Restaurant review Archives - My Inner Shakti

Gaijin – Chicago

Gaijin is Chicago’s first okonomiyaki restaurant, offering both Hiroshima and Osaka styles of the savory Japanese pancake.

Ambiance

Gaijin has a cool, hip vibe like so many restaurants in the West Loop. The restaurant itself can seat about 60 people, so it still feels private and intimate, and there’s some outdoor dining space available too. Personally, I loved how each table came with it’s own grill to ensure your food stays hot as it comes out.

As someone who tried to grab a reservation twice before finally snagging one, I’d say not to wait when doing so.

Service

The service at Gaijin was perfect. I felt like we were waited on without it being too much. Our waitress made some great recommendations, and overall, different people checked in on us throughout the evening.

Food

In terms of food, we really enjoyed everything we tried. The menu itself is broken down by starters, shared plates, sides, pancakes, dessert, and the tasting menu.

Because we couldn’t exactly choose what we wanted, we decided to go for the $39/person tasting menu. It included pickled veggies, noodles, a pancake, and dessert. Lots of food (happy hubby’s who go to finish off what we couldn’t…haha)!

The picked veggies were good. Not something I’d order on their own, but as a light starter, they worked.

Next came the noodles! These were simple yet tasty. My favorite part of this dish was the veggies. They were sautéed to perfection!

Next came the pancakes! I ordered the tofu and my sister went with the shrimp. These beauties – with cabbage, veggies, mayo sauce, and protein – were delish! I would come back to Gaijin just to eat my pancake again! The grill kept them super hot which was nice because you’ll definitely want to savor each bite.

And finally came dessert. Not my favorite course. My mochi donut came with a chocolate topping and my sister’s with a macha one. The thing that bothered me was that the donut itself wasn’t sweet AT ALL! I don’t love super sugary desserts but I need a little bit of sweet, especially after all that savory!

All in all, we really loved our meal at Gaijin! My sister and I both agreed that if we came back, we would order a couple of shared plates and the pancakes. That would make for a very satisfying meal!

Date Night at Girl and the Goat | Chicago

written by Parita 4 Comments

Girl and the Goat has been on Vishnu’s ‘to try’ list of Chicago restaurants for a very long time. In fact, whenever I’d suggest a date night out, his first question would be, “Does Girl and the Goat have any open reservations?” To which I’d reply, “Yes. 10/11 pm on a random Wednesday three months from now.”

Well, my determined husband happened to be looking at Open Table one day and found a more reasonable reservation for us – (a random) Tuesday at 6:45 pm. With my sister free to baby sit (i.e. watch Kaiden sleep!), we decided to go with it!

To be totally honest, I wasn’t expecting to love the vegetarian food at Girl and the Goat. Why? Mainly because they are known for the meat dishes. But let me tell you – I was blown away by how fresh, well-balanced, and truly delicious every element of our meal tasted. A feast to remember!

Vishnu and I started with drinks (sparkling rose for me and an old fashioned for him) and an order of the sourdough bread with a side of whipped feta and red onion mostarda (a creamy dipping sauce). My rose was on point, Vishnu loved his drink as well, but let’s talk about this whipped feta for a second. I need a tub of this by my side at all times. It was so creamy and tangy and the perfect spread for the crusty sourdough bread…and I’m sure anything else you can find that’s dippable.

Vishnu and I decided to share one more vegetarian item before digging into our entrees. Based on a recommendation my friend Jigna shared with me, we ordered the roasted cauliflower. OH-EM-GEE! I’m totally ordering this as my main entree the next time we eat here. If you’re not a cauliflower fiend, you may be wondering what the hype is all about. You guys! The char on this cauliflower…the tenderness…the pine nuts…and the pickled veggies and jalapenos. It all came together to form the perfect bites. I could not get over how tasty this little dish was! A must order in my humble opinion.

