ALL BOTTLED UP: Green Tea Sushi
The spot: A charming and well-loved but oh-so-tiny sushi spot on Clark Street, Green Tea draws in Lincoln Parkers nearly every night of the week (save Monday, when it's closed). Walls the color of-well, milky green tea-surround five small tables and a sushi bar. Try reasonably priced maki such as the Chicago Spicy Crazy ($11.95), a combo of tuna, salmon, whitefish, cucumber and masago; the Spicy Tuna ($3.95), with tuna, scallion and Kaiware Dijon; or numerous maki and sashimi combos. We love the presumptuous sign that reads: "Thank you-see you tomorrow."
The bottle: Green tea is all well and good, but in this heat, we're looking for something a bit more pink, like a rosé. The restaurant's proximity to Frances W. Parker School means there's not a liquor store immediately nearby, but you can head a couple of blocks north to Miska's Liquors (2353 N. Clark St. 773-472-4242). Most of the chilled wines are chardonnays, pinot grigios and sauvignon blancs, but look to the bottom row for the 2004 Cortijo III Rosé ($7.99), a crisp, grenache-based wine with slight acidity, perfect to match anything the folks at Green Tea whip up. --Alison Knab, metromix special contributor.
YOB