Del Seoul
2568 N Clark St., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

Del Seoul.

Ever since it opened only a few months ago, Rob and I have heard nothing but rave reviews about Del Seoul, one of Chicago’s first Korean Street BBQ restaurants.  After salivating over the menu, we knew we had to try it out for ourselves.  We finally stopped there one weekend night—right before we were about to see a movie later, hence the not-so-glamorous car pictures below—and it completely lived up to our expectations.  Rob got the BBQ chicken banh mi sandwich, which was huge but a great take on traditional banh mi sandwiches.  I tried two sesame-chili shrimp tacos and one grilled beef short rib taco, all of which were excellent.  I was concerned that the shrimp tacos would have too much spice, but fortunately I didn’t find them to be too overwhelming at all.  Del Seoul’s free ingredients and ridiculously cheap prices will definitely have Rob and I coming back for seconds sometime soon.

-Anna

Anna’s tacos: two shrimp and one beef short rib.

Rob’s spicy bbq chicken banh mi sandwich.

Shake Shop
3247 W Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Shake Shop.

After reading earlier this week about the opening of a new “rock and roll general store” in Logan Square, Rob and I knew we had to check it out.  Shake Shop had its grand opening this past Friday, and although that showed in the fact that they didn’t have a ton of merchandise when we visited on Saturday afternoon, it’s hard to find true faults in a store that is so unique and a welcome addition to our neighborhood.  Run by local musician Tom Cassling, Shake Shop not only sells used records and books, but they also specialize in artwork made by local musicians and instrument repair.  In all my years living in Chicago, I’ve never seen any other store with books priced as cheaply as Shake Shop’s.  I bought three used books—albeit still in good condition—for $6.50 total.  Yes, $6.50 for three gently used books!  Rob bought a book as well, for $3.99.  Shake Shop truly lives up to its “rock and roll general store” title and Rob and I will definitely be visiting it again sometime soon.

Rob browsing records at Shake Shop.

Gaztro Wagon

This week’s schedule, Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: all over the city!

Gaztro-Wagon.

On their website, Gaztro-Wagon describes their food truck as “A curbside solution to your hunger” with “hand-crafted, modern street fare with a focus on seasonal availability and local partnerships.”  If all of that and the recent food truck craze that has swept major cities isn’t enough to interest you in the Gaztro-Wagon, keep reading.  Due to our obsession with The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network and food trucks in general, Rob and I read on Twitter this past weekend that the Gaztro-Wagon was going to be in Lincoln Square on Friday evening.  Although Chicago food trucks aren’t allowed to actually cook aboard their trucks, that hasn’t stopped a handful of enterprising chefs from stocking their trucks full of gourmet treats and roaming the streets of Chicago.  We hightailed it to Lincoln Square and were pleased to find the Gaztro-Wagon near Lincoln and Montrose with plenty of menu items still left on-board.  I ordered the corn beef reuben with warm cabbage slaw and provolone and Rob had the braised lamb with queso panela, apricots, walnuts, and peppers.  Both sandwiches were wrapped in a pita, not on bread, which was a welcome twist to ordinary sandwich cuisine and also kept the contents tasting fresh and warm.  We also shared a bag of plantain chips, which were crispy and had just the right amount of salt on them.  For $18, it was an inexpensive meal and a unique dining experience.  Be sure to check out the Gaztro-Wagon’s schedule and see if they’ll be in a neighborhood near you.

-Anna

Inside the Gaztro-Wagon.

Our plantain chips.

Rob’s braised lamb on the left and Anna’s reuben on the right.

Black Dog Gelato
859 N Damen Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village

Black Dog Gelato.

For the past few months, Rob and I have noticed Black Dog Gelato’s name popping in a variety of places, from articles about Chicago restaurants to the Logan Square Farmer’s Market website.  When we heard that owner Jessica Oloroso planned on opening an actual store this summer, we knew we had to make a point to check it out.  Last weekend we stopped by and although they were out of the whiskey gelato bars we had read so much about and were really curious to try, we had a great experience.  Rob ordered a cup of the mixed berry sorbet which had the right balance of sweetness and was very refreshing.  Being the coffee enthusiast that I am, I tried a cup of the espresso gelato.  The coffee flavor was excellent and it was definitely among the best gelato I’ve ever had in Chicago.  If you’re in the mood for a cool treat before it gets too cold outside, be sure to stop by Black Dog Gelato for their traditional and adventurous (goat cheese cashew carmel gelato, anyone?) bold flavors.

