The Dining Table

Where do you take Europeans to show off Chicago? It's time to board the food tour given by David Manilow to three guests from the Netherlands. In this episode, Hans Steenbergen of Food Inspiration Magazine recaps and reviews his recent Chicago foodie adventure, led by our host. Plus, our Dutch guest rates his ride on an architectural boat tour. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https:/...

This week’s episode searches for the answer to the question: “Does Chicago have the best taco scene in the U.S.?” Host David Manilow is joined by chef Stephen Sandoval and hospitality entrepreneur Oscar Sotelo to debate just that. The two are co-owners of the Baja-inspired Diego restaurant in West Town — but their opinions are very different. The pair have cooked and explored Mexican restaurants a...

Star chef Avgeria Stapaki came to Chicago four years ago from Greece to open up Nisos Prime in the West Loop. Now she’s moved on to Bucktown with Tama. In this episode, the chef describes how she hopes to bring the finest European-style hospitality to Chicago. Plus, Stapaki explains why she doesn’t want her menu to be limited to her Mediterranean roots. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

We open the month of May with another edition of "Where Dave Ate" — as host David Manilow eats his way from Lakeview to Chinatown. In this episode, hear Manilow's recommendations for small spaces with big flavors. The journey includes Thai street food and one of the best egg sandwiches he's ever tasted. David's recommendations from this episode are: TukTuk at 2852 North Clark, Doma at 946 North Or...

How did a multigenerational family-run store in Little Village become one of the nation's biggest sellers of tequila? Host David Manilow gets the full story with Mike Moreno Jr. of Moreno’s Liquors in Little Village. Moreno shares the secret for patrons aiming to discover the more than 900 different types of tequila on his store shelves. Plus, you’ll hear about the next big thing in Mexican spirit...

Sujan Sarkar is one of two Chicago chefs who are finalists for this year's James Beard award for Best Chef in the Great Lakes Region. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with Sarkar about the Indian dining scene in the city, what it's been like to cook all over the world and where he likes to dine out. Plus, Manilow talks with chef Sarkar about how he created his hit restaurant Indienne and...

By some accounts, chef Sarah Stegner is one of Chicago's most unheralded culinary creators and connectors. She's raised millions of dollars as co-founder of three food-related nonprofits. In this episode, Stegner shares the success stories behind Green City Market, Chicago Chefs Cook, and the Abundance Setting. Plus, Stegner is also co-owner of Prairie Grass Cafe and talks about why women chefs an...

Coffee led the way to our April edition of "Where Dave Ate." In this episode, David Manilow visits with Artur Yuzvik, co-owner of Soloway Coffee in Lincoln Park. Artur and his wife, Iryna Yuzvik, opened their Ukrainian cafe on Lincoln Avenue just 13 months after moving to the U.S. from Ukraine. Manilow talks with Yuzvik about Chicago’s Ukrainian restaurants — including what works and what doesn’t...

A hot new spot is disrupting the status quo when it comes to service in restaurants. Host David Manilow talks with the owners of John’s Food & Wine in Lincoln Park about whether other eateries will follow their lead. There may be a learning curve for customers, but Manilow’s guests contend "limited service" is a necessity in order to create a sustainable business. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

Widely acclaimed for his handmade pastas, chef Evan Funke has just opened Tre Dita in the St. Regis Chicago Hotel. In this episode, David Manilow talks with Funke about this upscale Italian concept, while Funke describes what he’s learned from his longtime collaboration with Rich Melman and the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group. Plus, Funke tells us why he thinks the movie and restaurant indu...

Have you ever walked into a restaurant or bar and immediately said, "I love this place?" There's a lot that goes into creating a restaurant’s layout, color scheme, flow and even its sound. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with Nicole Alexander, one of Chicago’s top designers and the founder of Siren Betty Design . Go behind the curtain to learn how to create an unforgettable vibe. Hosted...

It’s our first episode of March, and that means the latest edition of "Where Dave Ate." This month, David Manilow explores the best thin crust pizza around Chicago with chef Richie Farina from Adorn Bar & Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel. Manilow talks with Farina about the evolution of hotel restaurants and how he integrates his whimsical style into the menu. Plus, Farina explains how — as a...

One of Chicago’s most prolific restaurateurs joins the show to share how cannabis figures prominently in his future growth plans. Scott Weiner is co-founder of the Fifty/50 Group , which owns or manages 19 establishments and expanded to include dispensaries in 2023. Weiner also compares the city's restaurant community with other major cities across the nation. Plus, Weiner has a lot to say about C...

