Oak Tree - 900 Michigan

Shopping causes hunger and therefore knowing a good place to eat while shopping is key to any Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Personally, I find the options limited on North Michigan Avenue and I'm sure there are some of you who will disagree with me...let me rephrase. I find the options limited when it's freezing cold outside and you want to sit down for lunch and not wait 3 hours (thanks, Cheesecake Factory, but no thanks).

C thought that we should splurge on lunch last weekend since it was Valentine's Day and steered me towards the 6th floor at 900 N Michigan and to Oak Tree. We were hemming and hawing about whether to sit or not to sit and we finally sat in the dining room. The menu is long, lots of sandwiches and salads and brunch items. I finally settled on two salad options and C decided on a sandwich and we would split some fries.

After bringing back our $3.75 iced teas, the waiter answered a few questions for me about the menu - basically confirming that everything I asked him about was not what I thought it was and that I was basically making up my own salad. Great, bring me the Special then, dude. I ended up ordering a side salad with a scoop of tarragon chicken salad with it. C ordered a grilled veggie and goat cheese sandwich, plus a side of fries. At this juncture, the waiter left our table. I want to make this point because he had the opportunity to say something to us and didn't.

When he brought my salad, I was excited, it was delicious and I ate every bite of it. The chicken salad is not loaded with mayo, it's light and herbal and there's lots of chicken. The salad itself it a mix of baby lettuces and crunch romaine, tomatoes, and carrots. I opted for dijon vinaigrette on the side and barely used it with the chicken salad...so good. C's sandwich was huge - thick Texas-style toast with gobs of creamy chevre, thinly sliced veggies and toasted to perfection. Although overwhelmed at first, he was totally into it and polished it off. Also on the plate (and here's the kicker) was a small pile of crispy French fries...what? Where was this comment when we were ordering? Like "do you want an additional side of fries?" Or even "the sandwich comes with fries" because on the menu it doesn't designate that that is the case...either way, it was odd and we sorta just didn't really understand the guy at all ANYWAY, but the whole fry thing was strange.

So, the food was quite decent and the room has recently been redone - it's light and airy and modern in there, but totally comfortable. It seemed like there might've been a lot of Four Seasons guests and locals, but I would definitely go back for a shopping break again. You gotta patronize these places so that hopefully they keep popping up :)

Yeah, we are HERE where are YOU?

So, C and I ventured to Faneuil Hall this past weekend...we were willing the nice weather to come so we could walk around, watch street performers and eat. We only ate do to frigid temps and we were still on the tail end of our cleanse, so we chose Wagamama.

Wagamama is one of my faves - shut up haters - it's a fun concept with healthy food options and I enjoy their noodle dishes. I started going there whenever I traveled to London and the bond was formed. Anyway, so we get there, wait about 5 minutes and are seated.

Then nothing.

Still nothing.

I wave down an unsuspecting dude who isn't in the traditional uniform. Let him know that we've been waiting, haven't ordered drinks, etc. He starts writing on our placemats and I'm telling him water, green tea, #37 & #38. He leaves.

More nothing. The guy that was supposed to be our waiter is dropping checks and filling water, clearing the empty spots next to us...he glances over. I lift my eyebrows like "yeah, we are HERE where are YOU?"

He asks us if we're all set. These are the first words he says to us - isn't that ridiculous? Anyway, ultimately it takes forever for us to get a check, he clears our soup bowls on the table by POURING MY SOUP INTO C'S BOWL and then leaves. I have to wave down some other unsuspecting dude to run our check. I'm ready to tackle the server. Then, C leaves him like 18% and I am baffled. So, I wrote at the top of the check "very poor service". Ugh.

I get it, that's not nice. But it was necessary...if I were paying I am not sure that I would have tipped him at all. The only thing he did for us was take our plates. I would have preferred to slip the other guys a few bucks cash and call it a day. Is that wrong?

Raging Bull

Honestly, I LOVE Toro - I just do. I don't care who owns it, or how hard it is to get a table, or what order my food comes (as long as it comes), I just genuinely enjoy the place.

Recently, we went for a light dinner. We weren't starved, but wanted something good in a cozy place - it's perfect for that. The wait was about 45 minutes, so we grabbed some wine and loitered at the bar. About 20 minutes later, the host asked if we'd like to sit at the communal table. In the middle. Across from each other.

Alright, we were fine with that. Just settled up at the bar and squeezed our way in. Time passes...no server. It's busy, whatev, sip your wine. More time passes...no server. I flag the host and he is apologetic (sorta) and brings a woman over who immediately says "I'm not your server, but I can start on some tapas for you..." Fine, I tell her the order....ask for water...STILL NO SIGN OF OUR SERVER. I'm like "am I crazy for thinking she should come over here?" We start getting tapas, they lose one in the shuffle, have to flag her for more water and wine, I leave her a sh*t tip (15%).


Bottom line - will continue to go for the food. (period)

Any other experiences like that? I feel like I'm not alone...this is Toro Lovers Anonymous.