Enolo Wine Cafe ( 450 N. Clark St.; EnoloWineCafe.com ) has a bit of an identity problembut, hopefully, it'll be remedied soon.
The thing is this: The name is deceptive. I can imagine people walking by Enolo on their way home from work in the Loop, looking for a spot to dine. However, the kicker is that this wine cafe ( the sister restaurant to Roka Akor ) has an incredible amount of dishes to offer.
That's not to say Enolo has slacked on the alcohol. Although there are a few cocktails ( including the alluring Right Near the Beach ... Bwoy, named after a line from the movie Half-Baked ), the libation-related emphasis is definitely on the wine. And general manager/sommelier Tony Rossi certainly makes it easy ( or easier ) to navigate the menu, imparting an amazing amount of knowledge about wines to oenophiles and novices alike. ( I felt as if Rossi could've taught a course at Enolo as he discussed how aspects such as weather and geography can affect a wine's vintage. ) There are also wine flights for the uninitiated and/or the adventurous.
And as for those dishesthey range from solid to stunning. Regarding the appetizers, I really gravitated toward the proscuitto bruschetta, which comes with persimmon jam, pecorino, pickled onion, hazelnuts and watercress. The fried goat cheese was also fun, and it's served with romesco sauce, shaved fennel, parsley and pickled onion. ( Other intriguing appetizers and small dishes include pork rinds, deviled eggs with boquerones ( anchovies ), French brie bruschetta, cauliflower lobster bisque and crab in a jar. )
As for the entrees ( or "mains" ), the pancetta pizza was a definite high point for my dining companion and for me, as the pie was topped with French brie, Bosc pears, pancetta, chives and truffle oil. The smell of the oil alone will entice your neighborsenough so they might order the pizza for themselves.
I also greatly enjoyed the Enolo Burger, served with aged cheddar, pickles, roasted tomato, lettuce and caramelized onion aioli. The prawns a la plancha were intriguing: Rossi suggested eating the meat by the head as well as the main body. It's an acquired taste, but I'd try it again.
And if you have room for dessert, try the cheese board or the chocolate panna cotta. You can't go wrong either way. ( By the way, be sure to sample the Chateau d'Orignac pineau de charentes with the panna cotta. Rossi knows his stuff. )
By the way, Enolo has happy hour Mondays through Fridays at 3-6 p.m. Take advantage: Wineand a lot morebeckon.