Bar Marta

Mrs Willie & I had dinner at Bar Marta this past Saturday evening.

Started with some nice cocktails

Small plates:
CHICKEN LIVER TOAST w/chilis, crispy chicken skin (served warm)
BEEF TARTARE w/capers, almonds, harissa
BRAISED OCTOPUS potato, scallion, spicy sauce
Entree:
BANGS ISLAND MUSSELS guajillo pork broth, cilantro, toast

Bar Marta LOVES their toast, big thick slices of bread accompanied the chicken liver, beef tartare, mussels. A bit thick.

The chicken liver was a mousse spread on the bread, toasted, then topped with a few slices of chilis & pieces of crispy chicken skin. Mrs Willie & I adore chicken liver so no surprise we liked this dish.

Beef Tartare had been listed as lamb on their online menu so while we enjoy beef, we were a bit let down as we were in the mood for lamb. An ok tartare

Braised Octopus was cooked perfectly as were the potatoes, a really tasty dish but sadly there were many many slices of different potatoes but few pieces/slices of octopus.

Mussels were done perfectly and this time the thick bread was appreciated to soak up the broth.

Suggest getting a table that isn't next to the bar as when crowded, the selfish folks at the bar tend to spill over one's table with their clothes/accessories. Thankfully we were about done when this started.

Bar Marta
2700 W. CHICAGO AVE
CHICAGO IL, 60622
773.697.4489
http://www.barmarta.com/

Edited to add: BR had made a post about Bar Marta and chicken bread here: viewtopic.php?p=506328#p506328
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If you like Chicken Livers, when up in Waukesha County, plan a stop to Kurt's Steakhouse in Delafield. They make the same ones that Sally Papia did at her former place downtown. Kurt was her cook. On my first visit there years ago, shortly after they opened, they were not on the menu, so I had the server ask if they could make them. Affirmative. They are now on the menu and are fantastic. Sometimes I just go sit at their bar with a cocktail and order those babies. Worth a visit.