A dimly lit and subtly rustic room;  The Bristol | Chicago is a sustainably focused shy-town haunt that prides itself on farm fresh ingredients and a seasonally inspired rotating menu.  Quietly romantic, the warm staff made simple suggestions and leaned towards some of the dishes unique to The Bristol.

Despite the room filling quickly, we were never distracted by the bustling groups at the communal tables, and the backdrop of the black board menu wall seemed to wrap us in a sense of privacy.  When you’re comfortable you focus on enjoying the food, and that we did.

The starters were easily some of the best dishes we’ve ever tried.  Unheard of ‘Monkey bread’, an apple salad I could eat everyday, and the best ravioli I’ve ever eaten.

The mains were good, but the uniqueness of their starters set the bar almost too high.

The Bristol taught us that Chicago is truly a food city.  We will always make time to revisit this great find.  It’s no surprise GQ Magazine named it one of the 10 Best new restaurants in America.

Mmmm.  Warm Monkey Bread.