We tried Ceres table last night as part of "Operation Use the 2011 A La Card Deck to Death" and I have to say it was a fine beginning to the year in that regard.
We had a reservation for 5:45 so the room was almost empty when we arrived. Parking was a breeze, and I could see my car from my seat as we were parked right in front of the restaurant. Between the not very large crowd and the installation recently of new sound absorbing tiles we had none of the noise issues that others have mentioned regarding previous visits.
There was only one waiter for the entire restaurant, but he was doing a good job of keeping up with all the tables as well as working the bar. I hope that at busier times they do not try to get by being understaffed, but with a few backservers helping out, things went pretty smoothly during our meal.
We decided to go for a few small dishes and split a main course. And here again I didn't find us dealing with an oft-mentioned problem, that being too-small portions.
The Beef Carpaccio ($10) was a reasonably sized serving of thinly sliced beef with cheese, greens, and a bit of truffle oil. The beef was flavorful with the cheese and oil as a nice complement to the meat.
Arancini ($9) was an excellent dish for my money. Three nice sized fried risotto balls filled with braised oxtail, fontina cheese. The oxtail was tender and the risotto slightly creamy under the crunchy outer shell. Very happy with this dish.
I only barely tried the scallops ($14) but I didn't think the dish was out of line from what most other places would charge for this plate. With crawfish, orzo, greens, and a couple good sized scallops. The review of the scallops from across the table was "nom. nom nom nom. And nom." So there ya go.
We split the 12 oz. Bison ribeye steak ($28). This was the highlight of the meal. The bison was juicy and full of meaty flavor. The sauce was slightly spicy without overpowering the meat in any way. The parmesan potato rosti was an interesting textural contrast to the hearty steak. This was one of the best meat dishes I have had in a while, and what for me pushed this up to a 4-star meal. Worth every penny.
For desserts we tried the chocolate chip cookie and the pistachio creme brulee ($5 each). The cookie was warm and tasty with chocolate ice cream. The creme brulee was a treat, really strong of pistachio flavor in a good way. The desserts may have been a touch small, but nothing that made me want to flip the table over and begin bellowing "Shenanigans!" in the middle of the restaurant.
So overall, a good experience at Ceres' Table. Nothing to complain about, and a few things to really be excited about.
Ceres' Table
4882 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-4882
HCH Rating - 4 stars
Showing posts with label scallops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scallops. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
HCH Review of Chalkboard
This was a kind of odd experience, and I feel like of all the reviews I've done on Yelp this is the most likely to end up with an update after I go there again.
The wife and I were going to check out somewhere in Logan Sq. but after spending about 4 hours (approximately) driving in circles I gave up and headed for the more familiar environment of Lincoln Avenue. We popped in on a whim at 7:30 on a Friday night, fully prepared to be quoted a long wait or simply be told to try another night. Instead we were seated pretty much immediately.
When reviewing a restaurant, how does one rate the service if it is apparent that they are capable of very good service, only you are not actually the beneficiary of said good service? For instance, we knew what was in nearly every dish on the menu. Why? Because the table next to us had an very detail-oriented and patient waiter who explained things without prompting, so we knew that the tomato bisque included small sandwiches, and what the sauce was on the scallops. Our waiter never told us any of this. He was very friendly and pleasant, and if we asked a question he answered. He did drop off the check multiple times before we finished eating, which after the second time begins to feel like maybe he's not just absent-minded but perhaps passive-aggressively trying to nudge us out the door. Also the second time our bill was brought seemingly because they forgot to serve us the dessert we ordered and were charged for. So I'm torn. I guess I'll go back and hope to draw the long straw that comes with the really good service.
And I will come back. Because the food was good. Really good. Close to great in fact. I had fried chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes and sausage gravy. It was perfect. Juicy with a crispy flavorful skin on the chicken. The potatoes and sausage gravy were rich and not at all skimping on the sausage.
