Ad Categories: Food and Wine

The kabocha salad @heartyboys brought some squash dissidents into the fold. Baby arugula, spicy pumpkin seeds & shallot vinaigrette helped. HEARTY: 3819 N BROADWAY; 773-868-9866

@pennypollack: The root beer bbq brisket sandwich piled high w/savory tender juicy slices of beef came in first @heartyboys. HEARTY: 3819 N BROADWAY; 773-868-9866

No matter the sausage spins @franksndawgs, crispy, oily, salty fries go with everything. FRANKS 'N' DAWGS: 1863 N CLYBOURN; 312-281-5187

Brussels sprouts hit it big this year & oddly enough, the best sprouts salad I had came w/a plastic fork @franksndawgs. FRANKS 'N' DAWGS: 1863 N CLYBOURN; 312-281-5187

@pennypollack: Peking duck dog @franksndawgs convinced me that Frank could move to Chinatown & hang ducks in the window. FRANKS 'N' DAWGS: 1863 N CLYBOURN; 312-281-5187

Chiu-style beef w/noodles @ Cai (Chinatown) has just about all the right stuff: tender beef, crisp peppers, chewy noodles. MIA: Spunk. CAI: 2100 S ARCHER; 773-326-6888

Pot stickers are like pizza—even bad ones get the job done. Sad to say, I would steer clear of the heavy gummy ones @ Cai (Chinatown). CAI: 2100 S ARCHER; 773-326-6888

@pennypollack: The salt & pepper fish—highly recommended—@ Cai (Chinatown), looked like tempura’ed french fries & tasted like, uh, nothing. CAI: 2100 S ARCHER; 773-326-6888

I suspect the veal loin wrapped in bacon sat under a heat lamp and toughened a bit, but flavor was spot-on @FiliniChicago. FILINI: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N Columbus; 312-565-5258

Turkey with tuna sauce @FiliniChicago is oh-so Italian, but between the salty sauce and the capers, well, too salty for my taste. FILINI: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N Columbus; 312-565-5258