2012 - Gemini Bistro

Located in Lincoln Park, it's a sleek but unassuming restaurant with reasonably priced valet to boot. Great priced drinks that are tasty too. We had the following:

• The Squirtsky - finlandia grapfruit, fresh lime, fresh grapefruit, soda

• Gemini Lemonade - ketel one citron, pomegranate lmeonade

• Cucumber Northside - hendricks gin, muddled cucumber, lemon, mint, soda

Their menu is split into three categories: small, medium and large. The small category is basically soups and salads. Medium plates are basically sharable appetizer size. Large plates are traditional entree size.

We decided to do a few medium plates to have the opportunity to try different things. We started with the Jumbo Lump Crabcake - petite salad, tabasco ailoi. This was a really nice crabcake. True large lumps of crab throughout.

Second course we had the Crispy Pork Belly - sunny side up quail egg, maple glaze, potato crisps. The flavor was good, although the egg might be a little overdone. Mark thought the maple glaze was a little pedestrian.

Third course we split Pan Fried Quail - sweet corn puree, grilled chorizo, buttermilk bisquit. The quail was tasty, unfortunately the chorizo was a little overdone. The bisquit was amazing. Mark wasn't thrilled with the quail, not because of the flavor, but because of all the bones.

Fourth Course was amazing! Short Rib Ravioli - tomato marmalade, parmigiano, natural reduction

Last and final course was also amazing. I think the ravioli was my favorite, but these were a close second.

Truffle-Parmesan Fries

This was a really really good meal. I highly recommend Gemini Bistro.