Ah, The Cheesecake Factory...

Type: Big Ol' Chain Restaurant, serving an eclectic mix of Italian, American and Mexican fare
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 2.5/5
Price: Entrees generally range from $10-$20
Quality for price: 3.5/5
Ambiance: Their website describes it as 'upscale', but we're going to lean more towards 'family'
Other: They also have cheesecake...

We've had this giftcard for Cheesecake Factory burning a hole in our pockets for quite some time. The trouble is, in this city locals don't usually make this place a destination. We steer clear of it and leave their huge portions and familiar menu items for tourists walking around Michigan Ave and shopping at Water Tower Place. It's not that we're 'too good' for Cheesecake Factory. In fact, whenever I've been there with people from out of town I've enjoyed the food and the experience. First of all, there is almost always a wait. We went there last Saturday around 3:00pm-well after lunch time and well before dinner-and still had to wait over 30 minutes for a table. Second of all, with almost 150 locations across the US, why wouldn't we go somewhere that you can't get in the suburbs? Anyway, we had a giftcard, we were downtown and we were hungry. The wait time they gave us was 30 minutes, which ended being a tad over that, but nothing unacceptable. This place is always packed and there usually isn't room to sit and wait anywhere. The ambiance is nice, not quite 'fine dining' as their website suggests, but it's a lot nicer than some other family restaurant chains.

Our server, Shannon, was great and told us about a delicious special they were serving at the Chicago location for the first time. Kristen ended up ordering it and Shannon was not kidding: this was pretty darn good. It was an angel hair pasta with breaded chicken breasts, shaved prosciutto and a cheesey cream sauce. I got the skirt steak which was also really good. We topped it off with a piece of a layered red velvet cheesecake for dessert, which was also outstanding. This place is tried and tested. Their food is good. Their portions are big. Is it a little overpriced? Yeah, you're sitting under the John Hancock building in one of the country's top shopping destinations. Should you bring a date here? If she's from a farm in Nebraska and just moved to the city, maybe. Better yet, bring her parents when they're in town and you've been dating for a few months. The four of you can talk about your 'plans for their daughter' over some giant plates of pasta and decadent cheesecake...

Quartino

Quartino

626 N State St.

Chicago, IL‎ 60610

(312) 698-5000‎

Type: Italian/Wine Bar

Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5

Price: small plates $7-10, pastas $9-10, pizzas $10-12, specialty dishes $14-21, wine (1/4 bottle) $4-20

Quality for Price: 3/5

Ambiance: Old World Italian, lively, romantic, versatile

Other: Restaurant industry employees discount (25%)

We haven't actually eaten at Quartino yet. Unfortunately, when we met another couple here for late night drinks on a Thursday night, we had already had dinner and had barely enough room in our bellies for cocktails. But after watching a friend's husband eat Beef Carpaccio and Grilled Organic Veal Skirt Steak, we decided we would be back. Soon. Yet we were so impressed with the menu and ambiance of this Italian wine bar that we had to review it now.

When we walked into Quartino, it was bustling with noise and movement but we managed to find a hightop table in the back of the bar and inexplicably, did not struggle to hear or understand each other over the music and other customers. The entire restaurant had a feeling of being "alive" and we picked up on this excitement immediately, especially when we checked out the wine list. The wine selection is extensive and accomodating to all price ranges. In fact, we brought home a Quartino postcard which reads: "Where wine is cheaper than water." But between the wine selection and the other cocktails (try the refreshing Aperol Spritz), why would you even consider ordering water?

Besides the wine list, the menu contains an impressive selection of pizzas, pastas, and small plates. There is even an entirely separate Salumeria menu to choose from. Don't know what Salumeria means? That's okay, neither did we! Basically, the Salumeria menu allows you to step away from fancy prepared dishes toward cured meats and cheeses without losing an ounce of class. Whether you choose to eat like you're in a fancy restaurant or a deli, you'll be blown away with the ambiance and character of the place. The dim lighting and beautiful plate preparation makes this an ideal place for just about any date. First dates, double dates, anniversary dates...you'll find the perfect amount of Italian romance vibe you're looking for.

We'll be sure to update again once we've actually consumed the food at Quartino. Warning: it will probably be pretty horrific since we'll likely split at least two small plates, a soup or salad (or both), a couple entrees (perhaps a pasta and a specialty dish), and a couple wine carafes. Disgustingly, we'll excuse our gorging by saying that we've both had long weeks or we are doing our part to help boost the economy and we'll decide that if we can still button our pants, clearly we should keep going and get gelato or pastries (again, or both).

We'll post all the details of our gluttonous adventure once we awake from our inevitable food comas.

