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Category: American (New)
Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West LoopClinton (Pink, Green)
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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I HATE reviewing places I love because that means it just going to be harder to get a table.
Best BYOB. Awesome food, reasonably priced. Super cool vibe. I'll be back!
People thought this was:
New chef, new menu. I still like, but removing it from "my favorite" list.
At 8pm on a Thursday the restaurant was half full so we didn't have to deal with any of the acoustic problems we faced last time. It's always nice to be able to hear your dining companions, especially when they are newly engaged and arguing over whether or not to allow their 26 person bridal party should all be allowed to speak at the rehearsal dinner. Oh, the fun of being engaged...
I had my heart set on the cucumber gazpacho, but when the waitress told me they were out of it I ordered the cauliflower soup instead. A bit creamy and heavy, yet tasty. I followed this up with a light arugula salad filled with feta cheese and grilled nectarines (yum).
I was happy to see they still have the super cool loonnnggg silverware, which was just perfect for reaching into my friend's bowl of oily mushroom risotto.
People thought this was:
Um, hi new favorite restaurant!
It looks like I"m not the only fan of The Grocery Bistro. People…
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I went to the Grocery Bistro last night with my husband and two other couples. I had found out about BG via Groupon and the concept looked great (BYO with contemporary cuisine). I didn't buy the Groupon, but was still interested in checking it out.
The decor/atmosphere was nice, if not a bit trendy. Although, there's certainly no law against that.
We had a reservation for 6 ppl at 8:30. In full disclosure, we arrived approx. 5 minutes late. We did still have to wait 10-15 minutes for our table. However, in my eyes, that's not unacceptable for a Saturday night.
I'm sure at this point you're thinking, "One star? Really?"
Alright, let's get to the meal. We were seated and proceeded to open a few bottle of wine and we ordered our appetizers: a dozen and a half of oysters ($24/dozen and $14/half dozen), ahi tuna ceviche w/ watermelon, multigrain bruschetta, olives, arugula salad w/ grilled peaches and tomato, mozzarella and anchovy salad. Everything was ok, but nothing was great. There was something missing from everything: the oysters had no flavor (the preparation was nice, but the actual oyster itself was tasteless); the ceviche had a very strange texture and was more than half left by the group; the peaches on the salad were out of season and hard as rock w/ no flavor (my husband thought they were apples), the olives were good, the bruschetta was good and the "caprese" was decent.
On to the entrees: my husband ordered the pork which was overcooked to point of a hockey puck. two of us ordered the halibut and were pleased. one friend ordered the risotto and liked it as well. one friend and I both ordered the vegetarian stracci pasta dish. Hers was ok (she liked the vegetables, but found the pasta lacking). Mine was so bad, I didn't eat it. It was like someone had dumped an entire bottle of red wine vinegar in the dish and called it a day. Our friend that ordered the risotto tried both and said mine was definitely different.
For dessert we ordered two of the Venezuelan crepes, one lavender panna cotta and one goat cheese mousse. The crepes were dry, the panna cotta tasted like soap (and I am a big fan of lavender desserts), but the mousse was very good.
Now, before I get to this part, I was looking at a 3 star review. I felt it was average and more than likely would not have even written this. BUT, alas, here I am at the keyboard.
We got our check and it was $300, so $100/couple or $50/head. We reviewed the bill and saw a corkage charge of $15 AND they included 20% gratuity. I always tip 20%, especially if I get good service, but still found that presumptuous. What really got me was that they charged us 20% on the corkage fee. For anyone that doesn't know, it is illegal in Chicago to charge a corkage fee unless the establishment has a liquor license. Basically, if you insist upon bringing your own wine to a place that serves wine, they can charge you as you are effectively taking business away from them - and rightfully so in my opinion. Well we discussed the corkage fee, which we found excessive, and decided that we would debate the charge. The moment we mentioned it to our waiter, he grabbed the owner (this seemed as though this happened a lot and after reading all of the reviews here, I can see that it does).
The owner came over and we said, "You know, it's not legal to charge a corkage fee." His response is what caused this review. He said, "Ok, no problem. Next time you come, let me know and I'll bring you plastic cups instead." So my friend said (in all sincerity), "Oh, can we bring our own glasses?" and he said, "No, you can find a new restaurant". WOW! Did he really just say that? He proceeded to tell us that he didn't need customers that wouldn't pay a corkage fee and that we shouldn't come back. He became very irate and was beyond nasty. I couldn't help but just sit there stunned.
He said he couldn't run a business without charging a corkage fee. Really? We just spent $300 and that's insufficient to run a business? I know PLENTY of BYOs that successfully run their businesses and we walk out of there for much less than $50/head.
Anyway, on our way out of the restaurant, he grabbed one of my friends and apologized profusely, but honestly, at that point, it was too late. The food was mediocre at best and for $50/head (or much less), I can find dozens of places we love.
Goodbye, Grocery Bistro. After all of the bad reviews here and on Metromix, I know I'm not the only one out there that will never go back.
People thought this was:
This was not the same place as when I came in early June (apparently before some drama went down and the original chef bounced). Don't get me wrong -- the place still looks nice, the girls at the front are still pretty, it's still BYOB, and it's still pretty expensive. But the food was not good.
