Barrafina, Tapas Bar, London

Barrafina
Tapas Bar, West End, London

This is my favourite place to have tapas in London. There is a non reservation policy which you rarely find in London. The evening usually starts with queuing for one of the precious seats at the bar, but this period is so delightful because you can start off with a glass of wine or sherry, and some small tapas on the side.
Already "warmed up", the actual meal is delightful. I particularly like watching the cooks preparing my dish right in front of me, as there is an open kitchen behind the bar. The food is excellent, fresh and tasty. Great atmosphere!

Barrafina
54 Frith Street,
London,

W1D 4SL

www.barrafina.co.uk

Califa

This upscaled version of a taco stand no doubt sets the standard for quality tacos and impeccable service. Located in hip Condesa, A favorite for discerning afterparty munchers, Califa is open from around mexican lunch time (2:00pm) until late/early in the morning (5:00am).

Appetizers include "jugo de carne"; a delicious thick and spicy beef broth and "frijoles charros"; a soup-like preparation of beans with bacon, onions and peppers sided with freshly made "tostadas"; tortillas grilled to a crunchy state.

Favorite specialties include thin sliced grilled steak on a fresh-made tortilla topped with grilled cheese. To compliment your tacos you can always depend on ripe and flawless avocados and seasoned grilled onions. An assortment of freshly-made salsas are diligently set at the table upon arrival.

Tacos al pastor and gringas are the spicy mexican version of middle eastern shawarma; a 50 pound skewer of thin-sliced pork rubbed with spicy achiote that rotates side to a grill that slowly cooks to perfection the outer layer of the skewer. Top that with grilled cheese and onions and you have a gringa.

Vegetarian options include grilled cactus leafs and a variety of molten cheese combinations like mushrooms or peppers.

Caramel custard and sweet pot coffee round up a perfect late night meal.

Altata 22 (Alfonso Reyez near to Nuevo Leon)

Restaurants Ottawa - Kasbah Village

This is a Moroccan restaurant in downtown Ottawa. Downtown Ottawa is near the Parliament (for those not familiar with Ottawa). Usually downtown restaurants are not great because there are a lot of government buildings and the people may be less price sensitive, but this one is a little jewel.

We tried two Tagines dishes which are served with couscous. The M'Hammar (chicken with tomatoes and onions) and Zayane (lamb with prunes and almonds). I think both dishes were delicious. I find the prunes in dishes give a nice complete flavour and I was not so fond of very slightly cooked onions (they were not raw, but probably just added 1 minute at the end before serving it) in that dish. But that is probably personal preference. Next time I may try the chicken with prunes and almonds.

The interior is nicely decorated which is unusual for Ottawa. Service was also ok.

Main dishes are around 18 CAD which I think is good value for what you get.

Kasbah

261 Laurier West (between Bank & Elgin)

Ottawa

Tel 613-232-3737

www.kasbah.ca

Restaurants Vienna -Weingut Reisenberg

This is one of my favourite Heurigen in Vienna. It is in the middle of the vineyards and has a stunning view!

What is a "Heurigen"? It is a place where wine-growers serve the most recent year's wine. Today, they also serve simple food from a buffet. Generally the food is not cheap, so be prepared to spend around 15 Euros for simple bread spreads and roasted pork slices.

It is possible to get there by taking the 38 Bus to Wagenwiese and then walk up the Oberer Reisenbergweg next to the vineyards (you can click on the link to see the map). It is a beautiful walk!

www.weingutamreisenberg.at

Restaurants Vienna -Salettl

This is a nice brunch place with a pretty view. It is great to sit outside in the summer and look at the hills and Vienna woods. I would not go there for the food really, but rather the nice atmosphere.

I particularly like the huge Kipferl with ham and cheese!

Salettl Pavillon

Hartaeckerstrasse 80

1190 Vienna

Restaurants Vienna - Mas

This is one of my favourite brunch places in Vienna.

They have a huge variety of choices for breakfast from cereals, cheeses, fruits, omelets, waffles to fresh orange juice. It is a very relaxed atmosphere and one can hang out there with friends on a Sunday tranquilly.

imas

Laudongasse 36

1080 Vienna

www.restaurante-mas.at

Restaurants Vienna - Regina Margherita

This is an elegant italian restaurant with an outside patio in the summer. It is in the Palais Esterhazy which is a nice setting and is central (not far from the Graben).

They have everything from simple Pizza (around 10 Euros) to Vitello tonnato (10,90 Euros) which is a delicious starter with sliced veal covered with a tuna sauce.

Regina Marrherita

Walnnerstrasse 4 / Palais Esterhazy

1010 Vienna

www.barbaro.at/regina_margherita.php

Restaurants Vienna - Kim Kocht

This is a very original restaurant opposite the Volksoper in Vienna. One of the main downsides is that one has to reserve months in advance. Due to the difficulty in making reservations, I must confess, it has been a while since I have been there.

Kim is the owner. She has an interesting way of combining asian cuisine with european flavours. The 3 course meal before 20:00 costs 42 Euros, which is not cheap but I think it is worth it.

Kim Kocht

Lustkandlgasse 4

A-1090 Vienna

www.kimkocht.at

Restaurants London - Masala Zone

This is an average Indian restaurant chain in London. I have been to the one near Oxford Circus tube station. I would not say it is one of the best, but it is a practical place for larger groups.

Their curry and rice plates are generally ok and the service is quite quick.

The main dishes are around 14 GBP per head

Masala Zone

9 Marshall Street

London W1F 7ER

www.masalazone.com

Restaurants London - Khan's (very recommendable)

Khan's is a simple Indian restaurant in the Bayswater area which is cheap and tasty. Simple in the sense that there are no frills.

I like all their chicken curries, especially the ones with tomato and that are creamy. I also like the freshly squeezed Mango, Banana and orange drink they make!

