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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
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Perennial is absolutely divine. From the chic interior that's reminiscent of an indoor/outdoor tent to the tasty flat bread to the wine to the every dish we had! First of all we ordered way too much food so I'm not going to go into detail about every dish. Some highlights: the risotto with pumpkin seeds, the apple and turnip soup (though very rich, consider sharing), absolutely delicious striped bass in coconut mussel broth, and the berry custard ice cream thingie.
Go!
My brunch "club" hit up this spot this week, mostly because it is a three minute walk from my house. Somehow this turned into an epic three hour brunch, I'm not really sure how that happened. I think the restaurant workers thought we might never leave. We also tried to sneak into the abandoned, never going to open hotel that the restaurant shares a building with afterwards but we were shut down by security. Security also claims that there was never a body found in the garbage shoot when they started renovating the hotel but I am going to not believe them and still keep thinking that happened.
Someone is always late to brunch, for some reason 10ish adults can never be counted on to get to someplace at a certain time on Sunday. The on time people ended up in the bar area waiting and we decided to get drinks. The bloody marys here are gorgeous. They also serve them with a little bottle of Miller High Life. We are still not sure why, maybe because it is the champagne of beers and this is a classy place.
I had the pork belly omelette. This was a risky choice on my part because I'm not a big fan of pork but I wanted to try something different and I've had pork belly in the past that I thought was really good. Honestly, the omelette was a fail for me. It seemed overcooked and what little pork belly there was in it did not taste that good to me. I'm just going to chalk this up to ordering the wrong thing. The curry potatoes they served it with were amazing.
They also have the best coffee in the world at this restaurant, I think the brand is called Illy? I've never heard of that but it is some good stuff.
One of my friends brought his 12 year old son to brunch. This kid is about the coolest person I know. However, it is kind of funny being around a 12 year old and realizing 0 percent of what I talk about is kid friendly. As the kid explained to me however, he already knows about everything (with the internet, he might) so we shouldn't worry about censuring ourselves.
Service was great and I also love the music they have here. It's a little loud for brunch but also puts you in a good mood.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why everyone in my hood lines up around the block for Nookies and doesn't come to Perennial. The food for brunch is the same cost, the food at Perennial is better (they also are huge fans of Green City Market and get a lot of their produce from there, I can guarantee Nookies does not) and there was NO wait at Perennial. Old Town peeps, I highly suggest you give Perennial a chance. Just don't get the pork belly omelette.
File under "Wanted to Like (but...)".
I support our food community whole heartedly, usually without question and sometimes without suffering for it. Perennial however, kiiiiinda let me down.
Brunch for four on a gorgeous fall day consisted of a delicious duck confit tart with truffle oil (note to self: bathe in truffle oil before death), crab cake benedict, a burger, an order of biscuits and gravy to split, side of potatoes, side of bacon, and the pork belly hash. Of all these, the duck confit tart and biscuits and gravy were the ones to beat. All others received the shrug vote from the table.
The bacon was delicious. Smokey, well-prepared and while the strips were all broken in half were a good split between two people. More than that and you'd have to get a second order (but at $6, why would you?). The potatoes bravas should be skipped. Bland, boring.
The service was spotty, really spotty... like, waiting for drinks forever, the last dish taking five minutes longer than the rest to hit the table kinda spotty.
Expensive drinks. $10 cocktails, $9 mimosas, $9 Bloodies (albeit with a High Life pony back).
I don't know. Maybe dinner is better but to be honest, for me, brunch is where it's at and if brunch isn't great, I'm not too enticed to return. Sorry, Perennial but I think you're coming in just past the recommendation cutoff.
Came here for dinner Friday night. Lovely space, low lighting, votives on the table. Good place for dates, but a nice place for groups too.
Started off with drinks and appetizer. We had the black truffle gnocchi--it does not look like your usual gnocci--why do they call it gnocchi then? What's in a name? No matter, it was very good. I had the Blooming Perennial cocktail. I was just curious because I had never had Elderflower liquor. It was quite different (flowery) from what I'd usually drink but I still liked it.
For dinner I had the grilled pork belly served with kale, grilled pears, thyme doughnuts and pear gastrique. My friend and I split the sweet potato side dish. Everything was wonderful--from presentation to taste. I loved my meal. Portions look small on the plate but timing of everything was so that we weren't rushed and got to savor the meal and felt very satisfied afterward.
Service was great. The waitstaff was very attentive, friendly and informative. We were running about 20 min late for our reservation and when we phoned the restaurant to inform them, the hostess was very nice about it. When we arrived, we were seated right away.
The only downside had nothing to do with the restaurant. Because we were running late and had 8pm theater tickets, we couldn't have dessert--I really wanted to try the cheesecake.
Again, this review is based on brunch. Perennial does it right.
My mom and I stopped in this morning after a very cold, very wet Green City Market experience. Within a minute, our wet jackets were whisked away and we were seated with steaming cups of hot coffee in front of us. That's 5 stars right there.
