On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, RavenswoodWestern (Brown)
"I enjoyed Dolce. I went on a Monday for 25 cent chicken wings and Kuya rolls. The place has a upscale feel to it and a nice addition to the…" read more »
Loading...
Get the white bean soup!!! OMG it was the BEST white bean soup I have ever had in my life! It's has this wonderfully sweet peppery taste--I could have eaten five bowls. And they put a nicely toasted and buttered slice of bread in the bowl (I think it was sourdough)--heavenly!
I also had the halibut which came with artichokes and potatoes in a balsamic glaze which was very well done. My friend ordered the homemade potato chips--a yummy appetizer for under $2! We also split the creme brulee which wasn't anything out of this world, but was good nonetheless.
Our server was very attentive and helpful and offered a lot of good suggestions. I will definitely be going back--for that white bean soup!
People thought this was:
The top 3 reasons why I love this place
1. Jambalaya
2. Jambalaya
3. Jambalaya
Did I say Jambalaya ?
I had it the first time I was there, and I have gone back twice more since then just for that.
It is perfectly seasoned, meat and the shrimp is cooked just right and for $11.95 it is a recession proof as well.
Yes I did try other dishes, Roasted corn soup was amazing, the Greek Salad was just right and the Salmon was cooked to perfection.
Love the little room, great comfort food menu, decent wine selection, attentive staff, great service and very affordable prices.
Great place, highly recommend it for a nice date, or dinner before a show at Old Town School of Folk music.
Looking forward to going back !!!!!
People thought this was:
Oh hello yum!!! I came here on a rainy cold Thursday (yes, in August. not January) and it was cozy and nice in the restaurant. I share the goat cheese/red pepper sandwich and the summer vegetable lasagna. Both had similar tastes and both were quite good!
I like how the red pepper and eggplant in the sandwich were diced up nicely as opposed to big strips. I hate when there are big strips and you look like an idiot eating them. The flavors were really good and the bread was nice and toasted. The lasagna was yummy too, the noodles cooked perfectly, with lots of layers but it was not too heavy which was nice. The lasagna also came with a huge piece of garlic bread and a little asiago toast on top. The little toast was so yummy but since I was sharing, I tried not to eat it all. The other couple we went with had a burger, which looked good and the meatloaf, which was a huge portion and looked really yummy as well!
The service was quick and nice and our waitress was sweet.
I would like to go back and try other dishes here, maybe some of the appetizers and other entrees. There was a beet salad that looked good. Basically, they used a lot of ingredients that I use-goat cheese, eggplant, red pepper, beets, bread... The prices were pretty reasonable as well.
The ambiance was cozy and nice, it was a little chilly in there as they probably had the air on but it was still a really enjoyable evening!
p.s. the women's bathroom door is really hard to open. dont worry, you arent walking in on someone (my biggest fear) just push through. also it is hard to open from the inside (another fear, ha) but again, just give it a big yank!
People thought this was:
This is a decent place for a casual date night. I had salmon with shiitake mushrooms, very good. The portion was small, but the dish was attractively presented and was well cooked. My husband had the cheeseburger and thoroughly enjoyed it. They have a good beer list, but I wasn't too keen on the wine list, the prices are a bit overinflated. Also, the women's toilet wasn't working the night I was there, not the greatest thing to have to encounter after drinking a few beers.
Service was very good and they played some great background music.
I liked this place so much that I came back here for brunch in the same weekend!
The service was top-notch. Our waiter was friendly and helpful with the dishes. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes and they were light and fluffy and delicious. My friend got the chilaquiles (sp??) and that was also wonderful!
This place is great for both brunch and dinner!
Wow. I don't know what everyone's complaining about. I thought this place was great, so much that I… Read more »
The real waitress addressed my issues and invited me back- very professional. I am excited to try it again.
People thought this was:
We ate there last night.
The decor... It feels like a place that used to be something else. It is…
Read more »
Two stars for: friendly service and good atmosphere. The rest is utterly disappointing. It's switch from Erba brought another mediocre-at-best American style restaurant into the neighborhood.
