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Categories: American (New), Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Near West SideClinton (Pink, Green)
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
"I HATE reviewing places I love because that means it just going to be harder to get a table. Best BYOB. Awesome food, reasonably priced.…" read more »
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This is just a tiny bit under a true 5 star review.
It's very sleek minimalist design in the interior, which really allows the food to be the star, as there are no other distractions. The tables are a bit tight, but I don't think this hurt the vibe, or my meal. I was eating alone, and I had the tasting menu. I was a happy, happy girl when I left.
For a tasting menu, this is a well priced option. It was 10 courses, and each was excellent. The menu as a whole was earthy, and almost freakishly balanced. Each dish made sense in it's spot on the menu order, but if you just had one, you'd be happy, and feel like every sense was satisfied. Some of the flavor combinations were very interesting, and none were in a bad way. How good was the food? I think the weakest dish was the foie gras. You heard me, of 10 courses, the most amazing thing on the planet was the weakest option! The frog legs dusted with lentil flour were amazing. The sweet corn bavorois was transcendent. The maple ice cream with the cornbread pain perdu was a perfect bite, or two or three. The wait staff was very attentive, accomodating, and they gave me perfect wine suggestions. I told them I didn't want to drink too much, but wanted to have a smart pairing. They suggested a fruitier white wine to start, and gave me a half glass of a dry white then a half glass of red to finish, which was perfect. The beef short rib with sesame gnocchi was incredible too. One bite with out the gnocchi would be very western in flavor, then with a bit of gnocchi, it becomes an Asian inspired dish. The flavors just morphed and built upon each other unlike anything I've ever tasted. My only two slight drawbacks of the entire dish were that the foie torchon I had was a bit on the salty side, and the squab was a little rare for my taste. Everything else was seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the service was phenomenal.
For an added giggle, definitely use the restrooms and peek behind the curtain. It's a fun approach to a boring room.
I recommend anyone who wants to try something enjoyable, and a little different to go here.
If you're hungry, don't come here. The presentation, plating, and quality of food is great, but I think of Blackbird as an appetizer course of a progressive dinner. You'd have to venture to another location if you really want to go to bed satisfied. I would come back here though for a full tasting.
Appetizer: Duck Liver Pate-This was good and one of the larger portions of the 3 course meal. Slightly tart and refreshing which is surprising for pate.
Entree: Grilled sturgeon-Again, this was very well presented and the service was very attentive, however the portion was very meager. a four inch slice of fish was presented on top of a few pieces of vegetables. All of the flavors came together very well but I was hesitant to take each bite as there were very few to begin with.
Dessert: Blood orange sorbet. Again, yummy, but very small.
I need to come back for a degustation.
YUMMY. A great meal during the summer!
The atmosphere was a little claustrophobic. I hate tables that are on top of one another. Aside from that, AMAZING.
Our waitress was very nice and knowledable about the dishes on the menu. The softshell crab with jalepeno was crispy and very very tasty. My pistachio gazpacho had little bits of watermelon and ahi tuna-- I HAD to try it simply out of curiosity it was OUT OF THIS WORLD!
I think I had a porkbelly entree but its been so long I can't remember---must have been decent because I'd remember if it was horrible or succulent. The dessert we picked was a homemade melon sorbet, a good way to end our meal and clean the palate.
HIGHLY recommend it for a date night! Can't wait to go back.
I'm thinking about my dinner at Blackbird and it was so freaking good that I'm getting a little verklempt, so talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: sweetbreads are neither sweet nor bread, but they are LIKE BUTTAH. Discuss.
Sweetbreads are, in fact, thymus, a fatty gland that sits above your heart. Or rather, above the hearts of the poor baby cows who let me eat their delicious, delicious, thymuses (thymi?) at Blackbird last weekend. They were perfect--lightly breaded and fried and served with golden beets and black truffles...MMMMM!!!! Thank you, baby cows, thank you so, so much.
And thank you, Blackbird staff, for being so genuinely nice and friendly and helpful. Midwestern hospitality is something that takes a little getting used to when you're expecting the large amounts of 'tude you're likely to encounter at comparable restaurants in NY. But here, even though this is the kind of place where I haven't even heard of half the ingredients (lovage? treviso? maitakes?), I am not at all condescended to, and it is such a nice feeling!
You know what else is a nice feeling? The feeling of the sturgeon amuse bouche sliding down your throat. It was incredible--I have no idea how someone can pack that much flavor and texture into a tiny two-biter, but someone did it!! I wish I had ordered a meal made entirely of amuse bouches. Instead, and somewhat unfortunately, I had the short ribs, which were only OK. They were grilled instead of braised, and I felt like not enough fat was rendered off to give it that falling apart texture that normally makes short ribs so good. Its accompaniments, cauliflower bits and sesame gnocchi, were forgettable. Disappointing, especially for $36.
However, we ended on a high note with the sweetcorn bavarois--a flan-like substance served with cornbread pain perdu, candied pecans, and bliss maple sherbet and seriously, this is one of the best desserts I have ever had EVER, and I almost never say anything like that about something that contains no chocolate. The idea to make a pain perdu out of cornbread is sheer genius, and the corn-maple combo is just out of this world.
Finally, though we were positively stuffed, the homemade hazelnut mini-Butterfingers presented with our check were too beautiful to resist. Down the hatch they went, and they were--TRULY--like buttah.
Got there at 5:45. Early dinner, but the place was empty. Had the best table and best service ever.
**ladies! They even provide purse hooks for you to use!**
Shared the Roasted Hudson Valley foie gras with warmed quince, pecan shortbread and saison sophie which was extremely decadent. The warmed quince was heavenly and paired really well with the rich and savory foie gras.
Then shared the slow-cooked Tasmanian sea trout with niagra grapes, shaved brussels sprouts, celery root and granola and the grilled prime beef short rib with cauliflower, sesame gnocchi, ground cherries and sassparilla root. Both were really tasty and cooked to perfection. Tasmanian sea trout is really rare to find outside of the Australia/New Zealand area so it was definitely a treat to have. It cooks like salmon.
