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Bin 36 Lincolnshire
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Bin 36 Lincolnshire brings partners Dan Sachs, Brian Duncan and David Schneider's wildly successful downtown wine bar/restaurant/market to suburbanites northwest of the city. As in the downtown location, they pour fifty wines by the glass, flight or taste from an ever-changing list of boutique picks. On the educational front, monthly wine classes and tastings are offered along with wine suggestions for each American bistro dish. One addition the location inspired: milk and juice flights for the kids.
- Laura Levy Shatkin
Bin 36 Lincolnshire, 275 Parkway Dr. (City Park), Lincolnshire, IL; 847-808-WINE; www.bin36.com
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Copperblue
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Copperblue serves up seasonal, Mediterranean flavors to Chicago diners with dishes like crispy saffron and serrano rice croquettes and viognier-braised rabbit. And the refreshingly affordable list starring wines from France, Italy and Spain? Executive Chef Michael Tsonton explains, "We want to reach out to the smaller guys who are making handcrafted wines." Order a bottle of Chave's 2003 St-Joseph for $49 and some artisan cheeses to transport yourself far away from the bustle of the Windy City.
- Christine Blumer
Lake Point Tower, 505 N. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago; 312-527-1200, copperbluechicago.com
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Osteria Via Stato
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Osteria Via Stato brings seasonal ingredients with Italian flare to Chicago's River North. Visit the enoteca for cicchetti (small plates) and a choice of 40 wines by the quartino or mezzelitre, or settle in for the $36 fixed price menu of the night. Wine Director Belinda Chang (formerly of Charlie Trotter's and Fifth Floor) gracefully navigates the 300 bottle all-Italian list to accent the parade of antipasti and pasta courses that precede your selected entrée. Tell Chang, "Just bring me wine," and you'll get an expertly paired flight of three four-ounce pours available at $15 ("special"), $28 ("very special") or $50 ("sommelier's choice").
- Christine Blumer
Osteria Via Stato, 620 N. State St., Chicago, IL; 312-642-8450
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Pili Pili
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Pili Pili transports you to the open markets and outdoor cafés of Provence. Where else can you find dishes like chef François de Melogue's classic pistou, pastis-steamed mussels or a savory tarte tatin with fennel and artichoke hearts? Wash it all down with a bottle off Tamra Weiss's France-focused wine list, which travels from the small châteaux of Minervois, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence and Nîmes to Rhône regions like Rasteau, Gigondas and Vacqueras. Try the white wine and chervil-braised spring rabbit with the Pradeaux La Rose Folle from Bandol and you can almost smell the wild lavender in the rambling Provençal countryside.
- Laura Levy Shatkin
Pili Pili, 230 W. Kinzie St., Chicago, IL; 312-464-9988
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