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PLACES TO EAT

Klay Oven, 414 N. Orleans - Official Web Site

Great Indian Food Chicago IL

klay oven dining roomFor a taste of India right here in Chicago, head to Klay Oven. This restaurant serves authentic Indian cuisine without attempting to Westernize its food, and the result is one you don’t want to miss.

The establishment itself is simple yet elegant, with tasteful Indian wall tapestries and decorations showcased among the comfortable booth-style tables. A quiet fusion of jazz and Indian music plays overhead, completing the scene. The menu uses proper Indian names for each dish, but no need to worry. With a wait staff that is helpful and ready to provide food recommendations, you will be sure to experience a meal that is ideal for your tastes (and spice-tolerance level!)

As an appetizer, try the Sabzi Pakora; these are vegetables coated in chick-pea flour and then fried; the effect is a surprisingly light, delicately flavored way to whet your appetite.

As an entrée, try the Gosht Pasanda if you are in the mood for lamb; these tender morsels are prepared in a seasoned yogurt sauce and are incredibly flavorful. Eat the Gosht with Paratha, which is flaky whole wheat bread. Paratha is also excellent with the Murg Makhani, or Butter Chicken. This dish is boneless tandoori chicken cooked in a rich tomato butter sauce. Be sure to loosen your belt beforehand; each of these dishes is a decadent choice that will surely satisfy a large appetite!

If the flavors get a little hot for you, make sure you order the Kheere Ka Raita; this is a yogurt dish that includes chopped cucumber, coriander, roasted ground cumin and paprika. When eaten with your entrée, it cools your palate and adds a lovely dimension of flavor to your meal.

Finish off your meal with some traditional Indian chai; made with boiled milk and given an extra kick of flavor with some added clove and cardamom, this tea is exotic and refreshing all at once.

Chocolate Bar at the Peninsula Hotel, 108 E. Superior - Official Web Site

The Peninsula Bar Chicago Illinois

The Peninsula Hotel is one of Chicago’s best. With rooms in the thousand-dollar range, everything this hotel does is grand. Thus the hotel’s Chocolate Bar, a chocolate buffet situated in the beautiful Lobby Restaurant, is as much about the experience as it is about the chocolate itself.

The idea of a Chocolate Buffet is inherently decadent; add that to the gold and polished luxury surroundings and you have the makings of a truly fantastic evening. Offered on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Chocolate Bar features chocolate in almost every form.

There are strawberries dipped in chocolate, chocolate marshmallows and tiny ceramic dishes filled with chocolate cream. There is chocolate brioche, chocolate cake and chocolate mousse, all artfully arranged and topped with tiny, luscious raspberries. There is milk chai hot chocolate and lavender-laced white hot chocolate. There are truffles, chocolate crisps and chocolate lollipops. Truly, the feast goes on and on.

As the live band plays in the corner, serenading you with jazz and classical music, you return to the buffet again and again, trying more and more servings of high-quality chocolate in various forms.

Plan to visit this chocolate wonderland for a special occasion, or just to treat yourself. Be sure to eat a light dinner, however, since you will need quite an appetite to do justice to all this buffet has to offer. With a price tag approaching $100 (including valet parking) for two people, the Chocolate Buffet is not an experience you want to rush. It is essential that you take your time to relish the delicacies as well as the ambience. If you do this, the evening is well worth the price.

At the Peninsula, indulgence is key. After all, what could be better than a glamorous, candle-lit room, views of the city and, of course, dessert for dinner?

BARS/CLUBS

J Bar, 610 N. Rush - Official MySpace Page

J Bar Lounge in Chicago IL

j bar chicago barJ Bar is a small yet swanky establishment that serves up drinks and company with style. The staff at this bar is friendly and well-coiffed; everyone from the bouncers to the bartender gives you a smile, and although most of the clientele is extremely well-dressed, the mood is not one of exclusivity. Rather, this cozy bar seems as welcoming as it is upscale.

The room, decorated with leather couches in U-shapes, encourages conversation, as does the music which is loud but not overbearing. J Bar offers a menu with appetizer-type food, as well as both fancy, artsy and standard drinks. Private parties are possible here, and there is no cover charge. J Bar is open until 2 am on Tuesdays and Sundays, 3 am Wednesdays through Fridays, and closed Mondays.