Attention Chicago: nightwood closes on Saturday. GO GO GO GO GO. I went here last night as a goodbye to my favorite restaurant. We got to sit on the beautiful patio, right next to the fireplace (which they unfortunately did not light!). The atmosphere was perfect - the restaurant was busy and loud because everyone's trying to get their last trip in, but the restaurant maintains an aura of peace/ happiness. The meal was so good, I legitimately shed a tear over the fact that I'll never get to eat at Nightwood again. We got: -Chicken liver mousse with strawberries, mint, snap peas, and Szechuan pepper - the mousse was so smooth and flavorful! It tasted like delicious silk. I wished they'd given us more amazing, toasty bread to go with it but instead we just opted to pack tons of mousse onto every slice and this was totally fine with me. The strawberries went so well with it. -spit-roasted, maple-glazed half chicken with cashew bread salad, chili oil, ham, and pea shoots - this was the part of the meal that brought on emotions. I usually don't get chicken dishes when I go out to eat, but I always get them at nightwood because they're so INSANELY good. The flavors, sweet and spicy, paired together perfectly, allowing for a rich, incredibly tasty dish. If you make it there in the next two days, I beg you to get this; eating it was an experience that I'm sad I'll never have again. -the nightwood cheeseburger - always said I was going to get it next time I went...so now was the time! It was very well-cooked and seasoned. I wish there had been more cheese and sauce because it did taste a little plain. All in all though, this was our least favorite dish of the meal and it was still very, very good. Nightwood, I'll miss you. Chicagoans, GO NOW.
(5)
Ivy Z.
Yum. Came here for brunch and dinner and both hit the spot perfectly. The donuts were great - split one to start - and the entrees delicious. The polenta and soft scrambled eggs for brunch were absolutely tasty. However I would recommend coming for dinner. Atmosphere is romantic, candle lit, and rustic. The pork belly with red quinoa and cabbage was the best pork belly I've ever had - and pork belly is one of my favorite foods. I raved about it forever. A little steep on the price but well worth it for a special occasion. I found myself really enjoying the Pilsen neighborhood as well, so that's a plus.
(5)
Brianna B.
The only reason I would come back is for the beautiful, open and relaxing space. The food itself (brunch) was extremely disappointing. I don't know why they are making their own bagels - mine was bread in the shape of a bagel, not an actual bagel (no bagel chew, and pretty lacking in flavor, which they tried to overcome with butter). I had really high hopes for the donut (a fruit one, not the bacon one), and it was only alright, and certainly not worth the $5 they are charging for it. The tots are terrible: unseasoned fried balls of nothing. Seriously, I had to dump salt on these, and that hardly helped. My partner had a scrambled egg dish that he said was pretty boring. My friend ordered bacon (extra crispy) and toast and didn't eat the bacon, and the server didn't ask if there was a problem with the bacon. The food was a huge surprise given how much I enjoy Lula.
(2)
Jeffrey C.
Located at 21st and Halsted, Nightwood is kind of in the rapidly gentrifying Pilsen neighborhood, but not really. A little off the main drag nexus of 18th and Blue Island, Nightwood feels like its own little outpost away from it all. It still subscribes to the Chicago-patented "Trendy Casual American (New)" that defines the mid-price point deliciousness of the city. We went for a last-minute, no reservations brunch and were seated in the the very lovely courtyard. On a good day (like that day), the shining light and charming atmosphere already provides a scenic sereneness perfect with a cup of joe and a plate of eggs. The butterscotch donut with bacon crumble? It's all that Yelp says it is. I love me the maple bacon donuts of Chicago (get thee to Bridgeport Bakery), but I'm totally willing to pay the premium for Nightwood's concoction. That bad boy costs $5, but the superior bacon plus butterscotch plus sugared donut holes on the side are worth the willingness to pay. The brunch menu is scant and short, but chock full of good stuff. The bagel sandwich gets lots of love. Its description leads with a smoked trout cream cheese spread. Note, though, that the main meat of the sandwich is crispy bacon, and that the trout is infused in the spread. Regardless, it's a very good brunch option. The accompanying potato croquettes might be my favorite thing on the menu. I went with the polenta, which was solid, though the short rib was extremely rich for breakfast. The soft boiled egg was cooked perfectly. I almost got the fabled cheeseburger, and after seeing another table receive that order, I got that buyer's remorse thing. Alas. Our table also ordered the scrambled eggs (mostly for the baby, natch), which was solid as well. Nightwood definitely gets plus points on a good-weather day, as the patio setting is hard to beat. The food is good, and with a lot of similar competition in the city, the unique location becomes a key differentiator. Food-wise, there are other, similar places I just like better (think Dusek's nearby), but I won't dissuade you if you think Nightwood is amongst the best.
(4)
Steve W.
Looking on yelp made me think this place was going to be really good and i was sold a dream. The menu was very small nothing majority of the pics I seen on yelp were not available ok fine I understand but I end up ordering a burger had to wait and ask for napkins ketchup and pepper. It's definitely over priced and horrible service definitely won't be back here
(1)
Carolyn I.
I've been wanting to go here for awhile to try the burger. It did not disappoint! The meat was juicy and flavorful. It was a little messy and hard to eat since it was piled high. For drinks, I ordered a non alcoholic drink with soda and strawberries and it was very refreshing. I also tried the trout and butterscotch pudding. The crispy black rice on the trout added great texture. The dessert was a little too sweet for me, but still good. Overall, I had a great experience! The outdoor seating was lovely and our server was friendly.
(4)
Belle L.
Brunch and Restaurant Week are better values for $$. Excellent food quality, original menu with a 5-star service. First Date Venue. The one and only worthy fine dining in Pilsen area. FIRST DATE VENUE -- best seat is by the kitchen. Quieter. In a moment of awkwardness, kitchen activities are a great ice breaker. Great food and service allows both of you to focus on each other. Uber a ride home, and the gal gets dropped off first with a second date set in place. * * * RESTAURANT WEEK MENU: PRETZEL BREAD -- a nice unique touch in a world where bread and butter doesn't drop by anymore unless asked or as additional cost. DRY AGED BEEF TARTARE -- tasty. I usually dread tartare as it is not my dish, but I ate it all with an extra garlic bread. SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA -- hearty for my taste. Perfect portion. My first black walnut pesto. PORK -- dryness of pork is offset by the flavorful 8 winter vegetables. APPLE BREAD PUDDING -- interesting combination with rosemary ice cream (a tad overpowering). Best eaten with a perfect bite. CLAUSTHALER -- a non-alcoholic drink. A nice addition to the beer and cider list. INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE ($3) -- bottomless cup. Colombian blend for Nightwood with a tinge of tang. 5-STAR SERVICE -- (1) change of utensils after each dish, (2) napkin is folded when one steps out, (3) free carbonated water, (4) consistent water refills, (5) well-informed staff.
