Ad Categories: Food and Wine

@pennypollack: Prosecco poured over apricot sorbetti and burnt honey gelato @BalenaChicago. What a great idea! BALENA: 1633 N HALSTED, 312-867-3888

This lively apple fennel salad w/shaved pecorino @ThreeAcesChicago definitely exceeded my expectations of “bar” food. THREE ACES: 1321 W TAYLOR, 312-243-1577

@pennypollack: The Ace burger w/cheddar & all the trimmings @ThreeAcesChicago is under reported, but the Bolognese fries are overkill. THREE ACES: 1321 W TAYLOR, 312-243-1577

The cream puff top @EmbeyaChicago is a work in progress. Loved the cream matcha filling, but the cream puff was more like bread than pastry. EMBEYA: 564 W RANDOLPH, 312-612-5640

Face it: Chinese broccoli is way better than American broccoli. Especially @EmbeyaChicago. EMBEYA: 564 W RANDOLPH, 312-612-5640

@pennypollack: The noodles @EmbeyaChicago are fat, chewy & spicy. Bonus points for superfresh shrimp & sweet red peppers. EMBEYA: 564 W RANDOLPH, 312-612-5640

This innocuous looking bowl of housemade coleslaw @EatMyZenwich goes a long way toward cooling your mouth off after, say, a tingly Korean BBQ beef sandwich. ZENWICH: 416 B N YORK, ELMHURST, 630-359-5459

Buffalo wings without the bones! @EatMyZenwich, it’s called Dantastic. I call it Less Messy & Darned Clever. ZENWICH: 416 B N YORK, ELMHURST, 630-359-5459

@pennypollack: Anything is fair game for a sandwich @EatMyZenwich, which is how bibimbap turns up in a tightly wrapped bun. ZENWICH: 416 B N YORK, ELMHURST, 630-359-5459

Grilled Jamaican jerk wings @TrademarkTaver1 are pretty much like all other Bufflao wings: tender, juicy, spicy, sloppy. TRADEMARK TAVERN: 777 E BUTTERFIELD, LOMBARD, 630-472-0777