Nostalgia Wine Bar at Nayara Gardens in Costa Rica was one of our favorite places to dine at the entire Nayara resort, so much so, that we ate here twice! The first time was celebrating our anniversary – we participated in the multi-course wine tasting dinner which was exquisite. The second time was enjoying some of their wines by the glass and spanish tapas menu. I had really low expectations when it came to the wine tasting dinner. Typically, I…
Taverna Violi is the new kid on the block at Oak Brook mall, having taken over the space that was formerly Mon Ami Gabi. Let’s just take a moment to shed a tear for the loss of that superb restaurant at Oak Brook! OK, moving on! Violi is a Greek Taverna, and this is not your regular old Greek diner. It’s most definitely a step up from even the old standard restaurants in Greek Town, and is a worthy replacement…
We loved Asia Luna Restaurant so much, that we ate here twice during our week-long stay at Nayara Gardens! If you search around, you’ll find that most folks who review the resort on Trip Advisor or wherever else, also list Asia Luna as one of the best meals they had at the resort. We ate here on our first and last nights at the resort. Asia Luna is called a fusion restaurant, however it is really mostly heavily Asian influenced….
Amor Loco restaurant is located at Nayara Springs within the sprawling Nayara resort in Costa Rica. This restaurant definitely wins for funkiest decor. Nayara Springs is the adults only section of the resort, and this restaurant is definitely geared towards romance. The vibe was like a hookah-lounge mixed with a steakhouse or bistro. There were plush velvet couches and chairs, purple, red and blue lighting, along with photos of all sorts of celebrities both old-timey and current, plastered along the…
Ayla is the brand-new full service restaurant up at the Nayara Tented Camp at the Nayara Resort in Costa Rica. We ate here on one of our last nights, and considering that at home we are transitioning to a Mediterranean diet, and we recently ate at Galit in Chicago (check out my review here!) which serves very similar fare, eating at Ayla was definitely on the list for us. The ambiance at Ayla is glamping chic. Ayla is in a…
Pasta Veneta is one of the newest restaurants in the poppin’ west loop area, and I visited here recently with my cousins. This place prides itself on making fresh pasta, and it shows. There is a sizable appetizer menu, but the mains are all primarily pasta based. The space is very open and very fresh and new, with a casual, bistro-type of feel. There is a very heavy straight-line/geometric shape thing going here, which is really cool. The lighting was…
We were excited to try Galit, one of the newest Michelin-starred restaurants on the block, earning their first star just last April. Galit is a pretty casual-ish Middle Eastern food spot, with an extensive Middle Eastern wine selection including some of the big names like Chateau Musar from Lebanon among other lesser-known wines. The space is pretty large and has bankettes, tables, as well as a long bar-like table along the bustling open kitchen. I love open kitchens, and I…
Bronzeville Winery recently opened on the south side of Chicago, not far from where we live, to a lot of hype, so when they were offering a special restaurant week menu, we decided to book a reservation and check the place out. Bronzeville Winery, more accurately a wine bar or wine-focused restaurant, is a very hip place in a brand new building on South Cottage Grove. Their drink menu not only specializes in wine, but also props up and supports…
We came to Bloomington, Indiana to visit our second-oldest, Noah, at IU. He plays sousaphone in the Big Red Band for the men’s basketball games, and so we managed to find tickets to a game and watch the band, and then took Noah out to a nice dinner afterwards. Before I talk about Feast, I just need to say that if you are at all interested in basketball, don’t hesitate to go to a game at IU. The feeling in…
I have eaten at The Gage Restaurant in Chicago for either lunch or dinner at least 20 times. This restaurant is on Michigan Avenue, and, while on one of the most touristy streets in Chicago, right across from the Art Institute, The Gage remains stalwart, providing excellent food and service. We ate here most recently with Eli and Clara after seeing the Christmas Concert at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, just two blocks south of the restaurant. This is a bit…