On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: American (New), Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, RavenswoodTues $8 Wine Flights
Wed-$5 Angus Burger, special burger creations & 1$ off Draft Beer
Thur-Free Cheese
Western (Brown)
Tue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Loading...
Fiddlehead has pretty much become my default first date location. It's never really crowded, not super expensive, and wine and cheese dates at the bar usually last just about the right length of time.
The wine selection is pretty good, and the beer selection is outstanding. I don't really know a whole lot about the cheeses but the bartender seems to be fairly well informed.
I've never eaten a real meal here even though they do offer it, but for the wine and cheese thing (a la Bin 36), I think it's perfect.
Maybe it's just that I'm kind of losing patience with the trendy and upscale sort of places that seem to spring up in, well, trendy and upscale neighborhoods like Lincoln Square and Andersonville, but I have to say that Fiddlehead Cafe underwhelmed me at brunch today. We walked into a restaurant with a lot of open tables, but it took close to half an hour for our party of eight to get seated. And for the life of me I don't know why since if anyone had actually bothered to clean off the empty tables in the front and push them together we could have been seated in ten minutes or less.
Once we did get seated, we couldn't get enough menus for everyone. Again, in a restaurant where there are a number of empty tables, and many people already have their meals, why on earth was there some kind of menu shortage? They haven't just opened or started with brunches, it's not like they didn't know they might need a bunch of them. Ditto the cups for coffee or tea. It's not like they didn't know that people might want one or the other with their brunch, but while they seemed to have a nearly limitless supply of glasses for mimosas and champagne, people at our table had to wait for cups. Not long, but there was a lag.
Once we ordered, the food came pretty quickly, but there were immediate problems. One of the folks at the table ordered smoked salmon and asked for it without onions, emphasizing that she was very, very allergic to onions. And yeah, it arrived with onions. When she sent it back she asked them to please make sure that they remade the plate because if they just picked the onions off she'd become quite sick. I think that finally got through because she seemed okay through the rest of the meal. And to the credit of the server, it really was handled quickly and politely.
Another of our number got the wrong kind of sausage, a mistake less potentially disastrous, but bespeaking a sloppiness which might have been marginally acceptable had the place been jammed, but was absolutely not this morning. And I noticed that the watercress on several of the dishes was wilted, and looked sort of funky. There's just no excuse for that. Leave it off if it doesn't look right.
I'd ordered chilaquiles, and what I got tasted okay except that I got lumps of scrambled egg, and tortilla chips that were not only still very crisp but had bonded to each other in difficult-to-cut hunks. And it was cold. I know eggs don't hold heat for very long, but I don't expect the entire dish to be cold. It was topped with some scallions, but very little crema and I didn't see any of the queso mentioned on the menu. Yet another member of our party ordered the banana pancakes and while I didn't ask, I sure didn't see any of the Nutella that was promised. She was also the only person to order pancakes, and yet we got two plates of butter and syrup. I don't know if they expected us to put it on the tortilla chips or something.
The bottom line is this: As pleasant as the service was -- and everyone was refreshingly free of the upscale 'tude you get from a lot of servers in these places -- it failed to make up for the fact that there was a lot of sloppiness about the meal. Lack of basics, wrong orders, missing ingredients, ingredients not the freshest and dishes not really well thought out or executed. I don't feel I got my money's worth, frankly.
Three stars because there was nothing seriously wrong with either the food or the service, and because I'm feeling more generous now than when I left the place.
Excellent wine list, wine flights as well as cheese flights to match. The bartender was well informed about the selections and libation/cheese offerings.
I have not had a bad bottle of wine here yet.
Oh yea- the food is good too but I'm concerned about the wine when I come here, but thats just me.
Had an awesome all out meal that included appetizers (fresh cauliflower soup, ahi tuna with… Read more »
What is the best way to warm yourself up during a snow storm???
Wine flights and Mac n Cheese from Fiddlehead Cafe!!
As a new full time resident of Chicago I am most looking forward to discovering new places. I was joined by a friend at Fiddlehead and I was in no way disappointed. The place was cozy and chic. It was a wonderful way to warm up and let me tell you I did just that!!
As previously mentioned I tried the Mac n Cheese and it was Yummy! It was a great combination of cheese, bacon, and I think bread crumbs. It is made with 3 year aged cheese that gave it a nice "kick".
