The spot: It’s easy to zip right by little Bonsoiree Cafe & Delicacies, a charming-yet-modern BYOB with an awning obscured by trees. Maybe that’s why co-owners, chefs, (and sometimes servers) Kurt Chenier and Shin Thompson offer perhaps the most eye-popping pre-fixe dinner in town Tuesdays through Fridays. “A lot of people think we’re insane for doing pre-fixe on Friday,” Chenier says. “We’re just trying to get people in and try our food.”
For as little as $20, you get three courses from a stellar contemporary American menu. For starters, go for the corn cake topped with a salad of spicy red lentils and fresh lime. Entrees include braised beef short rib in a cabernet reduction and a smoky pork tenderloin wrapped with thick slab of applewood bacon (a $3 upcharge is well worth it.) For dessert, you can’t beat warm banana bread pudding drenched with a decadent white chocolate creme anglaise. Think it can’t get better? Eat it all under the stars on the secluded back patio — oh, and they do a weekend a la carte brunch too. Pinch us, we’re in BYOB heaven.
The bottle: Head about two blocks west to Food Smart (2901 W Armitage Ave. 773-772-3200), a 24-hour convenience store with about every mid-priced, popular wine you need — plus a few surprises. We couldn’t resist the too-cute bottle of Lulu B. syrah, a $6.49 screwcap number. This Lulu was more than just a pretty label, with luscious berrys and soft tannins, making it a wonderful summer sipper.
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