Restaurants in Chicago -Picante (comfort food after a night out)

This is a place where you can come at 2 am in the morning for some fresh quesadillas. They have a couple of tables and chairs outside in the summer - so you can sit outside (weather permitting).

It is a simple place with no seating, but good fresh ingredients.

Three quesadillas (cheese with fresh basil and tomato) cost around $5.25.

2016 1/2 W Division

Tel 773 328 8800

www.picantetaqueria.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Sayat Nova (recommendable)

This place has a nice combination of good service, nice lighting which creates a cosy atmosphere, as well as decent food.

It is not on the cheap side, but overall I reckon it is good value for money.

The hummos was quite good and we also tried beef meatballs in a yoghurt sauce.

The main dishes are around $16. So if you decide to have a starter and a main dish you will spend around $25 per person.

157 East Ohio Street

Chicago, IL 60611

Tel. 312 644 9159

www.sayatnovachicago.com

Restaurants in Chicago -Chipotle (my guilty pleasure)

This is a Mexican fast food chain. One would think that since I have tried a ton of authentic food from Mexico, that perhaps I would not like this fast food. But I think some Mexican's would agree - it is a great, healthy choice for comfort food.

It is the best fast food chain I know. Fresh ingredients and quick. I love the salad (with beans, tomato, sour cream, cheese and if you want guacamole) there.

It is around $8 per person.

Restaurants in Chicago -Ay Ay Picante (very recommendable)

This is an authentic Peruvian Restaurant which is located approximately 20 minutes by car from the center of Chicago (north).

We were a large group so we were able to chose a huge variety of dishes. We tried the following starters: the seafood ceviche (a fresh fish dish with a lot of lime and some Peruvian chilies) and Anticuchos (Beef skewer marinated in vinegar with spices and garlic). If you are a fan of ceviches and sour dishes the ceviche here is very tasty. The beef skewer was also tender and seems to have been marinated for a nice bit of time since it had a strong delicious flavour of a combination of different spices.

The main dishes are very large, so we chose 7 main dishes between 9 people and that was plenty. My favourite main dishes were: Lomo Saltado (lean beef with tomatoes and onions on fries and served with steamed rice) and Aji de Gallina (breast of chicken cooked with walnut, milk and cheeses).

All dishes had a wide array of flavours and were a pleasant surprise.

It is also possible to bring your own wine.

The bill including tip was $24 per person. Main dishes are at around $14,50.

www.ayaypicante.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Smoke Daddy (recommendable)

If you are looking for some hearty food with some live music in the background, then this is the place to go. It looks more like a diner, but with a nicer atmosphere (vintage Chicago photos on the walls). Be sure not to be pressed for time because there can be more than an hour waiting time on a Friday or Saturday!

They have delicious baby ribs (tender meat) and pulled pork. Even the side dishes are yummy. The sweet potato fries with cinnamon and sugar are a great combination! And the macaroni & cheese are simple, but absolutely delicious!

One spends around $10-20 per person without drinks.

1804 W Division St
Chicago, IL 60622-6810
Tel. (773) 772-6656

www.thesmokedaddy.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Turquoise (very recommendable)

This is delicious turkish cuisine.

We went in a large group and therefore were able to try a large variety of dishes. They were all delicious and the service was good.

We ate the following starters:

-Sogurme (eggplant dip) - super creamy and delicious flavour, even people who are not such fans of eggplant will love the smoked flavour.

-Lahmacun (very thin dough with ground beef on top)

-Shepard Salad

They make their own bread which is a great plus - it is really warm and fresh!

As a main we all the different meats: lamb chops, ground lamb, chicken and beef. None of it was dry. All the meat was well prepared with delicious flavours, such as rosemary - especially noticeable with the chicken. (Main dishes cost approximately $19)

A dessert that everybody found special and tasty was the creme brulee, which was different from the traditional creme brulee.

We spent $40 per person which was good value for money considering we ate so much!

2147 W Roscoe St
Chicago, IL 60618-6271
(773) 549-3523

www.turquoisedining.com

Restaurants Cancun Mexico - Thai (recommendable)

I think this is one of the best places to go if you are in Cancun and not such a fan of the American Restaurant chains and you are looking for something a little different. Even though it is in the middle of a large shopping plaza, it does not feel like it at all. You can have a romantic evening as a couple or a chilled evening with friends listening to lounge music. I find it is nice for both!

This place certainly has a nice ambience. If you sit next to the entrance and coming at around 20:00, you may see dolphins swimming past the window of an aquarium behind you. The nicest spot is on the water. They have little individual palapas (each has its own table and sofa) built over the beautiful lagoon.