I had the rack of lamb. My girlfriend's reaction was that it must have come from a lamb fetus cause these things were tiny, chewy, and totally tasteless. Interesting that they got matching mini asparagus too. And the truffle fries I loved so much last time tasted like the bottom of a large order of McDonald's fries -- just burnt crispy stuff with a ton of salt. I had some of the tuna too, which was just really bland and totally unremarkable.
Man, I really liked this place the first time I came. I'm usually not a hater, but I was really disappointed this time. Well, the waiter was nice.
Tip: If you do end up coming here, the wine shop next door is awesome. The owner is very nice and low key, totally better than running to Dominick's.
People thought this was:
I went for a late-night dinner last weekend and I will definitely go back. I ordered some ribeye… Read more »
I know I know....two times for 3 stars. This place is good, not great, just good. I had my first burger from here (yep - jumped right off the veggie band wagon I've been on for 2 years), and it was tasty, but not the mouthwatering "THIS IS IT" moment I expected. The price was right at $15 for Tallgrass beef though. My date ate lamb chops, couscous and asparagus. The chops were tiny, the couscous was just couscous, and it cost $26. The one plus, and the only reason I will continue to dine here, is that its a BYOB. As much as I love my thai food, its refreshing to bring a bottle of wine into a restaurant that doesn't serve green curry.
People thought this was:
This restaurant is quite lively inside. I love the clean decor - it reminds me of a smaller a more… Read more »
Haven't eaten there and probably won't. You know what they say about first impressions, don't you?
Restaurant looks cool and we wanted a new breakfast place, so I looked on their website which said Sunday brunch 10-2. We pulled up to the place at 9:45am on a Sunday; their sign outside also said 10-2! One guy sweeping, and a couple people in the back. Young girl took her time coming up to the front; didn't make eye contact as she came up, and only said "can I help you?" with a disgusted look on her face. I asked if we could down for brunch at 10am or did I need a reservation. She said they've changed the hours and they don't open til 11. HELLO????
She then said it wouldn't be a very pleasant experience anyways! Let me make a prediction - she won't have her job very long.
I've now told everyone I can to avoid this place. What an impact a first impression can make.
People thought this was:
Went there last Tuesday and it was pretty full! We brought our own bottle (which we bought from next door) and that really helps with the price. We ordered two squash soups, a wonderful apple and pomegranate salad, olives, an ahi tuna entree and 2 bowls of ice cream. I have read the other reviews re bad food experiences, but I can say that our experience was great. We were VERY satisfied and with 20% tip (I gave that) and tax, our bill was about $85. I think that's reasonable, personally. The place is not a pizzeria. It's very good quality dishes with good creativity. A Bistro is, after all, supposed to be simpler than a gourmet Trotters. Our server was VERY nice. I will be a regular there.
People thought this was:
Went here for brunch on a Sunday, and really did think the food was good. They should pull it together on the service though. It was like we were among the first few tables of guests there - and at 10:30 (when they opened at 10) they still weren't ready for us. Also, the coffee wasn't ready yet, and the entree my boyfriend ordered wasn't available (but they didn't tell us until about 10 min AFTER he ordered it). Just "get it together' on that front.
Food-wise, I thought the peanut butter french toast was divine, and the breakfast potatoes with HOMEMADE ketchup completely ruled! Totally good!
I appreciate the fact that this place is BYOB, because there aren't a lot of those in this 'hood. I also appreciated the decor from the tables to the knives and forks to the water glasses. Interesting and modern, yet casual choices for dishes and decor. The dinner menu looks good. They have a $29 3-course during the week, and I hope to try that soon.
I ate at the grocery bistro for dinner yesterday and had the best food and the best time. It is BYOB (which I love) and there is a really cute wine store next door which is perfect! I ate the oysters on the half shell and they were the most delicious oysters I've ever had!! I also had an awesome salad with a bacon dressing, currents and a poached egg on top!! It was sooooooo good. The place was really packed for a Wednesday night and there was a really great vibe in the room. My server was really sweet and knowledgable of the menu. The Grocery Bistro was great and I highly recommend it to all!!
The whole operation is half as*ed!
The business is disorganized, customer service is horrendous, the ambiance is lacking, the food is mediocre at best, and the price is exorbitant! When you look at each of these factors separately, they may not be so bad, but when you put them all together, this place is a "0" star!
Business Operation: We made a reservation for 4, but called back to change it to 6 and they had no record of the original reservation.
Customer service: 1) Our waiter was OK, but when one of my friends told him that her dish was not eatable, he did nothing about it
2) We were unhappy with illegal, originally undisclosed, cork fees showing up in our bill and spoke to the owner about them. The owner, instead of being civil about them, was irate at our questioning of the bill and literally told us that we were not welcome at his place. He later revised his initial outbursts, but certainly not in time to change our opinions.
Ambiance: 1) The place looked unfinished: there were marks on the paint where the paint was missed; there is a cork "crown molding" which looked horrible, but even if it pleases someone's taste, it was falling off in places! 2) It was loud and we were at the top of our lungs to talk to each other.
Food: The fish that my husband had was not so good, the texture of the tuna ceviche was horrible, the risotto was good, but the pork was overdone and the dessert tasted like soap!
Price: The prices were high!!!! $50/head without any alcohol. That would be OK, except for all of the other factors that I mentioned above.
We have way too many other options in Chicago (luckily!!) to ever need to go there. We certainly will not be returning.
People thought this was:
Came here a few weeks ago with a friend after getting rejected trying to walk in when it first opened (blast!). But I guess we just squeezed by because there were only a few seats left: the end of the large table next to the door, a small table awkwardly too close to the occupied tables around it, and the diner-style counter in back.
