As any true north campus student will tell you, food is a bit scarce up here. Al's Deli is a good option, but they're really only open for lunch. There's always Tomate, but even they close each day at 6 p.m. You could go get something from D&D's or Mandarin House, both open pretty late, but we're really lacking in the variety that downtown Evanston has. Of course Noyes is just one small street, but I don't think that should hinder the opportunity for good food. Luckily, we now have Dave's New Kitchen.
Dave Glatt, the owner of Dave's New Kitchen, is no rookie to the restaurant business. He was, of course, the owner of Dave's Italian Kitchen which closed last year, dismaying Evanston residents and Northwestern students alike. As the alumni we sat next to said, "it's so great to see you open again; we used to come here all the time and when it closed we were devastated." Luckily for all of us, Dave's re-opened now and it's just as great as ever.
Clearly, it's a much smaller space and endeavor than the previous, but it has its own charms. For one, the windows let in lots of natural light and let you watch passersby as they walk down Noyes. The menu, although smaller, allows for more specialization and keeps only the best dishes. The dining area is more compact, making it feel more intimate and more like home.
In fact, Dave actually invited us in like family. Not only did he allow us to go into his kitchen and watch him make a calzone, he was incredibly willing to talk for hours about wine, coffee, movies, and, of course, his business and the food that inspires him.
The food is also reminiscent of a nice home-cooked meal, which is exactly the feeling that Dave wants to recreate. His garlic bread is incredibly crave-able. It has a great crunch, is deliciously garlic-y, and when you get it baked with cheese it makes your entire meal better. Dave's has closed multiple times, and I've been forced to eat frozen garlic bread as a sad replacement.
If you're looking for a meal that can be your lunch, dinner, and your lunch again the next day, definitely go for the calzones. They are huge. Stuffed full with a nice outer crunch, these calzones are just the thing to hit the spot.
Dave's New Kitchen is a community gem and Dave Glatt is an incredible and interesting person to get to talk to. He happens to be there weekdays for lunch, so that's the most likely time to catch his ear. For awesome food past 6 p.m. with a great home-cooked vibe, visit Dave's New Kitchen.