I was just there this weekend. It looks like Jason Hammel is running the kitchen; I'm not sure what happened to Shae.

It's different; still very much Nightwood but different without Jason Vincent. Very good, a solid meal, but different. I can't quite put my finger on it. I did notice that a lot of the dishes we tried had a background taste of vinegar. It wasn't bad on any individual dish, but when you put all the dishes together, it was a noticeable theme (not sure if it was intentional). The pasta appetizer seemed slightly undercooked and didn't blow me away. The chicken thigh was beautifully cooked and flavorful. The house-made spaghetti was spot on. I really like the addition of vegetable sides on the menu; both the brussel sprouts and cauliflower sides were delicious (though both had a subtle taste of vinegar). The pasty chef is amazing, we loved all of the desserts.

I'll be going back, probably often, but the nostalgia for the old Nightwood will always be there.

A very enjoyable evening last night at the kitchen counter. Arriving after a walk from parking the car, the warmth of the kitchen was welcoming and appreciated.

Started with two great cocktails, which I can't recall all of the ingredients, a riff off of a Manhattan (Life of the Mind) and a Negroni (Muncie Girl).

We shared and app and two vegetable side to start. The wood-roasted 'Beau Soleil' oysters with sorrel, olive oil and satsuma mignonette were awesome. We rarely order oysters, since we aren't really fans of raw oysters, but would eat these anytime. Fabulous Brussels sprouts with cider vinaigrette, prunes, and wood roasted pecans where cooked perfectly. After our server said the carrots were her favorite vegetable on the menu, we took her advice. Initially, thought they were similar to a prep I make at home, but changed our mind with her rec. Butter roasted Genesis Grower's carrots (purple, yellow, and orange) with grated bottarga and grilled lemons. All three plates were delicious.

I had wild huckleberry glazed smoked pork belly, over quinoa, grilled red cabbage, jalapeno, and shiso. I like the dish a lot, but my wife felt it was very salty. Either I became accustomed to the level of salt, or some pieces were more salty than others. She changed her mind about the arctic char and ordered the wood grilled duck breast with sweet potato and cipollini, fried sorghum, and pomegranate duck jus. I love duck, but grilled duck breast is not something I usually order.

Finished our cocktail with the oysters and the roasted veg sides and the mains were very nice with an old Barolo.

We asked the pastry chef for her rec of the ricotta fritters or cake. She just put the cake on the menu and it was excellent. Lemon poppyseed cake with meyer lemon curd, kumquats, blood oranges, and a quenelle of her buttermilk ice cream. Always enjoy the 'Lula' blend Intelligentsia coffee.

Always a fun evening to sit at Lula or Nightwood's counter to observe and chat with the chefs, last night Jason Hammel and the pastry chef.

Went here for dinner last night, and had a pretty good meal, but a bit uneven. Started with a couple cocktails, which were good, but hers was a bit too sweet for my tastes (Unpainted Arizona). Then we ordered the spinach and endive salad, oysters, burrata, spaghetti alla chitarra and hanger steak. The salad and burrata were delicious, but the oysters were not. I will say that I am generally not a huge fish/seafood person (but my date enjoys it), but I really liked the oysters at Publican. These were fishy though, and just not good (date agreed). The spaghetti was also really good, with perfectly cooked noodles. The hanger steak was a bit disappointing though.

The water guy was a little much though - he literally was refilling our glasses after every couple sips.

All in all, a good meal.

As has been posted and reported elsewhere, including here and on their facebook page, Nightwood is closing on July 11. Really a shame. It seems they were not able to pick up and carry on after Jason Vincent's departure, though that was over a year ago. And Jason Hammel is also one helluva chef. In any case, some of my favorite meals ever were at Nightwood and I always remember them fondly.

From their facebook page:

After six years at 21st and Halsted, Nightwood will have its final service on Saturday, July 11, 2015. The restaurant continues to be a beautiful and fruitful place, with a dedicated and much-loved service staff and some of the most talented, hilarious, and thoughtful cooks and dishwashers I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

At this time we’d like to thank everyone who has helped build Nightwood into the great restaurant it is. We’re grateful for the opportunity to have shared the fruits of our work with all of you.

So now, we invite you to join us in celebrating our beloved Nightwood one last time. From here on out, we will be open for dinner Monday through Saturday and brunch on Sunday as normal. We will be closed for the 4th of July holiday and for our annual staff appreciation party on July 6. I will be manning the stoves until the final plate goes out.

Nightwood was named after a mysterious and bizarre changeling of a novel, with the thinking that this space could develop and evolve as it grew. While we announce the last chapter today, we anticipate the possibility of a new plot line in the future.

As for us? We look forward to spending more time with our families and children and focusing on upcoming projects. Stay tuned.

With much respect and gratitude for all who have supported us,

Jason Hammel, Matt Eisler and Kevin Heisner

=R=

Just read this in Eater, I loved Nightwood and I'm really sad about this.

Former Nightwood chef Jason Vincent is ready to get back into the kitchen after a two-year hiatus.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... nt-is-back

http://chicago.eater.com/2016/2/8/10938 ... uare-giant