We tried all three soups Tom Yum  Goong (a clear soup with prawns, mushrooms and coriander leaves), Tom Kha Gai (coconut based soup with chicken and mushrooms) and Arawan (cucumber stuffed with pork). They were all flavourful. If you like sour flavours, the Tom Khai is a nice choice. The Arawan is the most original combination of ingredients. Pad Thai is very often mediocre, over-cooked noodles, but I find that this one was surprisingly good! The green curry and yellow curry dishes were not exciting, but very good as well.

The service is good.

Main courses vary but are around $10-20. The total bill per person was around 400 pesos (exchange rate at the time was around 15 pesos per dollar, so in dollars it was 26US).

La Isla Shopping Center, Local B-4

Cancun

Tel 998 144 0364

Restaurants Playa del Carmen Mexico - The Glass Bar (recommendable)

Every time we go there the food and service are consistently good.

This is a little bit more fancy restaurant. They bring a tiny (5cm wide) starter, which are compliments of the house. In one occasion they brought a beef tatar creation; in the end they brought a platter of tiny cookies, coffee truffles and other cookies.

We had a nice Arugula Salad, Spaghetti with a simple tomato sauce and a Risotto with shrimps. All the dishes are simple, but with fresh ingredients and a delicious flavour.

Another time we tried a lentil soup with crabs and balsamic vinegar, which was very filling, as well as delicious. It was a nice idea to add the balsamic vinegar - it gave the dish a nice twist. The tortellini with beef and a pumpkin sauce was a straightforward dish (hardly any spices), but worthwhile.

This place also has a nice selection of wines and Prosecco.

The service is very good. They immediately see when one has finished a dish and take away the plates. One never has to look for the waiters to come, which frequently happens in Playa del Carmen, since there are always a lot of tourists.

We spent around 375 pesos per person for a starter and a main course (exchange rate at the time was around 15 pesos per dollar, so in dollars it was cheap at $25).

Calle 12 No.218

Esquina 5 Av NTE Col. Centro

Restaurants Playa del Carmen Mexico - Yaxche

This is a traditional Mayan Restaurant. 

We had Mayitas de pollo which are delicious chicken fajitas with a delicious guacamole. 

The Cochinita Pibil which is pulled pork steamed with spices and served on banana leaves. Even though it was a pork dish, it was not at all oily/fatty.

One could sit outside next to the road. The ambience is basic (table cloth and candles) and the service is good.

The main dishes are around 130 pesos (at the current exchange rate that is around $9)

Address:

Calle 8 Nte Num 135 Local 5

Entre 5TA y 10A av. Col Centro

Playa del Carmen

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

Restaurants Madrid - Mades Warung (recommendable)

Delicious, light thai meal, with a nice combination of flavours. The dishes are presented nicely.

We tried the:

Chicken satay

Crab soup

Nasi Goreng with shrimps

Curry with chicken

The curry had a nice touch due to the fresh flavour of the lemon grass, however the Nasi Goreng was not very adventurous. It is a pretty standard fried rice with palm sugar syrup.

Overall, they try hard with the service. According to a local friend, they are unusually obliging.

The place gets full after 10pm and therefore I would recommend making a reservation. But this is a general rule for Spain. It is always good to reserve. If you however want to eat at 19:00 or 20:00 your problem wont be finding a table but rather and open restaurant (Spanish eat dinner quite late).

33 per person which is reasonable.

Mades Warung

calle Reina 15

Madrid

Tel 915 232 017

www.mades-warung.com

Restaurants Madrid - Arabia (very recommendable)

The most delicious humous I have had (nice and creamy, as well as not too much garlic)!! The entries are really recommendable.

Some of the main dishes (chicken fideos and the lamb) had a little bit too much sugar, but the cinnamon touch was great. 

Be sure not to drop the menu, like our neighbours did ... it will make everyone turn to your table. :-) They are wooden menus which is fun and different.

Service is average.

The place tries to imitate a beduin tent and is dimly lit - it is a nice place to eat with friends.

18 Euros per person which is good value for money.

Arabia

Calle Piamonte 12

Madrid

Tel 91 532 5321

Restaurants Madrid - La Tagliatella

La Tagliatella is located in the financial district of Madrid.

This place has a large choice of freshly made pastas which you can mix and match with numerous sauces.

We had: 

Taliarine with Tartufo e funghi

Pappardekke pepe nero with pesto rosso panna

I found the pasta delicious. I would say above average and could perhaps even compete with the delicious Viennese Italian restaurants, which are known to be quite good. 

We spent 17 Euros per person, which was a bit of a rip off for pasta. Had we known that one can share the pasta dishes, it would have been a reasonable price.

