Think Café
2235 N. Western Ave.

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 2235 N. Western Ave. (773) 394-0537. www.think-cafe.com

When it’s open: Sunday-Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.

Reservations: Not necessary, but definitely recommended.

What you’ve heard: Great food, great date place. ... One of us had been there before, without having heard about it prior to that visit. Impressed the first time around, she thought she would bring a few friends back with her.

Visual Aids
First impressions: Located on Western Avenue, with the rush of traffic and mass amounts of little stores and restaurants, this little café can be easily missed. ... The name is neatly displayed on an awning above the front door. When you walk in, the restaurant seems very small and intimate. We later realized there was an entire room in back and upstairs. There is no real waiting room, but a six-foot bar area to sit at if need be (although there is no booze behind it). ... The place is extremely clean looking, with few decorations and white tablecloths, linens and plates. There was a simple white vase on the table with a single yellow astro crego flower. Beautiful!

The atmosphere: The tables were spread out just enough so they could take advantage of the small boundaries and fill up the room, yet you don’t feel like you are sitting on top of your neighbors. ... The music was set at a perfect volume where you could enjoy it and still converse with your party. ... The hostess sat us without hesitation despite our entire party not being there.

The Experience
At your service: Upon walking in, you basically run right into the host stand. There was a hostess there, ready to seat us, even though our party was not complete. We were there before the dinner rush, and there were only two other tables available. She gave us the option of where we wanted to sit, and we chose to dine by the window. ... Upon seating, the busboy offered us bottle, tap or sparkling water and gave us bread with garlic herb butter and honey butter spreads. ... Our server came immediately to introduce herself and ask if she could open our wine. We were all very impressed with the promptness and the attention paid by the staff.

Get your drink on: Think Café does not have a bar. It is a BYOB restaurant with a $4 corking fee. We brought a bottle of pinot noir and a “magnum” of merlot. We definitely got our drink on for the bargain price of $8 total. Can’t beat that!

Menu variety and prices: Prices on the menu ranged from $18-34 for the entrées. However, you pay for what you get. The variety ranged from your typical pasta dishes to encrusted pork tenderloin. They had a great selection of specials — from poultry to steak, lamb and pasta. ... They also offer an array of salads that complement your meal and typically have a broth-based soup, as well as some type of bisque. The night we were there it was lobster.

Description of what you did decide on: We all shared the crab cakes and stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer. Both were decent quantities and great tasting. ... It was definitely a battle for everyone to choose their entrée. We all agreed that we could not duplicate an order. Sarah’s decision was between the rack of lamb and the pistachio-encrusted pork tenderloin. I went with the lamb, since it was our server’s recommendation and I haven’t had lamb for a long time. The presentation and the flavor were amazing! ... Jason went with the beef medallion special. Since we had the lamb, pasta, seafood and chicken covered, he wanted the meat! It was cooked to his liking and bursting with flavors. His plate was immaculate before it was taken from him. ... Sarah No. 2 ordered the chicken saltimbocca. It was a dish she had not tried before and decided to give it a go. It was a bit salty, and she would prefer to go with the steak next time, but it was still tasty. ... Christina decided on the zuppe di mare, and it was delicious. She was stuffed when she was finished, and it hardly looked like she made a dent. We’re sure it made for a good lunch the next day. ... With the exception of Christina’s pasta dish, all entrées were served with the proper portion of meat, starches and veggies. ... The presentation of all the plates was exquisite. It made us feel like we were at a fine-dining restaurant downtown. Nothing was too saucy or overdone. Everything was cooked as we asked, and the flavors were not overwhelming or too powerful. ... Then there was the dessert. I am not a huge dessert fan, but we thought we should indulge for the readers. :) We decided to go with three for the table to split. In the midst of our discussions, the host overheard someone’s negative comments on the popular Italian cannoli. She leaped across the room to give her thoughts on the decadent dessert. We took her recommendation, along with ordering the homemade profiteroles (filled with gelato instead of cream) and a vanilla and chocolate mousse inside pound cake. All were unbelievable! The cannoli was made with a waffle cake and homemade filling, then covered with fresh berries. Great recommendations from the staff! Our hats off and highest compliments to Chef Omar.

Something that caught your eye: Like the tables, the artwork was simple and crisp-looking. It was nice to look around and not see cluttered tables or wall space. ... When you initially walk in the restaurant, you see about 16 tables and think how small it is. If you venture back to the restrooms, though, you notice there is an entire back area as well as an upstairs! The upstairs would be a great place for a small party or function.

What you’ll tell your friends: Definitely a great date place. ... The food is amazing and reasonably priced. ... You don’t get smothered by the waitstaff. They give you all the time you want to enjoy your food and conversations. The fact it is a BYOB helps with the final bill. ... If not on a date, it’s a great place to go with good friends or family. Recommended by all four of us! Enjoy!

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