(5)
Sandy C.
Had an amazing dinner here for the last time last night. Everything we ordered was excellent and executed with perfection, from the appetizer to the desserts!! You can taste how fresh the ingredients used and how sophisticated the dishes are. Now that they are closing soon, I would highly recommend everyone to go one last time, or try for the very first time!! Worth the time and the $$.
(4)
AJ W.
It's a very good restaurant...but the service...kinda lacking. But the food is outstanding! The bacon donut is amazing...but oy, I really hated the service. I never appreciate being treated like I'm not cool enough to eat your food...especially when it's BRUNCH.
(3)
Karen N.
They do the whole farm to table thing very well. But my last dinner left a little to be desired. Spaghetti with clams-home made spaghetti but chopped clams, not fresh clams in shells. What's up with that? I was happy with the pasta texture and creative ramp butter sauce, but really wished the clams were fresh. Duck breast dish was very tender and tasty. Like, but not love.
(3)
Lauren F.
I've had Nightwood on my to-do list for quite some time now, I just never made it a priority to get down to Pilsen and check it out. As soon as I saw their lunch prix fixe menu for Restaurant Week I knew this was the perfect time to check them out. Many restaurants have items on their Restaurant Week menus that aren't on their regular menus, so it's hard to know if you're actually getting a deal and you don't get to try the great dishes that everyone talks about. Nightwood, however, was offering their big fat Nightwood Cheeseburger, usually found for $16 on their regular menus, as part of their $22 3-course lunch menu during restaurant week. Not only is the cheeseburger one of their most popular dishes, for 3 courses it was a total steal! Those two juicy patties topped with 8-year cheddar, a crispy onion ring, crunchy pickles, mustard, and special sauce, served with a side of fries, made it a no-brainer. I added a glass of their Black Currant Fizz soda, the bright Beet Salad with winter citrus, and the tart Honey Goat Cheese Ice Cream to round out a DELICIOUS weekday lunch. Nightwood is normally only open for dinner and for weekend brunch, but added weekday lunch hours just for Restaurant Week. This burger is a fixture on their regular menus so you can swing by and give it a try any time!
(4)
Liliana P.
So I'm sometimes late to the reviewing game and I am just starting to catch up from my trips, but I really wanted to leave a review because I JUST found out that this establishment has closed and I hope the Nightwood team reads this. This was by far one of my favorite places I visited while in Chicago. The space is so rustic, I could see myself venturing out here in the mornings for brunch. I really liked the chairs so much, I had to sneak a picture of one. This is also one of the first places that I have come across to have polenta on the menu so early in morning, and I loved every last savory bite! If it was socially acceptable, I probably would've licked the bowl... I scraped the bowl with my spoon for good measure though. This was really the perfect way to end my Chicago visit. Thank you, Nightwood team for giving me an unforgettable experience.
(5)
Heather B.
Chicago Sunday= brunch It's a basic requirement anytime I visit, and my friend has been talking this place up is for ages. Her recommendation was spot on! Our group of three made a booking for 11, which I would definitely advise to avoid a long wait. The menu changes often, and features brunch classics like omelettes and French toast, but each with a modern and indulgent twist. Our French toast came with pear compote and a well paired cinnamon spiced creme anglaise- sweet tooth required for this dish! Other dishes are more contemporary, like my favourite dish of the day, confit duck and goats cheese crepes. Rich and juicy duck meat, delicate freshly made crepes and a perfectly runny egg to top it off! We also ordered the cavatelli, which although flavourful, for me was the least successful. Served with a rich tomato sauce and topped with an egg, which for my taste could have been a touch runnier, and the pasta was ever so slightly underdone, bordering on chewy in some places. Please note this is me being real picky!! Another house speciality are the donuts, labeled as starters on the menu. Freshly made in the open kitchen, our butterscotch glazed with bacon donut was light, sweet, and indulgent, a fantastically naughty treat to start our meal! The staff were brilliant, attentive and friendly, and you have to love the American style of endless coffee, intelligensia no less! Oh, and our grapefruit bellinis were fantastic.
(4)
Angela P.
I was almost positive that my friend Courtney C was going to throw up right on Halsted Street after our indulgent meal at Nightwood - but in the very best, most complimentary way possible. The food at Nighwood is tasty, but that burger is enormous and really could be shared by two people. We made the mistake of having an appetizer and drinks two doors down at Del Toro. Don't make the same mistake we did - just don't. You're hungry? Trust me, you can wait. I made reservations a week or two in advance for a Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. When we arrived, there was only one other table occupied. By the time we left, there was a good crowd, but I would not say that reservations are mandatory on a weeknight. Service was fantastic. Our server was attentive and did a great job explaining some of the drinks to us. Try the cocktails! I had the "Fit and Working Again," with vodka, apple crisp, elderflower, and lemon. I love drinks with elderflower, and this one was fantastic. Courtney C had a drink with blackberry in it and spent a few minutes pondering how to make her own at home. The cocktails at Nightwood are fabulous - get one! We both started with the Sunchoke Clam Chowder, which is as good as soup is ever going to get. For $10, you get a large bowl of soup, but I would have been happy with a smaller portion. I mean, $10 for SOUP? It was very good though, and it was a $10 well spent. Nightwood also serves piping hot, complimentary pretzel bread and garlic butter. I shouldn't have eaten all of that bread... Then came the burger, which was more like a TOWER of food. The burger was cooked to my liking, and very good. I don't think it cracked my top 5 though. As I mentioned before, this burger is a total belly buster. We each ate about half of ours and took the rest home. The burger is also served with a massive portion of fries, which are also very good. If I had to do it again, perhaps brunch with some cocktails, or someone to share a burger with!
(4)
Tina L.
I've added another favorite burger to my list! This burger has an amazing sauce and TWO patties. I think I can split it into 3 separate meals!!~ Our server was very friendly and informative. I had a lot of questions about the drink menu, and she pretty much went down the list and went into detail what each cocktail would taste like and what she liked about it. I love the personal and thoughtful explanations and it helped me pick a delicious cocktail!
(4)
Amanda P.
