The Terrace at the Trump (Chicago)

Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 401 N Walbash Avenue
Website: http://www.trumpchicago.com/fine-dining-in-chicago
Type of Meal: Snack

The Trump has a great location right by the water and close to architectural landmarks such as the Wrigley Building and Tribute Tower. Located on the 16^th floor, The Terrace opens at 2pm and is a great place to stop by for a drink or a late lunch/small bite.

With a peek of lake in the distance, the outdoor space has sun and shade, but most importantly cold drinks and comfortable seats to rest tired feet. Of course, the prime location doesn’t come cheap with glasses of wine and cocktails hovering around $20 - I ordered a decent sauvignon blanc for $15.

My husband and I shared the shrunken burgers ($28), three sliders made with plump wagyu beef patties. Cooked to a medium doneness, the meat is kept simple so the beef juices shine through. On top of the patty was crumbled white cheddar and arugula, on the bun house made ketchup and mayonnaise. Toasted brioche buns with some of the most evenly sprinkled sesame seeds sandwiched everything together.

On the side were piping hot spicy potato wedges with a cool mild blue cheese dipping sauce. Overall, a more than satisfying snack for two and could easily be a meal.

If you’re in the mood for a splurge they offer seafood options starting with the “Enter the lobby” to a tower of “Indulge the penthouse”. Yes, it’s a bit ostentatious, but subtly was never what the Trump brand was built on. Alas, no one indulged in the decadence during our visit so I cannot comment about the likely delicious looking seafood splendor.

Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

Read More

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap (Chicago)

Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 41 E Superior Street
Website: http://www.jakemelnicks.com/index
Type of Meal: Lunch

We found Jake Melnick's Corner Tap by chance while looking for a place without a wait and close to the Magnificent Mile. It was a great find with their laid-back friendly staff, hearty food and monstrous portions. Trust me, you want to share your food. Especially if you order the cobb salad, as the plates are platter sized.

My husband’s sloppy pig ($11.95) was absolutely delicious. A great combination of 14-hour slow smoked pulled pork in a thick sweet sauce, melted cheese, onion frizzles and something spicy (pickled jalapenos perhaps)? I loved how juicy it was and just ate forks of meat and cheese with fries, making my own poutine in the process.

Meanwhile, my BBQ beef brisket sandwich ($12.95) was decent but not nearly as good as the sloppy pig. The sandwich had plenty of 17-hour slow smoked brisket but didn’t have enough sauce, so it was rather bland. I would have loved to have a squeeze bottle or small dish of BBQ sauce on the side so that I could add more when necessary.

The fries were my favourite part – hot and freshly made with real potatoes. Additionally, there was a side of coleslaw which was creamy and sweet (not the best combination for me and hence didn’t put it on my sandwich) and slices of juicy dill pickles which was great at cutting the brisket’s richness.

All in all, I wouldn’t consider Jake Melnick’s to be a restaurant you have to go to while visiting Chicago. But, if you’re in the neighbourhood, it’s a great choice for larger groups and will fill you with enough energy to last the day.

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10

Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System

• Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
• 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
• 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
• 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
• 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
• 10 - absolute perfection!

Read More

Lou Malnati (Chicago)

Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 439 N Wells Street
Website: http://www.loumalnatis.com/
Type of Meal: Lunch

I vowed to not leave Chicago until I tried deep dish pizza. It’s strange, because the thought of the sheer amount of toppings didn’t appeal to me – at heart I’m a thin crust, adequately topped Neapolitan pizza type of girl. But, to not try something so iconic would be a shame.

Having been recommended Lou Malnati as an option from Chicago Food Scene, my husband and I happened to walk by it while exploring Old Town. So, we decided to stop for brunch, thinking this heavy dish would be more than enough for two meals.

Since the pizzas are prepared fresh, it takes about half an hour to make; so, we started off with a Caesar salad ($5.25). Oddly, their menu only offers the salad with grilled chicken, but we asked for the meat to be removed. It was a decent Caesar dressing that wasn’t too thick but still garlicky enough for my liking. I also enjoyed the diced tomatoes that were added to it.

My husband and I shared the small Malnati Chicago classic ($14.25) made with sausage, tons of stringy cheese and large pieces of vine-ripened tomatoes. It was much better than I expected. Of course, there was tons of toppings, but the sausage was lean and not too salty and the cheese was fresh and not oily. Personally, I preferred the toasted crust on the side so broke pieces of it off and put toppings on that; the bottom crust was a tad soft for my taste. Deep dish pizza to me is like eating quiche but with a harder crust and different filling.

The menu noted the small size feeds two individuals and we each ended up getting two large slices. I actually would have just preferred one slice as it's so rich and filling. My recommendation is ordering one size smaller than the menu suggests and sharing a salad & appetizer to make it a more well-rounded meal.

