New places in Chicago?

Bill Lundstrom

Bill Lundstrom

Bill Lundstrom
I have been to most of the places suggested here in previous threads but was wondering if there are any new ( since 2012) restaurants with our kind of wine lists and good/ great food. Looking to entertain work colleagues.

Anyone been here , http://www.kabochachicago.com/ ? Not a great wine list but it looks like a fun spot?
Are Benny's and Sepia still solid?

Thanks!
 
Bill,

Try Embeya or Brindille. I have used both for the same purpose to good result.

First I have learned of Kabocha.

I don't have anything against Sepia but after several years of patronage I'm indifferent towards it.

Benny's is of course a steakhouse, and, outside of some gems on the wine list, an unremarkable one to me. Someone told me that the guy who created that list has moved on, but I don't have any actual knowledge.

Please report back.
 
Balena has become my go to recommendation. Open about 1 year; (almost) all Italian wine list has some interesting things including the obligatory orange wines. I think the food is (mostly) great.

I went to Kabocha on opening night. It was perfectly fine, but working out some kinks. I haven't felt a need to go back.

Another thought is Vera- a Spanish restaurant very close to Kabocha. Interesting Sherry selection.

And one can drink (and eat) pretty well at Yusho in Logan Square, assuming of course, that one wants to take work colleagues up to Logan Square
 
For great food (but nice bistro style) go to Bistronomic. The 2010 Jacques Girardin Santenay Clos Rousseau 1er cru is a very nice drink.

If you go be sure to try the lentils - killer!

I also liked Rootstock very much - great list - but a neighborhood hang so not a place to entertain your boss but pals might work. Short menu, however.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm just back and ate very well at Balena, Blackbird, and Sepia. Also had two excellent lunches at Embeya.
Noise at Blackbird wasn't a problem (actually, Balena was the loudest) we were only 6 that night and were seated in the front of the restaurant. 2010 Groffier Bourgogne was drinking very well as well as 2010 Villaine Rully. Expensive though.
Honestly, if I had to pick the best dinner, I would give the nod to Sepia. Everything was delicious that night with excellent service.
Btw, Intelligentsia coffee taken at the Intelligentsia cafes may be the best coffee I have ever had.

Thanks again for the recommendations!
 
Is there anything to drink at Blackbird these days? It was always just a bottle or two that made the list for me, but the last time or two I was in, those bottles weren't on the list any more.
 
The list has been renovated to a certain degree. The last time I was there they had Clos Rougeard and Breton's Franc de Pied among others. Still not a lot of depth and, as Bill notes, you pay top dollar to drink there. Me, I prefer the corkage option.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Is there anything to drink at Blackbird these days? It was always just a bottle or two that made the list for me, but the last time or two I was in, those bottles weren't on the list any more.
Click to expand...

It's not an extensive list , but there are a a handful of good choices on there. They are just really expensive. But that's not just Blackbird, most of the places in Chicago I have been over the years are not shy with mark ups. Pinon "Argiles" at 37 was the exception. I wouldnt go to Blackbird for the wine list but with a work group and an expense account we drank very well there.
 
This is why you should go to rootstock altho i appreciate it might not have been appropriate for this outing.
 
originally posted by maureen:
This is why you should go to rootstock altho i appreciate it might not have been appropriate for this outing.
Click to expand...

Next time we are there if my wife and I can break away for a night rootstock is exactly where we would go.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:

Interesting. They're good about it?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure they're good about it in the global sense. I usually only take a single bottle for me and a dining partner, I share with the somm and usually order at least a glass off their list, and about half the time they waive the fee. I have never tested the waters with multiple bottles and a large group.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Is there anything to drink at Blackbird these days? It was always just a bottle or two that made the list for me, but the last time or two I was in, those bottles weren't on the list any more.
Click to expand...

I had a bottle of Huet Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec for my birthday a few months ago.
 
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