How does a steakhouse stand out in a city full of meat-centric restaurants?
Well, the folks behind the Loop spot The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar, you totally revamp the place. After being since 2000 (and being City Tavern prior to that), The Grillroom shuttered for five months last year—aiming to offer contemporary surroundings and top-notch food.
Word seemingly has spread—at least about the happy hour (which has items like a $12 Old Fashioned as well as oysters, meatballs and Tuscan toast), as I was greeted by a hearty crowd congregating during a recent weekday evening. The rest of the refurbished restaurant was not nearly as occupied—but maybe a lot of people were rushing to get home and didn’t have the time to stay late.
That’s a shame because The Grillroom has some impressive offerings to go with the inviting atmosphere although there’s no doubt that theatergoers will enjoy the restaurant’s location, as the spot’s just steps away from the CIBC Theatre (which will host Hadestown on May 6-18). In addition, a lush, flower-adorned patio on Monroe Street will offer a vibrant setting for al fresco dining starting in June.
As for the menu, there are some highlights, for sure. Regarding drinks, you could definitely start with the Bee Line—a heady, tasty, pollinator-friendly floral gin sour featuring Barr Hill Gin, fresh lemon juice, lavender bitters and organic local honey sourced from a pollinator-friendly farm, with the cocktail garnished with an edible flower. (BTW, guests who order the Bee Line in the bar area will receive a packet of native wildflower seeds to plant at home.)
With The Grillroom being a steakhouse, most of the fare won’t surprise you—but there were still some cool surprises. Regarding apps, the thick-cut bacon flight—featuring candied, traditional and peppered varieties of the meat—were well done (no pun intended), and the latter will certainly test your tolerance of spice. And the Tuscan toast—burrata, marinated tomatoes, onions and basil, on grilled sourdough—was more than satisfying. (Other appetizers include jumbo lump crab cake, a charcuterie board and crispy calamari, among other offerings.)
My friend opted for the eight-ounce filet mignon (which comes with garlic) as his main course, and was absolutely pleased with it, and my grilled pork chop (with whipped potato, grilled asparagus, roasted mushroom and sauce Diane) was divine. And the sides received mostly positive reviews: The Brussels sprouts received a thumbs-up but the lobster mac ’n cheese—which I had been really looking forward to—seemed slightly off, as the shellfish seemed a bit brinier than expected. Incidentally, just because The Grillroom is a steakhouse doesn’t mean that there are no items for vegans and vegetarians: Items range from cauliflower steak to The Grillroom Salad, and other dishes can be customized.
And don’t leave without trying dessert (or, at least, taking an item home). The multilayered chocolate cake was the size of a person’s head and tasted wonderful, and the cheesecake would satisfy any late-night craving.
The Grillroom is one of those spots that people have probably walked by hundreds of times without knowing. Even though it doesn’t have the most conspicuous
exterior, the interior stands out in more ways than one.
Note: SAVOR visits are pre-arranged, unless otherwise indicated.
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