House Red Vinoteca, Forest Park

It looks like there is already a post, an old post, dedicated to House Red, but since it focuses on the retail component the restaurant probably deserves its own post. Because yes, House Red is also a restaurant. I always knew it as a wine shop until a friend threw a benefit there, and delicious small plates and snacks were passed around. Several months later we had friends who dined there, underscoring the apparently little known fact that, yes, as a chalkboard written sign in the window imparts, you can dine there, but also that the food is excellent. So last night my wife and I went to House Red and can confirm that, indeed, the exposed-brick atmosphere, service and most importantly the food is across the board strong.

The dinner menu (offered six nights a week) may not be sprawling and comprehensive, but it is well-considered and expertly prepared. We ordered the five-item charcuterie, with a pair of great cheeses and three cuts of meat, as well as the usual spreads, bread and a small pile of perfectly dressed salad. For our entrees we split a couple of dishes, a bullseye medium rare steak (Grass Run Farm skirt steak, parsnip puree, brussels sprouts, candied bacon, potato, portobello) and the smoked trout salad (smoked trout, blood orange, chicory, celery root, remoulade), both wonderfully prepared and subtly sophisticated in composition and flavor. Obviously there are a number of wines to choose from, and from listening to adjacent tables order they did a great job describing the myriad choices and flight options.

If the dishes were slightly smaller than expected for the price point, their uniform excellence and quality of ingredients were worth the modest premium. Frankly, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the entire experience and the discovery of yet another Forest Park gem that easily surpasses the best of Oak Park (and equals several city spots), every bit the match of Autre Monde and often, per my preferences, superior. Can't wait to come back.

House Red Vinoteca
7403 W. Madison St.
Forest Park, IL
708.771.7733
http://www.houseredvinoteca.com/

I have been there a few times and have been pleasantly surprised each time. Good food, Good wine in a nice atmosphere

Looks like it is CLOSED.

bobbywal wrote:Looks like it is CLOSED.

How did you come to know this?

Thanks,

=R=
for the Moderators

Offering a little assistance, it appears they announced their final service would be 3 weeks from a post dated May 5th
https://www.facebook.com/HouseRedWineBar/posts/10153306702258330

Sad, I didn't get there enough, but it was a tremendous little place.

incite wrote:Offering a little assistance, it appears they announced their final service would be 3 weeks from a post dated May 5th
https://www.facebook.com/HouseRedWineBar/posts/10153306702258330

Sorry for the late reply, I walked past it that day and it was completely shuttered with no sign of the former business inside. Then checked out a couple of websites including the one above. I was only in there a couple of times but found it to be a nice enough place.