Dish List spotlights the sizzling-hot restaurant Sunda and More Cupcakes, the bakery with a twist. Pictured: Sunda dish and interior.
—Torn a-Sunda: The minds behind the hot nightclub The Underground and the popular eatery Rockit Bar & Grill—Billy Dec, Brad Young and Arturo Gomez—seem to have another hit on their hands with the Asian-themed restaurant Sunda, 110 W. Illinois.
The crowds are certainly loving the place. On the night Dish List went, the place was packed, and there were even celebrities in the midst ( including Ali Larter of TV's Heroes ) . Even one of the bartenders turned out to be a former contestant on TV's Big Brother.
Fortunately for the staff, the food should keep the crowds coming. An appetizer of crispy nan with whitefish ceviche was absolutely delightful, and a somewhat unappetizing-sounding salad of chili-caramelized watermelon with unagi ( eel ) "nigiri" actually turned out wonderfully, an almost decadent mix of the salty and the sweet.
Other dishes also fared well. Longevity garlic noodles with blue crab hit the spot, while the seared American Kobe beef tartare on crispy rice was the best dish of the night. In addition, the Chilean sea bass was tasty, if a little bony.
Those with mild palates should take heed, however: The menu has a section devoted to spicy items. Dish List's dinner partner was bold and tried the Devil's Basket—a melange of soft-shelled crabs with six different chilies, shallots, toasted garlic and scallions. He was just fine until he started eating the individual chilies. Needless to say, he stopped after a few.
Desserts were hit-and-miss. The pinoy avocado mousse did not work for Dish List, although my dinner partner loved it. However, the dish called "Something Chocolate"—"nigiri"-style chocolate bites—certainly worked their magic.
Executive chef Rodelio Aglibot told Dish List said that he left Los Angeles for Chicago because of the latter's sensibility; Dec, Young and Gomez; and the homey feel of the city. Here's hoping that he stays.
One other note: If it's possible, try to get Liz as your server; not only is she strikingly beautiful, but she is witty—and she instructed us to get the tartare dish.
See www.SundaChicago.com .
—Sweets with a twist: More Cupcakes, 1 E. Delaware, has those traditional ( and oh-so-delicious ) items such as chocolate chip/vanilla buttercream—but this place is quickly garnering a reputation for unusual items that would challenge the most jaded consumer.
The maple-bacon cupcake actually worked pretty well. However, it's the BLT cupcake that plays a mind game with many. The cake contains bits of caramelized bacon, and is topped by ranch "frosting" and sliced tomatoes; if you can get past seeking the sandwich in this form, it's quite good—although a little ranch goes a long way.
Also: On Fridays, 5-7 p.m., More offers free samples, including drink-themed items such as pina colada and margarita cupcakes.
With dozens of varieties, including seasonal specials, there's something for everyone. See www.morecupcakes.com .
—Ethel's closing: Mars Inc. is closing its Ethel's Chocolate Lounges in the Chicago area, with five of its remaining six local outlets set to close by the end of April. A sixth Ethel's, in Skokie's Old Orchard mall, will eventually close, too. However, the Web site will continue to function as well as the eight outlets in Las Vegas, Nev.