BIG FLAVORS // Tiny Lounge

Tiny Lounge has it goin' on. They serve-up perfectly proportioned sharing plates and upscale cocktails without the Downtown price tag. This little gem offers a variety of tasty items to choose from, so even vegetarians can indulge. I fell in love and just about proposed to that sweet potato empanada - the chimichurri sauce, wowza. John and I usually swoon over everything here, but our very favorite dish is the mussels - you can get a half portion if you just want a little. I have been been dying to try the fried Wisconsin cheese curds, but that's a conversation for another day. Now back to the important stuff in life - cocktails. I am telling you people, the Whiskey Sour is so good you will do a little jig right there in front of the Golden Angel. All in all, tiny is in and over-sized entrees are out. It's also situated in our very own neighborhood, SCORE. Lincoln Square can I get a what what?

DRINK // Whiskey Sour 
Hands down, best WS we've had the pleasure of tasting
 
SHARE // Island Mussels, Sweet Potato Empanadas & Curried Cauliflower
Mmmm mmm mmm. Can you please sell that chimichurri sauce in to go containers?

STILL HUNGRY // Catfish Tacos
Refreshing, crunchy and delish

CAN I GET A TACO DE PESCADO // Big Star

OK so yeah we have the nerve to review Big Star. Let's be honest, a place so killer that patrons will gladly wait three hours to enter doesn't need reviewing. We can't help ourselves though, we want to shout TACO DE PESCADO from the rooftops or better yet, the yellow taco truck situated next to the restaurant. Big Star is so feakin' delicious that we basically black out during the consumption part of the meal... And when we come to, we order more.

SHARE // Chips and Guacamole  AND Ensalada De Big Star  

The chips are limey and the guacamole is extra guacy, let's swim in that salad

EAT // Taco De Pescado 

Feels like you have been transported to California, but better, this kids got it

DRINK // La Paloma

Goes good with more fish tacos

REPEAT // Taco De Pescado 

Or else you will be sorry you didn't order more

GIDDYUP // Bridge House Tavern

We are hesitant to review this restaurant since we think its such a hidden gem, we're selfish like that, but Bridge House Tavern is the cats pajamas and the world (also known as a handful of our friends reading this) needs to know. The bartenders make a killer cocktail, but more importantly they are attractive. The food is tasty and the menu options are diverse, but what really makes this place sing is the view. Top that off with a carafe of The Horse Collar and stay a while... Or until your boyfriend tells you to giddy on up, its a work night.

SHARE // Cheese Board

This puts most boards to shame, its bursting with fruit, nuts and delicious cheeses, holy cow

EAT // Salmon on Toast

Smoked salmon, mascarpone and candied onions layered in a mason jar with lots of bread for dipping, I was hooked to that jar like gum on a sidewalk 

DRINK // The Horse Collar

It has ginger beer in it, enough said

ALL I CAN SAY IS, PIE // Beatrix

Beatrix: The best, yum, oh man so good. You will be pleased as pie, and seriously whats the story with that caramel pie and why haven't we been eating it all of our lives? Side note, It was a workday birthday so this fatbrain toned it down and went white wine (cause I'm civilized like that). After 6pm all bets are off and we encourage you to go straight to the mixed cocktail list, they looked on point. Oh and the ambiance and bakery section. Wowzas, can we move in?

SHARE // Kennebec Fries, Soft Poached Egg Mayo & Hummus and Warm Naan

The sauces the come with the fries will have you panting

EAT // Supernatural Chopped Salad 

Sweet suzie q, this might be the best salad I've ever had the pleasure of eating

SWEET TREATS // Oh My! Caramel Pie

Creamy caramel, whipped cream AND a cookie crust - I'm dead

TWOFATBRAINS DO VEGAS COUPLE STYLE // A Bunch of Good Stuff Happened

Once upon a time, not very long ago a normal sized man and a brilliant woman had a killer idea - LET'S GO TO VEGAS. We figured we would probably skip out on all invites otherwise so we might as well see what all the fuss is about. We pulled the trigger and did Vegas couple style. What's couple style? Lots of eating, teeth checking, practical thinking, reading, cocktail ordering and bed sleeping. Gotta give it up to Vegas on the eating front, all the major food groups are covered, unlike the strippers who are mostly naked. We totally tore up the town and then swallowed it. Some of our (non-fancy) favorites are Julian Serrano, Jean Philippe, Five50, Park on Freemont, and Holsteins. Theres are the standouts.

JULIAN SERRANO 

EAT // Black Rice, Avocado Cannelloni, Seared Scallop 

All these dishes are killer, the cannelloni is worth a million bucks

DRINK // Sangria

JEAN PHILIPPE 

EAT // Coconut Gelato

Perfect nightcap, real coconut, real delicious

FIVE50

EAT // Margarita or Blanca 

A little slice of cheese heaven, reminds us of Jersey pie, that's a good thing

PARK ON FREMONT

EAT // Sweet Potato Tater Tots 

Holy hell the honey mustard dipping sauce with the sweet salty tots... tastes real good

DRINK // Unicorn

HOLSTEINS

EAT // Ahi Sliders w/ a side of fries, FREE salt and vinegar popcorn

You could eat a million and you should, what happens in Vegas...

Black Rice

Avocado cannelloni

Coconut Gelato

Unicorn

HOLD ON TO YOUR LEDERHOSEN // Chicago Brauhaus

Woah, my mind was just blown. Polka music, dancing, traditional German eats, plates of bratwurst as far as the eye can see and boots of beer right down the street, who knew? The ambiance is seriously anything but typical. As soon as I walked in I was sold on this gem. The free bar snacks and sweet bartenders are awesome, but the red lighting, live-music, retro seating and clientele is what really makes this place pop. You know it has to be pretty darn good considering they don't serve a single vegetarian entrée and I'm still digging this restaurant mucho. Chicago Brauhaus is the real deal, cozy like grandmas house minus the Fixodent and Life Alert. 

DRINK // A Boot of Beer
Don't plan on washing it down with a plate of meat - IT'S LARGE

EAT // The Big Pretzel
Its worth $7 - slather that guy in butter or be sorry

A VERY VERY FINE HOUSE // Our House

Hola friends... yep we fell off the grid again. Twofatbrains has been concentrating on savin' the mula and making it rain home cooked meals and sunshine for the past week. Let's just say this fatbrain did Vegas real good, so good that rearranging furniture, brushing my cat, spray painting tree branches and smashing eggplants (the vegetable) has turned into my new pastime. So we put the plastic down and focused our brains on businesswoman and domesticated matters. This is what materialized (check out that hunk). Don't worry though, Wobbly Wednesday and  Nashville is on the horizon and John and I will be getting our grubby little fingers into all things biscuits and bourbon.