I say take a group of friends and enjoy the whole experience. I know I plan to return and do just that!!
I would eat here everyday of I could brunch, lunch and dinner. The mac n cheese is awesome, the little bacon bits are a nice touch. The filet mignon sliders are crazy amazing. Get the fries. Yum. They are known for a huge and vast wine selection. They have a great wait staff attentive but not overbearing. I love you Fiddleheads.
PS. The best Sangria in Chicago. Truly. I'm so serious.
I want to go to flight school.
Let me clarify - flying would be fabulous, but I'd rather perfect a trio of reds, whites, or brews like Fiddlehead does every night of the week.
While I can't fully remember my daddy-daughter date with my father at Fiddlehead back in May (something with apple tarts and fancy beers that left me content - a solid four), I will not forget my near perfect catch-up date with a friend this Monday. Ever. Too lovely. A five.
Claire had been in France far too long - and we were also quite famished. Muse over the menu or amuse with travel tales? Time was of the essence - so we got down to business and our server (presumably the manager?) played the best sommelier assist I have seen in a long time.
Split perfectly down the middle, we opted for the French cheese plate (my favorite - St. Andre, Villefranche de Rouergue - cow's milk), grilled cheese (with bacon and candied pecans on brioche - yum), soup, and bread pudding with dried cherries and pumpkin. Our server (whose name I wish I knew), helped us put together our own trio with a red from their three primary red flights. Taking our coats, checking on us often, pairing with care - he even brought us two glasses of sparkling Moscatel to finish our meal with. The crisp, floral taste countered the warm pudding beautifully.
And this doesn't even make mention of the inviting atmosphere!
Carefully chosen lighting lightly illuminates the warm, organic space perfectly. Great for a cheese plate and glass of wine with a group or an intimate date with a love. Depending on where you sit - the busy bar, a cozy booth, a window-side table (with open windows in the summer!) - you can achieve a variety of feelings seamlessly.
A truly lovely dining experience. I look forward to visiting again.
I've only come here for brunch, so take this review for what it's worth. There are days when this place is a solid three stars. But then there are the dreaded other days (Guess which one I just had?). So, this is a perfect place for a round of good/bad/ugly.
The Good: This is a good place for basics; good eggs and bacon or sausage, great coffee and tea selections. The Future Mrs. likes her breakfast on the sweet side and loves the french toast and apples. Nice space, friendly service.
The Bad: I seem to get punished every time I try anything other than basics here. Today I decided to go for the smoked salmon, asparagus, and tomato omelet. I got a pillow of (very runny) egg whites instead with various specks of the featured ingredients.
The Ugly: These folks do some weird stuff sometimes. I think it's a lack of communication between the kitchen and the front of the house. Usually it's small stuff, but today took the cake.
So, you're a server, right? Someone tells you there not happy with the food. What do you do? Do you...
1) Apologize and comp the meal?
2) Apologize, comp the coffee but not the meal, present the bill, then inform the customer that the chef has decided to recook your meal and place it in a to-go container, thus making the unhappy customers wait for food they don't want and couldn't possible eat since they were totally skived out by the original dish?
3) Shoot the hostage?
Yeah, guess which one happened. You know it's bad when the dopey reference to Speed seems like the second-least plausible option. Our server didn't look to pleased about the whole matter, much to her credit, and let us know that the chef insisted on sending us home with more food.
Chef, what the hell was I supposed to do with more eggs?! Am I supposed to take them home and reheat them later? No. Am I supposed to eat them outside before the eggs get cold, but in 35 degree weather? No.
So, I ended up walking around Lincoln Square for ten minutes looking for homeless people. I eventually gave up and put them on a bench next to the Western stop. If you're reading this today and you're hungry, knock yourself out.
Not sure why I haven't reviewed Fiddlehead yet. Hmmm. I only ate dinner here once years ago when it was a different chef. We go in a lot for drinks and beers because their beer list is spectacular. No gettin' around it. A great bottle selection at a reasonable price, and their draft selection is expanding. I also like their little selection of noshes (blue cheese dip and homemade chips, olives, cheese platters.) We went in a few weeks back for a cocktail, and the bartender (whose name I can't remember now...Chris? Dan? Too much gin?) just got in a new bottle of Aquavit and had a little concoction in his mind he wanted to try out. We lucked out and volunteered to be his guinea pigs. Yum. Aquavit, gin, ginger syrup, bitters, orange zest. So pretty and yummy and potent. Again, this explains why I can't remember this nice gentleman's name.