Though I was tempted to get the smoked salmon potato tart again, I decided to branch out and go with the duck confit tart. I love me some duck confit (Paris was a life-changing experience in that respect) and this tart was absolutely delicious. Just the right amount of food for brunch, with juicy pieces of duck and truffle oil and a lightly dressed frisee salad with a perfect poached egg.
Service was again exceptional. I MUST go back for dinner.
I had brunch at Perennial with a few girlfriends after a trip to the Green City Market. Yum! We… Read more »
I've only come to Perennial for brunch, and I have a friend who will only dine at brunch establishments that have a bloody mary with a beer sidecar.... So that's kind of how I've ended up here. Anyways, last time I went I really liked my food, I got the smoked salmon & potato tart. But our server was probably the most awkward space cadet I've ever seen working in the food service industry. I usually sit in the dining room and this particular time we were in the bar, soooo maybe that's why we had the following experience?
We opted to sit at a high-top in the bar because we had a pregnant girl in our group who need some sustenance ASAP and there was a 20 minute wait for the dining room.
So first, the waiter comes up and immediately offers us cocktails, then turns specifically to the pregnant one of the group and goes "Would you like a mimosa?" At first I thought he was kidding, but his dead-pan serious face and lack of laughter or personality set me straight... It really seemed like he was actually asking my 8 month pregnant friend if she'd be having alcohol for breakfast.....
On to the ordering, we each got something different so that we could taste a little of everything, and when the plates came out, the wrong dish came out for my pregnant friend. Of all people at the table to not get fed, it was ridiculous! The server wasn't the one who brought out the dishes, but I saw another employee point to our table and tell him he screwed up our order, but he never came over to apologize or see if he could get us anything else.
Finally, we get all our dishes, finish eating and are ready for the check... Where's our server?? Behind the bar watching the Bears game?? Oh ok, I guess I'll just walk on over and get our check then. I don't want to disturb him during the game with his job responsibilities... So I go ask for the check and he says "Oh you guys are done?? Ummm ok..." Yes, thanks for noticing. Bye!!!
P.S. Don't order hot tea for brunch, it's not on the menu, but I asked and when we got the check I saw it was six dollars for a small tea pot of hot water and one tea bag... Skip!
I love food. In fact I would say I am a food snob. I've dealt with it and I can acknowledge it publicly now. However, Perennial was too snobby for even me!
Our waitstaff was awesome and everything was served in a timely manner and with a smile. the decor is very new age chic, which I'm not into, but is quite eye catching.
As for the food....I love the concept, but I'm not into food just for the interesting plating and seasonal freshness.
First, we ordered a cheese plate which had adorable little garnishes, which didn't really seem to have any sort of flavor compatibility with the cheese--though they were tasty. My burbon drink was put hair on your chest strong and well worth the 12 dollars but, mistakenly served in a martini glass ( yes, the glass matters)-- to seem more posh I supposed--rather than in the lowball it should have been served in.
Then we had our main dishes. I had the salmon, which was a 4x5x1" piece of meat with a line of halved vegetables flanking it's side. It was perfectly cook and delicately seasoned, but it was boring, the vegetables well...were halved heirloom tomatoes that didn't add anything to the dish except color... and the portions were just too tiny...my 5 yr old niece would have still been hungry after that!
Then we had dessert which was "cheesecake" or cream cheese mousse with some sort of frozen graham cracker-ish tasting chip and raspberry sauce...I'm not even going to go into how disappointing that was.
Basically, this place is gorgeous and they really do have some quality ingredients, but I spent $50 on dinner and I had to have a snack when i got home. The tiny, poorly paired dishes and putting every cocktail in a martini glass just makes me call you...pretentious.
Local, Organic, Delicious Food!
What drew me to Perennial is an article I read in Time Out Magazine about local organic tofu and, in particular, from the Green City Market (just across the street from Perennial). I learned that Perennial not only used the G.C.M tofu but also other fresh produce from the market. Being a vegetarian, I really wanted to try Perennial's main vegetarian tofu entree.
My husband and I went earlier this week and really enjoyed our experience. We started with the black truffle gnocchi and it was amazing! It is not your traditional potato gnocchi instead it is a lighter Roman style. We also shared a tasty green salad with shaved zucchini and mint and pecorino - also excellent! The tofu dish exceeded my expectations and my husband's filet was perfectly done (plus a potato pancake on the side was yummy). We finished with a hazelnut crunch dessert that was really delectable. Also, we found that the wine list was small but featured carefully selected unique selections. The service was great. Lastly, the atmosphere is urban, hip and sophisticated.
It seems they change their menu seasonally, so I think it is safe to say that we will be back!
I came here with my parents after we walked the Green City Market. It was mid day and after walking around the market and Lincoln Park Zoo, we decided that we need a little sustenance. We just happened upon Perennial and thought, "Why not?" It was a hot day but the outside patio was in the shade so we took advantage of that. We were given a brunch menu and was pleased with the selections. It wasn't very big but the options sounded tasty. I got the eggs benedict and they were awesome. I could have used a little more hollandaise sauce but that would be my only complaint. Not that it is a complaint. The ambiance is so nice and relaxing. I love the big windows that open up to make the dining space open and airy.
