A Little Birdy Told Me about a Hot Brunch Spot in Lincoln Park...

Wall of canning jars just inside the entrance at 2 Sparrows

Plan your visit to 2 Sparrows strategically. Despite opening more than seven months ago in September 2011, this popular brunch spot is still mobbed around weekend brunch hours and doesn't take reservations. Z and I tried to go one weekend and were told we would wait more than an hour. We tried again the next Sunday around 2 p.m. and waited just a few minutes. Note: This is a risky proposition; 2 Sparrows closes at 3 p.m. every day.

Given the amount of press the restaurant has earned and the track record of its culinary and management team, we had high expectations for 2 Sparrows. Z, who naturally gravitates toward breakfast sandwiches, ordered the Belly Sandwich. The sandwich looked beautiful--a fluffy biscuit hugged pork belly, a sunny-side up egg and pickled onions. But looks aren't everything. Z said the biscuit provided too much bread, masking the flavors of the sandwich.

My Chilaquiles were equally uninspiring. I liked the crisp corn tortilla chips, but found the tomatillo salsa too limey. We did enjoy our coffee.

One data point isn't enough to write off a restaurant, so we will be back to 2 Sparrows--if we can get a table.

Mansion Museum in River North

Chicago is known for its museums. Tourists from all over the world come to see the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science & Industry and even the Museum of Contemporary Art. But for locals who've lived in the city for a while, rotating between the major museums can get monotonous.

Office or study at the Driehaus Museum

To break the routine and still get my cultural fix, I decided to check out the Driehaus Museum in River North. Several acquaintances told me about the museum; they liked its beautiful, authentic decor and the historical context it represents--the Gilded Age in Chicago in the late 19th century.

Parlor room at the front of the house

We went on a chilly Saturday afternoon and splurged on the guided tour, which is an extra $5 per person. (The standard  admission fee is $20 per person.) The tour added at least 60 minutes to the visit, but was well-worth the time and expense. Our tour guide, Mary, was very knowledgeable and obviously loved the museum. 

Dining room at the Driehaus Museum

The first floor of the house has the standard rooms of the late 19th century elite--a grand entrance, a parlor at the front of the house, a beautiful dining rooms and other sitting rooms scattered throughout the floor. My favorite room sits at the back of the house; it's a beautiful library, turned conservatory complete with a beautiful stained glass dome. 

Beautiful dome in the conservatory at the Driehaus Museum

The second floor of the house features the family's bedrooms and a beautiful balcony area that overlooks the foyer on the first floor. The third floor features a terrific party room that can be reserved for private events.

Japanese vases at the Driehaus Museum

The Driehaus Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10a-5p and Sunday noon-5p. It's also available for private tours and other private events. On the first and third Tuesday of every month, the museum offers a Twilight Tour. A walking tour of other Gilded Age-buildings in the neighborhood is offered on the

first and third Saturdays of the month beginning April 7th and ending November 17, 2012.

(Another) Wednesday Night at the Goodman

Fish Men begins on a hot summer's day at the chess tables in Washington Square Park in New York. A group of chess hustlers dream of easier times and more vulnerable opponents, aka "fish men". They get their wish when Rey Reyes (Raul Castillo) splashes into their pit.

Rey seems to be just what the hustlers ordered--young, naive and with enough disposable income to play into the hustlers hands. But as the story evolves with seamless dialogue and understated wit, Rey reveals his true reasons for coming to the chess tables. And Rey isn't the only character with a painful past and uncertain future.

Please go and see Fish Men, playing at the Goodman Theater until May 6th. It will captivate you and keep you thinking long after the show is over. Late on a Wednesday night, the show I attended received a standing ovation from a nearly full house.

Tickets  are still available.

BYOB Asian Bistro in the West Loop

The Lake Street corridor, just under the Green and Pink Line El train tracks, can be dicey. Businesses that aren't in the meat packing industry seem to come and go frequently. At any given time, about 25% of store fronts are empty and the roar of the train passing overhead blocks daylight and masks neighborhood sounds of bird chirping, children playing and even cars driving by.

While Lake Street may not be the most scenic street in the city for a stroll, it and nearby Randolph Street offers excellent dining options, including the recent addition of Anna's Bistro.

Anna's emphasizes its take out and delivery business, but if you eat at the restaurant, Anna's menu resembles a constitutional law book. It's filled with a wide variety of Asian cuisine--Thai, sushi, Laoatian, Vietnamese, Indian and more. I'm wary of dining at restaurants that seem to be a jack-of-all-trades, and Z and I were initially overwhelmed by the options when we dined on a busy Friday night. We took our time with the menu and eventually decided on a variety of dishes representing nearly all of the ethnicities that Anna's menu covers.