Anyway, I also like the brunch a whole bunch. Great spicy bloody. Perfect poached eggs. The staff can be a little goofy I suppose, but I kinda like that. There's plenty of stale, boring stuff in Lincoln Square, so I like the relaxed feeling of Fiddlehead.
This place was quite good. I tried the Winter Wine Flight and it was pretty good. I then ordered the Salmon. It was great- cooked perfectly and all the veggies that came with it were good too. My friend got the polenta, which was also excellent. We then got the creme brule for dessert. Also very good. The service was good and the food was good, all around a pretty enjoyable Friday evening. Also, got there about 8pm and there was no wait...so that was a plus!
I'm a huge fan of their wine and cheese (and beer) selections. Brunch has always underwhelmed me there, but dinner and/or flights are always fantastic. They often use fresh, local and/or organic ingredients when they can (just ask the server) The Amish chicken was to DIE for!
We went here for brunch and loved it. The service was great and the food was even better. Their are some unique menu items that are sure to please your palette.
I've been coming here quite a bit lately, and I felt like Fiddlehead deserved an update. My friend had a birthday brunch here, and service was absolutely flawless, even though people arrived at different times and we were hanging out by the bar before we were seated. Cocktails were wonderful, and my standard brunch choice, the chilaquiles, were great as usual.
I came here for dinner for the first time last week and had a fantastic experience as well. The room was nice and dark with a candle on each table, and we got a primo spot right next to the window. I ordered the chicken special, which came topped with bacon and mushrooms with a scoop of mashed potatoes on the side. It was THE perfect fall dish. I loved it. My friend had nothing but good things to say about his steak, and we shared a hummus appetizer. Our server was very nice and professional.
I haven't dished out a five star review in a while, but Fiddlehead deserves it. I'm glad I have a place like this in the neighborhood. It's casual yet elegant, great for a date.
This is a cute, relaxed cafe, the perfect atmosphere for brunch with friends. I had never been to… Read more »
If you are looking for a nice place to sample wine and cheese, this place is for you! I've been here a couple of times and the service has always been fantastic. It's a great place to stop for a bite to eat before heading over to the Old Town School for a concert. I have ordered the Hanger steak and that was excellent. It's a nice little neighborhood spot.
De-Licious.....
I had their bbq brisket sandwich and it was exactly what I stated above. At dinner time this cafe sets an ambiance that is personal and warm. They have a huge cheese and wine selection and their prices aren't too bad. My sandwich ran about 12 bucks, and it came with fries! The portions were filling and worth the price!
I want to go back here and eat again.... I also noticed they have a 3 cheese mac and cheese... and I need to try it.... it's on my bucket list...
I totally suggest it!
We went here on Saturday night for dinner, and it was a bit of an odd sort of meal. There were some excellent parts, but some other things that kind of took things down a notch.
The good parts were:
- Grilled Cheese. This was wonderful. Aged cheddar, fontina, bacon, and spiced pecans on brioche bread. The nuts were an excellent touch I had never had before. This may be the best grilled cheese I've ever had.
- Potato chips and bleu cheese fondue. This was what chips and dip should be at all times. The chips were crispy with just the right amount of salt. The bleu cheese sauce had a little bit without being overwhelming.
- Maple ice cream. Just excellent. It was like eating Vermont.
- The service. We had two servers as our waiter was training a new waiter. They both did an excellent job. Friendly, gregarious, and knowledgeable about the food. Service was top-notch.
There were some other good things that weren't outstanding. My wife had a very good chateaubriand. The cheese selection is nice, esp. the buttermilk bleu. And the garlic-cilantro fries are a nice side dish.
Then there's the not-so-good:
- Odor. Upon being seated I noticed a weird odor. It was kind of like sewer smell. I was going to say something when the smell went away. A few times during the meal I caught it again, but it always abated before it was enough to make me move.