This restaurant was on my Yelp To Try list and after eating there, I tried to add it again not knowing I had already. I am glad that we walked by Perennial. Now I can't wait to try their dinner menu!
I used to go here when it was the Days Inn and Bar Louie and when I got out of a cab to go here for dinner, I literally thought it was a mirage. The place looks AMAZING. I mean, the decor and vibe is so modern, fun and the full, big windows were incredible. Perfect people watching.
Okay on to the food. I heard mixed things about this place and whomever said it wasn't great was wrong. I was very pleased with my meal.
For a starter, I had the Parmesan cheese gnocchi which was very nice and light but not very filling. I wont lie, my eye was on the chicken lollipops (next time!) For the main dish, I went with the organic pork belly and the flavor was amazing. The meat was so tender and the grilled peach and spinach were great touches. Just a great meal.
For a side, friends split the mac and cheese with house bacon and that was also delicious. The bacon was just perfect and the mac and cheese was tasty without being too heavy.
Oh and the prosecco was delicious too. I had a bite of the salmon, which was very good, and the grilled tofu, which had a nice flavor but was...well tofu.
Overall, I would definitely go back and bring my parents with me.
My only quibble is that it was ridiculously cold in that restaurant where we were sitting. I mean, like fan blowing straight on us. Very uncomfortable.
If you want to feel like the judges on Top Chef do, eat here! The food is beautifully presented, perfectly portioned, and contains exquisitely innovative flavor combinations. Wine afficionados will have no problem finding a great selection. My favorite part of their menu is "Our Favorite Peoples' Favorite Wine", which includes some of Chicagos best restaurant owners picks. I highly recommend Bill Kim (Le Lan)'s choice of Flowers Pinot Noir... regardless of the year it is alwasy delicious! If wine isn't your thing (I don't know why it wouldn't be because it is one of lifes finest beverages), they have a really interesting and fun martini cocktail menu.
The ambiance has a beautifully organic feeling lined with bamboo trees, wooden floors and tables, leafy green decor, teal seat cushions, and surrounded by 180 degree view of Lincoln Park. The natural light during the day, sunset in the evening, and city night life bustle after dinner all adds to the restaurants sheek feel.
Perennail Goers: Typically, people here are well dressed whether it is ladies getting together for their book club discussions in the cocktail room, date nights after the early show downtown, or after hours work drinks during the week. Though seemingly many places in Lincoln Park are focused on the younger 20s crowd, there wont be any hoodlums here.
Classy, professional socialites, if you are looking to meet some new people this is the place to go! I promise, you will not be disappointed with any part of this new hot spot in Lincoln Park!
A few girlfriends and I were in for brunch last weekend, and I'll definitely be back! They have a relatively small menu for brunch (which I happen to prefer) and our server made a few great suggestions.
I ended up sharing with a friend since we were both deciding between the blueberry pancakes (ah-mazing) and almond french toast (I'm drooling again just thinking about that french toast). The portions were sizable and nicely presented. Rounded out with a couple of bellinis, it was a fab meal.
Attentive staff, modern space, reasonable prices. Good, good, good.
Went here with my girlfriend and was VERY impressed. Beautiful decor, nice looking crowd, not too rowdy but looks like a good classy place for happy hour, and the service was excellent.
I have no complaints - again the food was just spectacular. I want to go back and try something different. It is a little pricey, but well worth it!
Overpriced and underwhelming.
There was a group of 8 of us for a friend's birthday on a Thursday night.
We were having a great time at the bar before we got seated for dinner - we probably would have been better off if we stayed at the bar the entire night.
Our server was a complete 180 difference from our bartender. I've gotten better, not-so-awkward service at Steak and Shake.
We were seated in this big round booth, and there was a funky smell surrounding the area. It was pretty muggy outside, so I'm not sure if there wasn't enough air circulation, but it definitely was not pleasant.
The food was expensive, and the portions were tiny. Everyone was in agreement that their entrees were just mediocre. We were so underwhelmed by the food that we decided to pass on dessert, but with a group of 8, but I figured that the restaurant would bring something out for the birthday girl. No such service here. Definitely do not go in expecting any special treatment. One of our friends did make a little fuss, and they did eventually bring our a sampler platter, but it was forced.
The wine selection was decent, but the wine service was not. I don't think I'll be returning here again.
Now that I'm off the animal flesh when I know I'm heading out to a nice dinner I check and double check to make sure there are plenty of options on the menu that do not include meat. (I still eat fish and seafood...baby steps.) I clicked over to the Perennial website (beautifully done) and found many items that would suit. More importantly I clicked on the seasonal cocktail list and found several drinks that would tickle the palate.
Made reservations for 7 on a Wednesday night. My dining companion was stuck in traffic so I called the restaurant and said we were running late, she said it was no problem and that they would accomodate when we arrived.