Dinner menu is bland and unmemorable. Brunch menu sounds promising (e.g. asparagus, goat cheese & red pepper scramble) but is underwhelming...that is, if the order isn't mixed up.
Yesterday's brunch for my group consisted of an undercooked burger, above-mentioned scramble - missing the goat cheese & red pepper, and greasy breakfast burrito.
Great location, but no more chances.
People thought this was:
I have stopped by this spot twice now and have been very impressed with the food on both occasions. In total, I have sampled:
goat cheese and tomato appetizer (very yummy)
some type of tasty tart appetizer (ingredients escape me at the moment)
short ribs pot roast
mac n' cheese with sun-dried tomatoes (what can I say, it says comfort food on the door and i went right for the most comfiest of foods)
roasted red pepper and lots of yummy stuff sandwich
spaghetti and meatballs (good. certainly not the best ever)
all in all I will definitely be back... and soon. The place never seems to be very packed when we get there, so I hope it picks up some business, it's a nice spot and very easy on the wallet!
People thought this was:
I just called Chelsea Grill and their phone number has been disconnected. Is this place still in business?
My girlfriend and I often see movies at the Davis so we've grabbed dinner here beforehand a few times now. I have to say I'm a bit surprised by some recent reviews. It's a small place so we usually get the same waitstaff and they're always really nice and provide great service.
We usually just stick to burgers/sandwiches and an appetizer but we've never had a problem with the way things were cooked.
Never had wine there but the beer list is decently priced and pretty eclectic given its smaller size. Overall good service, good food, good prices.
People thought this was:
"LOTS OF POTENTIAL, BUT NEEDS TO APPLY HIMSELF"
That's what I got on more than a few report cards and it's the same feedback I have for Chelsea Grill. This place has a lot of potential.
The location is good, the space is warm and inviting, and it's relatively easy on the wallet with most dishes priced around $15.
The short ribs are moist and tender, but the portion could be more generous. The pork tenderloin was cooked well, but wasn't as juicy as I would have liked (perhaps a brine would help?). Also, the waitstaff is friendly, but the wait for our food was a bit long.
If they can make some minor modifications to the food and get the kitchen to move faster, I think this place could go from good to great.
People thought this was:
We were hoping to find a nice place one night to celebrate a grad school class completion. we walked by chelsea and the menu looked tasty.
We had the fried goat cheese, turkey meatloaf and jambalaya.
Everything was tasty and I thought the portions were perfect. We were both full with no leftovers and with the entrees pretty much all under 15$, the price was right.
Cute space, service was fine.
We'd go back when we want a place just about casual.
People thought this was:
Having noticed the Chelsea Grill's new face on Lincoln Ave. a couple of months ago, I had been anticipating trying out dinner there.
The space is pretty cool--minimalist, wood, bright--and the service is friendly and laid back. Their menu isn't particularly extensive, but you can find all your fave comfort foods in one form or another for a pretty decent price. I chose the burger with pepperjack (I think?), avocado and chipotle mayo...mmm. Delicious! It's no Kuma burger, but for nine bucks? A steal.
I'd definitely try the mac 'n cheese next time...
People thought this was:
What a great place. We made reservations for 7:30pm on a Friday, and we showed up late, so our outdoor table was not available. We ended up eating inside the restuarant which was just fine.
My wife thought the restaurant smelled a little musty. I told her that I thought it was because of the age of the building -- it's a rather old building and just has a "library" smell to it. Nothing that was overbearing. We did find the temperature inside a little on the chilly side though.
For appetizers we ordered the fried calamari, which was excellent. For our main course, I ordered the Chelsea Cheeseburger with a small change, and they were able to accomodate me. My mother-in-law panko crusted chicken, and my wife ordered the grilled chicken club. Both said they enjoyed it a lot. Since my wife was trying to eat healthy, she gave me her bacon, which I found a little greasy, so I only ate one of two. (It's hard for me to say no to bacon)
Excellent service and our waitress was able to give my MIL some advice on her meal. (If she should order a side or not, which she chose not to). We will return.
