Marigold

4832 North Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640-3604
(773) 293-4653

Type: Indian Restaurant
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5
Price: Entrees range from $12-$30
Quality for price: 3.5/5
Ambiance: Intimate and warm, on the verge of elegant
Other: Named after a flower

Here is something that restaurant patrons always love: being rushed. There is a fine line between getting people in and out of a restaurant in a timely manner and making them feel like they are welcome to stay as long as they want. It's a very delicate ballet between the server and guest at every stage of the meal. Last Thursday we decided to use one of our Groupons to Marigold in Uptown. We called around 8:00 to see if we needed reservations, but the woman on the phone assured me we would not. We told her we would be there in an hour and confirmed they closed at 10:00. Usually this would mean that a restaurant would take their last seating at 9:45 or 10:00, but not close the kitchen right at 10:00. However, we showed up a few minutes before 9:00 and by the time we could say, "Table for two" a gentleman at the door informed us the kitchen would be closing soon. He wasn't rude about it, just very matter-of-fact. So at this point, as conscientious restaurant patrons, we felt rushed. We sat down, trying not to let this initial contact get to us. We got water from the busser (who was awesome, by the way) and our server came over to greet us. And, what luck, it's the guy who greeted us! Oh goodie. We asked about the appetizer and drink special they had listed on their website and at first he acted like he had never heard of such a thing. I told him I saw it on the website an hour ago and he admitted that they used to do that, but had discontinued it. The next part is our favorite:

"Okay, well, what would you recommend for a cocktail?"

"That's really hard for me to say, since I created most of them. That would be like asking me to pick between my children."

"Okay, well we won't tell the other cocktails you didn't pick them."

"I'll give you guys some more time."

That was almost verbatim the exchange. So it went "What do you recommend?" to "Pretentious comment" back to "No, really, what do you recommend?" and ended with "I'm leaving and not answering your question." We were really not fans of this guy. But did we mention the busser was awesome? We ended up trying a couple of cocktails and then a couple more with our meals. Trying to win us over with his mixology skills and charm he asked, "Okay pop quiz: Out of the four cocktails you've had, three were created by me. Can you guess which one was not?" So now we get to play Quiz Show with this guy? We guessed it correctly and he was interested to know how we came to our conclusion. If we weren't so nice we would have said what we were thinking: "Well, that one was our favorite..."

If it seems like we were dissatisfied with our experience at Marigold, we must assert that it is only because of the awful taste left in our mouths from our interactions with this server, and not at all connected to the quality of the food. In fact, we were both very impressed with our meals, the classic Tandoori Chicken and spicier Lamb Shank Vindaloo. The portions were generous and both came with sides of basmati rice and we ordered a side of naan as well. We also enjoyed the Chicken Tikka we ordered as an appetizer but didn't much care for the kachoomber salad alongside (likely because neither of us like raw tomatoes and onions, which happened to be two of the three ingredients). Unfortunately, we didn't leave talking about the food, but could barely wait until we got out the door before we both exploded with the gripes we'd had to communicate non verbally in the quiet restaurant. Sadly, the most fun we had on this date was entertaining each other with impressions and reenactments of our pretentious waiter as we walked home.

So would we recommend Marigold as a date restaurant? The ambiance is nice, the food is tasty, the cost is reasonable. But to be honest, it's not worth the risk of having this guy (we really wish we caught his name) as your server, so as for our recommendation: order carryout.

Devon Seafood Grill

Devon Seafood Grill

39 E. Chicago Ave.

Chicago, IL 60611

312.440.8660

Type: Upscale Seafood

Fancy Shmancy Factor: 4/5

Price: Entrees $19-55
Quality for price: 4/5

Ambiance: Romantic
Other: Happy Hour Specials, Rotating Four Course Tasting Menu with optional wine pairings

[Dan] Okay, we're bad bloggers. Admitted. We've been seriously slacking and there is no excuse. But we're going to come up with some anyway: The holidays, as always, were crazy; We're both in various stages of job transitioning; Being on opposite schedules has taken its toll on our ability to go out; We can be just plain lazy. But it's a new year and a chance to start fresh. This past weekend we decided to go to Devon Seafood Grill on Chicago and Wabash for a celebratory dinner because, as hinted above, we both are starting new jobs. As some of you reading this blog may know, I've worked on and off at Devon for over three years now. That being said, this probably isn't going to be the most fair and unbiased blog entry we've done. We considered not reviewing it, but what the heck? It is a great restaurant and one of the reasons I've been there so long is because there are really good people who work there, too.

[Kristen] Contrary to what Dan wrote above, at least a portion of this review should be unbiased. In the time we have been dating, we have somehow managed not to have dinner at Devon until this past weekend and so, while Dan has probably tasted everything on the menu and can provide more of a comprehensive review, I can offer the first timer perspective most diners would experience. Admittedly, I wasn't a complete virgin to the Devon experience. I had met up with friends before for Happy Hour specials (great deals on apps and drinks) in the upstairs bar but this was my first time dining in the swanky dining room on the lower level.

When we made our reservation, Dan requested an alcove, which allowed us a semi-private table with a half wall separating us from the rest of the dining room. We were informed that the last couple sitting there had gotten engaged and considered it a good luck sign. So just to be sure to harness some of that luck, we ordered oysters as an appetizer. ;) Dan was kind enough to wait until I'd finished eating to tell me that the little buggers were actually alive, a fact I had somehow missed. We also had tuna tartare and ordered a bottle of Kendall Jackson's Summation (half price bottles on Sunday nights!).

Eventually, after much deliberation, we ordered our entrees. As Dan has mentioned in previous entries, I'm not a big seafood eater. But I may have to change my ways because the simply prepared Mahi Mahi I ate was so delicious that Dan didn't have any of my leftovers to eat as is usually the case. I chose Lobster mac n'cheese and grilled asparagus for my side dishes and these didn't disappoint either. Of course, I also had to try Dan's meal, which wasn't on the menu but he ordered it anyway. He got a medium-rare filet with Alaskan King Crab legs and chose asparagus and yukon gold whipped potatoes. Reasonable diners may have called it a night at this point. But not us! We continued our gluttonous affair by ordering a warm Ghirardelli Chocolate Lava Cake, some espresso, and Dan had a port to finish off the meal.

Truth be told, one of the reasons we decided to come to Devon last Sunday was because Dan had won a gift certificate through work and so we got a pretty good deal on our food. We're not made of money and the menu is on the pricier side so it is definitely a place for special occasions as far as we're concerned, whether proposing marriage, celebrating an anniversary, or toasting to a new job. Or bring a first date to enjoy some of the weeknight specials or happy hour deals to save some money without sacrificing the romantic vibe. I can honestly say that I would come to eat at Devon again, even if Dan didn't work there, even having to pay full price, even though I've never been much of a seafood gal. It was just. that. good.