Where & Wear: Ada St.

For the brave souls willing to take a treacherous icy walk down a seemingly abandoned street, your efforts will be rewarded at Ada Street. After walking down a hallway of shelves filled with vinyl records and glassware, the space opens up to reveal a long, mirrored bar, modern seating, and a sweet open patio in the back.

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It has everything you would expect from a DMK Restaurant, from the hip young staff to the extensive drink menu to the inclusion of bacon in at least three menu items. But the cozy, warmly lit environment and daring menu set it apart from DMK Burger Bar or Henry’s Swing Club. In true DMK spirit, the meat dishes, such as the braised pot roast with caramelized carrot puree and micro horseradish, are perfectly cooked, but the vegetarian dishes are just as exciting and delicious. Don’t miss the faro salad with roasted cauliflower, shaved baby carrots, Valbreso feta, Greek yogurt sauce, and pickled pearl onions; it goes great with the Corner Store, a bottled cocktail of Lunazul tequila, Campari, grapefruit, and lime.

If you are even more daring and have $44 to spend on a three-course meal, go to Ada Street during Restaurant Week (January 30-February 12) to taste dishes inspired by famous last meals of criminals.

Ada St. is for the after-work on casual-Friday type crowd, with the diners dressed in laid-back yet professional looks. Keep it classy with a silk blouse or a prim shirtdress, but stand out from the young urban professionals with a pair of leather leggings, ripped jeans, or some funky tights. Simple and classic, with a twist, just like chef Zoe Schor’s food at Ada St.

$$ // New American-Mediterranean // 1664 N. Ada St, Chicago IL 60642

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