A putty-color brick building with single door entrance is a modest façade for one of Chicago’s most acclaimed gastropubs. Inside, a main room saloon features a 20-seat wood-topped bar with gentile curve captured amongst exposed brick walls and period hardwood floors. In the center of the room are a series of 4-top tables with farmhouse chairs and ubiquitous jukebox in the corner of the room. To the rear, a more traditional dining room is a lighter color palette with exotic wood ceiling and collection of modern art prints. During better weather, a small outdoor sidewalk terrace offer outdoor seating to alleviate some of the wait-list stress given the restaurant’s strict no reservations policy.
The Food
Chef Jared Wentworth is a Chicago name you should know, presiding over the effortlessly hip Longman & Eagle with an all-day menu that satiates foodie addicts as well as the property’s 6-room hotel guests. A daytime menu offers breakfast and brunch specialties like sunny side egg hash, bananas foster French toast and crab benedict with one-hour eggs and dehydrated bacon. Lunch comes in form of a wild boar sloppy joe, Orrechiete with pork belly and Croque Madame with duck egg. Dinner is the toughest to get a table for with daily changing menu that includes seared foie gras with black pepper funnel cake, Maine lobster with trumpet mushrooms and epic pot au feu with short ribs, tenderloin and seared marrow.
Last Word
Epic Chicago gastro-pub offers all-day menu of meaty perfection with modest vegetarian options.