The 5 of us then split 3 desserts:
sweetcorn bavarois with cornbread pain perdu, candied pecans and bliss maple sherbet - SO GOOD. this was the best thing ever.
manjari chocolate pave with black mission figs, crispy chocolate and lime salt - this was really really rich, so if you like a lot of chocolate, then this is for you. apparently it's not for me.
they also had a panna cottta that sounded amazing but was the least liked dessert within our group.
i would definitely recommend a reservation as this place was PACKED by the time we left. prepare to throw down a lot of cash, but know that it was completely worth it.
Everything about this place can be summed up by its appearance. From the exterior to the interior to the menu to the food, everything is simple, clean, has a modern flail, but not too inventive. Everything is out in the open --including the kitchen. There aren't really any hidden flavors or surprises.
I enjoyed my tasty Caseificio salad, and I probably could've eaten just that with bread if the bread wasn't so meh (yes, that is an adjective). For an entree, I ordered the Grilled california sturgeon with gold bar squash. Please learn from my mistake and STAY AWAY! They should've renamed this one "Squash with coat of fishstick-like crumbs" because that's what I was served. Two of my friends ordered the fried chicken and the wagyu beef burger-- both of which were uniquely delicious! I couldn't help but look at their dishes longingly...
Now that I know better, I'll probably be back, but I'm not in a rush.
Now here is a refined, glorious restaurant. Chef Paul Kahan knocked one out of the park with Blackbird, back in its 5 star days. A small, simple menu made with wild, subtle combinations of fresh ingredients. There's always a wonderful, ever-changing soup and several glorious salads (including a burata salad to die for). Main dishes tend to rotate, but some of the utter stars are the pork belly sandwich (soooo flavorful and melty) and a skirt steak with wonderful, ever-changing secondary elements (the smoked grapes are always divine). Dessert is a separate, small menu that changes roughly monthly, with a selection of 5 great cheeses or a few different choices - again, some rotating standards, like the milk chocolate cremeaux with kaffir lime or some other ice cream.
There have been a couple of recent changes of chefs de cuisine and pastry chefs; I feel the food's not quite the same level as when Paul stood in the kitchen himself; hence my lowering to 4 stars. I'd still drop in for lunch here any day - and of course after 3 or so, there's always the option of going next door to Avec ;-)
A wonderful, wonderful restaurant; if you haven't been, it's one of the jewels of the new Randolph dining corridor.
Something special here.
Blackbird was refreshing. From a standpoint of food alone, Blackbird sits in an elite group of restaurants that include Alinea and Tru. I visited for a special occasion recently and was very impressed. We ordered the tasting menu and were very impressed with the flavor, texture, presentation, and quality of every course. My wife and I could not decide which we preferred more - TRU or Blackbird.
Of course, a night at Blackbird will cost you less than half of one at TRU.
Blackbird waitstaff deserves special attention, because unlike their more expensive brethren, Blackbird does not have 4 waiters for every table. They have just one, and those waiters are very good. Attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable - even when the restaurant is packed.
Something I had not seen elsewhere is given the small space, you end up sitting very close to your neighbors. At Blackbird, this works surprisingly well. During our tasting menu, we met 5 different couples sitting on either side. We had interesting, vibrant conversations with strangers, something we had not expected nor experienced at any other restaurant.
Blackbird is my new Special Occasion restaurant. Far more value than its more expensive brethren, but still something special.
A gem.
came here for a late lunch, so my friend and i were the ONLY diners! decor was minimalist -- all white and very sleek. waitstaff was attentive and patient. food was outstanding!!!
we ordered the whitefish sandwich (see photo) and the lamb burger... for such an upscale restaurant, their lunch offerings were surprisingly down-to-earth, altho they still squeezed in some extra touches -- like the homemade (i think) vegetable/root chips. everything was well seasoned and balanced.. good blend of tastes and textures in my one dish: salty, crunchy, sweet, tangy and chewy.
prices weren't bad at all for lunch... next time i'm in town, i'll def be back for dinner and the full experience!
I'm sorry, i just don't get it.
The only reason i'm giving this place 3 stars is because we had a reservation on a weekend and they gave us a great table and excellent service. That aside, the food was so.....uninspired? I had the pistachio gespacho with ahi tuna and watermelon - it tasted very dry and lumpy, just not that good of a taste, i know that the ingredients were fresh, but the flavor was very whatever. I then had the 'fried' chicken entree and a drink, both of which were just as bland and unspired as the gespacho. my girlfriend had the vegetarian entree, and hers was decent, probably a 5/10. I know this place gets a lot of hype, but i think that it involves a lot more people trying to convince themselves the food is SO good ( because it's so expensive) . When it comes down to it, it's just not that good.
I'm sorry, i just don't care that much for "presentation" and awesome service if the food is not that great. It's definitely a 'seen and be seen' kind of joint, but i found myself craving some chicken wings afterwards....
Great meal overall. Excellent service, very friendly waitress with great recommendations. Environment is average.
Menu changes regularly.
Duck tartare, pork collar, and wagyu steak were all delicious. Coming from NYC this has been one of my favorite meals in Chicago so far. Definitely recommend and would return again.
They didn't have a reservation available for us at a table but said that we could get a reservation for two at the bar, so we took it. Sitting at the bar was actually quite pleasant. The restaurant was fairly small but the seating looked very close together so I think we have had more room actually sitting at the bar!
All the food was delicious and had extremely good flavors mixed together. The cheese salad is a must for an appetizer. It was one of my favorite dishes. It included incredible tasting cheese with parsnip cake, pickled green tomatoes, greens, and candied coriander. For a main dish, the turbot and the rack of lamb are definitely worth recommending.
In addition to the food being awesome, the service was good as well and we had an excellent dinner here!
Outstanding meal, start to finish. The space is nondescript, but comfortable, but it doesnt matter because the food is fresh, slow, organic, and fantastic.