Main dishes are around 5.15 GBP

13-15 Westbourne Grove

Bayswater, W2 4UA

+44 20 7727 5420

www.khansrestaurant.com

Restaurants London - Zaika (very recommendable)

I started this blog about 10 months ago and am still catching up on the good restaurants I have been to in the last two years. I thought I should add a couple more for London since I lived there for two years and will start of with Indian recommendations. Many people go to London wondering where they can get a good Indian meal.

Zaika is a great contemporary Indian restaurant in Kensington High Street in an elegant setting. It is not pretentious.

The food is not on the cheap side. A main dish costs around 20 GBP, but I find it worth it. I enjoyed the Mirch Murg and Tandoori Murg Makhanwala dishes which were both chicken dishes with a delicious array of spices.

If you do not have a lot of time in London, do not want to spend too much and want to try a modern Indian, then I would recommend the Urban Turban - it is a must!

Zaika Restaurant

1 Kensington High Street

London W8 5NP

+44 20 7795 6533

www.zaika-restaurant.co.uk

Restaurants Ottawa - Milagro Grill

Milagro Grill is in a very cute area of Ottawa called Westborough. There are many little boutiques, furniture stores, cafes there and it is basically a nice area to spend a Saturday afternoon.

After knowing real Mexican food and having been spoilt by the great options in Chicago, it is very hard to write about it without being a little critical. However, if you feel like comfort food this is certainly a good option and in the summer they have a nice patio.

We tried the mole enchiladas and the normal chicken enchilada. Both dishes tasted fine and were filling. The guacamole was a little disappointing because they had not made it fresh and so it was very brown and cold; they did not use fresh chilies, but something like a chili powder which did not make it taste like authentic guacamole (plus the tortilla chips were dripping in oil, but to be fair that happens in many places).

The prices are reasonable, but not cheap. The Mole dish was 13.50 CAD, the Enchilada 9.50 CAD and the guacamole 7.50 CAD.

Milagro Grill

367 Richmond Road

Ottawa, ON K2A 0E7

Tel. 613 722 8011

www.milagrogrill.com

Restaurants Washington DC - Kanlaya Thai Cuisine

This is a simple, but good Thai restaurant in China town.

Apart from the waiter that was a little spaced out and brought the wrong dishes, the food was ok. The Panang curry, which is a red curry was a little bit spicy but had nice flavours. The shrimps with a yellow curry sauce was everyone's favourite! The chicken with cashew nuts was alright, but it tasted a little more like greasy spoon chinese (simple sauce thickened with corn starch).

The food is not very expensive. The main dishes are around $10 including rice.

The desert: sticky rice with mango was a nice way to finish off the meal on a sweet note.

Kanlaya Thai Cuisine

740 6th Street NW

Washington DC 20001

www.kanlayathaicuisine.com

Restaurants Washington DC - Hank's Oyster Bar (recommendable)

This is a great oyster bar near Dupont Circle. You can do some serious oyster tasting here! You can choose them by areas; it becomes noticeable that oysters from different geographical areas have very different flavours. Some are more salty than others.

The sable fish had a delicious balsamic vinegar reduction which was delicious and light. The sweet potatoes were a nice side dish and the french fries were homemade which was nice.

Each oyster costs $2 and the main dishes were around $21. However a main is not filling so it is necessary to order 1 or 2 side dishes which each cost around 5$. So I guess, it is around $30 per person.

Overall I would definitely recommend this place.

Hank's Oyster Bar

1624 Q St NW, Washington DC

Tel. 202 462 4265

www.hanksdc.com

Restaurants Washington DC - Commissary

This is a great breakfast place if you feel like a hearty breakfast which is inexpensive (near Logan Circle).

The hash and eggs with multi grain is good, but they put a lot of sauce which makes the whole dish quite heavy. The Huevos Rancheros were simple, but tasty. A tiny bit on the greasy side, but I did not expect a healthy meal here.

The only thing I wish breakfast places would do is squeeze their own juices. They have a large variety of juices on their menu and when we asked if they were fresh the told us they were all packaged. The orange juice is fresh, but one can tell that they did not press it themselves (it tastes like Tropicana).

They have tables outside which was great since the sun was shining. We were lucky to get a table and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Each main dish costs around $8 which is a good price for breakfast.

Commissary

1443 P St NW

Washington DC 20005

Tel 202 299 0018

www.commissarydc.com

Restaurants Washington DC - Founding Farmers (recommendable)

If you are going to a conference or meeting in the IMF or World Bank this Restaurant is conveniently located at 19th street.

This is a great restaurant for lunch. It is a little bit on the expensive side, but the wait is not long and the food is all very fresh. One can eat the meat here without having a bad conscience since the animals were all treated well which is their main selling point

It is very American with corn bread, lots of sandwiches, but they also have healthy choices on their menu such as salads or fish. I tried the Plank salmon which had a delicious sweet maple syrup glazing. The others tried the Sand Barackwurst (a more sophisticated hot dog - with sophisticated I mean better meat etc) and the Cheeseburger which were both delicious.

(One thing I noticed is that they claim to make their own bread, but when I asked if the bread was with lactose products, the waiters said they have to call their bakery and ask.)

The main dishes were all around 13 USD, however the plank salmon was a little bit on the expensive side and was 30 USD.

Overall I would recommend this place for a quick and healthy lunch.

Founding Farmers

1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20006

Tel 202 822 8783

www.wearefoundingfarmers.com

Restaurants Ottawa - Edoko

This is a very average Japanese restaurant. All the chefs seemed to be of Chinese backgrounds which of course in itself is not bad, but unfortunately the sushi fell apart. The soup had very little flavour.

I guess for people that do not know Japanese food it may be ok to eat, otherwise I would definitely not advise to eat sushi here.

The Teppanyaki meal comes with a bland chicken soup and but perhaps it is fun cause you see the chefs grill the food on the table in front of you and they toss the knives in the air for show. Overall I would say not good value for money.

Perhaps Ottawa is not the place for Japanese food. I have not found a decent recent yet. I think that the average Thai restaurant here is better.

