Chicago-Scene mag's top picks for 2008

Chicago-Scene magazine polled some of the city's top tastemakers—including 312 Dining Diva!—and now the issue is out on the stands for the crème de la crème in dining, nightlife and so on.

Wanna know if your fave spots made it? Here are the winners for dining and nightlife. Enjoy!

Cocktail wants to get you bodied

(Photo: Bob Moysan)


First there was the show, and now there's a guilt-free margarita that won't knock you off your diet.

Nacional 27 (325 W. Huron St., 312-664-2727) manager/mixologist Adam Seger has created LookBetterNaked, a delicious cocktail made from all-natural ingredients, including Partida Reposado tequila, Sambazon organic acai, organic agave nectar, rosemary, egg white and fresh squeezed lime juice. Using Sambazon Pure Organic Acai Smoothie Pack and Partida Organic Agave Nectar fills the margarita with antioxidants, amino acids, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, cholesterol-reducing fructans and Vitamins A and C. The rosemary is rich in vitamin E, preventing cancer and skin damage. An egg white provides a lean source of protein, while the fresh lime juice prevents heart disease and gives an extra dose of Vitamin C.

So, bottoms up!

A first look at Takashi

Takashi's sauteéd Maine scallops (Photo: Tyllie Barbosa for Chicagoist)


What's up with Takashi (1952 N. Damen Ave., 773-772-6170), that hot new Japanese spot in Bucktown that everyone's talking about?! Chicagoist finds out with this first look, and they're lovin' it.

Local deejay not down with 'celebrity deejay' phenom

(Photo: Rob Zoom Photograph)


Deejay Paul Blair (a.k.a. White Shadow) sounds off on how he really feels about so-called "celebrity deejays" infiltrating Chicago nightclubs in an interview with Chicago Magazine's Sarah Preston on her
Last Girl Standing blog.

Also, check out DJ White Shadow on Thursday, Jan. 17, when he spins his stylish grooves at Crunch Fitness (939 W. North Ave.) for the Ultimate Body Detox benefit. All the proceeds from the party go to Active Chicago, a non-profit organization started by former "Survivor" contestant Mookie Lee to provide at-risk kids an opportunity to stay fit. The party also includes spa treatments from Asha SalonSpa, delectable bites from Landmark, Blue Water Grill and America's Dog, new Crunch class demos, Nintendo Wii Boxing and more. 6-9pm. $20. RSVP at crunchdetox@expagency.com.

Sip, swirl and socialize . . .

. . . tonight at Quartino Pizzeria and Wine Bar (626 N. State St., 312-698-5000), as the restaurant hosts its weekly tasting event. This January, on every Monday (Jan. 14, 21, 28), guests will enjoy vino from Tuscany’s Azienda Agricola Tiberini Vineyard.

Owned by brothers Luca and Fabio Tibrini, the Tuscan vineyard is working toward an organic production of wine that incorporates a minimal amount of pesticides and chemicals.

They're pouring the following selections to complement Quartino's recipe for classic Italian salumi:

Tiberini Rosso di Montelpulciano Podere Le Caggiole D.O.C. 2005
Pietroso Rosso di Montalcino D.O.C. 2004
Tiberini Vino di Montelpulciano Podere Le Caggiole D.O.C.G. 2003
Pietroso Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G. 2001
Geografico Vin Santo del Chianti D.O.C. 2001

Mondays 6-8pm; open-house style. $30 (includes a take-home bottle of one of the featured wines). Reservations are requested but not mandatory.

Deal of the day . . .

Niu's fresh raspberry mojito is $5 every Monday. (Photo: Niu)


New-ish Streeterville sushi spot Niu (332 E. Illinois St., 312-527-2888) is aiming to make a name for itself with an exotic "fusion" menu and a futuristic, clubby design. And while many of their sushi offerings are standard fare, there are some real standouts, too.

Start with the Crouching Tiger (lettuce wrapped with tempura shrimp and spicy tuna) or Hirame tapas (fresh flute, cilantro, kaiware, caviar, drizzled with sesame ponzu dressing), then order specialty rolls like the Aloha Albacore (crabmeat and spicy tuna topped with albacore, bonito flakes served with garlic ponzu and wasabi mayo sauce), Sexy Mexican (shrimp, spicy crab, jalapeño topped with avocado) or Energy (tempura eel, onions and cream cheese inside, topped with baked eel and avocado served with ponzu and eel sauce).

While the sushi and other entrees are at regular price on Monday, they're featuring $5 raspberry mojitos that would complement your meal nicely. And because Niu is right next door to AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St., 847-765-7262), you can finally catch up on all those movies you want to see.