The chef started us off with some kind of delicious melt-in-your-mouth raw fish, and we had great appetizers, especially the sweetbreads with shaved summer truffles and golden beets. AMAZING, While still buzzing from our apps, the waiter came over to apologize for taking so long with our entrees, along with a 'gift' from the chef of his 'crispy maryland soft shelled crab' -- something i never would have ordered-- and it was (as much as i hate using this phrase) TO DIE FOR!
The entrees now had a lot to live up to, and they did. The crispy 'fried' chicken was fresh from a local farm, and served with a smoked potato salad, the roasted lamb was color of corned beef and one of the tastiest thing i've ever had, and the waygu steak so far exceeded my expectations, i really wish i had been the one to order it. The fish was the least impressive thing at our table but it was still a great meal.
The dessert we ordered was healthy and good, but the after-dinner standout is the tea menu. I've never seen such an extensive tea menu including some 'vintages' that were over 100 a pot! While I wasnt gonna go that far, I did splurge on a $12 pot of Jasmine tea which was hands done the greatest tea i've ever had.
Full review w/ pics in blog.
Arriving 5 minutes late for our noon reservation we were greeted by a most-pleasant hostess and taken to a great table near the front of the room. Water was poured and menus were delivered - both the daily $22 prix fixe and the standard lunch menu. Almost on cue the waiter appeared at our table and stated "are you ready for the foie gras?" My sister laughed at me, typically, while I confirmed the fact. Browsing the room I was very impressed by the modern yet refined feel - the place nearly felt "casual" while the open kitchen teamed with life in back, Chef Kahan proudly working alongside his team.
Before getting into the food I will note that while professional, the service at Blackbird was invariably slow on this day due to the fact that a server had called in sick while another didn't make it to work until later in the shift - aside from delivery of dishes our waiter really never checked on us and the delay between bread and appetizer was 30 minutes, appetizer and main nearly 45 minutes, and main and dessert another 35 minutes.
Chilled cuttlefish noodles with avocado, red onion jam and puffed buttermilk was absolutely revolutionary with well poached cuttlefish cephalopods spiral-cut into "noodles" and paired with creamy avocado, sweetened red onion puree, and "crispy" buttermilk chips - a nice juxtaposition of textures, sweet and savory, brine and earth.
pan-fried sautéed veal sweetbreads with smoked potato salad and microgreens was another winner with the succulent gland melting in the mouth yet given plenty of balance by the crispy panko-style coating. Not oily in the least, salted only enough to enhance, and well paired with a creamy potato and microgreen salad with heavy hints of smoke and undertones of apple and spice.
, roasted Hudson Valley foie gras with peaches, peppers, and tomatoes was new to me - I'd never had roasted foie, only seared and terrine. The chef stated he wanted to do "something different" and if this dish was "different" then I'm all for it. Somewhat more "dry" than the standard foie, the lobe was easily cut with a knife and was perfectly prepared with no veins, strings, or discolored areas to be found. Using the acidity of the peppers and tomatoes (also roasted,) and the sweetness of the peaches (grilled,) to offset the unctuous liver proved a perfect compliment and the chef resisted more common presentations that rely on a bread of crunchy component to add texture - instead allowing the fruits and vegetables to stand on their own with the liver.
wood grilled California sturgeon with gold bar squash, cucumber, bbq onion, zucchini bread, candied olive and it once again shined. Three 1-2oz slices of fish, perfectly grilled outside and barely touched inside simply flaked apart and melted in the mouth while the mellow squash and crisp cucumber were accented by the sweetened onion. Adding texture - a "zucchini bread" that was described to us when the dishes were collected as dehydrated zucchini bread cut into croutons (I describe it as delicious) and olives as sweet as honey - unique and unexpected, but also great.
I selected the classic "croque madame" with house-cured ham, Swiss, red onion, fried egg and pommes frites simply because I couldn't pass it up when I saw it on the menu. Clearly not exactly classic given the onions and cheese selection, but quite good none the less. Less heavy that the versions with sauce Mornay at Bouchon or Butler & the Chef and although not quite as tasty, very good. The fries, an item I generally don't prefer, were on par with Keller's famous pommes and much better than Doug's raved duck-fat fries in the Chicago culinary landscape.
warm walnut cake with NY674 apples, brown butter gastrique, and fromage blanc ice cream was definitely as good as it sounded with smooth and thick slices of spicy cake well tempered by the sweet apples, creamy yet acidic gastrique, and creamy cheesecake-esque ice cream.
sweetcorn bavarois with cornbread pain perdu, pecans, maple sherbet the dish featured a sweetcorn Bavarian cream/pudding with shortbread base alongside chunks of brioche style cornbread accented with cinnamon and honey then topped with candied pecans. Alongside this amazing presentation was a sherbet that tasted like the very essence of maple syrup - I found the sherbet particularly thrilling in its texture as many maple ice creams seem too "milky" to accurately portray the maple flavor as it is traditionally seen in syrup or molasses.
Discussing the meal on the way to the game it amazed me most how much we each kept coming back to the supporting aspects of the dish as much as the main component - the zucchini croutons, the potato salad, etc - the attention to detail was truly stupendous. Service issues aside I absolutely loved the meal from top to bottom and look forward to dining Avec and the Publican on future visits.
Well, despite the frowny face 'two stars' I'm giving Blackbird, I came with a close friend and we had a good time. I had read all of the previous reviews and was really psyched for a knock my socks off, lick the plate clean meal.
Came mid-week, the hostess was super friendly. Blackbird is definitely a place to come to 'be seen', the vibe here is fairly pompous and flashy. That didn't stop us: we were starving and hurriedly ordered some cocktails and an appetizer. The drinks came right away, but we waited at least 25 minutes for the appetizer. We shared a starter that involved some greens and a mini corndog. I could've eaten a whole plate of the corndogs: hey Blackbird, I know that you're all fancy fine dining here, but how about offering a plate of those? This isn't a dish to share, there is one 'dog' per plate.
