Strictly Seasonal
Chalkboard | North Center | $$$
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Walking into the airy, elegant Chalkboard space, it’s hard to believe it was formerly the gloomy Tournesol. But classy as the room is, the menu is decidedly friendly, offering dressed-up versions of classic American comfort food. Daily specials are listed on the restaurant’s namesake, a giant chalkboard, but often also on a paper menu that includes chatty asides from chef-owner Gilbert Langlois. Comfort-food constants include fried chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes and greens. The menu changes frequently, but seasonal vegetables featured prominently at my last visit: the chips in the fish-and-chips were made from sunchokes, a pile of Swiss chard accompanied a pink seared duck breast, and tortellini were stuffed with roasted celeriac. On Saturdays and Sundays there’s high tea from 2 to 4 PM. —Kathie Bergquist 4343 N. Lincoln, 773-477-7144, chalkboardrestaurant.com. Dinner: Sun-Mon, Wed-Sat. Sun brunch.
It’s been seven years since chef Shawn McClain transformed a dilapidated East Village storefront known to me and my neighbors as the “pigeon palace” into a sleek haven for vegetarian dining, but I’m still impressed with the number he did on the space, all cool earth tones, warm low lights, and bursts of greenery. The seasonally changing menu is currently featuring dishes such as hearts of palm and somen noodles with papaya, edamame, and ginger-soy dressing and heirloom yellow hominy succotash with fava beans and caramelized cipollinis. After-dinner options include French-press coffee and exotic teas—for example, one that according to the menu was once harvested by monkeys. In honor of its anniversary, Green Zebra is offering seven dishes and cocktails for $7 through Thursday, April 28. —Martha Bayne 1460 W. Chicago, 312-243-7100, greenzebrachicago.com. Dinner: daily. Sun brunch.
Nightwood | Pilsen| $$$
