Friday, August 9, 2013

Cantina Laredo - Restaurant review






Website:  http://www.cantinalaredo.com/

Cantina Laredo is a chain of restaurants that is in the business of serving their version of 'gourmet' mexican food.  The Chicago location is a great space with a unique 'out door / indoor' seating area.  The patio is open during the summer months which makes the space appear large and very open.

The restaurant features table side guacamole which was decent.  I ordered the cheese enchiladas with mole sauce which were excellent.  Their mole is comparable to some of the best I have ever had (the king of all moles' in my opinion is still at Red Iguana in Salt Lake City, Utah).

Overall, this restaurant is worth checking out if you are in the mood for some quality Mexican food and great outdoor seating.





Friday, August 2, 2013

Ghiradelli - Review




Website:  http://www.ghirardelli.com/

Ahh Ghiradelli.  I used to frequent the location in San Francisco, CA during my tenure there and would get excited as a child who had just won a ticket into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory at the prospect of visiting the store.  I have known about the existence of the Chicago location for a while, but never had the opportunity to visit it until recently.  The experience was nostalgic for me, as it transported me back to the times I used to visit the San Francisco location with my wife and share an Ice Cream Sunday there.

The Chicago location seems to have a similar menu to the San Fran location, and the product quality is consistent with what you would get at the original location.  The ambiance is lacking a bit, though that is probably because I am comparing it to my experiences in San Fran.  The San Fran location is located on a slight hill overlooking the bay.  The location cannot be compared to the Chicago location that overlooks a busy street.  Regardless, Ghirardelli - Chicago is worth the visit, just come hungry.  They offer a range of different sundaes and chilled drinks.  There is also an opportunity to purchase some of the Company's products at the adjoining store which are worth a try for any lover of chocolate.

Overall, well worth the visit and calories.  Don't be surprised if you find yourself coming here frequently after your first visit.

Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar - Restaurant review



Dining date:  July 27th, 2013 & others
Website:  http://www.quartinochicago.com/

Quartino's has become my Italian restaurant of choice for the summer of 2013.  Quartino's has always delivered when I am in the mood to indulge in carbohydrates.  The menu is simple, yet highly effective for communal dining.  The service is attentive though not extraordinary.  Be forewarned, during the summer months the restaurant can get very crowded.  The restaurant has no problems fitting people into every corner of their restaurant.  Not all spots are comfortable, and I have found myself squeezed into an uncomfortable spot with very little room to maneuver myself.

The menu consists of traditional Italian fare, pizza's, pasta's etc.  The portions are small AND meant to be shared, so feel free to order extra entrees.  We typically order a pizza and a few different pasta's and share everything.  The food is of a decent quality, though falls far short of some other Italian restaurants in the city.  I find myself gravitated to the restaurant more for its ambiance and the ability to try a few different things over the quality of its food product.  I am not implying that it is bad, however, the food does taste like it has been mass produced to please their carbohydrate hungry patrons.

Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for its ambiance, and the ability to try a few different dishes without getting overwhelmed with large quantities of food like other traditional Italian restaurants.