It took a solid half hour to get the main courses after the appetizer. The sturgeon was delicious, but the scallops were so-so. Although they were cooked to perfection, there was strong licorice overtones. The meal ended with the chocolate pistachio desert; it had a nice crunchy bottom layer of nuts with a smooth chocolate top which reminded me of a chocolate pots de creme.
Overall, the food was good, it's just that at that price point we expected more. If I went back, I would definitely go ahead and order the tasting. The portions are small on the regular menu as is, and by the time you order an appetizer, entree, dessert, and drink, it's almost worth it to pay a little extra for the tasting menu.
One of the greatest dining experiences that I have had in my life. The food was amazing. We went and treated ourselves to the tasting menu (with their wine pairing menu). Please keep in mind, this was a very special occasion and you are looking to pay around $150 per person for what I am reviewing.
We were treated to an 11-course meal. Standout dishes were the baby octopus and squab, both of which were the best I have ever had. The wines were all amazing, perfectly paired with each dish. By the time we had finished our meal, I was exhausted. To experience the tasting menu with the wine pairing will take you at least 3 hours. I was surprised with how full I was after the meal, and also surprised that I was fairly drunk as they gave very large "tastings" of each wine they brought out (around 5-6 glasses of different wines..and a desert wine).
I could only afford to do something like this once every 5 years. I highly recommend the tasting menu, but I think once is enough for anyone...it is an experience...not a meal. But, what an experience!!
Would love to go back and have the squab again from their entree menu.
Came here on a Thursday night, the place was packed, so definitely make reservations. Please keep in mind it's a tiny place so if you're waiting around for your table it can get pretty tight in there. We sat down and for the first 10 minutes not one person approached us and I didn't even know who the heck our waiter was going to be, that my biggest pet peeve, when no one welcomes you or introduces themselves. Now lets get to the food, for appetizer we ordered a fish soup and the endive salad, both of these dishes were amazing!!! For entree I got a Chicken dish and my husband got the Wagyu steak. I didn't think my chicken was anything special but my husband loved his food and swears it's his new favorite restaurant... I told him he was being overly dramatic!!
We also got tea and two desserts.
I'm not running back there anytime soon but would recommend for anyone to try it out.
I am happy to 'celebrate' my 200th review with a place that blew me away.
Finally!
I have been waiting for that moment for a while now - and kept complaining about my repeated disappointments to every single soul wiling to listen to me and my laments.
Now - complaining is a second nature when you are French. But still....after 8 years in this country (today precisely - happy anniversary to me) I have to work and try to infuse more American-ness in me.
Or at least get rid of the not-so-glamorous part of Le French.
$22 lunch prix-fixe (this being the glamorous part. Every time you talk about food Le French just jumps at you. Right in your face!)
I would say that the best option anybody has out there.
You get to enjoy the decor (modern and sober), service (classy and subdued but attentive) AND the food (highly refined and wonderfully executed) without the hefty dinner prices.
Un-beat-able.
The word is out there because the dining room - without being hustling and bustling - was pretty effervescent. Swish crowd, suits, steel watches and 'smart' phones.
Not entirely my type - I was there in 'dark loose fitting' pre-spray tanning clothes - but I was there for the food.
L'Oiseau noir didn't fail me:
- sunflower gaspacho, smoked sturgeon, sunflowers sprouts, chili-lime emulsion. Small portion but tasty one. Rich flavors, wonderful combination and one of the best sturgeons I have had in my life.
- slow-cooked tasmanian sea trout served with plum consomme (poured table-side). Another fish, another 'broth' but it was well worth it. I was amazed by the controlled sweetness of the plum that came out as the perfect complement to the fish. A revelation.
- local cantaloupe sorbet, with blueberries and hazelnuts. A simple dessert maybe but masterfully done. The sorbet captured the essence of the fruit so perfectly, the texture was so flawless.....a masterpiece. Really and truly.
And there was not even chocolate involved...
I also tried pork belly sandwich with cabbage slaw, Dijonnaise, summer vegetable salad and garlic frites, and the pistachio panna cotta with raspberry consomme, feuilletage and brown butter ice cream and was equally impressed.
Immaculate.
Impeccable.
Irreproachable.
Excellent service. Brilliant food pairings. Endive salad was tops, so too, the Diver Scallops. Dandelion Greens were a treat, too. Would def come again. Pricey with a group, but worth it and not pretentious.
I know this place is older than my grandma, but I love it, and I think the sommelier does an amazing job, the waitstaff is invisible and yet extremely helpful, and the food is sublime. I let our server order for me, and I wasn't disappointed. Started with some bubbly, had sweetbreads which were delicately crispy yet tender, and then fish - my dining partner had lamb and was oohing and ahhing the whole meal. We went early because we couldn't get a reservation at any other time, and it was packed by the time we left. It is difficult to stay special for this long.
Blackbird was one of the first restaurants on my list of "must tries" when I first moved to Chicago in 2006. When one of my friends came to visit from NYC, I knew this was the place I wanted to take her. I made reservations for a Friday night three weeks in advance to ensure we'd have prime seating at a reasonable hour. When we got to the restaurant the hostess and manager greeted us at the door. We requested outdoor seating and they were happy to oblige.
The first thing I noticed about Blackbird was its uber-stylish patrons. There was a waifish woman with a pixie cut hair-do and modern space-suit type mini dress on. The men were dressed in super stylish fitted trousers and of course those Prada loafers. The decor of the restaurant is certainly minimalist in style but the crowd provides just the right touch of embellishment.
My friend and I gazed at the simple menu and peered over to each other with fearful eyes. We knew this restaurant was WAY more than we could afford, so we decided to budget our dinner. We went for a bottle of white wine for a bout $46, two salads, and we split a white fish entree and shared a dessert. The server was more than happy to split our entree and was never snooty about it. Our salads were amazing and as a suprise our server brought out two full entrees. He indicated that the chef wanted us each to have our own portion - splitting the entree would do the white fish no justice. SCORE! We were completely satisfied at the end of our meal even though we knew we'd have to starve the rest of the week for what we had spent on dinner alone that night (~140 with tax and tip).