I found free parking on Wells street (the east side of the street is void of meters), so I was feeling pretty good about the evening (yeah, my mood gets affected by parking, or lack there of). We stepped into the bustling restaurant and were promptly seated in the dining room (they do have a fantastic patio but this was Wednesday July 1, 2009...it was flippin' cold).
We sat for a sum of seconds before our waiter arrived. Very friendly and helpful. (And he sounded like Casey Affleck. I like Casey Affleck.) I ordered my cocktail, I cannot recall the name, but there was gin, and other stuff (I'm soooo helpful), and my companion ordered a margarita (not one of the specialties but they had plenty of fine tequilas to make do). We also ordered a bottle of sparkling water.
(An aside on the sparkling water. I love tiny bubbles. In my water, in my champagne. Love them. The water service at Perennial is getting a star all it's own. $6 for an unlimited bottle of sparkling. Casey Affleck said they use some Italian filtration blah blah blah. I don't know, but it was good. And I'm picky about my sparkling--I dislike VOS intently. This had the smoothness of a Pellegrino with a hint more bubble, like a Perrier. We never had a bottle on the table less than 1/2 completed, Casey Affleck and his band of service personnel were on it.)
We got our drinks and got the special run down. (One was a braised lamb shank with Israeli couscous that seemed a bit odd in the middle of July. But then I saw the ladies next to me all ordered it. To each his own.) We got the risotto (with meyer lemon) and the arugula salad. Once the order went in a bread service came around. Nothing special. Bread. Butter. (This is the kind of bread service I like, helps save me from myself. Lord help the restaurant that serves a great sourdough.)
Casey Affleck split the risotto for us and served the salad on one plate. Both were very tasty. The risotto was done perfectly with a bit of a Meyer lemon punch. The salad had a nice combo with the arugula and the grapefruit. Very good.
For entree I got the scallops with mushroom and my companion got the salmon. I guess I didn't read the entire description but the scallops came with a short rib cannelloni. When the entree arrived I promptly gave the cannelloni to my companion. Casey Affleck came over and asked if I was a vegetarian. I said yes, and he offered me something else to replace the cannelloni (which was now being eaten by said companion), but I declined. I did appreciate the offer.
Scallops were good. Not great. Kind of small (the actual scallops), but the mushroom ragout that they sat upon was very good. My companion's salmon was delicious (and I don't like the salmon).
The check (reasonable), a couple espressos (very good, and came out quick), and a guided walk to the door of the ladies room (by, whom I believe was the floor manager), completed the evening.
Ok... so we've only been to Perennial for brunch, but my boyfriend and I really love it. Multiple saturdays in a row now we have taken a stroll through the green city market then headed over to Perennial for some hangover curing brunchy goodness.
The food is really tasty. I always order the bloody mary, which comes with a little high life beer sidecar (see my picture in the photo gallery). The french toast is great- slices of almond baguette fried up and topped with some sort of spiced apples and fancy whipped cream. My boyfriend usually gets the biscuits and gravy, and even I like it even though I don't like sausage very much.
A little pricey if you order drinks and sides of bacon (I cant risist), but definitely worth it!
Perennial is one of my favorite restaurants, and may be Tamara's favorite. We especially love their brunch, but I'm knocking one star off my previous five-star review because our server completely ignored us the last time we were in. That being said, Ryan Poli's food is out of this world, and I'd recommend Perennial to anyone for brunch or dinner!
I am stingy with the 5-Star rating, so this ought to mean something. I consider myself to be something of a food snob, and an aspiring chef, so I will preface my review by saying that I have very high standards when it comes to food, and Perennial did not disappoint.
The ambiance was incredible - high ceilings with tarps and trees indoors - a very creative way of bringing the outside to the inside. It made the place seem bigger than it is, and also more open and airy, even though we were indoors (if that makes sense?). There is also plenty of outdoor seating, but we decided to try indoors first.
They have a great cocktail menu, and while my mojito was a little too sweet, after adding a touch of soda it was perfect. The flavors were a little different from your normal mojito, in the best way possible. You could also tell the mint and limes were fresh, something you don't taste in most mojitos in Chicago. Their wine selection was also very good - I had a Chenin-Blanc/Viognier combo that was delicious, and Scuba Steve's Cabernet was also excellent.
We started with the Chicken Lollipops and Risotto - the Lollipops were amazing and I could have easily eaten 5 on my own, and the Risotto was incredible...a mouth-watering, sumptuous, and balanced blend of lemon, creaminess, and herbs.
I had the Scallops, which came with a short rib-stuffed canelloni - their version of the surf-and-turf, I was told by the waiter....and it was excellent. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and the canneloni was a great complement. Scuba Steve had the Chicken and Dumplings, which was not what we expected in terms of looks, but in terms of taste was terrific. Our friend Mark had the Spinach Cannelloni, which would be an excellent vegetarian option, not the only one I thought would be available to vegetarians (there are a couple!).