For my main entree, I decided on the green garlic pierogies that came with a sour cream and scallion + tomato relish on the side. The portion size was definitely on the smaller side (4 pierogies per order), but it was the perfect amount for me given we ordered a couple of things to share. My favorite part of this dish was the sour cream sauce and the relish. They paired so well together and when eaten with the tender pierogie and creamy filling, it was pure magic!

For his main dish, Vishnu ordered the crisp braised pork shank. In his own words, this was the most tender pork he’s ever had. Super juicy too. I was able to try the dipping sauces and loved them both – the kimchi one was incredible…so unique! And the naan was the softest and fluffiest I’ve ever tried. I don’t think Vishnu regretted his choice by any means!

Any finally, no meal out would be complete without a little something sweet! Vishnu put me in charge of picking our final course, and of course, I went for the one with all the chocolate. Our waiter even confirmed that it was the best one on the menu! You guys, this chocolate pavlova with sesame whip cream, brittle, and ice cream was out of this world and SO unique. The actual pavlova was essentially one huge macaroon, and the crispy edges were everything! My favorite part (no surprise!) was the creamy chocolate caramel sauce. It wasn’t too sweet or even too chocolaty, but it really brought the whole dessert together.

While the food was clearly fantastic, I should also mention the wonderful service we experienced. Our waiter was incredibly helpful and very timely with everything, and I personally loved how he checked in at all the right moments to make sure we were ‘loving our dishes.’

Girl and the Goat, we shall meet again…when Vishnu finds another random weekday reservation! But seriously, every Chicagoan/visitor needs to try this restaurant. AMAZING all around!

Brunch with a Side of Incredible Service at Farmhouse | Chicago

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Given the choice of breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I will always rebel and choose brunch. There’s something about brunch food that gets me excited to eat. For one, who doesn’t love eggs covered in cheese with a side of crispy breakfast potatoes. Or if you’re in the mood for something sweet, a stack of fluffy pancakes with a side of sweet syrup. Ummm…yum!

A weird fun (?) fact about me – I love looking at restaurant menus, even those in different cities I have yet to visit. And brunch menus are a personal favorite!

If you live in Chicago or have ever visited, you know this city takes the brunch game to the next level. There are so many amazing options to choose from. I don’t think we’ll be able to cover them all by the time our next move comes around. Insane!

Farmhouse definitely takes brunch (and food in general) seriously! The menu is filled with fresh, local, and carefully selected ingredients. While not healthy by any means, it’s the kind of food you feel good eating. It feeds your belly and your soul!

I’ve had the pleasure of eating at Farmhouse several times and have yet to be disappointed. However, our most recent dining experience topped them all.

Let’s start with the food…

Vishnu, my friend Jigna, and I started by sharing an order of the cheese curds. OH MY! Little bites of gooey, perfectly battered heaven. These bad boys are fried but still very light. Literally melt in your mouth perfection. This dish is also served with two dipping sauce – homemade ketchup and spicy ‘curd’ sauce. The ‘curd’ sauce, as strange and unappetizing as it sounds, is the perfect condiment for cheese curds and anything else you want to dip in it!

For my main meal, I ordered the Vegetable Hash. Trust me when I say, the name of this dish doesn’t do it justice. My bowl was filled with Fall vegetables like Brussel Sprouts, squash, tomatoes, and green beans and topped with perfectly cooked scrambled eggs (the way I like my eggs!) and a spicy horseradish cheese. On the side, I enjoyed spicy breakfast potatoes that were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Vishnu ordered the Midwestern Autumn Salad with chicken. He let me sneak a bite of the veggies before he dug in. I loved the flavors and textures, especially the cabbage, apples, goat cheese and pecans. Definitely recreating this at home!

Jigna ordered the Salmon Benedict and judging from the beautiful presentation and the fact that Jigs finished her meal, I think it was a pretty delicious dish.

So that’s the food…as you can see, you really can’t go wrong!

Now let me tell you about our service experience. In one word, it was surprising and heartwarming!

