I recently went to Bravo Tapas in Wicker Park for a birthday party on a cold December night. The interior was warm and festive with red interiors and sleek furniture. (thumbs down to the lights straight out of the corner Starbucks-boo!) The back wall is a gigantic water feature (cool) and there are three levels all of which are exposed to each other on the ends of the restaurant. The music is clubby, but not in an offensive way. Background noise that gets you going. Staff was friendly and very attentive. And the food…it was fantastic! We tried nearly all the tapas on the menu and were pretty impressed with it all. Some stand outs-empanadas chorizo, empanadas pollo, bravo potatas (sweet with a spicy dipping sauce-yum!), scallops on pureed sweet potatoes, ceviche and the desserts! The sangria was also divine-lots of fruit. All the dishes were presented well. It was a great place for a party and a better place to get a party started. You’ll leave satisfied, but not over stuffed. Highly recommended.

Lula is a cozy little cafe tucked into a cozy little corner of Logan Square. The ambience is eclectic bistro. The waitstaff is friendly and the atmosphere is unrushed. The food is inventive, flavorful and seasonal at extremely reasonable prices especially when considering the quality. However, Lula is no longer a ‘hidden gem’ so expect to wait awhile if arriving during peak dining hours. There is a bar for pre-dinner drinks if you find yourself waiting for friends…or a table. Monday nights are ‘Farm Dinner’ nights. A fixed menu at $25 with seasonal dishes. Lula also serves brunch-check it out! Overall, Lula will delight your senses and make you feel like you’ve found a comfortable little corner of the city.