People thought this was:
Trying to kill time before checking out a movie at the Davis, I walked down Lincoln and didn't want to hit my usual spots. I eyed the Chelsea Grill menu and walked in. The menu features American favorites (Meatloaf, Burgers) as well as other options that seemed lighter and different from the bars and Italian restaurants that line Lincoln Square. The prices were competitive as well.
The restaurant is casual and nicely lit. Probably seats around 30 people at the most. It is a great place for a nice dinner.
I sat at the "bar" area since I was alone. First thing I noticed was the counter was rather sticky. Being the kind of woman that has everything in her purse, I wiped it down with some wet wipes. Ain't no thang.
I ordered the Oatmeal Stout (highly recommended), the Soup of the Day (Broccoli Soup) and the Eggplant and Goat Cheese sandwich with salad. The Broccoli Soup featured a cheese crisp in the center that was a bit difficult to eat even after soaking in the soup for a few minutes. The soup was really fantastic compared to "Cream of Broccoli" type soups. It was very rich and seemed to be made of a pureed broccoli base. I was given a teaspoon to eat the soup which was strange but at least it was a spoon!
The Eggplant & Goat Cheese Sandwich was disappointing, sadly. The eggplant, roasted red pepper and zucchini had been cooked for too long. They had lost a lot of their flavor. I love goat cheese but because of the veggies not tasting like much of anything, the goat cheese was overpowering. It was on toasted white bread. The salad was very plain - it was a mixed baby greens salad tossed in vinaigrette. Good but not great.
For the soup, two beers and the sandwich, I paid around $30 with gratuity.
I am willing to give this place another try. I really want to like them because of their menu in that neighborhood. I'd say give it a shot and order something like the Meatloaf or Salmon.
Street parking is available. Bring your quarters!!!
People thought this was:
Had a somewhat accidental date night at Chelsea Grill last Friday. We were walking up Lincoln trying to decide what to eat. We picked Chelsea Grill because it shares a name with my date.
I was...whelmed. Not overwhelmed, or underwhelmed, just whelmed.
The food was decent. It was basically well-done comfort food. We split an appetizer of fried goat cheese which was basically like the best mozzarella stick you ever had...except with goat cheese instead of mozz. That was probably my favorite food of the night.
I had the short rib pot roast which was delicious, although the potatoes that came with it needed something- some extra kick, or flavor.
My date had the halibut which was good- light with a hint of lemon.
The decor was pretty simple- almost boring, and there was almost no one there. We sat outside which was nice. The tables could've used candles ambience-wise.
Our waiter was capable, and attentive, but a tad on the cold side.
As I said earlier, Chelsea Grill was very whelming.
People thought this was:
Comfortable food??? Try comfortable prices!! (Everything under $20, most under $15) ...At least during their Sunday brunch. Chelsea Grill is a chic-looking (without the pretentiousness), quaint restaurant fitting comfortably 13 tables and a three-seat mini bar. The dark stained wood with natural colored wood reside perfectly together in unison. Perfectly "American" yet up a step from an average mom's cookin' are brunch dishes like sweet potato hash with organic chicken, whopping skirt steak breakfast burrito, (not an) egg benedict, lemon ricotta pancakes...all are delectable in their own way. Don't miss out on their potato sides like french fries and hashbrowns. This is probably one of my favorite brunch places within the Lincoln Square area and everyone can find something they like. I can't speak for the dinner menu, but the brunch is spectacular.
People thought this was:
I think Chelsea grill is one of the better restaurant concepts in Lincoln Square, but there are some deficiencies that I hope they will address over time. The prices are astonishingly cheap for the ambience, which I think they have to be in order to compete with the thousand other restaurants that serve burgers in Lincoln Square. The food is a bit of a mixed bag. All of the appetizers we have had have been very very good (corn soup, calamari, beet salad w/ goat cheese), and reasonably priced. I have some reservations about the main courses though. The burgers are well thought out, served on a nice bun, with good fries, but the patty itself is about half as large as it should be. But, big bonus points for putting a fried egg on a burger. Also, the menu is well written and the beer list is short but also well devised.
