and Lake and walk over the river and turn east on Grand.

Imagine that you are on a riverboat, winding your way down the Mississippi River on a lazy, sultry Saturday afternoon. The ship’s bar and dining rooms echo with laughter, music, and the spicy scent of fresh Gulf seafood in various and sundry variety permeates the air, tempting your taste buds. This is the image conjured up at Pappadeaux Seafood Restaurant; where Chicago-based IGOUGO guides dawn and I, and passing-through-town smmmarti guide, met for lunch this past weekend.

For a starter, our delightful server, Chelsea, recommended the lobster bisque, which she said is not always available. dawn and smmmarti guide decided that was too good to pass up, and they both ordered a cup. When it arrived, I have to say I was a bit sorry I hadn’t gotten some myself, as it looked and smelled delicious, thick, rich and creamy. I opted for a dinner salad, which had lots of tasty fresh veggies and a rich Ranch dressing. For entrees, both smmmarti guide and I chose the jumbo shrimp jambalaya; a mouth-watering mixture of piquant Andouille sausage, chicken with dirty rice all topped with grilled jumbo shrimp. I hadn’t tasted Andouille sausage before, and loved it. Guide dawn tried the chopped salad with crawfish, which is all sorts of salad greens and fresh veggies topped with a choice of either fried crawfish or fried chicken tenderloins. It looked fantastic; all the dishes were simply but appetizingly presented.

Other menu selections include seafood gumbo, catfish poboys, fried oysters, and an impressive array of seafood from around the world. There are also salad offerings, pasta dishes, and a few beef and chicken entrees, but the seafood here takes the spotlight, and so it should.

Although we all said we were too full for dessert, our resolve crumbled when Chelsea brought the dessert tray over for us to peruse. I love cheesecake, and Pappadeaux had a few I intend to try on future visits: praline cheesecake being first on the list. Other offerings included crème brulee with fresh fruit, bread pudding, and a death-by-chocolate sinfully rich dessert. We each tried something different – death by chocolate, key lime pie and sweet potato pecan pie – and I don’t think we left a crumb on our plates. A great time was had by all as we gossiped and chatted about past trips, future plans and shared thoughts about our writing. A toast was drunk to our Dallas friends, who were also enjoying a local guide get-together on the same day. Whether you’re having a local guide get-together and meeting new friends, a family gathering or dinner for two, the atmosphere, friendly service, and wonderful food at Pappadeaux is hard to beat.

Pappadeaux has a sister location at 921 Pasquinelli Drive, Westmont, IL 60559 (630) 455-9846.

Photos courtesy of guide dawn.