Archive for the ‘Sushi’ Category
Always one to be on the lookout for new restaurants, I found my Beauties a good one this week. A couple of months ago, I heard that Lettuce Entertain You was opening a new restaurant in the suburbs of Chicago, not too far from where I live. I was all over it hounding their PR peeps to get me info. Yesterday, I dined at Tokio Pub for their “friends and family” day. Usually, I can gage a restaurant by how often I think I’ll come back. Let’s just say, there’s a chance I could be a regular, if…I can get in the place. I’m predicting LEYE has done it again and the tiny add-on to Shaw’s Crab House is going to draw a crowd. Opening an izakaya-style restaurant is a first in the burbs with most locals not even knowing what it means. So, are we surprised that LEYE is a trendsetter?
Much like the big city food movement, Tokio Pub is all small plates ranging from $5-$7. Their moniker is “Asian small plates, fusion cocktails and pub style beer,” your basic description of izakaya. The menu layout reads: SEAFOOD, CRISPY RICE, ROBATA GRILL, TACOS, VEGETABLES AND DESSERTS plus their self-proclaimed signature dish, pub wings. I tasted six different items on the menu and took sips of four different cocktails. I promise, I didn’t drink all four! I met the guy behind Tokio Pub, Bill the Brains, who explained this concept table-side.
Within the first week of test runs, Bill is already confident the place will be busy for lunch and dinner and heavy on the cocktails late at night. Easy to see why. The place feels like a cleaned up garage with funky servers and really good bites but still very grown up. I say this with love. Tokio Pub is industrial in design which gives the food and cocktail menu center stage. It’s low-key and an easy place to hang out which is what he was going for. I predict the foodie crowd that lives in the Northwest suburbs will want to be the “in” crowd at this pub. Bill the Brains, I concur. You done good.
Beauty Bites…
- Chicken Meatballs from the Robata Grill
- Braised Pork Tacos
- Crispy Fish Tacos
- Crispy Shrimp Tempura
And Beauty hearts the cocktail menu!
Tokio Pub
900 East Higgins Road, Schaumburg
847-517-2722
Tokio Pub on Urbanspoon
So, if I’m being totally honest about this post…I’m jealous. And I’m not embarrassed to admit it. A couple of months ago, I started writing for one of my favorite Chicago websites, Cheeky Chicago, as their “eats” writer. I adore the founders and love the site, so it came as no surprise that they have, yet again, come up with another awesome idea. Erica Bethe Levin and Jessica Zweig have done an unbelievable job not only building Cheeky Chicago but branding it as well. They are out almost every night of the week for events that they sponsor. It’s a ton of work and they live the ultimate Cheeky, urban life.
There I was, sitting at my home-desk when an email came through about a contest being held by Cheeky. And that’s when I felt it. The jealousy because I’m not eligible. Ya know those contests that say “employees and their family members are not eligible to participate”? I can’t even have my six year old enter on my behalf! But I’m still so excited about the contest and for Erica and Jessica. Cheers to you both!
Here’s the deal.
Cheeky Chicago is teaming up with food travel bloggers Mike & Chao Chow to launch their first-ever guest contributor contest where readers can write about their Cheekiest food adventures in the Windy City. The top ten winners of the contest will win the opportunity to attend the exclusive opening of the Chow's new restaurant Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar (230 W. Erie), opening in River North in May 2011. The Cheeky girls will also name a grand prize winner that they will send to San Francisco to write about the Bay Area restaurant and nightlife scene in conjunction with their debut of the new Cheeky San Francisco site launching in late 2011.
Readers who would like to enter can apply here:
http://www.cheekychicago.com/cheekychow/
The contest begins Wednesday, April 6th with winners being announced April 29 and the grand prize winner will be announced on May 6th, at Union's grand opening party.
Any Beauties that want to be Cheeky…here’s your chance. I promise, if you win…I will come visit you in San Francisco! Good luck.