We went to the counter.
First off, the food was delicious. We ordered a few small plates (squash puree soup, crab napoleon, beef carpaccio), a larger entree (spice-charred steak, which reminded me of argentina) and the chocolate bacon-toffee crepe to share, all high recommendations from our cute(!), friendly, helpful waitress. All the dishes were done simply and cleanly, the flavors were great, and each was just unique enough to be special but not intimidating.
Value-wise, it's probably right in the middle for a nicer place to have nicer-than-usual dinner with some good friends or a date. But you're probably not going to come here if you're REALLY hungry and just want to eat, unless you're ok paying for it.
The only minor knock is the restaurant space itself, which actually made it more interesting/enjoyable for me. Sitting at the counter, it seemed obvious that the place must've been a diner in its prior form. The open window into the kitchen was actually pretty interesting to look into, watching the young pirate cooking crew working and fooling. And the counter was also where our cute(!), friendly, helpful waitress stayed. The restaurant's atmosphere is comfortably lively; some good energy (probably from the 80% women who occupied the place) but again, not intimidating at all.
But then 3 of the restaurant's walls also look like a old timey diner, the cheap kind like they decided not to bother doing much about it. the lights are dimmed a little, some art/mirrors put up, some hanging lights, but basically normal beige walls. i thought it was a shame because it really seems inconsistent with how good i thought the food was. But also understandable because that would probably be my last priority too
Anyhow, if you like good food in a comfortable spot, this place is worth the occasional trip and deserves a spot on the mental queue!
"No soup for you" but without THE soup! - read to the end to understand...
I loved the concept behind The Grocery Bistro and really wanted to try it (especially since it was a BYO). I went there last night (a Saturday night) with my husband and two other couples (most of us in our 30s). It was 8:30 and the place was jammed and very loud. At times it felt more like a 20 something bar than a hip new restaurant. Nevertheless, we "yelled" to each other over the loudness and really had a good time. We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated at our table which is not normal but I had already kind of expected it based on other reviews I read - it wasn't a big deal.
The waiter was friendly and tried to do his best throughout the night (though clearly the service is not high end and is not intended to be). One quirk, he told us we all had to order our appetizers and our entrees at once so it would be easier for them to time everything. I always find it nice to be able to order appetizers and then have time to decide about entrees after but, again, I digress. Our appetizers were pretty good (let's say 3 out of 5 stars) ...bruschetta, ceviche, oysters, tomato salad, arugula salad, and olives (which were exceptional). Our entrees had mixed reviews...half of us really liked our entrees (3 stars) and the other half almost found theirs to be uneatable. We tried most of the desserts and like all of them except the panna cotta (over done with lemon and lavender). The food was a little pricey but I am happy to pay a little more when I dine in a BYO. Overall, we would have still given the restaurant 3 stars until we got our bill....
We were charged a $5/bottle cork fee ($15 total), without having been informed of a cork fee, and a 20% tip was included because we were a party of 6 or more (20% even on the $15 cork fee...so $18 cork fee total). We were willing to forget about the 20% but not the cork fee. Charging a cork fee when you do not have a liquor license is illegal in Chicago - a restaurant can only charge this fee if they have a liquor license and spirits of their own. So, I very nicely asked our waiter about it and he immediately sent the manager/owner over to discuss it with us. I nicely pointed out the cork fee and that it was not legal and that we do not want to pay it. The owner was immediately defensive, mean and incredibly rude. He asked us where else could we get great food like this at this price without a cork fee? Our answer: a lot of BYO places that have better food, lower prices and no cork fee. He continued to tell us that he had to charge the cork fee to stay in business and that he needed to do it to buy the wine glasses that we drank out of. So, I very nicely asked him if we'd be able to bring our own wine glasses (to help keep costs down, which lots of BYOs let you do) and he said: NO, you can drink out plastic cups or find a new restaurant. I told him he should consider writing a business plan that did not include illegal fees. His response: "Have you seen what Obama's business plan has done to our country?" My friend responded that at least it was legal (and what an odd comparison to use - what planet is this guy from?). He continued to tell us not to come back and to find a new restaurant. Seriously, it was like the SEINFELD episode where the "soup nazi" denied Elaine his fantastic soup - but The Grocery Bistro does not have THE soup to back it up!
As soon as the buzz wears off at this place it will wane into nonexistence. Foodies and BYO lovers alike may try this place once but definitely not twice!
You will find me at great BYOs like Terragusto, Urban Belly, Hema's Kitchen, Coast, Boinsoree Café, Schwa ...the list goes on.
People thought this was:
The food gets 3 stars and the service gets 1 1/2 maybe 2....I'll start with the food.
Food: We got a arugula salad and the crab app to start. Both were really good. The crab was plated sort of strangely so it was hard to eat but it was tasty. I had the seared pork loin which was awesome. Gorganzola polenta? YUM!! And the peach chutney went very well with it. Others had the halibut which was also good but a tad overcooked so it was dry....at least the bite I had was. Now the service...
Service: Um, RUDE! Our waiter was rather condecending. We were west loopers so we had a free entree coupon. When I handed it to him he basically waved it in my friends face and acted as though I had waved it at him...when I had nicely handed it to him and said "we have a coupon". He proceeded to read the coupon out loud in front of us. I found this odd...have you never seen this coupon before? We've read it so we don't need to hear it. When he brought the check he then went on to say how they didn't accept amex or discover and they really appreciate cash. Um ok a*shole....I found the whole ordeal to be weird and very unprofessional. We of course charged the meal.