I've been to Blackbird twice more for their lunch specials. Once for the $22 prefix, and once for the $14 dollar sandwich deal. The $22 prefix is a great value and a little more than I could eat during lunch! The time I went for the $14 salad/sandwich deal, I was a little disappointed with the service. My friend and I both had the white fish sandwich - which is to DIE for. And the meal was topped off with to-go boxes filled with three donuts - which were more like profiteroles without the ice cream. We decided we wanted to stay and have coffee with our donuts and he seemed a bit...annoyed. The restaurant was nearly empty, so I didn't see what the passive aggressiveness was about. We didn't let it get to us, but if your restaurant is offering a $14 lunch special - deal with it.
Anyway, the 4 stars is just because I can't afford to go to this restauant more often! But I do plan on coming back for special occassions.
There is a continuum of duck. On one end there is mushy, tough undercooked duck, on the other greazzzy, stringy overcooked duck. In the middle lies a tiny space for succulent, tender, juicy duck breast perfection. (And aren't all truly great breasts that way?) That miniscule space is elusive, some even say that it does not exist.
Blackbird not only found that space, but owned it with their bacon smoked duck breast.
The same could be said for sturgeon-- it has the potentioal to be very tough and dry. Blackbird found that middle ground and served up lovely, lovely tender sturgeon.
The service was amazing-- very helpful and friendly without being too intrusive or too elusive!
My only complaint is that the space is a bit loud and crowded. Eh, with duck like that, who cares?
Rave reviews of Blackbird made it to me way over in Grand Rapids, Mi before I even lived in Chicagoland. It had been on my must try list for nearly two years before I had a chance to make the trip. My wonderful boyfriend tried to get us reservations for our anniversary on short notice (no, actually not his fault for the short notice! haha) just a few days before, with no luck. However, we were told to come by anyway and they may be able to seat us. It was pouring rain and we were drenched by the time we made it to the restaurant. The staff was wonderful to us. They took our coats and gave us some towels to dry off with (without so much of a "where is your umbrella, you idiot" look). They were able to find us a table even though they were booked. I wouldn't suggest trying this (make a reservation about a week in advance, if you can), but they were absolutely great.
Aside from the staff, Blackbird's food was everything I expected it to be. So so imaginative - I mean goat meat sausage corndog?? yum! The waiter suggested I try the pork collar and I was not disappointed. Everything was cooked to perfection and the flavor combinations were absolutely amazing! My tastebuds and tummy were on cloud nine.
The cocktail list was pretty imaginitive - I was happy to find rye whiskey in their Blackbird Orange (delish!). A small list of wine by the glass, which was a little disappointing, a long wine by the glass list is always a must for me (the boyfriend is not a wine drinker), however it was well chosen.
Definitely a little too pricey for us to visit often, but we were not disappointed! A last note - about the size - when I first walked in and looked at the cramped quarters in which we'd be sitting I thought that we would not feel seccluded, but it is set up in just a way that we did not feel like were were sitting at a giant family table like I feared. Very cosy actually. :)
If you like finding unique and imaginiative dinner options, this is the place for you!
This is one of my Chicago meals I keep coming back to and thinking about. I had arrived a day early before my conference, and I decided to take myself out for a nice lunch. I had read about this place on the Serious Eats Chicago Guide (http://www.seriouseats...). It was a little hard to find from the street, especially the door. The decor was lovely; large windows letting in natural light, a pleasant-looking outdoor patio, and everything inside was painted white, giving it a very clean, open feeling. Since I was dining alone and didn't have a reservation, I sat at the bar. Dining alone can be awkward, especially in an elegant atmosphere such as this, where due to the primarily business clientele, I felt underdressed; but the staff treated me well.
The wine list was primarily French, which suited both my taste and the food. The bartender was kind enough to select some wine pairings to go with my meal, which all worked very well.
I had the $22 lunch prix fixe, which included an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Even though it was only lunch, these are still some of the most memorable dishes I ate on my trip. I started with the charcuterie plate of lamb country paté and pickled lamb's tongue, with fresh ricotta-rye cannelloni, rhubarb, cocoa nibs and lovage. Of all these things, it was the lamb's tongue that is still haunting me; absolutely delicious. For my entrée, I continued with the lamb theme and got the grilled lamb tenderloin with smoked quinoa, cherry molasses and candied hazelnuts. The lamb was excellent but what really struck me most about this dish was the smoked quinoa combined with the cherry molasses. I never would have thought of smoking quinoa, but the smokiness infused it with a fantastic flavor. Finally, I finished with white chocolate mousse with kumquats, green tea struesel and cara cara sorbet. Again, a great combination. I can close my eyes and remember the crunchiness of the green tea struesel combined with the kumquat and the white chocolate mousse. I really wish I had photographed this meal; the main reason I didn't is because I felt awkward eating alone at the bar. But now that seems silly, since I would love to have the pictures to help preserve the memory. I'll just have to come here again next time I'm in town.
Loved me some BlackBird! Pretty fancy place. We took my sister in law here for her bday. had reservations and was seated quickly. Our server was excellent. very helpful and made a wonderful wine selection. the Spot on Pinor noir was so good, I must find out where to buy that for myself!
I had the chicken for dinner, it was unbelievable. the potato medley or salad it came with was full of flavors. I had a bite of my husbands pork belly. equally great, and again full of rich flavors. We split the gazpacho for an app and the watermelon mixed with the tuna and soup itself was different than any other gazpacho i have ever had.
I would recommend this place to anyone wanting a good fine dining experience.
Their $22 prix fixe weekday lunch is awesome. I came with a friend and we split everything. We started with the cuttlefish noodles and the sunflower gazpacho. I've eaten a lot of cuttlefish, but this was one of the freshest and most interesting preparations I've ever had. The sunflower gazpacho tasted exactly like if they had pureed sunflower seeds along with lots of cream. A very interesting taste though I probably wouldn't have been able to eat more than the very shallow portion provided.
