Clover Eats!
Sharing restaurant experiences through photography!
CloverEats: garlicky chicken shawarma at Ann Arbor’s Jerusalem Garden
Upon Johannes’ recommendation, Fred and I stopped by a slightly out-of-the-way Jerusalem Garden for some Mediterranean. I think a lot of the lunch talks get catering from JG, so it was kind of surreal to see the restaurant where all our delicious meals are made.
Apparently, you can either order out or eat in. There was a small window with all sorts of interesting desserts, and we were told that the best had already sold out. Despite feeling slightly disappointed, I think it’s always a good sign when a restaurant’s best pieces get gobbled up before the day is through.
Mango nectar!
There is something amazing about garlic. It’s just a bit spicy, but so so flavorful. I think the garlic at Jerusalem Garden is just right – creamy in the sandwich, strong, but not overpowering. Amazing and delicious!!
Chicken Shawarma plate with Baba Ghanou and Cucumber Yogurt sides!
It's a wrap!
Of course, we topped off the meal with Baklava. What a great meal!
Sweet honey filo goodness.
Check it out on YELP; Official website!
CloverDrinks: Happy Hour at Sava’s
On weekdays from 3-6PM, Sava’s has Happy Hour, where all cocktails are half priced. Fred and I have gotten into the (perhaps not so good) habit of exploring cocktails on cozy afternoons.
Brandy Alexander: Godiva, nutmeg, cream, and brandy!
Suddenly, Last Summer: apple, egg white, coconut, clove sugar!
Sava’s has quite a wide variety of drinks, broken down into The Novice, The Purist, and The Progressive. Fred and I are working our way through the list, bit by bit. Today, we got the adorably named “Suddenly, Last Summer,” and the classic, creamy “Brandy Alexander.” Both were delicious, and the Brandy Alexander was even on special, coming to an unbelievable $3! We also got some snacks to go along with our drinks, and they were both delicious. The ravioli was so smooth and flavorful!
Herbed polenta fries!
Amazing butternut squash ravioli!
Check out their drink menu!
CloverReminisces: Beef Noodle Soup at Westmont’s Zhao Lao Er!
So easy to miss!
On Friday nights in the winter, my mom would come pick me up from IMSA (a residential public magnet-esque highschool west of Chicago). Together with my roommates Kathy Huang and Yuxi Ji, we’d stop by Katy’s Dumpling House (Zhao Lao Er in Chinese) on the way home. I have so many great memories of slurping hot Beef Noodle Soup here, with snow falling outside.
It's tiny!
The restaurant is very small, only having one small square dining room with less than a dozen tables. There’s a small fridge stocked with all sorts of authentic snacks, and my mom would always load up with extra noodles for the weekend. There’s something amazing about the noodle recipe here – they’re thick, textured, doughy and amazing; they’ve become the standard that I compare all other noodles to now.
Such deliciousness.
After graduating from IMSA, I didn’t get the chance to go to Zhao Lao Er very often. Now, every time I get back from traveling, I’ll still go out of the way to hit up Westmont from the airport before going home. The waitress and owner still recognize us, and it’s hard to believe how much time has passed since we first stumbled upon their amazing noodle soup.
Check it out on YELP or the Official Website.
CloverEats! amazing waffles at Evanston’s Walker Brothers Pancake House.
I’ve blogged before about how brunch is probably my favorite meal of the day. There’s nothing nicer on a lazy Sunday than sleeping in, getting dressed up, and heading out for hot coffee and sweetcakes. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Walker Brothers especially, and for a while, went there every Sunday with my dad. The lines can get really long on weekends, so be sure to go either really early or really late!
I love the bright windows and stained glass!
If I’m at Walker Brothers with a group, I always split their amazing Apple Pancake. However, when I’m by myself, I prefer either Potato Pancakes or Chocolate Chippies. Today, I went for a Bacon Waffle. It was AMAZING.
Bacon + waffle + syrup = crazy delicious!
Strawberry crepes.
The service is always surprisingly fast (especially considering how crowded it sometimes is), and though there’s a line to get seated, it always moves quickly. I have had so many good times at Walker Brothers; check it out sometime!
Cream, coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice!
80% off Restaurant.com’s already-discounted coupons (until 9/30)!