I liked the restaurant and was glad I went. Maybe we just had a sucky waiter.
I have been excited to go to this bistro since it opened and I finally took the opportunity. I really like the concept of a little neighborhood byob bistro serving an inspired menu. Unfortunately, my experience was very disappointing. We waited about 15 minutes for a table and were shown to the bar and given water, bread olive oil - a good start. After being seated our server quickly arrived and went through the menu details and ordering requirements. Our bottle of wine was opened and served, and more bread also appeared quickly.
I ordered the summer squash soup witih roasted corn and the mussels. My boyfriend ordered the mushroom risotto. The soup was inedible because it was very, very salty. The owner asked about it and removed it after I told him it was too salty. He didn't apologize but did offer me a menu to choose something different. I declined and waited for the mussels. After a wait of about 30 minutes we received our entrees. The mussels were very good - I like the curry sauce and found it very flavorful. The risotto was another story - the rice was overcooked and gummy, asparagus was very overcooked and tasted terrible - the mushroom piece were good but not enough to make up for the overcooked ingredients.
The soup charge was removed from the bill and our server quickly processed the credit card. The dining room was very noisy making the experience even worse. I might try this place on a different night just to see if it is a better experience but I would not recommend based on that experience.
People thought this was:
Went here on a Saturday night. We had reservations and had to wait awhile, but they kept updating us (almost to the point of annoying, but they were just trying to please us). Plus, it looked like people were lingering over their wine after paying the check -- not the staff's fault.
Anyway. They got us another table and the waiter was really helpful, BYOB is nice, etc. However, the room is really a bit loud. It may have been atypical because there was definitely a couple of tipsy men having what first seemed to be a fight but we soon discovered was more of a bromance (yes I hate myself for using that word. But there was hugging).
However, it seems kind of unavoidable -- the indoor space is small and with the large communal table in the center, they can really pack a lot of people in there. The acoustics are, apparently, excellent. I was with a quieter group and we were overwhelmed for about the first half of our meal. I would not say there's the potential for too much romance here, unless you like yours loud and raucous.
The food pretty much made up for it. I had great difficulty choosing -- about half the menu appealed to me, which is rare. I wound up with a really excellent burger and fries (I refuse to say frites). My friend had tuna and I believe I heard him say it was the best thing ever. I tried my other friend's tuna-watermelon ceviche and it was really delicious.
Overall, a really great experience but for the noise. Go with your favorite loud talker and you will be fine, if a little hoarse after.
People thought this was:
I went there during the week and enjoyed a 3 course prefix for $29. Everything was tasty but nothing out of this world. I'd recommend the fried oyster appetizer it was spot on. We didn't like the mussels for the entree. The broth was flavorless and that's always the best part of ordering mussels. The bacon chocolate crepe dessert was good but couldn't really taste bacon, it more or less just tasted like nutella.
For two of us our tab was around $85 after tax, tip and corkage. We enjoyed it but will not be back anytime soon.
People thought this was:
thought the food was great. the weird thing about this restaurant was the van parked outside with a huge sign describing how the chef hadn't been paid. just kind of makes you feel weird sitting in the restaurant. the atmosphere and decor or great. the other kind of strange thing was that they have a chalkboard with their menu, but it's different than what's on the printed menu. and the chalkboard isn't right. not a big deal, but get it together.
i had the seared halibut and my husband had the tagliatelle. love the byob factor.
as long as their chef is getting paid now, i'd definitely go back.
People thought this was:
I had a great dinner here. What first made me interested? BYO. Not to mention the fave reviews had me curious.
The food was very good: fresh and inventive. Tuna ceviche w/ watermelon, gorgonzola polenta and so many other things that I wanted on the menu that I couldn't decide... Which brings me to the service. I love when the wait staff is honest with you instead of praising everything on the menu. Our waiter was super nice (and super cute), but I feel like I was served by every member of the staff at some point from the hostess to the bus boy to the owner (I think) and was extremely happy with everything.
I'll be back for sure!
Only downside: inside was pretty noisy, so we sat outside... under a tree w/ some bugs. :(
People thought this was:
Deplorable service. Made a reservation Tues for Saturday dinner for 3. Table was never ready, the "host" (who got right up in my face to talk to me!! GROSS & creepy; felt violated) was gonna make us sit in a 2-top in the far corner, next to the kitchen & bathrooms. Except 2 ladies were STILL dining!?! So he wanted us to wait for this shithole table, & the ladies to finish??? Wait longer??? To sit THERE!!?? Next to toilets.
Sat outside. Waited 20min for a waiter. Another 20 to place our order. 30min to receive appetizer (hummus on bread), AN HOUR for our entress?!?! 2 pastas & halibut. Halibut was 1/3 the normal sized serving, with stringy alpha sprouts & radishes!! RU Fucking Serious!?! Bad enough you starve us an hour & a half, then repulsively put cheap, half-assed pathetic excuse for fish & veggies on a plate. Not a green bean or asparagus. Radishes, folks, & bean sprouts. I am thin & attractive, not anorexic.
Used Groupon for $50 off. They tried to give us 50% off our NEXT visit. Uh... ONE coupon for to share among all 3 of us?!! Not one coupon each. Obviously, we would NEVER go back.
