This Week’s Episode: Rickshaw Republic, Retro Bistro, Takito Kitchen

Hello everyone!

This week we are featuring a French bistro, an artisanal taco restaurant, and an eatery that serves traditional Indonesian food in a vibrant setting. That’s the name of our game – diverse cuisine!

Chicago is teeming with every type of ethnic cuisine, but there are very few places that serve traditional Indonesian cuisine, which is what makes Rickshaw Republic so unique. In fact, the Indonesian Consulate brings visiting diplomats to Rickshaw Republic to dine. The cuisine of Indonesia is influenced by multiple cultures – Chinese, Indian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arab so you will see foods you are familiar with such as curries and noodle dishes. But the most notable influence is from the Dutch. Indonesian rijsttafel, a Dutch word that means “rice table,” is a feast composed of many small dishes and is a holdover from the Dutch colonization of Indonesia. For those who have visited Amsterdam, you may be familiar with this style of dining. It is a wonderful way to enjoy a large, communal meal with friends.

Food aside, Rickshaw Republic is a visual feast – decorated by designer Suhail, a restaurant designer known for bold, whimsical decor with past credits such as Tizi Melloul, Del Toro, MOD, and Sugar. Taking inspiration from the markets of Indonesia, Suhail created the feeling of being in the markets. Areas of the restaurant have clusters of umbrellas, puppets, and masks decorating the walls or hanging from the ceilings. I see this as a great first date place as the food is adventurous (giving you some insight into your date) and – if you don’t find your date that interesting – the menu and decor give plenty to chat about until you finish your meal! It’s BYOB, but they offer some fun Indonesian soft drinks.

Tune in tonight to find out more about about the family-run Rickshaw Republic, and to experience Retro Bistro and Takito Kitchen – see you then!

Cheers,
Catherine