NIGHTWOOD BRUNCH. Finally got around to checking this place out. Unbelievable. Had a reservation for 3 people @ 11AM so we were seated right away (a rare brunch occurrence in this city). Everything we ate was delicious. Lemon curd doughnut. Whaaaaat. I am a breakfast potato/hashbrown connoisseur and these were great. The three of us ordered three different and perfect meals. Blueberry compote french toast tasty stuff, soft scrambled egg deliciousness, and pork gnocchi something or another wonderment. Friendly and quick service. One of my favorite brunches I've ever had in the city. I was hesitant to write this review because I don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but this place deserves to be commended. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Charles Z.
I've been wanting to check out Nightwood since it opened, so I chose to have dinner here on my B-day this year. Service was great, our waitress was very nice and attentive. We didn't feel rushed at all, through our visit, which was nice. I had the Pork Belly w/ a side of Brussel Sprouts. Pork Belly was alright I guess, I mean I ate it but it wasn't fantastic or anything. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing, I was pretty bummed that the portion was so small. Only complaint was being seated right in front of the door. I made reservations for 2, a month in advance, figured maybe I'd be given a decent table at the least. Sucked because it was cold out that day so every time the door would open we got a strong cold breeze! If I make it back, it will be for brunch.
(3)
Danny W.
I went to Nightwood when it opened and had not been back since. I think my first visit was sometime in the fall of 2008 because I recall listening to Vampire Weekend on the drive to the restaurant but I could be wrong. Anyhow, I finally back came to Nightwood two weeks ago to get the burger because I'm in a burger club with some friends. We call it Burgz with Friends (it's a play on words). The burger was delicious in a totally unmanageable way. I cut my burgers in half because I'm civilized like that. I don't not regret that decision (I couldn't envision eating any more than a half of this grass-fed-monster) but the mess -as others have noted - is real. Lost among this beef-analysis is the fries are really good also. Would happily return to eat again. It's an interesting trend that almost all contemporary-American/farm-to-table restaurants have a burger on their menu now. I'm all for giving the people what they want (I certainly have eaten my share of burgers at restaurants known for cuisine to which burgers aren't native i.e. Owen & Engine, Three Aces, etc) but part of me wonders if some of these chefs don't resent customers like myself i.e. the internet-reader-eaters that have come in specifically to try one menu item that is sort of an aberration amidst the rest of their menu. For example, Acadia is now known for their burger. This dude has a Michelin star and people write about them to talk about their burger. That's not cool, I think. Maybe it is. You know what? I'm not sure I care. I'm going back for the burger. I think I hate Nightwood.
(5)
Mike R.
Coming from San Francisco, I would expect a lot from a restaurant and this one more than delivered. It was a cold and rainy and windy Chicago evening when we walked in to find a warm welcoming room. Being lined by nearly floor to ceiling windows I felt like we were part of the neighborhood. Our server, Sarah, was an absolute joy. Frankly, I find her to be a true restauranteur - she made wonderful suggestions and had really interesting and informative responses to our questions about the food, the restaurant, and the neighborhood. We ordered a series of appetizers including the chicken pate, the burrata, and asparagus. Each dish had a beautiful presentation, just the right amount of serving, and most importantly had wonderful flavors. For the main course I ordered the half chicken dish. It was wonderful he cooked with a sweet and spicy sauce on the plate. I have to say this is probably the best chicken dish I have had in many many years. I will certainly recommend this restaurant to all who will listen and will be back as well.
(5)
Ashley C.
I finally got to check Nightwood off my list. It lived up to expectations - good service and good food. Their menu is very appetizing and it was hard to pick what to try. Thankfully my dining companions are into sharing so we were able to try a bunch of different plates. We were seated around the time of our reservation (reservations are recommended). Service was good. Our waitress was helpful in providing wine and food recommendations. She checked on us the right amount and no one batted an eye that we had a very long dinner. Even though our table had a mix of still and sparkling water, they got it right the entire night (and I got to avoid my "I-really-don't-like-sparkling-water" face). For appetizers, we split the potato risotto, the spinach and endive salad and the steak tartare. While I don't say it often, the salad was my favorite starter. It was fresh and the pecorino cheese was amazing. There was just enough of the tasty buttermilk-hemp seed dressing without it being overdressed. However, I would skip the potato risotto next time (with uni butter and black truffles). First, the risotto was undercooked and had too much of a bite to it. The other problem was I didn't get the uni taste from the uni butter and it was a small portion for $18. The entrees were tasty. We tried the trout, cod, winter squash, and pork belly. We also split the carrots and beets for sides which the table enjoyed. Everything was cooked perfectly and it is hard to pick a favorite. The winter squash dish was very flavorful. While I don't normally pass the meat dishes for vegetarian dishes, I just couldn't put it down which says a lot. Of the two fish dishes, I preferred the cod with the light lemon sauce. The fish was so tender and flakey it was falling off my fork. The pork belly and the trout were very good but I preferred the other two entrees. With good food and service, next up is to try their brunch.
(4)
Kate J.
Three sister's polenta was amazing. I wish the portion was bigger because it was so good. I had a glass of champagne also $9, good deal. It was super cold and refreshing. You must order the bacon donut for a starter either to share with 2-4 people or your own if you're not into sharing the most amazing donut ever. I came here with two other people on Easter Sunday around 11:30am after mass and we were seated no problem without a reservation. Great service as well!
(5)
Shuangshuang W.
The dishes were good but not anything outstanding. I wouldn't come back if not for special reasons. The 4stars was mostly for the surprise birthday sorbet.
(4)
Angela Z.
The donuts are delicious, but brunch is just ok. Especially for the price, the crepes and the meat item (can't recall the name but had beans and meat and an egg with salad) weren't that great. Though the atmosphere is nice and the decor is awesome!
(4)
Shauna M.
Definitely disappointed Nightwood is closing...it's been a standby for brunch and more recently dinner. Will miss those tots and daily menu changes. Brunch is heavy but always satisfying. Looking forward to what is next for chef and current location.
(4)
Cat G.