I went to Chelsea Grill for Sunday brunch this past weekend with a friend. We actually had planned to go to Bistro Campagna next door, but after checking out the brunch menus in the windows of both I decided that my friend (who is a vegetarian) would have more options at Chelsea.
We both were craving eggs benedict, so she got hers without the ham and I had mine with ham. They were tasty and came with a side of fruit and potatoes. The benedict did come on toasted sourdough, which is not exactly my first choice, but it was a good.
I would like to try this place for dinner because the prices are very reasonable! Our check for brunch (2 benedicts and coffee plus refills) was $20 and some change. I will be back!
Also, parking is pretty easy if you go early enough and if not, there is ample parking at the cheap pay lot across the street.
Small and cozy in here; happily ducked in out of the rain for a tasty and reasonably priced meal. Both the atmosphere and the menu provided a nice, warm and needed respite from the outside storms.
My only criticism is that they seemed to be behind schedule for seating reservations (recommended on the weekend) because they had a group of 10-12 that were there forrrever. Your restaurant is quaint and cozy, don't turn it into a party space! (end pet peeve) But seriously, don't do this, small restaurants!
Although we were seated late, they handled it well and comped our first round of drinks. Classy, well handled and appreciated. The pot roast was delicious, and everything else on the menu looked simple, but I have to say our meals were well prepared. Add a couple of glasses of tasty microbrews, and the meal was a winner!
As a resident of Lincoln Square I was quite disappointed in myself when I realized how few restaurants I've visited in the area. So last weekend my gf and I are browsing reviews (on Yelp of course!) for a nice dinner spot on Lincoln Ave. when we run across Chelsea Grill.
Chelsea Grill advertises itself as a comfort food joint, and on a cold winter night in Chicago this sounded like the right place to be. I really loved the look and feel of the interior. Very clean and simple with dark wood accents. While the space isn't huge they do a nice job of spacing out the tables so you're not crammed in like a bunch of sardines. Now on to the food...
For apps, my gf and I decided to try the Buffalo Shrimp and the Goat Cheese. The Buffalo Shrimp had great flavor and didn't kill my taste buds with too much heat. The shrimp were paired with a mixed green salad which balanced nicely with the rich buffalo sauce and side of bleu cheese dressing. The Goat Cheese app featured two small cheese rounds, crusted (either panko or breadcrumbs) and fried, then served on tomato sauce with a side of broken-up toast for dipping. I personally like to think of this one as a fancy cheesestick =) I've had similar dishes before at various Spanish tapas restaurants, and this one was up to par. The tomato sauce worked well with the richness of the goat cheese, and the fried crust provided a nice textural change.
Being our first time here, we asked the waiter for his recommendations on dinner entrees. Being a big seafood fan, my gf had the Salmon with Citrus Butter and Potato Puree, while I went with the waiter's recommendation of the Pork Tenderloin. My gf's salmon was well cooked, although I think we've determined that neither of us are crazy about citrus butter. The Pork Tenderloin on the other hand was excellent. I usually stray away from pork dishes (unless it's bacon of course) as I worry about getting a dry piece of meat on my plate, but the tenderloin was perfectly cooked. It was moist and tender, and it worked perfectly with the panko crust and the mustard sauce. The pork is also served with a creamy, buttery side of polenta and some sauteed spinach and garlic. I'd definitely get this one again.
To finish our meal we tried the Apple Pie and it was fantastic. It had a nice balance of tart and sweet, and it went well with the accompanying side of cinnamon ice cream.
The service was good as well, and they were more than happy to let my gf sit at our table 15 minutes past our reservation while I looked for parking. Yes, parking is a challenge on the weekends so I'd recommend taking the Brown Line to the Western stop and walking a few blocks.
So let's review: we've got fried shrimp and cheese, pork, buttery polenta, and apple pie. If that doesn't sound comforting I don't know what does!
People thought this was:
Impressed. Maybe because I wasn't planning on being impressed.
First we got the fried calamari. yes, this is a cliche app, but it was perfect. The plate was HUGE and it was 7 dollars! That's like bar food price, and it was just perfect. You could definitely eat this as your entree.
