Bad clothes at The Bristol, drool-worthy menu at Publican, and Chefs Achatz and Keller pair up

September 25, 7:21 AMChicago Dining ExaminerEmily Szopa

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Chicago Dining Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Beer drinkers rejoice: Publican to offer over 100 options by the bottle and 12 beers on tap

• After an unexpected delay due to the awful weather we had a couple of weekends ago, The Bristol finally opened its doors in Bucktown last night. The early reviews are decidedly positive with regard to the food, but the servers' uniforms (or lack thereof) seem to be garnering an unusual amount of criticism. Check out what LTHers have to say so far. Need a second opinion? Metromix has a handful of reviews here.
  The Bristol is located at 2152 N. Damen Ave.
   
• The much anticipated Publican (Chef de Cuisine Brian Huston) isn't open yet (October is the new guess), but MenuPages has the menu and it looks goooood. Sweetbreads, six kinds of oysters, rillettes, rillons, wagyu tartare, potée of oxtail, short ribs and pork cheek? I...I think I'm going to start actually stalking this opening now (But hey, where's my foie?). Check out the entire menu at MenuPages.
  Publican is located at 845 W. Fulton Market.
   
• And, last but certainly not least, Chefs Grant Achatz (Alinea) and Thomas Keller (The French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon) are joining forces again (Achatz worked under Keller before coming to Chicago) to create a dream dinner: A 20-course prix fixe menu complete with "exceptional" wine pairings. Three separate dinners will be held at Per Se in New York (Nov. 11), Alinea (Dec. 2) and The French Laundry (Dec. 9), so mark your calendars...and reorganize your budget, 'cuz this dinner don't come cheap. With a $1,500 price tag (per person), this is one dinner that will have to remain in my dreams. Of course, you could always take MenuPages editor Helen Rosner 's advice and "Set aside $22 a day." If only I were that disciplined. And rich. Eater.com's got the press release here.
  Alinea is located at 1723 N. Halsted St.

Photo by Emily Szopa