Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
char-dogs and cheddar fries, the Wiener Circle is
the
place for drunken, late-night
munchies.
Alinea
MODERN AMERICAN$$$
$$$
( 312-867-0110;
www.alinearestaurant.com
; 1723 N Halsted St; multicourse menu $210-265;
5:30-9:30pm Wed-Sun; Red Line to North/Clybourn)
Widely regarded as North America's
best restaurant, Alinea brings on 20 courses of mind-bending molecular gastronomy.
Dishes may emanate from a centrifuge or be pressed into a capsule, a la duck served with
a 'pillow of lavender air.' There are no reservations. Instead Alinea sells tickets two to
three months in advance. Sign up at the website for details. Check the Twitter feed
(@Alinea) for possible last-minute seats.
Lake View & Wrigleyville
Clark, Halsted, Belmont and Southport are fertile grazing streets.
Crisp
ASIAN$
(
www.crisponline.com
; 2940 N Broadway; mains $7-12; 11:30am-9pm; Brown Line to Welling-
ton)
Music pours from the stereo, and cheap, delicious Korean fusions arrive from the
kitchen at this cheerful cafe. The 'Bad Boy Buddha' bowl, a variation on
bi bim bop
(mixed vegetables with rice), is one of the best cheap lunches in town.
Mia Francesca
ITALIAN$$$
( 773-281-3310;
www.miafrancesca.com
; 3311 N Clark St; mains $13-25; 5-10pm Mon-Thu,
5-11pm Fri, 10am-11pm Sat, 10am-10pm Sun; Red, Brown or Purple Line to Belmont)
Local
chain Mia's buzzes with regulars who come for the trattoria's Italian standards, such as
seafood linguine, spinach ravioli and mushroom-sauced veal medallions, all prepared
with simple flair.
Andersonville & Uptown
For 'Little Saigon' take the CTA Red Line to Argyle. For the European cafes in Ander-
sonville, go one stop further to Berwyn.
Hopleaf
EUROPEAN$$$
(
773-334-9851;
www.hopleaf.com
;
5148 N Clark St; mains $11-26;
noon-11pm Mon-Thu, to
midnight Fri & Sat, to 10pm Sun;
Red Line to Berwyn)
A cozy, European-style tavern,
