The 'Triple Secret' Meatball Sub!

(Photo: The Fifty/50)


Today's Meatball Mondays dish comes to you from the The Fifty/50, an upscale sports lounge in Ukrainian Village.

Schwa's Closed For Renovations . . .

Steven Lee (left), wine director for Sixteen, with the acclaimed Schwa owner/chef Michael Carlson. (Photo: Steven Lee)


We found out the hard way Friday that Schwa super chef Michael Carlson—who's up for a Beard award next month—had decided to shut his restaurant down for the Easter weekend in order to make some renovations.

Yeah, four of us strolled up to one of the city's notoriously difficult places to get into at 8pm on a Friday, crossing our fingers that we just might have a chance snagging a table.

'Glee' Stars Spotted at Sushi Samba Rio

The entire cast of "Glee"—FOX's hit show about a high-school singing group—was in town Saturday taping "Oprah," so it's no surprise that they were out on the town later that night.

An Ultimate Insider tells 312DD that at least five members of the cast were hanging at Sushi Samba rio later that night.

BYOB, Baby!

There's no excuse not to be out this weekend.

The weather's amazing . . . it's Easter weekend and you've got a few extra $$$ in your pocket.

Since you don't want to spend it all, this is a good time to check out the city's amazing BYOB scene.

For instance, we're pretty psyched about the brand-new brunch at Sabor Saveur in Ukrainian Village.

Bring bottles of bubbly, and they'll supply all the fresh juice mixers as you chow down on French-Mexican-inspired dishes such as Chicharron and Black Beans Crepas served with mushrooms, corn, asparagus and pumpkin flower and Huevos Trufados (poached eggs served over a bed of figs, bacon and black truffle oil topped with Rober sauce).

Sabor Saveur's brunch is 11am-3pm Saturdays, Sundays. Entree prices range $9-$17; no corkage fee.

More BYOBs offering you more bang for your bucks . . .

April is National Grilled Cheese Month!

April 1, of course, is April Fool's Day, but it's also the start of one of the best occasions of the year: National Grilled Cheese Month.

As a self-described grilled cheese fanatic, I'd be happy to munch my way through any of these sandwiches:

Meet the 10th Season 'Check, Please!' All-Stars

WTTW's hit citizen restaurant review show, "Check, Please!" celebrates its 10th-year anniversary by bringing back its most memorable guests.

From the President of the United States to a sex-shop owner, the show's seen quite a cast of characters during its run. Peep the lid to see who just might be on for the 10th season this fall:

STAGE BITES: The Weekly Dining & Drinking Guide

Up-and-coming soul star Janelle Monáe performs at Schubas Tuesday.


Every Monday look for the week's top performances paired with the best deals before and after the show:

Cougars! The Musical at Greenhouse Theater Center. Don't let the white hair and church clothes fool you. These grannies can git down with the best of them, sip Cosmos faster than any of those chicks on "SATC," and hunt down fresh young meat. This is obviously a comedy. 10:30pm Saturdays through May 22. Get tickets here.

Gemini Bistro: A $31 three-course, prix-fixe menu is 5-6:30pm nightly at this trendy neighborhood joint. Must-gets include the risotto with roasted mushrooms, signature burger, and Amish chicken that comes with crispy breast, braised thigh and mashed potatoes.

Liar's Club: You're certain to be revved up after the show's over around midnight, so we suggest hanging out here for a few cheap cocktails and dancing to music you haven't heard in years.

Kingston Mines: If you're in the mood for the blues, Larry McCray is the headliner Saturday. Plus, the bar's open until 5am so you can wiggle your hips until they almost fall off.

Happy Anniversary, Chicago Diner!

The pasta and vegetarian meatballs at Chicago Diner. (Photo: Chicago Diner)


Lakeview vegetarian gem Chicago Diner boasts that it's been "meat free" since opening in 1983.

They're celebrating 27 years in business with a weeklong event where prices will be rolled back to original prices.