Monica Eng

FOX & OBEL (401 E. Illinois St. 312-410-7310): If you stand near the cheesesmongers' station here, you get this wonderful noseful of butter, cheese, smoked meats, baked goods and coffee...

Buffet: $1 per diner for the bussers. Cafeteria-style eateries (where servers may deliver some food, clear trays and fill coffee): Usually $1 per diner. Carryout: Most people don't tip on...

BRUSCHETTA (broo-SKEHT-ah): Toasted bread rounds often topped with olive oil, garlic and vegetables. CEVICHE (seh-VEE-chay): Lime-marinated seafood salad. DEGUSTATION (DAY-goo-STAH-see-ohn): Chef's tasting menu, which is probably the best way to...

Have you finally grown tired of whining about how you never meet new people? Try our vigorous seven-day socializing workout, and even if you don't meet that special someone, you'll...

The Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum may have ditched their evening mixers over the last two years in favor of more "art" and "anthropological" programming (imagine that!),...

Bialek wrote in, wanting to impress a young lady with some bananas Foster. Bialek tells us that he recently met a "beautiful young lady from Europe who has a dog...

Like those dependable old friends whom you've started taking for granted, and those long-running shows that you've stopped thinking about, many veteran Chicago restaurants keep cranking out good food year...

Cage match is a showdown between two similar concepts that are so close in proximity that they beg for comparison. Sticky Rice 4018 N. Western Ave., 773-588-0120 vs. Thai Room...

Panera Various locations www.panerabread.com New bite: Panera has recently augmented its menu of breads, pastries, sandwiches, salads and drinks to include Panera Kids, a healthy children's menu featuring natural, whole...

For most kids, an outing to the theater is a special experience they'll remember--good or bad--for years to come. And matching the right pre- or post-theater dining can go far...