Brothers Alex, Anthony, and Adrian Basich teamed up with Anthony’s wife, designer Laura Basich, to open VINTAGE WINE BAR, an unpretentious Wicker Park spot with loungy armchairs, a cozy fireplace, and canvases of graffitilike modern art. The Basiches reject the snobbishness of typical wine bars. “We want people to drink what works for their palate, not what the rules tell you,” says Alex. Descriptions of grape varietals are printed above each category on the mostly domestic wine list, which includes about 85 bottles (all except 3 under $50, and 27 costing less than $25) and 22 by-the-glass options. The list is easy to navigate–there aren’t many oddball or challenging wines, but rather an assortment of food-friendly selections like a 2003 Villa Maria sauvignon blanc from New Zealand ($24), a 2001 Marcus Molitor Riesling from Germany ($34), a 2001 Hill of Content grenache shiraz from Australia ($25), and a 2002 Brooks pinot noir from Oregon ($39). Chef Rachid El Moussaouiti sticks to small plates, two of which easily make a meal. The three salads–Caesar with a chicken option, house with Dijon vinaigrette, and pear with mixed field greens, blue cheese, and spiced pecans–are big and tasty. The petite filet mignon is marinated in rosemary with roasted garlic, green beans, sauteed watercress, and a mushroom jus; the crab cakes come with a zippy chipotle aioli sauce; the mussels are steamed in white wine and served with a tomato-herb sauce; and a grilled loin of pork is topped with a robust mustard chutney. Vintage Wine Bar is at 1942 W. Division, 773-772-3400.
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The upscale Turkish restaurant TURQUOISE is the latest addition to Roscoe Village’s smorgasbord of dining destinations. Given its location (on the ground floor of a new condo development) and decor (dark wood floors, white linen, and red halogen lights), it’s not surprising that its prices are higher than those at most ethnic restaurants. Appetizers hover around $7 and entrees climb into the high teens. But dishes like the sogurme (smoked chunks of eggplant in creamy yogurt with lots of garlic), pilaki (fresh sardines with pearl onions, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice), and the house salad (a piquant and refreshing medley of red cabbage, arugula, red onion, and romaine lettuce in a lemon-herb dressing) are worth a little extra. Casual options include kebabs of beef, lamb, or herb-marinated chicken accompanied by red peppers and grilled vegetables and served on a square of homemade flatbread. Salt-crusted sea bass is a house specialty–it’s flaky and tender and comes steaming hot out of the crust, which is removed tableside. The accompanying potato souffle is more like a gratin–chunks of potatoes baked until brown with cream. There’s also a smattering of Americanized dishes like sesame-encrusted tuna, turkey burgers, and a lamb wrap. The global wine list is limited and moderately priced. The service could be more efficient. Turquoise is at 2147 W. Roscoe, 773-549-3523.
Cafe Furaibo, 2907 N. Lincoln, 773-472-7017. This tiny corner space, home to a host of Asian eateries over the years, goes Japanese.
Improv Kitchen, 3419 N. Clark, 773-868-6423. At this Wrigleyville venue, chef Christy Steinmeier serves gourmet food while actors perform for each table.
Sunrise Cafe, 1701 W. Foster, 773-989-4220. Korean, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese fusion in the former Taste of Heaven space.
Crepes de Paris, 2433 N. Clark; Earth Mothers, 738 N. Wells; Erawan Royal Thai Cuisine, 729 N. Clark; Joe’s Crab Shack, 745 N. Wells; Mi Ciudad, 3041 W. Irving Park; Ohba, 2049 W. Division; Pepe’s, 3856 N. Ashland; Prego, 2901
