Where to Dine - Chicago - page 78

North Pond AMERICAN Tucked away in Lincoln
Park, North Pond truly is a hidden treasure. You can't drive up to the
restaurant's front door: You must stroll along a path to reach the
building, which was formerly a warming hut for ice skaters. The
building's Arts and Crafts-inspired interior blends perfectly with the
park outside, and a glass-enclosed addition lets you dine “outside” all
year long.
In keeping with the natural setting, chef Bruce Sherman empha-
sizes organic, locally grown ingredients and favors simple prepara-
tions—although the overall result is definitely upscale (at these
prices, it better be). Examples of seasonal menu items include herbed
Parmesan gnocchi with braised rabbit, fava beans, asparagus, Wis-
consin ramps (wild leeks), and lovage (a celerylike green); poached
farm-fresh egg with wilted baby spinach and lemon-caviar butter
sauce; and grilled sea scallops with orange-Parmesan grain salad,
glazed organic baby carrots, and spiced lobster sauce. For dessert, try
a plate of artisanal cheeses or dark chocolate mousse with roasted
apricots and a hazelnut biscuit.
2610 N. Cannon Dr. (south of Diversey Pkwy.). & 773/477-5845. www.northpond
restaurant.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $29-$34. AE, DC, MC, V.
Tues-Sat 5:30-10pm; Sun 11am-2pm and 5:30-10pm. Lunch served June-Sept
Tues-Sat 11:30am-2pm. Bus: 151.
MODERATE
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! SPANISH & TAPAS One of the city's
first tapas restaurants, Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! is still going strong, thanks
to its location on bustling Halsted Street, near the Armitage Avenue
shopping strip. The clientele tends to be young and comes to the
restaurant in groups, so be prepared: Loud conversations and tipsy
toasts over pitchers of sangria may surround you.
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! isn't breaking any new ground with its menu,
but tapas lovers will see plenty of favorites, including garlic potato
salad, roasted eggplant salad with goat cheese, beef and chicken
empanadas, and roasted dates wrapped in bacon (which have been a
popular menu item for years). The menu has also been updated with
miniversions of more upscale fare, including a spicy devil's lobster
tail dish, a cured pork lomo with frisée salad, and a flavorful plate of
seared Spanish sausages. Some dishes are available in both tapas and
full-portion size, and there's a range of paellas for those who don't
want to go the tapas route. The vibrantly decorated cafe makes an
excellent, efficient choice for pre- or posttheater dining if you're
headed to Steppenwolf Theatre, a few blocks south, for a play.

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