By: Caroline Zhao The bustling neighborhood of the West Loop can sometimes feel overwhelmed with fine dining options. With so many incredible restaurants to choose from, some establishments slip through the cracks when compared with their high profile neighbors. This is not the case for Proxi, however. The minimalistic establishment of incredible culinary innovation stands out, despite being surrounded by similarly well acclaimed Chicago restaurant classics such as Alla Vita, avec, and Sepia. Chef Andrew Zimmerman breathes his passions for travel and cooking into the entire menu, blending gre ..read more

Bryce Shufro Walking into HaiSous on a surprisingly quiet night in Chicago felt like stumbling upon a hidden gem. This place is all about contemporary Vietnamese vibes, complete with a sleek, modern decor that immediately sets the tone for something out of the ordinary. And though they’re big on their price-fixed menu, we decided to go rogue and pick and choose our adventure through the à la carte options. Right off the bat, the service was stellar. They kicked things off with a complimentary summer roll—think house-marinated beef wrapped up in a snug, flavorful parcel—that was just the teas ..read more

Blair Penn Sundrip, a black and family-owned vegan cafe, opened a location in Hyde Park next to Campus North this past September. I was tempted to try Sundrip for the following two reasons: One, because it is our newest option for food on campus, and two, because even though I am a shotputter on the UChicago track team, a sport filled with meat-eating giants, I will always be a sucker for overpriced health foods. However, my initial perception of Sundrip as your typical, overpriced vegan haven was misguided; in reality, it is anything but generic or over-priced. Sundrip interior When I ente ..read more

Natalie Antin The Duck Inn is an unassuming riverside restaurant located in Bridgeport. With its simple exterior, it’s the type of place you’d drive by and not realize is a restaurant unless you were looking for it. Tucked into a quaint residential neighborhood, the restaurant describes itself as a gastro-tavern with a cozy retro design aesthetic. Still, it would be a mistake to overlook this small but mighty dining room. The menu features many American and Midwest classics, with elements of duck or duck flavor throughout many of its dishes. The unique restaurant concept, coupled with well-ex ..read more

Olivia Rae Okun-Dubitsky Hello all, and welcome back to another year of Words on Curds! As a reminder for old readers and an introduction to new readers, my name is Olivia Rae, and I’m a second-year student who used to make cheese on a farm. The most common follow-up question I get when I tell people this is: where are you from? My answer is New Jersey. The photo above is not in the French Alps or a farm in the Netherlands; it was taken in good old New Jersey, the lovely “armpit of the country.” So yes, amazing cheese can be made all over the country and certainly can be made all over the wo ..read more

by Caroline Zhao Since July, I have had only one dish on my mind—that is, Lilia’s peppercorn mafaldini recipe. For those unfamiliar, Lilia, found in the charming neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, is Chef Missy Robbins’ first restaurant. Inspired by various regions of Italy, Robbins’ rustic and open-air restaurant serves a variety of delicious, handcrafted dishes built with a range of exquisite ingredients. It is one of my favorite restaurants because it superseded my expectations in every way—the atmosphere, space, and of course, food and drink. With Lilia on my mind, I set ..read more

by Zachary Sarmoen In my opinion, tuna steaks are one of the best—but most criminally underused and underrated—protein sources. While people may be familiar with tuna, or even dislike it for its associations (the polarizing tuna salad comes to mind), many people are not even aware of the more firm texture of tuna steak that I think sets it apart from most other fishes. Ahi tuna has a delicate yet fresh flavor profile that I prefer over most other fishes, and its firmer texture makes it a fantastic substitute for steak and pairs very well with a variety of flavors, making it the perfect vess ..read more

La Victoria Barra + Cocina Mexicana is a new Mexican restaurant located in the restaurant-heavy Logan Square. The restaurant is fairly new, as it opened in June 2023, but has a lot of buzz surrounding it because of Chicago Restaurant Week. We took Restaurant Week as a great opportunity to check out this new spot!  The charming and welcoming interior of the restaurant We loved the unique and funky murals If you’re somehow unfamiliar with Chicago Restaurant Week, it’s a 17-day event where over 400 restaurants across the city offer prix fixe menus for brunch, lunch, or dinner. This traditi ..read more

Madeline Mahoney Most people think of earl grey, a black tea with notes of bergamot, as a classic English tea served with breakfast, or served with steamed milk as a London Fog from a coffee shop. The cozy flavors of the tea make it perfect for winter, but its subtle floral notes actually allow it to pair well with a number of spirits. So today, I’ve created two cocktails using a homemade earl grey syrup. The earl grey syrup which is delightfully simple to make, and very fun to tell people that you’ve made. These are right in time for the holiday season if you’re looking to impress your love ..read more

Jason Frey Milk Room is an eight-person microbar known for its rare spirits, intimate environment, and high-quality bartending. Because of its size and renown, it has become quite exclusive, so anyone looking to get a seat should be prepared to book at least a month in advance, or else the reservations will go fast. Located on the second floor of the CAA, Milk Room patrons will have to pass through the main lounge, the Drawing Room, and head towards the bustling Game Room. But right before they head into the crowd of the billiards room, they will notice the stained glass doors on the right—t ..read more