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Clark/Division (Red)

Happenings on the east side.

Wednesday Aug 31, 2005.     By Centerstage Chicago Staff

Lifestyle Feed

It's unquestionable that the East Village stretch of Division Street is an up-and-coming hot spot, with sandwich-riffic Milk & Honey, the too-tasty and expanded Alliance Bakery and the DJ-heavy Moonshine. But head east to the Lakefront, and you'll find a few movers and shakers in the Gold Coast scene as well. Here are some of our current favs.

Safety rating: A-OK during the day. Keep your eyes open at night.
Panhandler rating: It's not unusual to hear a request.

Late-night locale
Spoon
Spoon's recent interior polishing reflects 2005's industrial decor trend. The neighborhood's comfort is still part of the Spoon experience, but this summer's patrons unwind behind a 40-foot bar with a mirror backdrop, glass shelves and a lighting concept that illuminates 20 "floating" bottles. Low-slung banquettes replace booths and are upholstered in hot chocolate hues, accented with orange throw pillows.

Executive chefs Michael Cone and Scott Ryan spin American comfort food with regional delicacies. The menu is quartered into four regions: North, South, East and West. Revamping a fave with its fresh cut French fries, Spoon eschews ketchup packets in favor of the beer and cheese-dipped creations of the East Coast to the Wild West version, dusted with mushroom essence and dipped in horseradish sauce, priced at $4.95. Other highlights include a deconstructed crab cake (East) that's almost too attractive to eat; grilled cheese with raclette, mozzarella and smoked gouda on brioche (North) that trounces the cheese sandwiches of your youth; and a salmon croquette with frisee lettuce that's worth a venture West.

Where to chill
Third Coast
Forget the 24-hour Starbucks. This open-til-the-wee-hours cafe serves up whatever espresso beverage you need to keep your eyes open…and more. The art-laden spot (with both smoking and non sections) serves up a menu that outpaces the traditional hummus and pita offerings of most comparable spots. Begin with a gourmet cheese plate (smoked gouda, camembert, French blue, and dill havarti) for a touch of class. Entrees span from the low-maintenance (grilled sandwiches and pizzas) to real-deal meals, including Pacific crab cakes with chipotle mayo and steak fajitas. Perfect for drinkers and tee-totalers alike, Third Coast offers an impressive wine menu that includes both bottles and glass pours. Purchase a bottle and receive a free appetizer. A limited breakfast menu is available at all times.

Good for groups
Kamehachi
Midwesterners aren't the only folks whose taste buds have been tantalizedby Kamehachi; the list of celebrities who have awkwardly fumbled with chopsticks at Kamehachi reads like a who's who of sashimi lovers. The first floor resembles a typical sushi bar: small, intimately arranged tables (read: this is a euphemism for thisclosetogether) and a long counter behind which knife-yielding men perform their magic. The second level, which boasts the newer Kamehachi Cafe, offers a relatively clubby atmosphere, with a cocktail bar, dim lighting and "music that won't necessarily be ocean waves," says a Kamehachi staffer. The garden patio, featuring a retractable roof, is a great place to chow down year round and the ideal local for parties of twenty or more.

Here's what to expect at the end of your chopsticks: Kamehachi's menu offers a wide selection of nigiri sushi, sashimi, maki mono and sake. Upgrade your typical ramen dinner with udon soup for some real noodle-slurpin' action. If you're still a little queasy about the raw fish situation, go for the Beginner's Sushi 101: a selection of California rolls, cucumber rolls and a shrimp and egg omelet. No raw fish there, so it's perfect for chickens.

Cheap eats
Ashkenaz Deli
This unassuming, deliciously authentic Jewish deli in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast can comfortably seat up to about 15, and those lucky enough to score a seat will find themselves face to face with a large laminated bagel. Yes, the tabletops have been adorned with bagel photographs. Cute, really, since the tables are round. Your tablemates will be Gold Coast businessmen craving corned beef, construction workers slurping up cabbage soup, and regulars who chat with the deli guys while stocking up on the Jewish goods they're jonesin' for.

Whatever delectable deli dish you're after, Ashkenaz can cure your cravings in a New-York-style minute. In the morning, stop in for bagels and lox or a creamy cheese blintz. In the afternoon, grab a Rueben sandwich and three of your friends to share it with—these suckers aren't for the faint of appetite. Other must-haves include Matzo ball soup, chopped herring, homemade potato pancakes, and rugalah. How do you say "Yum"in Yiddish?

Dinner-date destination
Le Colonial
The popularity of Le Colonial, Rush Street's fanciest Vietnamese restaurant, proves that some things are worth dressing up for. There's no denying that this place screams fancy, though not in the nondescript, bleached tablecloth kind of way. It's hard to describe Le Colonial's decor without throwing in the word sultry: The ambiance is, after all, designed to evoke the romance of 1920s Saigon. The main dining room boasts rattan chairs, oriental rugs, banana trees and a detailed copper ceiling laden with slowly whirring fans. Upstairs, a candle-lit bar and lounge hide behind potted palm leaves and an outside terrace extends just beyond.

If you can pull your eyes from the decor to the menu, expect to find Vietnamese cuisine with French heart. The pho, an oxtail soup with rice noodles, beef tenderloin and aromatic herbs, is a popular starter, as is the spicy beef and lemongrass salad. First courses include the chao tom (grilled shrimp wrapped around sugar cane with angel hair noodles and a mint and peanut sauce) and Vietnamese spring rolls filled with shrimp, pork and mushrooms. Entrees run the gamut from roasted chicken with lemongrass and lime dipping sauce to grilled filet mignon served with sauteed shrimp and tomato rice pilaf. Saying bon appetite over a meal from Le Colnial will cost ya, so consider a visit here a once-in-a-while occasion.