They messed up the $50 coupon, over-charging us on the bill & tax. The waiter, poor guy, was so clueless when we asked him to correct the overcharge. He had NO IDEA how much or how to calculate. So he just gave us $5 off, instead of ringing the original receipt then deducting $50.
Don't blame brainless nonexistent service & starving your customers on a big party. ALL restaurants cater large parties on Saturday nites! We'll be at Blackbird if ya really want our business...and we honestly want to eat money worth it's weight & pricetag, NO coupon required.
People thought this was:
This is a upscale BYOB however they do charge $5 per bottle corking fee. The restaurant is pretty small so it can get noisy. The service is very good and the atmosphere is deluxe a very trendy place with outstanding good. The prices are low for the quality of food served and the great service I guess thats why they have the corking fee's.
The detail is very nice here from the forks to the paintings on the wall the place has a really good vibe and I would come here again. The parking wasn't very hard to find and it is in a good area to kick off a fun evening in the city.
People thought this was:
I totally love The Grocery!!
Went here Friday night with a 9 pm reservation. Since it is BYOB (yay!) we brought some bubbly and a bottle of white wine. The $5 corkage fee is completely reasonable.
Started off with some appetizers - we all split the bruschetta (OMG so good), oysters, tuna tartar and the salad with apricots. Everything was super delicious. Next came entrees - I had the halibut, which was divine. We split all four desserts... very creative and innovative! The crepe with chocolate was my hands-down favorite. In fact, I would go to The Grocery with a bottle of bubbly and just order the crepes. Delish! Chef Monica has done fabulous job with this menu... we were so complimentary of the food she came out to say hello!
The room is a little noisy but it died down after we got there so it wasn't a huge concern. The staff is all friendly and personable, and prices are totally reasonable.
Overall, big thumbs up. Loved it, and would definitely go back!
People thought this was:
This place is fantastic!
Coming here for lunch is the best getaway from work--atleast if you work downtown.
They have a great prix fixe lunch menu that is $17 for soup or salad, sandwich, and dessert. You could even do a la carte and everything would be worth it.
They have a great selection of cheap cheese for starters and excellent frites--also very cheap for the large amount that you get.
I had the smoked salmon club which was excellent and came with a small side salad.
The salads are really colorful and u can add chicken or steak to most for about $2 or $3.
Their dessert is great too, try to lemon or lime bars--they are basically like cheesecake bars or keylime pie almost.
The atmosphere is really clean but not pretentious.
I will def come back here again, maybe even for dinner!
People thought this was:
I have been to Grocery Bistro twice. When Andre Christopher was the Chef it was phenomenal. After he quit (rumor has it b/c the owner stiffed him and his family for upwards of $50,000) they brought in another Chef, changed the menu and the food quality significantly decreased.
My salad was a head of romaine that had been char grilled (?!) and drenched in watered down blue cheese dressing, my pork glazed in what appeared to be canned apricots, was dry as a bone and my friend's vegetarian pasta was bland at best. Also, we were seated at the window and black flies the size of bumblebees swarmed over our table the entire night. I will not be back at Grocery Bistro.
People thought this was:
I had dinner at the Grocery Bistro with two friends tonight. First we stopped at the wine store… Read more »
Went to Grocery Bistro with my wife on a Friday night; we won't be back. Waited quite a while for our entrees (the waiter explained there were a lot of orders), then had to send back the "seared" pork, which was dry as a bone and likely from the Dominick's frozen food section across the street. My wife's halibut was marginal at best -- overcooked and bland. The manager did knock off a $5 corking fee from our bill...thanks.
As a side note, the place is loud as shit, filled with groups of sex-in-the-city ladies starting off the night, each screaming over each other to be heard. Guess that's all part of trendy bistro dining.
People thought this was:
II was so excited to go to Grocery Bistro last night as so many of my friends recommended it, however I left very disappointed.
My initial frustration was when I called to make reservations I confirmed they were BYOB however they have a $5 corkage fee for the first bottle (standard) and a $10 corkage fee for every bottle that is opened (ludicrous). My suggestion, bring a box of wine.
Not planning on drinking due to the outrageous corkage fee our waiter told us he would charge us just the $5 for every bottle and off we went to the wine store conveniently located next door. In the end we ended up pouring the wine ourselves and had to ask for our second bottle to be chilled. This would be the on start as some of the worst service I have had to date.
First Course:
I ordered the Cucumber Gazpacho, which was OUTSTANDING. The combination of cucumber, vinegar and olive oil in a puree was refreshing to the palette. My friends enjoyed the mozzarella and tomato sandwich...pretty standard.
And now the on start of the problems begin.
Main Course:
I ordered the mussels, which were in a tomato sauce. The mussels were perfect and sauce was light yet flavorful. One of us had the risotto, which looked unappetizing but was very hearty and filling. The mushrooms really added a nice flavor and texture. Another one was the lamb chops, which were sub par, were overcooked with little flavor. Next was the rib eye, nothing really special there, standard beef medium on a bed of mashed potatoes and green beans.
There were 5 of us dining and the fifth meal ordered was the Skate fish. The dish came out well after the other 4 were almost done eating. The skate was wonderful and cooked in a potato and bacon crust. (I mean anything with bacon is pretty much awesome). The meal was of course comped but it was disappointing the lack of attention by the waiter to even let us the kitchen was running behind. For the size of the restaurant there should have been better service, I would even expect the service to be overwhelming again due to the size of the restaurant. In addition to lateness of the fish there was never a waiter that came around to ask how meals were. The runners were more attentive than our actual waiter.