- Tomato-basil soup. I had high hopes, as the grilled cheese came with tomato basil soup. This was a flop. You can get better at Noodles & Company. It was kind of thin, very bland, and uninspired. As it comes with the grilled cheese see if there's any way to get something subbed in for it.
- Champagne grapefruit sorbet. This was just way too strongly flavored to where it was almost impossible to eat. Also, the texture was oddly grainy. Not recommended at all.
In general this was a nice place. I would like to try the brunch there one day. I give it three stars, but I think with proper selections it could be four.
FANTASTIC.
I've been wanting to go here for...months. I finally went last night and I am SO glad that I did.
First of all, it's a great date spot. It's got a nice modern yet cozy deco to it...very open and just felt very fun. Our waitress was super nice and helpful. I'm a mess with pairing wines with entrees, and she made excellent suggestions to both me and my date. She was also really attentive without being annoying.
I had the vegetable strudel...and WOW. I paired it with their Zinfandel and it was just delightful. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the delicious goat cheese just wrapped it all together. My date had the ratatouille stuffed chicken breast. He was really really happy with his choice too.
I would come back here in a second. Great food, wonderful service. Definitely a Lincoln Square staple.
Not bad..i'd rather go somewhere else. The food was ok not amazing. I would give it a try again .Maybe? ?
Ending note .. Prices are not in line with the mediocre food.
I am writing this review based on my first and so far only experience to Fiddlehead, but man was it a good one.
I had the grilled cheese. Now before you start throwing things at my head demanding that I'm silly for "wasting" money on something I can make at home, hear me out.
This was the grilled cheese of my dreams.
This grilled cheese was filled with bacon, candied pecans, perfectly melty-creamy-cheesy goodness....all on delightfully grilled and slightly sweet bread, and served with the light and uplifting tomato basil soup.
I tried the dishes everyone else had around the table and they weren't nearly as memorable....but my goodness. I'll be back for sure. I'm pretty much excited to have that grilled cheese in my mouth once more.
The wine flights, from what my family said, were great. The smooth operator and the french and italian wines provided a good variety of both dry, as well as semi-sweet wines. I, on the other hand, tried out the beer flight. It consisted of a light, belgian white, a hoppy pale ale, and a smooth, easy drinking stout. Needless to say, the selection of beverages was fantastic.
As for the food, we were all more than satisfied. I had the bison flank steak. The fries that accompanied this were tasty too!
Highly recommended!
Bahhhhhhhhh.
I'd been here once before, and hoping to be wooed by Fiddlehead during the second visit, the man and I gave it a try for a weekend brunch/lunch.
The first three strikes happened within approximately seven minutes of us sitting down:
Steeeeeeerike 1: The busboy managed to not actually pour water in the water glass, but in fact poured it ALL OVER the table. And he didn't notice.
Steeeeeeerike 2: Our server walks by as we're attempting to mop up the mess with our overly starched napkins and says, "Causing trouble already?" No, smart ass, your busboy is blind.
Steeeeeeerike 3: The server then proceeded to LAUGH at our order...um, since when is it professional to mock customers when they ask you for a side of fries?
Too bad the fries were good (hence the two stars as opposed to 1) but then again, I am not willing to patronize any restaurant that doesn't have basic restaurant etiquette down. If you want to be considered a higher-class establishment, hire some classy employees. Not to mention the server charged us more for our entrees AND our side o' fries than was the posted price on the menu. That's just sneaky AND lazy.
Never again, unless drugged against my will.
Fiddle me this, Batman...
A seriously healthy pour of cava brut rose...(pink, love)
A kickin' batch of garlic hummus with warm, chewy chunks o' carb...
A semi-sweet August evening...
[makes for]
A seriously perfect happy hour in Lincoln Square.
[extra points for impressive beer and wine lists AND a patio!]
This was our first visit for a while -- and had a good meal, but not exceptional. We had planned to have entres. But seeing nothing new on the menu, my wife had the cheese sandwich (an old favorite of mine) and I had the duck confit sandwich. Cheese sandwich: great. Duck confit sandwich: good duck but couldn't taste the goat cheese or the the jam that should make this special. And while you don't ever expect wonderful french fries, a good restaurant shouldn't serve soggy ones of the kind that came with my sandwich.