Dessert was a lighter-than-air Raspberry Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Ice Cream...cheesecake is generally my favorite dessert, but this particular one is my second all-time fave because it was so light but so rich in flavor.
All in all a new best-bet, and my new favorite Chicago eatery!
Great restaurant! Amazing service. Graham Cracker Cheesecake was delicious. Scallops were delicious and yummy cocktails.
We did a birthday brunch here last weekend with a big group so I can only speak for the brunch but the ambiance is fantastic and the food and service was wonderful as well. We had a great time and loved that it didn't have that noisy breakfast crowd feel--still felt very elegant and chic. Also I was amazed at how effortlessly they accommodated such a large group! We'll definitely be back!!
I wasn't prepared for brunch. I had already eaten breakfast, and after meeting someone at the market, we wandered over to Perennial. I wish I hadn't eaten my egg and toast this morning because the brunch menu looked amazing...so did my friends bloody mary - blue cheese stuffed olive, pearl onions, salami, and pickle garnish goodness. I would have ordered the pork belly omelet, but settled on the granola with yogurt and fruit. Not my usual order (usually more egg and meat heavy), but like I said, already had breakkie.
My granola was delish - lots of tasty berries, friends french toast was great, and manfriends pancake sliders (little pancake sandwiches with sausage patty inside) were good - nice presentation, but they needed potatoes or some other such goodness as an accompaniment. After looking at their menu online, I would love to make a dinner trip here! Yes, it will be done.
Service was decent, place was upscale but not fancy, prices were actually pretty good - you get a smaller sized entree for a smaller price.. imagine that! Genius.
Oh WOW.
This place offers not only amazing food but an incredible experience.
Just got back from a wedding shower here and I was SO impressed.
All of the food, appetizers, drinks, main courses were all imaginative and creative and delicious. The mimosa's and bloody mary's were awesome.
Service was over and above and beyond!!! The red headed server named Matt made my day by surprising me with fresh bloody mary's when I finished my first, (they were only asked to serve mimosa's originally but they were extremely accomodating) and every single one of them just took care of every last thing!!! Matt even had a special vegetarian omelette made for me when I mentioned I did not eat meat!!! (and it wasn't even necessary- any other place would have just shown me what had no meat in the buffet-plenty- but my own little special plate??!!! Now THAT'S service!!)
It is SO hard to find service like this in Chicago!!! Rare to find it anywhere really....
The layout is beautiful and clean and crisp and whimsical. Lovely.
The only reason for the 4 instead of 5 star rating was one of the nice servers spilled a tray of mimosa's on my lap soaking my dress- but the place was so freaking phenomonal I barely even cared!!
I recently enjoyed a beautiful summer night with two girlfriends. We had an ice cold dry Rose from the list to go with our first course of Prawn Ravioli with Lobster sauce was divine, the Lyonaisse Salad was light and the bacon chunks were full of flavor. We also split the Scallops with a short rib canneloni and a side of Mac and Cheese with bacon. The mac was huge for a side dish and the Scallops were melt in your mouth tender.
All in all, a great meal!
When faced with the daunting task of finding a place to eat with my wife, I usually give my best ostrich impersonation and try to bury my head in the sand and let enough time pass to where I don't have to deal with it. You see- I don't like the task of decision making in general, but especially when it comes to our dinner plans. With us, dinner is almost always the main part of our evening and therefore our expectations on a good evening tend to rely heavily on how good the meal is.
To make matters worse, I have had some doozy dinner picks that lets just say have left us wanting more. In the past I would say my batting average for good quality restaurant picks have been below expectations. It is actually the main thing that had drawn me towards Yelp in the first place.
Even with the wonderful guidance that Yelp has given to me, I still quiver at the news that it is my duty and responsibility to find a good place to eat. To give my wife the credit she deserves, this past Friday she ended up narrowing down my choices.
I still failed. Somewhat at least.
It wasn't so much that Perennial was bad, because to say that it is a bad restaurant would not be accurate. There were some hits and misses- much like my track record for dinner choices.
To start, the decor is quite nice. It reminded me a bit of my favorite boutique hotel (at least in my very limited hotel experiences)- Hotel Andra in Seattle. Very modern, dark woods mixed with some natural wall colors, and other natural elements like wooden trunks forming a room divider. Music was very nice, and at a good volume to create atmosphere. I was greeted by a trio of hostesses/managers in a very friendly manner. My wife had met me there after a very long day of work for both of us and had already begun her evening with a drink.
After being seated at a table for two along the windows over looking Lincoln Park, I ordered something called "Kill the Queen" with our very friendly waiter. The cocktail was excellent. Perfect mixture of alcohol, sweet, tangy, and aromatic flavorings. Probably the best cocktail I have ever had. So far, the night is going well.
We ordered a starter- the gnocchi, and while it was good, the portion was incredibly tiny. We did split the order (priced at $8 or $9), but when two plates came out with two gnocchis on it, with a sprig of frisee, a little bit of sauce, and that was all? Not sure how to describe the experience. The taste was very good- but the portion could have been and probably should have been placed on a spoon and been called an amuse. Tiny.
