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The Chicago Reader

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Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Oct 3, 2019
Recommended
Israel’s melting pot cuisine is finally done right at Galit

It took a New Orleans chef to show us the way.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Galit, Galit restaurant, modern Israeli cuisine, Yotem Ottolenghi, Zachary Engel, Andrés Clavero, Lincoln Park, Zahav, Shaya, Ema, Aba, salatim, Middle Eastern cuisine, Lettuce Entertain You, masabacha, shakshukah, arak, Recommended

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Aug 2, 2018
Recommended
Aba, the new West Loop “Mediterranean” restaurant, serves food from the land of milk and honey

Lettuce Entertain You’s fancier companion to Ema
- By Aimee Levitt
- Tags: Restaurant Review, aba restaurant, Mediterranean, Lettuce Entertain You, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Apr 16, 2018
Video
Lettuce now praise Richard Melman, one of the greatest innovators in Chicago food history

Melman's Lettuce Entertain You chain did just as much as Charlie Trotter to make Chicago a center for innovative cuisine, the Reader's Elizabeth M. Tamny argued back in 2006.
- By Steve Heisler
- Tags: Archive Dive, Food & Drink, Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You, RJ Grunts, Maggiano's, Big Bowl, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, Ed Debevic's, Charlie Trotter, Elizabeth M. Tamny, Video

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Jan 23, 2018
Recommended
The pan-Asian S.K.Y. opens on Pilsen

Former Intro chef Stephen Gillanders’s vision alights on a gentrifying 18th Street.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Hot Star Large Fried Chicken, fried chicken, S.K.Y., Stephen Gillanders, Lettuce Entertain You, Intro, the Pump Room, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, pan-Asian cuisine, gentrification, HaiSous, Furious Spoon, Cà Phê Dá, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Sep 8, 2017
Video
Illinois to borrow $6 billion to start paying its unpaid bills, and other Chicago news

Also, Mayor Emanuel is trying to persuade Amazon to locate its second headquarters in Chicago.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, Bruce Rauner, Illinois General Assembly, Rahm Emanuel, Amazon, Jeff Bezos, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Transit Authority, Bernie Domagala, Chi-Town Rising, New Year's Eve, Lettuce Entertain You, Tru, Booth One, Pump Room, Ambassador East Hotel, Public Chicago Hotel, Ambassador Chicago Hotel, Rick Tramonto, restaurant openings, Doug Psaltis, Video

Blogs, Bleader Jun 1, 2017
Video
The New York Times: There are ‘some signs of hope’ in ‘Chicago's crisis of violence,’ and other news

Also, an anti-Muslim group is organizing the Chicago March Against Sharia.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, gun violence, gang violence, Chicago Police Department, Obama Foundation, Obama Presidential Center, Louise Bernard, Yale University, Washington, D.C., Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Thompson Center, Bruce Rauner, state budget impasse, Illinois General Assembly, Springfield, Southern Poverty Law Center, Muslim, Sharia law, Uber, Lettuce Entertain You, Beatrix, restaurant openings, Video

Blogs, Bleader Feb 1, 2017
Video
Caterpillar moving global headquarters to Chicago from Peoria, and other news

Also, wealth inequality between whites and minorities in Chicago is reportedly higher than the national average.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Caterpillar, business, Peoria, income inequality, Chicago, Illinois, Chicago Police Department, Garry McCarthy, Sandi Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr., Dick Durbin, Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump, restaurants, Publican Tavern, O'Hare International Airport, immigration issues, Dark Matter Coffee, Metropolis Coffee, Goddess and the Grocer, Lettuce Entertain You, soccer, MLS, Soldier Field, Video

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Dec 5, 2016
Worlds collide with Intro’s Japanese-Italian trattoria menu

Chef Hisanobu Osaka’s residency explores the affinities of two great world cuisines.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Intro, Japanese Trattoria, Lincoln Park, Hisanobu Osaka, Japonais by Morimoto, Momotaro, Lettuce Entertain You, Masaharu Morimoto

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Aug 17, 2016
Ema, the Israeli restaurant that’s not Israeli

Lettuce Entertain You’s new “Mediterranean” spot is all over the map.
- By Tal Rosenberg
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Ema restaurant, Lettuce Entertain You, Israeli, Israeli food, Mediterranean food, C.J. Jacobson, Yasmin Gutierrez, Summer House Santa Monica, Ema

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review May 11, 2016
Lettuce Entertain You phones one in for the whole family

It’s Italian for everyone at Il Porcellino in River North.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Il Porcellino, Lettuce Entertain You, Slagel Farms, Julian Cox, il Tricolore, Te' Jay's Adult Books, River North, Italian

