116557 Wed Aug 25 23:46:41 -0700 2004 8 7 Chicago Area 0 636508 I am planning a celebratory, romantic dinner for my wife and myself. There are a few places I'm considering. I've never been to any of them, so I was hoping for some input. Which of the following would folks recommend and why: North Pond Pili Pili Japonais Le Buchon MK I also would appreciate any alternative selections. Wed Aug 25 23:46:41 -0700 2004 0 Gaucho 1 636520 North Pond is very comfortable and the tables are spaced far enough apart to afford some level of privacy. The noise level in the room is relatively low, the food is excellent, but the service was a little lacking - not bad at all, just not at the same level as the food. Of the places on your list I've been to, this is probably the best choice for a romantic dinner. Pili Pili is another comforatble room with excellent food. Haven't been in a few months, but it has come up on this board many times. A search will yeild reviews. Le Bouchon is one of the better bistros in the city - foodwise. However, it is a VERY small space with VERY tightly packed tables. This and the hard surfaces makes for perhaps the most deafening dining room I've ever been in. Add the constant knocking into the back of your chair by waitstaff trying to get between tables and diners at the table behind you getting up, and romance will likely be the last thing on your mind during dinner. This is a better option when you are in more of a festive party frame of mind. If you are interested in bistro food, try either cafe Matou or La Tashe. Both serve excellent food and are much better set up to deliver on a romantic meal. I haven't many mentions of Cafe Matou, but La Tashe has been reviewed several times here. Thu Aug 26 10:48:19 -0700 2004 636508 0 Ed E 2 636531 I strongly recommend something not on your list, Trio Atelier--the newly "re-concepted" version of Trio. First off, the new chef was the chef at La Tache, so he is solidly grounded in bistro fare (but kicks it WAY up at Trio). Second, the service is still up to the former Trio 4-star standard. Third, the prices are VERY reasonable--much less than MK or North Pond and on par with Pili Pili (I ate at Trio and Pili Pili last Friday and Saturday, respectively, and the tabs were virtually identical--although we had leftovers from Pili Pili and not Trio). Finally, the place is fun as well as romantic. If you don't want to venture as fart north as Evanston, then I'd recommend Pili Pili. Be sure to request a booth rather than a table if you want a quiet, comfy evening. Outstanding service and the food is better than ever with new chef Fred Ramos. Pastry chef Paula Haney is also one of the best anywhere (as evidenced by her tenure at Trio during its 4-star, fine-dining incarnation). Thu Aug 26 12:29:23 -0700 2004 636520 0 pugman 3 636542 Care to expand on your adventure to Trio Atelier? Thu Aug 26 14:21:58 -0700 2004 636531 0 kwe730 4 636551 Be glad to elaborate. I've been a huge fan of owner Henry Adaniya since he started Trio 11 years ago. They opened rather quietly last week, but I hope it will get noisy very soon. I already love the new place because "Trio Atelier" is FUNNY...funny-strange and funny-ha ha (and a damn good restaurant). For more coherent info, here's their website: http://www.trio-restaurant.com My Take, based on Two Visits: 1. Menu is small dishes (two/three bites for $2-$8), medium (normal app. size for $6-$12), large (entrees for $15-$25). Desserts are $7-$10, and I think you could add a "dessert amuse" and finish with mignardises for $5 more, to impart the Trio 3-course dessert experience that regulars love. Their format allows you to create watever kind of meal you want--supermodel-light to pig-fest (that would be me). 2. Service has been excellent--super professional, but still friendly. 