Aurore ordered the scallops for her main and they were very well cooked. The flavors of the scallops in my opinion were perfectly sweet and the accompaniments went well with them.
I ordered the himachi (something I am now a sucker for since a meal I had in SF at Bar Crudo- one of the few good picks for dinner that I have made). This on the other hand was just, well, short of anything good. The mushroom and broccolini mixture was good, but the broccolini left a bit too much bitterness for the fish. It was served table side with a coconut milk poured into the dish. That sauce would have been unnecessary if the fish was properly cooked. In the end, it was definitely needed.
I can't understand what exactly went wrong with the fish- but it was just bad. I think it was cut too thick to begin with, and pan seared on way too low of a temp. Because of this, the cook must have cooked it longer in order to get a good seer, but it came out tough.
Honestly- tough fish. Kind of like canned tuna. Such a shame.
At this point- a good cocktail, and good conversation with wonderful company is all that was holding up the evening. Portions being too small and my ruined fish was weighing down on our evening hard, but the saving grace was dessert.
Both of our desserts came out with what we were looking for- a little bit of inventiveness with great taste. I ordered the Chocolate Creamux- which ended up being more salty and savory than sweet, but in the best way possible. A delicious blend of cocoa nibs, sea salt and a "firmed" olive oil (yes, olive oil) all brought together in a beautiful dish. With the waiters recommendation, my wife ordered the hazelnut crunch, which also ended up being very good.
But then there was the coffee. Something unforgivable to me. If you have ever had your oil changed at Jiffy Lube and tried some of that complimentary coffee- this was actually the watered down version of that crap. It literally brought a bitter scowl to Aurore's face and was enough to ruin what was a really good dessert session.
In the end we walked out of Perennial confused. How could such a good space, obviously well-staffed/managed, with a promising menu, great cocktails be such a disappointment? They somehow did it though.
I would go back only if I were in the area and wanted dessert and that delicious cocktail. "Kill the Queen" made it three-star worthy.
Nice space, presentation and no pretension. We came here on a Monday for a b-day dinner and everything was great.
Apps: We tried the glazed wings (which were actually legs) and they looked like juicy lollipops. Nice and crispy on the outside and juicy inside. We also had a meyer-lemon risotto (seasonal). I'm not a huge risotto fan, but this was really good.
Salads: I had the argula salad and it had a yummy avocado puree and grapefruit. Weird combo, but it worked.
Dinner: My friend and I split the scallops and the tenderloin. The scallops were really good and came with a braised meat and a potato/hashbrown thingie. The potatoes were really plain and dry, but the rest was good. The steak didn't overwhelm me...nothing new here, but good quality. A bonus was that we all shared/split meals between 2 people and the server had the kitchen plate it up that way, which is what I think is above avg service.
Lastly, there was some kind of sports tournament on tv and I loved that the staff were laid back enough to watch here and there and scream really loud. Makes it more normal, less formal.
Had a great experience here. Went for dinner this past weekend with a friend. The restaurant itself has a great ambiance to it. very low lit and cool looking fake tree stumps in building. I liked it. We got seated right away (had reservations but sometimes still have to wait). Our waitress was very sweet and gave us the time and space we needed to begin our orders.
We started with the Veggie tart and then I had the mushroom salad and the steak special. Portions were of good size and i really enjoyed every dish. I like the portabello cappacio salad, nice spin on a typical salad. Dinner was perfectly proportioned and very good. For desert we got this cheesecake grahmn cracker ice cream dish and it was so good.
it was a great night at a great restaurant!!!
Large, open and airy space with ample room for outside dining. We went with a large party (11) and there was no problem accomodating us, although it was busy (Friday at 7) and it took about 2.5 hours from start to finish. While this is an inordinately long time, because there were so many to talk to in our group and because the server was apologetic and comped us each one of the sides plus four different desserts, it wasn't an issue.
The food was overall quite good. Best was the Lyonnaise salad, the scallops (entree and/or appetizer), the halibut and the panna cotta.
Perennial has been on my list of restaurants to try for months. Last Saturday, my boyfriend and I finally decided to cross it off the list. We arrived early and were seated with no problem. Perennial's décor is very cute. Even though the weather was lousy during our visit, I felt like I was on vacation with the canopies on the ceiling, the fabric pattern on the bench seating, and the trees that were used as a partition. The chairs were kind of uncomfortable though.
Everyone that waited on us was extremely friendly, and our water glasses were never less than half empty. Our empty plates were taken away when we were finished and the arrival of each course was timed perfectly. We shared 3 appetizers, 2 entrees and a dessert. Here is a breakdown of our dining experience, dish by dish.
Seasonal Squash Tart: We probably would have skipped this if our server hadn't recommended it. Thankfully, we didn't. This was by far my favorite appetizer of the night. The pastry and the squash filling melted in my mouth. This was our first empty plate of the night.
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio: Good, but compared to the squash tart and the risotto it just wasn't very memorable. We could have done without this dish.