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Mar 21, 2016
Recommended
Oyster Bah serves up the flavors of Maine on North Halsted Street

Lettuce Entertain You’s New England-style seafood shack in Lincoln Park is a crowd-pleaser.
- By Aimee Levitt
- Tags: Restaurant Reviews, Oyster Bah, Lettuce Entertain You, Rich Melman, Pete Balodimas, Seafood, Lincoln Park, oysters, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Fall Preview Sep 9, 2015
Intro hosts Jean-Georges Vongerichten protege Stephen Gillanders
- By Gwynedd Stuart
- Tags: Fall Preview, Fall Preview 2015, Intro, Lettuce Entertain You, Stephen Gillanders, C.J. Jacobson, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, S.K.Y.

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Mar 13, 2015
Recommended
Intro's first guest chef, C.J. Jacobson, brings west-coast sunshine to the midwest

The former Top Cheftestant gets Lettuce Entertain You's new concept off to a running start.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Reviews, Intro, Lettuce Entertain You, C.J. Jacobson, Top Chef, L2O, Girasol, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Jan 9, 2015
Osteria Via Stato was Italian in River North before everything was

River North stalwart Osteria Via Stato celebrates a decade as a pioneer of seasonal Italian food in River North.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Osteria Via Stato, David DiGregorio, Lettuce Entertain You, Rich Melman, Maggiano's Little Italy

Food & Drink, Food & Drink Feature Nov 13, 2014
Thirty of Chicago's most important moments in food

Nearly two centuries of Chicago's culinary milestones, from its first lunch counter to its first Olive Garden
- By Aimee Levitt
- Tags: Food & Drink Feature, Food Issue 2014, Chicago culinary timeline, William Sianis, Billy Goat Tavern, Garrett's Popcorn, George Apostolou, gyro, Parkview Restaurant, Rich Melman, RJ Grunt's, Lettuce Entertain You, Taste of Chicago, Charlie Trotter's, Juan C. Figueroa, jibarito, Borinquen Restaurant, Green City Market, Hot Doug's, Doug Sohn, Alinea, foie gras, Paul Kahan, Big Star, Olive Garden

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Oct 17, 2014
Recommended
RPM Steak: The Melman kids' Rancic-branded meat market is their best restaurant yet

. . . if you can stand the crowds long enough to find out.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Reviews, RPM Steak, Lettuce Entertain You, Giuliana Rancic, Melmans, River North, steakhouse, Paul McGee, RPM Italian, Recommended

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Jun 28, 2014
Recommended
Right and wrong: Sodikoff's High Five Ramen and the Melmans' Ramen-San

Hogsalt Hospitality and Lettuce Entertain You face off over noodle soup.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Reviews, Ramen-San, High Five Ramen, ramen, David Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Brendon Sodikoff, Santouka, Ramen Misoya, Lettuce Entertain You, Hogsalt Hospitality, cocktails, Paul McGee, whiskey, Japanase whiskeys, Doug Psaltis, cucumber, sesame, togarashi, uni, chicken, shrimp, pork, wontons, Studio Paris, tonkotsu, soy, broth, shiitake, mushrooms, vegetarian options, seaweed, bamboo, scallions, ginger, chashu, hanjuku tamago, eggs, kimchi, garlic, black garlic, Bub City, brisket, River North, shoyu ramen, tonkotsu, corn, miso, chile oil, Sun Noodle, temomi, noodles, ichimi, sansho, spiciness, marrow, Jeff Pikus, mirin, leeks, bean sprouts, pork belly, bushi, bonito, mackerel, tare, squid, Green Street Smoked Meats, sake, Asahi, beer, Recommended

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Mar 14, 2014
Rough waters at Kinmont

The Element Collective’s fish house falls short of doing great things with sustainable seafood.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Reviews, Kinmont, Duncan Biddulph, seafood, Element Collective, sustainable seafood, fish, Old Town Social, Nellcote, fried chicken, food trends, Leghorn Chicken, oyster bars, supper clubs, Field & Stream, Lettuce Entertain You, Rootstock Wine Bar, Lula Cafe, menus, entrees, appetizers, fisherman's stew, shellfish, oysters, mussels, celery, shallots, crab, salmon, salmon tartare, eggs, salmon roe, Au Cheval, smoked fish, dairy, smoked-trout reubens, trout, rye bread, sandwiches, sauerkraut, french fries, squid ink, shrimp, spaghetti, sturgeon, cauliflower, radicchio, cobia, butternut squash, black garlic, sardines, cocktails, beer, wine, desserts, apple pie, chedddar-caramel sauce