We had the duck and the halibut for our entrees. I normally don't like duck because I don't like the gamy, metallic flavor, but this one had a nice smoky flavor that covered it up. The greens beneath the duck was also savory and satisfying. There were 2 little slices of juicy sausage that complemented the duck perfectly. The halibut was also seasoned very well and had a very good strawberry relish accompaniment.
Desserts were artfully presented though they didn't wow me taste-wise. The sesame sponge with tart frozen yogurt tasted a little bit like Chinese sponge cake plus Pinkberry. Not bad, just not amazing. The white chocolate mouse with some sort of fruit sorbet was better.
Portions were very small, but after 3 courses served with some complimentary bread, we were pleasantly full. Service is great. I would definitely come here again! Lunch is very affordable, dinner not so much.
(Note: Contrary to what it says on their website, you can't choose any appetizer, entree, and dessert you like. Rather, the prix fixe menu only has 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 dessert options.)
I have a confession to make: I had never been to Blackbird before today. This is a slightly scandalous admission because I'd told multiple people that I _had_ been here. I've been to Avec a few times and, I thought, if you've been to one you've been to the other.
Nope. Not even close.
This isn't to say that Avec isn't great, but Blackbird really surpassed my expectations. I got more than my money's worth, had great food and loved the setting. I'll be back. I sauntered in here for the prix fixe lunch. It's casual Friday and I was looking pretty sexy (as opposed to my usual dead sexy) in my dress shirt, fitted jeans and boots. Conscious of the way I used my walk, I was pretty confident that I would run across none sexier than I.
Nope. Not even close.
Just like that crazy lady in a commercial was falling in love...with a phone, my sexiness was upstaged by a restaurant! This place was si chic with it's all white elements and Miami vibe. _This_ was next door to Avec? Wha?? Thrown off my game by playing second fiddle to decor, I quickly got my act together when I started sipping a glass of complimentary rose'. Heeey. That's right! SOMEbody recognized the sexy up in here!! Since all was right with the world, I exhaled, took another (four) sip and ordered off the prix fixe menu. $22 for app, entree and dessert? Shut yo' mouth!! I had to have it. I ordered the cuttlefish, pork and chocolate. Order in and OCD raging, I excused myself to the mens room. I appreciated the choice of soap and/or lotion and the individual monogrammed hand towels, but I was unnerved by the ominous curtain directly behind me. Shell shocked by the incessant previews for Sorority Row, I was convinced that a hooded killer was primed to jump out and slash me for any one of a number of bad reviews.
Nope. Not even close.
But I got the h#ll outta there tout suite anyway. Note to self: never go in there at nighttime. Back at the table, my food was on its way. First course: salty cuttlefish prepared like linguini and served with a white creme and crunchy elements. Oh yes. I was halfway into it when I remembered that cuttlefish scare me. Have you ever seen one of those things? Hideous. Second course (accompanied by a Brown Ale): the pork. Wow. This pork was cooked just right (I prefer well done & sans trichinosis), seasoned wonderfully and paired with lovely accents. I devoured it before realizing not only did I NOT offer any to my companions, I hadn't said a word to anyone once I began eating. Delicious. Dessert: chocolate financiers with bourbon ice cream and apricots. I don't have to say anything else. Despite not knowing what a financier was (a banker? rich person?), I enjoyed every bite of that delightful confection.
For $22 plus beer, tax and tip, I enjoyed a shi shi lunch (perfect lunch portions) at a shi shi restaurant (definitely coming back) for Jeff Foxworthy prices. I can't believe I passed up coming to Blackbird for so long because I thought it was the same restaurant as Avec. Sorry, Avec, but...
Nope. Not even close.
I really enjoyed my experience here. Would come back more if I had the money.
Service was impeccable and attentive.
Food was absolutely delicious.
Chef even prepared a mini taster inbetween courses which was lovely.
Price is what you'd expect for a restaurant like this.
Most chefs at fine dining venues are able to cook gluten free. Blackbird is no exception. Last weekend, celebrating my girlfriend's promotion (in these tough times), I took her to eat at Blackbird. I did note to the receptionist in the phone reservation that she does have celiac disease and they were very accomodating when we arrived.
The lamest shit ever is when a place advertises they have gluten free options and it is something either totally disgusting, or an extremely small selection (like 1 dish). While most places can't exactly cater to every group that has a dietary restriction, it is really insulting and not very nice (and might I add poor business practice) to subjugate people with celiac disease to sub-par food, just so they can advertise that they have gluten free. Like the heart attack inducing meat-za at Lou Malnati's (their gluten free pizza made with sausage patty - actually my friend who seems to always be on the atkins liked it, though of course he said he could only eat 1 piece before his stomach started to reject it).
At Blackbird, we sat outside, which was very wonderful for people watching (especially facing the people waiting to get into Avec next door). The waiter was very knowledgeable about what had gluten and what did not, and basically ran down the whole menu and actually most of everything did not have gluten! And when he was explaining what had gluten and what did not, his attitude was like "oh this is no biggie," and it made my girlfriend very pleased, particularly as it made her feel normal. It is not often that celiacs can order from the main menu of a restaurant (let alone go out to a restaurant at all without risk and feeling nauseated for 2 weeks). This is a BIG DEAL for people with celiac disease.
It was funny when one of the bus boys brought us some bread and I said no need for bread. The guy looked so shocked!!!!! NO bread!?! No no bread please. I didn't really explain (happens all the time) and he walked away perplexed - that bread must have been damn good. If its as good as the bread at the Publican than I am sure he's right to be perplexed. But I know that my gf LOVED bread before she got sick, and for me to eat it and enjoy it in front of her would be torturous.
