The spot: South Coast, the South Side sister to Bucktown’s popular (and also BYOB) Coast, is livening up an otherwise desolate strip of Michigan Avenue. But until they get permanent signage, keep your eyes peeled, or you might miss the place. Inside, a sleek, dark interior contrasts with stark white chandeliers made from small tree branches. Fans of the original Coast will find a lot of the same signature maki, nigiri and cooked entrees here, as well as several new items. Try the signature South Scallop maki ($13), pan fried scallops in garlic wasabi sauce in a dynamite roll with black tobiko (flying fish roe), or the cold hamachi carpaccio appetizer ($13), which combines hamachi, garlic oil, lime, cilantro, jalapeno and a mesclun salad.
The bottle: You won’t find a decent liquor store nearby, so it’s a good idea to buy your booze in advance—especially if you’re looking for more than the usual suspects. We advise a quick stop at Binny’s Beverage Depot (213 W. Grand Ave. 312-332-0012) for some sake. Binny’s wine manager Kevin Biegler recommends Rihaku Wandering Poet ($34.99 for 720 milliliters), a junmai ginjo sake, in which, as Biegler says, “the rice is milled down to the heart.” Less than five percent of sakes are of this quality. For a less expensive option, go for a cloudier nigori sake such as Voices in the Mist by Tozai ($19.99 for 720 milliliters). South Coast charges a $5 per bottle corkage fee and only permits beer, wine and sake. --By Emily Hiser Lobdell, metromix special contributor
