BellyQ Is Now Open! (8-23-12)

Bill Kim (Urban Belly, Belly Shack) has a new restaurant in the old Onesixtyblue space and it opened today! I am a big fan of both of his other places so I was looking forward to this opening, especially since it's only about 3-4 blocks from my office and it has lunch service.

The lunch service starts at 11AM and is from a counter setup branded as BQ 2 GO. But you don't actually have to go, as they have a separate dining area just for BQ 2 GO customers. The dinner service I think starts at 5PM today so really BellyQ isn't truly open as I write this, but the BQ 2 GO is.

The BQ 2 GO menu doesn't actually include any of the Asian inspired BBQ we have been hearing would be a staple at this new spot. Instead it is exclusively salads and rice paper wraps (just two!). You can create your own "Custom Made Salad" for $11 with a choice of Lemongrass Chicken, Thai Roast Beef or Southeast Asian Marinated Salmon along with a wide selection of greens and vegetables and three dressings. They also have a few "Chef Recommended Salads" for $9-10 and the two rice paper wraps: one with the Lemongrass Chicken and one with the Thai Roast Beef ($10 each).

I had the "Chef Recommended" Salmon, with black bean salsa, Avocado, and Mixed Greens (for $10). It also had tomatoes and some other veg as well. It was very tasty and was made fresh right in front of me. I thought it was a tad overdressed, but it was very good. I also had the $4 Lemon Berry Iced Tea, which I enjoyed but I doubt I'll ever buy again at $4 a cup. I saw Bill Kim walking by and congratulated him on the space. It's huge. We chatted for a minute and I asked him about the lack of BBQ items on the 2 GO menu. He said the menu for the 2 GO section is a work in progress and expect to see chilis, soups and eventually even the full dinner menu be available. Just don't ask him when. I also asked him to bring the lemonade from Belly Shack over. He didn't say no.

The space is very modern and "cool" looking with nary a trace of anything from the old Onesixtyblue days. I did think the tables in the main dining room looked a little close together but we shall see. They had a small army of waiters all dressed in black making the rounds getting ready for the expected rush at dinner.

I will definitely be back (often) for lunch and look forward to someone else reporting about the dinner service. I wish Bill and the restaurant all the best. I'm very happy to have another good place to walk to lunch.

Here's my salad:


http://www.bellyqchicago.com/default.html
1400 W. Randolph St. | 312-563-1010

So, lemme see if I've got this right - an Asian BBQ joint that doesn't have anything of the sort?
$4 iced tea? $10 roast beef/rice paper wraps?

Yup, sounds like a Bill Kim joint.


Pass.

To be clear, I previously read that there would be at-table grilling at a number of tables, and the menu confirms this with four items that they indicate can be grilled at your table. Sure sounds like Korean-inspired bbq to me. The menu also indicates that even if you're not sitting at one of the tables with a grill, you can have the kitchen grill the item(s) for you so don't fret.

Yes, I understood Dirk's initial post -- I just find it odd that the "BQ2Go" menu is only wraps and salads -- which seem horribly overpriced, as per usual. I'm still reeling from a meal at Urban Belly where I paid $25 for a bowl of ramen, 4 tiny dumplings, and a bottle of soda...and ordered from a counter. And honestly, the ramen wasn't a patch on what I've had elsewhere, especially at Minca or Ippudo in NYC.

Also, what's up with the ridiculous "urbanese" on the menu? "Kick back - we got this" & "What 'chu want?" Seriously?

drschwitters wrote:Yes, I understood Dirk's initial post -- I just find it odd that the "BQ2Go" menu is only wraps and salads -- which seem horribly overpriced, as per usual. I'm still reeling from a meal at Urban Belly where I paid $25 for a bowl of ramen, 4 tiny dumplings, and a bottle of soda...and ordered from a counter. And honestly, the ramen wasn't a patch on what I've had elsewhere, especially at Minca or Ippudo in NYC.