Nightwood has been on my to-do list for.. well.... a long time. Suffice it to say that the only thing keeping me from going was that (I think) they used to not take OpenTable reservations, and I was like "I have to actually talk to a person to make reservations? nah son". The other day though, I noticed them showing up on OpenTable and made a reservation immediately. We came in on a Saturday night at 5:30pm and were seated quickly. The interior of the restaurant is super cozy and cool - lots of wood, industrial looking, pretty much right up my alley decor-wise. There were several other people dining so it was lively but the atmosphere was still relatively intimate - good place to bring your friends, parents, or a date (but probably a good idea to leave the under-12 set at home). We started off with the potato gnocchi appetizer, which was delicious and topped with sliced truffles (this was a kicker for me - the menu says truffles, and usually I anticipate ground truffles because that's what most places do - they actually give you whole slices! Hallelujah.) They also give you bread to start. Not sure if this changes with the menu, but ours was house-made pretzel bread with butter or spread of some sort. No idea what the spread actually was but it was buttery (yay) and also green (??). Delicious though, so I didn't actually really care what it was. I had the huckleberry smoked and glazed pork belly and my dining companion had the wood-grilled duck breast. The pork belly was amazing in texture and I loved that it didn't have huge hunks of fat on it - fat on pork belly is obviously essential, but sometimes there's just way too much of it. Not the case here. My one complaint was that it was a bit too salty, but I cleaned my plate so it couldn't have been too bad. The quinoa was surprisingly good too - I don't usually like quinoa, but it worked well on this dish. I also sampled the duck breast, which was tender and delicious as well. For dessert we ordered the honeycrisp apple bread pudding. One of my favorite dishes of the night probably - the bread pudding is more bread than pudding (if they hadn't called it that on the menu, I would never have guessed) but really tasty and came with a side of rosemary ice cream. Have you ever had rosemary ice cream? Me neither, and I'm a better person now for having tried it (just kidding, but it was really unexpectedly good). Overall a really nice experience - definitely worth a trip on a special occasion. I'm hoping to try their brunch the next time around!
(4)
Amy H.
I went with my boyfriend and his brother to his celebrate his new job. I read the bacon doughnut was good. We ordered that and the other doughnut on the menu. Both were good and not overly sweet. The bacon doughnut had thick cut bacon on there and a salted caramel sauce. We each ordered a meal. I got French toast with sweet potatoes and maple whipped cream. The French toast was fluffy; it almost had a cake texture. My boyfriend got the cheeseburger. It was good. It was an amped up Big Mac. His tother got two eggs and sausage links. He said he liked it. The service was very good. Multiple waiters came and kept pouring us water. The food was good but it was pricey. Our total was $87 for the three of us. I was ok because this was for a special occasion. If you don't mind the price, then give the place a try. I recommend it.
(5)
Vanessa H.
We have been trying to check this place out for a while because the hours are a bit strange. (Breakfast & brunch, close, open again for dinner). I live nearby and love checking out the trendy restaurants in Pilsen. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mexican restaurants, but I can eat some foie gras and steak too. The menu changes so while looking at pictures will make your mouth water, know it might not be available. The place is GORGEOUS. So much space, even the patio seating is enclosed. All of the breeze, none of the pollen, of outside seating. While it looks faaaancy, they were family friendly during brunch time when we went. Bathrooms were clean, always a plus when we try someplace new. Ok, now the food. Menu wasn't as crazy/weird as some other places I have gone. That's a good thing when dining with children. They were able to make a regular pancake with maple syrup for my 3 year old. My husband ordered the double burger (pictured) and I had the rolled omelet. We LOVED it. It was filling, but not like I need to take a nap filling. My omelet had ricotta and asparagus. The little brown balls are deep fried hash browns. Super tasty, and I like the crunchiness of them. Service was awesome, it was a Sunday so the full staff was out. My husband loved the burger, cooked medium. It was a little heavy on the mayo ( I don't like mayo) my hubby thought it was perfect. We ended it with a butterscotch glazed donut with bacon crumbles on top. YUMMMMM. Even my little one was eating bacon! Definitely recommend and would try again. Semi-pricey, but not much more than the other places we have gone that sell better quality food. ($50 for 2 adults one toddler). We are going to check out the dinner scene with just us grown ups.
(5)
Allison J.
I've been twice for brunch and it was definitely one of the best brunchs I've had in Chicago! I'm not a big fan of sweets, but their donuts are a must have. Both entrees were delicious as well. No complaints! Great full bar too, which doesn't hurt. Their menu changes very frequently, so you'll get the chance to try new things everytime. I've already been twice and plan on trying dinner soon! Update: I've finally made it for dinner. The flavors were still unique and interesting. The burger and pork belly were delicious. I ordered a fish dish, which was good, but nothing I would come back for. Altogether it was a great dinner, but I do prefer the brunch! If give brunch 5 stars and dinner 4 stars.
(5)
Susan S.
Excellent food and service !!!!! Lovely decor and fireplace outside seating. Try their pastas - on the appetizer section but perfect for a one person meal. Very fresh hamburger double stacked!
(3)
Shan D.
I know it's had a Michelin rating, but I didn't think this place was deserving of it. The items we ordered were hit or miss. The duck was cooked to perfection. However, the long noodle dish was too salty. Everything else was not memorable. It's a nice, quiet restaurant with good service. Maybe I just showed up on one of their off days?
(3)
Steve N.
Had one of the best brunches ever here!!!! Beautiful, well thought out food with fresh ingredients. Amazing!!!!
(5)
Jesse C.
I was a little skeptical coming here for dinner since it seems like this place is really known for breakfast/brunch, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Made a reservation for 7pm on a Thursday. It was pretty empty when we arrived but by 8pm the place was packed. Our server was very sweet and made some nice recommendations for us. My friend and I shared several dishes: Mango and crispy pork belly salad with grilled watermelon: All the components of this dish meshed together really well. The pork belly added a nice salty/crunchy element, and the fruit was fresh and ripe. This was actually my first time having grilled watermelon and I loved it. The watermelon was sliced like sashimi with perfect grill marks on it. Apparently the grilling gives the watermelon a more meaty texture which was perfect in this salad. Highly recommended! Salmon with spaghetti squash: This may have been the juicest piece of salmon I have ever eaten! Another nicely balanced dish served with perfectly done spaghetti squash and some kind of green (don't remember what it was). So delicious, highly recommended if you're in the mood for fish! Cheeseburger with fries: This burger was outstanding, right up there with other gourmet burger places in LA like Father's Office and Standing Room. The cheddar and mustard went so well together, beef patties were a perfectly done medium, and the thick skin-on fries were the perfect complement. Highly recommended! Peach cake: Our server recommended this and we really enjoyed it. It was served a la mode and I think I remember a little ginger in there too. Recommended. Overall, this place far exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to return for brunch or dinner to try more items!
(5)
Thomas C.
