For this article, I explored restaurants located around the Chicagoland area. I go around different parts of Chicago to try different restaurants and see if they live up to good reviews on Yelp. It is a good way to explore and dwell in different cultures by trying their food. Based on the ingredients they use, and spices that are from different locations, there are many dishes that are made to tie back to their ethnic origin. All important in learning about different cultures and creating diversity.
My top three restaurants are …
Carnivale, a Latin American restaurant located at 702 W Fulton Market. My tip is to always ask for a table in the main dining room, regardless of whether or not it’s your first time there. The scenery is beautiful. In the main dining room, you are surrounded by wine bottles, colorful decorations, dim lights, aerial silk, and colorful celebrity pictures. It’s a great way to see the restaurant and catch live shows and hear live music.
I’ve experienced different live performances such as dancing dragons, acrobats that hang from aerial silk, live bands, dancers, Latin entertainment, and aerialists. It’s a great place to go and try with family or friends, and even to go on a date. The best appetizer called “Ropa Vieja.” It is a taco antre full of flavor and it’s delicious. It consists of Braised beef, pickled onions, Aji Amarillo aioli, queso fresco, micro greens, plantain chips, sweet, and soft tostones which gives the tacos rich flavor. The best entree is the Arrechera, which is Wood-grilled skirt steak, congri, cherry bacon sofrito, balsamic onion, with salsa verde, which was outstanding. The drinks I recommend are virgin mojitos (if you aren’t into alcohol,) and the Cotton Candy Martini, which is Belvedere vodka, fresh lime juice, fresh grapefruit juice, and topped with huge cotton candy for people 21+ and older. Capri Ristorante is an Italian Restaurant, located at 6613 W Roosevelt Rd in Berwin Il.
The appearance is a beautiful classical restaurant with brick walls and great set up tables. The moment you walk in you are greeted and seated with great service. My tip is to go early or in the evening on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. It is quite empty and the food is able to come out quicker. It is a great restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, birthday, or just to go out with friends. Here the service no matter what day you come in on is great. I took a sip of water and the waiter came and filled it up.
Consistency in the workforce and dedication is shown greatly and is appreciated. The best appetizer is the Sausage Diavolo which consists of butterflied Italian sausage Stuffed with ricotta cheese, baked in spicy Diavolo red sauce and served with crostini points that taste as well well as it presents… Pairs well with Prosecco. The main entree called the “Forget about it” which is a lightly breaded chicken pan-fried and a generous topping of fresh arugula, red onions, cherry tomatoes with a balsamic reduction glaze. City Barbeque, which I had originally tried in Cincinnati Ohio, now located in Chicago. The restaurant has branched out five locations and one soon to be open.
You walk in and it has a modern rustic theme much like magnolias, with chalkboards and wood decorations. When you’re in line you’re able to see all the food and the meat smokers. What I appreciate about City BBQ is that all its meat is smoked on site, so if something runs out it’s because it takes up to 18 hours to smoke it. I also appreciate that their beef brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey, and smoked sausage are served without sauce. When you get your food there is a stand with about twelve different sauces and you choose whichever one you’d prefer.
The best meal to get is the sausage with pulled pork and beef brisket, with a side of corn pudding, Mac & cheese, and cornbread. For dessert, I always recommend you try the banana pudding no matter what BBQ you are at. They have specialty bottled sodas and beers which I recommend. If you like pickles it’s a good idea to try the fried pickles chip basket with chipotle ranch.
Sometimes we need tips when trying a new restaurant and I hope they help you and encourage you to go and try one of these restaurants during the next couple of weeks.
Priscilla Vargas
Features Reporter
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