JeffHarms

JeffHarms

Overview:

This place has a great vibe. Brand new space, an open kitchen with lots going on. Great trendy drinks, good looking people working there, etc.

The food is actually amazing, most everything we tried was fantastic. Both cooked and sushi. I relate the menu slightly to the original Japonais concept, but with all the current buzz in the city.

The service is what tends to diminish my experience here. We waited 40 mins past our reservation and then were seated in a small back room. Another 4 top was wide open in the main dining room, and i asked if we could have that table. I was told that it was for some regular customers that requested that table specifically. Unacceptable to me. Our server was hit or miss, having to ask a couple times for the bus boy to find him. This place could be great if the servers up their game and the hostesses lose the attitude.

By the way, no manager ever came to visit me after I was clearly upset about our seating situation.

Special Dishes:

wagu and kimchi dumplings,sushi, rock shrimp tempura, yellow tail shashimi, wagu beef

JeffHarms

Overview:

Leopold was really very good. We ventured out one on the few very snowy January nights this year. As a result, it was a bit more quiet than usual! We very much enjoyed the atmosphere and the service. The beer list is ridiculously long, but extremely overwhelming if you aren't a beer drinker. We stuck with wine this time.

2 different options for mussels, we opted for the beer steamed with bacon (when in belgium...) which were great.

Entrees were very tasty, we did the rabbit and the short rib, both well executed.

A small but very impactful moment.. I ordered a scoop of gelato, salted peanut to be exact, I still think about this gelato and am rather happy it isn't something I can easily access on a daily basis or I'd be 300 lbs.

Will definitely go back to brave the beer menu and have more mussels!

Special Dishes:

beer mussels, braised short rib.

JeffHarms

Overview:

I'd heard random comments about how good Arami was, and on a misc Weds night, decided to make the jaunt and give it a go. Pulling up, I was skeptical, this isn't an upscale stretch of Chicago ave, by any means. We walked in and to the back, and the restaurant is absolutely charming (and packed for a weds!). This is the sort of menu that presents a problem, as there are so many things I wanted to try that we had to narrow things down. We ended up getting the Toro Tartar Bite and the Spicy Tako Springroll (Both at the server's suggestion). Both good, but the springroll was amazing. While there were many amazing noodle dishes on the menu, for which I will return, we went the sushi route. Ordered the Chef's Choice Sashimi and several rolls.

This was, by far, the most fresh and delightful shashimi I have ever had in my life, hands down. I am usually really picky which fish I will eat Shashmi style, yet I ate every single piece that was presented. The rolls were amazing as well.

All of this for VERY reasonable prices and more the adequate service.

I can't wait to go back, this blows other sushi places out of the water.

Special Dishes:

spicy tako springroll, sashimi, hirame spice tako roll

JeffHarms

Overview:

I was invited to dine at El with a good friend who writes for the food industry. I didnt really know what I was "in for". What transpired was a very pleasant surprise. Chef Foss, formerly of Lockwood and Meatyballs, was extremely cordial and welcomed all guests at the onset of the meal to his "dinner party". The dining room is simply a small sectioned off area of the kitchen. While we were there, 12 were in attendance. Everyone eats each course together and is free to get up and wander into the kitchen to watch the guys prepare.

The presentation of each course is stunning, clearly trained well in this area. We had a 13 course meal, and each course was reasonably sized to allow you to make it through! I wont go through each course, but I would say about 75% of the menu was amazing. The remaining 25% needs some work. Sometime flavors come together in ways I've never experienced (Everything Bagel) and other times it's overpowering and heavy handed. Dessert needs some attention, but again the presentation was amazing.... rose petal essence under a bowl of chocolate cake, raspberries and rose ice cream.

Everything is very casual, and it's byob. The server was great, and played background music from his own itunes collection, very fun.

Overall a fantastic experience! Foss is still working out the menu, and in a few months I cant wait to go back to see where it has gone! While the location is very obscure, it's worth the journey to try this different take on a restaurant.

Special Dishes:

chicken salad, everything bagel, char, scallop

This Review has been recommended by 1 person

JeffHarms

Overview:

We finally hit Waffles for brunch. What a treat. There were 4 of us and we opted to sample a bit of everything. Waffles takes its basis (Waffles) to create both sweet and savory concoctions that are all quite amazing. On the savory end, we had the Benedict Waffle (my favorite, with pulled pork!), and the cheddar waffle with short rib. The sweet waffles we chose were the Green Tea with lemon ginger chantilly cream and the mexican chocolate. Both amazing! We also dove into a few non-waffle items, like the roman gnocchi with filet and the chipped beef hash.

The staff was great, very attentive and efficient! We cant wait to go back. This should be a staple for the brunch/lunch crowd. Well worth our drive down from Lakeview!!!

Great concept, I hope they open one up north soon!

Special Dishes:

waffle benedict, cheddar waffle, mexican chocolate