Third Visit to Nightwood, definitely the best. Fortunately this time we were seated down in the wine cellar, which was more intimate making conversation easier, and while we waited a long time for our meal, it was worth it. The burger, the drinks, the pork belly....all heavenly.
(4)
Toni R.
Great ambiance, and the food was spectacular! We have tried the duck and the pork belly it was phenomenal. We're glad to have tried the pork belly before they change the menu. An absolute gem in Pilsen
(5)
joshua b.
Love this place and go a couple times a month for Brunch on Sunday's. Food is always TOP notch. Unfortunately today we had a horrible service experience. Sarah was mean and practically nasty to us. Someone clearly peed in her Cheerios this morning. Food is amazing, the owner/MNgr guy is always there and super nice.
(4)
Marti M.
BEST burger in Chicago. I love this place!
(5)
Mary Ann C.
Third visit to Nightwood. We arrived last night without a reservation (none available on OpenTable) and were promptly seated in the wine room in the basement. Very nice! As with the upstairs, it is still conversation challenged. Our server was full of great tips and very helpful. Our food was extremely slow arriving. Maybe due to a busy Friday and the Art Walk taking place. Burger was nicely executed with delicious fries and a nice soft bun. Not the best in town but respectable. The pork belly was devine. Sinful. Amazing. Nice cocktail selection with interesting ingredients. Yummmmmm
(4)
Kendra N.
So I've heard this is the best brunch spot in town but I guess it wasn't my favorite. We rolled in around 11am the day of the marathon and we had absolutely no trouble getting a table. I ordered a bloody mary which was good but not the best I've had. I also had the apple crepes - again good but not amazing. I think I was most disappointed by the menu options - none of the options really suited my palate. I like crepes but not really apple crepes and I'm not really an eggs, toast, and potatoes kind of gal - so nothing was on par with what I would choose to order. However, I still enjoyed my meal, just had to compromise on my ideal breakfast. My hubby had a burger and he said it was one of the better ones he's had recently. If you do like the things on their menu, you will likely enjoy your meal!
(4)
Alexandra H.
Love their brunch. Like, amazing super delicious. Their tots will change the way you look at potatoes. Dinner is slightly over priced for what you get but pretty creative. Worth going not necessarily repeating regularly.
(4)
Ellie D.
Really wanted to love this place, but I can only give it 2 stars because I almost choked on the fish. I ordered the trout. It was covered with almonds and fried black rice. The rice tasted burnt instead of crispy. The trout smelled fishy. One of my last bites had the fish tail in it. I almost choked and had to spit it out. My date had the burger and the bun was stale. The patties were dry. We also ordered side dishes: beets and Brussels sprouts. They were ok. We also got dessert which was ok as well. The servers also hovered too much, yet our plates stayed on the table for a long time after we were done eating. I had to stack the plates to remind the servers that we were done. Also if your table isn't by the window, you'll need your iphone flashlight to read the menu. We spent ~$100 and I was so bummed that I didn't get my moneys worth. Maybe it was an off night?
(2)
Judy N.
Amazing!! You have to start with their doughnut! I had the maple glazed with bacon. And then had the polenta with pork belly and a side of toys. Everything was delicious!! Noise level was high on a Sunday afternoon, but the food made up for it.
(5)
Gabriela B.
The burger, hanger steak and service were great. On a Thursday night, we were sat right away. The wait for the food was a little long, but worth the wait. Food was amazing!
(5)
Tunaidi A.
Nightwood was a pleasant surprise. I'm always impressed with farm-to-table restaurants' decor. There's a main area, which looks pretty typical in terms of seating; a bar area, where the kitchen is open and you can see the chefs preparing your food; and an patio area, which is considered "outside", but you're surrounded with greenery, and temperature can be controlled. Brunch was amazing. Service was great. Food was better. Donuts... you can't have brunch here without the donuts. They are absolutely delicious. The burger is amazing. The pork belly sandwich is a win. The bagel sandwiches are great. Things on the menu change, but I can't imagine the quality and the tingle on your taste buds changing too much.
(4)
Sarah G.
BACON BUTTERSCOTCH DONUT. You will be in my dreams forever. That chicory custard stuff donut also pretty phenomenal, but you had me at bacon, butterscotch and donut and you had me after each bite I took after that perfect donut of bliss. Really though, that donut will make me want to come back out to Pilsen for sure. Nightwood is a new restaurant in that are and it is super adorable inside in a hip trendy hipster sort of way, and they have an awesome looking enclosed patio with an outdoor fireplace too which I would love to come back and check out in action one day. We went for brunch and I got a special they were rotating of tiny bay shrimp and gravy and biscuits with a sunny side up egg on top and it was so tasty! The biscuit was nice and moist and easy to cut up with each bite of the shrimp and gravy, so I was a happy camper. Matt J. got the house made cavatelli pasta with their mini meatballs which he loved but I thought didn't pack quite as much flavor as I thought it would to be honest. Other group orders were the classic eggs and toast and tots and those tots were the fanciest tots I have ever seen! They looked like little pieces of art they were definitely the fanciest breakfast hashbrowns ever. The soft scrambled eggs with queso fresco and such also was a hit and my other friend ordered their oatmeal which our server claimed was "perfect" in consistency when she asked if it was chunkier or runnier oatmeal and it actually was pretty perfect too! We were glad we had a reservation, although it wasn't too crowded for Sunday brunch, but we were seated right away, I got my unlimited inteligensia coffee and next time maybe I'll splurge for that Chemex--$10 but I bet worth it?? Hmmmm
(4)
Mark T.
A few years ago, a friend of mine had mentioned to me the details of the great dinner that she had here one night. Ever since then, Nightwood has been on my list of places to go, and Chicago Restaurant Week provided the perfect opportunity. The place looks pretty small from the outside. We got seated in the front room, which was pretty tight space wise. This could be a disadvantage for some places with the setup not being conducive to intimate conversation; I didn't get that feel at all here since the area wasn't loud and we could comfortably carry out a conversation while enjoying our meal. We had a few choices for our four course prix-fixe meal: I started off with the dry aged beef tartare, with rich duck yolk, parsley, winter pickles, and tallow roasted bread. Second, I had the sunchoke & clam bisque, with grilled sage, sweet leeks, & Pecorino Toscana. The main course consisted of the braised pork, with eight winter vegetables. (I didn't count, I trust the chef put exactly eight in there). The menu was capped with a plate of apple bread pudding with vanilla creme fraiche, pine nuts, house made cheese its (yum!) & rosemary ice cream. I was comfortably full after that meal; everything that I ate was a nice mixture of sweet, sour, and succulent. It also helped that we had a long walk back to the car afterwards to work the meal off. Service was great and I can tell that the chef had a great attention to detail with each plate. This is definitely a place worth coming back to.
