Category Archives: Illinois

Taco Diablo

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**** (4 stars)

Easily the best Mexican food in Evanston. It seems the place has overcome some early management issues and is running smoothly with good service. The food is excellent. Fresh chips, two salsas (hot red and tangy green) served when you sit down. Everything comes with decent Spanish rice and tasty beans (bacon charro or black). I had three tacos: spicy shrimp (spicy as advertised, good slaw), potato (actually mashed sweet potato, surprisingly good with the fresh cilantro and onions), and catfish (really good, and I’m not a catfish fan). The house margarita, is a bit tart (which I like) flavorful and potent. The premium margarita is superb. Great atmosphere: upscale funky warehouse. Definitely worth a return visit.

Taco Diablo
1029 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 868-8229
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taco-diablo-evanston

Sarpino’s Pizza

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**** (4 stars)

This might not be the fastest delivery place in the world, but the pizza is excellent. I’ll admit it, I’m not a fan of Chicago style pizza, with its thick, saltine tasting pie crust. Sarpino’s offers a thin crust pizza, and an extra done option that makes it slightly crispy. The toppings are tasty and in the correct proportions. We like the basil pesto pizza and the veggie pizza. Allow 45 minutes to an hour for delivery. Check online for deals like two for ones.

Sarpino’s Pizza
2428 Main St
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 869-5555
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sarpinos-pizza-evanston

Edzo’s Burger Shop

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**** (4 stars)

Edzo’s makes a very good burger. Will it change your life? No. Is it the best burger in Chicago? Probably not. In fact, we think the burgers at the nearby Whole Foods are actually just as good. But what is great here are the french fries. I’m not a fan of limp, greasy fries like they serve at Five Guys. Edzo’s are crisp and always freshly made. They also have something called Old Fries that are left in the fryer for a REALLY long time, and they’re crunchy and great. There’s also a lot of exotic flavors of pop by the bottle, and some great shakes.

Edzo’s Burger Shop
1571 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3396
http://www.yelp.com/biz/edzos-burger-shop-evanston

Chef’s Station

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**** (4 stars)

I love the outdoor ambiance of this place on a nice evening, although inside is cozy and pleasant, too. Service is great: professional yet friendly. It’s a good sign when I see the same personnel year after year. The food is really top notch, and I feel under-appreciated, as this is a much better meal than at Oceanique, and it’s actually even more French than that place. One of the best upscale dining experiences in Evanston for sure.

Chef’s Station
915 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 570-9821
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chefs-station-evanston

Les Nomades

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*** (3 stars)

Not one of my favorites in Chicago. Service is stuffy and controlling, the pacing of dinner is too fast, and there isn’t a knockout dish on the menu. The decor is nice, and I suppose it’s a good place to impress a date or business associate, but there is better French food to be had in the Chicago area. Restaurant Michael in Winnetka, for example, offers a better meal at half the price.

Les Nomades
222 E Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 649-9010
http://www.yelp.com/biz/les-nomades-chicago

Quince

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**** (4 stars)

Quince is almost a great restaurant. The service is superb. The dining rooms are homey and a touch formal. And the food is good. There’s just no over the top dish to take it to the next level. A good reliable upscale meal in Evanston, better than Oceanique, not as good as Stained Glass.

Quince
1625 Hinman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 570-8400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/quince-evanston-2

Alinea

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** (2 stars)

I’ve eaten at some great restaurants all over the world, and I don’t get Alinea. It’s simply irritating. Yes, a few courses are knockouts. But there are also clunkers. The real problem, though, is the didactic nature of the place. We were instructed in how te eat almost every bite: “Put the whole thing in your mouth” (it was huge), “Inhale this smoke while you take a bite”, “”Don’t injure yourself on this ridiculous spike we served it on.” Then came dessert. They rolled out a rubber sheet, and several “chefs” literally smeared various stuff all over it in from of us. I am not making this up. Not only is this not the best restaurant in Chicago, it’s one of the worst fine dining experiences I’ve had in Chicago. Service is stiff, the decor is austere, I just don’t get it.

Alinea
1723 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 867-0110
http://www.yelp.com/biz/alinea-chicago

Siam Splendour

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**** (4 stars)

A pretty decent Thai restaurant that has parking, quite the novelty in Evanston. The barbecued pork skewer appetizer and the Thai salads are the stand outs, and the Pad Thai is pretty good, too. The chive dumplings were doughy and undercooked. Extensive menu, so there’s lots to explore.

Siam Splendour
1125 Emerson St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 492-1008
http://www.yelp.com/biz/siam-splendour-evanston-2