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!

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 + Native Foods Cafe

written by Parita 3 Comments

So I have a problem. I like to do ALL the things, in that I’ve always been a ‘I love my plate tipping over’ kind of person. Until I realize it’s not possible to do all the things and do them well. Let’s take The Blissful Veggie (TBV) as an example.

I started TBV earlier this year with the hopes of creating a space for veggie friendly restaurant reviews. Great idea in theory. But when you’re pregnant and have a blog you already post fairly regularly to and have a full time job, it’s a bit much…even for me! Also, I totally didn’t take into account the fact that after you have a baby meals out are kind of a once in a blue moon type of event. At least for the time being. If we don’t go out to eat, I don’t have any content to share!

So with that being said, TBV is coming to an end…for now. However, I still love sharing and writing restaurant reviews so that won’t stop. When we get a chance to try new restaurants, AND I remember to take a few decent pics, I’ll share my foodie adventures on MIS.

* * * * *

With all of that being said, here’s a restaurant review I’ve been wanting to share.

Native Foods Cafe is a vegan restaurant Thea (my coworker and friend) and I frequent a lot. Mind you, Thea is a not a vegetarian, yet she loves this place as much as I do.

Because we’re basically the same person (just kidding, she’s a lot cooler than me!), we always order the same few things and share. On our most recent visit, we convinced our coworker Lamia to come with us. We’re always looking to spread the Native Foods love!

Lamia was happy to go with the flow, so Thea and I decided to stick with our favorites – the Native Nachos + guacamole + the seitan taco meat and a side of sweet potato fries + the spicy and creamy dipping sauce. Because there were three of us this time, we also ordered Native Chicken Wings with a side of creamy ranch. And of course, you can’t go to Native Foods without contemplating dessert. Our contemplation pointed to a ‘duh,’ so we ended up getting the Peanut Butter Parfait.

SO MUCH GOODNESS!

The following pictures will speak for themselves, but the food here is finger licking good.

The nachos are perfectly prepared with a variety of delicious toppings, including the best “cheese” sauce. I also love the balance of textures and flavors – everything just ‘fits’ together. You may think you’re ordering the standard run of the mill nachos, but you’re wrong. These are super unique.

The sweet potato fries are great on their own, but what makes them extra special is the sauce. Every time we eat here, I’m tempted to ask someone the secret to making it taste so good. It’s so creamy and rich with a bit of spice mixed in. Love the sweet and savory play here!

This was my first time trying the chicken wings, and I must say, I’m a fan! Of course, they don’t taste like chicken, but the sauce gets you as close as possible given these are made of veggie protein. Again, the ranch dipping sauce makes these next level good. The balance of spice from the wing sauce and the cool ranch is perfect.

And finally, this dessert. It’s pretty incredible. I mean, peanut butter cream + chocolate + banana bread. And believe it or not, it’s pretty light!

If you live in the Chicagoland area (or are planning to visit), I highly recommend Native Foods Cafe. There’s truly something for everyone, vegan or not!

Your turn – do you have a favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurant in your city?

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!

Ema – Chicago, Illinois

written by Parita 5 Comments

Ema, located in the heart of the River North neighborhood, is a Mediterranean restaurant featuring light tapas style dishes.

Vishnu keeps a pretty close eye on the Chicago restaurant scene, so when he suggested we make a reservation at Ema for date night , I was game! We went in knowing the restaurant received mixed reviews on different platforms. There are raving fans on one end of the spectrum, and there are those who will never return on the other. By the end of our meal, we fell somewhere in the middle.

AMBIANCE

The overall ambiance at Ema is fun and trendy. The restaurant is brightly lit and very simply decorated. I liked the clean look.

What I didn’t like was how closely the tables are placed next to each other. I kind of felt like we were all eating on top of each other.

Vishnu liked the bar set up and went on to tell me that one day we would have something like this in our home. Ummm…we don’t even drink that much!

SERVICE

The service we received at Ema was the true highlight of our meal. Our waitress was attentive without being overbearing. She also made great suggestions when it came to ordering our drinks and overall meal. Her guidance was on point and even pushed us outside our comfort zone a little (when it came to dessert!).

FOOD

Ema’s menu is comprised of tapas style dishes that are meant to be shared. There are dips, cold mezzes, hot mezzes, salads, and kebabs. I was pleasantly surprised with the large number of vegetarian options. We definitely didn’t leave hungry!

Vishnu and I ordered a few dishes to share based on our waitress’ recommendations.

