I had never been to Berwyn. Not that there haven't been good reasons to go there, but I've definitely found one: Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits ( 6727 Roosevelt Rd.; AutreMondeCafe.net ).
Autre Monde, which launched in 2011, is a celebration of Mediterranean food, with ingredients on the seasonal menus ranging from almonds to olive oilgiving one the feeling that s/he is in another world. ( "Autre Monde," in fact, is French for "another world." )
Chefs Dan Pancake and Beth Partridge ( with Andrew Kerns as the chef de cuisine ) have brought their incredible experiencewhich includes helming the kitchens at Café Spiaggia and Spiaggia, respectivelyto Autre Monde.
Going to Autre Monde was an incredible experience, as my dining companion and I skipped the chilly inside to sit on the colorful patio on a day that had perfect weather. ( I don't usually enjoy dining outdoorsheat and bugs being my mortal enemiesbut this day, as I stated, was exceptional. )
Something else Autre Monde has going for it is the food ( and, by the way, I highly recommend trying the chef's special$55 for what seems like a boatload of items ). The meze platter had a slew of items on it, ranging from Marcona almonds to meats to ( my fave ) pepper jam. The soft polenta with mushroom ragout and poached egg was one of my favorite dishes of the evening, with the flavors complementing each other beautifully.
What was amazing ( honestly ) was that each dish seemed to be even better as the night progressed. The wood-grilled octopus was another winner, along with the lamb pintxos ( with olive and harissa ). The sweet corn risotto also hit a high note, as did the ribeye ( served with salad ).
The desserts made for a fitting ending. The olive-oil cakes, with berry jam and vanilla whipped cream, were incredibly tastybut, somehow, the chocolate hazelnut pot de creme topped them, going into the realm of being dangerous. A smaller version of the latter dessert would be preferableif for no other reason than to lessen the amount of guilt I felt.
Autre Monde is certainly worth the trip to Berwyn.
Chicago's Andersonville has another restaurant in the neighborhoodand it's a doozy.
Situated at the former site of T's Restaurant and Bar, Cantina 1910 ( 5025 N. Clark St.; Cantina-1910.com )so named after the decade-long Mexican Revolution that began in 1910opened Sept. 16.
According to a press release, "Cantina 1910's menu takes an updated approach to traditional and regional dishes, offering guests authentic Mexican flavors presented in unique, unexpected ways. Committed to sourcing 70 percent of its food and beverage from within a 200-mile radius of Chicago, the menu showcases a variety of Mexican dishes, including tacos, ceviches, small plates and larger entrees." There will also be a rooftop garden on the third floor
Executive Chef Diana DÃˇvila certainly impressed during her opening ( which, before dishes were served, featured a media-related mixer, DJ and the band You Are Here ). The nachos were beyond delicious, with a slight kick, while carne asado tacos were similarly tasty. Executive Pastry Chef Andrew Pingul also impressed, with a tres leches cake that reminded my guest of the dishes he had in Mexico. ( At the time I checked on Sept. 17, the menu hadn't been posted online. However, I expect that to change soon. )
As for drinks, try the Jacko's Ponchea heady mix of mezcal, ancho, absinthe and cranberry that comes with a bubbling side ( thanks to dry ice ) that will have your neighbors ooh-ing and aah-ing.
Cantina 1910 is open for dinner seven days a week at 5-10 p.m. Additionally, the Cantina 1910 café is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m daily and the cantina is open 10 p.m.-2 a.m. daily ( 3 a.m. on Saturdays ).