We also ordered some sweet potato fries; we weren't laughed at (like another reviewer), but the server said she could make no promises on this. (But she did produce them. There must be a backstory; maybe the kitchen's reluctance to make 'em. But sweet potato fries and polenta fries are a reason we came; they're crazy not to encourage such orders).
There may have been other menu changes, but the only thing we didn't recognize was their Bison Hanger steak -- maybe an attempt to get a step up from Latitude, a bar with very good food, just a block south on Lincoln. They have a dynamite hanger steak (presumably beef). While change on menus is often nothing more than a reflection of chef boredom, the lack of change can produce customer boredom.
Adding to our disappointment was that our waitress had not mentioned that they had menu specials -- but after our meal, we saw the next table with what appeared to be a wonderful calamari dish. She said not to worry, it was going on the regular menu. But had we tried and liked , or seen more variety on the menu, we might well have planned to return much sooner than we now will. (Yeah, you can detect some sour grapes in that line!)
Fiddlehead has become my favorite restaurant in Chicago. If you're looking for great food, a great staff and an enjoyable atmosphere then Fiddlehead is your place.
I've dined here on numerous occasions and every time has been fantastic. We some how manage to get the same server (Nick) nearly every time we go in, and he's always taken phenomenal care of us.
The wine list is extensive, and their specials are always good if you decide to venture off the regular menu.
Fiddlehead is a gem in Lincoln Square!
Great for brunch. Their chilaquiles are the best. Servers are attentive and friendly. On one visit the kitchen got way behind with orders but the waiter kept bringing us free drinks and could not have been more apologetic.
I would like to file this under the category: Yummers.
I came here for brunch on a gorgeous and very warm Saturday morning with three lovely ladies - Sarah B, Paige W, and Erin P. We had made a reservation, but they were not very busy so we didn't need one. We opted to sit outside despite the heat, and luckily they had some nice umbrellas to cool us off.
We started things off with some drinks, of course. I got a mimosa which was good, but not very strong at all. (Don't they know I like to have a good buzz before noon?) It was also very pulpy, which I was less than pleased about - I actually really, really hate pulp.
So the mimosas were the low point of the morning - everything else was spot on. Excellent service (our server, Marissa, was awesome), and the food - yum! I ordered biscuits and gravy, and let me tell you something - I HATE gravy. Hate it. More than I hate pulp. So I ordered theirs on the side, but when I tried it, it was actually really, really good! It's not something I would have wanted slathered all over my biscuits, so ordering it on the side to have it in small doses was a good choice on my part. (*pats self on back*) The accompanying eggs and side of bacon I ordered were fantastic and perfectly cooked. Score.
Everyone else's meals looked good, except for my fellow gal pal who ordered the Cap'n Crunch french toast. It sounded like overkill, it looked like overkill, and she confirmed that it tasted like overkill. So you might want to skip that dish, as tempting as it may sound.
Overall, a great brunch pick. A little on the pricey side, but that can be overlooked with good service and good food.
About once a week I get an email from someone asking if I know of any good restaurants in the city with nice private room for a bridal shower. In fact, I got such an email from one of my friends this morning. Yes, my life this summer so resembles the movie "27 Dresses."
And thanks to a bridal shower I attended at Fiddlehead Cafe last weekend I now have another restaurant to add to my "good private room for bridal shower" list. Oooh, I'm so going to make one of those lists on Yelp as soon as this review is written. Anyway, so yeah...Fiddlehead has a beautiful private room that seats 55 for a seated meal and 100 for a cocktail reception. It was especially nice last weekend because we were blessed with nice spring weather for a day...and were able to keep the windows open.
Fiddlehead also happens to have pretty good food. We were given a choice of a few different things and I went with their truffled eggs. YUM! And even better...the banana pancakes the bride-to-be ordered. Double Yum!
I highly recommend for any of your private party needs and I look forward to going back myself for a regular brunch/dinner experience. And now, I'm off to make that Yelp list...
Brunch update! I'm gonna go ahead and keep it at four stars, even though I really disliked my food today. The service was top-notch and my three pals' dishes looked amazing, so I can't take away stars just because I happened to not like my dish.
