Best Bar Food

Jeffrey Steingarten has a great article in September's Vogue (apologies - I wasn't able to find it online to link) where he discovers the merits of eating at the bar at great restaurants. No reservations, helpful, competent service from bartenders, no waiting for drinks, faster food, no need to dress up etc. He mentions eating at the bar at great NYC restaurants that would normally be difficult to secure a reservation, a lengthy multi-course affair, or just fancier than you might be up for. In Boston, I loved eating at Chez Henri's bar. While the pricier dining room offered good French-Cuban food, the well prepared Cuban sandwich and Mojitos in the bar was worth getting excited for. I would choosed to eat at Shaws Oyster Bar every time over the main dining room.

I did a couple of quick searches, but I didn't seem to find any threads on great bar food in Chicago - not really bars that serve good food, but more good restaurants with great bar menus where you can walk without a reservation and get a well-made cocktail and a more casual experience. Any thoughts?

This is actually my preferred way of dining, usually by myself, or with one other person.

There's a restaurant on Wilson, Fontana Grill, that has been far better at the bar than at a regular table. It works perfectly for their wine flights and you can get an amazing deal on Mondays. There is no different menu for bar versus table but the cevapicici (sp?) entree is a great deal at $10 if you like that type of Balkan fare. The pizzas and papparadelle are usually good choices too. Maybe it's the stellar customer service at the bar, but when my GF and I want to learn or try new wines, talk about improv, or just about anything, Mike the bartender is a great host for your evening.

I also like Bristol at the bar better than I do at the tables due to the acoustics. I think I posted about my experience in the Bristol thread.

Another place I tried recently like this was Custom House. The pork belly sandwich and the ice cream sandwich dessert was outstanding but it didn't feel as homey as the other places, but then again, they aren't striving for something more formal.

Mado would be a place that I would happily return to and sit at the bar. It has a similar feel, and food, to the Bristol.

Mado, May St. Market, Joe's Stone Crab.

I much prefer sitting at the bar at Avec to the tables.

In terms of "higher end" bar dining, I think Chicago is really lacking (especially compared to NYC).

I guess it depends what you mean by "higher end." Certainly in terms of volume, Chicago has fewer of those places than NYC, but I've had many a nice meal at the bars of the following places in our fine city: Graham Elliott, Vie, onesixtyblue, Sola, Blackbird, the Bristol, Mado, Joe's Stone Crab, Le Bouchon, Bistro Campagne, La Sardine, Lula, Tallulah, Aigre Doux (RIP), Frontera Grill, Katsu, Japonais, Piccolo Sogno, Prosecco, Avec, Landmark, Quartino, Pops for Champagne, Vinci, and May Street Market.

Thanks for the suggestions. A few places I've been meaning to try are included. After I've stidled up at the bar, I'll be sure to post about the experience.

fets wrote:Jeffrey Steingarten has a great article in September's Vogue (apologies - I wasn't able to find it online to link)

Slightly OT, but I've searched before, and it doesn't appear it's possible to access Steingarten's Vogue columns without a subscription. Or does anyone know of a link neither fets or I have found yet?

If not, in these troubled times I can't afford a subscription to Vogue if all I want to read in it are his columns, so I guess I'll have to wait for his next book.

Small Bar is pretty solid. NAV MAN loves pounding down that HellFire Burger and washin her down with some brewcats.

More often than not Mrs. Trpt and I have eaten at the bar at Frontera. Faster service, the food's the same and the bartenders are fun.

Katie wrote:

fets wrote:Jeffrey Steingarten has a great article in September's Vogue (apologies - I wasn't able to find it online to link)

Slightly OT, but I've searched before, and it doesn't appear it's possible to access Steingarten's Vogue columns without a subscription. Or does anyone know of a link neither fets or I have found yet?

If not, in these troubled times I can't afford a subscription to Vogue if all I want to read in it are his columns, so I guess I'll have to wait for his next book.

If you have a Chicago Public Library card in good standing, you can access Vogue articles from 4/2005 onwards through a data base on their website. Go to http://chicagopubliclibrary.org, click on A-Z Databases (under Online Research) and go to Proquest Magazines & Journals. You will be prompted for your library card number along the way.

If you do not live in Chicago, investigate your public library's web site. Most libraries offer some type of magazine database access so you may be able to find what you want.