Restaurants in Chicago - Aladdin's Eatery

A middle eastern restaurant.

We ate a vegeterian combo as a starter, which was the standard hummus, falafel, baba ghanouj, tabouleh and wine leaves. The dishes tasted fine, but not exciting.

The Alladins Favorite Combo - the lamb and chicken tasted good. However the beef had tons of strings of fat in it which was very unappetizing.

The setting is simple, more like a nicer diner. They also served the sauces in little plastic containers, which seemed like for take-away food and not for a restaurant.

The service was ok.

We spent around $23 per person which was expensive for what it was. I would not call it good value for money. For that money you can go to the Sayat Nova (downtown) which will cost you about the same, but in a nicer setting.

614 W Diversey Pkwy

Chicago, IL 606014

773 327 6300

www.aladdinseatery.com

Restaurants Madrid - La Alpujarra (very recommendable)

This is a place off the beaten track in a residential area. You come here for delicious fresh fish.

The starter was a bit of a rip off, we paid 33,77 Euros for one starter, but the shrimps were very tasty (simple: just grilled covered with sea salt). 

One of their signature dishes is the oven-baked salt covered Corbina. The Corbina is a soft, white fish free of small fish bones. It is brought to you covered in a layer of salt and opened in front of you. It is served free of any bones. They had some sauces one could add to the fish (one garlic/olive oil, ketchup/mustard/mayonnaise and mayonnaise), but even the fish alone had a tasty flavour.

Service is not very welcoming, but it is nice to be in a place where locals go.

It is certainly not a cheap eat, but I would say it is worth 40 Euros per person, which is a reasonable price for fresh fish.

La Alpujarra

Plaza del Peru 4

Madrid 28016

Tel 91 345 50 12

www.la-alpujarra.com