(4)
Kathleen C.
I am SO glad I visited Nightwood! I had a late weeknight reservation during restaurant week and couldn't be happier that I stayed up late to dine here. First of all, we lucked out and while we got stuck in a little traffic on the way (seriously Chicago?!?!), we found a spot on the street immediately when we arrived. The restaurant is so inviting - cosy, dimly lit and exposed brick and an open kitchen. I could have stayed for hours had it not been a work night. A nice thing about the restaurant week menu here is that it is a separate, special menu. The options were so delicious-sounding that it was hard to choose. Thankfully, there were 2 options from each of the four courses and 2 of us, so we each got to try the entire menu! First up, foie gras and pear. WOW! The beet salad was also good, but the pear was the best. Second course - oyster chowder. Yep, you read that right and darn it was delicious! The corned beef also wonderful and I don't even like corned beef very much! I had an amazing lemon scented ricotta ravioli with bolognese sauce and got a few bites of pork loin as well. Both - wonderful though I think I preferred the ravioli as it was light and really unique. Desserts - yum! Chocolate with the cutest caramel corn and an apple bread pudding. Both insanely good! The food, atmosphere, value, service - absolutely perfect.
(5)
Caralyn O.
Nightwood is a romantic, delicious, gem that leaves me with a new favorite item every time I go. Their menu changes frequently, and everything is consistently fresh. The prices are reasonable enough that you can try as many of the inventive menu items as you'd like without breaking the bank (and I highly recommend doing so). I love their unique cocktails, and friendly service. I first came to Nightwood about a year ago, and we've been back three times to celebrate a few special occasions since. Every time, the staff has been attentive without hovering or making us feel rushed and the meals have been fantastic. I am so rarely a dessert person, but Nightwood has never disappointed. When in doubt, go for it. Just like everything else at this restaurant, the sweets are so worth the splurge. If you're not within walking distance, I've had difficulty finding cabs after dinner. Uber/Lyft/etc come in handy - or we may have just been unlucky. Doesn't matter much -- I'd walk to Pilsen and back again for my favorite restaurant in Chicago!
(5)
Christopher V.
Service is always friendly, knowledgable and helpful.. Romantic spot, especially at night. I was a huge fan of the fire-grilled half chicken a few years ago. Unfortunately, this has been replace with a single breast or thigh, depending on the night, for the same price. I've sampled most of the menu and while all dishes are prepared well and ascetically pleasing, only the chicken is especially good. At $25 for a single piece of chicken, I can't say it's worth a special visit. Even the burger at $16 is just ok, can't compete with Au Cheval's. Moving forward, I'll probably only stop in for cocktails which is definitely what they do best.
(3)
Melissa M.
Nightwood is just...wow-worthy. Never would you expect to find such artistry in food on this side of town, but man, is it worth the trip. Yes, you might want to sit near the window to make sure that your car doesn't get broken into while you eat, but you won't be sorry you came. From beginning to end, this was a foodie's dream dining experience. Our server was one of the most genuinely nice people I've ever encountered in food service. Her attention to detail, and genuine interest in what we wanted was incredible. Even if the food sucked, I'd probably still walk out of here happy because her demeanor was just that refreshing. The two of us had some of the best meals we'd had in ages. The boyfriend started with some of the fried pig ear, about which he could not stop gushing. Although not my thing in the least, his obsession was so palpable that I had to take a small bite. Still not my thing, but that really doesn't mean anything. People who are into eating any part of Babe would, I'm sure, love those. The real pleasure came with our wine, which was basically picked by our server after we explained what we liked and what we were in the mood to drink. She did an excellent job, and I truly appreciated her skill with that. As the menu evolves based on what's in season, you cannot go into Nightwood expecting standard dishes, nor can you go back expecting to have what you had last time. For creatures of habit, this may be a tough pill to swallow, but you have to appreciate the chef's talent. I had a roasted chicken that was simply perfect. That's all I can really say about our meal - it was simple, and perfect. I hope Nightwood continues to do well, but I also hope it doesn't get too busy, since I love the truly "under the radar" feel of this hidden gem in Pilsen.
(5)
Sara B.
Because my husband is AWESOME a client gave him a certificate to eat here! What an AWESOME date night. Some patrons a little rude but the food, beverages and desserts were all amazing! Interesting location. Parking could be a challenge but it was fun!
(4)
Andrew W.
Yeah this place was rocking awesome. Seedy area a little bit. And a lot of patrons who like to gawk. Friendly bar and wait staff, delicious beverages and food. Thanks MITS for the gift cert.
(4)
Jessica P R.
This is one of the best meals I've ever had! I came in solo on a business trip. The hospitality was phenomenal from the start. They offered to seat me at the kitchen bar, and it was unbelievable to watch each dish being made. I'm a huge food nerd and watch a lot of food shows. Everything came to life at Nightwood. It was an experience and not just a meal. This probably hinges on being seated at the kitchen bar. Though the food was out of this world too. I had the burrata app and the vegetarian dish. Both were delicious. I wish I lived closer so I could go back again and again.
(5)
Peter M.
I went to Nightwood on a Sunday, early afternoon. The place was full but the hostess was able to provide a table within a half hour. I found the brunch menu options rather limited. I was hoping to try the maple bacon donut and the other pastry appetizer but they were out of both. We did arrive later in the day so I can understand that they ran out. The meal was okay, nothing spectacular. Toast and tots were on the cold side. I might go back to try the dinner menu but I doubt I'd return for Sunday brunch.
(2)
Annie S.
THE BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUT!!!!!!!!! BEST FOOD I HAD IN CHICAGO. It wasn't the deep dish pizza, portillo's, or whatever else Chicago is known for that stuck out... IT WAS THIS DONUT! SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even a big fan of bacon, but wow... I miss this donut. I came here with four other people for lunch on a Sunday. We made reservations, but ended up arriving almost an hour early. Fortunately, even though the restaurant looked busy, they got us seated pretty quickly. Yay for good service! I ordered the bagel sandwich... and it was aiiiitee and pretty difficult to eat. I tried to slice it into pieces, but it just got really messy... I wouldn't order it again. BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY ORDER 23904209349023490234 BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Zach J.