We ordered the pot roast and the tenderloin. Though I didn't try the potroast, the bf said it was good. And his plate was heaping. My plate was really good. Creamy polenta? I ate that mound right away. And the tenderloin was so tasty with delicious bread crumbs and mustard seeds. yuuuummmm.
I feel like the prices were pretty good. I don't normally eat at americana places like this, so maybe I don't know the right prices. But all around 12-15 bucks for large, high quality entrees.
The only concern (though not a complaint) is that this will ruin your diet. I actually felt fatter when I left. They certainly know how to put the "comfort" (ie; butter) in comfort food. but who the hell cares?! Eat healthy most of the time, then come have a high calorie dinner.
People thought this was:
My first time last night but was thoroughly impressed!
Awesome service - the place was booked and tables were all reserved and whatnot when I got there but the owner (or a manager guy) just provided a table anyway, saying something like "i'll just figure something out." What a guy!
Food - I ordered the goat-cheese, veggie sandwich and as soon as I took a bite out of that thing, I stopped talking, my surroundings disappeared and I totally experienced a zen moment. Bread lill' bit toasted but chewy and soft, chopped veggie-cubes sauted and incredibly flavorful and just enough tangy goat-cheese to create a perfect combo of ingredients. Restaurants usually screw up veggie sandwiches big time and makes me regret that I didn't get a giant burger but not here!!
My friend had turkey meatloaf which was pretty tasty.
Interior - cozy, woodsy, cabin-like. But the bright, whitish walls created a very clean, calm feeling. It just felt so inviting and fresh in there.
And the price??? So incredibly affordable! Half of the items on the menu were under $10. Granted, not that many items, but still!
People thought this was:
I am a huge fan of Chelsea Grill. I live in the neighborhood, and I can honestly say that I'm not a huge fan of most of the restaurants in the area. Chelsea Grill is my new favorite. It's in the old Erba spot-- which always felt cramped, but the small space works perfectly with the comfort food concept.
The food is delicious: my boyfriend gets the pot roast every time. I've tried the roasted chicken, which was tender and well seasoned. The salads are also great, and even basics, like hamburgers are great.
It's really reasonably priced, the service is great, and I love the cozy ambiance. It's perfect for a winter night. They have a good beer and wine selection too!
So, if you are in the neighborhood, you should definitely give this place a try.
People thought this was:
1. I had the turkey meatloaf. It had no flavor at all. meh. the spinach as the side was completely unflavored. I also tried my friend's spaghetti: prego would have been better, and the meatballs were awful (drowned in pepper!) 2. the waitstaff were generally apathetic, although our waitress was pleasant. 3. the place has little personality to it and I doubt I'll be back there.
My husband and I live near by and decided to wait for the wait to die down before trying Chelsea Grill. We went just a few weeks ago and had a great experience.
Our food was really good, with portions that were just right. We had the goat cheese salad (yes the cheese is breaded and fried, as they offer that as an app alone) and it was a perfectly nice change from the usual. My husband had the pork chop, incredibly tender and moist. He said it was like eating a steak. And I had the short-rib pot roast. What a perfect plate for winter! The braised short ribs were just as falling-off-the-bone as they should be, and the sides were also paired very well.
As a native of the Central Coast of CA, I enjoyed seeing that a majority of the wine list was from that region. A nice touch on a very well-thought-out American menu.
People thought this was:
It was just ok. Not bad. Not great. Pleasant atmosphere but felt plain. Decent service. Reasonable prices. My biggest complaint was that everything I had tasted lemony (i.e.., olives, chopped chicken salad). Probably won't go back.
But it was gluten friendly. Server knew what did and did not have gluten.
We ate here in December, and there was only one other group in the restaurant. Granted, it was -22 degrees that night, so I'm sure we were bat-sh*t crazy to go out to eat.
Pros:
Our watiress was awesome (she'd better be if you're the only table)!
The wine was excellent...it was called Truth and it tasted like bacon.
The space was small, but tastefully decorated and cozy.
Cons:
The space was....small...and a little cold. It probably would have been better if there were more people or if the weather had been warmer.