-Anna

Rob’s mixed berry sorbet on the left and Anna’s espresso gelato on the right.

Original Rainbow Cone
9233 S Western Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Beverly

Original Rainbow Cone.

Although we’re technically cheating with this post a little bit since both Rob and I have been to the Original Rainbow Cone before, it’s too much of a perfect summer tradition to not profile on 52 Weeks.  For those not in the know, the Original Rainbow Cone is a legendary south side institution and has been around since 1926.  A “rainbow cone” consists of chocolate, strawberry, orange sherbet, palmer house (venetian vanilla with cherries and walnuts), and pistachio ice cream, all layered on top of one another.  During our visit today, Rob got a small rainbow cone in a waffle cone and I got the same thing, but in a small bowl instead.  As always, it was a delicious summer treat, and judging by the constant lines when we stopped by today, it doesn’t seem like the Original Rainbow Cone is going to be closing their doors anytime soon.  Be sure to plan a visit to the Beverly neighborhood before the summer is over.

-Anna

Rob holding our ice cream outside of the Original Rainbow Cone.

The Rabbit Hole
It’s a secret!, Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: It’s a secret!

Our dining environment for The Rabbit Hole’s July 24th event.

Before you continue reading our review, please visit The Rabbit Hole’s website and read the “What is the Rabbit Hole?” section to bring yourself up to speed on this fantastic dining experience.  Done?  Okay, let’s continue.  You may recall that Rob and I posted about The Rabbit Hole back in March when we first found out about it, hoping one of our readers would have a connection and we could use their name to obtain a reservation.  Thankfully, one of our readers came through and we made a reservation several months ago for July 24th’s dinner.  Due to their secretive nature, I’m not going to mention anything about the location or give away any identifying details about The Cheshire Chef or The Queen of Tarts, and really, it’s the food that is most important.  The meal consisted of five courses, each paired with a different wine.  While Rob and I both enjoyed each course—yes, even the alligator crepenette—our favorite dish had to be the hand-made bleu cheese tortelloni, topped off with blood sausage and a peach and sweet onion confit.  Knowing that The Cheshire Chef never repeats a course also made each dish taste even more unique.  Besides the amazing meal, the ambiance also adds to The Rabbit Hole experience.  Dining with strangers in a communal setting, candlelight, and the sincerity of The Queen of Tarts and The Cheshire Chef all make The Rabbit Hole not only worth the money, but worth the effort it takes to get a reservation.  If you can find a way in, don’t pass up on the opportunity.  The Rabbit Hole is a wonderful addition to the Chicago foodie community and hopefully something that will catch on in other major cities.

-Anna

The fabulous menu.

Alligator crepenette.

Bleu cheese tortelloni.

Pork belly sous vide.

Pain perdue.

The guestbook.

Boiler Room
2210 N California Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Boiler Room.

From the first day it opened several weeks ago, Rob and I have been dying to try out Logan Square’s newest bar/pizza place, the Boiler Room.  We finally stopped by earlier this week and although we had a few complaints (cash only, too crowded, etc), we were mostly pleased by the latest addition to our neighborhood.  Designed to look like a boiler room/train car, the restaurant features some of the best decor Rob and I have ever seen.  From the train cables that hold up the booths, to the industrial light fixtures, to the recycled CTA doors that lead to the men and women’s bathrooms, the Boiler Room owners definitely went above and beyond when they designed their establishment.  Food-wise, the Boiler Room excels as well.  Rob and I both tried two slices, the purist (fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic) and the boiler room (PBR Meatballs, giardinera, oregano).  The purist was a classic slice with a great flavor that we would both definitely get again.  The boiler room was good too, but it was a bit too spicy, which took away from the flavor of the cheese and meatballs.  Still though, the PBR meatballs make it a worthwhile slice.  Overall, between the excellent beer selection (see our drink choices below) and cheap slices ($3-4 each, pies are $20), Boiler Room is a great new addition to Logan Square.