The Teppanyaki is around 26 CAD, so it is not great value for money.

www.edokosteakhouse.com

Restaurants Washington DC - Rice

Washington DC is a beautiful city with a good variety of Restaurants. The weather was very mild (everything is relative - comparing to Canada it is), especially this year and therefore it was possible to sit outside and enjoy ones food in mid November!

Rice is a nice little place in a very trendy area of Washington DC (near Logan Circle). The food is simple Thai food in a pleasant setting.

It is advisable to go there before 20:00 or make a reservation because after 20:00 it gets very full. For some it may become a little loud after a while due to the acoustics there. The food comes very quickly and the waiters bring the check at the same speed without asking if one wants anything else. So my impression was that it is perhaps not a place for a long chat or extensive dinner.

The main dishes cost around $16 each which is reasonable value for money.

Rice
1608 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Tel. 202-234-2400n

www.simplyhomedc.com

Restaurants Montreal - Le Bourlingueur

I nearly forgot about this restaurant! This was our first lunch in Montreal when we arrived. We were walking down the street and were very hungry, but soon realised this was a tourist trap.

The salmon was quite bland 17.75 CAD. The onion soup tasted fine, except the bread that came with it was a little bit of a shock as you can see from the picture. I had to take a picture of this! I do not think this should every be served ...

Le Bourlingueur

363 St-Francois Xavier

Montreal Quebec

Tel 514 845 3646

www.lebourlingueur.ca

Restaurants Sao Paulo - Figeuira (recommendable)

Figeuira, centrally located, it is within close walking distance from the main shopping area of Sao Paulo - Oscar Freire.

A huge tree in the middle of the restaurant patio is just the beginning of what is impressive here! They have beautiful drippy candles on thick wooden stands. This is not only a place for a nice setting, but also for outstanding food.

I started the meal with a delicious freshly squeezed pineapple juice. Then they serve a large plate of a variety of Italian nibbles: mozzarella balls, sun-dried tomatoes, grilled aubergines, a mushroom dip and some fish. All the flavors fit together perfectly.

As a main dish I chose the Argentinian Chopper with a shrimp and tomato sauce which was accompanied by mashed "Aipim", which is a stringy cousin of the potato. The other two who were with me at the restaurant tried the beef which I heard was divine and certainly filling.

The bill was around $50 USD per person. This is not a cheap place to eat, but certainly worth a visit.

A Figueira Rubaiyat

R. Haddock Lobo, 1738

Sao Paulo - SP, 01414-002, Brazil

www.rubaiyat.com.br

O do Borogodo Bar - Sao Paulo

This is a very unpretentious bar in the Vila Madalena area of Sao Paulo. People seemed very relaxed and diverse. It is a place to go for good music.

The Friday we went, the band playing that day tried something experimental, which was mixing Samba with Jazz, which sounded great. A lot of the time it was more chilling music, but due to the fun beats it inspired us to dance a lot.

A Brazilian “code of conduct” is to share beer. The bottles are 600ml and they give each person a small glass to share. Caipirinha are different from Europe or in the US, they do not only have the classic lime version, but offer a variety of Caipirinhas with Kiwi, Mango, strawberry and other fruit mixes.

Another thing to know about Brazilian clubs or bars is that you do not pay the entrance fee in the beginning. They give you a little piece of paper where every time you order a drink, they mark it and at the end of the evening they count how many drinks you have had and mark the paper as paid. It is important not to loose the paper because it can get pretty expensive losing it. I guess, like in a garage when you lose the ticket, they charge you the maximum fee.

O do Borogodo

R. Horacio Lane, 21 - Sao Paulo

SP 05432-030

Restaurants Sao Paulo - Nagayama

Since there is a large Japanese population in Sao Paulo we figured that Japanese food must be pretty good. So we went to a Japanese Restaurant, again in the Itaim Bibi area, called Nagayama. It is a restaurant that has become very successful and therefore there are three branches right next to each other. The café is supposed to be the most charming and modern one.

We tried the sushi and a salmon teriyaki. The salmon hand roll (Temaki sushi) had a generous portion of ground salmon in comparison to many other sushi restaurants. The salmon teriyaki was ok. Unfortunately they grilled it too much, so that it became very dry. Perhaps this was a bit unlucky, since everything else they were serving looked and smelled very delicious. So overall, I would definitely recommend trying this place if you are in the area.

We spent 57 Reais per person, which at the current exchange rate is about 30 USD per person. Recently the Real appreciated a lot, so prices will seem a bit high.

R. Bandeira Paulista, 355

Itaim Bibi - Sao Paulo -SP

04532-011 Brazil

Tel 3079-4675

www.nagayama.com.br

Restaurants Sao Paulo - Due Cuochi (very recommendable)

We went to a delicious Italian restaurant in the Itaim Bibi area. It seems popular for business lunches and looks a bit formal, but the atmosphere is not.

I tried the spaghetti with shrimps and a pesto sauce. My companion had the lamb with risotto, which was cooked to perfection. The rice was not overcooked with a lovely flavour of good Parmesan.

They also serve a delicious salad with greens and some dips with red olives as a free starter.

It is not on the cheap side, but good value for money.

We paid $25 per person.

Due Cuochi

Rua Manuel Guedes 93

Itaim Bimbi - Sao Paulo

Tel 11 3078 8092

www.duecuochi.com.br

Restaurants Ottawa - Mezzanotte

This is a good italian restaurant for a little bit more formal night out.

I tried the large square ravioli filled with lobster meat over a rose sauce. The flavours were light and although it was a creamy rose sauce it did not feel very heavy.

50 Murray Street

Byward Market, Ottawa

Ontario K1N 9K1

Tel. 613-562-3978

www.mezzanotte-bistro.com

Restaurants Ottawa - The Urban Pear

The Urban Pear is a great place for brunching! The portions may be a little bit small for those who are used to the huge portions at pancake houses. They however have very interesting food combinations.

We tried the Poached eggs with chorizo and winter kale, as well as pancakes that had an interesting maple syrup, cilantro and lime sauce. ($17.95) Everything was delicious and nicely presented.