My wife had the tomato bisque and the scallops. The tomato bisque really tasted like tomato, with a pleasant amount of spice to go with the creaminess of the soup. Along with the soup came two small grilled cheese sandwiches, with blue cheese on thick brioche toast. These were so perfect for dipping in the soup I half suspect that one day the chef here walked into the kitchen and found the recipe and the finished product sitting on the counter with a golden glow about them and a choir of angels singing in the background. The scallops I assume were good as when I tried to reach over with my fork to get a taste my wife stabbed me in the hand with her fork while growing unintelligibly and pulling the plate close to her chest.
I am only slightly exaggerating her reaction to the scallops by the way. I think if she could legally do so she would divorce me and marry a plate of the scallops.
For dessert we had a chocolate eggroll which wasn't bad, but wasn't the sensual delight I envisioned in my mind. I think this may have been a case where the dish isn't to blame so much as my imagination.
We enjoyed the look of the room. It felt kind of like being in a full-size version of one of the miniature houses down in the basement of the Art Institute. I envisioned a giant pan-dimensional space baby looking through the window and seeing us moving around like meaty little ants. That briefly worried me, but then the bisque came and it was all good.
So, Chalkboard, what to do with you? Your excellent food and capability for great service entice me to return. Your capability for not-so-great service and being ushered out after our appetizer make me reluctant to do so. I think the food will win out though. I can deal with not being wanted, as long as I'm not being starved. I hope to return and have even better things to say in the future.
Chalkboard
4343 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 477-7144
HCH Rating - 3 stars
The wife and I were going to check out somewhere in Logan Sq. but after spending about 4 hours (approximately) driving in circles I gave up and headed for the more familiar environment of Lincoln Avenue. We popped in on a whim at 7:30 on a Friday night, fully prepared to be quoted a long wait or simply be told to try another night. Instead we were seated pretty much immediately.
When reviewing a restaurant, how does one rate the service if it is apparent that they are capable of very good service, only you are not actually the beneficiary of said good service? For instance, we knew what was in nearly every dish on the menu. Why? Because the table next to us had an very detail-oriented and patient waiter who explained things without prompting, so we knew that the tomato bisque included small sandwiches, and what the sauce was on the scallops. Our waiter never told us any of this. He was very friendly and pleasant, and if we asked a question he answered. He did drop off the check multiple times before we finished eating, which after the second time begins to feel like maybe he's not just absent-minded but perhaps passive-aggressively trying to nudge us out the door. Also the second time our bill was brought seemingly because they forgot to serve us the dessert we ordered and were charged for. So I'm torn. I guess I'll go back and hope to draw the long straw that comes with the really good service.
And I will come back. Because the food was good. Really good. Close to great in fact. I had fried chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes and sausage gravy. It was perfect. Juicy with a crispy flavorful skin on the chicken. The potatoes and sausage gravy were rich and not at all skimping on the sausage.
My wife had the tomato bisque and the scallops. The tomato bisque really tasted like tomato, with a pleasant amount of spice to go with the creaminess of the soup. Along with the soup came two small grilled cheese sandwiches, with blue cheese on thick brioche toast. These were so perfect for dipping in the soup I half suspect that one day the chef here walked into the kitchen and found the recipe and the finished product sitting on the counter with a golden glow about them and a choir of angels singing in the background. The scallops I assume were good as when I tried to reach over with my fork to get a taste my wife stabbed me in the hand with her fork while growing unintelligibly and pulling the plate close to her chest.
I am only slightly exaggerating her reaction to the scallops by the way. I think if she could legally do so she would divorce me and marry a plate of the scallops.
For dessert we had a chocolate eggroll which wasn't bad, but wasn't the sensual delight I envisioned in my mind. I think this may have been a case where the dish isn't to blame so much as my imagination.
We enjoyed the look of the room. It felt kind of like being in a full-size version of one of the miniature houses down in the basement of the Art Institute. I envisioned a giant pan-dimensional space baby looking through the window and seeing us moving around like meaty little ants. That briefly worried me, but then the bisque came and it was all good.
So, Chalkboard, what to do with you? Your excellent food and capability for great service entice me to return. Your capability for not-so-great service and being ushered out after our appetizer make me reluctant to do so. I think the food will win out though. I can deal with not being wanted, as long as I'm not being starved. I hope to return and have even better things to say in the future.
Chalkboard
4343 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 477-7144
HCH Rating - 3 stars
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