Meyer Lemon & Parmesan Risotto: I was really looking forward to the sweet corn risotto, so I was disappointed when it wasn't on the menu. They were featuring a Meyer Lemon and Parmesan Risotto instead. I'm not a huge fan of lemon anything, but our server told us that the chef was well known for risotto so we went for it anyway. It arrived at the table in two dishes; one for me and one for my boyfriend. We didn't ask them to split it but they did anyway. Nice touch! Our server was right. The risotto was amazing. I could have eaten that as my entrée, but thankfully it was an appetizer.
Scallops and Short Rib Cannelloni: I decided to go with the scallops after reading all of the raving reviews from my fellow Yelpers. I'm happy I did! The scallops were perfectly cooked with a nice sear on top, the mushrooms were yummy, and the short rib cannelloni was delicious. I wouldn't have thought to put all of these components together on the same plate, but it definitely worked. My boyfriend was jealous, but I shared.
Flat iron steak: My boyfriend went with the steak on the recommendation of our server. She was really hyping the gruyere and potato cake, but that ended up being the flop of the night. It sounded like a good idea, but the end result reminded us more of a McDonald's hash brown than something that you would find at a nice restaurant. This is the only thing that was left on our plates. The haricot vert were ok, but nothing special. The steak was perfectly cooked though, and the cipollini onion compote that came with it really made the dish.
Cheese Cake: I'm glad we saved room for dessert! Perennial's take on cheesecake just might be better than the real thing. Raspberry custard topped with a scoop of graham cracker ice cream and surrounded by cream cheese foam. Tasty and fun. We also ordered coffee, but at $3.25 for a small cup it really wasn't worth it. There were also some grounds in the bottom of my cup.
Overall, I give Perennial a solid 4 stars. We will probably be back, but next time we will give their brunch menu a try. There are just too many restaurants on my list of places to try to go back for dinner.
Delicious brunch! I highly recommend the smoked salmon potato tart. The service was excellent and my girlfriedns were all very pleased with their dishes -- both sweet and savory. My only complaint is that the drinks are a little expensive, but otherwise the menu is priced well. I also appreciated the lack of a wait for a table on a Saturday morning -- not always the case at good brunch spots.
HORRAY! My ONLY complaint about this place (the price) has been solved. It's called brunch. Yummy, just as much to rave about as dinner, but the prices are GREAT. Not just brunch great, but GREAT!
Service: very nice and reccomendations are spot-on
Food & drinks: Yummy & inventive - wine list is…
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Can't say I went there for dinner, just went there for Champagne before a wedding across the street at New Leaf... the bartenders and bar back were incredible... Wish I knew their names (ask them about my obnoxious friend) Ordered the Gruet from Albuquerque since I had seen it on there website, and love the NM sparking wine... Everything was exquisite except for the the fact that our four friends were an hour late.... LOL
not sure if their homemade sparkling water was a hit... chicago tap next time.
I can't wait to have dinner there, menu looked incredible
I'm in love. I really had no expectations for my dinner at Perennial. Walking in the door, I was a little late, and the restaurant was still rather sparse for a Wednesday night at 7:30. I sat down at the bar to wait for my guests and was pleased to have a bartender who not only knew his bar but also the menu.
We bantered over the menu as he described to me the special for the day while I perused the ever so divine cocktail menu. Deciding on the Vanilla Ginger Mojito. I felt whisked away to a tropical island vacation in the middle of chicago. When my friend arrived, she ordered the say, but sans-rum and it was almost impossible to tell the difference. hmmmmm...
When we were seated, my number one request for the night was the Sweet Corn Risotto. When handed the Chef Week menu, I jumped as it was a choice for the first course. Excellent. The serving was more than enough, and let me tell you, I was full by the end of the first course. I had the Amish Chicken as my main course, ate a couple bites, couldn't enjoy it to the extent it deserved and packed it up for lunch the following day.
We closed the night with a deconstructed cheesecake. It was light, it was fluffy, it was unbelievable. A soft light cheesecake with a graham cracker ice cream served over a raspberry custard. For someone who was so full, I couldn't say no.
I've already booked another night. Thank you Perennial for adding a little luxury to the neighborhood.
P.S. Thanks Chris for your wonderful service. I will ask for you, on my return.
I have only been here once, but had a great experience. My Maid of Honor decided to host my bridal shower here, which was a great choice. We had a private room, all set up, with gorgeous flowers, and comfy seating and tables etc. The brunch was excellent, and unique, they had great mimosas and the service was awesome. I would like to go back to enjoy brunch with my husband someday. I love the location and that it's right by the park. It's not too stuffy, which I liked and it's a great venue for a bridal shower.
I went to brunch at Perennial after hitting the Green City Market.
The Bellini's were very tasty and hit the spot. I felt the drinks were a bit expensive, but I suppose that's standard for brunch.
I had the blueberry pancakes: very fresh blueberries in the batter, fluffy and light, with a delicious graham cracker topping. I also sampled the french toast, which had a delicious and distinctive almond and apple flavor. Absolutely delicious.
