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07/23/08

05:01 PM

Jimmy & the Blowfish

Mana Mia!

One of our top FODs checked out MANA foodbar (1742 W. Division St.; 773-342-1742), Jill Barron and Susan Thompson’s (Sushi Wabi and De Cero) new vege-focused boîte in Wicker Park. Herein the report, verbatim: “Just had lunch at Mana. Very organic. Reminds me a little of the Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC. Very small, like the portions. Blue cheese tart with caramelized onion was YUM!, but one bite full for $7. The spanakopita was more generous for $8—firm and very...

07/16/08

05:13 PM

Burgers, Bagels, and Boasts

Quick Hit

Perennial (1800 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-981-7070), the newest spot from Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz (Boka, Landmark), looks sharp. Natural organic touches dominate: birch trees, wood-grained tables, aqua-striped upholstered banquettes. The canvas flaps stretched across the ceiling seem a sly reference to Boka’s décor. But that was the beginning and end of any connection to the team’s other enjoyable restaurants. Wings and beer sounded like fun but the weird combo of...

07/09/08

05:02 PM

Doing the Bristol Romp

Monkey See, Monkey Eat

The Bristol, an “affordable artisanal neighborhood eatery and bar” from John Ross (former GM of One Sixtyblue) and a couple of other partners, is coming to Bucktown on September 9th. (We are sworn to secrecy on the location. Soon, readers, soon.) One of his partners, Chris Pandel, is a former sous-chef at Tru and right-hand man to Rick Tramonto; he says nothing on his regular menu at The Bristol will...

	Dining Out: Luxe Lives Forget the recession. In a trio of downtown hotels, three glittering, ambitious restaurants—Mercat a la Planxa, Sixteen, and Lockwood—appear to have done just that. Dennis Ray Wheaton
	Bars 2.0 No one's been able to come up with an adequate name for them—bastraunts? restobars?—but these restaurant-lounge hybrids have reached a critical mass. Their tantalizing promise of good... Miriam Gottfried
	Dining Tidbits Noodles, Budget Beat, Great Tip
	East Meets West The ultramodern new Japanese meat stronghold Ajasteak gets its Kobe beef straight from Japan. Jeff Ruby
	Southern: Big Jones Gumbo ya-ya and mud pie add a modern touch to Big Jones' menu Jeff Ruby

Jimmy & the Blowfish

Burgers, Bagels, and Boasts

Doing the Bristol Romp

Dining Out: Luxe Lives

Bars 2.0

Dining Tidbits

East Meets West

Southern: Big Jones

Front Burner: Carrie Nahabedian

Recipe File