Dessert:
They were out of the Chocolate Gelato, first mistake. Settling for the second choice my friend settled for the Vanilla Bean Gelato with chocolate drizzle...aka Vanilla Bean Ice Cream soup with some chocolate sauce. Another dish ordered was the lemon berry tiramisu, all I have to say is stick with what you know best. standard Italian Tiramisu.
Lastly, the manager came up to us at the end of the night and asked how our meal was and we let him know the service was terrible and food, sub par at best. He responded with, "meh". While waiting for the bill he came around again and said hopefully the next time here you will have a better experience. I honestly cannot say there will be a second time.
** We sat down at 7:45pm and did not leave until 1015pm. There is one long table that probably seats about 16 about 5 wall tables in total seats about 20 and 4 tables outdoors, again about 14 guests. Not that big to expect nothing but phenomenal service **
People thought this was:
Great food with a mediterranean flare! Food is delicious, and the portions are the right size. A great place to go with a small group (get reservations), and byob. Not overpriced for what you're getting, order a variety and share the plates.
Can get crowded and noisy inside, so probably not a place to take a first date, but a definite location for great food!
People thought this was:
The Bistro was great, high quality food with a great ambiance. I had the Foie Gras and wife had beef Carpaccio. The foie gras had braised cherry and dandelion greens, the sweetness of the cherries paired perfectly with the foie gras. The beef Carpaccio was amazing because of the caper soy five spice. The capers melted in my mouth.
For entrees I had Seared pork loin, gorgonzola polenta, Kale and, peach chutney . The peaches paired so well with the pork, i used to apples but the peaches were even better. My wife had the Ahi Tuna which was a great sized portion of tuna with an amazing caper aioli. I don't know where they get these capers but i want more. Put them in every dish because they are that good. Best capers i've ever had.
Also the bread and oil was amazing. I visit Italian restaurants all the time and this oil would give them a good run.
The only thing that was a little sub par was the service. It was a busy time so that was accounted in but still the place is small and if you have this good of food the service should come along with it.
Overall I will definitely be going back and would recommend this dining experience to anyone.
People thought this was:
Went to Grocery Bistro last night for the first time. It was ok. Nothing resounding that made me shout out or feel a huge need to head back anytime soon.
The cucumber gazpacho got my feet tapping and definitely refreshing on a hot night. And the marinated tomato salad with feta and olive tapenade was quite tasty although aside from the tapenade it's a salad I make myself fairly regularly.
The mussels were only ok-a little dry and lacking sauce to dip bread in, and let's face it, that's one of the best parts. Strangely too there seemed to be considerable more shells then actual mussels prompting us to wonder where the little guys wander off to. Huh, curious.
The real disappoint for me though was the roasted chili lamb chops which came with yogurt creamed spinach and curried couscous. To break it down, I ate more of the couscous (which was yummy) then the lamb. They were just kind of flavorless. Sigh (bad sigh, not good sigh)
The table had a few other things like the seared foie gras (eh, ok) and the charcuterie flight (it will do) but again nothing that made me crave more.
Service-a little disorientated and we waited well past a half and hour of our reservation for our table. Oh, strangeness too with the chips and pretzels they have out at the bar. Granted with the 40+ minute wait I was starving and popped more then a few in my mouth but couldn't help thinking it was a little strange all the same. The chips maybe if they were made in house (which I sincerely doubt) but pretzels? Hmm....ok...
Last but not least there was the van. The van parked directly across the street with a huge handwritten sign on the side saying to "boycott Grocery Bistro" due to the chef leaving. I'm guessing the former chef had something to do with the sign, I'm just saying. I'm sure there's two sides to that story but well, there it is.
Just wasn't overly enthusiastic about the place. Maybe would try it for brunch but probably not again for dinner. Oh and yes, corkage policy bites it big time!
People thought this was:
wish i could give this a 3.5. so i'm a little generous....
i happen to think this is a solid neighoborhood. place. i've been here many many times, and largely i think that the experience is a little give and take. here's why:
food is inconsistent, dish to dish. here's what i have that's been good: cucumber gazpacho (AWESOME), the free bread and olive oil (bread is delish!), the halibut. here's what i have that leaves more to be desired: pan fried oysters (SO heavy!), stuffed trout (dry trout, overstuffed and heavy), lambchops (kind of lacking some flavor). the goat sheese mousse was way MEH.
the place can be realllllly noisy, especially if the middle table is full. but i would have to say, all in all, it's a pretty solid BYOB and double triple +++ for being in the neighborhood.
I used to hear great things about The Grocery, but the chef has since changed and my recent experience was sub-par. Below are the reasons The Grocery is only a 2-star restaurant and why I will not be going back:
1. While the space looks bright and fresh at first glance, it is completely unfinished. The ceiling has an awkwardly-cut cork border running around the room and the bench (runs the length of the restaurant) has saggy faux-leather fabric stapled in place.
2. My husband and I both ordered salads to start and both were disgusting. My baby arugula with pine nuts and feta (how do you mess that up) was swimming in a creamy dressing - I couldn't even taste the arugula. The BLT salad's presentation was completely unappetizing and there was nothing yummy about it (again - how do you mess that up?).
