The Dining Table

Coffee led the way to our April edition of "Where Dave Ate." In this episode, David Manilow visits with Artur Yuzvik, co-owner of Soloway Coffee in Lincoln Park. Artur and his wife, Iryna Yuzvik, opened their Ukrainian cafe on Lincoln Avenue just 13 months after moving to the U.S. from Ukraine. Manilow talks with Yuzvik about Chicago’s Ukrainian restaurants — including what works and what doesn’t work.

Plus, we learn why Artur and Iryna left their hometown of Ternopil, and why Chicagoans are lining up for hours to experience the Yuzvik's coffee shop. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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A hot new spot is disrupting the status quo when it comes to service in restaurants. Host David Manilow talks with the owners of John’s Food & Wine in Lincoln Park about whether other eateries will follow their lead. There may be a learning curve for customers, but Manilow’s guests contend "limited service" is a necessity in order to create a sustainable business.

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Widely acclaimed for his handmade pastas, chef Evan Funke has just opened Tre Dita in the St. Regis Chicago Hotel. In this episode, David Manilow talks with Funke about this upscale Italian concept, while Funke describes what he’s learned from his longtime collaboration with Rich Melman and the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group.

Plus, Funke tells us why he thinks the movie and restaurant industries were both poised to outlast the pandemic.

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Have you ever walked into a restaurant or bar and immediately said, "I love this place?" There's a lot that goes into creating a restaurant’s layout, color scheme, flow and even its sound.

In this episode, host David Manilow talks with Nicole Alexander, one of Chicago’s top designers and the founder of Siren Betty Design. Go behind the curtain to learn how to create an unforgettable vibe.

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It’s our first episode of March, and that means the latest edition of "Where Dave Ate." This month, David Manilow explores the best thin crust pizza around Chicago with chef Richie Farina from Adorn Bar & Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel. Manilow talks with Farina about the evolution of hotel restaurants and how he integrates his whimsical style into the menu.

Plus, Farina explains how — as a native Floridian — he went from ice carver to chef.

Here's David Manilow's list of recommended stops for thin pizza: 

• Jimmy's Pizza-2434 W. Montrose Ave
• Vito & Nick's Pizzeria-8433 S Pulaski Road
• Forno Rosso Pizzeria Napoletana-3719 N. Harlem Ave
• Michael's Pizza-4901 N. Broadway
• Bunagalow by Middle Brow-2840 W. Armitage Ave
• Kim's Uncle Pizza-207 N. Cass Ave, Westmont

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One of Chicago’s most prolific restaurateurs joins the show to share how cannabis figures prominently in his future growth plans. Scott Weiner is co-founder of the Fifty/50 Group, which owns or manages 19 establishments and expanded to include dispensaries in 2023. Weiner also compares the city's restaurant community with other major cities across the nation.

Plus, Weiner has a lot to say about Chicago's phaseout of the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers.

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After his successes at Avec, Publican, Nico Osteria and Pacific Standard Time, Chef Erling Wu-Bower has opened Maxwells Trading in the West Loop. In this week's episode, Wu-Bower calls it intimately American — and says fusion is the wrong word for the style of food at his new spot. Learn how he gathered the deep influences of Europe, New Orleans and growing up as a "city kid" in Chicago, as well as how the legendary Rick Bayless became his mentor.

Plus, host David Manilow shares his favorite food experience of the year so far.

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Can fine dining be combined with barbecue? The answer lies somewhere in David Manilow’s conversation with chefs Heather Bublick and D’Andre Carter. The creators of Soul & Smoke are partners in life and business, with restaurant locations in Evanston and Avondale. The couple has served hundreds of thousands of community meals for families in need, but the odds were against them surviving the pandemic.

Plus, we’ll hear how restaurateurs got through the COVID era and why they’re expanding in their current space in an abandoned Evanston bus depot.
 

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One of the city's fusion restaurants has just made a big upgrade. Bayan Ko — which translates to "my country" — now has a five-course tasting menu. During this episode, David Manilow tracks the evolution of Chef Lawrence Letrero’s fusion of Filipino and Cuban cuisine. While Letrero’s menu is new, he and Raquel Quadreny first introduced their combined cultures to the Ravenswood neighborhood in 2018. Now, they are dreaming up a second location down the street.

Plus, Manilow and Letrero bond over their shared love of an irresistible Cuban dog breed.

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We welcome February with our latest edition of "Where Dave Ate." Hear host David Manilow’s recommendations for the best streets in Chicago for dining, which include some of Chicago’s newest spots as well as a legacy restaurant that’s been around nearly 40 years.Plus, one thriving restaurateur makes a prediction on what is likely to be the next great street for dining. Manilow also shares his thoughts on the recent Jean Banchet Awards.

Here's David's top 3 streets for dining:
18th Street in Pilsen - Carnitas Uruapan, Don Pedro Carnitas, S.K.Y., Rubi's on 18th, HaiSous, Pilsen Yards, Cafe Jumping Bean, The Alderman, and Honky Tonk BBQ.

Chicago Avenue - Jeong, JJ Thai, Lao Peng You, Kai Zan, and Feld.

1700-2100 North Lincoln Avenue - Alinea, Boka, Summer House Santa Monica, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, John's Food and Wine, and Blue Door Farm Stand.

 

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