Bob Chinn's Crab House Chicago, 315 N. LaSalle (report submitted 8/4/02 by Ellen Joy):

The place is huge; I think it seats 800, so it's easy to get a reservation and you don't have to wait like at the original Wheeling location. The ambience is like a train station with no effort to muffle noise in the furnishings, so it's not the place for conversation. With such a large volume of customers and Bob Chinn's reputation, we expected very fresh seafood and we got it. However, since it only opened a month ago, we got very befuddled service, like the clam chowder instead of the lobster bisque and oysters instead of scallops. Even the valet was complaining that the keys got misnumbered, so their system of having a cashier call out the keys failed to speed things up. But the food itself was excellent. My husband loved the lobster bisque and sashimi and scallops on the half shell; my grilled shrimp salad was very good (though the waiter said that I couldn't choose the dressing that the salad had--it was the chef's whim--so a vinagrette came on the side, puzzling me as to why I couldn't have something else), and the whole Dungeness crab with ginger and onions was very delicious but very messy. My waiter didn't offer me a bib but did come up with extra napkins and hot towels after I finished (note well: the ladies' washroom has an attendant). The mochi ice cream came in four flavors: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and green tea (I happen to like mochi a lot). And the coffee was very good also. Hopefully the service will improve with time, but the food is terrific now!

Weber Grill, 539 N. State (report submitted 6/16/02 by Ron Tevonian):

Our experience supported the view that the scene is fun, and active. However, the food was a disappointment. My wife had a petit filet mignon--"medium." Weber's touted cooking method: "Seared at 1,500 degrees, then cooked slowly to desired degree" resulted in the exterior so severely charred that it was "carburized" beyond taste. I would have sent it back! My meat loaf consisted of three slices, drenched in barbecue sauce, then grilled . . . not quite as severely. Go for the novelty, go elsewhere else for good dining.

Roy's, 720 N. State (report submitted 7/8/02 by Emily Paster):

My husband and I sought to recapture the magic of our recent Hawaiian honeymoon with a dinner at Roy's, the newly opened Chicago outpost of the chain founded by celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi, whose restaurants pop up like weeds all over the Hawaiian islands. Dinner was a pleasant experience--the food was certainly good--but not so special that, in this city of wonderful restaurants, we are dying to go back. First, the room: the Roy's in Hawaii tend to be bustling, chaotic places. This was not. The restaurant seems to be going for a somber, subdued look with its dark wood and Asian decor, and it certainly is an attractive room, but the noise and the informality of the servers' attire seemed slightly incongruous. Service overall was friendly if a little sloppy. Our waiter had a very nice manner, but right after I ordered the butterfish, he asked me how I wanted my ahi done, and he forget to order my husband's fruit strudel in advance. Fortunately, there was no harm done as the kitchen had an extra. The food is the real attraction here. I started with the peeky-toe crab salad off of the specials menu. Very tasty, but the portion was tiny and the promised "gazpachos" were a glossy coating of a tomato-flavored liquid! My husband had a salad that he said was fine. We were more impressed with our entrees. I had the Japanese butterfish off of the Classics menu, and it was aptly named! The fish melted in your mouth and, due to its three-day marinating, was bursting with flavor. The vegetable and rice accompaniments were excellent as well. My husband had a chicken tempura off of the daily specials menu which he liked very much. It was light, not greasy at all and a very attractive presentation, with the pieces of chicken stuffed with vegetables. Roy's has been complimented many times for its innovative wine list, including some wines bottled just for them, but as we were trying to re-create our Hawaiian honeymoon, we opted for silly tropical drinks instead. And they were great! It definitely reminded us of sitting by the beach in Maui. As for desserts, we stuck with the classics: I had the molten chocolate souffle, which was fabulous, of course, but frankly a bit sweet for my taste; a more bittersweet chocolate might have added some sophistication. And my husband had the apple and pineapple strudel with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. He seemed quite pleased. Again, it was a nice meal, but it didn't really stand out in any way. If you are dying to be reminded of Hawaii, it is great, but if not, there are plenty of equally nice places to drop $130 bucks on dinner.

Lalo's, 500 N. LaSalle (report submitted 6/16/02 by Ron Tevonian):

The first visual impression is bright, large, and cheerful. The food is "good enough." I wonder where the "bigger is better" rule got to apply to burritos? Mine was so fat, and the tortilla so weak, that it became just a mush on my plate! The biggest complaint is that the service is too fast! Good servers can pace the food by observing the customers. If you make the mistake of ordering your entree at the same time as your margarita, don't expect an opportunity to relax and sip! It is more of a Mex-Mill than a place for a relaxed night out.