We started with an almond and garlic hummus – the favorite of the night! Both the flavor and texture were very pronounced – rich, nutty, and very creamy. It came with warm, soft, pillowy pita bread.

We also ordered the crispy Halloumi with dates. I wanted this dish to be mouth-watering delicious, but instead, it ended up being satisfactory. I enjoyed the first few bites, especially those when a piece of cheese and a date came together. It was a little too much for me after a while.

We also ordered the falafel dish to share. I expected this to be everything (so many good reviews both online and from friends). The presentation was beautiful, and I appreciated the crunchy exterior. They lost me with the tablespoon of tzatziki sauce smeared on the bottom of the plate. I wanted a lot more because without it the falafels tasted dry. Again, not horrible but not amazing either.

And finally, Vishnu ordered the chicken kebab to round off his meal. He enjoyed this dish and said the chicken was flavorful and moist. But again, he wished there was more sauce. Almost a complete win!

Of course, no date night would be complete without dessert. Ema’s dessert menu is full of tasty treats, and based on the numerous reviews I read online, the honey pie was a clear winner, so we went for it. This pie was a cross between a Greek cheesecake and a custard (with a side of roasted grapes). The slight tang and honey flavors were on point, however, the sesame seeds sprinkled on top were not. There was absolutely no need for them, and they didn’t complement the other flavors at all. If there’s a next time at Ema, I’m going for the chocolate tart. Always go for the chocolate dessert!

Vishnu and I also ordered a cocktail each to accompany our meal, and we both loved what we ordered (Rose and Rose for me (a light fruity wine mix) and the Savory Hunter for him (a smoky margharita type drink)).

Like I said, even though our meal was good and not great, we had a great time trying Ema and spending time together. And now I’m more determined than ever to find a Mediterranean restaurant worth writing home about!

Does your city have a really good Mediterranean restaurant?

Hawkers Asian Street Fare – St. Petersburg, Florida

written by Parita 6 Comments

Hawkers is a new and very welcome addition to the St. Petersburg restaurant scene. It offers the perfect blend of delicious Asian street food, a hip ambiance, and friendly service.

Hawkers has been on mine and Vishnu’s must try list for a while now. However, every time we stop by we’re told that the wait is an hour plus. Knowing how popular this place is around dinnertime, we decided to eat a very late lunch/early dinner one day and headed over around 4 pm. Lo and behold, we were seated almost immediately!

AMBIANCE

I absolutely loved the ambiance at Hawkers. Everything from the open concept feel to the exposed brick to the cool lantern lights makes you feel like you’re dining in a big city like Chicago or New York. Perfect for date night or a fun dinner out with friends, Hawkers really delivers a trendy look and feel.

SERVICE

While our dining experience happened at what seemed like the least busy time, I was very happy with the service we received. Not only was our waiter knowledgeable about the menu and super friendly, but he was also clearly very passionate about the food. He enthusiastically described all of the dishes we asked about and filled us in on the backstory behind the restaurant as well. His energy was contagious and made the whole experience that much more fun!

FOOD

Hawker’s extensive menu is full of dishes one would find when travelling to any number of countries in Asia – from India to China to Malaysia. The owners wanted to take the best of the best street food they tried when travelling abroad and recreate it for their customers.

We started our meal with two appetizers (we were starving!) – the Jicama and Tofu Salad and the Spring Rolls. Both dishes were refreshing and full of crunchy textures. However, the star of the appetizer round was the salad. For such a simple dish, it had so many different dimensions – sweet, tangy, spicy. We definitely started this meal on a high note!

For our main entrees, both Vishnu and I opted for noodle based dishes.

Vishnu’s dish was called Zha Jiang Mian, which translates to “fried sauce noodles.” According to our waiter, this is a traditional Chinese dish that’s known for its spice combinations. Vishnu really enjoyed his meal and said that he loved how the sauce brought everything together – egg noodles, chicken, peppers, cucumbers.

For my main entree, I decided to order the vegetarian version of the Mee Goreng, a Malaysian egg noodle stir fry dish. This dish had it all – sweet and savory flavors from the chili sauce, crunch from the scallions, sprouts, and peanuts, and a bit of “meatiness” from the tofu and potatoes. The element worth mentioning is really the chunky pieces of potato. While nothing out of the ordinary, the slight char on the outside was perfection when paired with the other ingredients.

Sufficiently stuffed and very happy, we left Hawkers with smiles on our faces! We also immediately made plans to return at least once more before it’s time to say good-bye to St. Pete.

Do you have a favorite neighborhood restaurant? How often do you eat there?