So hands down, Yusho gets the Best Dish Trifecta! Actually, that's me restraining myself, too. The first time I ate at Yusho my initial response was "when everything is so perfect I need someone to punch me!" Thankfully, no one did. But seriously, I swear, there is nothing better than tasting something amazing that you have never tried before… that also comforts you in that way that only mom's familiar cooking could! The comfort factor is a ten! Yusho, the menu is so much fun to explore… ask questions, learn what things are… and several tastes, like 3 or 4 different dishes will give you an exceptional feel for what they've got going on. Always magical! Given the superiority of skill, quality ingredients, creativity and exquisite everything Yusho and anything by Matthias Merges and team is on the top of my list! Kudos!
- Yusho - Takoyaki, The ingredients of this incredibly satisfying dish change seasonally but the deliciousness is not a matter of question. Often adorned with a flavorful, fresh and perfectly dressed vegetable of some sort and accompanied by a flavorful complimentary paste or sauce.
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| Takoyaki at Yusho. |
- Yusho - Cosmo Blood Sausage Steam Buns, Because OH MY GOD WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS… YOU SHOULD BE EATING ONE.
- Yusho - Soft Serve, I absolutely love the soft serve at Yusho. The ingredients may vary seasonally but once more, the deliciousness is consistent. My favorite so far has been hibiscus, tamarind & sancho pepper. Because I just had no idea! So so good! Now, if the Mochi dessert is also on the menu you're probably going to need to get both. I'm just sayin'.
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| Soft serve at Yusho. |
- Mott St. - Brussels Sprouts, Wok fried with lamb pancetta and maple brown butter. Much has been made over brussels sprouts and that's all well and good but you have not lived until you have tasted this divine perfection. The pancetta… the maple brown butter! Get thee to Mott St.! Plus Jenny, Nate and the rest of the gang make you feel right at home. This is a fun place, everything I've tasted (Gai Lan, Imperial Rolls & Steamed Dumplings, Kimchi Udon were delightful.)
- Pleasant House Bakery - Steak & Ale Pie, Speaking of COMFORTING… buttery crust, filling so warming… you'll want to take some home, AND YOU CAN! Locations in Bridgeport and in Three Oaks, MI…
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| Steak & Ale Royal Pie at Pleasant House Bakery. |
- Pleasant House Bakery - Seasonal Green Salad, Pleasant Farms greens with herb vinaigrette. Yes, THEIR OWN greens! I've never had a salad that was as varied and perfectly delectable as this.
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| Seasonal Green salad at Pleasant House Bakery. |
- Union Sushi + Barbecue Bar - Prosciutto-wrapped scallop, Exquisite & Delicious. Wasabi avocado puree, sweet plum sauce, fried ginger. Also, this place is tons of fun!
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| Prosciutto wrapped scallop at Union Sushi. |
- Union Sushi + Barbecue Bar - River North Roll, It's wrapped in Collard Greens. I'm from VA. So, you know…
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| River North Roll at Union Sushi. |
- Billy Sunday - Asparagus salad, olive poached tuna, pumpernickel, hen egg. It's relentlessly perfect, like everything at Billy Sunday.
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| Asparagus salad at Billy Sunday. |
- Kai Zan - Orange Rush, Gorgeous presentation. Equally delicious.
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| Kai Zan. |
- Ruxbin - Sockeye salmon, brioche crust, cerleria purée.
Best Value Wine
- Bertrand et Guillaume Gonnet Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2011 Franco Serra Barbera d'Alba
- 2011 Azienda Agricola Cirelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Best Bottleshop
- In Fine Spirits, Andersonville
Best Cocktail
- Billy Sunday - Cocktail, Malted Rye, Spanish Brandy, Ambergris Laced Palm Sugar, Water, North Bay Bitters. Then life began. Alex is relentlessly in pursuit of all things exceptional. As is everyone at Billy Sunday.
- Yusho - Soldier of Valerius and Red Hook (Johnny Drum 101 bourbon, Vermouth di Torino, Barolo Chinato, cherry) Steve makes an exquisite cocktail.
Best Beer
- Dos Osos, or "two bears," collaboration brew between Revolution Brewing and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. - IPA, dry, crisp and clean.
- Surly Furious, Surly Brewing Company, IPA, burry me in a Furious Cask!
- Sculpin IPA - Ballast Point Brewing. Top drawer.
- High Fidelity - Gigantic Brewing Co., American Pale Ale. Pour it, drank.
- Cruisin for a Brewsin - Lake Effect Brewing Company, Belgian IPA, freaking' delicious.
- Mr. Inappropriate - Solemn Oath Brewery, Belgian Wheat.
Best Coffee
- DARK MATTER - Doing so many splendid things, all up this muthafucka! On Western Ave. at Chicago Ave. and also at Star Lounge Coffee Bar where I die for the Dolor de Oro.
Best Food Truck
- Eastman Egg Co.
- 5411 Empanadas
Best Social Media
- Yusho
- Union Sushi + Barbecue Bar
- Pleasant House Bakery
- Proving that social media can be used to enhance the overall experience, expand your brand and serve as an additional extension of reach for customer relationships! A re-tweet can feel like a fist bump! A link can educate! Thanks for sharing, everyone!
+ Major Plus Awards +
One visit is not sufficient to judge a business. One visit certainly provides for a distinct first impression but for me to award a Major Plus I have to visit more than once. I know what I like and my judgements are based on my overall experience. This award goes to restaurants who blew me away on every possible front. Rated on another system they may be five stars or whatever, on mine they have by far earned that Plus! I judge based on ridiculous amounts of scrutiny to every possible detail, including but not limited to:
- Menu (Actual Menu, the Food, the Drink, Taste & Execution, Creativity)
- Atmosphere (Interior, Exterior, Service & Presentation and is the baseboard spotless, are the ceiling fans clean?)
- Overall Organization (Dining Stages, Operating Culture, Reservations system. Did I see an avoidable traffic jam? Is something getting missed? If so, I'll find it.)
- Overall Service (Wait Staff, All Points of Contact, Front of House. I watch how the mail carrier is treated. Honey, this is what I do.)
- Bathroom (I have a strict rule: Bathrooms, while they can not MAKE a restaurant they certainly can BREAK one.)
- Media (Is there a presence, Relationship? Fun? Responsive? One time I tweeted that the music was too loud and the response was IMMEDIATE. I was like "Dayum!")
- Cost. While I will judge "is this worth what I payed" I will not base a review on price, you price it how you need to run your business, however; if you price me out, well then I guess I am just priced out, right?
Closure Predictions:
I predict Bull Horns Taco Bar will close in 2014.
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