Hidden Gems

 

Room 21
This contemporary-faced South Loop restaurant is infused with history, as it was once a speakeasy and Al Capone hideout. Upon renovation by the owner, a hollow was discovered behind the wall after the installation of an espresso machine, at which point, the wall was torn down and a secret passageway was discovered along with a smaller room. A door at the end of the tunnel had a seal that read: “Room 21.” The apparent hangout and escape route was needed for Capone and cronies, which was put to good use when Elliot Ness busted the place in 1930! Interestingly enough, none of the hidden areas were on any of the original blueprints when the owner purchased the place.

With a hidden backdrop of history, Room 21 presents itself as a contemporary, fine-dining restaurant with an extensive menu serving high-end American cuisine. Entrees include steak, pork chops and fish, but you can also get a good ol’ fashioned hamburger with fries. With a sizable bar, it spares no expense on selection.

Recently, we stopped by Room 21 to sample their champagne and desserts, as they showcased their executive pastry chef, Kate Milashus. She joined the team in December 2007 and wasted no time preparing and presenting a table full of decadent desserts. Items included truffles, hazelnut thumb-prints, chocolate-dipped macaroons, walnut fudge, banana bread sandwiches with cream cheese and raspberry filling or butter cream and hazelnut. Oh, and did I mention popcorn completely covered with milk chocolate and white chocolate? And a mutually agreed favorite, a chocolate malted sandwich that you couldn’t have just one of — it was that good.

My sidekick, Nicole, having been to Room 21 in the past to enjoy a night of dinner with friends, described the restaurant as “a great place to enjoy fine dining and stimulating conversation.” She was right; although we were mainly there to try the desserts and champagne, we had a nice-sized order of calamari, which was delicious. The champagne selection included bottles of Moet, White Star and Rose, along with our personal favorite, Ruinart Blanc de Blanc.

Room 21 is a great place to go and have dinner and/or drinks. The restaurant is quite large, colorful, and sophisticated. Although there was a quite a bit of snow on the ground, the ceiling-to-wall glass on one side of the restaurant looked out to a beautiful patio/garden that is open during the warmer months... and you can only imagine the possibilities there. History, good food and drinks, great service, and the crew of “Oceans 13” had their party there — can you really ask for anything more?

Room 21 is located at 2110 S. Wabash (near 21st street). There is plenty of street parking, but valet is an option at the reasonable cost of $8.
— Debbie Podmore

Panes bread café
Most 20-somethings and some 30-somethings are poor. They’re either in school, paying off school or desperately avoiding school in some kind of quarter-life crisis. Food is not always a luxury for these folk — it’s something to be consumed so one does not slump on one’s desk midday, only to arise three hours later with paper stuck to one’s face.

In short, food is cheap and most likely Ramen.

But there is a solution to this flavorless slump, and that solution is Panes Bread Café, a beacon of hope in the form of a Lakeview sandwich and salad shop.

Husband and wife team Karen and Eduardo Murillo opened Panes in 1994. The sunny, Mexican-inspired interior reflects like Eduardo Murillo’s heritage — since he is originally from south of the border.

Panes, located on Sheffield Avenue, gives Panera and Cosi a run for their money — literally. At Panes, the average salad costs around $4.95 and comes loaded with toppings like portabella mushrooms, crumbled goat cheese, fettuccine, chicken and crispy tortilla chips. Furthermore, a basket of homemade bread comes with most dishes.

Sandwiches cost the same, and come in tasty varieties like “The Popular” — tomato bread topped with chicken breast, caramelized onions, spinach, roasted peppers and provolone cheese.

If you’re looking for something a little most satisfying, Panes also has pasta — like spicy penne, baked macaroni and linguine — with most dishes ringing up at around $7.25. And then there’s pizza, boasting toppings like grilled chicken, turkey, artichoke hearts and homemade green pesto — coming in at the low, low price of $4.75. Don’t get the door; it’s not Domino’s.

Most 20-somethings like to pretend that they’re sophisticated, even if their only wine glasses are plastic with removable stems. If you want a touch of class with your turkey club, well, Panes has got you covered. They have appetizers like goat cheese crostini and bruschetta — and most cost only $3.25.

For all you clueless guys out there: Appetizers spell date. At $3.25, you may be a cheap date, but hey, at least you have some semblance of class. And now you can afford that movie over at the Landmark without busking on the Brown Line first.

Panes Bread Café is located 3002 N. Sheffield and is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
— Brenna Ehrlich

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