Pump Room Showdown! Sula: "Wildly Divergent Execution," Nagrant: "A Xerox Affair"
Sula, Nagrant have mixed feelings about the new Pump Room.
Grub Street
All Grub Street Chicago Posts Tagged:
‘the other critics’
P. Vettel Loves P. Virant; Time Out Loves Brunch at 25 Degrees, But Nowhere Else
Vettel loves PV, but TOC not big on brunch.
Sula Doesn't Want To Be Like Mike; Kramer Likes Pump Room As Room
Sula baffled by excess at Michael Jordan's steakhouse, Kramer likes decor more than food at Pump Room.
Sula Says Lao Hunan Lets a Thousand Chiles Bloom; Tarmarkin Loves Breakfast at Kingsbury's
In the Reader, Mike Sula finds the Mao Zedong kitsch at Tony Hu's latest spot, Lao Hunan, brash and a bit politically off-key: "His recent projects, if you take the trippy Lao You Ju as evidence, seem to be increasing...
Vettel Sends Singing Telegraph; Nagrant Anthropologizes MorSo
Phil Vettel loves the food of small plates gastropubs, but something about the less formal atmosphere doesn't do it for him, because even after raving about the food, he gave just two stars to Avec, two stars to The Bristol,...
Time Out Unimpressed by Al Dente's Resume, But Likes Brunch
Attention for the new Italian place Al Dente in Old Irving Park has focused on chef Javier Perez's resume (Spiaggia, MK, Cibo Matto), but David Tamarkin in Time Out Chicago puts it in perspective: "Most chefs have worked for a...
Nagrant Likes Drinks, Not Dining, at Masa Azul; Schmidt Finds Stunners at MorSo
In his first review as the Sun-Times' official reviewer, Michael Nagrant fulfills his promise to tell the story, not just check off a checklist: "Masa Azul is not just a restaurant, but an earnest pipe dream of [owner Jason] Lerner,...
Vettel Parties Like It's 1993 at Michael Jordan's Steak House, Kramer So-So on Morso, Masa Azul
With his rave for the new Michael Jordan's Steak House in the Intercontinental Hotel (he gives it three stars, but clearly thinks four are within its grasp), the Tribune's Phil Vettel indulges in full-blown nostalgia for a Chicago in which...
Worley Digs 'Meaty' Options at Barn & Company; Vettel Finds 'Comfort Food with Style' at Quay
Vettel loves the mac and cheese at Quay.
Tamarkin Checks in with Michael Jordan's Steak House; Ruby Explores the Robata Grill Explosion
Ruby visits Roka Akor and Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar.
Sula Drinks Up at Masa Azul; Kramer Confused by Prasino
Kramer wonders how sustainable Prasino really is.
Pat Bruno Signs Off with Reviews of Telegraph and Prasino
The recently fired critic takes a look at Prasino and Telegraph.
Shouse Falls for the Steak at Roka Akor; 'Attention to Detail' Elevates Roots for Sula
Plus: Shouse also checks out Bombay Spice, and Kramer visits Quay.
Tribune Celebrates Charlie Trotter, Vettel Gives 4-Star Review
The Tribune lauds the Lincoln Park restaurant.
Vettel Admires 'Passion' of Rustic House; Tamarkin Okay with 'Safe' Francesca Forno
Plus: Sula checks in with Al Dente.
Ed Levine Actually Praises Chicago Pizza
Wait, is that a New Yorker talking positively about Chicago pizza?
Kramer and Sula Check out Telegraph; Tamarkin 'Surprised' by Tribute
The two critics examine Logan Square's latest wine bar.