My husband treated me to dinner at Perennial for our first anniversary. I've wanted to go there for awhile, with the good writeups and great location on the edge of Lincoln Park, so our arrival was a nice surprise. While our dinners were good (chicken for him, scallops for me) what really knocked my socks off was desert. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you The Brazilian (and get your mind out of the gutter before we move on). It was like a pineapple upside down cake on steroids. An excellent brown butter cake topped with pineapples, coconut sorbet, ginger popsicles and other islandy goodness. I'm usually more of a chocolate girl, but I have half a mind to go back this weekend and order another one at the bar. It was that good. I'm also intrigued by their brunch menu, which would give you the same ambiance for less cash. I'll update once that adventure is complete
High quality ingredients ("Grass Fed Beef" is written under one dish, as opposed to the normal corn infused breed) plus exquisite cooking and great presentation and overall atmosphere sums up my experience at Perennial.
Definitely go with a cocktail before dinner. They do run at $12 a pop, but the drinks ordered at my table were well worth it, and were the perfect mix of strength and flavor that we didn't even order a bottle of wine.
This is a great choice for a nice night out for 2 or a group, as there are multiple fun looking booths around the dining room. I also plan on returning to sit in the bar for dessert and a drink!
For some reason, I have avoided going here, even though its right in my immediate neighborhood. Not sure if its due to the same tired modern-vibe with the new American menu that has become so common on the near North, or something else, but I definitely felt like I was being repelled. However, I finally made it in last week for a birthday gathering.
And I could not have been more wrong. The ambiance was earthy and understated and gave the restaurant a relaxed but fun atmosphere. The service was spot-on, helpful, available, and personable. And the food was great. I started with the meyer lemon risotto - awesome, just a hint of the lemon, with the buttery rissotto - perfect. I had the special beef tenderloin with a potato terrine of some sort - meat was high quality, but a bit past the medium temperature I had asked for - but had a great flavor regardless. The sides were delicious.
For dessert, it was the hazelnut crunch, which was just what it sounds likes a high-end crunch bar made out of hazelnuts. Decadent.
Overall, glad I finally tried Perennial. I will be back - probably for another occasion sort of meal or maybe to try them for weekend lunch/brunch.
I've fallen in love with this place. Their cocktail menu is truly creative without being gimmicky. As a fan of the straightforward dirty martini, I was not disappointed to venture out of the box for a "Kill the Queen" and "Pristine Waters."
The salad with bacon and egg was perfect. The lemon risotto was really really nice (clean, simple). I'm a huge duck fan, so I got the duck -- particularly as it was served with bread pudding. After the cocktails and starters, the duck was admittedly a bit of a letdown. The "bread pudding" was very liberally interpreted as it was really pan-fried bread cubes (a little dry) and they were a bit too "thymey." The cabbage served with the duck cut through the natural heaviness of the bird but something else was needed too (since the bread pudding fell so short). But, the duck was cooked very nicely and indeed as it was duck, it was good. My girlfriend got the scallops which were excellent.
We got the cheese cake for dessert. A wacky little deconstructed number with cream cheese foam and a raspberry custard, it was pretty good.
This place pushes creativity how I like it. You gain some latitude for some things that may not work out when the atmosphere is beautiful, the drinks are phenomenal, you nail the starters, the prices are reasonable, and your service is top-notch. One of the most memorable first-times at a restaurant and I will surely be back. Keep playing with that food, perennial.
Just finished dinner. Exceptional new restaurant! Anytime I see three or four fascinating dishes I know the chef understands food. This is a really interesting menu. I had steak tartare. I eat it all over the world and this was the best I have ever had. My wife had the pea soup, also superb. It tasted peaey. Fresh and delicious. Her salmon was very good as well. I had the scallops, promoted as one of their signature dishes. It was very good as well, but...they were warm not hot and I would swear there were only two (maybe I miscounted and there were three). Much too small a portion for a full entree for $25. The other people at the table agreed that portions were undersized. The only other problem was the noise. It was hard to talk so some acoustic help would make an improvement.
We will go back. The menu, food and service are just too good!
I loved the look of Perennial. The staff was both accommodating and knowledgeable. There were some hits and misses, but all in all I'd go back which is my litmus test of a good restaurant. I'm going to focus on my favorites because this is just the day to be positive. They included: Wagyu beef carpaccio, sweet corn risotto, and glazed wings for the appetizers. I had the sea scallops for my entree and loved it.
Their desserts were amazing. We shared the chocolate creamux which consisted of olive oil, toasted bread, sea salt and cocoa nibs and the hazelnut crunch. It was lick the plate time. They also brought out at the end of the meal chocolate covered pop rocks and white chocolate lollipops filled with liquid chocolate. And I can't forget to mention the glazed sweet potato gratin with REAL marshmallows.
Weekend Brunch
Neighborhood: The Loop
Wednesday Dinner Deal!
Neighborhood: Uptown
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: French
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Lounges
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