The last time I ate at Farmhouse was back when I was probably eight months pregnant. A college friend of mine was in town and suggested we meet for brunch. I remember our waiter being really funny and kind, but that’s about it. Well, guess what?! We ended up with the same person this time around, and the only way I know is because he actually remembered me! He asked about the baby, so I proceeded to show him a few pictures of Kaiden! And then, to top it off, he didn’t charge us for the cheese curds as a way to say congratulations. Ummm…who does that kind of stuff anymore?! The staff at Farmhouse that’s who! Vishnu and I (and Jigna) were blown away by this small act.

So not only did we have a great meal, but we also left touched by the thoughtfulness (and memory) of our great waiter!

Ernesto’s Chilaquiles at Nookies | Chicago

written by Parita 2 Comments

Three Chicago neighborhoods are lucky enough to call Nookies home (Old Town, Lincoln Park, and Edgewater). Serving delicious and comforting food guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest eater’s taste buds, Nookies’ menu covers the gamut in terms of flavor.

When it comes to eating out, I can be creature of habit. What can I say? When I find something I absolutely love, I stick with it. Consistency, baby!

This is certainly true when eating at Nookies. I’ve now dined there five times, and all five times, Ernesto’s Chilaquiles have been part of my meal in some shape or form. Yes, they’re that good!

Side note – if I were to ever meet this Ernesto, I would give him a hug and then pester him until he gave me the recipe for his chilaquiles!

Traditionally, chilaquiles include fried tortillas, salsa, and cheese served with eggs and beans. Ernesto’s are no different in terms of composition, but they take the cake in terms of flavor. The tortillas and eggs (scrambled but not overly) are layered with generous amounts of cheese and smothered in perfectly spiced sauce. All of this deliciousness is served alongside [the creamiest] refried beans, rice, and sour cream.

One of my favorite parts of this dish include the eggs and tortillas. As Thea (who’s now been to Nookies twice!) said, you really can’t tell the difference between the two. It all just melts in your mouth! I also LOVE the beans. When I say they’re the creamiest, I mean it! I want to swim in them will simultaneously stuffing my face by the handful. Ha!

I felt the need to share about Ernesto’s Chilaquiles because a lot of my readers live in Chicago, and those who don’t will likely (or at least they should) visit at some point. And if/when you get the chance, you must put Nookies at the top of your must try restaurant list.

While I won’t be ordering anything different anytime soon, the menu is full of other great options as well. I’ve tried the veggie croissant sandwich and the crepes (both excellent), and Vishnu really enjoys the meaty skillets. But if you want the ultimate delicious meal, go with the chilaquiles and thank me later!

Your turn. Are you a fan of chilaquiles? What’s your go to brunch dish?

The Blissful Veggie – The Start of Something New

written by Parita 5 Comments

You guys! MIS turned six last Saturday. SIX! So many emotions! More than anything, I’m so glad I started this little space [on a whim] all those years ago. Best decision ever.

MIS will always be my first baby. My first big creative undertaking. And it’s not going anywhere. In fact, I have so much I want to share in the coming months. Just need to find the time and energy to do it!

With all of that being said, I felt a pull towards creating something new at the end of 2016. Something that had a little more focus.

As you all know, I LOVE food – talking about it, eating it, reading about it, making it, writing about it, etc. It’s a true passion of mine. And while I have shared my love for food on MIS quite a bit over the past six years, I always resisted going too far down that vein, particularly with detailed restaurant reviews. I even started a series last year, but it didn’t stick because it didn’t feel like the right space to share those kinds of posts.

To make a longish story short, I moved forward with an idea inspired by a few different people including Vishnu, my coworkers, and my good blogger friend Kacy (if you live in the DC area her site is a must visit food resource !) and started my own vegetarian restaurant review site. It’s called The Blissful Veggie, and it’s now my second ‘creative’ baby!

The site itself isn’t perfect, but I absolutely love having a space to share my thoughts on all of the vegetarian restaurant meals I eat.