Z loves shumai, so we started with that. While it is difficult to disappoint with shumai, we were genuinely impressed with Anna's. Our other favorite dishes on the menu included the Peking Duck Bun, The Samurai sushi roll and the Filipino Pansit Noodles. The best part about Anna's: our delicious meal was about $50, thanks to the affordable food prices and BYOB liquor policy. We'll definitely be back to Anna's.

You probably won't need it, but you can make a reservation at Anna's on Open Table.

Slurp your dinner in River North

Slurping Turtle opened at the perfect time of year in Chicago--late November. What makes Chicagoans want to eat hot, salty noodles more than blistery winds and freezing temperatures? With perfect timing and the reputations of its predecessors Takashi in Bucktown and Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi at Seven on State paving the way, Slurping Turtle has been mobbed since it opened.

I finally had a chance to go on Tuesday night with my friend Tamara. At 7:30 p.m. we were seated right away at a booth. Tamara ordered a sake, while I opted for a glass of Vouvray. The menu offers an impressive selection of items from the bincho grill and sashimi, dumplings and other hot tapas, but Tamara and I went straight to the noodles.

Tamara's Shoyu Ramen was predictably delicious, but I was more impressed with the broth in my Slurping Noodles. My dish contained a healthy dose of cilantro, which I will never protest.

Red Bean Macaroon at Slurping Turtle

We concluded our meal with a couple of macaroons. While Slurping Turtles' macaroons may be inspired by the traditional French cookies, the cookie portion is much heavier and the fillings much more unique. Tamara's was filled with traditional red bean paste, while mine contained a delicious caramel soy concoction. 

Caramel Soy Macaroon

Slurping Turtle does not take reservations, so I recommend going at an off time, like a weeknight or an early lunch or dinner on a weekend. Bear in mind that it closes from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and doesn't open until 5 p.m. on Sundays. 

Branchin' Out at Branch 27

Friends Kelley and Peter (mentioned in the previous post) had been raving about Branch 27 for months. I felt like I was missing out, so when my friend Arianne came into town and we needed a dinner spot in a location that was accessible to both downtown and the interstate, I picked Branch 27.

The space itself was enough to peak my interest. Branch 27 is located in the former 27th ward Chicago Public Library building. Hence the name, Branch 27. As a lifelong nerd and bookworm, anything related to a library has a special place in my heart.

Branch 27's cocktail menu is particularly intriguing, but on a cold and rainy Wednesday night, Arianne, our friend Alicia and I decided that a bottle of Four Vines Zinfandel was our best bet.

In keeping with the need for comfort food on stormy night, we all ordered a bowl of flavorful, creamy tomato soup. (Branch 27 changes its menu from time-to-time and the tomato soup is no longer on the standard menu.)

Delicious tomato soup at Branch 27

I ordered the rib eye sandwich (also no longer on the menu), while Alicia ordered the PEI Mussels and Arianne opted for the Housemade Tagliatelle. They both enjoyed their dishes. My sandwich had a really nice flavor, but could have been split between two people. 

Rib eye sandwich at Branch 27

If a large portion size is my only complaint, I'd say dinner at Branch 27 was a success! During the week you probably won't need it, but you can make a reservation on OpenTable.

An American Bistro in Lincoln Park

My dining companions at Gemini Bistro

If you're not looking for it, you'll zoom right past Gemini Bistro on Lincoln Avenue. But if you are looking for the cool flatiron building, you'll appreciate the clean exterior and convenient location in the middle of Lincoln Park. Parking is usually easy on Lincoln Avenue and the restaurant isn't too far from public transit.

The location is great and the building is a unique design, but, really, you should visit Gemini for the food. And drinks. And the homey atmosphere.

Our table wasn't quite ready on a busy Sunday night during restaurant week, so we started at the bar. I had a delicious Chicago Sidecar, while Z had a Lychee Martini, one of his go-to drinks.

We dined with friends Kelley and Peter, also adventurous foodies, so we had the luxury of being able to try many dishes on the menu. My favorite dish of the evening was a special--foie gras atop a toasted ciabata, accompanied by a cherry chutney. We ordered two. It was that good. Z still talks about it and holds it up as the gold standard in foie gras.

Other favorites on the menu included the Creamless Tomato Soup, the Baby Beet Salad and the Truffle Parmesan Fries. I typically love brussels sprots, but I found the sprouts at Gemini to be mushy and flavorless. The Gemini Burger wasn't anything special either.

Gemini Bistro is another Michelin Bib Gourmand winner. You can make a reservation on OpenTable. In the warmer months, request a table outside on the sidewalk cafe.