The rooftop bar is just that -- no food is served.
Sometimes with restaurants, it’s worth it to try… try again. I was reminded of that recently at Epic.
We were decidedly underwhelmed earlier this year when we went there for dinner. So much so, that we never got around to posting a review. But it turns out that Epic has some serious happy hour chops. The cocktails are good, the available wine list is small but interesting, and the bar food is nothing to scoff at — especially the sliders and the goat cheese. Yum!
The rooftop patio at epic is a happy happy hour spot.
The true crown jewel of Epic’s happy hour though is its beautiful rooftop patio. It rivals Roof at the Whit and Vertigo at the Dana Hotel as far as comfort, surpasses both on spaciousness, and kicks The Conrad’s ass with its “city view.” My only complaint is no food is served on the rooftop — it’s drinks only. Still, the indoor lounge area is comfy and modern (and empty if you get there early enough), so it’s not a hardship to grab a bite or two down there before heading upstairs.
Happy hour was so successful that I’m tempted to give dinner at Epic another go — maybe even complete a full dining review! Regardless, I’ll be hanging out on that patio again before summer’s done. It’s a find.
Epic
112 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60654-4504
(312) 222-4940
Get directions
The wine stash that went home with Brian, the lucky winner.
I invited Chicago Foodies over for dinner Saturday night, and as we talked about all things gourmet over an aluminum tin of lasagna, we also played a fun party game.
Here’s how it works. Set a price limit and ask your guests to bring two bottles of the same wine. Open one of each bottle and blind taste test. Then rate them. The person who brings the bottle that gets the most votes wins the rest of the stash to take home! This game was simple, affordable, and a hit!
We attempted to pair our wine with the Italian meal, but next time I think I’ll ask folks to bring one verital within a specific price range for a better quality comparison. Still, it was a good time and so nice to share a meal with fellow food lovers!
Do you have any favorite dinner party games? Let us know! Leave us a comment or drop us a line on Twitter @chicagobites.
Maria Martinez-Sierra talks of all things wine and food.
Every wine has personality. And the personality of Montecillo wine is that of its maker, Maria Martinez-Sierra. We met Maria, who’s been making wine for more than 30 years, at a tasting last week and the most initially striking thing about her and her wine is their mutual approachability.
Montecillo Wines.
We sipped a variety of the winery’s line, from the 2009 Verdemar Albarino — a bright white packed with crisp, fruity flavor — to the 2001 Gran Reserva — a warm, full-bodied, elegant red (our favorite) — and I can easily picture myself serving any of it to guests on a special occasion or simply pairing it with a regular meal on a random Wednesday. That’s because the wine is affordable, ranging from $12 to $25 a bottle, and it has character. It’s not only very drinkable, but also pairs well with food.
The spicy Gazpacho paired surprisingly well with both white and red wine.
“In Spain, wine and food always go together,” Maria said, making sure we found our way to the buffet table. She made us feel right at home. And I think Montecillo will find a place in my home too, on hand in the wine rack. Certainly something to consider next time your looking for a bottle.
This was a media event and we sampled all food and wine free-of-charge.
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