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As befits a truly world class and cosmopolitan city, Chicago is blessed with an abundance of restaurant options to satisfy the wide ranging culinary curiosity of its citizens. From bratwurst and deep dish pizzas to Kobe beef carpaccio appetizers and truffled sauced entrees, Windy City restaurants serve up food fit for a king, many queens, and all their subjects. With the thousands of restaurants in the area, from small non-descript neighborhood joints to 5-star high-priced gourmet eateries, it was difficult for the BOI editorial staff to pick and choose which places to highlight in this Restaurants Issue. Thus we decided to turn to others who are often out and about and highlight some of their favorite places to eat. Who are these Others? Well, they are five of the most influential movers and shakers that bring spark and vitality to the city's nightlife and clubbing scene. Will Harrison, Arman Ravazi, Box Boy Rich, Matthew Harvat, and Bob Yeaworth all know how to throw one hell of a good party and they also know where to dine in order to enjoy a great meal. We asked them a simple question: give us your top restaurant recommendations for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Some of their choices may be expected while others may surprise you. Here's what they have to say. |
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Arman Razavi
Favoroite Restaurant
for Breakfast: "I'm not really into breakfast that much,
but Melrose Restaurant (3233 N. Broadway | Lakeview| 773.327.2060
) is the best place in the neighborhood. I can go there after
work and grab a quick bite." Favorite Restaurant for Lunch: "La Creperie (2845 N. Clark St. | Lakeview | 773.528.9050) is always a good choice for lunch. The food is great and the wine list is fantastic. During the warm months, I love sitting in their patio." Favorite Restaurant for Dinner: "It's a toss up. At Le Colonial (937 N. Rush St. | Near North Side | 312.255.0088), I love the grilled shrimp wrapped around a sugar cane appetizer and their sea bass entrée is to die for. If sushi is your thing, Sushi Wabi (842 W. Randolph St. | Near West Side | 312.563.1224) never disappoints. Lately, I've been loving their Ecuador maki with cilantro and their tuna tartar is delicious." Favorite Restaurant for Brunch: "After all of these years, The Bongo Room 1470 N. Milwaukee Ave. | Bucktown/Wicker Park | 773.489.0690) is still my favorite. Try one of their specialty Eggs Benedict, you'll love it."
Box Boy Rich
Favorite Restaurant
for Breakfast: "When it's not taking a cab through McDonald's
drive-through at 4am or stumbling into Melrose, I like Pauline's
Will Harrison
Favorite Restaurant
for Breakfast: "When I can get up in the morning I love
to hit The Original House of Pancakes (2020 N. Lincoln Park West
| Lincoln Park | 773.929.8130) for their really great blueberry
pancakes and down home Favorite Restaurant for Lunch: "Uptown Pizza & BBQ (1029 W. Wilson Ave. | Uptown | 773.275.5390) has great broasted fried chicken and it's one of the only places in the area for fried fish and good rib tips. Yummy stuff at a reasonable price." Favorite Restaurant for Dinner: "Gold Coast fine dining at NoMI (Park Hyatt Hotel, 7th floor, 800 N. Michigan Ave. | Downtown | 312.239.4030) with its great views is a special and luxurious experience. Further down the street and the price range is Grand Lux Café (600 N. Michigan Ave. | 312.276.2500): sister restaurant to Cheese Cake Factory but this place is so much better!"
