MC Restaurant & Lounge

If you are a friend, family member, loyal reader you know I'm a little psycho about Pho. The art of finding a good Pho means lots of trial and error. And lately I've had lots of both, trials and lots of let downs. So when the bf suggested we check out the new Vietnamese place on Ashland a Sunday hangover called for a good bowl of steaming comfort.

Walking up to MC I was already skeptical. What's with the flashing "Open" signs in the window? And walking in I was even more perplexed. Framed photos of flowers, posters of the Vietnam countryside, a very dated 80's style bar and an empty dining room. Hmm. Do I write this place off? And looking @ the menu I'm not sure what constitutes Vietnamese-French. I don't see French anywhere in this restaurant.

So now that I've completely come across shallow ... yes yes I judge based on exterior. Let me get down to the Pho. ... it was amazing. So good. I haven't had a Pho like this in ages!! Sushi 28 still has #1 Chicago Pho in my book but this comes in as a close #2. Not sure I'd come back for anything or anyother reason than a big bowl of Pho. :) Kudos to you little MC. Let's get an interior decorator in here so the children aren't scared away and you'll surely do well.

Isla Pilipina

I stumbled upon Isla Pilipina online one day a couple years back in search of some Filipino food.. And while I have to say my boyfriend's mother makes the best pancit I've ever had this place has some pretty amazing food. It's very random, and you might miss it driving by but inside it's cozy and always seems to be packed.

Here you have a plate of lumpia: for $3 you can get 10 pieces of deep fried mini eggrolls made with pork, egg, jicama, green onions carrots and sweet & sour sauce, and love (boasts the website). So tasty and a perfect tease to the meal. Next up the usual calamari, here called pusit. This comes with vinegar and garlic dip and is so light and fluffy! I hate really thick calamari so this is always perfect.

Next up you have Menudo which is pork and diced potatoes, prepared with tomato and peppers. Yummm. And finally the staple dish: Pancit. The pan fried rice noodles sauteed with chicken and mixed veggies. So tasty. It's interesting to see how Filipino food has a mixture of influences that over the years have created their own staple and unique flavors. I always love going to my boyfriends parents house and feasting on the wide variety of choices.

But I must say my favorite is this..

Ube ice cream. This is made with purple yam and is sooo sweet and tasty! If you've never had Filipino food I suggest you venture out and try something new. This place is also BYOB with a liquor store right next door!

Milk & Honey

 

 

So I didn't actually get to eat but their new sign which states "Now serving alcohol" got me thinkin. So the next time I was craving a yummy bloody mary, which happened to be last Sunday after the pride parade I made my way for the patio. And they were tasty!!

Happy weekend! :)

Next

Hi kids. Sorry for being MIA the past couple weeks. It's been busy busy. Awhile back my sister and I got to go to the long-awaited : Next. As you know from previous posts that Next has a unique ticketing system new to the restaurant world. Achatz has truly created a frenzy as you can see from their Facebook page. If you are hoping to get tickets the Paris season is almost over so check out their page for same-day updates. They don't come cheap. But are cheaper than Alinea. Enjoy the pictures and then we can discuss.

So I'll let you peruse the many, and I mean many sites reviewing the menu. This is merely a review in photos and a few words on my perspective of Next. I have not had the pleasure of dining at Alinea but I have heard they are incomparable. I liked Next. But to me Next was kind of like Prom. The anticipation of the night itself brews and bubbles as I did in waiting. And unfortunately I let myself down. The restaurant didn't let me down, but I expected far too much.


I really feel like I was swept away by marketing. Darn it! I'm a sucker for the new, the unique, the "next" best thing. But alas, I got to step inside the elusive doors.. the minimal decor and the multitude of staff at my disposal. It did feel special.My sister, unlike me, isn't a fool for magical food. She just plain LOVES to eat. She was certainly not swept away. And was quick to point out that the decor reminded her of star trek. And onto the food...  Am I not dignified enough for French food? Am I the only person in the world of food that is not praising the entirety of Next?? The dishes: some lovely, some not to my liking. For instance: poached cucumber? think warmish half-soft cucumber. Or the chicken which sat by it's side, yes it was what chicken is meant to taste like but so unappealing just sitting there in it's diamond encasing of butter. The salad, oh man. This microscopic salad drenched - and I mean drenched with mayo was almost revolting. Is this what French food is like? I don't know I'm a street-food-girl and not fine china and fold your napkins accordingly-kind-of-girl. 

I digress, there were some amazing dishes. The duck. My mouth waters thinking about it. It was exquisite. Wonderfully cooked: crispy on the outside and perfect in the middle. And when another (yet another staff) brought out more of the duck press sauce I almost cried.  Would it have been inappropriate to ask for a doggy bag? Clearly I am not as dignified as I would hope.

So here you have it. Next was my disappointment, not theirs. You might love it and I hope you do get to try it but just keep your expectations grounded. Just because you hit the refresh button on their homepage the 1,000th time and got yourself tickets doesn't mean you've won the lottery. It's just another dinner, surrounded by madness.