The holiday season always seems to make us reminisce about ‘the good old days’.  The memory stirs and dreams of better times always seems to be relegated in the past.  Perhaps that is the key to the success of the Dining Room at the Drury Lane Theatre.  It is a glorious reminder of times gone by, when going to the theatre was an event and the patrons were culturally aware of their surroundings. Continue Reading

Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue, invites guests to ring in 2010 in style. Packages include party tickets, deluxe accommodations and the option of dinner at the hotel’s elegant new restaurant O’H American Grill.  Doors open at 8 p.m. and last until 1 a.m. at the hotel, conveniently located near the O’Hare Blue Line train station. Continue Reading

Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Drive, will host a fabulous New Year’s Eve celebration along with popular local radio station JACK FM 104.3 on December 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.  Guests are invited to ring in the New Year at the hottest party in town, featuring entertainment from hit Chicago band 7^th Heaven, a premium open bar, buffet stations, prizes, party favors, a thrilling countdown to midnight and more. Continue Reading

Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue, is featuring a delicious Thanksgiving meal for the whole family on Thursday, November 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at O’H American Grill, the hotel’s luxurious new restaurant. The menu will feature traditional Thanksgiving fare as well as sumptuous desserts. For reservations, call 847-696-4500. Continue Reading

With the holidays around the corner and such fantastic theatre at our doorsteps, including the pre-Broadway premier of ‘The Addams Family’ with Nathan Lane and BeBe Newirth, there is no better season to grab your mate and head out for an evening of great food and great theatre.  Continue Reading

Drury Lane, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, presents a spectacular Thanksgiving buffet in their festively decorated setting on Thursday, November 26. The buffet is popular due to its huge selection, numerous stations, delicious cuisine, attentive staff and great value. The buffet runs from noon until 5 p.m. and is $30.95 per adult, $11.50 for children ages 6 – 12, $8 for children ages 3 – 5 and free for children 2 and under. Reservations are required; please call Drury Lane Oakbrook at 630.530.8300 for availability. Continue Reading

The Experimental Agency & Jack Binion’s Steakhouse at The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana hosted a fantastic media event to showcase what is arguably, the finest steakhouse in the mid-West.  Jack Binion’s is the perfect pairing for dinner and a show at the incredible Venue, where some of the biggest and brightest stars in the entertainment business perform.   Where else can you feast on a fabulous filet then catch Bette Midler or Liza Minnella under the same roof?  Outside of Vegas, only at the Horseshoe in Hammond, Indiana.

Jack Binion’s is a perfect spot, just 20 minutes outside of the city, for a private party as well as being located next to a marina, where you can dock your boat, dine and gamble the evening away.  For more information visit Jack Binion’s Steakhouse.  For an upcoming list of entertainment events at the Venue, Click Here.

As my second pairing in pairing restaurants with currently running theatres and shows, I am so excited to feature one of Lakeview’s newest and most exceptionally beautiful restaurants, Wilde Bar and Restaurant, 3130 N. Broadway, named after the famed Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde. With its welcoming library equipped with a cozy fireplace, exquisite handmade Victorian bar and gorgeous stained glass dome accents, this is an upscale Irish pub that is accessible to every cross section of patron. Owners Martin Cournane and Paul Sheahan, have painstakingly poured their soul into this establishment and it shows, from the amazingly friendly and competent staff to their choice of picking Alan Katz as their executive chef who as put his own twist on pub food, making it downright mouthwatering.

General Manager, Patrick Rodgers, took me on a guided tour of the restaurant and gave me an overview of the history of the space, which was a former hardware store. Patrick pointed out the amount of intricate craftsmanship and architectural detail that when into constructing Wilde’s, creating this warm and inviting treasure.