Couture Cafe

Couture Café
2568 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
773-857-2638

Type: Crepe/Sandwiches/Coffee Shop
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 1/5 trying to be a 3/5
Price: $7-9 per panini or crepe, breakfasts $5-7, desserts $5-8, specialty drinks $4-5

Quality for price: 2/5
Ambiance: Casual, Modern
Other: BYOB, “Stimulus Plan” specials, free wi-fi

[Dan] Last Saturday we decided to take advantage of a rainy fall day (because who doesn't feel like going for a walk when it is cold and misty out?) and check out World Market. After some shopping, we were both famished. However, we happened to walk by Border's Books on Clark and Diversey at the exact moment that David Cross was doing a book signing. Being huge fans (although apparently not huge enough to know he was in town to do a book signing) we couldn't pass up the opportunity to check it out. After burning quite a few calories laughing during his Q&A and waiting in line to get a book signed, we grew even hungrier. Kristen had been to Couture for crepes before and wanted to try their lunch fare (with the proviso that we also get sweet crepes for dessert).

Upon walking into Couture Cafe, it's hard not to be struck by the lack of anything resembling ambiance or character. A small casual cafe located on Clark street in Lincoln Park, Couture's focus seems to be entirely about their crepes, which they do very well. As far as a good spot to bring a date for lunch or, heaven forbid, dinner, may we humbly suggest any other spot on Clark Street. And then maybe stop by Couture for Intelligentsia coffee and a delicious sweet crepe...

The cafe is set up pretty standard, although it's not quite sure if it wants to be a full-service restaurant or a counter-service cafe. We walked up to the counter to order, but other patrons just sat down at a table and one of the employees brought them water and menus and took their orders at the table. In any case, the place is mostly white walls with some very large 'pop art' paintings. Sure, the furniture is pretty 'hip' and modern, but otherwise it is reminiscent of an apartment that someone just moved into and hasn't had time to decorate or make it feel like a home yet. There is something vaguely temporary-feeling about the decor. However, there is one huge plus if you're bringing a date there and you've either just met or have been dating for a long time and have just completely run out of things to talk about: Magazines. Lots of magazines inside the actual tables. Aside from the dessert crepes, it's probably one of the biggest selling points of Couture. The tables are glass tops with about eight inches of space for magazines underneath. So if you're sitting across from your date and the conversation starts to slow or become awkward you can look down and point out, "Hey, Jude Law is pregnant!" Or "What do you know, according to 'Vogue' men are three times more likely to want to sleep with you if show any interest in them whatsoever." On second thought, better not mention that headline if it's a first date...

But if you're not in the mood for "couture," and are looking for higher culture reading material, turn away from the fashion magazines and you'll find assorted books to choose from on a shelf behind a couple of cozy couches. Or just bring David Cross' new book, like we did, and read it aloud together. Let us offer a tip, though, especially if a mom and her two daughters sit down right next to you at the clearly-only-meant-to-sit-two-customers table: monitor your volume at the particularly lewd or crass parts. They probably want to eat their Snickers Wannabe crepe or Pear and Brie Salad sans Cross' scathing (but hilarious) critique of politics, the media, and society in general.

[Kristen] The fact that so much of this review has focused on reading material proves that we were clearly not blown away by our meals. In fact, I ordered a Grilled Chicken and Hummus crepe, but when our food arrived, it was a Chicken and Avocado panini I received. In partial defense of the wait staff, they did offer to correct the mistake, but having already waited too long for a couple of sandwiches in the nearly empty and not-at-all busy cafe, I decided to eat the panini. Dan's panini had pesto, which I find usually improves any food it accompanies, yet neither of us were particularly impressed with our lunches. One upside is that all sandwiches and crepes include a spring salad tossed in a light house vinaigrette. But light was definitely how we felt after finishing our meals and we craved something heavier to fill us up so we turned to the sweet crepes for dessert.

We deliberated between the Nutella crepes (and decided against them since we consume it almost daily already), the Fresh Berries and Cream, and The Smores and finally settled on the French Pear Crepes. These were so delicious that they almost made up for our previous disappointments and were the closest we came to actually feeling like we were in France (which we loved, as we are both francophiles). The crepes were filled with pastry cream and served under slices of pears poached in two different kinds of wine (Chardonnay and Merlot), and finished with a red-wine reduction syrup and french vanilla ice cream.

Thanks to the sweet crepe, we left satisfied, but we won't be rushing back any time soon. We've decided that this would be a good place to bring a date you are still trying to get a feel for or don't know very well but again, stick to the sweet crepes and coffees (or smoothies and fresh squeezed juices, if that's your thing). The couches and reading material would make Couture Cafe an excellent location for a study date. Bring a laptop and enjoy the perk of free wi-fi Internet. Another plus, since the employees don't seem to be in a rush to do anything, you will not feel any pressure to give up your table to new customers and can stay and eat until you finish your work, or until you get a stomach ache, whichever comes first. Come during lunch or on weekday evenings to take advantage of their "Stimulus Plan" specials so that even though your tummy may suffer, at least your bank account won't.

The most memorable part of our trip to Couture Cafe was reading Cross' book, I Drink for a Reason. And since our experience at Couture gave us plenty of reason to drink, we can't help but wonder if everything might have seemed a tad less mediocre had we known it was BYOB and brought along a bottle of wine or framboise. Ahh, well, next time we'll know.....to go to La Creperie instead.