Opened in 2015 by partners Aaron Bush and Chef Mike Watson, Green Bean offers fare that’s, among other things, free of GMOs, gluten and even high-fructose corn syrup.
People can choose from items (wrap, panini or salad), ingredients (chicken, steak or portabello mushroom) and styles (Casear, Asian, Caprese, Spanish, griller or Greek).
And if you think the food might taste like cardboard (which was my main fear), think again. The steak panini griller and Spanish-style chicken salad my dining partner and I had were absolutely delightful. Sides include tempura-battered green beans, sweet potato fries (possibly the best ones I’ve ever had, to be honest), kale slaw and black-bean hummus. In addition, there are soups, breakfast items and even dessert options (like the addictive gelato-filled cupcakes).
By the way, don’t worry if you can’t make it to the charming restaurant—Green Bean has a huge delivery business. So, one way or another, you can have access to this delicious and, yes, alternative, cuisine.
Bistro Campagne keeps dishing
With a style called “French New Country,” Lincoln Square restaurant Bistro Campagne (4518 N. Lincoln Ave.; BistroCampagne.com) continues to bring in patrons.
A recent invite-only event at the eatery showed why. Out in the beautiful courtyard, Chef Lucas Creagan prepared items such as steak tartare, fromage et charcuterie, pork chop (cote de porc) and the ever-popular Amish chicken (poulet roti forestiere). Dessert offerings included pluot tart, profiteroles and pave au chocolat.