My gals and I had been looking forward to brunch at Fiddlehead for a while and so I stalked the online menu beforehand. The Cap'n Crunch French Toast looked intriguing so I had to try it. It was just gross (sorry Fiddlehead, but it was). It was a gooey, sugary mess on a plate. The toast was soggy in the middle and just way too sweet. Covered in peanut butter and crumbled Cap'n Crunch and then sprinkled with Crunch Berries, this was just one big plate of goo. I know french toast is supposed to be sweet but this was overkill. I was totally jealous of my girlfriends' dishes. I could only eat about one piece of the toast before I gave up.
Brunch is a bit spendy at Fiddlehead (which I dont ever mind if the food is good) so I was a bit disappointed to shell out 25 bones for a dish (plus two mimosas, which were fine) I didnt really eat.
I will go back, for sure, because everything else looked so good. I'll give it another go and order something else.
Beautiful! No, not the place itself, but the food! Wow. So good. A couple of coworkers and I decided… Read more »
I was surprised to see only 3.5 stars for this place. My husband and I are complete nerds and check the Yelp status of places while we're eating in them- maybe not always a great idea.
This place has good food- their potatoes were very flavorful and the portions were good. We had mimosas, and I'll agree with other Yelpers that they're only meh.
We have an 11 month old daughter, and the service was good- good service is important when one is dining with a toddler. (Who generally behaves so long as her food comes first and there are cute things to look at somewhere- decorative pigs will do, apparently.)
For a slightly pricey brunch with some fancy options you can't get at a greasy spoon, try Fiddlehead. The decor is easy to take, our table was quite comfortable, and the menu was unique. Not bad.
My 2nd visit came much too quickly while entertaining out-of-towners, just mere days since having brunch here recently. Like I planned we ordered the Garlic-Cilantro fries, Pancetta mac and cheese, house made chips with Blue cheese fondue and a flight of Unibroue beers. The flight consisted of 3 snifter Unibroue glasses each with 5 or 6 oz of a different flavor of Unibroue for $9. I dig it when bars & restaurants serve your beer in a glass which was made for serving that specific beer. Soon after a few rounds of Unibroue and Gumball heads I can say I have a new love which is in the form of La Fin Du Monde. The selection of beers complimented the tasty appetizers we'd ordered. Sandwiches were enjoyed on this trip as well like the BBQ brisket sandwich which was tender and served with a warm BBQ sauce which had a slight spicy taste to it. We also enjoyed the 1/2 pound Angus which is complimented well with cheese and bacon, but didn't quite win us over as much as the Pancetta mac and cheese and brisket sandwich. At this point three rounds of beers in and dessert was greatly needed; we shared the sticky toffee pudding cake which sat in toffee sauce and adorned with a dollop of London porter ice cream. Making that first cut into a freshly made cake, slicing a sliver of ice cream while and scooping up some of the warm toffee sauce, each complimented one another which culminated into a flavorful concoction; was slightly burdened with the taste of burnt from the sugary bottom. (Great care is needed when making a perfect sticky toffee pudding cake because of how easily the sugar can burn) Still, we'd had enough good food and drink not to send it back, it wasn't terribly burnt and who would know since every last bite was gone off the plate! Service again was spot on and again like last time was seated by the windows which made me us all slightly cold. I need to sit further inside next time. There will be a next time, again, soon.
Driving down Lincoln Avenue looking for a brunch spot our first stop was Bakin & Eggs which was… Read more »
Very good brunch - great selection of dishes and everything was good. Between our group of 6 we had Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup, Belgian Waffles, Pancakes, an Omelet, and French Toast. It was all very good, and they seated our group of 6 + baby very quickly.
They seem to stick all the people with kids into the side room, which is great in my opinion. We can all enjoy ourselves and not worry about bothering others if our kids cry.
In from out-of-town, we went for Saturday morning brunch. We were the first ones to sit down. Service was overall very good, if a little slow from kitchen to table (25+ min). In contrast to other reviews, our water glasses were clean and kept full -- Just sayin'.
