Chicago bites - A Taste of River North and Lakeview

Here is the second part of our foodie adventures in Chicago. Yesterday I featured Loop eats. Today's pics are from the River North and Lakeview neighborhoods. And the view (above) is from the John Hancock Center's bar.

In River North, we enjoyed a lovely and enormous dinner alfresco at Karyn's Cooked, 713 N Wells Street. This was our only visit to a Karyn's location in Chicago but I'd love to check out the others someday. We started our meal with two appetizers: the deep-fried Soy Buffalo Wings (above) and the messy, delicious Thai Skewers (below) in peanut sauce. I'd never encountered a flat Thai skewer before. They were challenging to maneuver but inventive to behold.

Our main dishes were the Flautas for me (above). These were tasty deep-fried, veggie-filled tortillas with great sauces and delicious sides. And then there was the Poached Haddock (below). Yes, my boyfriend went with the soy cod. Blech!--was my reaction. However he enjoyed the strong fishy flavor and strange texture. The broccoli was the real monster on that plate.

In Lakeview, we were planning on stopping at the famous Chicago Diner but the crowds and a movie showtime propelled us to Kitchen 17 instead. Located at 613 W Briar Street, this newly opened 100% vegan restaurant was the oddest spot that we visited. The menu seemed reminiscent of something that you'd make in college, probably late at night. However the counter staff was friendly, it was BYOB, and they offered free (!) self-serve lemonades, teas, and water.

We started out with the Loaded Nachos (above on left). I enjoyed the homemade vegan cheese and sour cream best in this mound. They weren't overpowering, as Daiya, Tofutti, and other popular brands tend to be. And I ordered a Philly Cheesesteak (above on right), which again was pleasant with the mildly-flavored faux cheese and peppery, flaked seitan. The rather stale bread could use some work. I guess there is no equivalent of Amoroso's rolls in Chicago?

My boyfriend also got the Supreme Pizza (below), which had a thin crust but was nothing to write home about. I think the sauce was jarred or simply bore a strong resemblance to Ragu. I hope this place keeps working on their menu and one day gives Chicago Diner a run for their clientele.    

Chicago bites - Loop eats

Here are some food highlight photos from a recent trip to Chicago. Wow, Chicago is way more veg-friendly than the last time that my boyfriend and I visited, which was admittedly over 10 years ago. I've been neglecting the Midwestern foodways. We ate mainly in the Loop area, which is featured below. Next up, I'll post our Lakeview and River North finds.

First we visited Native Foods Café, which largely seems to be a West Coast chain but has outposts in Colorado and Illinois, including the one at 218 S Clark Street. The food was over-the-top indulgent. Piled-high, slathered, "cheesy," and fried seems to be how Native Foods serves things. However we didn't order anything remotely sensible.

Pictured here are the Native Chicken Wings (above) and two types of sandwiches. The Classic Deli Reuben that I ordered was greasy seitan bliss (below on left). And my boyfriend deemed the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger a must-try item for its brazenness (below on right).  The accompanying ranch dressing was rather insipid, sadly. Otherwise we were pleased with this "fast-casual" vegan chain.  

  

The darker photos (below) are from Haymarket Pub & Brewery, located at 737 W Randolph Street. This vegan-friendly brewpub had a fine vegan chili and truly excellent vegan burger made with beets, oats, and black beans. I feel bad to post this sloppy, half-eaten burger pic but the veggie burger was really that good. It's always surprising and delightful to find solid vegan bar food.    

Finally, we found a treasure-trove of Soul Vegan to-go items (below) at the Bockwinkel's grocery store near our hotel. We were hoping to score some plain old hummus. Who'd have thought that mixed-in with the potato salads and coleslaws we'd discover 100% vegan soul food entrees, salads, and wraps?  This deli case became our go-to spot for picnic items to take to the many inviting parks of Chicago. In fact, these vegan items were among the best stuff we ate on our trip. The tangy and spicy Jerk Steak Wrap was my particular favorite.