It is recommendable to make a reservation before going there, since they do not have many tables and it is a popular place for Sunday brunch.

Unit c 151 Second Ave. Ottawa

Tel. 613-569-9305

www.theurbanpear.com

Coriander Thai Cuisine

Till now this is my favourite Thai restaurant in Ottawa. This is the fourth Thai place we have tried. The yellow curry with potatoes is delicious. It is a mild dish with lots of different flavours. Simple, but great!

It is a small place with simple decor. They try hard to please the customers.

We paid around 14 CAD for the main dishes, which I believe is good value for money.

282 Kent St

Ottawa K2P 2A4

Canada

Tel (613) 233 2828

Restaurants Morelia - Emilianos

So what are the Restaurants like in Morelia ... I do not want to compare the italian food here with Austria, since Austria has excellent italian Restaurants, which are super hard to beat.

I think the Emiliano's is a nice place to hang out with friends. They have a lot of mexican dishes such as arrachera and guacamole or shrimps (deep fried like tempura with a cocktail sauce). These dishes were all very tasty and even the Pizza tastes fine. I was pleasantly surprised this time because last time I tried their pesto dish I was I guess a little disappointed because I felt like having a dish with basil, but they did not have basil and replaced it with cilantro which of course tastes completely different.

We paid around 15 USD per person.

Emilianos

Artilleros del 47 No.1643

Morelia 58260

Tel 443 315 1035

Restaurants Ottawa - Haveli

So back to Ottawa!

There are a lot of Indian buffet type of places in Ottawa. Often they are greasy spoon Indian. Even though Haveli does not have the usual repertoire of butter chicken etc, it is a bit better than the others. The food tastes more authentic.

The food looks freshly prepared and they were very kind in telling me what kind of food is good for a Vata (Ayurvedic) diet.

I would say the buffet lunch is reasonable priced. It was around 15 CAD per person.

There are two locations in Ottawa. 

We went to the ByWard Market one:

39 Clarence Street

Tel. 613 241 1700

www.haveli.com

Restaurants London - Mildreds

This is a great vegan restaurant in the middle of Soho. It can get a little busy, so it is better not to be in a rush. Unfortunately they do not take any bookings.

It is not expensive, no frills and delicious! The main dishes cost around 9 GBP. It is hard for me to say which was my favourite dish. I liked everything I tried from vegetarian burgers which is healthy fast food like food to the mixed mushroom, porcini and ale pie with fries.

45 Lexington Street

London W1F 9AN

Tel. 020-7494-1634

www.mildreds.co.uk

Restaurants London - Le Pain Quotidien

I am not a big fan of chain restaurants and in London there are plenty. I did however enjoy Le Pain Quotidien at the Royal Festival Hall and in Marylebone. I think it is more of a breakfast or coffee/tea place rather than for dinners. They do serve dinners as well, but the food is not exciting. 

It is a tiny bit of the expensive side - perhaps around 20 GBP per person (they add the service to the bill).

They have nice fruit salads and a bread baskets with a large selection of spreads (I love the blandis and chocolate spreads). 

The setting is casual and since there are not that many small tables, be prepared to share a communal table.

Belvedere Road

Tel. 020-7486-6154

www.lepainquotidien.co.uk

Restaurants London - Maroush

There a couple of Lebanese restaurants by the same owner in London. I mainly know the one in Edgware Road, which I quite like.

The dish I always take is Shish Taouk which is charcoal-grilled skewers of marinated chicken cubes served with a delicious garlic sauce. The cost os most main courses are around 12.95 GBP, which is surely not only the cheap side, but I believe worth it.

The food comes and fast and the service is very quick. So perhaps not a place for a romantic dinner, but rather a more elegant fast food place.

21 Edgware Road

London

Tel. 020-7723-0773

www.maroush.com

Restaurants London - Benihana

Toptable has a great discount: 7 courses for 19 GBP. With the discount I think it is good value for money. Generally Toptable has a lot of discounts and gives you an opportunity to try out many places at lower prices. Great when you just arrive in a new city.

It is a set menu where one can choose from any 2: steak, chicken, prawns, salmon, black cod or seabass. The food is grilled on Teppan tables. The food is good, I would not say great, but partly it is just fun to see the cook the food in front of you. Personally I prefer Matsuri.

37 Sackville St

London W1S 3

Tel. +44 207 494 2525

www.benihana.co.uk

Restaurants in Chicago - Handlebar

I went back to Ottawa from Charleston via Chicago so that I would not miss the U2 concert here! Great to be back! U2 concert - no words ... the best concert ever!!

This is a casual bar or pub style restaurant with some seats outside. Most of their menu can be ordered as a vegan dish. I tried the asparagus & portobello gemelli with baby tomatoes, garlic herb white wine sauce, toasted and pine nuts. A nice change to have really fresh ingredients and no over-cooked vegies!

2311 W. North Ave.

Chicago, IL 60647

773 384 9546

www.handlebarchicago.com

Restaurants Charleston - Blossom

This is a restaurant with lot of fish choices as well, but with an italian touch.

They have a nice seating area outside which I enjoyed greatly. Usually I get cold easily, but the temperature in Charleston is pleasant this time of the year. Deliciously warm summer evenings with a very slight breeze.

Since this is a coastal town, I thought I gotta try as much fish as I can! They had a special - again with a local white fish with a lemon citrus butter and a delicious risotto. This time the risotto was made with chorizo, asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes which was around $28.

Blossom

171 East Bay Street

Charleston, SC 29401

www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com

Restaurants Charleston - Hank's Seafood Restaurant (very recommendable)

Yup Charleston South Carolina! I guess this is what they mean with southern charm.  This is a coastal city with lots of historical houses with large porches. Although I did not get a chance to see the coast this time because of the intense 2 day Pu-erh tea course, I have heard it is worth a visit. 

