As a theater reviewer and sex writer, I'm always looking for ways to enhance the romantic experience without spending a lot of
money. Pre-dinner shows, when you see two or three a week, can get expensive, especially if you bring a honey along for the ride, so
to speak. And pre-sex meals, nutritious and energy boosting while at the same time providing a culinary nod to seduction, can also
get pricey, if one has any class. A White Castle and a bag of soggy fries seldom lead to the culmination of a satisfying evening, no
matter how you're spending it.
That's why I thought this column was a good idea, giving Windy City Times readers some options for where to take a date when
dining out without blowing their, um, budgets (I resisted—mightily—saying 'wads'). So we'll be reviewing a cornucopia of Chicago-
area restaurants (our Windy City is actually pretty great at providing a meal for two for $30 or less). And from time to time, I'll also be
reviewing places where it's great (and cheap) to take a date after a night of passion. Brunch, anyone? Lastly, I will also provide
occasional plans for $30 or less evenings at home, complete with recipes, mood music, and more.
So first up, let's travel up north to Evanston for some great food, campy kitsch ambience, and a check that won't break the bank.
The Lucky Platter, located at 514 Main Street in Evanston, is a homey, kitschy wonderland. Decorated with bric-a-brac, paintings, and
lamps that look like they came from the world's funkiest (and coolest) garage sale, you and a date can relax and get comfortable. You
can have privacy, too, since most of the seating is high-back wooden booths that carry out the kitsch theme.
But it's the food that makes this an ideal place to take a date, whether it's your first or your fiftieth. The Lucky Platter offers a warm,
homey ambience that takes the edge off first-date jitters and makes someone with whom your more familiar seem like a quiet dinner
at home, without any of the work.
This place serves comfort food with flair. For example, you might want to start off with some shrimp spring rolls, a cup of
Caribbean pumpkin soup, or a House Salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, feta, raisins, walnuts, and apples. The Platter offers a wide
variety of entrée items, from delectable main-course salads such as the grilled chicken salad with avocado, sun dried tomatoes, and
artichoke hearts to design-your-own pizzas with exotic ingredients like shitake mushrooms, goat cheese, or Granny Smith applies.
The dinners all come with your choice of two sides and warm, moist cornbread. The best sides are the sweet potato fries, the spicy
homemade mac and cheese, or the steamed broccoli with Romano. Dinner options include Thai grilled catfish, jerk chicken, tandoori
grilled salmon, tofu fajitas, roasted vegetable tagine, and more. There's even a selection of sandwiches (served with one side) like
Brie and ham, Mexican polenta, or the Lucky Burger.
Best of all, you can get out of the Platter for $30 or under (for two). Here's an example: share the Shrimp Spring Rolls appetizer for
$4.95, then share a House salad (definitely big enough for two) for $2.85. Say you choose the Cajun meatloaf with BBQ plum sauce
for $9.95 and he (or she) chooses the you-won't-miss-the-meat tofu fajitas for $10.95. That adds up to $28.70. That doesn't include
tax and tip or alcohol (the Lucky Platter offers bar service), but it's still a lot of good food for just a little money.
The Lucky Platter serves hearty breakfasts every day from 7-2, and dinner Monday through Saturday from 3-10, and 3-9 on
Sunday.