La Tagliatella

General Peron 40

Tel. 91 556 90 46

www.trastevere.es

Restaurants Madrid - Lateral

In the search for great spanish food.... PART 1. I have heard that there are tons of places for great food in Spain. I hope I don't board the plane on Monday singing U2's I still haven't found what I am looking for.

We had the traditional albondigas de ternera (meatballs), shrimp croquettes, patatas. It is a chain in Madrid where service is very fast. The food comes immediately, but is not very warm, which can for some not be as appetizing.

In Spain, bear in mind that there is not much respect for non smokers, so even in restaurants people smoke heavily. Even though the areas are separated it does not really make a difference.

It is minimal, but comes across unoriginal. Dimly lit with candle light. It seems more like a local meeting place which is nice an central, where do not really care about the food.

We spent 15 Euros per person, which I would not spend again and continue my search. 

Lateral

Velazquez 57

28001 Madrid

Tel 91 43 50 604

Restaurants London - Urban Turban (very recommendable)

I think this is one of the best Indian restaurants in London. I like the unique flavours and combinations. A great modern interpretation of Indian food!

The atmosphere is a combination of minimalist with a little bit of an Indian touch due to the colours that are chosen as the decor.

We tried the following dishes:

Tikki chaat: spicy chickpeas, potato cakes and tamarind chutney

Dahi batata papdi: potatoes & crushed papdi laced with sweetened yogurt & chutneys.

Tandoori chicken with makhani sauce

Saag paneer: spinach cooked with paneer tempered with cumin & garlic.

Dessert was a chocolate torte with caramelized nut base and ginger ice cream.

I thought the starters were outstanding, especially the touch of having the pomegranate seeds mixed with the Indian flavours in the Dahi batata papdi! Unlike the average Tandoori, which often dry, this Tandoori was grilled nicely and had an extra makhani sauce which complemented the flavour of the Tandoori chicken nicely. All main dishes were delicious and had a fresh taste. I think none of us thought that the dessert was spectacular, but did not ruin our impression of the place.

I would definitely recommend this place!

Our bill ended up being 25 GBP per person without drinks, which is great value for money.

98 Westbourne Grove

London W2

+44 20 72 434 200

www.urbanturban.uk.com

Restaurants San Francisco - Lori's Diner Ghirardelli

If you are looking for simple burgers with a nice view, this is the place to visit.

Lori's Diner has a beautiful view and simple comfort food at reasonable prices.

We paid $11 per person for a main dish.

Lori's Diner at Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point St, SF, CA 94128
(415) 409-1950

www.lorisdiner.com

Restaurants San Francisco - Alioto's

Alioto's is a fish restaurant. One has a stunning view (at the tables upstairs) of the Golden Gate Bridge, good service and the food is fine. It is a bit of a tourist trap, but I must say that the lunch menu is good value for money.

I had shrimps in a spicy (not very spicy) tomato sauce with rice. The taste was not very complex, but just right for a quick lunch.

The main course was $13 per person.

www.aliotos.com

Restaurants San Francisco - Scomas

Scoma is a great seafood restaurant which has a little bit of a touristy ambiance, but one hardly notices the surroundings due to the delicious fresh fish they serve.

The baked filet of petrale topped with mushroom and white wine sauce tasted delicious. The Alaskan Ivory King Salmon on crab ravioli was memorable too.

Certainly worth trying, especially if you like seafood!

The service is good.

$45 per person.

Pier 47 on Al Scoma Way
San Francisco, CA 94133

www.scomas.com

Restaurants Vienna - Plachutta Wollzeile (very recommendable)

If you like beef, this is the place to go. Great selection of numerous beef dishes, as well as the traditional Austrian Tafelspitz.

Tafelspitz - boiled beef with root vegetables, usually served with roasted slices of potato and a mix of minced apples and horseradish or sour cream mix.

If one is not into boiled beef, there are plenty of other great beef dishes to choose from.

This place is loved by locals.

Great value for money. We spent about 23 Euros per person without drinks.

Wollzeile 38
1010 Innere Stadt, Wien, Austria

www.plachutta.at

Restaurants Vienna - Figlmueller (very recommendable)

Deeeelicious Schnitzel! It is certainly touristy, but locals love it too!

There are two Figlmuellers next to each other near the city center (Stephansplatz). Most tourists wait for a long time to get into the crowded one in a small "passage". There is a much bigger one just around the corner with the same food and much more space and therefore no waiting time.

Schnitzel is a thin slice of veal/pork (there they have pork) coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Usually I am not such a fan of pork, but the Figlmueller Schnitzels are so thin and not at all stringy that it tastes delicious.