There is a big variety of restaurants to chose from. Most offer some kind of fish dishes, so it is not that easy to pick one. We went to Hank's Seafood Restaurant which looks quite formal when one looks at the website, however the people who go there are very mixed. Some go in flip-flops and others a little more dressed up.

The dish we tried was delicious:

Roast Grouper (sweet corn, leek, lobster and rock shrimp risotto with a champagne citrus beurre blanc which costs $27.95. We shared the dish and it was enough as a little bite in the evening. 

I found the risotto and their sauce especially delicious. It was a light dish with lots of different flavour notes.

Hank's Seafood Restaurant

10 Hayne Street

Charleston, SC

www.hanksseafoodrestaurant.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Takashi (very recommendable)

There has been a lot of fuss about this restaurant and it is well deserved! The chef has spent time playing with different flavour combinations and has really succeeded - an absolutely top restaurant!

It is a place of informal elegance - do not expect white linen.

If you go on Tuesdays you can try this great place for a three course prix fixe of $36, which is great value for money. This level of quality, detail and creativity usually costs more than a $100. (Unfortunately they have discontinued this prix fixe menu).

They serve the most innovative and gorgeous dishes in Chicago at an affordable price.

We liked all the dishes, but some of our favourites are:

-summer roll (gulf shrimp, avocado, asparagus, japanese omelet caper-golden raisin vinaigrette)

-warm baby octopus and fingerling potato salad with smoked parika, prosiutto, preserved lemon, chickpea mousseline

-seared maine skate wing with roasted stuffed zucchini, ratatouille, eggplant caviar, pistachio-caper vinaigrette

-chicken in clay pot (chicken, shimeji mushrooms, eggplant, haricot vert, yuzu juice); this dish was even able to enthuse a young teenager

The waiters are professional, but will make you feel at ease.

www.takashichicago.com

Restaurants Ottawa -The Green Door (recommendable)

This is a buffet vegetarian restaurant with lots of tasty dishes from vegetable curries to a mouth-watering avocado salad. You will be charged by weight, not per dish.

It is a funny little place where people seem to know each other or just start talking to each other because the tables are so close together. It is a great place for lunches (opening hourse are from Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 9pm). 

198 Main Street

Ottawa, ON K1S 1C6

Tel. 613-234-9597

www.thegreendoor.ca

Restaurants London - Cha Cha Moon

This is a simple chinese noodle place in the same style as Wagamama, but a little better.

It is quite fun to watch the kitchen make the fresh noodles.

We sat on long benches and were served our food at a super quick speed. It was extremely cheap in the beginning (around 3 GBP per dish), but the prices have gone up (around 5-7 GBP per dish) so in comparison to places like Ran, it is no longer good value for money.

There are queues, but they move very quickly.

15-21 Ganton Street

London W1F 9BN

+44 207 297 9800

www.chachamoon.com

Restaurants London - Zuma (very recommendable)

This is an upscale casual restaurant. In a way this is a Japanese style tapas place. So if one is a larger group one can try many small dishes and share them.

They have a large choice of warm dishes and sake. The average cost per person is around 70 GBP. I enjoyed all the dishes from the softshell crab sushis to the simple karaage (crispy fried lemon sole with spicy ponzu sauce and green onions).

5 Raphael Street Knightsbridge

London SW7 1DL

+44 207 584 1010

www.zumarestaurant.com

Restaurants London - Fino (very recommendable)

It is a trendy tapas place with a good wine list. Some say that the quality is not consistent, but I enjoyed it every time I went. It is a tiny bit on the pricy side but certainly worth it.

I am not very fond of squids in most places because they are extremely chewy. However Fino has tasty squids for 11.50 GBP, the classic tortilla for 5.50 GBP and the chorizo are all worth trying.

33 Charlotte St

London W1T 1RR

+44 207 813 8010

www.finorestaurant.com

Restaurants London - Nobu (very recommendable)

This is a great place to go to when you start exploring new flavours and dishes. I must confess though, if one goes several times it becomes less exciting and perhaps it is not such good value for money.

It feels a tiny bit formal, but one does not have to dress up if one does not feel like it. A lot of people go there very casually dressed.

It is definitely a place where it is necessary to make a reservation.

If you like people-watching, this is a place for you! I am not into people watching but I bumped into Cameron Diaz and Boris Becker there.

The dishes I like are:

Black Cod Den Miso 32 GBP

New Style Salmon Sashimi 12.50 GBP

Grilled Asparagus with Dried Miso. 9.50 GBP

Chocolate Bento Box with Green Tea ice cream is great too 9.50 GBP

I tried the Rock Shrimp Tempura with Ponzu which did not inspire me that much.

15 Berkeley Street

London W1J 8DY

+44 207 290 9222

www.noburestaurants.com

Restaurants London - Busaba Eathai (recommendable)

This is a great thai restaurant in London. It is simple and quick. The only thing is they do not take reservations, so there is always a little wait. Do not be put off by the queues though, they move quite quickly.

It is a tiny bit loud, so not for a romantic dinner, but fun for a night out with friends.

I like the following dishes and drinks:

-Jasmine smoothie (passion fruit, banana, orange, natural joghurt and jasmine) £3

-Aromatic butternut pumpkin curry with cucumber relish £7.50

-Coconut rice £2.70

106-110 Wardour St., London

+44 207 255 8686

www.busaba.com

Restaurants London - Ran (very recommendable)

I am a big fan of Korean food and have tried quite a few in London, but this is my favourite for the Bulgogi. This place is not only delcious, but great value for money! As you probably know, London is not known for cheap and good food. Quite the contrary, you will find a lot of average food for very steep prices.

