mattkrc

I absolutely agree with the general consensus that Sura comes off as inauthentic and random. The striking white interior, neon lights, hanging globe chairs, projection machine blasting music videos onto the walls… these do not a Thai restaurant make. But then again, the place is dubbed “Thai Bistro.”
I have been consistently stunned with the amazingly affordable food. The portion sizes are just right and I really enjoy chatting with the personable owner who is usually around. (He sure beats the annoyed-looking servers). I frequent the Thursday $5 Pad Thai offer; it’s definitely one of the better Pad Thais I’ve had in the city too. I am lucky to live near by, seeing as I can try just about everything on the menu over time. My favorites so far are: Black noodle with tofu, cashew chicken, four season spring rolls, massaman curry, and Teriyaki dish with beef and mushrooms.
Don’t let the retro decor fool you, Sura is really rocks!

Panes is a stellar, cute little “bread cafe” nestled on a surprisingly quiet strip of the Sheffield corridor. The tiny space can be cramped and crowded on weekend afternoons, but it’s always worth the wait for a freshly made, massive sandwich served with a pile of chips. I love the veggie cabra, made with melted goat cheese, sauteed squash, spinach, tomatoes, and a creamy, tangy Mediterranean dressing all squished snuggly between a veritable loaf of baguette.
The portabella sandwich, absolutely slathered in herbal, nutty pesto, is a fantastic and filling sandwich, served on soft tomato foccacia bread.
Come Sunday morning, I gave their brunch a try. I was blown away by the affordable and massive serving of the signature “Panes French toast.” The thick wedges of cinnamon and maple-soaked bread was rich and delicate like a croissant.
Don’t leave without trying one of their gourmet desserts. I’m a fan of the chocolate cola cake with goat cheese frosting or the popular “monster” cookie, made with M & M’s, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and oatmeal.

Located on the upper fringes of rampant Wrigleyville, there sits a restaurant offering more than just drunk-favored grease and hangover cures. Uncommon Ground, located at the corner of Clark and Grace, describes itself as an eco-friendly place to meet, mingle, and dine. The casual cool setting is coffee shop meets bar meets restaurant lounge. An interior like no other, made up in polished wood, kitschy wall hangings, a stocked and shiny bar, and an ornate fireplace surrounded by leather couches for the wi-fi set, sets the stage for a truly unique and certainly “uncommon” meal, no matter what time of day you come.
The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any other occasion you feel the craving to hop in. In the morning, I like the organic five-grain blueberry pancakes. Three fluffy hotcakes are doused in a blueberry compote, piping hot and rich enough to constitute pie filling. A crunchy contrasting texture of brown sugar streusel, sprinkled generously on top, is just the right sinful sweetness to balance the wholesome healthiness that is the five grain melange. I simultaneously sipped on a bowl-sized mug of Indian chai, oozing in the aromatic scents of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and all those pantry ingredients that make chai so irresistable. My guest dug into and raved about her cast iron skillet of purple potato-andouille hash, topped with perfectly poached eggs.
Come lunchtime, Uncommon Ground serves some of the nicest sandwiches and burgers I’ve had in a while. My eggplant melanzane sandwich, toasted wheat bread ensconcing fried rounds of eggplant and luscious red pepper aioli, was a hearty and satisfying vegetarian meal (despite the odd request by the waiter not to order the dish). The Millman burger is a staple that the rest of my guests, all frequenters, herald. Half a pound of Angus beef is topped with bacon, boursin cheese, and peppers before being squished between buttery buns and served with crispy julienne fries (damn the extra surcharge and order the tempura-esque sweet potato fries).
Dinner time brings with it a pricier menu and a wide range of fun drinks like the tree-tini, an infusion of rain vodka, triple berry syrup, and sparkling moscato. The drinks may not always live up to their description- all of them lacked their promised garnishes- and they may sometimes be sold out, but they are all damn fine and crisp. Chase those drinks with a hefty dinner of gorgonzola gnocchi. The pillow-soft pasta “dumplings” encased a creamy gorgonzola cheese filling and sat atop a cauliflower puree and brown butter sauce. Watercress added herbal zest to the dish, while the unnecessary and unattractive sliced cherry tomatoes were rather a waste. Of course, if you’re looking to save some cash, there’s always the promised burgers for supper and a large selection of small plates like a sweet potato fry basket served with rich goat cheese fondue.
Dessert and after dinner drinks are the perfect finale to an uncommonly delicious feast. While the bread pudding may have been a dry disappointment, the strawberry-rhubarb crisp, served in a cast iron skillet with levels of velvety softness and brittle edges, is topped with a melting mound of vanilla ice cream.
Service can be lacking and annoyingly long, but all in all, Uncommon Ground, with its range of meal offerings, prices, and atmosphere, is an experience like no other; meant to be shared and tasted.