gastropubs

Hi Everyone,
I was trying to find some more gastropubs in the city. I know of two, the hopleaf and the gage, but was hoping that people might know of others.
Thanks,
dan

dkimerling wrote:Hi Everyone,
I was trying to find some more gastropubs in the city. I know of two, the hopleaf and the gage, but was hoping that people might know of others.
Thanks,
dan

One might consider Bluebird Bistro a gastropub as ewll.

I think Paramount Room, near Milwaukee and Desplaines, could be considered a gastropub.

Tavern on the Park might qualify as a gastropub.

Cooper's might, as well. It's run by the people who use to run Menagerie. BBQ is a focus of the menu. They also have interesting and well-made sandwiches and many great beers. It's on Belmont, a bit west of Racine.

Bad Dog in Lincoln Square has food that is a notch above the standard North Side bar-n-grille. I don't know if you'd consider it a gastropub, but it gets pretty close in my book.

Kuma's Corner, which is well covered on this board, also serves good food in a casual, bar-like atmosphere.

A rough list of gastropubs. It's a pretty nebulous term - in my mind, it's a pub with surprisingly good food. The term was first applied to the Eagle, a London pub, in the early 1990s.

As much as I love Kuma's, to me it's not a gastropub - it's a great beer and burger joint. However, I am sure others would disagree!

The Gage - although perhaps a little skewed towards fine dining
Hopleaf - the real deal. http://hopleaf.com/
The Bristol - http://www.thebristolchicago.com/
The Bluebird - although no draft beer. http://www.bluebirdchicago.com/

I think the definition of gastropub is essential to this question.

It's obviously not clearly defined, but I'd say any restaurant that serves great "pub" food and also serves great beer qualifies. However, I think in addition to being good, the food at a gastropub has to aspire to be something more than just pub food. So in my book Kuma's, the Gage, Hop Leaf, Paramount Room, and Cooper's all qualify.

Some examples of restaurants that I wouldn't call gastropubs

Publican - since it does not serve pub food in the traditional sense, I'd say it falls under the restaurant with good beer selection heading
Sheffield's - I'd say this is a bar that happens to have good food, but not a gastropub because the food is not an integral part of the experience there

I think Goose Island is an interesting example. While it is clearly a brew pub, I think that the food is interesting enough and important enough to make it a gastropub as well.

DanInLakeview wrote:Cooper's might, as well. It's run by the people who use to run Menagerie. BBQ is a focus of the menu. They also have interesting and well-made sandwiches and many great beers. It's on Belmont, a bit west of Racine.

I believe Mandy and Craig sold their interests in Cooper's to open The Bad Apple, 4300 N Lincoln.

The GP wrote:

DanInLakeview wrote:Cooper's might, as well. It's run by the people who use to run Menagerie. BBQ is a focus of the menu. They also have interesting and well-made sandwiches and many great beers. It's on Belmont, a bit west of Racine.

I believe Mandy and Craig sold their interests in Cooper's to open The Bad Apple, 4300 N Lincoln.

not sure if it was directly related to the opening of the Bad Apple, but per a conversation I had with Mandy, 'tis true that she and Craig no longer have anything to do with Cooper's.