Seeing Red
Enchiladas and Tequilas from Rick Bayless

Once upon a time, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.

A little while later, famed chef and TV star Rick Bayless transformed Mexican food.

At long last, you'll be able to use the first to enjoy the second. The truly stunning Red O restaurant, Bayless's first and only restaurant outside Chicago, is almost here—and the reservation lines will go live on Tuesday.

(You should probably mark your calendar now. We'll wait.)

On the day of your reservation, you'll step with awe into a huge cavern of 14-foot Mexican chandeliers, hundreds of antique bells and, not far from the bar, some leather swings. (We're not sure if this is a Chicago thing or a Mexican thing, but consider us intrigued.)

If you want a dinner-party vibe, head for the walnut and bronze communal table. Or for a bit more intimacy, find a table close to the giant garage doors, rolled up to let in some Melrose breeze. Either way, you'll bask in the wafting scents of your ceviche (served on jicama, baguette, plantain or tortilla chips), Albondigas al Chipotle and, for dessert, Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Caramel Corn and Mexican "Root Beer" Sauce.

And to keep things lively after your feast, follow a glass tunnel to the Tequila Lounge, where you can take a seat on a boulder to sample premium tequilas near a 25-foot-long fireplace and a pool of floating candles.

Just be careful.