For my visit, Chef Katz prepared a lightly breaded and flavorful Jumbo Lump Crab Cake; Katz’ classic Fish & Chips (flakey Atlantic cod), which is quickly becoming known as the best throughout the city; Sheppard David’s Pie, which I was glad to see this dish come back to its classic roots as I use to get when I lived in London; Wilde Macaroni & Cheese baked with cheddar, that I actually craved the whole next day, as well as an array of desserts. Throw into this a fantastic and dense beer catalogue and extensive wine list and you are in for one of the best restaurant experiences you will encounter in the city.

One must spend some time at Wilde’s to truly appreciate the quality, warmth and since of community that is a throwback and an homage to the tradition of Irish pubs which is meant to be a gathering place for friends and neighbors.

For more information on Wilde’s, please visit their website www.wildechicago.com

For the next several months, as the weather is changing and people are heading out of their Chicago igloos and back into society, I thought it would be fun to spotlight some fantastic neighborhood restaurants that would compliment a great theatre production. These are not restaurant reviews but overviews. I am not, nor have ever pretended to be a restaurant critic. These restaurant choices are made to hopefully introduce you to some spots you may have overlooked and would make a great evening of dinner/theatre.

So let’s start off with a bang! If attending a show at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont, such as ‘My Dinner With Amy’ (read review), instead of heading across the street on Belmont for a drinks and dinner, instead, a few blocks away on Ashland Ave, sits one of the greatest family owned Italian restaurants you will find in the city. Fiorentino’s Cucina Italiana opened in June 2006 and has been a success ever since. The Fiorentino family, whose roots are firm in the Sicilian tradition, has been in the restaurant industry for generations, including establishments at the University of Illinois and in the near north suburbs.

Fiorentino’s Cucina Italiana matriarch Francesca (who makes Sophia Loren look mediocre) gives credit to her son Stephen, a business management graduate of DePaul University, for opening this neighborhood hot spot. Chef Sergio Morale has taken the Fiorentino traditional family recipes and added a few little of his own touches to make the menu accessible to any diner. “The biggest misconception is that Italian food is heavy” proclaims Francesca, as she graciously bought an array of the restaurants’ signature dishes to sample including a spectacular Spiedini alla Griglia (thinly sliced filet, lightly breaded with lemon and olive oil); Pomadoro alla Capricciosa which is a tossed salad with Mrs. Fiorentino’s handmade balsamic blue cheese infused dressing; cooked to perfection calamari, Rigatoni alla Boscaiala (sweet Italian sausage in a light cream sauce); Fettuccini Miribella (black fettuccini as a base pasta, with asparagus, shrimp and scallops); and my personal favorite dessert Cannoli Dream which you will just have to taste to know the true addiction of this delectable masterpiece.

When asked what Mrs. Fiorentino would recommend if you and a date were coming in for dinner before or after a show (more specifically her son Tony’s show ‘My Dinner With Amy’) she emphatically states the Pomadoro alla Capricciosa and Penne Puttenesca paired with a great bottle of Nero d’Avola a great Sicilian Syrah or if you are in the mood for white, try the Sicilian Puiatti Pino Grigio.

Fiorentino’s Cucina Italiana is located at 2901 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60657. Phone:773.244.3026 For more detailed information please visit www.fiorentinoscucina.com For showtimes and ticket info regarding ‘My Dinner For Amy’ or other shows at the theater building, please visit www.theatbuildingchicago.org

Zocalo is River North’s new hot spot for authentic Mexican fare, tequila and Latin music.

Atmosphere: Zocalo’s atmosphere is fun, vibrant and colorful with a modern rustic twist. This restaurant is a great place for after-work cocktails or an authentic Mexican dinner downtown. With natural wood accents, earth-toned decor and soft candlelight, the space is warm and inviting. The bar area showcases several different bottles of tequila that makes for a decorative presentation. For those who are dining during later hours, the restaurant dims their lights to create a romantic atmosphere. Tables are well-separated to allow for a sense of intimacy. The restaurant also features live Latin music Friday and Saturday evenings. Continue Reading