Restaurant options for girlfriend's birthday

Hey guys,

I need to find somewhere open tomorrow night to take my girlfriend for her birthday. I am looking for someplace I know will provide a special and romantic experience while not being overly stuffy and expensive. We don't need fancy, but we've had a hard few weeks (I've been sick and she's had a ton of new responsibilities at work), and I'm looking for a place that will help her understand how much I care about her and appreciate her.

We're open to different cuisine options (although she said a pasta and salad might be nice), but there is only one thing she has asked for: carrot cake. If you know of a restaurant that serves a great carrot cake and meets the above description, please let me know.

She's wonderful and I could really use an assist from you guys.

Thanks!

Mirabella might fit the bill. They serve very nice pastas and they do have carrot cake on their dessert menu, though I haven't actually tried it.

=R=

3454 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 463-1962

Thanks for the thought, Ronnie! What would you think about Lula?

Anteprima would be perfect and while their menu rotates daily/weekly, they do offer carrot cake occasionally. If you called today and asked them, I bet they’d do it for you. And their pastas and veg/salads are some of the best and freshest in town.

Lula is delicious, has such a nice range of price points on the menu, and serves a wonderful carrot cake.

jsagoff wrote:Thanks for the thought, Ronnie! What would you think about Lula?

Lula: another great call. I love Anteprima too but I didn't think of either them in relation to carrot cake, which is why I didn't suggest them. Lula's desserts tend to be a little more modern and chef-driven, so I don't think you'd find a traditional version of it there. I can't say about Anteprima.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

jsagoff wrote:Thanks for the thought, Ronnie! What would you think about Lula?

Lula: another great call. I love Anteprima too but I didn't think of either them in relation to carrot cake, which is why I didn't suggest them. Lula's desserts tend to be a little more modern and chef-driven, so I don't think you'd find a traditional version of it there. I can't say about Anteprima.

=R=

Anteprima’s carrot cake is traditional and amazing—but, as I said above, you’d need to request it since they do different desserts every week and don’t know if it’s on the menu right now.

Lula.

And that carrot cake is on point!

I had it over the summer for the 1st time in forever. I always go for the seasonal offerings instead. A dining companion ordered it. It was ridiculous!

Although I love Anteprima - it may be the place not near home that I dine at the most frequently - I would not consider it "special and romantic". It's loud (the outdoor patio in the rear is better but it's getting too cold for that option) and the tables are thisclose together. Again, I love the place for its consistently outstanding food (and bargain prices), but I'm not sure it works for the stated desires.

I like Lula and think it's a better option.

I can think of other Italian places with great food and a more romantic atmosphere - notably Gioco in the South Loop and Campagnola in Evanston - but I don't know whether either has carrot cake. (Campagnola rotates their desserts and often has the best bread pudding on the planet, if that's of interest.)

Wherever you go, when making your reservation, make sure you mention that it's her birthday.

Lula is the answer. That carrot cake will never leave the menu (ask for whatever their current jam is on the side and it always complements the cake well). They're also doing a nice spaghetti and clams these days. I'm there nearly once a week, so I have my biases, but it's space that combines casual and romantic so well.

Let us know what you chose and how it went!