Last Sunday our family traveled into downtown Chicago to absorb a little of the holiday atmosphere before enjoying a great dinner at Two in the West Side neighborhood. In our favor were the not-too-chilly temperatures and dry skies, but we knew it would likely be crowded with last-minute shoppers and others like us wanting to take in the attractions downtown. One brilliant move we made was to book parking spots through ParkWhiz, a service allowing one to reserve parking spots at specific locations and for a set period of time for a prepaid (and usually lower-than-market) amount. (Check out John Wroblewski’s recent blog on this topic, as well as an earlier posting of mine on this idea.) We pulled up in front of the Burnham Hotel (a Kimpton property) where the valets whisked away our two vehicles, allowing us to proceed quickly across the street and up just one block to the Christkindlmarket,   taking over Daley Plaza every year from mid-November until just after New Year’s. We braved the challenge of huge crowds to shop the numerous stalls offering handcrafted seasonal and gift items from all over the world, using tremendous will power to not give in to the delicious aromas hovering over our heads from vendors selling stollen, bratwurst and a dozen other warm and hearty dishes. We took a quick tour past the animated window displays at Macy’s over on State Street before retuning to the Burnham to retrieve our vehicles and make our way to dinner. Two is general manager Yamandú Pérez’s second restaurant in the Chicago area, whose “second-life” décor (hence, on both counts, the name) makes for both a cozy and visually delightful dining space. Light fixtures constructed from the beaters of industrial mixers hang over the bar, wine barrel staves form the legs of bar stools, and an immense pair of gleaming wood doors with massive iron hinges (from the Field Museum) adorn one wall. When we arrived at 6 p.m., the place was fairly quiet, but by the time we left, the dining room and bar had filled up impressively, especially for a Sunday night. Residing in a neat neighborhood with repurposed buildings and old and new residences, Two seems to be both a great hangout for the locals and a draw for a wider audience. Let me note right off the bat how attentive and friendly the service was and how accommodating the staff were. They allowed my daughter to feed my grandson in the quiet and privacy of the manager’s office, which made for a much more relaxed evening for us all. The menu stresses locally sourced products and changes often with the season and availability. Chefs Tom Van Lente and Kevin Cuddihee acknowledge the inspiration of rural Midwest fare “infused with urban finesse.” They make in house all their bacon, sausage, jerky, sauces and pastas and offer up a good selection of “medium plates” which are easy to share and divide among a group of diners. With five of us ordering, we were able to select a range of dishes, finding all of them satisfying and some really fantastic. Luckily, we ordered two servings of the duck fat potato croquettes with chili aioli and parmesan (as my husband said, the most elegant ‘tater tots you’ll ever have) — a favorite of every one. The mixed greens salad,   served with ricotta fritters, homemade bacon and slivers of honey crisp apple, provided a crispy counterpoint to the creamy black truffle risotto with butter poached lobster.   I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that I would gladly return to try whatever new pops up on the menu in the spring and fall. We concluded by sharing three decadent desserts: gingerbread pudding with chocolate ganache, a chocolate brownie with homemade Nutella ice cream,   and a caramel apple cheesecake with chantilly cream. What a wonderful meal and a wonderful day in Chicago! — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor