Ivy At The Shore

{Photos via}

Flamingo-pink walls, Hawaiian patterned seat cushions, delectable drinks paired with numerous fresh seafood entrees and beautiful people at every table make for an ambiance unlike any other at the Ivy At The Shore in Santa Monica, CA.  

Any appetizer or entree with crab, lobster or some type of fish is a winner. Ask to sit in the open-air, screened-in patio that positions you in the perfect spot to people watch and see the Santa Monica pier all while sipping on your $20+ sangria (also a winner). 

$$$ - Pricey but perfection

   

2015: A Year in Review

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

With work being so crazy the first week of the year, I had zero time to get this 2015 recap up until now. I knew I had a fantastic year but I didn't realize just how much happened until I put this together. Spending quality time with friends and family, traveling to new places, celebrating several weddings, getting a promotion, buying a new car and starting this blog were just some of the highlights of last year. I'm looking forward to what 2016 has in store.

   

Chicago Eats: Pizza East

We headed to the new, hip and "upcoming" West Loop on our last night in Chicago to grab some dinner at one of Soho House's public restaurants, Pizza East. Yes, Soho House is one of those super swanky, super exclusive places that has both public and private restaurants and we obviously weren't invited to the private side. Now, getting back to Pizza East...I have mixed feelings about this place. I am a sucker for great atmosphere but service, well service is extremely important. It's not a new concept that when you go out to eat, you are paying for the food as well as the experience. In my mind, the waitstaff should almost be invisible. The only times I have ever seriously studied the waitstaff is when they are the best damn thing that has happened to the restaurant or when they are absolutely horrible and unfortunately, we noticed the waitstaff because they were not fantastic.

Was the atmosphere amazing? Yes. Was the food great? Yes. Was the company wonderful? You bet. But the service...sucked. I can't put it any other way. I'm not sure if our waiter was new or just didn't understand that they needed to attend to us but we were there for way longer than we wanted to be. It was Saturday night after all and the girls wanted to party (and by party I mean have a few drinks and go to sleep before 11)!

All in all, I am glad I was able to experience the food and the atmosphere and be with my hilarious friends. Yes, I would recommend this restaurant but I would give major caution on the potential horrific service. So if you're willing to live on the edge - Pizza East is for you!

$$ - affordable and appealing

   

Photo via

Chicago Eats: Summer House

A while ago, and by a while I mean a very long time ago, I said I was starting an Eats series, but, life happened and I have yet to post anything. So here is my first official Eat Series post! A few weeks ago I went to Chicago for a much needed girls getaway and we started our weekend off in style at the Summer House Santa Monica in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Whitewashed walls, vibrant green ferns hanging from the ceiling, tea lights strung through the rafters, an open air retractable roof and a delectable menu filled with several seafood options transport you to another world. This is a lovely place for a date night and also made for a memorable girls night out. Baked-to-order biscuits, oysters, crab cakes and Rose put us right where we wanted to be before our night out in the big city! 

$$ - affordable and appealing 

It is Chicago after all, so the prices are a whee higher than home but we all still had money to spend later that night so it is definitely affordable! 

   

Photo via

Fred and Fuzzy's

Fred and Fuzzy's may be one of Door County's best kept secrets, or it may be a place that everyone knew about except for me but all that matters it that the experience is worthy of a visit. It is a plastic table, paper plate, outdoor restaurant that is tucked away on a quiet cove in Sister Bay, WI that serves up a million dollar view. I strongly recommend timing a trip to this must-visit restaurant a half an hour before sunset. We happened to be lucky enough to drive past and make an impromptu stop at just the right time to capture the beauty of a Door County sunset. Oh, and did I mention that they have margaritas? So, if you're crazy enough to think that an amazing lake-view isn't worth a stop, think about the Door County Cherry Juice margaritas! It doesn't get much better than eating on the water with a margarita in hand while watching a gorgeous sunset.

"Eats" Series

{Sardine - One of my favorite restaurants in Madison - photo via}

I always relish an opportunity to give my family and friends recommendations on things to do, sights to see and places to eat if they are visiting a city I’ve traveled to or lived in. I especially love giving restaurant advice because, well, food is amazing but more importantly, I genuinely want to share a memorable time, hoping that person has a fantastic experience as well. 

Here's my take on eating out: Since I am paying for someone to feed me (a task that I am surely capable of doing myself) I am a full-blown snob when it comes to choosing a restaurant. I want my meal to be mouthwatering, the ambiance to be unique and the overall experience to be enjoyable. I don't fancy myself a restaurant connoisseur but I do think I have some great advice. I thought it would be fun to create a series of posts giving my suggestions on where to eat on specific budgets. Finding a scrumptious meal doesn’t have to cost a fortune; good food and restaurants can be found at any price.

$ - Cheap and tasty

$$ - Affordable and appealing

$$$ - Pricy but perfection

$$$$ - Nearly maxed out the credit card but damn delicious

Stay tuned – Good Eats coming soon!