no set rules. most of the time, they have poured a small glass and asked us where we would like to send it.
That being said, the first time we went our waiter awkwardly told us about the corkage policy (which we already knew) and proceeded to just pour a glass and take it away. no idea what happened. very strange.
Since then, we bring a good, but not great bottle with. Love the food and ambiance, but their wine situation is weak to ok at best. corkage is just awkward.
Chicago’s 2018 Bib Gourmands
The Angry Crab
Arami
Au Cheval
Avec
bellyQ
Bohemian House
The Bristol
Ceres’ Table
Chilam Balam
Cumin
DeCOLORES
Dos Urban Cantina
Dove’s Luncheonette
The Duck Inn
Fat Rice
Frontera Grill
Giant
Gilt Bar
Girl & The Goat
Green Zebra
GT Fish & Oyster
HaiSous
Han 202
Herb
Hopleaf
Jaipur
Jam
Jin Thai
Kai Zan
Longman & Eagle
Luella’s Southern Kitchen
Lula Cafe
Mana Food Bar
Mango Pickle
Maude’s Liquor Bar
mfk.
Mi Tocaya Antojeria
MingHin
Mott St.
Nana
Pleasant House Pub
The Publican
The Purple Pig
Quiote
Sabri Nihari
San Soo Gab San
Smoque BBQ
Sol de Mexico
Sushi Dokku
Table, Donkey and Stick
True Food Kitchen
TWO
Untitled Supper Club
Wood
I don’t think it is the first of the month. For example January tickets were released yesterday. Saturdays are sold out but there are Fridays. I would suggest following them on social media as they always announce when tickets are released on twitter and FB. I was interested in Feb also so I will see if I can find out when they release those.
They will also sometimes release day of tickets on social media but that is tough when you don’t live in town.
So Chicago I am just not clicking with your restaurants.
I stayed in town after a business meeting simply to have dinner and see a friend DJ. The main purpose was to try another restaurant. I chose Smyth. I reserved for the 12 course tasting menu, paid in advance through tock and as normal with tock restaurants got a questionnaire which I appreciate and dutifully filled out. I wrote that I would prefer not to have Foie Gras or Wagyu, why? I am simply bored with them and I eat out too much and for health reasons would rather avoid them. Of course there was one out of the 12 dishes with Foie Gras. The somm asked me if I would be ok with the dish if it had just a little Foie Gras and not wanting to be a jerk I said ok. I thought this was odd at a 2 star michelin restaurants and it turned me off a bit. When the dish came out it was mostly Fois Gras and I did not eat it. No one asked why? The overall meal was very uneven and nowhere near what I would expect for the price point. The servers seem to worship the Chef who was not there because in the server’s words he needed a break after their recent two Michelin stars. The restaurant was only 1/3 full on a Thursday night. I can forgive lots of mistakes however my ultimate rating of a restaurant is would I want to go back and how soon. Sadly I have no interest in going back.
Sorry you had a bad experience at Smyth. I have eaten their 3 times and always really enjoyed. Certainly his food has some interesting flavor profiles but I appreciate that. The restaurant not rectifying your issue with the FG dish is a miss I agree with that.
I agree that Grace likely won’t survive, certainly not at the same level. I found the restaurant fantastic on all levels – wonderful food, service, and decor. Really a pity.
The timing of the closing is terrible. Shutting that restaurant just before NYE is a huge FU to the investors, even though I’ve heard the lead investor is a jerk. It’s going to make it a lot harder for Duffy to attract money given the circumstances of his exit, though with 3 Michelin stars, surely somebody will back him if he decides to jump back in the game.