Cupcakes, doughnuts…and now tacos are taking the cake (pun intended) as one of Chicago’s newest food trend. While taquerias have lined the streets of Wicker Park for some time now, Texas transplant Velvet Taco will be the first to join the Gold Coast.

With only three weeks under its belt, we decided to check out this new non-traditional taco hotspot. Here’s what we thought.

What We Loved

Velvet Taco certainly doesn’t look like it belongs in the swanky Gold Coast – and that’s a good thing! The casual atmosphere, bright pink decor and friendly servers are all extremely welcoming. The menu isn’t pretentious. In fact, you’re guaranteed to find something you’re craving no matter what kind of cuisine you’re in the mood for. From Indian, to traditional Mexican, to British fish ‘n chips, this place has it all.

Velvet Taco’s focus is making everything in house. You’re greeted by whole chickens roasting on a spit, and the flavor reflects that. They make their own hot sauces, which are served in giant bottles on each table. All seafood is incredibly fresh as well, which is pretty remarkable considering the tiny price tags. One of my favorites was the current special, a lobster salad taco overflowing with giant chunks of lobster meat.

Our favorite dishes weren’t even the tacos themselves. The two sides offered, tater tots and corn, were my absolute favorites. The tots are tossed in a housemade goat cheese sauce, avocado crema and smoked cheddar cheese, sprinkled with bacon bits and topped with a fried egg. They even serve them with these adorable sporks – well, it’s actually a fork on one side and spoon on another. The corn is in an addictive creamy sauce, served with a wedge of lime for freshness.

What Needs Improvement

I get that Velvet Taco is trying to do something different with its global influences for fillings, so why not carry that through to the taco shells, too? I envisioned the chicken tikka and paneer both in buttery naan bread wrapped tacos and the ahi tuna taco atop a crisp and crunchy shell. I probably wouldn’t have noticed as much had the ahi taco not been in a thin lettuce wrap that was difficult to handle and too messy to eat with my hands. This was really my main issue with the tacos.

My only other complaint was dessert. If you’re only going to feature one sweet, make it awesome. I thought much was to be desired from the red velvet cake. The cake itself was moist and dense, just as it should be, but the frosting itself was cloyingly sweet and missing the tang of cream cheese that usually comes with a red velvet cake. Plus, if you’re going to serve tacos, I’d say why not serve an adorable fusion food, like churros doughnuts?

 The Verdict

Velvet Taco might be just what the Gold Coast needs to bring down the age of the Viagra Triangle crowd. It’s affordable, quality food in a fun atmosphere. I’m not convinced that it matches up to any of Wicker Park’s best tacos, but for locals or anyone in the area it’s worth trying out.

Velvet Taco
1110 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60610
www.velvettaco.com

There’s a new bean in town, thanks to the flavor experts at the Jelly Belly Candy Company! The champagne flavored jelly bean has hit the market and looks just like a freshly poured glass of bubbles with its pale, golden shimmering hue and tasting like a effervescent aged grape with a touch of sun-kissed sweetness.

Following the successful launch last year of Draft Beer, this bean seems perfect for weddings, showers, and some adult noshing. Good or bad, like all of the drink inspired jellybeans that Jelly Belly creates, they contain no alcohol. (At least you don’t need to worry about driving under the influence).

Try one bean at only four calories each, or if you want to get really creative the folks at Jelly Belly have created a Mimosa recipe that could hit the spot at your Easter brunch: 3 champagne beans + 1 orange bean = a 16 calorie mouthful of fun!

Once in a while, we come across a hidden gem worth talking about. To make sure we got it right, we’ll get a second opinion before bringing it to you. This is part of a new series we’re calling Foodie Finds. Our first is a spot unknown to most, with the exception of the loyal Yelp following. We bring you La Isla Pilipina.

The Space
Marly Schuman: Isla Pilipina isn’t exactly a place you’d wander into off the street. It’s literally in a strip mall. The place is small and surprisingly crowded, so I’d recommend making a reservation even on a week night.

M. Sheppard: The strip mall which houses Isla sits across the street from a Burger King, and the restaurant itself is adjacent to a Little Caesars and a convenience store.  Need I say “no frills”? Indeed, to call Isla’s interior simple and compact borders on embellishment.

Isla’s limited seating – it perhaps seats 20 – is usually full or nearly so, and for good reasons.  Their focus is on quality and they deliver in spades.  The relatively dim lighting provides a soothing mellowness.

The Food and Drinks
M. Schuman: Where do I start…BYOB! There’s a liquor store next door, and no limit to bottles or corkage fee. Dishes are incredibly flavorful and reasonably priced. You must get the garlic rice and the egg rolls. I’d also highly recommend the Bicol Express, which features the freshest squid and mussels, along with a flavorful coconut sauce.

The food to me definitely has a Thai flair, full of unique spices and sauces I couldn’t get enough of. I’ve heard it is extremely authentic for Filipino food – although I’m not sure I’m sold on their spaghetti dish with cut up hot dogs mixed in. In my opinion, skip the halo halo dessert (one of my least faves) and instead opt for the ube ice cream, a purple yam ice cream I couldn’t get enough of.