We were first served a very pleasant amuse bouche (gluten free of course), but for the main appetizer she had the mussel soup (which she devoured - I almost had to get her to stop licking the bowl). I had the quail and it was so damn good - reminded me of pigeon from the chinese restaurant. The asparagus with the interesting puree that i couldn't identify went handily with the sweet meat of the quail. For the main course, she ate the scallops and those were gone before I could spell mollusck (sic). I had the pork belly which had spinach, another very deliciuos tart puree, and there wre some fried shrimps. I didn't even bother to deshell the shrimps. I just consumed them.
The desserts were wonderful but not nearly as wondeful as the main courses and appitizers. And the drinks were damn good too (she drove home - I got drunk).
I won't say that it was the best meal of my life, as I have consumed some wonderful things in my life in restaurants, fine dining and regular dining, around the world. 4 stars for a solid performance, 5 stars for being so gluten free friendly. I will definitely return with more people with celiac disease.
My husband and I went to Blackbird to celebrate his birthday, and we could not have made a better choice. We've been to our share of fine dining establishments in Chicago, and this is now our favorite since Butter closed its doors.
We ordered the tasting menu with the wine pairings, and we loved pretty much everything on it. We will try almost anything, so we always order the tasting menu when we can. The menus change with the seasons, so there's always something new and different!
Yes, you are seated very close to other diners, and it's a bit noisy, but we found this to be a fortunate "inconvenience." We struck up conversations with three different groups of all very interesting and friendly people. We thought it was pretty cool to randomly meet fun people in a restaurant who love a good meal and good conversation as much as we do.
Great food, great service, great people. Go! You will not regret it.
Ring in this vote as 3.5 stars. I say 3 but my boyfriend says 4, so we'll split the difference. I didn't much care for either my appetizer or my entree, but he liked both of his choices.
SERVICE/ATMOSPHERE: The service was decent, we showed up 20 minutes early for our reservation, but were promptly seated anyways. Bread service was prompt, water refilled often. The waiter was a little weird though... he kept poking his head into our conversation over my shoulder scaring the crap out of me. He also gave us a little TOO much extra time when we were not yet ready with our drink orders the first time around. Cant hold that against him though since he seemed to be one of only two waiters amongst the all other staff doing who-knows-what. I had the champagne cocktail, it was pretty good.
I'll echo others' comments that the tables are too close together. The hostess had to pull our table out into the aisle for my boyfriend to slide into the booth. (Rant: this was very annoying to me... my bf is kind enough to let me usually have the booth, which was made awkward by Blackbirds need to have too many tables in a small spot. I wanted to go wash my hands in the restroom, which meant I had to take the aisle seat lest I wanted to have to move the table multiple times into the aisle to get in and out... I'm not used to feel trapped in my seat, which is what happens to you if you get the booth side)
The FOOD: I ordered the green garlic bisque to start. It was so so green... too green. If I had wanted something that tasted like wheat grass, I would've gone and gotten a shot of it at Jamba Juice. I couldn't decide if I thought the soup was outright bad, but it certainly wasn't something I would order again. My bf ordered the endive salad which he enjoyed. It comes with a crispy potato "birds nest" that they chop up for you at the table.
I ordered the Waygu steak for dinner. This was the biggest disappointment for me as it is one of my favorites. It was either cooked improperly or a cheap cut or both. Super-fatty Waygu should turn juicy and succulent if seared right, not fibrous and tough. The roasted quinoa was good, but not good enough to make up for the sad display of steak on the plate. The bf had the scallops which again were lovely. The cheese plate was also good... included some nice, local selections.
Overall, I wouldn't say that you shouldn't go here... just be prepared that some things on the menu will be much better than others.
We were a party of 4 on a Wednesday night. We did the full tasting menu with wine and cocktails throughout.
On the positive+
+ Friendly, approachable server - not pretentious, which I appreciate.
+ Table handbag hangers, nice touch.
+ Clean, simple decor
+ Tasty cocktails
+ Nice variety on the tasting menu
+ Menu highlights - cuttlefish noodles, halibut, sturgeon, lamb, wagyu beef...all perfectly cooked.
Room for Improvement -
- Too crowded, we were literally bumping elbows with the table next to us...and hearing a lot of their conversation as well.
- Noisy! You have to strain to hear your table-mates.
Side Note...Duck Tar Tar - the table was split...two in our party thought it was the best dish of the night, the other two (including myself) thought it looked like Fancy Feast cat food un-molded from the can. It had the texture of what I imagine cat food to have as well.
I would go again, but might want to try Avec or The Publican first. :)
I had a very lovely meal at Blackbird. Goat for starters, Beef short-ribs for entree, and coconut-bay leaf panna cotta with quince for dessert. The dessert wasn't great, but good... I think the bay leaf was a little strong, but I do admire the adventurous combination. The beef with gnocchi was beyond rich, but very delicious. The goat and sausage was also quite good. All that said, I probably would have given this place 4 stars for the food. The fifth star is due to some really rockin' service. We had a vegetarian at the table and our server accommodated her in every way... they remembered her vegetarianism and when they brought us an amuse, they made sure to bring a vegetarian version for her. As a former vegetarian, I can really appreciate that kind of attention. The meal was great and the service is really what took things to the next level. I'm just glad it was for a work function and didn't have to pay for anything. If I could afford it, I'd be back for sure. Some day perhaps...
It was fabulous.
Denton and I came here with his parents. There is something to be said about going out to dinner with family that is willing to treat you to a fabulous meal. And it was fabulous.
I enjoyed every course. The service was outstanding. They even give you table handbag hangers. The decor was gorgeous. The drinks were made perfectly. I have nothing but good things to say.
I hope that I'll be heading back here on a date very soon.
This place was pretty good. Quite foo foo/she she on the inside. There is a semi nude person painted on the wall of the men's room, which is shocking in some respects. The salad I had was quite tasty. The fried chicken was just ok, however. The chicken appeared to still have veins, which I felt was mildly horrifying.