Overall, I’m glad I had a chance to try deep dish and was pleasantly surprised with the experience. Despite not thinking I’d enjoy it, the deep dish at Lou Malnati’s was delicious.

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10

Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System

• Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
• 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
• 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
• 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
• 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
• 10 - absolute perfection!

Read More

Frontera Grill (Chicago)

Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 445 N Clark Street
Website: http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/frontera-grill/
Type of Meal: Lunch

Having arrived 10 minutes just before Frontera Grill’s opening time (11:30am), there was already a line up down the length of their patio. Luckily, the line was actually for two restaurants (Frontera Grill and its slightly more upscale sister restaurant Topolobampo) and once the doors opened patrons were sat quickly.

What makes Frontera special is their dishes made with simple fresh ingredients. Take their guacamole ($9.50), it seemed to be comprised of the bare essentials - avocado, onions and maybe some salt. Without the typical zing of lime and jalapeños the guacamole tasted surprisingly creamy and somehow richer. The accompanying chips were crispy and not oily while the subtle salsas were also good when mixed with the guacamole.

The quesadillas ($14) were chocked full of grilled chicken and Indiana jack cheese (and pretty much just that). On the side was more guacamole, thick refried beans and some dressed lettuce leaves (covered in a Parmesan-type cheese). Overall, it was a satisfying quesadilla but personally I would have liked it more if there was some stronger salsa accompanying it.

My chicken in mole amarillo ($15) was a bit timid. I imagined a rich mole stewed for hours with tons of ingredients (Oaxaca mole amarillo guajillo, tomato, tomatillo, hoja santa, corn masa was what was listed on the menu). Nonetheless, the tender pieces of smoked chicken and fennel braised in the sauce were nice, especially with the warm fresh tortillas. I jazzed it up with the red chili sauce on the table and even sprinkled some tart and peppery arugula salad in the wrap for good measure.

All in all, Frontera Grill offers traditional options that may seem a bit bland to those who grew up on Tex Mex and the crazy fusion tacos in today's restaurants. But, if you want to get back to the simpler side of things than they are the place for you.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10

Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System

• Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
• 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
• 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
• 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
• 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
• 10 - absolute perfection!

Read More

CLOSED: Slurping Turtle (Chicago)

Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 116 W Hubbard Street
Type of Meal: Dinner

As a warning, if you’re visiting for a late dinner on weekends, there may be a long line and bouncer outside their door. Not to worry the restaurant isn't that exclusive! But, they are located in the same building as some lounges. So, just head to the front and ask the bouncer to be let into the Slurping Turtle.

For a ramen restaurant Slurping Turtle is large and spacious with two tables in private boxes above the window - eating in it would be a great experience but may make you feel like you're in a display case.

My husband and I were famished after our day at Lollapalooza and needed to refuel on comforting carbs. We were in luck, Slurping Turtle is the perfect place for this. Starting off with a pork belly steamed bao ($4) it hit the spot and tied me over until the ramen could come. The bao was delicious! Two juicy pieces of tender pork belly were wrapped in a soft fluffy steamed bun taco with pickled vegetables. The pork belly was well glazed in a sweet & sticky soy-ginger and the vegetables added the right amount of crunch and lightness to brighten it up.  Accompanied with a side of daikon-arugula salad tossed in a light vinaigrette it was a great starter and if ordered in their larger size (three for $11) could be a meal in itself.

The Hamachi tacos ($10), on the other hand, were lighter but nonetheless still packed with flavours. Large cubes of tender yellow tail tuna were tossed with a truffle-soy sauce, sesame oil and diced cucumber. A good portion was then packed into a crunchy taro root shell. The dish was very refreshing and a lighter appetizer option.

You can't visit a restaurant called Slurping Turtle and not eat something you can slurp! I tried the tan tan men ($14) which was recommended by the waiter. It had enough spiciness to it; I tended to spoon the soup from the middle of the bowl to avoid the additional chili oil on the sides. The noodles are a pork lover's dream - the soup base had ground pork mixed throughout, there were three juicy pork meat balls and slices of tender roasted “cha shu” pork.

The sweet roast pork and herby sausage meat balls cut through the spicy soup quite nicely. The addition of bok choy and bean sprouts added some crunch to everything.

My husband's red miso ramen ($14) had such a great rich flavour to it without being overly salty – as miso soup can sometimes be. Topped with tender braised short rib, bok choy, scallions, sweet corn and fish slices (narutomaki) it was a hearty and filling bowl.

We both agreed that even compared to our Japan experience, Slurping Turtle was the best tasting ramen we’ve ever had. Alas, we could only try it once but I’ll forever remember each delightful spoon.

Overall mark - 9.5 out of 10

Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System

• Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
• 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
• 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
• 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
• 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
• 10 - absolute perfection!

Read More