The restaurant markets itself as upsscale comfort food, and while it was simple and decent, I was not blown away. The flavors were almost a little too bland and I can't even rememeber what I ate.
We had this incredible goat cheese appetizer (the only thing we ate that I can rightfully apply that adjective to)...but they only gave us 4 tiny squares of toast...and there is no bread service...so I ended up eating it with a fork...which was weird.
I'm not sure if I'll go back. There are so many wonderful places to eat in Lincoln Square at the same prices.
I've been here 4-5 times and I officially love it. Have not had anything I wouldn't order again and between my entree and what I've tried of other people's entrees, I've had at least half the menu.
Let's start with the menu. Every last item sounds delicious, making it a really tough choice. Few entrees are more than $15, most are in the $10-15 range. Do yourself a favor and start with the homemade potato chips. So simple, but extremely tasty.
The beer selection is good and prices are on par. Dessert - I hope you're a good decision maker.
The atmosphere is laid back, not pretentious. Love it.
This is absolutely the perfect place to take out of towners who aren't into ethnic cuisine (what a shame that is - but they exist). I don't understand how, but there is never a wait at this place either. Can't wait to try brunch here.
People thought this was:
The food here is outstanding! I had the roasted chicken and she had the rib roast and both dishes were amazingly good. The chicken was nice and juicy and flavorful. We also had the white bean soup which was wonderful. My girlfriend has had the tenderloin before and raved about it.
A couple of drawbacks would be that the wine is kind of pricey (but the food is not) and the place can get pretty loud. Bad acoustics. There were only three tables being served and one of them was one of those tables that just kept bursting out with laughter every 15 seconds and the sound of it was somehow almost amplified by the shape of the room or something. I couldn't hear anything that my girlfriend was saying most of the night.
Overall, Chelseas is a great place to eat and the food is incredibly good but bring your paycheck with you if you want to drink any wine with your meal.
This is the place formerly known as Erba, in Lincoln Square. Just as Brioso morphed into Jack Rabbit, so has Erba changed its format and menu from "Urban Italian" to casual, even family friendly and economical Chelsea Grill. Same owners. Nothing to do with either London or Lower Manhattan, having been named after a family pet, as we were told by our server.
When Doug and I walked into the joint on a Friday night, there was a whole lotta shakin' goin' on. Martooni's that is. So we felt obliged to join the few other tables and order Ketel Ones, straight up, and a little dirty. Absolutely perfect were these drinks. I had to motion from afar my joyous appreciation by sign language to the bartender.
The menu here is really inviting. There are perhaps ten appetizers/salads, and maybe the same amount of entrees. So it is not the least overwhelming and there are some interesting choices like a "breakfast pizza" with eggs bacon and potatoes on a crisp thin crust, homemade chips, and calamari for appetizers. Doug and I shared a roasted beet salad with a crispy crunchy fried round of goat cheese, and carmelized walnuts. Doug could have skipped the sweet nuts but I was OK with the sweet and savory combo. There were greens, too, with the lightest most wonderful vinaigrette. The presentation matched the flavors, as we didn't want to mess it up.
As entrees, I got the pan-seared Atlantic Salmon, which was cooked to rare and perfect;ly seasoned. It was accompanied by delicious sauteed spinach and pureed potatoes. Doug ordered the double cut, farm-raised pork chops, which were still connected to two rib bones, and which gave credence to those who insist on bones attached to their meat, and the inevitable flavor which flows from that marriage. Doug said it was one of THE best pork chops he has ever had. And I would agree, based upon my sampling of his. Thick,moist and sooo flavorful.
Meanwhile, Wilco (the big album) was filtering through the place, and the tables were filling up quickly. The busser, who appeared to be enamored with Doug, was filling water glasses incessantly (how COULD we complain about that?!), showing off his pecs, dying to tell us his role as an extra as fourth Kung Fu fighter in a 90's Jackie
Chan film, and secretly anticipating his late night foray to Touche or Jackhammer later on.
