New Years Weekend in Lakeview and WIcker Park
Hi,
My husband and I will be in the Lakeview and Wicker Park neighborhoods this Saturday to Tuesday. We have reservations at Next for New Year's Eve night but are looking for other suggestions of restaurants not to miss.
Any ideas? Thank you!
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chicgail
Dec 30, 2011 08:13 PM
I can't speak much to Lakeview, but Wicker Park is a mecca for all kinds of restaurants, from upscale to funky; from American to ethnic. Can you say more about what kind of food you enjoy and maybe even the price point that you're comfortable with, ebtsquared?
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nsxtasy
Dec 30, 2011 08:23 AM
In Lakeview, I've eaten four times in the past year or so at Deleece on Southport, and all four meals have been fantastic. This contemporary American bistro is turning out superb food (and affordably priced) without the hype of some other places around town. It's a true neighborhood gem. You can read detailed reports in the Deleece topic at www.chow.com/topics/757360 Note that they moved down the street a few months ago; the correct address is 3747 N. Southport Avenue.
Another place in Lakeview worth considering is Mixteco Grill. They serve extremely creative provincial Mexican cuisine. They are closed Mondays.
For breakfast/brunch in Lakeview, I love Southport Grocery and Cafe, including some of their whimsical dishes like bread pudding pancakes and adult pop tarts. Beware, they have long waits to be seated on weekends between 9:30 and 1:00.
Near Wicker Park, another place with excellent provinical Mexican cuisine is Mexique, in West Town. Check out the menu on their website (as well as for Mixteco Grill), as their food is very different from the conventional Mexican food you find in most other cities this side of the border. This is a real local specialty in Chicago.
In Wicker Park, I recommend Bongo Room for breakfast/brunch (with the same caution about long waits on weekends). They specialize in creative pancake dishes, such as pretzel pancakes with white chocolate caramel sauce. Tip: A standard portion size consists of three GIGANTIC pancakes, but you can get one-third or two-thirds portion sizes at reduced prices, which lets you try multiple dishes.
If you enjoy pastries, my favorites include Floriole and Vanille in Lincoln Park (between Lakeview and Wicker Park), Alliance in Wicker Park, and Fritz in Lakeview.
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Bongo Room
1470 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642Southport Grocery & Cafe
3552 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657Mixteco Grill
1601 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613Mexique
1529 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622Deleece Restaurant (on Southport
)3747 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657Vanille Patisserie
2229 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614Floriole Cafe and Bakery
1220 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614Alliance Bakery
1736 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622Fritz Pastry
1408 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614›2 Replies-
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re: nsxtasy
nsxtasy
Dec 30, 2011 04:39 PM
A few places in Lincoln Park are also worth mentioning. (As noted above, Lincoln Park is between Lakeview and Wicker Park, and is convenient to both.) North Pond is an upscale contemporary American restaurant. In addition to James Beard-nominated Chef Bruce Sherman's food, what makes North Pond unique is its exquisite setting in the middle of the park, facing its namesake pond with the city skyline looming over the opposite shore. Perennial Virant offers contemporary American cuisine in a small plates format. And Boka is yet another excellent contemporary American restaurant in the neighborhood.
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Boka
1729 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614Perennial Virant
1800 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL 60614
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