If you’re interested in TBV’s backstory, check out the site! And follow TBV on Instagram and Twitter!

And last but not least, thank you for your support over the years! I’m so thankful for each and every person who supports and visits MIS (and hopefully TBV!).

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Weekend Recap – Foodie Adventures + Cutting My Husband’s Hair

written by Parita 9 Comments

It’s definitely Fall in Chicago. The temperature is significantly cooler than it was a couple of weeks ago. Part of me is scared for what’s to come, and part of me is so excited to be able to wear boots, sweaters, scarves, etc…finally! It’s been years since I’ve experienced this kind of weather. The only reason I bundled up in Florida was because the office was always freezing!

Anyway, enough about the weather. Let’s talk about the weekend!

I went into Friday evening with ‘big’ plans. Plans that included a simple meal and catching up on missed episodes of our favorite shows. In one regard, we did just that. We caught up on How to Get Away with Murder and Quantico. In another regard, we missed the mark. Vishnu ended up eating TJ’s frozen samosas, and I ate copious amounts of chips and salsa. The night ended at 10 pm. That was our ‘big’ Friday.

Saturday ended up being more ‘on plan.’ Vishnu and I started the day with some Hawaii planning. You know it’s getting serious when I make a spreadsheet that details our meals and activities for every day of the trip. 🙂

After getting ready and bundling up (my fav!), we headed out for lunch at Xoco, a cafe serving delicious Mexican street food and snacks. The last time I ate here was back in 2013, and I remember it being really tasty, so I was excited to try it again. My memory didn’t fail me because the caldos (meals in a bowl) we ordered were so comforting and flavorful. I ordered the vegetarian bowl (obviously), and Vishnu ordered the Pork Belly Vermicelli bowl. They reminded us of Mexican ramen. Delicious!

And because huge bowls of soup aren’t enough, Vishnu and I Googled nearby donut shops. Firecakes is located around the corner from Xoco, so we decided to stop by. I’m so glad we did because the peanut butter cup donut I got was perfection. It was light and fluffy and stuffed with whipped peanut butter…heaven in donut form. Vishnu’s coconut cream donut didn’t disappoint either. The coconut flavor was strong but not overwhelming. After we finished our donuts, I told Vishnu that we should make it our mission to try every donut shop in Chicago (together). It’s always good to be well informed about your city, right?!

Fast forward to dinnertime. We met my coworker and friend Erika and her boyfriend at Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon serves contemporary American cuisine in an eclectic and casual environment. The food was delicious, but more importantly, we really enjoyed the company/conversation!

We ended the night by watching the Cubs secure their spot in the World Series! So exciting!

Sunday was busier than usual. My day started nice and early with a mentor/mentee meeting for my volunteer program (sharing more this week!).

When I got home, Vishnu handed me his clippers so I could cut his hair. You guys, this was my first time holding clipper, never mind using them to cut someone’s hair. I was so nervous, but Vishnu had more than enough faith for the both of us. I watched a couple of YouTube videos, said a prayer, and got started. Not to toot my own horn, but I did a pretty good job! So good in fact that I am now apparentely Vishnu’s personal hair cutter.

The rest of the day didn’t compare to our hair cutting adventure, but it was pretty productive – grocery shopping, Target, homemade zucchini bread, and homemade chicken tenders (for Vishnu).

Your turn – what mischief did you get up to this weekend?! Have you ever cut someone else’s hair? Successfully?!

A Weekend Getaway to Madison, Wisconsin

written by Parita 6 Comments

Madison, Wisconsin isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of a weekend getaway. At least it wasn’t for me! However, after spending the weekend there with Vishnu, my sister, and her husband, I totally see why people would want to take a few days exploring the capital city and fun college town. We had a blast trying new restaurants, taking in the sights, and celebrating Vishnu and Aekta’s birthdays!

With that being said, here’s a ‘where we stayed, what we did, and what we ate’ guide to Madison.