Given the prices in the city, that salad hardly looks "horribly overpriced" at $10. And, as usual, the market will dictate if a place is "overpriced". Seems like Belly Shack and Urban Belly have survived a few years at their current prices so they must be doing something right.

Let me just chime in that I didn't find the salad overpriced at all. Is it cheap or inexpensive? No. It is not. But my favorite salads at local other lunch spots range around the same IF you add some protein.

The iced tea DID seem overpriced to me. The lemonade at Belly Shack might be the same price (I don't recall) but you get your own little carafe so it's more like 2 or possibly even 3 drinks.

I did think it odd that there was no BBQ on the to go menu and mentioned that to Bill. As I relayed he said the to go menu was evolving and things would (eventually?) get added.

It's a shame there aren't some inexpensive side dishes or appetizer type dishes on the to go menu either. There is a Lentil/Tofu soup for $6, but it would be nice to have something like Belly Shacks' fries.

Is it possible that you can order other items to go, but they just aren't on the to-go menu as it's currently displayed?

Maybe. I was looking at the full menu on line last week and found the SIDES and BITES sections. I think I saw some Kimchi boxed up in the to go area, but it wasn't marked and it wasn't on the to go menu so I didn't ask. But I can't imagine they wouldn't sell you THAT. As to anything else on the menu, I don't think they will sell it to you as they have their own prep area and they don't seem to be going to the main kitchen at all for the to go items.

Anybody go there for dinner yet??

Any updates on this place? I am going with some friends tonight and looking for any recommendations.

hmm, yeah, I LOVE the drinks here. Some fantastic cocktails as well as excellent non-alcoholic options that are still very adult like the drinking vinegars. The food however leaves a bit to be desired. They told me the kimchi is a "quick pickle" of sorts, just cabbage/peppers and vinegar. It kind of epitomizes things for me there- looks nice, looks like kimchi, tastes like cabbage in vinegar with not much of a kick and certainly none of the funkiness that makes the real thing so fabulous. My friends and I ordered almost everything on the menu and there was an undercurrent of sameness and blandness throughout all of them.

I'd say that the hot pots were the unexpected star of the night and the bland tea-smoked duck was the biggest disappointment.

I do like the take out though. It's hard to find a salad that is filling AND tasty. They have them, albeit at a price. Also the other stuff at the lunch counter is a variety of kimchis, pickles, and salads that they told me about that aren't listed on the menu.

Myself and 3 friends dined there last night. We did a couple apps, 3 apps and 3 main dishes to split. Their were some dishes all loved and some that were mixed reviews.

1)Butter poached shrimp with red that curry sauce and noodles. This was a really well done dish, the shrimp were wonderfully poached and full of flavor and the noodles with the curry sauce added a nice bite to go with the rich texture/flavor of the butter poached shrimp
2) Addictive Edamame with soy-balsamic sauce- It was pretty tasty at first but the sauce just became too much quickly. Besides, who gets really excited about edamame?
3)Spinach with chinese sausage- My buddy went nuts with this stuff. I thought it decent but nothing special at all.
4) Eggplant with Thai basil- This was maybe my favorite dish of the night. Wonderful flavor throughout and the Thai basil brought a really interesting taste to the dish that really set it apart
5) Kimchi- For those who have been to urban belly you have had this dish. It is ok but again not really great kimchi
6) Korean Short rib- A perfectly decent rendition of this. It is this point that you feel that the place is a bit overpriced. $20 for 8 pieces that you could get for much less at many korean places elesewhere.
7) Tea smoked duck- A very delicate taste to the duck. We ordered everything up front and asked the server to course it out and he brought this out after the short rib and i really think it suffered for it. The taste was good but it is not an in the face flavor.
Lamb Rib with Hoisin- Rosemary bbq sauce- THIS was a truly memorable dish. The ribs were fall off the bone tender, wonderfully flavored served with an asian slaw and steamed buns. I would go back to do the eggplant and this dish alone.