Matthew Harvat
Favorite Restaurant for Breakfast: "I have to go with Nookies Tree (3334 N. Halsted St. | Lakeview-Boystown | 773.248.9888). Amazing omelettes as big as your head and fantastic specialty pancakes." Favorite Restaurant
for Lunch: "Moonshine (1824 W. Division St. | Bucktown/Wicker
Park | 773.862.8686) is in the middle of this white hot strip
of restaurants, retail shops and bars. This is the spot for amazing
salads, Favorite Restaurant for Dinner: "I'm still in mourning over the loss of The Pepper Lounge; however, there is one place that shines a light on creative dishes with flare and 'Top Chef' design: Sola (3868 N. Lincoln Ave. | North Center | 773.327.3868) The artichoke fritters with white truffle honey make my nipples hard. Followed up with their clever short ribs with snow peas and mushrooms. It's a wet dream served with a warm towel." Favorite Restaurant for Brunch: "As much as I want to give Nookies double billing, I gotta go with Tweet (5020 N. Sheridan Rd. | Uptown | 773.728.5576). Michele Fire's decadent love of food shows in every menu creation. Not for the calorie-conscious, it's southern richness with big city flare. From the amazing eggs Florentine to the spicy Bloody Mary's, this brunch is spot-on spectacular!"
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When
it comes to the nightclub and underground party scene in Chicago,
Arman Razavi is one of the most influential promoters around.
His Music 101 event promotion and marketing company (www.Music-101.com)
is responsible for the successful long-running Boom Boom Room
@ Green Dolphin Street on Monday nights. Music 101 also promotes
Wednesday nights at Spy Bar and the new house music invasion
of River North: the Radio Paradiso event at La Pomme Rouge.
Box
Boy Rich has been involved in the club scene for 15 years and
has seemingly worked everywhere, including Hunters, Buzz, 720
Club, Red Dog, Spin, Circuit, Avenue Tavern, The Copa, Hydrate,
and Manhole. He was involved (hosting, production and décor)
with the original successful Sunday gay night G.L.E.E. Club @
Crobar for 8 years and was a constant weekly sight dancing on
the box. Currently he's working at Roscoe's as a bartender and
lighting artist and is also involved with creating the bar's
décor and installations. Using his many years of club
experience, he recently started a new dance event called Superstar
Sundays (www.myspace.com/superstarsundays) that has been responsible
for the hugely successful "Space Disco" and "Operation:
M.A.R.Y." parties at Crobar.
(1754 W. Balmoral
Ave. | Andersonville | 773-561-8573). When I have to have my
steak and eggs I like to hit this friendly and cozy neighborhood
spot."
Will
Harrison, the owner of the visual design firm VISUWIL (www.visuwil.com),
may in fact be the most recognizable face in Boystown these days.
Harrison is ever present along the North Halsted strip promoting
the various ventures he's involved in, most notably the successful
monthly NITRO parties at Circuit for which he creates all the
visual concepts. VISUWIL is also known for its appealing retail
window displays & in-store promos (KAFKA Wine & Cupid's
Treasure) as well as for highly stylized visual themes for weddings
and corporate events.
atmosphere
and ambience! For post-clubbing breakfast the McDonald's in Andersonville
(5614 N. Clark St.) starts serving McMuffins and bagel sandwiches
at 4am."
Also
known by his 'Circuit Mom' stage name, this DJ and nightclub
performer has been a long-time fixture on both the local club
and national circuit party scenes. In addition to his front of
the stage and DJ booth appearances, Matthew has extensive experience
behind the scenes with his Circuit Mom Productions (www.circuitmom.com)
as a party promoter, event planner, DJ/dancer/performer booking
agent, and designer of club décor and installations. He
needs a bigger business card.
phenomenal blackened
turkey burgers and cute straight boy watching!'"
The
man behind the uber successful Clubhouse Productions, which
has catered to the social wants and needs of the city's gay and
lesbian people of color, is Bob Yeaworth. He's been a mainstay
on the Chicago nightclubbing scene for close to two decades and
involved with historical venues such as Deeks, Clubhouse, and
Pangea. Currently, Bob and Clubhouse keep busy with three recurring
events: the monthly "Urbano" party at Circuit Nightclub;
the weekly "House of Tut with Mz. Ruff 'N Stuff," also
at Circuit on Mondays; and the new weekly "Penthouse Sundays"
at Club 720. 
1.800.THE.CRAVE)!
I'm in the nightclub business and so when leaving a venue at
5am, nothing beats a "slider"!"