The basil leaf on N Clark - not far from DePaul. Great gluten free options (separate pot for boiling, separate pan for cooking). I had the pesto fettuccini with sun dried tomatoes and chicken, Nina had the gnocchi. Wine selection was also nice. I plan on returning for their butternut squash brown butter sage sauce gluten free ravilioli. Portions are enormous - we both left with lunch for the next day! One app and one entree can feed two adults.

Prost! (Yes, the exclamation point is part of the name). Great for beers/snacks, not ideal for a full dinner. Certainly a good pick with a large crowd. Food was okay but affordable. We had the four wurst combo. The pretzel with beer cheese seems like the best choice. Lots of flexibility with the menu and an enormous beer selection. I will return for Oktoberfest!

Bar Goa - Bollywood Brunch Absolutely splendid drinks and good eats. We tried: -the Mango Somrus -boozy chai latte -feni soda -xacuti chicken wings -chorizo omelette -pulled pork sliders All very good. Drinks better than food. Would return for the wings.

Gaijin - Japanese okonomiyaki and Kakigori Once with my brother, once with a college friend. The second time around I started with the short rib, which was quite small. I had the Gaijin lager, he had the Japanese old fashioned (I thought it was too sweet). Of the okonomiyaki, I have now tried: Octopus Whitefish Beef Shrimp Hiroshima style chicken (unmixed, yakisoba on bottom). I think the whitefish is the best. Strong taste of bonito. I prefer the original to the Hiroshima style. I have not tried the kakigori but it looks great!

Good cocktails from Three Dots and a Dash Mango rum was great, but replicable at a home bar. The signature eponymous cardamom rum cocktail is an absolute must try!

Hinata sushi, located between Cathedral Hill and the Tenderloin. A birthday dinner that made me glad to be alive.