Cellar at The Stained Glass

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

The Stained Glass is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world, so it’s not surprising that The Cellar, which is owned by The Stained Glass, is now a new favorite. It’s just around the corner and a block down, and shares much of the same culinary philosophy.

When I go to The Stained Glass, I like to graze on the appetizers, ordering everything tapas style. At The Cellar, that’s the normal operating procedure.

Everything is delicious, and the prices are extremely reasonable. If anything, the portions are too big for tapas style dining; I’m sure two people could share a couple of items such as the salmon flatbread and Short Ribs sandwich and leave stuffed, with a tab under $30.

I just got home from a visit, and already I’m thinking about when I can go back!

Cellar at The Stained Glass
820 Clark St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-8678
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cellar-at-the-stained-glass-evanston

Walker Bros Original Pancake House

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

Justifiably famous for their apple pancake, which is more of a cross between a tart and coffee cake. Omelets are good too, and come with pancakes, so you don’t have to choose. The sprawling place is always packed, often with a line out the door, and there’s a reason.

Walker Bros Original Pancake House
153 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-6000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/walker-bros-original-pancake-house-wilmette-3

La Cazuela

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

It’s not fancy, just a store front, and there’s no guarantee you can order in English, but pointing works great, and the food is delicious. Fresh chips and two very different and tasty salsas with just the right kick will show up when you sit down. This is especially the place for fish, prepared in many different ways. My favorite is one of the simplest, Torta de Pescado, a fish sandwich that is almost criminally inexpensive. The delicious fresh made guacamole is also a steal. Highly recommended.

La Cazuela
6922 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 338-5425
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-cazuela-chicago-3

Moto

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

Moto is just plain fun. After you’ve tried the other great restaurants, it’s the place you keep coming back to for astounding food and an always memorable meal. Sure, it’s expensive, but you’re getting twenty crazy courses: A Cuban sandwich that looks like a cigar, fruit that looks like cheese, duck confit in the form of a cannoli, and a banana split served with pipets on my last visit. The wine pairing is very good, and the service isn’t stuffy at all. Come to relax and enjoy. It’s a meal you won’t forget.

Moto
945 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 491-0058
http://www.yelp.com/biz/moto-chicago

Habibi

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

Excellent Lebanese food, especially the hummus and tabouleh. The space is nice, but small, with only two booths and a counter, so the emphasis is on to go orders, but it’s a pleasant place to eat in, and the platters look as good as they taste. Because each item is prepared to order, it’s not exactly fast food, so be prepared to sip on a bottled drink while you wait for your meal.

Habibi
2451 S Hiawassee Rd
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 802-4242
http://www.yelp.com/biz/habibi-orlando-2

Taquitos Jalisco

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

Ten years ago my office staff and I used to drive to Taquitos Jalisco in Winter Garden because they had the best Mexican food in town. So we were delighted when a second location opened almost across the street from us.

Taquitos Jalisco serves authentic Jaliscan style Mexican food. Everything on the menu is fresh and diverse. The highlight is the Pastor, and authentic spicy pork mixed with cilantro and onions, then stuffed into gorditas.

An excellent way to experience all the flavors is to order the Plato Botanas. It’s listed as an appetizer sampler, but it makes a great meal, too.

I’ve been going to Taquitos Jalisco at least once a week for the past five years, and (contrary to what a couple of other reviews here say)  the food and service are consistently superb.

Taquitos Jalisco
2419 S Hiawassee Rd
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 296-0626
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taquitos-jalisco-orlando

Lee and Ricks Oyster Bar

Posted on by

IMG_7450

IMG_7451

IMG_7453 2

IMG_7453

**** (4 stars)

Part of the appeal of Lee and Rick’s is that it IS a dive. There’s something experiential about sitting at a concrete trough with a hundred layers of paint on it eating oysters served by girls wearing “I Eat Em Raw” T-Shirts. One of the best deals in town is the basket of shrimp, served hot or chilled (I prefer chilled). Mix up your own cocktail sauce from the provided condiments, add a few saltine crackers, and you’ve got a fresh shellfish feast for under ten bucks.

Lee and Ricks Oyster Bar
5621 Old Winter Garden Rd
Orlando, FL 32811
(407) 293-3587
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lee-and-ricks-oyster-bar-orlando

The Stained Glass

Posted on by
Tuna Tuna Tuna!

Tuna Tuna Tuna!

IMG_6919

***** (5 stars)

The Stained Glass is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world, and we’ve dined at some of the best. I always visit at least TWICE if I’m in the Chicago area. We love being able to put together our own custom flights of half glasses of wine, and then match them with several small courses of appetizers. The shared appetizers such as the charcuterie are particularly good. Servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and the ambiance is great. A neighborhood gem.

The Stained Glass
1735 Benson Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-8600
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-stained-glass-evanston

Ciao Italia Ristorante Italiano

Posted on by

Seafood pasta special

Interior

***** (5 stars)

Ciao Italia Ristorante offers surprising upscale and romantic decor for its strip mall location. There is little doubt that this is the best — and most authentic — Italian food in Orlando. All of the ingredients are extremely fresh. The sauces, seafood and vegetables are highlights, and are pretty much exactly what you’d get in a nice restaurant in Southern Italy. They also have the best garlic bread in Orlando, partially due to the freshness of the underlying bread, and partially to the generous amount of butter and garlic used to make it. Try the “chef’s salad”, a deliciously creamy lime, romaine and pine nut concoction. Reasonably priced.

Ciao Italia Ristorante Italiano
6149 Westwood Blvd
Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 354-0770
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ciao-italia-ristorante-italiano-orlando

Gator’s Dockside

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

This is Orlando’s best sports bar. It has all the TVs and atmosphere you expect in a sports bar, plus excellent food and service. Gators offers “grilled” buffalo chicken wings, which are prepped the normal way (with your choice of about a dozen sauces), but are then grilled, which makes them much less fatty than most wings. They also have great burgers, monte cristo sandwiches, and — surprisingly for a sports bar — excellent salads. It’s also a very good place for large groups. We have our company birthday parties here. Highly recommended.

Gator’s Dockside
5142 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 392-4669
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gators-dockside-orlando-3