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 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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They are arguably most known for their "Kurdish breakfast" an elaborate spread of cheese, jams, fried cheese, olives, fries, cucumbers, tomatoes and bread.
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The tent is run by Adan, who mans the booth entirely alone. His ingredients are kept fresh in coolers which are grilled on the spot in front of customers.
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There are many pastry options like croissants, an assortment of macaron flavors, fruit danishes, quiches... My favorites are the fruit-stuffed beignets!
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While most croissants are buttery and flakey, the ones at Hendrickx are denser and chewier. In my opinion, this makes them even better.
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BULSHO serves a traditional Somalian breakfast that is comprised of seasoned meat or veggie stew served with anjero - a fermented flatbread.
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Start with a freshly steeped cup of sweet mint tea, a staple of any Senegalese meal. Then order fataya, triangular fried pastries with a savory filling.
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I absolutely adore coming to Chiu Quon Bakery right when it opens and devouring their sweet and savory buns and steamed dumplings. Delicious!
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