Trip date: June 2025
Besides all of the amazing James Beard events I attended in Chicago, I had my own list of places I wanted to check out while in town. I didn't get to as many as I wanted but the one's I did were all fantastic!
The Loyalist had been on my list for years, and now that I've finally had a chance to go, I don't know if I will ever not be able to go when in town! Owned by the same folks at 3-Michelin star Smyth next door, this was the most delicious and elevated "tavern food" I have ever had!
My friend Amy and I were lucky to sit in front of bartender Chris Martin and after peppering him with questions about practically every drink on the menu, I landed on one with mezcal, apple brandy, housemade apple horchata and lime. Amy decided on the "carrot cake in a glass" with pecan rum, cachaca, carrot, ginger, and cream cheese. Both were ridiculously good!
Chris kept us in minis of drinks he was making for others or testing out. And since we were too full for dessert he served us the Toxic Avenger, a frozen tiki-ish drink of mezcal, Chartreuse, grapes, cucumber, sage, mint, and pineapple.
Honestly, I can not recommend The Loyalist enough!
My friend Frank, who was also in town, snagged us reservations at Chef Achatz's FIRE one night. It just also happened to be one of their last nights due to the building being redeveloped or something. I had been in this space years ago when it was the Roister and it was funny that even the chairs were the same!
Our dinner was fantastic! 8-courses, every dish touched by the live fire that we sat in front of at the pass.
Everything was excellent but for me the standouts were:
-Horseradish and shiro cured scallop which was seared over charcoal and finished with shirodashi butter. Crazy good and I generally find scallop to be very boring.
-Cast ironed maitake mushroom with blacken cucumber and their own take on kimchi. And yes, they really ironed the mushroom right in front of us!
-Fig lacquered duck with wild berries, fermented rhubarb and charred mole.
I have to say that not only was each dish pretty perfect, the service was incredible, especially considering that they were working their last days. The team was going out on a high note for sure!
Across the street is the absolutely wonderful cocktail bar Bisous. They don't take reservations but the queue on Saturday night moved pretty quickly and I ended up meeting some great folks in line who invited me to share their table.
My new friends were interested in trying lots of drinks from the menu and also wanted the caviar and chips! Our table was loaded with fantastic cocktails and snacks, it was a very fun evening! Bisous was voted #39 in the North America 50 Best this year, I won't be surprised to see it receive more honors.
Kumiko was on my list as it it was voted #10 on the North America 50 Best and was also up for the Outstanding Bar award at the James Beard Awards. Spoiler alert, they won!
I really loved both my dinner and my drinks here! The only negative is that with so many choices I felt like I was leaving a lot on the table! Obviously this spot deserves some repeat visits.
After I checked out of my hotel, I met an old colleague of mine at RL Chicago for lunch. RL is not on any awards lists but if you love a restaurant that looks like you are in the sitting room of some swanky mansion, and boasts a menu that feels straight out of the early 90's, then you will enjoy RL as much as I do.
Caesar salad is always my go-to corporate restaurant lunch order, but at RL you can add lobster to it. Cuz that's the way RL (and I) roll!
All photos here.
Previous post from this trip: 2025 James Beard Awards in Chicago
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