- Food:
- Decor: Cozy, casual
- Service: Great!
- Cost: $$
- Wine / Cocktails: Great wine and beer list
Overview:
This little hidden gem in Humboldt Park is awesome. We were recommended to it by an industry friend and decided to try it one lazy Tuesday night, and man, were we glad we did!
It is a small space, and decorated in a hodgepodge of mismatched tables and chairs, with mismatched place settings and a bar with books stacked up among the bottles like it's in someone's home. The whole vibe of the place is comfortable, casual, and cool.
We started off ordering some cheeses and the duck liver pate, which was delicious and a great introduction to the menu. We paired this with a big glass of red, both in flavor and size (they have a fabulous wine list), and were perfectly happy. We then moved on to the squid which was done two ways- the body was stuffed with chorizo and grilled, the tentacles fried in a light batter-and served on an olive tapenade with collard greens and beets; an interesting combination of flavors, but it was PERFECTLY delish. We are still raving about this dish!
We then decided on splitting the burger and an order of the hand cut fries. This was probably the best burger I've had yet in Chicago, it was perfectly cooked (medium-rare, of course), and the bacon aioli was a decadent condiment!
We left Rootstock sated and happy, the wine list is fab, and the food more than holds up. We are so glad we only live a few blocks from here!! Plus the kitchen is open late, perfect for the industry folks!
Special Dishes:
Squid, burger, pate
