Butterfly Sushi - Spiciest Spicy Tuna in Chicago

The family and I went to Butterfly Sushi on 1156 West Grand last night and had 6 rolls - some of which were the Dragon Maki, Hurricane Maki, and the Rainbow. They were all really good, but my favorite is the spicy tuna. The spicy tuna is the spiciest in the city I think. Of all the sushi that I have had in Chicago, Butterfly Sushi seems to really kick up the heat with their spicy tuna. I brought my two kids to Butterfly, and my daughter Nico (who is 2 years old) kept yelping because she was so excited to be out and about on the town. She was shouting "Ya! Ya! Hi!" to everyone that came near our table. The waitstaff thought it was pretty hilarious and were very accommodating.

But Butterfly overall is not really a family-type place. We went at 6:30 so there were not too many people and we could get in and out without too much of a scene. But I think toward the end we were pushing it. After 7:30 the place is typically really packed with lots of people on dates and hipsters looking at kids like "ewww... kids".

I also had the Bogle Merlot. I would say do NOT go with the Bogle Merlot if you can get the Cabernet Sauvignon which is my normal choice. Bogle is a great wine for the price, but the Merlot was just kind of "so so" - not too flavorful and maybe a little sweet which I am not a fan.

Tango Sur and Gougenheim Malbec (2007)

Ever since my chef friend Hugh mentioned how Tango Sur's chimichurri sets the standard by which all other chimichurris should follow (just the slightest bit more vinegary than garlicky), I knew I had to drop by for a taste.

I made reservations ahead of time (they're not on OpenTable, much to my dismay, as I sure love my points) to ensure a good table for my group. Unfortunately, the staff still insisted on seating us by the front entrance which blew in a cold draft every time a patron entered or exited the restaurant. I wasn't terribly pleased by their decision, but c'est la vie.

For a non-descript Monday night, the place was packed, bustling, and very dim. It was a strange eating environment: too noisy for a date and too dark for a social get-together. I'd hate to see how busy the place gets during a summer weekend, though. Maybe a Sunday night would be more intimate...?

On to the ordering. We skipped the appetizers (we filled up on the bread and butter) and moved on with several orders of the churrasco (12oz grilled sirloin) along with a bife vesuvio (grilled prime filled with spinach, mar del plata cheese and garlic in a white wine sauce) while my girlfriend and I decided to share the lomo relleno (half slab Argentine filet filled with a chimichurri-ham sauce and served with a portabella marsala). Sweet Jesus, that's a lot of beef.

Everyone insisted their food was delicious and from what I could see in the candle-light, it all looked great and plentiful. And by plentiful I mean their portions could easily serve as two meals (my girlfriend and I barely made it half-way through our filet). While I couldn't quite distinguish the ham end of the sauce, the chimichurri part seemed solid enough and the portabella marsala very rich. That, combined with the caramelization and char from the grilling, complemented the dark red fruits and toffee notes of the Malbec quite beautifully. I'll be damned if that Malbec wasn't worth the $10. We wrapped up dinner with another bottle of Malbec (not sure who made it) and Yellowtail Cabernet Sauvignon (which was about as good as you'd expect).

Here's the kicker of the meal: all the meat was cooked perfectly to order. Everyone actually got the temperature they requested. This is a first for me and really what nudged Tango Sur into the "recommend" category.

If you're up north in the Wrigleyville/Roscoe Village area, Tango Sur is a great alternative from the usual Gene & Georgetti's-esque steakhouse. Just recently, Tango Sur opened up a sister restaurant called Folklore in Wicker Park, which is also BYOB if that's more convenient for you, and I've heard it's just as good.