Went here on Saturday evening. I was very impressed with the set up of this place, very nice decor and a pleasant setting. We chose to eat in the outdoor area; however, that did not last long due to two screaming babies that had parents that did not even try to hush them up, mainly because they were too busy talking very loudly and being drunk, so we moved indoors where it was quiter. I ordered the cheeseburger which is probably the cheapest thing on the menu; however, you get the largest portion of food. The burger is a double burger with 8 year old aged chedder cheese in melted form. They also top it with onion rings, lettuce and pickles. The pickles were so fresh they actually stood out in taste, especially blended with the amazing chedder sauce. The was absolutely delicious too. The beef was of top quality but in thin patty form. The great news is they put two patties on the burger, so you get double the burger goodness. The fries were really good, not home cut in appearance but the taste says otherwise. The wait staff is extremely attentative and do not leave you thirsty of sitting in filth. After your complementary bread with jam they wipe down your area, after your appetizer they wipe down your area, after your meal they wipe down your area, after your desert they wipe down your area. They also refill your water glass constantly as soon as someone, anyone, at your table gets half full. The desert I had was a chocolate tart with strawberys and ice cream filled into it. The ice cream on the side was amazing and fresh tasting. The tart was thick and rice, but not too rich. I will definately return here, and the burger was worth the $16 I paid.
(5)
Caroline M.
Nightwood is stellar. I came here based on a recommendation from a friend who used to live in Chicago. And he did not steer me wrong! I have had both brunch and dinner at Nightwood and they are equally fabulous. Brunch was wonderful because, well quite honestly, I love brunch! Plus...those hash browns are addictive! How do they make cute little crunchy nests of potato!? Dinner is also fabulous. I dined here with a girlfriend and we had a solid girls night out. The cocktails deserve a review of their own--while they sound like your average fancy cocktails they will blow you away. We're talking rivaling Violet Hour(!!) Dinner involved seasonal ingredients, none of which I do not recall, due to imbibing a little too much :) What I am saying here is, if you rate Nightwood less than 5 stars you are an idiot.
(5)
Alden V.
This is a phenomenal restaurant. Everything was top notch. Clam Chowder, house made pasta, dry aged tartar. mhMm! The burger was irresistible to me, and it came through big time. I look forward to going back for more of the entree items and sitting kitchen-side.
(5)
Steve Z.
I am looking at these other reviews and I just can't believe what they are saying. I may have to re-try this place when it's not chef's week but I don't want to spend close to $200 for a meal that was, for lack of a better word, bad. I'll start with the pros of this place. Very nice atmosphere and the staff was amazing. I mean, I've been to a lot of restaurants and have friends who own restaurants and they Nightwood is definitely one of the best for service. Now the food. One think I can say about every single dish is salty. Very, very, very salty. I was constantly drinking water and this morning I woke up feeling awful after these courses. Also, it's almost like there are too many things going on in every dish. Like, just over thought and the flavors just didn't make sense. For the first course we had the burrata with white asparagus and dill and the spinach and endive salad. I'll sum it up. VERY SALTY. I actually didn't finish the burrata. it wasn't my thing to be honest. The salad was a highlight. The dressing was very good but it was salty. My partner said that she thought it was salty right away. Anyway, we moved on. Second course was the red wine braised lamb neck and borlotti beans and the pasta with a hazelnut sauce. The star here was the lamb neck. Just that though. The other flavors in the dish made no sense to me. The beans seemed dry and old and had no flavor. The sauce it was in was sort of bitter. Anyway, we ate around everything and only took the meat. Now the pasta. The sauce was good. We ate the majority. But the spaghetti used was grossly under cooked almost like it was sitting under a heat lamp for a while. The sauce was very good. But all in all it was very salty as well. The last course was the maitake mushroom and the hanger steak. The mushroom dish was so salty that I took one bite and could barely swallow it. And the mushroom was just not good. When we tried it, it was almost like when you have to respect your grandma's cooking even though it's bad. The flavors again made no sense to me. There was a lot going on that turned me off. The first hanger steak I received was cold so I sent it back for another and I got a hot steak that was cooked perfectly. But the cut I received the second time had a lot of gristle and again, it was overly salted. And the feta and chickpeas are a nice touch, but the feta just added to the salty flavor. I don't want to get into dessert because I saw cracker jacks on one plate and cheez-it bits on the other. And I just laughed. But the desert was good. Probably the star of the entire course. Honestly, when we left we could barely feel our tongue. Everything was over seasoned and for the prices you pay you'd expect more dishes that make sense. Then again, any place that charges $16 for a burger you might have to question. Is the food the star or is the chef just showing off? I've been to a lot of places around the world and this being in my home town in very low on the list. I usually don't go on yelp and post a review. This time I had to because the prices don't match up the quality and execution. What a let down.
(2)
Melissa B.
Bacon Butterscotch donut. Do I really need to say more? My friend and I had brunch here on a Sunday. The drink menu is awesome. I kinda wished we didn't have to be somewhere right after here. I would of liked to try one of each. I stuck with the Bellini's and he had some sort of drink that was a beer with a shot of espresso and a shot of whiskey in it. We both loved our choices. We were in the mood to eat. We started with a bacon butterscotch donut and a blueberry lemon bar. I wanted to lick the plates! I could hardly contain myself. My mouth is watering thinking about how absolutely perfect the lemon bar was. After the sweet start to our meal we decided on lunch items. I had pasta in a cream sauce topped with bacon and a sunny side up egg. Just writing that makes me feel fat. It was worth every single calorie. He had a meatball sub and it looked delicious! It was pretty crowded but they accept reservations. Service was friendly. They didn't rush us at all. It's not what I like to spend on brunch weekly, but its not over priced either.
(5)
Kasia L.
I've been wanting to have to dinner here for as long as I can remember and finally made a point of it to do it. Restaurant itself is really cool with the interior design and the open kitchen counter seating. Food was as fantastic as I'd always imagined it would be. The burrata appetizer is honestly so good that I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Burger-amazing, seriously. Cavatelli pasta, delicious. Side of marinated beets - who would think that this would be so incredibly yummy? And the dessert...I had the honey & goat cheese ice cream. What? It was so so so so so good. SO GOOD. I cannot wait to go again.
(5)
Rebecca N.
I absolutely love it here! The menu changes daily and the food is very interesting. I would recommend going with people who have open minds. I preferred my brunch experience compared to dinner, but both we wonderful. The bagel sandwich is perfect! It is a very cool atmosphere and great service.
