• “Overcomplication” is the main problem at Fogon for Mike Sula, who found that “these dishes are less than the sum of more interesting parts.” The appetizers and entrees are “piled high with riotous bushes of vegetal garnish and layered with blankets of sauce, melted cheese, and cream.” The components need to “harmonize or be streamlined…to command prices more commensurate with addresses a few miles eastward.” [Chicago Reader]
• Planning to check out the annual Printers Row Lit Fest this weekend and also need a place to fuel up while you’re there? Phil Vettel picks out nine options in the neighborhood. Though you might be able to read afterwards, you can sip on “literary-inspired cocktails” at Custom House Tavern. [Trib]
• Need to eat your food outside while the weather is nice? Pat Bruno collects what he believes are the “best and most interesting restaurants to satisfy your outdoor dining fix.” The exhaustive list features four categories: Rarefied Air, City Scene, The Al Fresco Brunch Bunch, and Suburban Style. [Sun Times]