3. As I am waiting for my entree and still grossed out by my salad, the server takes my plate and puts my fork and knife (covered in the feta dressing) back on the table. My husband and I both have to lick our forks to get the dressing we don't like off them so that it doesn't ruin our entrees.
4. Entrees were over-seasoned and over-sauced. I got the halibut, my husband got the flank steak. Both were fine and not worth $20+.
5. There was a $5 corkage fee for our twist-off bottle of wine.
The entire experience was so not worth the $75 that we forked over.
People thought this was:
I thought I'd give this place a shot on a pretty low key Sunday afternoon.
The inside decor is pleasing to the eye and on first glance, I had high hopes. However...
After we'd ordered it literally took probably 45 minutes before we saw our entrees. Other parties were served before us which left us a bit perplexed but luckily, we were in no rush and were enjoying one another's company so I can let that one slide.
My egg omelet with hummus, spinach and asiago cheese was good. However, my friend who ordered the bruschetta with the anchovy salad was gravely disappointed as was my other friend who indulged in blueberry pancakes with FROZEN blueberries as a topping. I'm sorry but seriously?! Frozen blueberries? If blueberries aren't in season then pick a different fruit.
Sadly, I can only award Grocery Bistro 2 stars. I had high expectations but am sorely disappointed.
People thought this was:
Ummm, I die.
Seriously. We're in a little thing called a recession and if there's one thing I'm grateful for, it's a BYOB with amazing food that makes you think "I can dine out on a budget and be thoroughly impressed"
It's a very hip spot in the West Loop. Expect a wait with or without a reservation. Expect some great service. Expect a louder atmopshere. Expect to pay not a lot for some fabulous food.
We ordered two apps - the marinated tomato salad (ridiculous) and the whole wheat brushetta. Both started things off right.
For entrees, I chose the white fish w an herb bacon crust. It was seriously delicious.
To top things off, we did the Cookie Dough Risotto. I honestly have no words. It was everything you could imagine and then some. Loved it.
Anyway, I highly recommend for a date, a girls night out or a casual dinner in the West Loop. I hear they have a great brunch AND lunch and will be back.
But again, expect to wait. And bring plenty of your own....
People thought this was:
This place is hot!
I dined here recently with a few of my favorite dining companions on our quest to try all of Chicago's hot spots, one restaurant at a time
The space is cute. Breezy and open with one big communal table in the middle but tons of individual tables lining the walls for more intimate seating with high back booths and white linen tablecloths. Is is date worthy, eh probably not, but ideal for coworkers, groups, friends, double dates for sure.
Sounds pretentious right? From the excellent service, to the cute chefs in the back and the down to earth prix fixe dinner special, Grocery Bistro is the farthest thing from pretentious. This place is BYOB and definitely more upscale than your neighborhood BYOB noodle place so bring the good bottle of wine that has been getting dusty on your counter/wine rack.
As for the prix fixe, its an absolute steal! Any full size appetizer, entree and dessert for $25. We took full advantage of this and set out to try as many menu items as possible. I being on a fish kick for the moment, enjoyed the baked lump crab stuffed pepper appetizer and the white fish with a herb-bacon crust. Both were sinful and delicious. I would recommend those to anyone who steps into that place. My friends got the leek soup (light and creamy), the onion tart (the onions were perfectly caramelized), the house burger and the chili crusted lamb chops. We also ordered a side of yogurt spinach, which was a bit too soupy for me and side of the gorgonzola polenta which I could eat with ever ymeal.
As for the desserts, after a FANTASTIC meal, I just wasn't that wow'd. They were all good and very creative but I was not enthusiastically chowing down like the rest of my meal. A few bites here and there and I was good. I look forward to future desserts that might change on the menu.
Overall, GO, go now! I think this place is worth every penny prix fixe or not so get in there quick. Don't forget to make reservations!
People thought this was:
Went for lunch.
It was decent food, but nothing special at all. Basic sandwiches and soups.
Service SUCKED.
Only 4 tables were filled and there were two waiters, yet we had to ask 3 times for water and silverware. I didn't get a spoon until my soup had been sitting in front of me for 5+ minutes.
It took forever to get our food, including a 30 minute wait for our dessert, which was just basically a microwaved cookie.
Oh, and here's a tip, cuban sandwiches are supposed to be pressed and cheesy. yours were neither.
avoid, there's better..
People thought this was:
Miserable joint with terrible service, hideous lighting, cumbersome utensils and an unimaginative menu. We were the first diners there and they were already out of five dishes.
People thought this was:
Duo of Tuna: the tuna in the tempura roll was warm...almost hot, no tempura to speak of on the roll and it was pretty tasteless.
Lobster Brandade: very gluey, ok flavor and the garlic bread was actually thyme flavored pita chips.
Cheese Plate: cheeses were good, it came with four olives...yeah, four olives and a tiny pile of toasted pecans and walnuts...and no bread.
We ordered the frites with truffle aioli, but it never came and we were so disappointed with the food that we didn't care.
Big disappointment all around and to top it all off, my friend and I became very ill the next morning. Maybe it was the warm tuna!
People thought this was:
Interesting and creative food. I would go back for sure but i wouldn't make it a regular thing. Great place to try at least once. The communal table in the middle was a bit weird but ended up being cool. It forces you to converse with nearby diners so be in the mood to be social if you sit there because it WILL happen.
If they still have it try the white fish.
