Chicago Eats: Revival Social Club

While I've spent the last five years blogging my way through the city, suburbs, nearby states, and even Mexico, I've sadly been lacking in coverage from my own neighborhood. Typically, when I go out to eat in the Andersonville/Edgewater area, it's for a relaxed meal with Mario or a catch-up session with my girlfriends. I tend to gravitate toward my 'hood favorites and then spend those meals disconnected from blogger mode (which is no small feat for me, as I automatically start composing shots the minute I walk into a restaurant!). As much as I enjoy those non-blogger meals, it means that I typically never end up sharing the fab eats in my neighborhood (despite what some far north side-phobic people may assume, there are plenty of awesome spots north of Lincoln Park!).

Located just off the Granville stop, in the space that once hosted M. Henrietta (sister restaurant to the uber-popular Andersonville spot M. Henry), Revival Social Club is one of those neighborhood hangouts that I have long neglected to share on the blog. After learning that the restaurant recently went through a bit of a transformation that led to a new bar program and a revamped menu, I knew it was finally time to get back over there (with my camera this time!) to document some of what Edgewater has to offer.

Chicago Eats: Welcome (Back) to Chicago, Benihana!

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a fab weekend. While I spent most of my free time over the last week hunkered down at home (catching up on grading + getting a handle on the two grad classes I'm taking this semester), I did manage to sneak away for an evening to finally check one very popular restaurant off of my "I really should visit there one day" list. Yes, my friends, I (finally!) made my very first visit to Benihana! Not only did I get to check the well-known spot off my to-visit list, but I also did it at the gorgeous newly opened location in the John Hancock Center. Talk about the perfect introduction to an iconic restaurant!

Benihana is definitely one of those restaurants in which practically everyone seems to have fond memories of either from their childhood or from friends/family nights out. While I was first introduced to the concept of teppanyaki at a short-lived hibachi restaurant in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin (and yes, that's exactly why it was so short-lived), I never seemed to live anywhere in which there was a Benihana. It seemed like every time I moved away from somewhere, a new location would then open (once it happened within the exact same week!). Now, after a decade without a Chicago location, the chain is finally in the city and settled into the perfect spot for tourists and city-dwellers alike (yay for me!).

Chicago Eats: The Bristol

Located on a quiet stretch of Damen Ave. in Bucktown, The Bristol has long occupied one of the few spots on my all-time favorites list. I was introduced to it close to nine years ago during a class at The Chopping Block, in which the chef raved about the savory monkey bread. Her description was so lush, I spent the next month dreaming nonstop of that monkey bread until the moment came in which I was finally able to sink my teeth into those savory little pillows of salty, dill-flecked, buttery deliciousness. *drool* Needless to say, I was instantly hooked.

Earlier this summer, I was invited to check out the new iteration of The Bristol under the guidance of recently instated Executive Chef Todd Stein. I have to admit I was a tiny bit nervous when I learned that one of my longtime favorites was going through such a major change, but after meeting Chef Stein and sampling some of his new dishes, along with his take on the classics, my fears were put to rest. The restaurant retains the charm and deliciousness (including my beloved monkey bread) from the previous years, and also offers diners some fab new vegetable-heavy dishes focused on showcasing seasonal flavors from around the country.