Souk 1552 N. Milwaukee Ave. Rock the Casbah at this superbly stylish Middle Eastern mecca. Warm, house-made griddled flatbreads are fragrant and hard to pass up. Both the service staff and menu are convivial and approachable so settling in here offers glorious relief from post-show trauma. For inspiration, Chef Mark Chmielewski casts a wide net, cobbling together a menu with playful hints of Italy, India, Japan and France seamlessly melded onto classic techniques.
Amish chicken is the centerpiece here, impressively fresh and well-prepared.
Noodles are staple at Hi Ricky, now with a third location at 941 W. Randolph St. Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are among the countries culled for ideas that may not be rigorously authentic but succeed at being enjoyable and affordable. Jimmy Bannos, this time in conjunction with Mega Rich Melman, now has two Heaven on Seven outlets, serving fun, funky Cajun and Creole fare. Find the newcomer at 600 N. Michigan Ave.