My favourite dishes are:

Beef with glass noodles 5.50 GBP

Korean Flatbread (spring onios and seafood baked in a Korean dough) 6.40 GBP

Bulgogi (Korean beef BBQ) 6.25 GBP

Dolsot Bimbimbap (shreds of vegetables, beef, rice and a sweet chili sauce heated in a heavy stone dish) 7.95 GBP

58-59 Great Marlborough Street

Soho, London W1F 7JY

+44 20 7434 1650

www.ranrestaurant.com

Torino, Italy - Eataly Torino (recommendable)

Eataly in Torino is part of the Slow Food movement (www.slowfood.com), an alliance of small scale producers marketing their high quality food. It's an upscale supermarket, as wells having a dozen places where you can eat (offering everything from fish and steak, to pasta and pizza). The supermarket is excellent and the food is minimalist and good. This is the ultimate shopping, dining and drinking experience, and don't forget the gelato at the end.

Eataly, Via Nizza, 230, Torino Italy

http://www.eatalytorino.it/eatalytorino/welcome_eng.lasso

Torino, Italy - Mare Nostrum (very recommendable)

Mare Nostrum is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. Like all good restaurants they have a short menu: four starters (antipasti), first courses (primo piati), second courses (secondo piati) and desserts (dolce). It's a fish and seafood restaurant, the dishes are simple, but tend to have a twist, as you would expect from an excellent Italian restaurant. The grappa at the end is complimentary. The atmosphere is friendly and casual, somehow the place would work for anything from a business meeting to a romantic date. Having sampled several dishes I can only say that everything is excellent, and the menu changes, so go and be surprised.

Prices are reasonable for such a restaurant: The full menu is €50. First courses are around €15 and second courses a little above €20.

Mare Nostrum - via Matteo Pescatore,16
Torino - tel. 011.839.45.43

Chiuso la domenica

www.ristorantemarenostrum.it

Restaurants Montreal - La Maison du Bulgogi

It was my first time to Montreal. I loved it! A great vibrant city with so many restaurants from all over the world it becomes difficult to chose which one to go to!  

La Maison du Bulgogi was absolutely deeeeeelicous!!! A huge variety of Korean dishes. When you come into the restaurant your mouth is already watering from the great smells coming from the kitchen! It is a big room with simple tables and simple to no decor, so you would go to this place just for the food.

We ate the following:

-Bulgogi (marinated broiled beef) - one of my absolute favorites in Korean food. 12.95 

-Gam Ja Tang (pork bone with potato soup) - for those who are more adventurous and do not mind a little bit messy dish try this one. You get a plastic glove so that you can hold the bone and take of the meat without getting your hands dirty. The meat is very tender, flavorful, perhaps a little fatty for some peoples taste. Even if you just use the soup to pour over your rice it is very tasty. 7.95 

-Jap Chae (stir fried potato noodles with vegetable and beef) 9.95 

-Pa Jun (Korean style Pizza or Pancake with green onions and seafood) 12.95

2127 Sainte Catherine West, Montreal

Tel 514-935-9820 

Restaurants Ottawa - Palais Imperial Chines Restaurant

This is a greasy spoon Chinese. Very simple and cheap!

 

The dim sum are ok. I guess very different from the Chinese restaurants in London where they keep on coming past with a huge selection of different dim sum. If you order the menu with pictures of the dim sum, you can ask for some dim sum which you will not find on the carts.

We had the usual B.B.Q pork bun, Lo Mai Gai (sticky rice), Shu Mai and beef with ginger. I would say simple, but ok for a quick lunch. We spent $20.29 CAD for two people and were full.

311-313 Dalhousie Street

Ottawa ON K1N 7E8

Tel. 613-789-6888 

Restaurants Ottawa - Khao Thai

Yup that is right Ottawa! Well since the culinary scene is perhaps not as competitive or big, I will try and not be harsh, but rather try and compare restaurants locally. I will not compare them with restaurants in Chicago. All my quotes for Canada will be in Canadian Dollars, sorry for those who are looking at this from abroad. But it is quite easy to convert since currently it is approximately equal to the USD.

We had a dinner special $17.95 (fried shrimps with green beans, rice and a tom ka gai soup) and the Gaeng Karee Gai (yellow chicken curry with potatoes) $10.95, as well as some stick rice.

I would say it was a pretty good curry. The potato tasted unusual, but I am not yet sure if it is the flavour of the potatoes in Canada which is completely different or just this place. It is hard to describe but I wont get hung up on that - it is a detail. I particularly liked that the green beans which were crunchy.

Service & Atmosphere: I would say pretty standard. (For those who are used to eating out late, be careful in Ottawa, in some restaurants the last order is at 21:00!!)

103 Murray Street

Ottawa, ON K1N 5M5

Tel 613-241-7276.

www.khaothai.ca

Restaurants Cyprus - Ano Kato Soures (very recommendable)

This is a simple Cypriotic family-owned restaurant. I would say it is a simple, but tasty food with very friendly service.

We tried a set menu with the following for 12,50 Euros:

-dips (hummos, tzatsiki and cheese/chili)

-beef stew with a lovely tomato/red wine sauce 

-yoghurt desert with honey and cinamon

-cognac

The Soutzoukakia which were Greek style meat balls made of beef. The whole bill for two people was only 25,31 Euros - definitely good value for money!

Kleios 6 (Paphos Gardens)

Tel. 26 960063

Restaurants Vienna - Senkoma (recommendable)

Senkoma is a delicious Japanese restaurant in the center of Vienna (near the opera). The food they offer is Japanese fast food and the flavours are authentic.

What made them different to other restaurants were that they had a lot of Japanese dishes that are quick eats e.g. Katsu Kare, Chicken Kare, Katsu Don and Salmon Teriyaki. Their curry was homemade and the prices were very reasonable. Each dish costs around 7 Euros.

They have recently changed the menu and have become less differentiated from the other Restaurants, but are still good.

Kärntnerstrasse 44

A-1010 Vienna

Tel. +43-1-587-20-23

www.senkoma.at

Restaurants Vienna - Schloß Concordia

This is the first time I visited this fun Schnitzel place. It is right opposite the Zentralfriedhof Tor 1 (which is one of Europe's biggest cemeteries and contains numerous famous composers - Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schoenberg and the whole Strauss clan).

