What the critics are saying . . .

. . . about:

Tallulah: "The most fun dish on the menu is the least impressive technically. That would be the spicy lobster deviled eggs, a gussied-up version of a suburban potluck staple augmented with lumps of Maine lobster. (Just what June Cleaver would have whipped up, had she found an extra $20 in her apron pocket.) At $7 for two eggs (actually two halves), this is either a pricey egg dish or a bargain lobster dish."—Phil Vettel (Chicago Tribune) Read it all here.

Veerasway: "'Hot Bollywood Lollipops' turned out to be crispy, juicy chicken drumsticks, three to an order, plated in little dishes on pools of chile sauce and "ranch" raita—a fun play on hot wings, though not nearly as spicy as the menu warned."—Alison Neumer Lara (Crain's Chicago Business) Read it all here.

Viaggio Ristorante & Lounge: "Had Viaggio turned out to be like so many other restaurants of its kind, restaurants where the red sauce has no nuance and the endless menu no soul, there would have been no reason to take the overabundance of food home. But instead, Viaggio deftly wrapped the food to go, where it could be picked at during the ride home, nibbled on while watching Letterman, and enjoyed until every last bit was gone."—David Tamarkin (Time Out Chicago) Read it all here.

He's got game . . .

Graham Elliot's masterful version of beef stroganoff. (Photo: Graham Elliot)


. . . and word is spreading fast about how hard it's gonna be to get into Graham Elliot Bowles' eponymous River North eatery.

And the critics—the pros and the foodies—are already weighing in on their experiences even though it hasn't been open for two weeks. Metromix got a first look and Chowhound's rabid readers get real on quirky menu items like PBR-soaked onions, a Buffalo chicken thigh, risotto with Cheez-Its and frozen foie gras covered in Pop Rocks.

Fabulous fetes, fests, fathers, Fiddlehead . . .

Spy Bar unveils its new hot look, including this sexy graphic wall, to the public on Friday. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)


It's time to give Pops his props, Old Town Arts Fest arrives and Spy Bar returns with a hot new look:

THURSDAY

Get ready for an Urban Renaissance as several local promoters host an exotic, Brazilian-themed event at Alhambra Palace. Party includes drink specials, deejays Mark Fulla Flava and Eddie Mills spin, and Brazilian dance shows (7:30, 9:30) will set the room on fiyah. 5pm-2am. No cover before 10pm.

Beginning today and every Thursday during Green City Market
season, Carnivale exec chef Mark Mendez features a Farmer's Market Prix-Fixe Lunch. The meal includes an entree, appetizer or salad, and seasonal fruit dessert for $19, and it's best enjoyed on Carnivale's relaxing outdoor patio. 11:30am-2:30pm.

The 13th Annual St. Jude Chicago to Peoria Run raises money for the world's largest childhood cancer research center. The benefit happens 7-9pm at Jbar. Stay for the Diva Series with Sarah Vargo Productions, featuring Snow Queen Vodka specials. Deejay Jesse de la Pena spins soul, funk, Latin beats and more. 9pm-2am. No cover.

Fiddlehead Café hosts its popular neighborhood wine-tasting event, which is themed this time around Wines of the Mediterranean. Guests get to sample more than 60 wines with light snacks. 6-8pm. $35.


The Farmer's Market Prix-Fixe Lunch at Carnivale will offer goodies like this beet salad. (Photo: Carnivale)


FRIDAY

It's time for the second installation of Project Art, which includes live art, dance and deejays at Victor Hotel. Hosted by PLS Magazine and Good for Party, the set includes specials on Hennessy drinks and visual art from Peabe, Revise CMW, Blutt and Joey Potts. Deejays Spre and Rahaan spin. 9pm-2am. No cover.

Outfit Events fetes two fabulous years in the biz with a party at Enclave. They're bringing back celebrity spin star DJ AM for what's cetain to be the wildest party of the weekend. 9pm-2am. $20-$30.


Spy Bar is the city's only nightclub serving tableside, hand-crafted cocktails like this mojito. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)


Say hello to the all-new Spy Bar tonight. 312 Dining Diva got an exclusive preview of its sleek, upscale interior—with hardwood accents, muted colors and a sexy wall with eye-catching graphics—that replaces the dark, mysterious setting that gave it a seedy vibe. Also, they've secured MK mixologist John Kinder to consult on a lustful list of cocktails like a traditional mojito as well Strawberry’s Drip (Belevdere vodka, a refreshing blend of fresh strawberry and lemon juice with a hint of lavender), Pineapple Chamo (Hennessy VS, pineapple, chamomile and Tarragon come together) and Sparkling Jasmine (Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label with an exotic blend of Tahitian vanilla, fresh citrus and soothing jasmine). Spy Bar is the only nightclub in the city serving tableside, handcrafted cocktails. 9pm-4am. Cover varies.

SATURDAY

Dan Marquis, the chef de cuisine at Bin 36, conducts the cooking demo at Green City Market. Event starts at 10:30am, but the market is open 7am-2:30pm. Free.

Get the bubbly on early at Pops for Champagne for the Paul Bara Champagne Tasting. Guests will taste three different cuvées from this legendary Bouzy producer considered one of the best sources of pinot noir. 3-5pm. $20.

It's that time again for the Old Town Arts Fest/Wells Street Arts Fest, but these things can get overwhelming! Meet up with friends at Spoon, where they'll be offering drink specials and then end the night at sushi fave Kamehachi, which stays open until 2am. 11am-2am. Donation requested.