My co-diners all got Chilaquiles, which they all enjoyed. I tried theirs and while I agree it was a nice dish, I am very glad that I departed from the trend and indulged in the Cap'n Crunch French Toast (made with brioche) & house-made chicken sausage instead. I was a little bit skeptical of the chicken sausage since I have found it kind of gamey in my experience. Undeterred by bad memories, and determined to dine out of my comfort zone in this wonderful city, I was delighted to find that in this case, the sausage was well seasoned and tasty -- Moist but not too greasy. It was definitely not pork breakfast sausage, or even a self-deceptively 'healthy' alternative, but good in its own right. I accompanied my meal with a fresh Carrot/Orange juice from the raw bar. Overall, the meal was excellent.
The vibe was cool and mellow. Nice music and comfy chairs invited us to sit and chat by the open street-side window-wall enjoying the street traffic of people walking down to the music school with guitars strapped to their backs or riding off to the courts with their tennis rackets. It was a nice casual morning in a great neighborhood. I highly recommend Fiddlehead Cafe.
Friday Night: Nico sets us up with our wine flights. Lets my husband sniff Scotch to get the right one. We close the joint. Stumble half block home.
Saturday night: Favorite wine from previous nights flight and Crowd Pleaser cheese flight. Delicious and savory. Banana cream pie tastes homemade and good.
Sunday morning: Ham and cheese scramble is the tastiest breakfast ever. Husband's grilled cheese has candied pecans in it. Yum. I have two Pomosas and he has Sangria. Advertised as best Sangria in town. A bold statement and right now true as far as I'm concerned.
I attended a rather large engagement party on Saturday and I found that this place handled it superbly. The 30+ guests were seated at exactly 6:00 and the service could have been better. We showed a little early and grabbed a drink at the bar. The wine list is pretty extensive and they have some pretty sweet beers on tap. This is a really nice looking cafe.
They started us off with their cheese appetizers, a mixed vegetable plate, and House Smoked Salmon with some kind of bread. (Sorry I suffer from CRS syndrome- can't remember shit) The standout was the different cheeses, with my favorite being the Valdeon Blue Cheese, the 3yr Cheddar and some kind of feta. I took down one of the plate myself and was wanted to take the left over Blue cheese to go, but I was denied! I was told no one wanted to smell stinky feet the rest of the night.
My favorite thing of the night was for sure the salad. Roasted Beet & Citrus Salad, Field Greens, Candied Pecans, Shaved Fennel, Blue Cheese Crouton, Champagne Vinaigrette. Holy Balls! I love me some beets and as soon as I saw this on the menu my eyes lit up. The salad did not disappoint and I will be coming back here just for this salad.
The main dish I picked was the beef tenderloin and some sort of potato that I also cannot recall. I'm sorry by the time dinner was served I was 3 glasses of wine and 3 gin and tonics deep. I remember the meat being cooked perfectly and the potatoes were tasty. I also tried the woman's salmon and it was excellent. The dessert was your basic Crème Brulee and served its purpose.
The service was excellent, as two very attentive waiters were assigned to our table. My wine glass was never empty and I was always rushed a fresh cocktail. The manager made his presence known and was always available for questions. The back party room is spacious and I really like the exposed brick look of the place. There was one little incident where a glass of wine was spilled on the woman's step dad and a punch was almost thrown, but all in all the night went on without a hitch. I look forward to coming back and trying the rest this place has to offer.
This place was really great. The food was tasty, the beerlist was expansive, lots of cheese and wine, and a really friendly server/host/bartender. I expressed interest in some of the Unibroue beers and he gave me free sample beer!
A friend and I stumbled upon this place as our first choice for brunch apparently did not want our business.
(note to self Daily Bar & Grill you suck for completely ignoring patrons)
Long story short we ended up at Fiddlehead Cafe and I'm glad we did! The difference in service was 180. And the food, simply delicious. I had the ham and cheese scramble. They use 3 yr Hooks cheddar which has a great sharp taste and goes just perfect with eggs.
Good job Fiddlehead, you saved our day!
I love you Fiddlehead!
I love you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I love you for your awesomely huge cheese and wine selection.
I love you for your wine tastings you have every couple of months.
I hate that I think I have to taste all your wines (usually 75+) and then I go home and throw up.
I hate that I no longer live down the street, and intend to go out for a walk, but instead find my way to your wonderful sidewalk patio for some wine and tasty treats.
I hate that the food and service is so good, I sometimes regret moving.
There a few things I like more than wine. In fact, I think I can count them on one hand and that short list includes cheese and bacon. Without question. Fiddlehead has this trifecta of deliciousness down pat.
