Sola
Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (773) 327-3868
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Byron Street
- Directions:
- El: Brown Line to Irving Park
- Hours:
- Sun 10am-2pm, 5:30pm- , Mon-Wed 5:30pm- , Thu 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-, Fri 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm- , Sat 10am-2pm, 5:30pm-
Editorial Review for Sola – by Valerie Moloney
The Scene
Mimicking sand and surf, this North Center restaurant oozes amber hues with hanging cylindrical lamps complemented by a palette of beige, orange and cornflower that pops in every corner. A room divider featuring a built-in fireplace warms windowside diners, while bamboo place mats and putty-colored seats keep an earthy vibe. A curved banquette loops the main dining room, leading up to a second-floor loft with more tables. Servers pace meals just right--even if initial seating waits are long.
The Food
Seafood stars on this New American menu reflecting Hawaiian, Asian and Californian flavors. Starters include chilled, gingery mashed potatoes laced with cod flakes and a trio of tuna tartares freshened by Thai cucumber salsa and ginger confit. Buttery seared scallops nest on green beans and apple-sweet risotto cooked perfectly al dente. A Parmesan tuille topping porcini-crusted salmon is an unexpected touch when paired with familiar grilled asparagus drizzled with soy-truffle sauce.
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Insider Tips
Save TimeThe restaurant offers curbside carryout service for customers who don't feel like leaving their cars to pick up their orders.
Where to SitWarm up on a blustery night next to the fireplace or people watch from the curved banquette at the back of the dining room.
When to GoWhile the restaurant welcomes children at all times, Saturday and Sunday brunches are more family-friendly. Brunch is served from 10am to 2pm.
ParkingValet your car for $7.
Know Before You GoThe physical address is listed as Lincoln Avenue, but the entrance is on Byron.
User Reviews for Sola
04/04/2008 Posted by zoe242
I went to Sola recently to celebrate my sisters birthday. The food was amazing! We started off with the truffle parmesan fries, soooo good. I had the wasabi tuna and was so smooth and very flavorful. My sister had the salmon, also amazing. For dessert we had the s'mores, highly recommend this! Overall great experience, excellent service.
Pros: Location, nice space, good service and food
Cons: a little pricey
02/14/2008 Posted by pjs2780
My husband and I dined at Sola for the first time last night. After reading so many positive reviews on this website and Yelp, I was sure we would love it. But, honestly, I think it was overhyped and overpriced. The bread basket was excellent, and the amuse-bouche was a nice touch. For starters, we had the blue cheese fritters and the crispy mushroom salad. Both were great, but the 4 fritters were each about the size of a 25 cent bouncy ball, and the salad was also really little. For our entrees, my husband had the bleu cheese stuffed lamb chops, which he said was really good but there were only 3 chops and it cost about $25. I had the scallops and lobster risotto; 4 scallops and a couple of tablespoons of risotto cost $27, not to mention that the scallops were overcooked and somewhat rubbery. For dessert, we had the s'mores and the yuzu tart; I think they forgot to carmelize the sugar on the top of my tart but it was still pretty tasty, though I wasn't given a knife to cut the tart shell with, which was awkward. The service was otherwise really good. I doubt we'll be back; we can spend as much and have a better meal at someplace like Oceanique or Green Zebra.
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