WHERE WE STAYED

Before booking our hotel for the weekend, I consulted my friend Erin who went to school in Madison. She suggested a bunch of hotels, so I researched each one and ultimately settled on the Hyatt Place Madison Downtown.

This hotel was perfect for the four of us in terms of cost, location, and room size. It was also super clean, which is always the most important criteria for me. If you’re looking for a nice, no frills hotel in the heart of downtown Madison, the Hyatt Place is it!

WHAT WE DID

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate the way we wanted it to this weekend, so we had to be flexible with our plans. Vishnu wanted to go biking around the lake on Saturday, but because of the steady drizzle and cooler temps, we opted to walk around the lake for a bit and then down State Street (a fun shop and restaurant filled street that’s blocked off to cars).

We also spent some time Saturday morning exploring the Dane County Farmers Market, the largest producers only farmers market in the country (no resale allowed!). Erin highly recommended this, and I totally see why. There were literally hundreds of stalls – honey, cheese (so much cheese!), baked goods, breads, salsas, etc. This was truly a highlight of our trip!

The four of us agreed that we used our time to the best of our ability, however, next time we want to visit a dairy farm, go biking, and visit more fun bars.

WHAT WE ATE

The Old Fashioned – We ate at The Old Fashioned on Friday night per Erin’s recommendation, and it totally reminded me of an Athens, Georgia (where I went to school) kind of place. Because there was a bit of a wait, the hostess gave us four $1 off coupons to use at the bar. The beer selection was amazing – so many interesting beers to choose from – and CHEAP! $4/beer! That would get you like two sips in Chicago.

Upon being seated at our table, my sister and I ordered the cheese curds, the highlight of our meal. The slightly chewy cheese, the crispy beer battered exterior, and the delicious dipping sauces…party in my mouth! Aek and I also split a vegetarian sandwich. Adarsh ordered the cheeseburger, and Vishnu went for the fish special. It’s safe to say that no one left hungry!

Marigold Kitchen – After reading review after review for different brunch spots, I decided Marigold Kitchen would be the first one we tried. Thankfully, everyone loved the food/drinks they ordered. Once again, my sister and I split a dish – the chilaquiles. Vishnu ordered chili poached eggs, a slightly smaller dish but very satisfying according to him. Adarsh ordered a chorizo and corn relish omelette – he raved about it! We also ordered two carrot ginger pancakes for the table. The cream cheese topping was perfection!

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream – Located on State Street, this fun little ice cream place offers TONS of unique flavors and serves up HUGE scoops. Being in the dairy capital of the US, my sister insisted we try some Wisconsin ice cream. You don’t have to twist my arm! Vishnu and I shared a cup of Espresso Oreo (coffee + Oreos) and Zanzibar Chocolate (3 different cocoas). YUM!

Cento – Cento is a trendy Italian restaurant with some seriously delicious food. Everything we ordered from the wine poached beets, to the boys’ pizza, to our pasta, to the drinks. to the Tiramisu dessert tasted fresh and flavorful. And we didn’t hold back at Cento because this was Aek and Vishnu’s birthday dinner! We had so much fun chowing down and chatting about ‘deep stuff!’

Eldorado Grill – Last but certainly not least is Eldorado Grill, our final Madison restaurant where we ate brunch and drank copious amounts of coffee before driving back to Chicago. The Tex Mex food at Eldorado is fun and inviting. With so many options, Aek and I decided to split two dishes, which then prompted Vishnu and Adarsh to do the same. Out of the two things we ordered, I LOVED the chilaquiles (yes, again!). The sauce, the cheese, the layered tortillas – it all came together perfectly. Every bite packed a flavorful punch!

And that, my friends, is our weekend getaway to Madison, Wisconsin in a blog post! I can’t wait to go back at some point and explore (and eat) some more. 🙂

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST HUSBAND AND SISTER A GIRL COULD EVER ASK FOR!!!

Your turn – when was the last time you took a road trip and where did you go?