-Anna

Rob’s Lion Stout and Anna’s Seadog Blueberry Wheat, complete with real blueberries.

The Purist on the left and The Boiler Room on the right.

Belly Shack
1912 N Western Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Bucktown

Belly Shack photo courtesy of MetroMix.

Rob and I had been planning on trying Belly Shack ever since it first popped up in Bucktown last year.  Somehow, we found ourselves shying away from it for a little while though, mostly due to its odd menu combination of Asian fusion and Latin American cuisines.  This past week, we stopped by for a late dinner and found its unique blend of flavors right to our liking.  Belly Shack’s interior is grey and minimalist, but don’t let their overly modern vibe—or large communal table in the middle of the dining area—turn you off.  Rob and I sat at one of the smaller two-seater tables and he enjoyed a Korean BBQ Kogi “Sammich,” that came complete with kimchi, green onions, and four pieces of pita bread.  I ordered Belly Shack’s Asian vegeterian take on a jibarito, which they instead filled with black beans, tofu, and brown rice, dubbing it a Boricua.  The plantains, which served as the “bread” of the sandwich, were a little hard to cut through, but other than that, it was delicious.  We also shared a helping of Belly Shack’s sweet potatoes, which lived up to their name with their rich, brown sugar flavor.  Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with Belly Shack’s effort to combine two seemingly different cuisines into one bold new taste.  We will definitely be back soon to try more of Belly Shack’s tasty dishes and desserts.

-Anna

Rob’s Korean BBQ Kogi “Sammich.”

Anna’s boricua and the sweet potatoes on the left.

Fontano’s Subs
20 E Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Loop

Fontano’s.

The Loop is pretty limited when it comes to eating options (unless you actually enjoy eating fast food or Potbelly’s for the millionth time).  Fontano’s has been Rob’s secret sandwich spot for a several years now and I recently went there with him for the first time.  Featuring real Boar’s Head cold cuts—you won’t find any processed meat here—Fontano’s blows every other Loop sandwich shop out of the water with their custom sandwich creations.  You can also create your own sandwich too, and their sizes range from the typical 6”, 8”, or foot long sub to the 16” or three foot long office party-friendly size.  Rob got the American sandwich, with ham, salami, bologna, American, swiss cheese, and veggies, and I got the Roast Beef, with provolone and veggies.  Instead of eating in their small eat-in area (be warned that they tend to get busier during lunchtime), we took our sandwiches to Millennium Park and enjoyed our amazing lunch in the park together.  If you ever find yourself searching for a good downtown lunch spot, Rob and I are letting you in on the best kept secret the Loop has to offer.  Try Fontano’s once and you’ll find yourself going down to the Loop just to get your fix.

-Anna

Rob’s American sandwich.

Anna’s Roast Beef sandwich.

Kouks Vintage Cafe
5653 N Northwest Hwy., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Norwood Park

Kouks.

Tucked all the way up in Norwood Park is the oddity that is Kouks Vintage Cafe.  A combination antique resale shop and coffeehouse, Kouks lures in its customers with a hard to miss exterior, award-winning coffee, and a treasure trove of antique goods waiting to be discovered.  After browsing around the resale shop—and admiring all the vintage transistor radios—Rob and I ordered coffee and sat down at the counter.  I got an iced Milky Way latte and Rob got a custom Snickers iced coffee drink (I guess we were both in a candy mood).  Andy Pappas, co-owner with wife Georgia, chatted with us while we sipped our drinks (definitely worth the trek) and its clear that his personable attitude is what makes Kouks a mom and pop shop in every sense of the phrase.  Although it’s located in the outskirts of the city, Kouks is a gem that needs to be supported.  Next time you’re looking for great coffee and good conversation, ditch Starbucks for Kouks.

-Anna

A treasure trove of antique goods on the second floor of Kouks.