Ms.Paris

last night: thaiphoon. OK, it's not great thai. I'll even agree it's not particularly good Thai, but I needed something spicy and I was in Pentagon Row. It doesn't feel like a meal wasted, but nothing was gained from said meal. Today I've got my last lunch with my boss, then I think he's headed out and I won't see him again. (woo hoo!)

For a little perspective on what Chicago does well, and what may be a little lacking...

Very Well Represented:

* Thai - there are so many great Thai restaurants in Chicago, and you'll see them debated endlessly on lthforum, but my favorites are Sticky Rice and Spoon. Ask for the "secret" menu, and don't forget to BYOB.

* Mexican - Check out the Pilsen and Logan Square neighborhoods

* Indo/Pak - Check out Devon Ave.

* Steakhouses

* Deep dish pizza

Well Represented

* Korean

* Chinese (Chinatown)

* Vietnamese (Argyle St)

* German

* Italian (all price points)

* Sushi

* French (all price points)

* Polish

Not Well Represented

* Portuguese

* NY-style pizza

* Seafood

* African/Caribbean (there are a few, just not as many as in DC)

* BBQ (again, several very good options, just not abundant)

* Bagels/Jewish Delis

Restaurants in Randolph Street Market District are a good bet for you. There are plenty of fun places around there and nothing over the top. Last time I was there I really wanted to go to The Green Mill, but didn't. You have to go there and tell me what you think.

The Green Mill is great for jazz, and not too far from the Lawrence Red Line stop (it's a hike from where Pitchfork is). If you're looking for rock/alternative/indie, check out Metro, Double Door, Schuba's. You'd probably like many of the bars in the Wicker Park/Bucktown area.

The Randolph Street Market District is better known as the "West Loop" (or a little further north, the Warehouse District (if you're trying to google it). The restaurants are nice (Avec & Blackbird stand out), but can be a bit pricey, and I don't think many places are still serving at 10-10:30. It does have the convenience of being reasonably close to where Pitchfork is being held, though.

If you're still there on Sunday morning, check out the Maxwell STreet Market (NOT on Maxwell St. anymore, but accessible from the Roosevelt metro or easy cab from downtown) for the cheapest, best Mexican/Central American food around. It lasts till around 2 p.m. Pizza - Lou Malnati's or Pizzeria Uno or Due (NOT the same as the chain version you find around here!).

Check out www.lthforum.com for more specifics...

Thanks much to Mr. Hengst for replying -- I appreciate your offer to make it up.

Also, I was unaware that the restaurant was closed Thursday and Friday - it makes more sense, then, that there wouldn't be fish on Sunday. Just wish I'd known that in advance!

Had a very, very, disappointing experience at Sonoma last night...

Parents were in town for the weekend, and I wanted to take them to a nice place, known for good wine and good food, for a casual Sunday dinner. I narrowed it down to Sonoma, where the menu posted online looked slightly more appealing to me than it's sister restaurant.

When we arrived at the reserved time last night, the outdoor tables were all full (we'd specifically requested to sit outside). When I mentioned to the hostess that we had expected to be seated outside, she snapped "I can see that on the screen." So not a great start. We were, in fact, seated outside not long after that.... but then waited...and waited...and waited... at least fifteen minutes before our server even came to the table to bring water. No sign of her at all before that. By this time we'd already decided what food and wine we wanted to order. We placed our drink and appetizer orders. And again, waited, waited, waited. Another ten minutes at least before the wine came out. Now, we'd ordered this wine specifically to complement the meals we'd picked out (um, duh). So imagine our shock when the server returned to take orders for the main course -- and only then did she inform us that there were no fish left. Now, in a restaurant with a larger menu, this might not have been a problem. But Sonoma only offers about 7 entrees, and four of them are fish. All of us were planning on ordering fish. We'd ordered a wine to go with fish. And none of us were in the mood for steak, ribs, or burger - the only other options on the menu. I was absolutely furious. Furious that she hadn't told us before we'd spent all this time looking over the menu that half the items weren't available, especially after we'd already ordered and been served the wine. And then it almost happened again with desserts. After having to ask the server to see the dessert menu, she informed us that she would have to check with the kitchen, they might not still be serving desserts this late (10 p.m., and with over 20 other people still eating there!). Luckily they were - but it was another reminder that this restaurant did not seem to have it all together.

As for the food, it was very good - we ended up ordering lots of the small dishes -- the octopus, the goat cheese and stinging nettle ravioli, the linguine, the porcini risotto, the venison carpaccio... Dessert was more hit or miss - the goat cheese cake for dessert was decadently rich and flavorful, but the buttermilk shortcake with fresh fruits tasted like it could have been made from Bisquick.

But the service (and food availability) issues really marred the evening. I didn't make a big deal about it at the restaurant, since it was my parents' last night in town and everyone wanted to at least pretend that the dinner wasn't a disappointment, but I will not be returning, and would not recommend it as a destination if you're trying to impress. Or at least, never go there on a Sunday night

Fresh nutmeg-squash pasta from the Dupont Circle farmer's market, tossed lightly with butter, salt, pepper.

Naha

Anyone been? Who's got scoop? In the search for an excellent, but not top-tier Charlie-Trotterish dining destination (ie, $150pp all in, not $300pp), will Naha fit the bill?

Recently transplanted Chicagoan here...

Naha is very good, as is Blackbird (www.blackbirdrestaurant.com)... but if you are looking for EXCELLENT food at an EXCELLENT price, the place to go is Sweets and Savories. It's a very small storefront restaurant in Lincoln Park (a neighborhood just north of downtown), and they serve a seven course meal for $60. Add in wine, tax and tip, and you'll still probably come in at less than $150 pp. The website in no way does it justice, but see here for Chicago's version of donrockwell - www.lthforum.com

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6220

Even though it's a little out of the way if you're staying downtown and doesn't have the swanky vibe you'll get at Naha or the hip vibe you'll get from Blackbird, it is definitely, definitely worth it.

Another place to check out if you're able to snag reservations is Schwa - which is 4 star food and BYO, if you're into that (sure keeps the bill down!), but it's tiny and thus often difficult to get a table.

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8738

Hope that helps!