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From Paninis to Pinot
Monday Sep 10, 2007.
By Dana Kavan
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 photo: courtesy of Clifton Henri; pictured: Iguana bartender Mike Karavidas
The damage: $6, or order a bottle for a scant $22.
Thousands of bars in Chicago, why this one? Tired of spending my lunch hour inhaling a turkey sandwich while responding to emails, I decided to schedule a weekly dining date with my buddy Jen. We had plans of trying a new restaurant each time, but after our first outing, when we visited Iguana Café following the recommendations of our co-workers, we were hooked. We couldn't get enough of its build-your-own paninis, stuffed with veggies like sweet red peppers, thick chunks of roasted zucchini and grilled mushrooms. Stopping by post-work, though, hadn't crossed my mind until I had an hour to kill on a Friday before meeting some friends at Mundial Cocina Mestiza in Pilsen. I had just finished a long week at work, and Iguana's relaxed, Euro-style ambience sounded like the perfect respite to begin my weekend.
How it went down: Iguana sports all the trappings of a coffeehouse—a hulking espresso machine and a case lined with delicate pastries. It blends these offerings with those of a lounge, complete with a well-edited wine list and a few quality brews, like pop-top bottles of Grolsch. Knowing I was hitting up a BYO later, I figured it'd be best to stick with wine and scanned the reds. The nine options ranged from an Aussie shiraz to a South African cabernet, but it was Tortoise Creek, a French winery, that caught my eye with its $6 pinot. The waitress brought me a wine glass brimming with the medium-bodied, crimson blend. It went down remarkably smooth and tasted spicier and less fruity than I expected, though it had a nice cherry aroma. The vibrant flavor would have complimented Iguana's oven-baked cabonara pasta perfectly, but after my second glass, it was time to move on.
Would I want to become a regular? I thought this place was a find for lunch, but it's a godsend come nighttime. As I sat there munching on the gratis bowl of wasabi peas, nuts and rice crackers, it dawned on me why Iguana, apart from the paninis, wins me over time and time again. Even with "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" playing on the lone flat screen, I could carry on a comfortable conversation at a reasonable level with my companion. That, plus its tall, exposed-beam ceilings, warm tangerine walls and long windows draped in maroon, set a serene scene that'll make anyone want to leave the office for an hour…or so.
Dana Kavan scours the city for drink deals so good you'll offer to buy a round and creative libations that outshine your average on-the-rocks concoctions. Want to give Dana tips on where to rack up a bar tab? Share your finds before her next night out.
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