More openings, updates to keep you in the mix

Popular Edgewater café Pressure Billiards is adding a full-service bar soon.
(Photo: Pressure Billiards)


Here. Are. The. Latest. Updates. OK?!

Café Suron (1146 W. Pratt St., 773-465-6500) in Rogers Park has its last day of business on Monday, Jan. 14, and then it's closing for renovations, according to a manager. It will be turned over to new ownership and closed for four weeks to be transformed into a sleek, Mediterranean eatery and renamed Tas. In its new life, Tas will offer a full-service bar.

And speaking of new liquor licenses, Edgewater fave Pressure Billiards (6318 N. Clark St., 773-743-7665) is a big hit with the neighborhood crowd for its open-mic comedy shows, specialty coffees and pool. Now they're expanding the venue to offer alcoholic beverages, so the vibe will certainly change into a more nightlife-y crowd, but expect it to remain a friendly, neighborhood establishment.

J. Randolph’s and Grill, which closed at the end of 2007 with La Strada, plans to reopen across the street at 150 N. Michigan Ave. in the lower-level space once occupied by the Alumni Club. Look for it in the summer.

A new Southwestern restaurant is scheduled to open this winter in Lincoln Square at 4520 N. Lincoln Ave. No word on the name yet, but of course, 312 Dining Diva is working on that!

And I'm also on the lookout for the name of the new wine and chocolate shop opening on the 2100 block of West Division Street (if someone knows, let me know!) in upcoming months. Customers will be able to enjoy wine on premises as they shop for chocolates.

And also:

BBop Lounge (Sedgwick St., 312-981-1775), a BYOB Korean BBQ joint, has opened in the old Heat space in Old Town.

In Humboldt Park, look for NXXT Restaurant & Bar (2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-489-6998) to debut in early February with an updated menu of comfort food. Word is that one of the partners was a former chef at Café Ba Ba Reeba! (2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000).

And yet another rock 'n' roll spot, Par-Lounge (1415 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-264-0669), quietly opened in Wicker Park in late December in the ill-fated Sweet Alice space.

If you can take the heat . . .

Ellee Pai Hong, weekend morning anchor of NBC-5 (Photo: NBC-5)


. . . get to Jake Melnick's Corner Tap (41 E. Superior St., 312-867-4908) and try the hottest wings in town. The lodge-like, Gold Coast sports bar is known for its delicious bar fare (burgers, nachos, Baby Back ribs), but now the Seriously. Ridiculously. Over-the-Top Hot Wings, made from the Guinness record-holding pepper Red Savina, are so hot that customers have to sign a waiver before they dig into them—due to the risks involved with direct consumption of the Red Savina (palate burning, eye damage and extreme discomfort, among them). Those who succeed in getting them down get a picture on their wall of fame.

One person who's certain to get her face on that space is NBC-5's weekend morning anchor Ellee Pai Hong, who chowed down on the super-spicy wings on her show Sunday morning during a segment with Jake Melnick's Chef d’Cuisine Robin Rosenberg. She ate several of the wings without batting an eye, while co-anchor Rob Elgas could barely get one down without gasping for breath and his eyes watering like mad.

Every order of the “Seriously. Ridiculously. Over-the-Top Hot Wings” is served with a personal fire alarm—a bell for the brave soul to keep on hand in case things get rocky. Jake Melnick’s staff has been trained to, at the sound of the alarm, come running with a full supply of tools for cooling off: sour cream, milk, ice cream, orange, sugar and white bread.

But, if you want to try those wings, you'll have to wait until Thursday, Jan. 17; Jake Melnick's is closed for renovations Jan. 14-16.

In the meantime, these places also offer some outstanding, but not that damn hot, wings:

Harold's Chicken Shack (1361 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-2424). The South Side sensation is known best for its sauces on the side. Order it HOT to really get the juices flowing.

Iggy's3 (800 N. Dearborn St., 312-573-070). The gourmet wings at the third version of this legendary lounge are just as good as ever.

McGee's Tavern (950 W. Webster Ave., 773-549-8200). Get a dozen
of the jumbo-sized wings in Original Spicy or Hot Devil. And every Tuesday, it's 10 cent wing night.

Yakzie's Bar & Grill. (3710 N. Clark St., 773-525-9200 or 506 W. Diversey Pkwy., 773-327-1717). Go for the "Oh My Gosh!" hot wings at these Lakeview spots; Diversey location is open until 4am.

Also, check out Citysearch.com's 2007 poll results for "Best Hot Wings" in the city.