3. Food ranges from a bit avant garde to homey. In the bizzare category would be a small dish called "salt" in which you get to dip tomatoes, hard-cooked eggs and potatoes in different types of salt (I know it sounds dumb, but it works and it goes along with their theme--see #6). On the opposite end of the spectrum is a pefectly roasted poussin with perfectly browned skin but still extremely moist flesh. One of the simplest--and best--poultry dishes within recent memory. For medium dishes, the braised veal cheek literally melts in your mouth (and was so rich that it would be best to share it with someone). Another medium dish winner is a white truffle chiffon (a warm, light custard served on puff pastry with some greens and mushrooms). A pecan and Cabrales (a blue veined cheese) tart was also a winner among the medium dishes. This one might actually be better after an entree in lieu of a cheese course (or instead of dessert). Henry said that the menu will change/evolve frequently, so don't expect to necessarily find these dishes on your visit. Oh, yeah: The gnocchi (with almonds, asst. veggies and brown butter) is AMAZING--everyone should order it so they don't take it off the menu. This is another one that's so rich you'll want to share it. 4. Dessert: Insta-favorite is "CPB"--chocolate cake sandwiching peanut butter sorbet and served with caramelized banana slices. Mini Creme brulees are served in several flavors from mild (vanillla) to wild (candied corn). 5. Wine: Small pours (3 oz) and large pours (6 oz) are poured from pyrex flasks (like in Chem class), so you know you're getting a fair--and fun--pour. Trio has a long history of stellar food/wine pairing, so just give yourself over to them. Wine prices are correspondingly reasonable. They also have cocktails again (the last chef nixed the hard liquor). 6. Decor: Odd and thought-provoking. More "conceptual art" than "decor." Henry said that he wanted to go way more out there, but the building has historic status and he couldn't mess with major elements. It's a strange mix--just like the food. Bare cement floors and fine-dining tableware; white linens and piles of pebbles on the tables. And big bags of salt all over the dining room. Bags and bags and bags. And some LCD monitors with various images of food and nature and probably salt. And some swimmimg pool furniture on the wall. (I told you it was odd.) Their new "bar area" has two communal limestone tables where you can have snacks and pre-/post-/instead-of-dinner drinks and snacks. This place deserves to be a big hit. They're hidden away on a residential street in Evanston, which is part of the charm, but also a potential problem. I hope the locals embrace it, because there's nothing else like it in the area. And don't compare it to any of the former incarnations of Trio--they've all been good, but this one is different. I hope people "get it." I think the new format will appeal to both the former Trio regulars (AKA major foodie types), as well as those who couldn't (or wouldn't) spend hundreds of dollars on dinner for two. Thu Aug 26 17:00:43 -0700 2004 636542 0 pugman 5 636559 Thanks so much! It's now on my list. After I read your earlier post I went into metromix to see if there was anything there on it. Oddly enough, the piece that they have posted begins by talking about the new version of Trio, yet somewhere in the middle switches to the former version of Trio, and then wraps up with the new version. Check it out. Thu Aug 26 23:45:24 -0700 2004 636551 0 kwe730 5 636624 You've piqued my interest. No reservations accepted here, correct? Sat Aug 28 09:49:13 -0700 2004 636551 0 Gaucho 6 636692 They take reservations for the first seating only; suggested if you want to do a more formal multicourse meal. I went again on Saturday prime time (approx. 8 pm) and there was only a short wait (real short; like 5 min). I imagine within a few weeks the wait tims will grow. BTW: Food was just as good as on previous visits. Of interest to wine enthusiasts: Good choices under $50 for full bottles ("fifty under fifty") and some great ones by the half bottle. We splurged on Paul Hobbs Chardonnay and Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir by the half bottle ($50 and $45, I believe). But the by the glass prices start at only a few dollars. Mon Aug 30 18:03:56 -0700 2004 636624 0 pugman 2 636561 I'll add La Sardine as an alternative to le Bouchon, if you want bistro fare. It's Le bouchon's sister restaurant (same ownership), in the west loop, and a much bigger space. The food is excellent, and the $22 tuesday prix fixe is a great deal. I also had a very good meal at Prairie a year or so ago, and would like to return, even with the $25-35 entrees. Fri Aug 27 01:33:29 -0700 2004 636520 0 Ed Fisher