- Brian

Toro Sushi and Dortmunder Gold

It was a warm day and nothing sounded better than some cold beer and a light meal and that’s exactly what we were expecting when we walked into Toro Sushi with a six-pack of Dortmunder Gold Lager (Great Lakes Brewing Company).
Knowing that Toro Sushi in Lincoln Park almost always has a line out the door (even on weekdays), we decided to arrive as soon as it opened. A good decision since within minutes of opening the small restaurant was packed. We chose to sit at the bar so we could watch the magic happen.
To start I ordered a ginger salad and James ordered the miso soup, standard sushi starters. Then, we dove into the extensive menu and tried to decide on some maki to share. James, the brave one, went ahead and told the server to bring him “the most obscure thing on the menu” which we later discovered was a roll called the Tiger Eye – two types of roe wrapped in rice and salmon with a raw quail egg yolk on top. Me, playing it safe, went for the Crunchy California Roll – a crunchy version of the California roll warmed up with spicy mayo. For our third roll, we chose the Three Amigos – a Mexican-style roll filled with tilapia, jalapeño peppers, avocado, cream cheese, and cilantro. In addition to the maki we ordered, Mitch, the chef, sent out two complimentary rolls, making out light meal a full-out Japanese feast.
The fish and vegetables were perfectly fresh and each roll contained a delightful combination of flavors. There wasn’t a roll I disliked. I even enjoyed the Tiger Eye despite its unusual ingredients. I was quickly filling up and was ready to call it quits when James reminded me that in Japanese culture it’s rude not finish everything you’re served. So, we did our best Kobayashi impressions and cleaned our plates.
I would highly recommend Toro Sushi to anyone looking for high quality, fresh sushi at a reasonable price. The staff is very friendly and, in the words of my sushi connoisseur cousin, “Mitch is a gem”.
-Rachel

Mado & Luca Pinot Noir

Hidden amongst the trendy bars and restaurants of Wicker Park is inconspicuous BYOB that you truly can’t afford to pass up. At 1647 N Milwaukee lies Mado, a casual American/Mediterranean BYOB that only serves food from local Midwest farms.
I learned something very important about BYOBs at Mado: two bottles of wine is too much (for two), but one is never enough.
Our first bottle was a Luca Pinot Noir which complemented our first course perfectly. At Mado, the menu is constantly changing but they typically offer a platter of assorted pates and various meats with accompaniments including sourdough bread and hearty, flavorful grain mustard.
Needless to say, our second bottle (a Borolo) was forgettable for a variety of reasons. First of all, our second course, a Borolo risotto, immensely overshadowed the Borolo in the glass. We shared this dish, but it was so delicious that I would certainly recommend ordering it as an entrée.
Secondly, as I mentioned, two bottles is TOO MUCH for a dinner for two! Of course the second one gets forgotten!
I have to admit I was almost full by the time the entrees arrived. I had the hanger steak with Gorgonzola polenta and James was brave enough to try the beef heart. Neither of us were disappointed (though feeling a bit light headed!) The hanger steak was cooked perfectly giving it that buttery, melt-in-your-mouth taste and the rich, creamy polenta paired perfectly with it.
My advice? Mado is great for couples looking for an out-of-the-ordinary dining experience in a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly and happy to help you choose from the diverse menu. It is sure to be a dining experience you won’t soon forget.
-Rachel

Caro Mio with a bottle of Jacob's Creek

Caro Mio is up at 1728 W Wilson and is an Italian BYOB in Chicago with great homemade pasta. The decor is basic and the music was pretty good - they played some Aimee Mann and the some Country Western which was refreshing. My dish was Chicken Parmigiana on top of pasta with a meat sauce. Kate had pesto stuffed Gnocchi with a creamy pinkish sauce. Each dish was $21.95. My chicken was a little tough actually but the pasta underneath was very good. I got through about a 1/3 of the total dish because it was huge - and I was hungry too. Kate made her way through about 1/2 her Gnocchi.

Our wine was a Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet and I have to say it was very forgettable. It had minimal upfront taste and the overall flavor was just kind of weak. I base most of the wines I drink off 3 buck chuck (Charles Shaw) from Trader Joe's. Basically I ask myself "how much better is this than three buck chuck?" and then there are levels of better. The Jacob's Creek was no better than three buck chuck. I paid $9.99 for it so I am noting here not to buy it again!