Spoofee’s post: http://www.spoofee.com/deals-Restaurant_com_80_Off_Coupon-740775.htm
Ann Arbor restaurants: http://www.restaurant.com/rdc_site2.net/listings.aspx?StateID=&zip=48105&
Ann Arbor on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=restaurants&ns=1&find_loc=Ann+Arbor%2C+MI
Hooray!
Bloody Mary with Alleliah at Dixie Kitchen, Evanston
CloverSips! Pho at Buffalo Grove’s Pho U!
There was a time when I thought Pho was gross. My friends would spend winter nights craving pho, taking the El up to Argyle for a pho run on Saturday afternoons; when I finally tried pho, I had no idea what the big deal was.
A little window to the kitchen.
Fast forward a few months. One day, cold, hungry, craving vinegar, my boyfriend and I wandered into a small pho restaurant in the suburbs. I couldn’t believe how delicious pho suddenly was – the soup was flavorful, the vinegar was tangy, and the meat was filling. I learned how pho can be loaded up with sauces – hot Sriracha chili sauce, Hoisin sauce, vinegar vinegar vinegar, and all sorts of sprouts! I love condiments and customizable dishes!
Load it up, load, load it up!
Pho U is by no means Argyle’s Tank Noodle, but it does a good enough job in the suburbs. The one waitress was attentive, and impressively waited on six tables by herself. There was even a little playpen at the back of the restaurant for children; McDonald’s, you’ve got competition!
Just some baby dumplings here.
Now, I love pho in a similar way to how I love naemyung – they are like two twins, one hot and meaty, one cold and pickly, both deliciously vinegary. Pho U has a nice location, and if I’m ever in the area again craving pho, I’m definitely going to hit it up.
Yelp!
CloverEats! Italian at Northbrook’s Francesco’s Hole in the Wall
The door has a cute brick design.
Some restaurants are called “Hole in the Wall” in order to facilitate a cute, homey image of themselves. Other restaurants are called “Hole in the Wall” because that’s exactly what they are. Francesco’s is the latter – despite being open for many years now, the restaurant remains a single room, and its parking lot is always packed.
Pre-Facebook "wall photos."
My parents and I waited about half an hour for a table, sipping our drinks in the hallway while perusing the family photos lining the walls.
Hand-written menu.
Interesting wall decorations; crowded.
The single room was packed with noise. Instead of menus, there was a board on one of the walls, with the day’s specials handwritten. Now starving, we dove right in and started eating. The Osso Buccho was highly recommended on Yelp, as was the Lobster Ravioli, and so that’s what we got. Our waitress was friendly, and convinced us to get a salad as well, which was simple but quite nice.
The simple but fresh salad our waitress talked us into getting.
So tender! Fall-off-the-bone tender!
Pasta!
Ravioli!
And dessert!
CloverGraduates! at Evanston’s “Oceanique”
I remember going to Oceanique when I was younger, and being bored by how long long long the meal dragged out. Now, officially graduated from college, I appreciated the meal a lot more – there is something so luxurious about an extended leisurely dinner. I went with my boyfriend and my parents, and the restaurant prepared a special Graduates menu for us!
It feels like we're underwater!
The wine list was a book by itself, featuring pages upon pages of different vintages and grapes. So I just got a cocktail!
I’m guessing we weren’t the only family to stop by for graduation.
There were so many delicious parts to this meal. Thanks, NU, it’s been a great four years!
CloverEats! Chicken Shawarma at Evanston’s “Pomegranate”
After long workouts with my dad, we always like to hit up Pomegranate: their chicken shawarma plate not only fills us up, but also fulfills the high protein category in our muscle-building diet!
Although it’s easy to miss from the outside, tucked away near Sashimi Sashimi on a rarely-visited Evanston street, I love the bright red interior.
My favorite part is the yogurty sauce and the vegetable kabob! Delicious!
Of course, I need some dessert. Baklava for the win!
The windows are warm, and the food is brought to your table. Official website; Yelp!
CloverEats filling buffet at Evanston’s “Mount Everest”
The Experience: We always hit up Mount Everest when we’re craving a delicious lunchtime buffet. The service is fast, and the paintings are interesting.
The Food: The buffet is always warm and delicious. The drinks are cold. The paneer is yummy. What more could you ask for?
Delicious naan!
Mango lassi and beer!
The Bill: I feel like Mount Everest is a tad expensive, so I usually come for meals with my parents. The buffet is well-priced though, at around $10/person for all you can eat!
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