Really enjoyed going to the Bristol a couple months ago and need to go backā¦they do have a wine list and do charge some corkage (I think something like $10 or $15 per bottle) but they ended up only charging for a few bottles and not all 10+/- bottles we brought. I think we ended up ordering 1-2 of virtually everything on the menu - well worth going as everything was good to excellent.
Mado is BYOB as they do not have a license. The Bristol has a full bar and extensive wine and beer list, the wine list is designed to have a lower mark up and to keep everything below $100, though there are a few exceptions to that goal. They do, happily, allow corkage, it is $15 per bottle, however, it is a small restaurant and if you show up and take over, for the evening, a 4 top on a friday or saturday night with 8 bottles of your own wine, it wonāt go over very well as they usually have 100 plus people waiting for seats those nights and need to turn their tables.
If you have questions, let me know, the principals are very good friends of mineā¦
This is a negative recommendation. I recommend staying away from Cotes du Rhone on Broadway. We had a horrible experience there last night for the Rhone offline. The place was hot and uncomfortable. The appetizers were good (pate, foie gras, french onion soup), but then it took the kitchen over 90 minutes to produce our main courses. When they did arrive, everyone who ordered lamb (rare and medium rare) got served meat that was medium well to fully well done. Thatās unacceptable for a place that had no more than 30 people in it, including the 11 of us.
What John said, cubed. Two courses, three hours and fifteen minutes. The place did not smell good, and appeared extremely tired. The chairs of kindling were so uncomfortable and rickety, I am surprised only one of the eleven was destroyed. My pork tenderloin, also ordered MR, came out well doneā and presented in a shallow bowl, full of a thin, burning hot sauce that almost landed in my lap.
Does Victor own this place? Itās his old neighborhood, ya know.
Tonight, went with friends to Han202, at 601 W 31rd Street. BYOB, with decent stemless Pinot bowls. Five course prix-fixe for $25ā¦ very nice environs and excellent service. The food was not exciting, but there were some highlights (beef and green apple salad, salt and pepper squid, mango-tomato sorbet, and my palās duck entree), and no real duds.
I just added Ruxbin Kitchen to the list. This is a fairly new BYOB that opened in the Wicker Park/West Town area on Ashland. I was there on Thursday and the food was excellent. Itās a small place and they donāt take reservations, so if you donāt get there early you are likely to wait. They put some kind of herbed popcorn on the table as a munchie, which is kinda cool.
Has anyone been to Vincent yet? Thoughts on pairing with this food? Iām thinking Bubbles for the early dishes and perhaps a Rhone Blend or Pinot for the laterā¦
No corkage at Vie in Western Springs on Tuesdays. I put Chef Virant on the short list of really talented cooks in Chicagoland. Surprised this has not been added as of yet.
Vie
4471 Lawn avenue
Western Springs, Il.
60558
1-708-246-2082
Mythos Greek Taverna
Corkage Fee: $5
Stemware: Ok
Details:
2030 W Montrose Ave
(773) 334-2000
Additional info:
The pastichio is wonderful! Two sisters run the restaurant. One works the front of the house and the other is the chef. They fight sometimes, which adds to the experience (in my opinion).