Sunda came out on top in 312 Dining Diva's third-annual "Best New Restaurant Poll." (Photo: Sunda)
It's no surprise
Sunda was voted Chicago's
Best New Restaurant by readers of
312 Dining Diva.
Owned by the team behind the equally successful
Underground and
Rockit Bar & Grill, the Asian-focused eatery in River North offers all the elements of a dynamite destination: celeb appeal, great buzz, a uniquely exotic design scheme, and a top-notch chef in
Rodelio Aglibot.
Sunda Executive Chef Rodelio Aglibot. (Photo: Sunda)
Since opening in March, Sunda has received big props from local and national critics for Aglibot's take on modern Asian fare, including a
three-star review from the
Chicago Tribune's
Phil Vettel.
Another big honor for Aglibot this year was his third stint cooking at the esteemed
James Beard House in New York, where he whipped up signature dishes like
Petite Lemongrass Beef Lollipops with sweet Chile glaze and
Mama Sally’s Honey and Candied Ginger–Braised Midwest Long Ribs with Lobster-Scented Arroz Caldo. (He's also set to star in his own travel food show on
The Learning Channel in 2010.)
Hollywood A-Lister Jessica Alba was one of many stars to dine at Sunda in 2009.
Dishes like those make us understand why there has always been a steady stream of A-List stars coming through, including the likes of
Jessica Alba, Ben Stiller, Jeremy Piven, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Kevin Bacon, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Kate Walsh, Tyrese Gibson, Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Ali Larter, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams and
Randy Jackson.
In 2010, look for Sunda to get even more crowded as the newly launched
Sunda Social takes off.
The after-work affair happens 5-7pm Monday through Friday in the lounge, bar, sushi bar and at communal tables, creating an awesome opportunity to network with new folks. Guests get sushi/sake pairing combos for $20, including one flight of sake paired with chef’s choice of sushi.
