Lunch with a View

You can find me glued to the north facing window at the Macy's 7th floor food court once a week, maybe more. On Tuesdays I spy on the Joffrey Ballet company doing barre work in slick leotards and ratty legwarmers. Other days they rehearse for an upcoming performance, which mostly means understudies marking the steps with attitude, standing around with their hands on their hips, and generally looking sexy as hell. If you're lucky, Joffrey's hottest principal dancer Fabrice Calmels will throw an explosive tour jete in the floor to ceiling window. 

And back to lunch; I've eaten at every place on the 7th floor over the past 10 years (Marshall Fields used to make an exquisite butternut squash soup that has since been discontinued). Here are my reviews:  

Frontera Fresco:
This is a great way to get your Rick Bayless fix for half the price. The huaraches and quesadillas are cooked slowly, and should not be rushed. As is always our advice, go early or late to avoid lines (it is the LONGEST lunch line in all of the Loop). My go-to is the steak and mushroom huarache; it's filling but not overly so. The lightly dressed frizze salad on top provides the illusion of a healthy meal.

Marc Burger:
It used to be ostrich, but now the exotic burger is buffalo. These are the best seasoned fries downtown. Don't get the Kobe beef sliders- there's too much truffle oil. Also, note: milkshakes with whipped cream.

Noodles by Takashi:
Takashi (also of Slurping Turtle) is here for you. It's great when you're sick and you need a quality bowl of ramen without walking outside -Macy's is arguably the epicenter of the Loop pedway system. I frequent this place the least- I'm still not sure it's worth the wait and the money ($11 for a bowl of ramen- without tax), but when you need ramen you need ramen. The toppings are authentic, if a little inconsistent. Do not waste your money on the fried rice or the gyoza. (Update: Erik says, the fried rice with pickled ginger on top is a good value and I probably just don't like fried rice and I agreed.)

Soup Place:
MMMM! This place is my fav because the line is short and the soup/half sandwich option is around $8.50. The best soup is the chicken & wild rice and I recommend either the chicken salad sandwich which has mango and avocado, or their new salmon salad sandwich (sounds gross but try it) which has crispy cucumbers and on a perfect brioche bun.

Salad Bar:
The best steak salad I've had anywhere and not just because it comes with shoestring potato chips. And look at that horseradish cream sauce on top. Not to mention the grilled-to-order steak (so it's still warm) and blue cheese crumbles. 

The nicoise salad is a close second, with olive aioli and fluffy hard boiled egg halves. All salads come with a pretzel bread roll (yes!).

You get what you pay for- a (freakin) $13 salad. I don't even really like salads, but in this case I might even pay more.

I think that about covers it. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Rating, each category out of 5:

Taste           * * * *

Value           * *  Get the punch card, you only have to buy 7 for a free meal!
Atmosphere  * * * * *
Service         * * * 

Links: Macy's Seven on State Website, Yelp

Hot Buns

Lettuce Entertain You's Chinese fast food chain Wow Bao wants you to know they're funny. 'Hot Asian Buns' is their tagline. Get it?

Moving right along- all the baos are good, but do not skip the coconut custard. Erik's reaction when trying it for the first time was, "Oh my god YUM I bet these also available in to-go freezer packs. Crap."

The coconut custard bao is also the perfect dessert after a Mongolian Beef bowl, so get the combo meal. 

If you happen to be there when they have the duck bowl special- by all mean

Rating, each category out of 5:

Taste           * * * * 
Value           * * * *

Atmosphere  * * *

Service         * * * * 

Links: Yelp, Wow Bao Website

Rotiserrie Chicken and Mole on Wells * CLOSED * :(

As usual, I hastily grabbed some of Erik's mole from across the table. But this time I deservedly dropped a big glop on my blouse. While attempting to clean it with ice water and a disintegrating napkin I realized just how complex and greasy mole is.

Pollito's mole is bitter and spicy and delicious and both Erik and Benet get the mole plate every single time.

