Friday, March 21, 2008

West Loop gets another one

Since we launched in November 2007, we've been on a roll with exclusives way before anyone else had them. And it's just gonna keep getting better!

312DiningDiva.com brought you scoops on Chicago Restaurant Week, Rockstar Dogs, Dirty, Schwa, Rustik, Berry Chill, Spy Bar (the reopening), Nia, Dana Hotel (and its incoming restaurants and bars), Rebar, Table 8, AK47, Soho House Chicago, ZED451 and more, more, more.

So ready for the latest?! One of my Ultimate Insiders told me that she spied signage for a new West Loop bar called Da Mark Lounge on Randolph Street. Working on getting that info, so this one is developing . . .

What the critics are saying . . .

. . . about:

Harry Caray's (33 W. Kinzie St., 312-828-0966). "Chicken vesuvio is a signature main dish, but it also scores as a hefty sandwich ($10.95). Served on sturdy tomato focaccia, the juicy chicken breast comes with a cup of vesuvio sauce and a choice of crisp steak fries or rather bland pasta salad. . . . For more zing and an athlete's portion, try the platter of five Italian sausages blanketed with grilled peppers ($15.95). I like these best tucked into crusty semolina rolls ransacked from the bread basket."—Laura Bianchi (Crain's Chicago Business) Read it all here

Nia (803 W. Randolph St., 312-226-3110). "Pata Negra, the famed Spanish ham, is on the menu, and it is frighteningly good; to make it even better, our excellent server encouraged us to pair it with the montelarreina, a Spanish sheep’s milk cheese."—David Tamarkin (Time Out Chicago) Read it all here

Union Pizzeria (1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-475-2400). "If you need a heartier meal, Union offers a single big plate each night – gnocchi or lamb stew or on Saturday nights, a rich duck ragu on a runny cushion of polenta that made me all cozy and gooey inside."—Christopher Borrelli (The Stew) Read it all here