SUNDAY

If your dad loves the links, then he'll probably want to check out Wine Styles' exclusive PGA Wine Tasting at GolfTec (2847 N. Halsted St.). Guests will taste five PGA Tour wines while participating in long drive and putting contests, all while watching final round action of the U.S. Open. Also, appetizers and PGA professionals on site for game improvement tips. 2-8pm. No cover or reservations.

For fathers who prefer to skip the crazy brunch hours, head to Cafe Selmarie for steak au Poivre, Jamaican jerk chicken or crispy Tilapia. All dads will get a complimentary specialty cocktail. Outdoor seating available; dinner service begins at 3pm.

A great week for Chicago chefs!

Earlier this week local rock-star chefs Carrie Nahabedian (Naha) and Grant Achatz (Alinea) took home the coveted James Beard awards.

Now, Chicago's own Stephanie Izard just won Bravo's "Top Chef!" She's also the first female chef to win the popular, chef-driven reality show. The Stew has all the details here, including the scene at Room21, where the official Bravo "Top Chef" finale party took place. This has been a historic week for our chefs and they cannot be stopped. Whoo hoo!

If you want to congratulate her, reservations may still be available for the Stephanie Izard-Nick LaCasse event at the Drawing Room on Sunday. The dinner's sold out, but the after-party includes appetizers with two seasonal cocktails created by Izard. Also, those who miss out on the dinner or reception can sample the winning dishes created by Izard and LaCasse for one week following the event. RSVP at 773-276-7582. $40 for reception at 9pm.

A 'Top Chef' gives props

Top Chef finalist Stephanie Izard dishes on her favorite Chicago spots to Daily Candy, including Schwa for the quail egg-filled ravioli, Violet for the tasty cappuccinos and Blackbird for fine dining.

Take a gamble on fun tonight

You don't have to be a high roller to have fun:

Bring your A-Game to Galleria Marchetti for Chicago Gateway Green's first-ever poker party that's a kick-off event for the annual Green Tie Ball. Hosted by Horseshoe Casino as a World Series of Poker Qualifying Tournament. Also Akira boutique will be upping the ante with a "Vegas"-themed runway show with fashions from Betsy Johnson, Anna Sui, Ben Sherman, Just Cavalli, BCBG Max Azaria and French Connection. 5:30-11:30pm. Call 312-994-2620 for more info.

Janine MacLachlan from The Rustic Kitchen is the special demo chef for Green City Market. As usual the market opens at 7am, and the demo starts at 10:30. It goes until 1:30pm. Free.

Who needs "American Idol" when we've got Pass the Mic, an open-mic night every Wednesday at Plan B Bar + Kitchen. Hosted by Chris Grant of Trippin’ Billies, a popular Chicago-based Dave Matthews cover band, the event includes solo acts and acoutic bands. And to give others courage, there's a host of drink specials like $3 well drinks, $3 domestic bottles and half-off on wine. 9pm. Free admission.

Visit Follia in June to check out Fashion Meets Art: Building Unity Through Charitable Threads, a showcase of one-of-a-kind shirts and ties from Beth Lambert of Scarlet Designs and fine artist Suk Ja Kang. Prices are $2,500 for shirts and $200 for ties. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Chicago Cares.

Indulge in Pinot in the Park at Park Grill, hosted by master sommelier Joseph Spellman, who has worked in Chicago's top restaurants, including Charlie Trotter's. The walk-around tasting explores lush pinots paired with a nice selection of hors d'oeuvres. 5:30-7:30pm. $30 AIWF members/$35 non-members.

We got an opening date

Pete Wentz's Angels & Kings lounge is set to open on June 21 in River North. Will new wife Ashlee Simpson make an appearance?! Stay tuned to find out!


We had the name first, then we had the location exclusively for the new Angels & Kings lounge that's owned by Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz and a host of local, high-profile bar owners. Now, we've got an opening date: Saturday, June 21.

Get ready to wear your best rock 'n' roll gear, y'all.

Attack of the Shark Bite and more . . .

Sola's Shark Bite cocktail packs a punch. (Photo: sola)


Tuesdays are tastier than ever:

You'll get not one, not two but three specials on Tuesdays at the highly regarded North Center eatery sola. A three-course, prix-fixe menu is $30 and highlights locally grown, organic baby carrots in June. It's also a chance to order the cocktail of the month—the Shark Bite—a refreshing mix of Absolut Citron, blue Curacao, lemonade, Sprite and grenadine. And get your happy ending with sola's new Ice Cream Flight, and choose from such delish flavors as brown butter macadamia nut brittle, ginger cream cheese and pineapple-macadamia nut.

Go for Marigold's new Indian Grill, which just launched last week. Each Tuesday, guests get a three-course tasting menu for $25 that changes every month. In June, the menu consists of grilled Ajwain shrimp served on a bed of carrots and green cabbage; roasted corn Bhuta and spinach salad with creamy cilantro yogurt dressing; and Tandoori chicken with a side of spiced garbanzo beans.

A deep-discount dinner is offered at Cleos, where you can chow down on the $6.99 half slab rib supper. You'll also be able to chill out on one of the best-kept secret outdoor gardens in the city. It's like someone's cool backyard patio.

Another fabulous deal is at Tizi Melloul in River North, where revelers get cocktails, appetizers and a hookah session for $10. This is the perfect hookup when you've got a large group.

And reservations are still available at the South Loop Sam's Wines & Spirits for the Winemaker Seminar with Hans vinding-Diers. The Tuscan winemaker for Cantina Argiano will sample wines from his own estate in Argentina, Bodega Noemia de Patagonia. 6:30-8pm. $15.