I also like ordering the natural grape juice with sparkling water (2 Euros).

Simple atmosphere. Service is super quick and good.

Probably the most expensive Schnitzel in town, but I certainly think it is worth it. (12,90 Euros for the Schnitzel). 22 Euros per person.

I have been there again in March 2010 and in my opinion they have become much more touristy. They serve ketch up with the Schnitzel and have long queues. So I would definitely recommend making a reservation.

Baeckerstrasse 6, 1010 Vienna

Tel. 512 17 60

www.filgmueller.at

Restaurants Vienna -Tenmaya (recommendable)

This is a traditional japanese restaurant conveniently located (near the opera and the famous Sacher Hotel - Sacher is the place where you can get the traditional chocolate cake) in the center. It has a Teppanyaki area and if you want to be with your friends in a more private setting, you can also book a private tatami room.

The food is good and always freshly prepared.

I especially enjoyed the Japanese green tea (Gyokuro).

A little pricey. Menus from 32 Euros per person.

Tenmaya Japanisches Restaurant

Krugerstrasse 3

1010 Wien

Tel +43 1 5127 397

www.tenmaya.at

Restaurants Vienna -Unkai (very recommendable)

This is a great Japanese restaurant on the ring (in the Grand Hotel). Usually I am not fond of Hotel restaurants, but this one is very good. They have traditional Japanese dishes from Sashimi to Sukiyaki. The quality and taste varies a lot though due to the chefs changing quite often.

Of course the food is not comparable to food in Japan, but considering it is not easy to get all the ingredients, it is quite authentic. It is my favourite place for Japanese food in Vienna.

The Sukiyaki meat is not as thin as in Japan, but still has a delicious flavour. They also add a wonderful selection of different mushrooms which are very tasty.

The Hamachi is supposed to be fantastic!

My favourite place for Matcha (green tea ice-cream).

40 Euros per person.

Restaurant Unkai

Kaerntner Ring 9

1010 Wien

Tel. +43 1 515 809 110

www.unkai-grandhotel.com

Restaurants Vienna -Danieli (recommendable)

Great Italian food - I particularly like their risotto! Not overcooked, light with a perfect blend of fresh ingredients.

The ambience is exactly how you would imagine an Italian Restaurant. I particularly like the area beneath the glass roof.

Perhaps a tiny bit posh. A lot of people go there for business lunches or dinners.

Good value for money. 30 Euros per person.

Danieli

Himmelpfortgasse 3

1010 Wien

www.danieli.at

NY Restaurants - Fatty Crab

Good food with nice touches. A little on the oily side.

Fun little place with a relaxed atmosphere. But must admit I went in an off-peak time - I can not imagine how it would be when it is full.

Service is fine, but not great.

Found it a little pricey for what it is. $40 per person.

643 Hudson St

Tel (212) 352 3590

www.fattycrab.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Morton's Steakhouse

Very consistent. Delicious steak, maybe not exactly value for money, but if you have a meat craving the portions certainly are satisfying!

Steak house in a little bit old fashioned atmosphere, but warm.

Excellent service.

$60 per person.

1050 N. State St.

Chicago, IL 60610

Tel (312) 266 4820

www.mortons.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Frontera Grill

Reinterpretation of Mexican flavours, but not venturing into fusion or creative combinations. This is not your every day Mexican Joint, so do not expect tacos. They have a great spin on the usual choices. Plus everything is fresh, bold and tastes authentic.

This is not the place for a romantic evening, but great fun for a group.

The Tequilas were good!

$40 per person.

445 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60610

Tel. 312 661 1434

www.fronterakitchens.com/restaurants/restaurants.html

Restaurants Chicago - Orange

Food is not consistent.

Last time I had great pancake flights. I wanted to go there again because you can create your own freshly squeezed juice combinations, but the food this time was disappointing. I had the french toast kabob which was very dry and half an egg shell was on the toast. The waiter did not seem to care.

$15 per person.

www.orangerestaurantchicago.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Bongo Room

One of my personal favourites for brunch in Chicago!

The eggs benedict are delicious and the pancakes are a such a tasty treat! The dishes are decadent and certainly not for people who are on a diet. ;-)

No reservations - usually 30-60 minute wait on a Sunday.

1470 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60642-2025
Tel. (773) 489 0690

Restaurants in Chicago - Nookies

Average brunch place with large portions. You will definitely not be leaving hungry!

Reservations are possible, but we still had to wait for 30 minutes.

$15 per person.

1746 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60614-5807
Tel. (312) 337-2454

www.nookiesrestaurants.net