Vettel Lauds the ‘Hit Parade’ at HaiSous and More Reviews

HaiSous is a triumphant return for Thai and Danielle Dang. The menu is a “virtual hit parade” that leaves Phil Vettel elated. The signature papaya salad is back—piled high and studded with house-made beef jerky—while grilled octopus in a reduced coconut-cream base “plays nicely” with “melt-in-the-mouth” eggplant confit, perilla leaves, and crushed peanuts. Soft-shell crab is a special that “shouldn’t be passed up” and “heavenly” fried chicken wings are an “improbably hit.” But the star entree is the whole fluke featuring “sweet-flavored, pure-white flesh that contrasts wonderfully with the crackly fried exterior.” On the beverage side, there are “very good” cocktails, such as the “perfect-for-summer” prosecco and hibiscus refresher, and an affordable wine list offering “very good value.” [Tribune]

Proxi is a globally-inspired wonderland of “thoughtful dishes” that Morgan Olsen would “gladly frequent every weekend.” Chef Andrew Zimmerman delivers knockout items such as tempura elotes, clusters of “perfectly fried” sweet corn with chives, chili, lime, parmesan, and mayo drizzle. Indonesian pork jerky yields a “complicated dance of sweet and savory notes,” while “expertly cooked ruby-red” wagyu sirloin arrives as a “buried treasure trove” in a Thai salad. Save some room for dessert and the tres leches cake as well. It’s “so decadent and lovely that [Olsen] can’t imagine another morsel satisfying [her] sweet tooth in quite the same way.” Round it all out with the “dynamic and delicious” Don’t Chouette It cocktail, a play on an Aperol Spritz, and Proxi will “undoubtedly leave you wanting more.” [Time Out]

La Josie is a gourmet Mexican experience making its mark on the West Loop. Michael Nagrant finds a lot to enjoy — from “inspired” guacamole flecked with strawberry and bits of mint to the frijoles charros that “eats like a legendary campfire chili.” Tacos include tender cochinita pibil with a “sinus-clearing habanero salsa that gives you a serious high,” and “crispy, juicy” al pastor that “has a serious case” for being the best in Chicago. Head-on prawns drip a “so addictive” garlic, butter, and achiote paste-infused sazon sauce while “stellar” desserts, like the tarta vainilla chocolate, provide a “pretty elegant sugar rush.” [RedEye]

Marshall’s Landing doesn’t wow Aimee Levitt but she thinks it’s a cozy hangout inside Merchandise Mart for a midday break. Breakfast offerings are lackluster: Cheesy scrambled eggs need … “something” while lemon-blueberry-ricotta pancakes have “soggy middles.” Lunch fares better as a “good dish” of bruschetta features “plump and meaty” mushrooms, a smear of ricotta, and a squidge of balsamic. The gem salad is Levitt’s favorite though, with a “nice balance of flavor and texture” and “filling enough to qualify as a meal.” To wash it down, the Ladies Who Lunch cocktail is “refreshing and astringent, despite its awful name, thanks to a judicious use of cucumbers.” [Reader]