Monday, January 30, 2012
The husband-and-wife owned spot offers contemporary American fare with a global twist.
When Hota owners Jonadab Silva and his wife Erin Silva Winston lived in an apartment around the corner from Jacky’s Bistro, they would regularly have dinner and drinks at the Evanston restaurant just across the Wilmette border. They would take advantage of the French spot’s deals, with Silva boasting that they were getting a $300 meal for $150. “We always joked that it was a good thing that we bought it, because we couldn’t afford to keep going here,” Silva said. When Chef Jacky Pluton closed the restaurant after six years in 2009, Silva signed on with the owner of the new Jacky’s on Prairie as the chef. After two years, Silva and Winston decided to buy the business to create a restaurant all of their own. Jacky’s on Prairie closed on New …
Monday, October 10, 2011
The counter-service spot adds extra spice to Evanston’s ethnic dining scene.
Evanston has long been a great place to sample dishes from around the world, but its dining scene got even more diverse with the opening of 527 Cafe last year. The Taiwanese spot is a novel treat, serving up huge portions of dishes you won’t find anywhere else in the area. The counter service at 527 Davis St. is cheerfully decorated with bright orange chairs and large windows overlooking the street. A mosaic of mirrors hangs above the half-booths in the back of the restaurant and hanging lights provide a mellow glow. A TV screen displays a slide show, showcasing many of the dishes offered at the restaurant. This is very helpful for diners unfamiliar with the cuisine. The cafe had a decent crowd around lunchtime Saturday, mostly patronized …
Monday, September 12, 2011
The restaurant's lunch specials are an amazing bargain in these economic times.
Evanston’s Trattoria Demi offers affordable hearty Italian fare anytime, but the best deal is to head there for lunch. Offered every day--not just weekdays--its lunch specials provide excellent, made-to-order dishes at fast-food prices. I’ve been a fan of the eatery at 1571 Sherman Ave. since I was a student at Northwestern University. The intimate restaurant is nice enough to take a date without putting a strain on anyone’s wallet. The portions are also huge, so the prices are made more reasonable by knowing you’re typically paying for two meals. This was my first time going to Trattoria Demi for lunch, and when I visited the inside of the restaurant was empty as everyone was enjoying the beautiful weather in the sidewalk seating area. …
Samantha Nelson
3:38 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
It's Taiwanese with some Korean and Asian-Fusion dishes. more ›