Then the music changed to Porno for Pyros, as we finished our entrees, and the excellent Sauvignon Blanc from the menu, and contemplated dessert. We settled on the bread pudding with caramel and chocolate sauce-vanilla ice cream on the side. It was superb. Of course Doug had to suggest to our server that perhaps a couple slices of bacon might really be the topper for it. (We'll see what happens with that when we return.) By now, we are hearing old Sinatra and a little Sting.
We have to address the quality of service. Notwithstanding the muscular flirtatious busser, the service was very attentive and very friendly. You feel there that anyone and everyone would do what they could to take good care of you. And we explained to our server that we had only been there once in the Erba days, That we were not at all pleased, but could not be happier for the change.
The prices are very reasonable. IIf not for the 45.00 cocktail tab, our meal would have been about $45.00 for two, plus gratuity. You could stop in for $11.95 spaghetti and meatballs, a great grilled veggie sandwich for $7.95, and it all seems very comfortable and family-friendly, too. The type of neighborhood spot I would hit up on a Friday or a Sunday for casual and flavorful food in a friendly atmosphere (do I detect a future "Check Please" submission here?) And in case you need to celebrate an anniversary, I can tell you it works for that, too.
The only distraction we had was an unpleasant neighbor/diner guy, who ate his food the way a crustacean does, plucking plankton and such from the sea floor, and rapidly feeding with both claws. We were kind of happy to leave that little Jacques Cousteau scene behind us!
Kudos to the folks at Chelsea Grille on a successful re-invention!
People thought this was:
Great little place with the best turkey meatloaf I have had in a long time!
Wine list was also good and the service was attentive and friendly.
We'll be back!
My husband and I went to Chelsea Grill on Saturday night - the day it snowed all day! It was the perfect choice for the cold, wet day...all the food is classy yet comfortable. Everything we ordered was really good.
We had the buffalo shrimp which was out of this world amazing....but I'm seriously obsessed with anything buffalo so I might be a bit biased.... We also had the goat cheese which was fried into 2 round balls - kind of like croquettes. Very excellent - served in chunky marinara with crispy crostini pieces. I had the salmon with mashed potatoes. The salmon was cooked to perfection and had a citrus butter. My husband had turkey meatloaf that was served with a sweet potato gratin. He said the meatloaf needed sauce but otherwise it was really good. The sweet potato gratin was really good - very buttery.
The restaurant is extremely (1 room) but a perfect match for their home-style menu. The service was very friendly and accommodating. We felt welcome and had a great time.
Okay, a return to "Homestyle" cooking for somber times. But "homestyle" that is just a bit trendied up ended up tasting worse than cooking cooked at home, and laying a bigger tab than other, better, kitchens on the block.
Sorry.
Have walked past this place a few times and the main dining room has always been empty which immediately makes me feel completely depressed for the owners. They have an outdoor area and I figured why not take the chance? Perhaps there would actually be paople in the back! There were! Not many, but a few tables. Made me feel better for the owners. I really wanted to love the food, but must say that it was just OK. I will definitely be back though. The service was great and friendly and the prices are very reasonable. They have a good selection of beers and you don't have to fight to get a table outside. Had the short rib pot roast and it wasn't my favorite but I can't say that it was bad either. It was a little bit too heavy for me, but perhaps I should have anticipated that. My girlfriend had a burger and it just wasn't anything special, but not bad either. Hopefully next time we will have better luck with our entrees. I hope business picks up!!!
People thought this was:
Honestly, i can't tell you the last time i walked out of a restaurant so satisfied. This restaurant is so unassuming. Just this little nook of a place. I'll admit, i've only been here once and that's the only reason why i gave it 4 stars instead of 5. The short rib pot roast was perfection. just the right amount of fat and melts in you mouth. I went with a friend and we shared a salad, each had an app., an entree, a glass of wine, coffee and shared a dessert (which by the way was this crazy delicious chocolate brownie with ice cream) for 70.00, plus tip. They take these really basic dishes and they make them really well. what a novel concept in this world of frothy parsnips and altoid foie gras. I'll be back.
People thought this was:
I think elevated comfort food is a smart concept for Lincoln Square. I have seen too many people try to compete with Pizza DOC and with Bocca della Verita, only to shut down soon enough. It's always a great thing when a new concept arrives here.
