Pasta Bowl has three locations that serve up mouth-watering pasta dishes, or rather, as the name implies, "pasta bowls." You can find them in Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, or the Lincoln Square neighborhoods, all three of which are nestled in lively areas with plenty of things to do before or after your meal.
When I first moved downtown, Pasta Bowl was the perfect date night spot or take-out choice to suit my student budget. They also have daily specials, like $5 wine glass Wednesdays or rotating seasonal dishes.
The dish to order here is their lobster ravioli, which is cooked with a bang-for-your-buck heap of fresh lobster pocketed away in a ravioli circle. It's topped with a delectable cream sauce I like to soak up with a piece of Italian bread.
Pasta Bowl boasts about being a laid-back restaurant with fresh dishes, but if you're not in the mood for a bite, they also act as a bar. In fact, their Lincoln Park location is connected to The Other Side Bar, a cozy spot for a pint. However, all of their locations have an extensive drink menu in case it's you and your group are looking for just drinks and apps.
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The food here is prepared by Moses Sake, chef and co-owner of Tesfa, who learned how to cook from his mother. He runs Tesfa with his brother, Samuel Sake.
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I recommend getting the traditional breakfast combo, a sampler with three dishes, that comes with complimentary warm, crispy bread!
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The star of the show is De Luna's "volcano" taco, made with spicy poblano pepper and melted cheese. It may be one of the best tacos I've eaten in my life!
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Although this street is dominated by Vietnamese eateries, Nhà Hàng is a quieter, no-frills joint as opposed to the touristy, upscale restaurants nearby.
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Here diners sit in the naturally lit patio while enjoying traditional homemade Costa Rican food: sweet plantains, grilled veggies, rice and beans.
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My favorite thing to order here is the vegetarian arepa, which is stuffed with black beans, a generous portion of avocado, and sweet plantains.
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Founded in 1948, "Superdawg" is THE quintessential Chicago hot dog place - they'll bring your order right to your car, like they did in the '50s!
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The lentils are filling and creamy; the veggies are lightly cooked and nourishing; the injera bread is the perfect balance of slightly tangy and spongey.
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OMI has many good menu options, but their Japanese dessert toast is their all-star. Think of it as a fluffy French toast served with vanilla ice cream.
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Choose from multigrain sourdough, their house sourdough and miso rye sourdough; pastry choices include croissants, morning buns, and fruit danishes.
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Momos are bite-sized dumplings from Nepal and Tibet, usually filled with meat that is seasoned with spices like turmeric, garlic, cumin, and chili peppers.
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Their bread that has the perfect ratio of chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The 1979 multigrain sourdough is some of the best bread I've had!
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