Service/Atmosphere: We arrived on time for our 8:30 dinner reservation, were seated immediately at a booth (yay) with a street view (double yay for people watching Lincoln Square style). Our server greeted us quickly, she was attentive without being obnoxious for the duration of our stay, and we were greeted by the manager, as well. Overall, service was well above average.
There are only maybe 17 tables in the place, but the atmosphere is lovely. I'd request a private table when making a reservation. There's a whole row of cafeteria style tables. I, for one, and not a fan of sitting that close anyone I don't know. I just don't like people all that much, and there's that forced awkwardness of feeling like you have to acknowledge them.
Food/Drink: I love wine flights and was therefore compelled to order more than one (I went with the Crisp Whites and Interesting Whites), and ended up finding a new wine to love.
We started off with a French Cheese flight (great little nibble of 3 cheeses from their extensive cheese menu), then progressed to our meal. I started with the MIxed Green Salad (featuring bacon), but it was pretty unremarkable. Dinner for me was the Pancetta Mac and Cheese appetizer. It was so cheesy, buttery, and delicious- I could have eaten more and might consider the larger size next time I want to indulge. My husband had the Duck Club. YUM! Duck confit,, smoked duck breast, pecans, goat cheese, arugula, and cherry jam.
I'm surprised the reviews here were so mixed- I thought it was a pretty solid dining experience, and we'll definitely go back.
For our cheese flight, two wine flights, two glasses of red wine, and two dinners, we came away spending $100 with tip.
A great place for brunch! The food is always solid. The chilaquiles are excellent, so is the vegetable quiche. Coffee is good and they give it to you in BIG cups so you don't have to refill every 2 minutes! Great mimosa flights, great service every time and a great atmosphere. Have only been here for dinner once and it was also very good. About the only think I would NOT recomend is the beef brisket sandwich. This is definitely not the place for BBQ.
We came here for Saturday brunch. I'd walked past it several times and been impressed with the menu, so I decided to give it a shot. And overall? It was pretty good, although a bit overpriced.
I ordered a mimosa, which was fine, nothing special, and the Truffled Eggs. In concept, the idea was lovely: eggs scrambled with truffled goat cheese, shiitakes, and arugula, and served sandwiched between two wedges of puff pastry. However, I am disappointed again and again by restaurants that overcook their eggs. It's such a no-brainer! Any kid can do scrambled eggs right - it just takes a little attention. But these were quite rubbery.
My boyfriend had the Eggs Florentine, which looked a lot better than mine. We were both impressed by the fresh ingredients used at Fiddlehead, and the menu items were well-thought out. They just need to work on their execution a little.
One really apparent deficiency was in the service. The only staff we could discern were a hostess and a waiter, who seemed to be doubling as a bartender. For a weekend brunch crowd on a nice summer day, this place was waaaaay understaffed.
All things considered, I'd like to come back here and try dinner sometime, but for $40, that brunch left something to be desired.
Easter Sunday is a hard time to find a decent place to eat around 3pm. After an awesome game of bowling, we walked around Lincoln Square for some place to eat. Fiddlehead's was open for Brunch so we checked it out.
$19 for Easter Brunch (not bad price, IMO). Eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, salad, mac n' cheese, homemade waffles, etc. Overall, it was good. The waffles were by far the best item of the brunch offerings.
The regular menu looked interesting, but they were only serving Easter Brunch. The Host didn't really make this clear when we sat down, so we tried to ask for regular menus. He got a little snitty with us. The brunch was about to close down, so we rushed to get food and the servers didn't seem happy to see us. C'est la vie.
We decided to just do the brunch because we were too hungry to head back out in the cold to look for another place to eat.
I'd like to try this place again during regular business hours. Hopefully the service will be better.
Soup's on!
Neighborhood: Lakeview
"Bottles on a Budget"
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Tex-Mex
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: American (Traditional)
For those of you heading north of the border down…
Needing a spot to hit for that super-special meal…
I'm simply obsessed with cheese. Grilled cheese,…
good wines lists and I'd like some cheese with…
Here are some of my favorite spots in my old…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
This list is mostly for myself--so that I remember…
No, Lincoln Square isn't the same as Lincoln…