The food only cost was about 20-25/head for 4 of us. We also did a round of the red lotus drinks, very good, light and refreshing, and a bottle of sake that was pretty decent.

I think the place has some definite wins on it, but it is not the type of place you can order anything and be sure you will be happy with it. Order carefully.

Can I nominate BellyQ for the worst restaurant website of 2012? Seriously - just try looking at a menu online - I haven't seen a website this bad since the 90s.

Actually, come to think of it, this is worse than any website in the 90s, because the static websites were just ugly or counterintuitive at worst. Here, it actively fights your efforts at learning something useful about the restaurant.

I have lunch reservations today - I'm tempted to cancel just because I hate the website so much. I just don't want my money giving anyone an incentive to commit such crimes in the future.

Egad, you weren't kidding, George. What a mess!

Independent George wrote:Can I nominate BellyQ for the worst restaurant website of 2012? Seriously - just try looking at a menu online - I haven't seen a website this bad since the 90s.

Actually, come to think of it, this is worse than any website in the 90s, because the static websites were just ugly or counterintuitive at worst. Here, it actively fights your efforts at learning something useful about the restaurant.

I have lunch reservations today - I'm tempted to cancel just because I hate the website so much. I just don't want my money giving anyone an incentive to commit such crimes in the future.

Urgh -- try it on a smartphone. One of my pet peeves is PDF-based menus, since you must download and view, but Flash-based menus are even worse. I can't even get to the dinner menu.

Independent George wrote:Can I nominate BellyQ for the worst restaurant website of 2012? Seriously - just try looking at a menu online - I haven't seen a website this bad since the 90s.

Actually, come to think of it, this is worse than any website in the 90s, because the static websites were just ugly or counterintuitive at worst. Here, it actively fights your efforts at learning something useful about the restaurant.

I have lunch reservations today - I'm tempted to cancel just because I hate the website so much. I just don't want my money giving anyone an incentive to commit such crimes in the future.

I'm on a very fast connection on a top of the line computer and it took over a minute and a half to load.

Took a friend out here last month to check it out, (he's a chef and owns a successful restaurant that's been featured on triple D), and we both found it extremely disappointing. First of all, it's a great space and the interior is nice and spacious enough to come here just for their drinks (and maybe karaoke if you're into that). I think his other establishments are hit or miss but with BellyQ we both agreed that food wise everything was simply off and overpriced. (not a good combo)

What we ordered

Thai style fried chicken 9- Decent, but nothing noteworthy if you've already tried Crisp or korean friend chicken before.

Crispy Tofu with sweet and sour Plum sauce 8- again, nothing special, *and I'm a fan of crispy tofu

Chef's Kimchi 3- Being well versed in Kimchi, his Kimchi was bizzare. I'm all for creativity and altering traditional standby, but only if it's an enhancement, to us this was inedible.

Double smoked bacon and kimchi pancake 8- as we mentioned, we weren't fans of the kimchi but I barely detected any smoked flavor.

Korean Shortrib 20- For the amount, not worth 20 (which is ok, since we're not in koreatown) but the cut of meat was so thin you'll be hard pressed to get full of this portion. Nevertheless my friend thought this was the only decent offering overall from what we ordered which passed the taste test. Too me the marinate they used was a bit too sweet.

Pork Steak with crispy shallot and and sun dried tomatoes 18- this was probably the most disappointing item overall, we were unlucky since it came undercooked, then after it was recooked it simply lacked any memorable flavor.

Tofu hot pot (seafood) 14- meager bits of seafood and bland.

