Lumino Magazine

Get out of the cold and into Sola

Written by JESSICA LESHIN

Too often we are drawn into to the Loop, Gold Coast, River West and River East neighborhoods in search of fine dining and good eats. We often neglect our hunting and gathering skills for quick fixes at restaurants that are pretentious and leave us wondering if our bill really equaled the service and overall taste of the food. At Sola Restaurant, you are not only greeted by pleasant and attentive staff, but also by flavors that far surpass the average restaurant.

Located in Lincoln Square, just off of N. Lincoln Ave. at Byron, Sola is tucked in between businesses and residences. It’s hard to imagine that such a unique restaurant is located in an area where dozens of pizza and Chinese food restaurants line the street. Look for the brown awnings and a soothing glow emanating from the front windows.

ATMOSPHERE
Chef/owner Carol Wallack is a surfer chick at heart and her restaurant is a direct reflection of her sunshine personality and go with the flow attitude. She doesn’t use flashy colors, loud music or attempt to make any bold statements with her furniture. Instead, the décor of Sola is soothing; the gas fire place is calming, comfortable chairs promote relaxation and tables have plenty of elbow room. The entire restaurant coaxes conversation, relaxation and a hint of romance.

CROWD
On a Friday night around seven thirty, just about everyone is hungry and ready for a drink after a long work week. The crowd was a mix of twenty something’s up to fifty something’s. The bar area was packed with young, well dressed professionals. By the time our meal was finished, there was standing room only at the bar and several patrons were waiting to be seated at tables. This restaurant starts to come alive the later you arrive. I definitely felt the vibe pick up as I was leaving and almost hated to go.

SPIRITS
My waitress was more than happy to recommend what just might be my new favorite drink, Wallock’s own “Wicked Wahine”. This drink was just out of this world, or at least out of the Midwest. Wallock concocted this pineapple and star fruit blend in her own kitchen in Maui. Though she is not a mix-ologist, she definitely got it right, just the right proportions of alcohol, fruit and a bit of cracked pepper to top the drink off. The Wicked Wahine served in a martini glass would make an excellent drink for anyone coming from work, ready to share a few drinks and conversation.

I would also recommend the Peach Lambic Belgium Beer, it was unlike any other beer that I have ever had. The Peach Lambic was sparkling, very crisp to the taste and perfectly sweet. It arrived in what looked like a wine bottle and had to be uncorked; my kind of beer!

GRUB
Firstly, the food arrived piping hot and that’s always a plus on a busy Friday night, secondly,
not one word was uttered during the entire meal and the phrase, ‘this is so good,’ kept repeating in my head. Rarely am I ever rendered speechless, but both the salmon and the lamb chops were just amazing.

The rest of the menu is pretty mouth watering. There are plenty of fish, chicken and meat dishes that reflect a healthy portion size. I highly recommend getting the artichoke fritters and
pot stickers as appetizers and if you have room, don’t pass up the sorbet.

PRICES
This is definitely not a place to go if you are barely making rent, unless you are submitting an application. However, it’s definitely a place to go if you love great food, don’t mind paying for it and are tired of the same-old, same-old restaurants that much of the downtown area has to offer. This is a great place to have a girls night or go to impress a date.

WHY IT’S UNIQUE
Head Chef and owner Carol Wallack has worked hard to blend Asian and Hawaiian flavors that compliment the American style cuisine. You won’t be disappointed by the food, but your heart may sink when you get the bill.