French » Chicago Bites

First look at Frog n Snail

Posted by Tammy

Apr 022012

Shrimp Carbonara

Dale Levitski’s bistro, Frog N Snail, opened for lunch in Lakeview on Friday, and I popped in over the weekend to sample the menu and take in the atmosphere. It’s a lovely space, all clean lines and textured surfaces. The space feels a little cold, but the food warms things right up.

I didn’t try too much, but what I had was flavorful and fresh. Lunch started with a homemade ricotta dip, which came rolled in bacon bits atop a broccoli puree. There were just enough toast points to eat every last, tasty bit.

Ginger Ale

Frog N Snail doesn’t have a liquor license yet, so I sipped on ginger ale, one of the specialty drinks. The tangy combination of fresh ginger and black currants was unfortunately diluted halfway through by too much ice. I wanted to enjoy that intense zing all the way to the bottom.

By the way, the mason jar has become my most hated drink cliche. You can’t drink out of the silly things, and every restaurant that wants to appear “rustic” goes straight for them. I grew up canning vegetables and making jam on the farm — we never drank from mason jars. Puh-lease.

Ratatouille Sandwich

I ordered the Ratatouille, which came in sandwich form. I wish I’d read that more closely because the combination of breading and brioche was too many carbs for one plate. Once I deconstructed it, the ratatouille went down really well. An entree of Shrimp Carbonara was infused with plenty of salty bacon and tender vegetables, and perfectly cooked shrimp. I would order it again.

I look forward to a return visit for the salads, brook trout sandwich, and steak frites. Dinner service will start soon to be followed by pastries and, of course, liquor. From this first look, I look forward to a return visit.

Frog N Snail
3124 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL

New on the scene: Prix Fixe

Posted by Tammy

Jan 312011

You can watch meal preparation in the open kitchen.

I had the chance to try Lincoln Square’s newest fine dining concept, Prix Fixe. It was their second night of service, so the timing between courses wasn’t quite right and a request for hot tea was an unexpected adventure. But what they lacked in polish, they made up for in attentive and delighted service for each customer that walked in the door. And the food? It was the best deal for the money that I’ve come across in a while.

I started with a delicate gnocchi.

As you might guess from the name, Prix Fixe serves a fixed menu — three courses with three selections for $35. If you’re not that hungry, you can split a three course meal with a dining companion for $50. They’re still in the process of obtaining a liquor license, but if you forget to bring something, there are a couple of liquor stores within walking distance. I hope they decide to keep the BYOB option.

Appetizers for our table included the potato soup and gnocchi. I thought the soup was a tad salty, but touches of roasted garlic and savory crouton made it rock. The gnocchi was a nice combination of firm, flavorful pasta and tender mushrooms served over a squash puree. Definitely worth ordering again.

A lightly seared white fish served over relish with dill sauce.

We tried juicy, roasted chicken served over an incredibly light polenta and drizzled with honey sauce. My dining companion said it was the best chicken she’d had in Chicago in a long time. I felt the same way about the white fish. Too often this fish is either bland or overcooked, but my dish was lightly crispy on the outside, moist in the center, and perfectly seasoned. The relish and dill sauce were flavorful, tangy accompaniments.

Breakfast turned dessert.

We opted out of the cheese plate for dessert because it was heavy on the bleu cheese. Instead we tried the molten lava cake with sweet cherries, topped with mint. We thought it was actually too sweet and needed something more tart for contrast. The French Toast with vanilla ice cream was more successful. The ginger sauce elevated it from a sweet breakfast item to an interesting dessert.

I want to try a few of these dishes again, but the owners plan to shift the menu around each week to keep the focus on local and seasonally available produce. We were able to walk up and get a table on a Saturday night, but don’t expect that trend to continue. Once people discover this Lincoln Square spot, you won’t be able to get into the tiny 34-seat restaurant without a reservation.

How do you feel about this restaurant concept? Plan to travel to Lincoln Square to try it? Let me know in the comments.

Prix Fixe
4835 N. Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 681-0651
On Twitter: @dineprixfixe

A Taste of Mexique

Posted by Bridget

Dec 272010

You know a meal is something when it completely overshadows turmoil with goodness. More than a year ago, on my way to Mexique for dinner, the front wheel of my wheelchair came off when I was crossing the street. It was pretty distressing as you might imagine. But once the immediate crisis was averted, and I limped three-wheeled into the restaurant with assistance, the evening became all about the food (and, I‘ll admit, wine to take off the edge)!

Since then, I’ve wondered if Mexique is keeping up its Mexican French fusion cred, and since I’d eaten recently at Sabor Saveur, which has a similar concept, my curiosity was top of mind. So when I got a new wheelchair a few weeks back, I took it out for an inaugural restaurant spin to Mextique. Appropriate, don’t you think?

My friend Alisa and I went all in for the $65 six-course tasting menu, and it was so good that we found ourselves back at Mexique a week later with more friends in tow to try additional menu items the tasting didn’t offer.

The bottom line is that everything we tried, some dishes more than once, was excellent. The food was quality, the sauces were simmered with care, and the plating was gorgeous. Sure, we had our favorites, but that’s a matter of personal preference and not a statement about the quality of what we ate. Even our friend with serious food allergies was easily accommodated and happy with her dish.

Some of our favorites on the menu included pan seared skate wing, with cauliflower, Yukon Gold potatoes, Serrano Peppers, grapes, in citrus butter sauce; herb crusted rack of lamb and coffee braised lamb shoulder barbacoa sope with sweet & spicy eggplant, and roasted garlic-milato chile essence; and stuffed chile poblano, zucchini sofrito, chihuahua cheese, spaghetti squash, and tomato fondue.

Couple the outstanding food with a small neighborhood dining room and attentive service and you have a winner. You can count on me visiting Mexique many times in the new year. Been there? Let us know what you think! Leave a comment or drop us a line on Twitter.

Mexique
1529 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
312-850-0288

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