Blogs, Bleader Jan 30, 2014
It's all about the bread at Stella Barra Pizzeria

Lettuce Entertain You's Lincoln Park pizza joint makes great New Haven-style pies.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Stella Barra Pizzeria, Summer House Santa Monica, Lettuce Entertain You, Jeff Mahin, pizza, New Haven-style pizza, Neapolitan pizza, Piece, Eataly

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Jan 10, 2014
Summer House Santa Monica masters California artifice

The newest restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You is among the empire's most atmospherically successful.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Reviews, Summer House Santa Monica, Lincoln Park, Lettuce Entertain You, LEY, artifice, atmosphere, M Street Kitchen, design, decor, burgers, In-N-Out Burger, restraint, Jeff Mahin, Stella Barra Pizzeria, Do-Rite Donuts, vegetables, salads, seafood, steak, pasta, sandwiches, California regional dishes, fish tacos, mahi mahi, corn salsa, guacamole, prices, watermelon, skate wing, texture, soba noodles, dashi, bison, meat, ravioli, arugula, pesto, cauliflower, ribs, wine, California wines, zinfandel, pinot gris, bourbon, tequila, pisco, dessert

Food & Drink, Food & Drink Feature Dec 23, 2013
Our favorite restaurants of 2013

From suburban ramen to west-side barbecue to tiki time in River North
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Food & Drink Feature, Tumblr, Characteristically Unimpressed Mike Sula, new restaurants, criticism, Mike Sula, Sam Worley, Mara Shalhoup, Chicago Reader, Matthias Merges, A10, Paul Kahan, Nico Osteria, The Radler, Lincoln Square, Rainbow Cuisine, Wanpen Phosawang, Pramote Rukprueksachart, Spoon Thai, Ramen Misoya, Gene Kato, Mount Prospect, Sumi Robata Bar, River North, Japonais, Gastón Acurio, Tanta, Three Dots and a Dash, Paul McGee, Lettuce Entertain You, bars, restaurants, Dillman's, Brendan Sodikoff, The Berkshire Room, Benjamin Schiller, cocktails, Reno, Katie Wyer, Rickshaw Republic, Homestyle Taste, Chinatown, Bridgeport, Sze Chuan Cuisine, Ben's Bar-Be-Cue, Smalls Smoke Shack, Takito Kitchen, Carnivale, David Dworshak, Ajoomah's Apron, Billy Sunday, Blackwood BBQ, Chop Shop, Dusek's, Gogi, Johnny Casserole, The Little Goat, Milt's Barbecue for the Perplexed, Oon, Parson's Chicken & Fish, Sofi, Ward Eight, Yan Bang Cai, Ahjoomah's Apron, The Chop Shop, Dusek's Board & Beer, Little Goat Diner, Sofi Restaurant, Berkshire Room, dining in 2013

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Oct 29, 2013
Recommended
Three Dots and a Dash: Morse code for bliss

Paul McGee's tiki bar is an island paradise amid the River North flotsam.
- By Mara Shalhoup
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Three Dots and a Dash, Paul McGee, cocktails, The Whistler, Logan Square, Bub City, lounges, Lettuce Entertain You, River North, experimental bands, DIY art, galleries, dance parties, LGBTQ dance parties, bartenders, tiki bars, bar snacks, tiki cocktails, rum, rye, gin, tequila, genever, Luau Restaurant, Jet Pilot, Poipu Beach Boogie Board, Angostura bitters, lime, cinnamon, grapefruit, alernum, absinthe, rye whiskey, whiskey, Saturn, J. "Popo" Galsini, Aloha, Mexico, modern cocktails, classic cocktails, shrimp, chicken, pineapple, mint, tamarind, bitters, passion fruit, lemon, almond, punches, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Sep 26, 2013
Take a meeting with River North's Restaurant Beatrix

Or better yet, take it to go.
- By Stefanie Wright
- Tags: Food Chain, Lettuce Entertain You, Restaurant Beatrix, Aloft hotel, River North, breakfast sandwiches, juice bar, coffee shop

Blogs, Bleader Aug 15, 2013
Modernism with a side of vicarious travel: Chef Tim Graham on Travelle

How coastal Mediterranean wound up on the second floor of Mies's 330 North Wabash.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Travelle, Langham Hotel, Tim Graham, Brasserie Jo, Lettuce Entertain You, Paris Club, National Geographic, 330 North Wabash, Tru

Best of Chicago, Food & Drink Jun 19, 2013
Critics' Picks
Best Self-Taught French Pastry Chef

Judy Contino at Bittersweet Bakery
- By Aimee Levitt
- Tags: Food & Drink, Julia Child, French cooking, Judy Contino, Ambria, Printer's Row, Lettuce Entertain You, Bittersweet, Lakeview, Critics' Picks

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