I'm partial to the tortilla soup. Avocados and crunchy tortillas swim happily in the balanced broth- it's not too salty, not too oily- while the sometimes dry, skinless chicken cubes lie dead at the bottom. I advise getting some dark meat on the side. Look at that perfectly seasoned, crispy skin! 

The mashed potatoes perform their duty as a vehicle for Pollito's divine homemade gravy-- totally worth it.

Some days the pablano macaroni salad is the best thing on the plate but lately (perhaps for the last 6 months) it has been overcooked and mushy (but we're still holding out hope!).


Loud, comically bad music and greenish fluorescent lighting were part of my reason for the low atmosphere rating, but their location on the dingy strip of Wells, covered by el tracks and next to one of the worst smelling alleys in Chicago makes Pollito's a tad more charming.

Rating, each category out of 5:

Taste           * * * * *

Value           * * * * *

Atmosphere  * * *

Service         * * * * 

Links: Pollito's on Yelp

Blog Business Lunch

At our very important blog business lunch in the Financial District last week Erik and I have decided to blog all the diners, cafes, and restaurants inside historically significant buildings, like the Pittsfield (there can't be THAT many can there?).

Case in point: Cavanaugh's. It's located mid-block within the glorious 1891 Monadnock building, the tallest load-bearing masonry building in the world. Unfortunately it's in the "atmosphere over food" category.


Go to admire the dark wood bar, the Monadnock's cast aluminum stairways- the first of their kind ever made; the cobbler that still uses hand crank tools; the ridiculously expensive Milliner; the custom suit maker, the old men sitting at the barbershop, and the cute guys at Intelligentsia and the architecture firms that populate the building. You can't lose.

Cavanaugh's has a second entrance on Federal Street, one of the Loop's many 'alley-streets'. Check out the the chapel-like structure and its scary heads across the street. It was once a restaurant named after the patron saint of hunters, St. Hubert.

Rating, each category out of 5:

Taste           * *

Value           *  
Atmosphere  * * * * *
Service         * * * * 

Links: Cavanaugh's Website, Yelp

Toni Toni Toni

Go get a Croque Monsieur at Toni's Patisserie & Cafe at Randolph and Michigan Avenue.  

That was going to be my whole review but then we tried the delicious macaroons, a tomato parmesan tart, and the Cuban sandwich. 

The tomato parmesean tart had a basic, dense, buttery crust I wish I could perfect at home.

And of the Cuban, Erik says, "It was an excellent sandwich, even if you don't like sandwiches," which is aimed at me since I claim to not like sandwiches. It's my hyperbolic way of saying I'd like a hot lunch without a bunch of bread please. The Croque Monsieur is more like a ham pizza so I'll allow it.

Rating, each category out of 5:

Taste           * * * * *
Value           * * * 
Atmosphere  * * * *
Service         * * * *

Links: Toni Patisserie & Cafe Website, Yelp

Here's some blog reading tunes: 

A Sad Public Service Announcement

It happened last November. Beard Papa, the Japanese bakery with the awkward name and world's best cream puffs has closed their Chicago location. We had the pleasure of enjoying it for two short years, and I have no regrets. I brought them everywhere- to Delilah's for whiskey and beer for a friend who'd just been mugged, to birthday parties as welcome gifts, to dinner parties when I had no time to whip up a dessert, and sometimes I ate one for breakfast in my cubical. They are memories that will not soon fade.

I miss you eggy pastry shell. Sometimes I still long for you, vanilla speckled custard. 

The closest remaining locations are New York and Toronto.

Chicagoist Article, Beard Papa Website

Belated Public Service Announcement

The M Burger in the Thompson Center food court sells Do-Rite Donuts and Intelligentsia drip coffee. That's one whole half block closer to the Blue Line Clark & Lake stop than their flagship location on Randolph and Dearborn.

The raised yeast Cinnamon Crunch doughnut is even more delicious than the monkey bread of your childhood. 

Links: Do-Rite Website, M Burger Website

It's not lunch, but it may affect your ability to eat lunch.