CheekyChicago

Let me ‘think’ about this: a power outage, cold soup and an antiquated credit card machine that only allows two plastics per table. That being said, I also ‘thought’ of a few other things: romantic, BYOB, quaint and (did I mention) BYOB.

Although running the risk of being coined an ‘off the beaten path’ restaurant, I don’t think it so much matters. Located blocks away from trendy/hipster Bucktown, Think Café is a nice respite from the skinny-jeaned, messenger-bagged, beer-drinking crowd hanging out just four blocks south (although I have absolutely no problem rockin’ the skinnies and drinkin’ the pints, especially if they come from Piece).

I have to admit – it was under odd circumstances that I enjoyed/became annoyed with my experience here. My gay boyfriend (GBF) asked me to meet his I’ve-Been-Dating-Someone-For-10-Days new boyfriend. Not one to easily enjoy a GBF’s new boyfriend, I figured I’d give it a shot at one of my favorite BYOB’s. Knowing that all of us were bringing a bottle, I defaulted to the mentality that if all else fails, there are always three bottles of wine. All else did not fail in the let’s-gaily-mix-and-mingle department, but it did fail in the lobster bisque department.

Having eaten here before with two girlfriends and three bottles of wine (sense a trend), I don’t want to base a review on an evening that began with a power outage and, subsequently, the second half of our table running 30 minutes late. I do feel obligated to inform you all of the cold soup, however. Ugh, what could be worse on a cold, rainy, Chicago night than cold bisque? That being said, my arugula salad more than made up for it with its simple Italian flair and abundance of parmesan cheese (per my specific request and a dirty waiter glare).

Dessert. They say dessert makes a very viable and delicious substitute for sex. Not so much for my handsome male couple across the table, but for me…the absolutely beautiful (albeit phallic) caramel banana dish and decadent chocolate mousse cake did just the trick. So, there ya have it. You win some bisques, you lose some bisques – you win some caramel bananas and well, you win some caramel bananas.

One of my very dear friends had his rehearsal dinner at Think Café. I completely understand why. The restaurant is romantic, small, enticing, foodie-oriented and relatively inexpensive. Please forgive them a freak power outage and cold soup and return for the simple Italian flavors and to-die-for desserts. After all, some of us need them.