The spot: Su-Ra Korean Restaurant is impressive in its simplicity. Exposed brick and muted burgundy and taupe hues create an atmosphere of serenity in the modern, open dining room. In good weather, the restaurant’s back door opens to a small, gated Korean garden with a handful of tables. The no-fuss menu is filled with dishes created with rice; fresh, seasonal vegetables; and chicken, pork, beef or shrimp. Owner Euiha Hwang, who previously owned a restaurant for 5 years in Korea, says the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop ($11) is his best seller. This traditional Korean dish of steamed rice and vegetables with fried egg and spicy red pepper paste sauce is served in a sizzling stone pot with a side of miso soup.

The bottle: At a Korean restaurant, why not drink like they do in Korea? Snag a bottle of soju, a potato-based Korean liquor, at Chicago Food Corp. (3333 N. Kimball Ave. 773-478-5566). This Asian food market has a wide variety of the clear spirit, which tastes a bit like sweet vodka. If you’ve got a large party and foresee shots in your future, spring for the large, plastic 1.75 liter bottle of Green Soju ($12.95). Casual drinkers might prefer a modest .375 liter bottle of Jinro Chamisul Soju for ($3.99). If shots aren’t your thing—or if you don’t have time to hoof it to Avondale—grab a chilled bottle of Barefoot sauvignon blanc ($9.99) from Crespo’s Food and Liquor (2157 W. North Ave. 773-486-5588), a neighborhood store just a block east of Su-Ra. The crisp white wine tones down the heat of the Korean red pepper paste served as an accompaniment to many of Su-Ra’s dishes. --Emily Hiser Lobdell is a metromix special contributor.

Apparently, even a big white building that’s glowing fire-red inside can be easy to overlook if it doesn’t have a sign.

Housed in the old Scully’s and Ollie’s Bar and Grill Space, new Lincoln Park spot Forno Diablo is easy to miss thanks to adjacent Middle Eastern restaurant Pars Cove’s three signs. Too bad: This decent two-month-old pizza joint and bar make for a nice place for a bite or a drink before a movie at Landmark Century Centre Cinema.

We liked the affordable menu of Italian mainstays and were eager to try brick-oven pizzas like the buffalo chicken Pizza Diablo ($11) and could-have-been-cheesier quattro formaggio pie ($9). Unfortunately, the crackery crust was unremarkable and the hot sauce lacked much zip. (If we’re ordering a pizza with “Diablo” in the title, we want it to be steamy!)

On the plus side, for those who prefer Spaten to Miller Lite during a meal, there's a there’s a considerable array of beers on tap (when we stopped in, Red Seal drafts were 2 bucks.) But we wouldn’t go back too late on a weekend night, as a row of tables in the center of the space prevents any mingling room. Not surprisingly, our friendly waiter told us that the place is pretty much dead after dinner on weekends. He said people departed after dinner for Duffy’s.

But we think maybe everyone is just having trouble finding it.