M. Sheppard: At a place with food this delicious and authentic, the liberal BYOB policy is simply, shall I say, gravy.  Many beverages would easily pair with Isla’s wide array of dishes and flavors.  As for appetizers, I immediately fell for the chewy pork BBQ skewers, which have an irresistible spicy and tangy flavor and an inviting, saucy red appearance.  Lately I’m in love with the lumpia Shanghai, which are crispy mini egg rolls with either pork or vegetables, served with a sweet-and-sour sauce (they pair nicely with spicy German mustard if you opt for takeout).

If I’m dining in then it’s hard not to order the red snapper (pictured above).  During my first visit my friends and I ripped into fish’s crispy skin and tender meat, leaving few visible remains.  Perhaps my favorite comfort food this winter is Isla’s tinolang manok soup.  Isla serves a variety of soups, but the tinolang (“manok” is Filipino for chicken) comes in a medium-dense, savory broth which is lively with ginger and loaded with cabbage and onions.

The Service

M. Schuman: If you’ve never had Filipino food, this is a great place to try it out. Most servers are extremely helpful and will offer suggestions on what to order if you’re overwhelmed.

M. Sheppard: I love the staff!  They’re young, hip, super relaxed, and are well versed on the menu’s intricacies.  If you have questions about a menu item they will happily give you a detailed and accurate explanation.  Food turnaround times are quite rapid. I love, too, that the staff usually has Spotify cranking out some of the coolest, funkiest music, but it’s never too loud.

The Verdict

M. Schuman: This is a place I would return to (and I have), and I don’t say that often. It’s almost so cheap it’s scary. Appetizers, your own entree and a shared dessert will run you only about $20. Come with a group so you can share a bunch of dishes, and you won’t be disappointed. Be prepared for leftovers and a stomach full of garlic rice.

M. Sheppard: Every winter I have that one moment, usually right after I slip and fall on the ice.  I’ll ask myself why I live in Chicago.  But thanks to diverse, unique places like Isla, winters here are sufferable.  Isla feels authentic and the food certainly tastes so.  Plus it’s relatively cheap and you can stuff yourself silly on various meat, fish and vegetable dishes for around $20.  It’s perfect for groups but your date will consider you an insider for knowing about the little Filipino restaurant that could (and does).

La Isla Pilipina
2501 W. Lawrence
Chicago, IL 60625
http://www.islapilipina.com/

Whether you’re looking for the best Restaurant Week picks or in need of suggestions of what to order at the hottest new spots, we’ve got you covered. Here are five of our top picks for this week.

1. Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti, Momotaro
Momotaro’s sushi is amazing; the fish is incredibly fresh and options are endless. But the dish that really stood out to me was the chili mentaiko spaghetti. The noodles are chewy and dense. The oozing egg in the middle and hit of spice couldn’t be more perfect. BOKA Restaurant Group does it again.

2.   Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake AND Chocolate Pave, Two
I tried out Two for the first time this week for Restaurant Week, and I was not disappointed. My friends and I couldn’t decide which dessert to order, and now I can’t choose which to feature on this list. The chocolate dessert was what I expected and more; a chocolate brownie with marshmallow topping, paired with nutella ice cream and homemade graham cracker pieces. The cheesecake was ridiculous. I didn’t think I would love it, but the creamy cake and buttery crust swept me away. Desserts change regularly, so hurry there before Restaurant Week ends!

3. BoomBoom Shrimp, Dive Bar
Don’t let the name fool you. This week old Boystown spot isn’t actually a hold in the wall dive; it’s a seafood and tiki themed wonder. Drinks attempt to rival River North’s Three Dots and a Dash, and some of them actually do, like the Pain Killer, armed with dark rum and coconut cream. To prep your stomach for these serious cocktails, arm yourself with a hefty serving of BoomBoom shrimp. For just $11 you get a heaping pile of fried beauties, smothered in an addictive creamy sauce with a kick.

4. Heirloom Carrots, BOKA Restaurant
Carrots at a fancy restaurant? It sounds like the last thing you’d want to order. This was actually my favorite dish when I dined at BOKA a few weeks ago. The carrots are roasted until they’re sweet, tossed with smoked goat cheese, pistachio and crunchy amaranth. It’s sweet and savory at the same time, and unexpectedly delicious. Lucky for you it’s one of the choices on BOKA’s Restaurant Week menu, so hurry there if you’ve never been.

5. Banana Bread Coffee Cake,  Hot Chocolate
There are a plethora of tasty treats to try at Mindy Segel’s Hot Chocolate. If you stop in for brunch, though, you may be in need of something on the slightly lighter side. Coffee cake generally doesn’t excite me, but when I got a peak at this one, I knew I had to get my hands on it. This cake has a crusty topping and a ribbon of fudge in the middle. It isn’t consistently on the menu, so if you’re in need of a back up, the warm donuts with raspberry preserves are a solid choice.