ulterior epicure

While the Common Grill is great, I think Zingerman's Roadhouse is an equally appealing option. They're two very different restaurants, and I have visited each nearly a dozen times. In full disclosure, I haven't been to either in nearly two years. First, I find the Common Grill's quasi-reservation system really annoying. It's also loud. Food can be good, but it's never bust-out great. On the other hand, it's never downright disappointing, either. Zingerman's Roadhouse is more casual and comfy - both in ambience and food. While it can get loud in the reception room (mostly smaller tables and parties), the back room, off to the left with booths and tables, has room to spare and is much easier on the ears. The food tends to be very good; rarely extraodinary. What I appreciate about Zingerman's is that their produce and ingredients come across as being more fresh - not necessarily because it is any fresher or better than what Chef Common gets, rather, perhaps execution is more deft. Zingerman's wins hands-down on desserts, as well. I'm not sweet tooth, but if you are, you won't be disappointed at the Roadhouse.

From what I understand, the pieces to the puzzle are rapidly being dropped into place on this project (at a surprising speed, I must say). I thought I'd get the party started. Here's a little preview I posted at the ulterior epicure.

In case anyone missed it, Lauren Chapin did a short write-up of Blanc in her Good & Cheap column. It DOES look like an iPod exploded in there! The "Pork" Burger sounds wonderful.

No its not!!!!! ← It's not in the book, or the book isn't "bloody" good? Which?

I also offer The Gage as a convenient lunch for Art Institute-going. Disclaimer: I haven't been.

Thanks, daisy17. It was further back than I had thought.

Has Bruni reviewed Bar Americain? I seem to remember that he had. If so, I can't find it, which makes me think that he hasn't. I'd appreciate a link, if anyone can find it.

Bruni gives Adour three stars.

Thanks. I know I'm in the minority, here, but schwa really underwhelmed me. That being said, I do hope to return now that Michael Carlson has renewed steam. His version of the quail egg ravioli is one of the most memorable dishes of my life.

And, so have I (enjoyed lunch immensely at Cafe Spiaggia). But, like you, I've never felt compelled to commit a meal to the dining room, despite the view. I've not been to blackbird since the summer of '05. (My gosh, time flies!) So, my opinion on blackbird may not be the most up-to-date. That being said, both times I've eaten at blackbird, I've truly enjoyed it. I would tend to agree with that. I have no hard evidence, but that seems to be my observation.

nyokie6, it seems, from the initial list of considerations you provided, you're looking for a more formal setting. However, in my experience, my best meals in Chicago have been anything but formal, they've been somewhere in-between: North Pond blackbird NoMi (under Sandro Gamba, it may be equally as good under Andrew Zimmerman; I can't say) Avenues (under G. Elliot Bowles, I will be anxious to see how/what Curtis Duffy does as successor) spring (albeit, I ate there four years ago) avec (volume 15, crowded, but good) Of the formal fine dining set, I would rank my experiences thusly: Avenues Les Francais (now defunct) Les Nomades Everest Vie TRU Charlie Trotters (service was amazing) moto alinea I've never been to Spiaggia.

It's small, crowded (with Chinese people), and has a long wait, but I was fairly impressed with what I saw of Shui Wah's dim sum program. No roaming cart wenches - this is a sit and order type place.

Sounds exactly like the original Japonais in Chicago.

I can't honestly say it's the best sushi restaurant in Kansas City. Actually, I couldn't even say that it's one of the better sushi restaurants in Kansas City. I don't eat sushi out in Kansas City enough to know. But, judging by the meal I had last night, Kaiyo offers some decent sushi. A few observations: 1. I was really (REALLY) turned off by the overwhelming fishy smell when I first walked in. It really put me off, as a stinky/fishy-smelling sushi-ya is the first sign that fish is either not fresh or not being stored appropriately, or, more likely both. My nose acclimated after 20 minutes. 2. Despite the smell, everything we tried seemed fresh. 3. They have uni (uni!!). It was served (too) cold, but was surprisingly fresh-tasting. No doubt, they don't get a lot of orders for it, so it's probably kept mostly/semi-frozen, only brought out for service as needed. 4. The sushi (the rice, that is) is pretty good - more aggressive with vinegar than most. I like it. 5. It's a lot smaller and more crowded than I had first imagined. Glad I finally made into Kaiyo.

Right after? Um, probably Local Burger.

Not even sweet potatoes when fried and seasoned? He doesn't know what he's missing. More sweet potato fries for us!

Has anyone been to Locanda Locatelli lately?

Is there another thread on Waterside Inn, or has no one posted since 2006?

That his review may not be representative of a normative Ko experience due to his isolated encounter (i.e. one visit) is the only objection that I can think of. I don't know. I've never been.

Grub Street says: Dusfresne offers lunch beginning April 23. 7-courses for $75, in addition to special lunch dishes.

I'm glad you did, corprip. Thanks for reporting. At this point, I'm not sure certain omissions (like posting hours, or a menu online) are simple post-opening inattention or deliberate avoidance. Regardless, I hope they stabilize enough to start getting the details worked out. I'll be interested to hear how you would compare chefBURGER with Blanc.

Monday through Saturday? I'm assuming that you mean that the $8 lunch special gives you a choice of ONE of several burger options and ONE side. If, indeed, you mean $8 for several burgers AND sides, that is quite a steal! For those of you who have been to both ChefBURGER and Blanc, what's the verdict?

dividend. Good for you, and good for us. Thanks for that nice report. Did you two share the Kobe burger? I love your description of it. Is there a "Genius Bar" in the back?

I guess to summarize my previous post: I don't mind paying for good, specialty bread as much as I do paying for what appears to me a second-service (i.e. leftover) bread. At Sarah's, charging $6 for that "Freshly-Baked" bread seemed a little insincere.

All good points being made, here. I have no objections to conservation; in fact, I encourage it. Certainly bread (and butter) is one of the biggest source of waste in the restaurant business. But I suspect that there would be considerably less bread wasted if: 1. Most of it was any good. Inferior restaurant bread is not only ubiquitous, it's sadly become presumed. 2. Diners were asked whether they wanted bread at all. Many times I would more than happy to reject it. In fact, I have been known to tell the server not to bother bringing bread. I appreciate the rising cost of agricultural products. I certainly think that charging $6 for a basket of bread is a bit steep. I failed to mention this on my blog, but for those of you who haven't ordered the bread basket at Sarah's, would your opinion change if I were to tell you that it included: (a) two (stale) croissants (that suspiciously resembled the croissants used for their chicken salad sandwich at lunch); (b) a couple of slices of "herbed foccacia" (that suspiciously resembled the bread from which the "herbed foccacia croutons" on their salads are made and the same that is used for their salmon sandwich (and a few others) at lunch); and © a few wedges of warmed pita (which didn't appear to be a leftover from any lunch item)? FWIW, the pita was the best of the three - it was served warm and it was incredibly fluffy and moist. Why they don't offer a pita wrap at lunch, in keeping with the apparently leftover bread theme, is a mystery to me.