The Beer Bistro

In the "better than it needs to be" category is some credible cooking going on at the Lincoln Park location of (The) Beer Bistro, in what was notably and briefly (a) SmallBar and Rene-G-knows-what-else. Sliders - including fishwich, patty melt, and prime rib varieties - and some flavorful appetizers including buffalo calamari and a creamy mac, are earmarked with creative pairings. Their burgers on a few recent visits have been solid.

The thing that's tipping me into actually writing up pub food in an overloud space with customarily indifferent service is that they had a set of sub-$7 St. Patty's Day plates this month which were just really good. The corned beef and cabbage dinner featured nice boiled new potatoes, butter-drenched lightly caramelized cabbage wedges, tender and flavorful beef (crisped edges, not too salty), and nice soda bread, all for a pittance. Reubens with homemade chips down the table were scarfed. I feel like they were doing some social good filling people up this past week. YMMV back in Ordinary Time. I haven't been to the West Loop location for years, but the tap list looks strong and friends tell me they are showing some recent care there as well. Bell's Bourbon Barrel Aged Cherry Stout goes a long way.

The Beer Bistro
West Loop
1061 West Madison
312.433.0013

North (Lincoln Park)
1415 West Fullerton
http://thebeerbistro.com/