photo: courtesy of
MetroKlub; luscious kosher cheesecake
Passover started at sundown Saturday, and if you're not one to whip up a matzoh-filled meal at home, you're kind of out of luck. In accordance with Jewish law, the city's kosher restaurants close their doors during the week-long celebration. But before you start to weep for meals lost, grab your calendar, mark the date after the holiday ends (April 27) and start planning your post-
pesach party. Yeah, it's true; an entire week can feel like an eternity when you're yearning for some kosher brisket. But have a little faith; these restaurants are well worth the wait.
Bring the whole family to Taboun Grill
Long wooden tables crammed end-to-end with families are the first things you'll notice when you step inside this neighborhood eatery. Kosher rule says that meat and dairy cannot come in contact with each other, so Taboun made the wise choice of sticking with the fleshy stuff. Start with the Moroccan cigars ($6)—no, not the kind you smoke. This cigar has a fried phyllo-dough shell and comes stuffed with spicy ground beef—the perfect amuse to prepare your taste buds for what's to come: Taboun's grill combination ($26). A huge plate brims with hefty portions of kefta, chicken thighs and beef; you'll be noshing on leftovers for days, unless, of course, you follow suit and bring the kinfolk.
Get down to business at MetroKlub
Located in the West Loop, this lunch-only restaurant is a go-to spot for your midday kosher fix. Skip the stuffy conference room and instead impress your clients (or your boss) in the restaurant's charming 1940s-style dining space. Leave the rest of the awing to Chef Chris Turano. With his classic dairy-free dishes, like grilled skirt steak with fries ($18) and seared Atlantic salmon ($16), you'll be shaking hands and sealing deals long before dessert. And then it's only a matter of Turano's chocolate-drizzled turtle cheesecake before you get that promotion.
Flashback to the 1950s at Ken's Diner & Grille
Anyone who can make a milkshake taste like a milkshake without actually using milk obviously knows what he's doing. Ken Hechtman culinary skills don't stop at the sweets, though. He whips up a whole mess of dairy-free dishes, like a bison burger and a chicken schnitzel sandwich. He also gets crafty at the attached Malibu Pizza and Pasta (each space has its own kitchen), where he serves up meatless burgers, pies and pastas. Malibu's tropical, surfer-dude decor is a direct reflection of Ken himself, and so is the quirky menu; it pulls out the wordplay with pizza names like The Passion of Crust, but Hetchman said he had to draw the line at Cheeses of Nazareth.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Tel Aviv Bakery
Welcome to the Mecca of Jewish breads and pastries. On any given morning, you can bet the line at this standing-room-only bakery will be backed up to the door. Grab a loaf or two of challah; the fluffy, flour-rich braided bread is always a treat, but will taste especially decadent after a week of the flat, yeast-free matzoh. If you really want to indulge, try the fruit-filled rugulach. Just be warned: These bite-sized, cinnamon- and sugar-dusted cookies are too tasty and too small to stop at one.
photo: courtesy of Shallots; keep kosher with roasted duck
Impress a date at Shallots Bistro
This little gem, located in downtown Skokie, will make you coo for kosher. And with any luck, your date will be cooing for you after stepping into this upscale restaurant. Shallots might be small, but it packs in elegant flare and flavorful dishes by the ton. Just take a look at the new spring menu, with classics like roasted duck and herbed risotto in an orange sauce ($29) and braised beef with beer sauce, potatoes and veggies ($26). And the drinks? The extensive wine list boasts grapes from Israel, Italy and South Africa, to name a few.
Grab some pie at Slice of Life
This poultry- and red meat-free spot, with a handful of seafood and faux-meat dishes, claims to be a "delight to all your senses," but the only one you'll really need to be in tune with is taste, especially when you order up one of the signature deep-dish pizzas. You'll notice there are only two pies on the menu (cheese and vegetarian); that's because the rest of the ingredient combos are up to you. Choose from a slew of veggies, spices and gourmet cheeses (try the Israeli feta), and if you're really looking to fuel up on the carbs, go for double crust.
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