I had the burger with the option of cheddar, bacon, and a fried egg. Now, this is not as good as Kuma's version of this (nobody is ever going to top that), but I pay less here, I don't have to wait forever, and I don't have to get in the car and drive. Still, it was a very good burger, and the price is definitely right. My wife really enjoyed her veggie lasagna, also. When it is colder outside, I will try their pot roast, as I keep hearing good things about it.
They have two pinot noir selections, one from Oregon, and another from Santa Maria CA which costs an extra $2 a glass. I asked the waitress which one was better. She offered to let me try them both, which always scores points in my book. I was glad to find out that I preferred the cheaper one from Oregon after my little blind test.
Nothing really jumped out on the dessert menu, but that's probably because I was pretty full after my meal.
All in all, this place is very unpretentious and we'll hopefully walk on over a few times this summer.
We stumbled into this pretty-new restaurant at about 9 on a Friday. It was perfect!
The atmosphere is simple and calm. We wanted the cheapest bottle of Pinot but they were out so they gave us a better one for the cheap price (so nice!). We ordered the $1.95 basket of fresh potato chips (salty, crunchy and divine) and the breakfast pizza for appetizers. The breakfast pizza is really a marvel - crunchy pizza crust, thin-sliced potatoes, bacon and two eggs fried in the middle. Wow! It was really delicious and a different twist on standard foods.
For entrees we ordered the macaroni-and-cheeses and the white bean chicken chili. The mac and cheese was awesome (and it's nearly as awesome if you eat some leftover the next day) - a little casserole just for you - crunchy top, cheesy but not too cheesy, perfect. The chicken chili was warm-your-tummy delightful and full of really good chicken, carrots and beans.
Everything we had sounds incredibly simple - and it was. But it was also really well-done, interesting and it did not at all feel like you were at a dinner or Applebees.
Chelsea Grill is just a fun spot to go - with friends, on a date, by yourself, anything. Try it! It's wonderful!
I feel a little bad going down to 3 stars here because I really had a pretty decent experience at Chelsea Grill.
I went for dinner with my fiance on a Friday night. We had reservations and were seated immediately. the service was great, and they had a very good beer selection. It's also a very attractive, laid-back space, and they were playing my kind of music.
it's the food that's the issue here. Maybe it's that I just need to stay away from comfort-food themed places, but I felt like everything on the menu I could have made at home pretty easily, and most of it lacked any kind of special touch to put it over the top (at least, none that I saw on the menu).
I had a burger with cheddar, bacon, and fried egg. It's served on a brioche-type bun. It was actually a really good burger -- nothing special, since it's hard to go wrong with these ingredients. It was overcooked, which would turn out to be a theme.
I asked for sweet potato fries which were disappointing because they were 100% limp and soggy. Maybe their oil wasn't hot enough? I was really looking forward to these and they were not good.
My fiance had the citrus-encrusted salmon. It was over-cooked, which to me is a mortal sin when serving salmon. it was served with some decent mashed potatoes and some blah spinach. It's a meal I could have made at home with about 20 minutes of work, and probably would not have overcooked the fish.
So, I loved the space and the service was great. If they could improve the menu, I'd definitely be back, but as it is I think they are serving one-step-above bar level food. I love bar food as much as anybody, but it's not what I'm looking for on the weekend for dinner.
We ended up stumbling in on our way to the place next door. The menu was posted in the window, and it looked like it was worth a try. The service and food were both great...I had the salad w/beets and goat cheese (fried, yum!) it was really delicious. I also had the mac n cheese, which is better (and cheaper) than at B.C. next door:) My husband had a burger that was cooked properly (harder to come by than you'd expect) and good fries. Great portion size for the price on the entrees and salad! We had wine and beer- nice selection of both- but no desert. I will definitely go back.
People thought this was:
1/2 off bottles of wine
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Specialty Dogs
Lincolnwood, IL
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Tex-Mex
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: American (Traditional)
Call it an urban thing, or a lazy thing but brunch…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Two brown line stops from Western? Of course I'll…
