Celeb-Rated: David Draiman, Disturbed
By Rick Florino, Editor
Chicago's Disturbed create anthemic and poignant heavy metal that has ignited arena crowds across the globe. The band's groove-heavy riffs and hooks have garnered them platinum records and numerous sold-out shows. Vocalist David Draiman also happens to be quite a food and club aficionado. He shared his favorite places to dine and relax with Citysearch.
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Fogo de Chao
661 N Lasalle St, Chicago, IL
"Definitely way at the top of the list in Chicago has to be Fogo de Chao. It's a Viking meal! You sit down, and there's a whole bunch of gauchos bringing you all different types of meat. The meat comes on sticks cut to your liking in a constant flow. They also have the most unbelievable salad bar I've ever seen and the highest level of service I've ever experienced at any restaurant anywhere." -
mk The Restaurant
868 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL
"Another place here in Chicago that I really like is called MK. It's a French, American and Asian fusion. It's really cool inside. They have a lofty vibe, and it's split-level. There are two different dining levels with a full bar and a lounge. It's kind of contemporary inside. There's a really slick vibe here. The menu also rotates from time to time." -
Blackbird
619 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL
"Blackbird is also one of my favorites here in Chicago. It's also a French, American fusion with some Asian influences in there too. I tend to gravitate towards those kinds of restaurants. They have unbelievable preparations. Donny the owner is a good buddy of mine, and he's been doing it right for quite a while. He has a number of restaurants in Chicago, but that one is my favorite of his. I love the braised beef short ribs that they have and the veal sweet bread appetizer. They do really good game, whether it's venison or other stuff like that. The menu changes from time to time too." -
Nacional 27
325 W Huron St, Chicago, IL
"There's another place that I love called Nacional 27. It's in downtown Chicago, and it features a Peruvian fusion cuisine. It's very South American, with small portions and Tapas-style servings. They have the coolest sweet potato croquet and different marinades of meat. Course after course is incredible. They have the most interesting combinations of Seviches; it's just a fantastic place if you like South American cuisine. It's unreal." -
Japonais
600 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
"Japonais is one of the slick places here. It's very vibe-y. It's got a great outdoor area in the summer time where you can eat and hang. It's got a really cool lounge and bar downstairs, which is almost club-like late night. It gets pretty crazy down there. There's definitely some sightseeing to be had. The food is just unbelievable. They do this amazing Kobe beef rib-eye. They do a great yellow-tail sashimi with jalapeno. They do this great preparation called "the Rock" with a heated rock that has pre-marinated strips of Kobe beef on top of it. They have great sushi. It's just a fantastic place." -
Papa's Cache Sabroso
2517 W Division St, Chicago, IL
"If you want to go to an old school amazing spot that's not quite so high end, there's a Puerto Rican place on Division called Papas Cache. They have unbelievable Puerto Rican food including the most amazing rotisserie-roasted chicken. Then they have "toastones," which are these amazing plantain chips sauteed in olive oil and garlic, and they're incredible. It's just an unbelievable place." -
Enclave
220 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
"Another club in Chicago is called Enclave. It's a newer club. It's been around for a couple years, and the owners are very cool. They have a very cool vibe and some great DJ's in there. It's a little more low key and a little easier to get around sometimes." -
Y
224 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL
"There's another place called Y Bar. That's the place to hit on Wednesday nights in Chicago. You can go there a couple other nights too, but that's the Wednesday spot. It's always off the hook. It's a small lounge-y place, but it's always packed with Chicago's finest women." -
Rockwell Lounge
710 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
"Rockwell just recently opened. It's also a cool little place. It's kind of lounge-y. They also do open format-style, meaning they'll go ahead and play some hip hop, but they’ll play some AC/DC and Guns 'N Roses too. That's a cool vibe. They've got go-go dancers on the bar too." -
Debonair Social Club
1575 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
"One of my favorite places to start the night in Chicago is a place called the Debonair Social Club. It's in Wicker Park. A buddy of mine is the bartender, and he's always serving up the shots and the red bull-vodkas to us to get us completely trashed early in the night so that we're good to go." -
House of Blues
329 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL
"If I'm going to see a rock show, it's usually at the House of Blues here in Chicago. It's my favorite to be honest, and I've been to all of them. It's the most ornate, and it has the best accommodations. It's really nice."
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Boa Restaurant and Lounge
8462 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
"I love BOA on Sunset. I've been going there for years. They do the best Caesar salad I've ever had in my life, and they make it tableside. Their steaks are amazing, and they're always doing something new." -
Asia de Cuba at Mondrian
8440 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
"I love Asia de Cuba in the Mondrian Hotel as well. I love their lamb preparation, and the tuna pica as an appetizer is amazing." -
Firefly
11720 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA
"In the Valley there's a place called Firefly which is wicked. It's one of those cool places in the Valley. It's also French-American, you would say. It's in Studio City on Ventura." -
Teddy's
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA
"In LA, I always end up going to Teddy's over at the Roosevelt Hotel. I love that place: good vibe, always good people and Josh is always hooking everybody up." -
Key Club
9039 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
"The Key Club is a good place to go see a rock show. Monday night's Metal Skool is always my haunt." -
Snitch
59 W 21st St, New York, NY
"There's a place in New York I like going called Snitch. It's a cool little rock club. Some of the VMA after show parties have been there. The Metal Skool guys played there once, and it was awesome." -
Opium Garden
136 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL
"There's a place in Miami called Opium Garden. I love that club. I wish there was a club like that in every city in the country. It's open-air Sodom and Gomorrah. I loved going in there every time we've gone there. We stand out so much against all of these other older guys in suits chasing all of these hot Latina girls, and it's just such a beautiful contrast. It's so vibe-y. They'll serve you sushi with bottles of champagne right there in the club. It's amazing. The hottest women I've seen in Miami are there, and that's something to be said."