People thought this was:
This place (and it's nicely priced prie fixe menu) is such a treat for a long weekday lunch. It's like having a fine, decadent dinner in a shorter amount of time but with the same classiness and great service. I went here with a friend for my birthday lunch and I had a light caesar salad; a deliciously fancy BLT; and a warm, freshly baked cookie all for under $20. I definitely felt pampered, and I would certainly come back if I had the extra time and needed a treat. I'd love to try brunch or dinner one day too.
People thought this was:
5-star restaurant.
+
2-star experience.
_______________
3-star rating
Scene: 6pm on a Monday, a nearly empty restaurant (though I knew better...tis why I picked this time/day). Rainy. I'm expectant, ready to dine, ready to indulge in the West Loop's newest foodchild.
Me: Hello, we'll just need a quick table for 3, we'll not be drinking...
Host (frantic): Oh, we are totally booked, you don't have a reservation?
Me (looking around at at least 12 open tables): Um, no...do I need one?
Host (more frantic): Well, yes...I think so, let me look, let me look.
Me: Ok, take your time...
She then proceeds to stare at a seating chart, apparently trying to will openings. Obviously, this type of mind power doesn't always work...but somehow they (host + manager) managed to find our group a seat...in the middle of a very long table (middle of restaurant), sandwiched between two parties. Even though the end of the table (away from the large group of 6 at the other end) suited a party of 3 just dandy (an end seat) we were awkwardly smushed in the center...why? I still cannot figure out, but likely it played into the entire experience. As then there was an empty at the end, and empty next to me. Oh well :)
You see, when you are crammed between parties with no space and the restaurant buzz is bouncing to and fro in every direction, it is not only hard to hear each other, it is impossible to discuss options with a server. Had she been interested in telling us anything about the menu, that is....hmmmm.
Anyway, onto the food...
A $25 prix fixe from 5pm-7pm Monday-Friday. A stellar deal, on any account. Good for one option from the hot and cold shared plates, one entree and one dessert.
Chopped BLT salad with corn dressing and poached egg: very....wet. Almost soggy. Egg was a very nice touch, but I would've preferred a sharper taste. It was a bit disappointing.
Lamb Chops: (I did ask the server her opinion between the bacon crusted whitefish and the lamb chops, she simply answered the "lamb chops" with no further explanation, hmmmm. again.). Anyway, they were bone-in and very difficult to eat without a steak knife. Cooked well, and the creamed spinach and curried couscous was quite good. Overall, I would've been better off with the whitefish, which my friend ordered and I sampled. Much better, lighter, and easier to eat...
Peanut Butter Mousse and Jelly Sandwich with shot of cold milk: Ok, now we're talkin'. This saved it for me, as my app and entree were not as impressive as I was wishin' them to be. But, PBJ for dessert!? I must admit I'd eat PBJ for each meal if allowed, so serve it up all fancy with a shot of cold milk out of a martini shaker? SOLD. I'd go just for this...the others I sampled: bacon/banana tiramasu and cookie dough risotto: eh, not overly impressed. Though, the thought is there...just needs a bit more on the execution. Is there a pastry chef in the house!?
Overall, the $25 prix fixe is a phenomenal value, and with Perman Wine Selections next door...you can't beat the BYOB 1-2 punch. However, my experience was lacking from beginning til *almost the end (PBJ redemption), so I just cannot justify over 3 stars.
Will I come back? Most definitely. Will I make a reservation for a side table? Most definitely. Will I order better? Yes. Will I make sure to be drinking? Of course.
Worth a shot.
People thought this was:
I was disappointed. I made a 9:30 reservation on a Saturday night for a group of 15. We didn't get seated until 10pm. The hostess was kind of rude, and told me multiple times that the party before us had paid, but they were just waiting for them to leave. Hello... you are the hostess of a brand new restaurant. Rolling your eyes at me does not make the best impression.
I admit that I loved the low lighting/candlelight, large wood communal table (although not very good for group dining as you would think) and variety of background music.
However, the food was just ok.
The good -
- Oysters on the half shell - I had a half dozen delicious Kumamotos, and they went down pretty quickly. It was a fantastic way to start my meal.
- Side of Gorgonzola Polenta - I am having dreams about this dish I loved it so much.
- Potato and leek veloute with baked pancetta - I tried someone else's, and stared in envy as he devoured it.
I had the lamb chops, and they were just ok. A steak knife would have helped my eating experience as it was cumbersome using a dull knife on chops. The spinach and couscous was a nice touch, but didn't exactly impress me either.
My friend said her tuna tartare was awful.
Things that Irritated Me:
- Everybody's appetizer did not come out at the same time. I understand if it takes a few minutes between each to come out, but we had to wait 10 minutes and then another 10 minutes and then another 10 minutes. By the time every had their appetizer, we were there for 45 minutes.
- Corkage fee - $5 for the first bottle and $10 for every bottle after that. Are you nuts?
- We had a "special" dessert made by the chef's mom. If 15 people can't finish even half of each dessert, that's a bad sign.
- After dinner, we waited outside for valet and two older men approached us. I assume they are affiliated with the restaurant as they started asking us what we liked and didn't like about the restaurant. I'm pretty blunt and honest about everything and I gave them my opinion. They were very defensive. They then asked us which restaurants we liked the most.... and then they bashed every restaurant we mentioned.
I was very disappointed with my experience here... I might come back in a smaller group after they've gone through their growing pains as there are a few menu items I'd love to try.
People thought this was:
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