Our group also ordered a number of desserts (an effort to catapult to obesity) . The Bannana Cremeaux (or whatever its called) is really good. Lets just call it a hoitee toitee french Banana's Foster.
Disappointing. Like the space, the food was not memorable. The duck I ordered was, i'm sorry to say horrible. It was smoked so heavily with hickory, that it left an awful aftertaste that was like having just smoked a cigarette.
I was surprised to talk with 2 other parties who were also very displeased. Maybe it was just an off night.
On the upside, I did love the decor.
This is a 3.5 star review.
I can appreciate Blackbird for all the raves it's gotten: fresh, seasonal, creative, execution.
Like everything reviewed that's been hyped, one can't help but go with such high expectations and sadly, not have them met. I gotta quit getting suckered like that.
We had the prix fixe, a great price for the amount by Chicago pricing standards.
Through no fault of their own, cold soups are not our preference, so I wouldn't dimiss it entirely. I wished one of us had gone for the cuttlefish noodles. But the stiffness of the waiter just made me hesitate changing my order.
The halibut was the freshest piece of catch I had ever eaten. Flaky and tender, there's none by comparison. The duck confit was neither bad nor outstanding. It's just a notch above good.
The desserts were nicely presented. Of the two options, I wish I could have more of the sesame cake, and only the sesame cake. It was so fluffy and light but full of flavor. When it appeared on my plate, I had forgotten what it was, and I thought I was presented sea cucumber for my sweets. Because they were small, I had to take tiny little bites and savor them as long as possible. If only they offer it as whole cakes to go. I'm still dreaming about it.
One caveat. I made the reservation for my birthday as I wanted to try the place for a while, and because, I'm more of the planner than he is. But the waiter assumed it was my spouse's birthday and presented the birthday dish to him instead. That's quite presumptuous.
I have never partaken in any illegal drugs in my life, yes even a doobie reefer (whatever you kids call it these days). That's if you don't count breathing in the fresh Jamaican air or taking a breath past an Amsterdam cafe. But I can only imagine this is the closest to a psychadelic experience I could encounter. Yeah, I know the people that abuse drugs are the ones that have the most interesting stories. But I value what little brain cells that I already have. So restaurants like Blackbird are my anti-drug.
So my 3 course price fixe lunch at Blackbird was my hallucinogenic trip. I haven't had all my senses titillated like that in a long time. Time just stopped... until I had to put quarters in the meter. I was savoring all these abstract colors and textures. Who would have thought strawberry preserves and A1 sauce would go together with duck tartare. Every bite was such a sensory implosion and I could hear the tater tots seducing me. My counter-intuitive logic was telling me to drown out their sinful suggestions by plugging these tots into my ears.
When the chilean sea bass with microgreens, radish, and tarragon puree arrived I had pupillary dilation, euphoria, and tachycardia. The dish had a hint of pine sol flavor and like an LSD trip, it brought me flashbacks from the time I had my appendectomy.
I was 9 yrs old, post-appendectomy, and the nurse forced me to walk down the hallway for exercise with an IV saline bag still attached to me. I begged her I wasn't feeling well and it was not a good time. I ended up booting, yaking, and hurling onto the hospital floor. And I still remember the pine sol fumes that covered up my vindictive stench as I smugly shuffled the hallway past the nurses station with my ice cream cone in one hand and a IV stand in the other.
Back to moo moo land at Blackbird. The fritters with a milk chocolate gooey center, the delicacy of the soy sorbet, and the articular texture of the sliced apricots was just harmonious euphoria.
I don't know why it took me so long to dine here! I had a lovely dinner at Blackbird last night and look forward to returning many times again.
We had 8pm reservations and were seated promptly. The restaurant is modern minimalist for sure. I tend not to like this type of decor because it is too cold and sterile for my tastes, but Blackbird seems to do a great job of contemporary decor while still maintaining warmth and comfort.
Our server brought me purse holder for the table. I immediately knew it would be a good night!
We started off with the Champagne Opportunity cocktail. It was basically a champagne cocktail... I thought it was a little too sweet, but was still delicious.
The amuse bouche was skate wing in a salty broth. It was topped with green onion and candied walnuts. Delicious.
For an appetizer, we had the grilled octopus confit with coconut-horseradish, fingerling potatoes, granny smith apples and candied black olives. Sounds good, right? Sadly, it was very disappointing. The octopus was overcooked and kind of tasted like chewy styrofoam. However, I liked the coconut horseradish and apples.
For the main course, I had the grilled California sturgeon with celery root puree, Anjou pears and sauerkraut gnocchi. It was perfect. The gnocci is actually fried... which was surprisingly good. The sturgeon went beautifully with the celery root puree and Anjou pears. It was the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
My friend had the crispy Swan Creek farm duck breast and duck leg confit with smoked cauliflower, salsify, fried chocolate and celery. It comes out pretty rare, which I like a lot, but he didn't.
We skipped dessert, but were brought mini hazelnut macarons and lychee jelly. It was a sweet ending to a delicious meal.
Service here was absolutely fantastic. It was perfect.
Also, I did peek behind the red curtain in the bathroom.
Went for lunch last week and enjoyed the 3-course lunch for $22. Some of the most beautiful presentations I have seen on a plate. Great flavor combinations.
My friend and I shared our courses:
1) celery root soup with sturgeon belly
2) Octopus confit
The soup was delicious, very smooth consistency and sturgeon was lightly seasoned. Octopus, maybe should not be done as a confit as I prefer my octopus with a "bouncy" texture rather than chewy - but the flavors were there nontheless.
Entree:
1) Braised short rib in consumme
2) Sauteed skate wing
Both entrees were delicious. At first, I wanted the short ribs in a reduction rather than a broth but decided that it was a great way to enjoy short ribs at lunch - less heavy. Super tender (onesixyblue could use a lesson from these guys!) Skatewing was done perfect! Cripsy pan fried on the outside and fork tender on the inside.
Desserts: Wow, yum. homemade sorbets.
Highly recommended for a fancy lunch or a business lunch. Service was superb!
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