They have great Schnitzel creations like a Schnitzel with a popcorn crust and chili con carne in the middle. The portions are huge and not too expensive. Each Schnitzel costs approximately 13 Euros. This is a great place!

Simmeringer Hauptstraße 283

A-1110 Vienna

Restaurants Vienna - Akakiko

Akakiko is a Japanese fastfood chain in Vienna. I particularly like the one on Mariahilferstrasse (7th district in one of the main shopping streets of Vienna) due to its beautiful view. It is a terrace with views on the roof-tops of Vienna.

The food is average. Since I am not so fond of their Japanese food (very average), I always go for something Korean or Chinese. This time I had the Bulgogi Bento which is reasonably priced at 10,70 Euros.

Mariahilferstrasse 42-48

1070 Vienna

www.wozukochen.at

Wine Tasting - Inzersdorf Austria

This is a successful wine producer in a small town (Inzersdorf ob der Traisen) in Austria. This wine is not from the well-known Wachau area in Austria, but even more tasty than a lot of the famous brands and even received several awards for the best wine.

We tasted the following wines:

Gruener Veltliner - Zwirch 08

Gruener Veltliner - Der Wein vom Stein 08

Riesling - Der Wein vom Stein 08

Riesling - IKON 08 

Sauvignon Blanc - Giess 08

Sauvignon Blanc - Der Wein vom Stein 08 

I have not done a lot of wine tastings and therefore I will not even try and go there by trying to describe the wines I tried with a complicated vocabulary. I will just say, generally Gruener Veltliner are light wines. I enjoyed the Wein vom Stein 08. The IKON wines are sweet (not as sweet as desert wines) and tasty but difficult to pair with food. I personally enjoyed the Sauvignon blanc Wein vom Stein 08 which had a lovely fruity flavour.

Weingut Ludwig Neumayer

A-3131 Inzersdorf ob der Traisen

Restaurants Vienna - Landhaus Bacher Mautern (very recommendable)

This is an outstanding restaurant off the beaten track. Mrs. Liesl Wagner-Bacher is one of Austria's finest chefs and has 2 well-deserved Michelin stars for her restaurant. Not only is this restaurant situated in the picturesque Wachau wine area, but it was also noticeable from the very beginning that waiters treat each guest with special care.

I tried the delicious consomme with a meat strudel and as a main a Halibut with vegetables. Each meal was presented with a lot of care and visually inventive. Austrian food can be very heavy, but this lunch was very delicate and pleasant.

They also have an extensive wine list, which is not cheap, but impressive.

Südtiroler Platz 2
3512 Mautern an der Donau
Tel. +43 (0) 27 32 85 429

www.landhaus-bacher.at

Restaurants in Chicago - Nia Mediterranean

Surprisingly good! They have paella and many other tapas. It is a little hard to define what cuisine they really are.

All the food was good. Worth mentioning were the wild mushrooms with truffle and the bacon dates. Both these dishes were absolutely delicious!

The service was friendly.

It is good value for money. We tried many different tapas and spent only $33 per person.

803 W Randolph

Chicago, IL 60607

Tel. (312) 226 3110

http://www.niarestaurant.com/

Restaurants in Chicago - Kamehachi

It is an average Japanese Restaurant. No too expensive. So good value for money.

They have traditional Japanese fast food such as Katsu Don ($10.95) or Yakisoba or a Bento with Salmon and a California roll $15.95).

I would say that it is a great place for summer lunches. They have nice tables outside and the wooden floor gives it a nice atmosphere.

1400 N. Wells

Chicago, IL 60610

Tel. (312) 664 3663

http://www.kamehachi.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Karyn's Cooked

This is a good vegan Restaurant. But in my opinion it still does not beat the good old Chicago Diner's gyros.

I think that the most delicious thing on the menu are the smoothies (vanilla banana or a fruit mix with carob). The smoothies are no cheap around $4.50 each but are definitely worth it.

We also tried the bruschetta, hummus, falafel and meatballs. The flavours were all good. I like the taste of grilled food, but this flavour repeated itself in all dishes we tried and in my opinion the breads were a little too carbonised.

I must say that the double chocolate cake ($7) was a treat. Especially if you can not eat cakes with milk.

738 N Wells St. (Superior Street), Chicago, IL 60610

Tel. (312) 587 1050

www.karynraw.com

Restaurants in Chicago - Blu Coral Sushi

We must say apart from the service, the food is surprisingly good. We had a Caterpillar roll ($13), some Totoro Kani ($8) and a yellow tail hand roll ($5).

It is a good value for money place. It is much cheaper than other establishments in Chicago. They had live music which did not quite fit to the place while eating, but was nice for a drink with friends later on in the evening.

1265 N Milwaukee Ave

Chicago IL 60622

Tel. (773) 252 2020

www.blucoralchicago.com

Restaurants in Chicago - The Chicago Diner (very recommendable)

This is a great vegetarian/vegan diner. The choices are plentiful and all the food on the menu is delicious.

I would especially recommend the vegan cookie dough shakes ($5.50) and the Gyros ($8.99)! The flavours are great and the dishes are certainly filling.

Service is good and quick.

The decor is simple as one would expect of a diner. But it is especially charming to sit outside in the summer.

3411 N. Halsted

Chicago, IL 60657

Tel. 773 935 6696

www.veggiediner.com

Restaurants Vienna - Konoba

This is a new croatian fish restaurant. It is certainly not a place where one can go if one is in a rush. It took 20 minutes for the menu to come and took as 40 minutes to order. The whole meal took around 3 hours which was not a problem in our case since we were in no rush. But service is certainly not good and very improvised.

The fish was overall good. We ordered a fish platter which costs 37,50 Euros which would be enough for two very hungry people. For my taste they use too much butter and no other herbs, but some may like this.

This is not a cheap eat, but a nice change from the meaty Austrian food.

Lerchenfelder Strasse 66, 1080 Vienna

Tel. 92 94 111

www.konoba.at

Restaurants Vienna - Il Sestante

This is a favourite of many Viennese people. The Pizza's, especially the simple Margarita is very delicious (with real mozzarella). A lot of Pizzerias today do not use mozzarella due to saving costs, however it makes a notable difference.