After his successes at Avec, Publican, Nico Osteria and Pacific Standard Time, Chef Erling Wu-Bower has opened Maxwells Trading in the West Loop. In this week's episode, Wu-Bower calls it intimately American — and says fusion is the wrong word for the style of food at his new spot. Learn how he gathered the deep influences of Europe, New Orleans and growing up as a "city kid" in Chicago, as well a...

Can fine dining be combined with barbecue? The answer lies somewhere in David Manilow’s conversation with chefs Heather Bublick and D’Andre Carter. The creators of Soul & Smoke are partners in life and business, with restaurant locations in Evanston and Avondale . The couple has served hundreds of thousands of community meals for families in need, but the odds were against them surviving the pande...

One of the city's fusion restaurants has just made a big upgrade. Bayan Ko — which translates to "my country" — now has a five-course tasting menu. During this episode, David Manilow tracks the evolution of Chef Lawrence Letrero’s fusion of Filipino and Cuban cuisine. While Letrero’s menu is new, he and Raquel Quadreny first introduced their combined cultures to the Ravenswood neighborhood in 2018...

We welcome February with our latest edition of "Where Dave Ate." Hear host David Manilow’s recommendations for the best streets in Chicago for dining, which include some of Chicago’s newest spots as well as a legacy restaurant that’s been around nearly 40 years. Plus, one thriving restaurateur makes a prediction on what is likely to be the next great street for dining. Manilow also shares his thou...

Chicago has a myriad of private clubs, some exclusive and some not so much. Do they deliver the same experience as your favorite restaurant? In this episode, David Manilow talks with Rafat Alzein, who is the executive chef at the University Club of Chicago , about his steps to make the “club” experience even better. Plus, Alzein shares his emotional journey from childhood in the Middle East to exe...

In this episode, David Manilow visits with one of his favorite sandwich makers. Chris Cunningham is the creator of J.T.’s Sandwich Shop in Irving Park, which features a menu inspired by the pork tenderloin sandwiches he grew up eating in western Illinois. Learn the art of the sandwich, what exactly makes a great sandwich and the top tips for making the best possible sandwich at home. Plus, Manilow...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to open a restaurant in Chicago — especially for someone from out of town? In this episode, David Manilow learns the mom-and-pop adventure of Katherine and Brandon Rushing. The South Carolina couple share the joy and struggle they've experienced in working to open a new barbecue joint in Lincoln Park called Briny Swine . Plus, the restaurateurs offer up a new...

Over the last year, we tracked our host David Manilow around town. He dined at more than 200 restaurants, delis, pubs, taco stands, diners, coffeehouses and more. As the new year begins, we look at his top "Where Dave Ate" spots of 2023. Plus, Manilow reveals the big reasons he can’t wait to see what the industry has in store for 2024. Here’s David’s list of five favorites. La Catedral Cafe & Rest...

Paul Virant is executive chef and owner of Vie, Vistro Prime and Gaijin , Chicago’s first okonomiyaki restaurant. Virant opened Gaijin in 2019, serving the savory Japanese pancakes born on the streets of Hiroshima and Osaka. In this episode, David Manilow learns all about Virant’s recent trip to Osaka with World Business Chicago. Plus, Virant explains the inspiration for Petite Vie — his new resta...

We’re serving up a conversation about soups, stews and gumbo in host David Manilow's search for cold weather comfort. In this episode, chef Darnell Reed of Luella's Southern Kitchen shares the stories behind the recipes his great-grandmother brought to Chicago from Mississippi. Plus, Reed talks about why Lincoln Square is a neighborhood with real spice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

We are kicking off December with a special edition full of recommendations from some of the most revered names in Chicago's dining scene, including Kasama’s Genie Kwan and Tim Flores, Bronzeville Winery’s Lamar Moore, Mindy Segal of Mindy’s Bakery and more. Plus, don't miss ideas for holiday dining options in neighborhoods all over Chicago — they're all spots "Where Dave Ate," too. Here's our list...

Chef John Shields of Smyth and The Loyalist explains how he found the joy of becoming a 3-star Michelin chef soon gave way to the pressure of expectations. In this episode, Shields also shares what he thinks it may take to become a 4-star restaurant. Plus, David Manilow has a special guest who explains why the burgers at The Loyalist are unforgettable. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...