Overall we left confused and a bit angry even. We wondered if it was a case of the emperor has no clothes. In the end, it doesn't matter what I think, as the place was packed, time will tell if they can sustain this establishment. (Which I would guess they can, since the interior is swank and modern, the drinks creative and the prime location) I assumed many of the diners who come here to dine often probably have not experienced asian food in their specific ethic enclaves so to them it might be passable, with nothing to compare it to. But as an asian myself, I found the offerings to all flash and no substance and doubt I will return. I get that rent must be extremely expensive here, and with this large of a space, prices will reflect a surcharge, but to me the flavors simply didn't mess well at all and this was one of the least memorable yet highly anticipated meals I've had all year.

I agree, I thought BellyQ was mediocre and left somewhat angry as well. I have eaten a lot of Korean BBQ (in the states and in Korea), and although I know it is not supposed to be a modern interpretation of BBQ, it really took all of the joy and funkiness out of the experience.

The kimchi was boring, as were the meats, and they didn't even bring out anything like red bean paste (or a twist on it) or anything.

Also, the service was an abomination. Drinks took 20 minutes, our waiter told us he wasn't allowed to taste the food, and they left empty glasses, plates, etc. on the table, but when they brought the additional food they would look at the table confused why there wasn't any room.

Jarvis wrote:Also, the service was an abomination... our waiter told us he wasn't allowed to taste the food...

As in, "here, taste this, it's awful" or, "dude, wanna bite, you look hungry"???

Anyone been here recently? We're going tonight, since my wife had a good experience here a while back, and I'm wondering whether the mood has shifted more pro or even more con.

I ate here with a group a couple of months ago and have been meaning to post about it. I was quite disappointed in the meal. Frankly, it felt like a good chef who decided to put out easy, non-offensive food for the masses. That's how the waiter treated us, too. First he had to explain the concept of sharing plates. Then he went through and told us his favorite, can't miss dishes. All questions were answered as if we had no prior knowledge of food. I can get over this if the food was good, but it wasn't. There was no complexity to the flavors of any of the dishes. None of the dishes made me want to come back and order them again.

We hit them up tonight for the Restaurant Week menu
Starters were carrot soup (scallions and asian pear) and Thai fried chicken. Soup was nice and rich, chicken crisp with spicy sweet sauce that had some nice fish sauce funk (not bottled goo), but I'd have preferred thigh over boneless breast. Generous portion on the chicken, less so with the soup (the other choice was a Caesar salad with almonds and chickpeas).

Mains were a Berkshire pork chop a maple sake glaze with rice and slaw, and smoked wagyu tri-tip with pickles and potatoes (third option was a seafood curry).
The chop was very good, perfectly cooked and flavorful (but couldn't detect the maple-sake glaze). The tri-tip was awesome: sliced nearly rare with good smoke flavor. It's not on the main menu, so go now. Their sauces are also very tasty, but don't waste the wagyu in sauce.

Dessert was the cinnamon doughnuts without the ice cream on the regular menu.

Service was a little mixed: First off the whole place was quite cold and drafty, and our server was daft enough to say that the water choices were sparkling and "distilled" (no, you generally don't want to drink distilled because it has no flavor). Our mains came out the second we finished the starters, and I thought we were being rushed out because of restaurant week, but we didn't see a sign of our server for about 20 minutes after we finished (could have used another bottle of water).

For $33 apiece, it's a good value compared to the regular menu -- I don't think they skimped on anything (except for the ice cream on the doughnuts) and prices on the regular mains average around $22. Can you get cheaper Korean BBQ elsewhere? Certainly, but not on (the west edge of) restaurant row, and it's a more refined dining experience, and very, very good food. The drinks prices, on the other hand, I thought were perhaps a bit high.

(edited months later when I noticed some autocorrect and basic grammar errors)

Had an enjoyable meal here with 5 people this past weekend. We didn't know or think about whether this was Korean BBQ; we approached is as a pan-asian restaurant, which is what I think it's trying to be. While nothing we ordered knocked my socks off, everything was good and the meal was a lot of fun. For those that like small plates, which is all we ordered, there was plenty to choose from. Service was excellent; very attentive, but not rushed.