This is is also a restaurant where one can sit outside in the summer. The tables are just outside the Maria Treu church which is a pretty setting. The Restaurant's interior decor is very simple and surely not for a romantic date, but it is certainly a place to go with friends and family.

The Pizza's and pasta cost around 10 Euros each.

Maria Treugasse 7/2, 1080 Vienna

Tel. 402 98 94

www.ilsestante.at

Restaurants Vienna - Steirerstoeckl

This is a place next to the Vienna woods (not central Vienna) with delicious styrian food. You can take the 41 tram to the end station Poetzleinsdorf and then go for a 10 minute stroll to the restaurant. The food is simple but with great flavours and fresh ingredients.

The main dishes cost around 12,90 Euros. I personally like the Bauernsalat (farmers salad) which has potatoes and bacon with a lovely pumpkin seed oil dressing. It is very tasty, but may not be filling enough for some.

It is pleasant to sit outside in the summer. The benches and tables are "Heurigen" style which are simple and made of wood.

Poetzleinsdorferstrasse 127, 1180 Vienna

Tel. 440 49 43

www.steirerstoeckl.at

Restaurants Mexico City - Italianni's

This is an Italian chain in Mexico City. If one wants a change from Mexican food, it is a nice alternative. But coming from Vienna, where Italian food is delicious, this is an average restaurant.

I had a simple bolognese which was good and the service was ok. 

We noticed that this is a place where a lot of locals like celebrating their Birthdays. In the hour that we were sitting there, 7 Birthdays were being celebrated.

www.italiannis.com

Restaurants Oaxaca -El Asador Vasco

This is a spanish Restaurant just by the city center (Portal de flores).

The main dishes were all very delicious and cost around 120 pesos. They also have specialities such as Chapulines con Guacamole (grasshoppers with Guacamole). The chicken with almond sauce was very tasty, as well as a nice and creamy sauce. Generally the food was all very good, but I prefer the La Casa de la Abuela which is just around the corner.

El Asador Vasco is a restaurant with a normal conservative table cloth decor and good service. The attraction of this restaurant is the nice view on the Zocalo.

Portal de Flores Num. 10

Tel. 514 47 55

www.asadorvasco.com

Restaurants Oaxaca -La Palapa de Raul

This is a local Restaurant where local people from Oaxaca go if they want delicious and authentic Oaxacan food. It is worth the drive 10 minutes outside of Oaxaca city center.

The food that we ordered was:

Cochinita Pibil (120 pesos) and Mole Almendrado (105 pesos)

Both were very delicious and with a whole array of herbs. The Cochinita had a strong cumin flavour which was outstanding. The Mole was a tiny bit spicy, but very enjoyable. 

The staff is friendly and the simple decor is inviting.

Maria Magarita Beristain Maldonado

Camino Analco No.2 Tlalixtac de Cabrera

CP.68270 Oaxaca Tel. (951) 5175 450

Restaurants in Chicago -Carlos (very recommendable for food not service)

The other time I went to Carlos, I was impressed by the whole experience: food and extremely attentive staff. This time the food was still excellent, however the service was very disappointing.

Regarding the food and wine selection at Carlos:

The extensive wine list is impressive.

We tried the salad with a mix of greens, pine nuts, watercress with a balsamic vinegar reduction. Even though it may seem like a simple task to make a good salad, this one was different and really worth trying.

As a main we tried the: Miso Marinated Halibut, Chanterelles Mushrooms, Bean Sprouts, Salsify and a Lemon Grass Emulsion

and New Zealand John Dory with Hawaiian Shrimp and asparagus Risotto.

The combinations were overall delicious and we would recommend the Halibut.

The only thing that was a little disappointing and one would not expect for a special restaurant like Carlos, was that the bread was a bit old and chewy.

Regarding the service at Carlos:

Unfortunately even though it was quite empty (only three other parties) the waiters did not attend us very well. It took 15 minutes for the waiters to take our order. When we wanted to order wine, we had to look out for them and try and catch their attention. They did not make an effort to explain anything and when some fruit was rotten and we let them know, they started mocking the comment so audible that we could hear clearly what they were saying in the kitchen.

Since dining is partly a whole experience, I am not sure if I would go there again due to the lack of service. However that is perhaps a good thing, since that will push me to try out new places such as Takashi & Mizu Yakitori which also are highly recommended for their food as well as service.

Carlos' Restaurant
429 Temple

Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: 847 432 0770

www.carlos-restaurant.com

Restaurants Los Angeles - Il Moro (recommendable)

This is a yummy Italian Restaurant in West LA. 

The fried frutti di mare platter is delicious. Even though I am usually not a fan of a batter, but this batter is very light. I also had the Spaghetti allla Carrettiera (Spaghetti sauteed with green olives, porcini mushrooms, chicken sausage and Bolognese sauce) which tasted outstanding. All the dishes we tried were super delicious, but this one is certainly worth come again for.

The service is very friendly and unpretentious.

This is a modern restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere. I particularly liked the beautiful outdoor patio which was very relaxing.

Pasta/Risotti cost around $20.

11400 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

Tel: 310 575 3530 Fax: 310 575 4911

www.ilmoro.com

Restaurants Los Angeles - Yong Su San

This is a traditional Korean restaurant in Koreatown.

The Jap Chai (glas noodles with vegetables stir-fried) and BiBim Bap (steamed rice and various vegetables, seasoned beef and oyster mushrooms with chili) are both delicious. The main dishes are served with a lot of little side dishes (spinach, bean sprouts and kimchi).

The atmosphere is simple, but traditional with a lot of wood. The service is friendly and quick.

Since LA has a huge Korean population, if you like Korean food it is definitely worth checking out some Restaurants there. There are some of the best Korean restaurants in the world there.

950 South Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006

Tel.: 213 388 3042 Fax: 213 388 2008

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