(5)
Jennifer R.
My Roommate and I have been here a few times for dinner and brunch. We had brunch with two friends today and enjoyed a variety of item. We shared two donuts as starters today. As someone who isn't a big donut fan I have to say I love the Butterscotch Bacon Donut. The butterscotch glaze is plate licking good and the chunks of bacon make this a must try treat. We ordered the Pork Belly & Grits, the Cherry Pancake and the Bagel Sandwich. The Pork Belly and Bagel Sandwich were heavy savory items. While the Bagel Sandwich is almost impossible to eat without making a mess, its well worth the trouble. Great service and a helpful staff make this one of the best brunch spots in Chicago.
(4)
Aeri B.
The food was delicious and the portions were satisfying. The rosemary ice cream was interesting but for some reason I couldn't stop eating it. I had the pork belly which were like burnt ends. Super tender. My friend had the 1/2 chicken. Huge! Really good as well. The space is nice and I can see it really coming alive on a nice summer evening. The seating is tight but that's the style they were going for. Not conducive for an intimate conversation. My server was perfect. Very attentive and knew the menu. Sweet girl. Would definitely come back here!
I didn't understand this place. The host sneered at the notion that we sit by the window. The Punch for Two was bourbon, champagne and currant (?). Undrinkable (though I drank it). Fresh oysters with a mayonnaise sauce? Hm. The farfalle with grilled squid was pretty good -- not remarkable -- but among the options, passable. The word "juvenile" just kept coming to mind. As an out-of-towner, it didn't represent Chicago's food scene well (I hope). I would strongly advise anyone with a decent palate to pass on this place.
(2)
Bo Y.
Came here for brunch on weekends. shared bacon donuts. tried difference entrees. very good. loved their cocktails.
Brunch? We came for dinner and everything was fabulous. As we had a large group we were able to sample many dishes on the menu. Highlights for me included a local rib eye steak (with wild rice), seared trout, and pig ears. My friends duck leg was also superb. The only thing I didn't really like was the fois gras.... but thats just my personal taste. Service was very laid back.
(4)
Fernando O.
This place is hidden gem on the south side. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, modern, lively, great ambience. The service was great! I came here for brunch. The food was great I had a trout and egg sandwich which at first I was reluctant to order but thank God I did. It was delicious. I have a sweet good so I ordered the donut dessert which was also delicious. The coffee is very good. The menu is never the same since everyday they buy fresh products. I have not been here for dinner but plan to do so very soon. A friend of mine told me the drinks are great.
(5)
Marie B.
This has been on my list for awhile. I finally decided to go with a friend for brunch. Great addition to the neighborhood. The food was delicious and very flavorful. Living on the Northside (closer to Lula Cafe), I don't see myself coming back here often. Not that the food wasn't extraordinary, it's just inconvienient to get to. Definitely worth trying if you're close to the neighborhood, but I can see people putting it off because of the location.
(4)
Amanda K.
While on our lollamoon (pre-honey moon post-wedding weekend at lollapalooza) our friend treated us to a romantic dinner at nightwood. WHAT A TREAT! The ambiance is amazing. This is a great place for a date, and the patio is so cool and green. The service was amazing. We ordered a variety of appetizers and had them in courses, split an entree, and then had dessert. Everything we had was amazing. We tried: the salad which was fresh and delicious, the mozarella and peaches which was SO yummy and different, the churchilini which had the best flavors, and the agnolotti- yum. For the entree we got the gnocchi and it was unlike and gnocchi i've ever had. (For the record, we never eat this much pasta, but everything was so good we couldn't help ourselves). For dessert we had the cherry pie, which was the perfect sweet, delicious, finish. To drink we got the punch for two, which is a fantastic cocktail and also a great deal! $22 and you get at least 1 1/2 drinks per person - not bad when the single drinks are like $12 each. GO HERE NOW!
(5)
Deena H.
After my second dining experience here, I think it is fair to rate it. 1. Ambiance: There is a eat in front of kitchen experience where you sit at a counter with stools and totally worth it; you watch them make these amazing creations and dishes. There is also very Romantic sitting inside and there is a patio seating outside. I believe there is lower level room for groups but i have not seen it 2. Service: Fantastic, friendly, comfortable. They offer sparkling and still water. There is also a bar available as well as a wine list. There is literally a wall full of wine as part of their decor 3. FOOD: The menu changes but you will not find fresher, more succulent, and original dishes anywhere. We recently had the cucumber dish and it was spicy and refreshing at the same time. The DESSERTS are A MUST. YOU MUST try them. They have a cherry pie with a coffee dessert that is sweet and hits the spot. There are also cookies galore for the cookie monster in you. They also have sorbet. There are vegetarian options as well as plenty of different meat options. My husband recently had a sort of chicken dish and it was so juicy (i tried it of course). I gave the nightwood burger a shot and loved the onion ring included with it on the burger. 4. Bathroom: For the girls out there, the bathroom is adorable. I know that is weird but it literally is like this funky green color with an old style lock on the door. It is super clean, has a long mirror on the door you can check yourself in as well as mirror in front of sink. There is only one bathroom for women so if it is busy, you may need to wait but not that bad. There was one night my husband and I were actually able to meet Chef Che. He was friendly, down to earth, and we were just so pleased with our whole experience. YOU MUST try this place at least ONCE. I do not think you will be sad you did. Worth every penny.
(5)
Jennifer Q.
So, my review is going to be kinda interesting here. I did not know this was "the" Nightwood. My coworkers and I wanted to have a drink after a work event down the street. The bar we had originally wanted to go to was super crowded so one of the girls poked her head in here and found they had this enclosed patio that was wide open. There were nearly 20 of us. The good news is the service was great. We felt like we had our own little private space and the drinks kept coming. However, the food -in my opinion - was just OK. The portions were super small and very expensive. We ordered a bunch of plates to share and I can't say anything was super memorable. In fairness, this was not a "normal" dining experience. That said, I would return to have a proper dinner in the very beautiful and chic dining room. But, truth me told, I did not really see the big deal based on what we ordered. I will have to give it another shot and focus my attention on the food.
(3)
Sharon M.
My favorite brunch spot. When you start with bacon butterscotch doughnuts and a beermosa, it's hard to go wrong. And here you won't. Today i had white polenta, braised short rib, with a soft boiled egg on top. Every flavor complimented the one beside it. Sat in the back bar over looking the kitchen, was great fun watching the team do their work. Super friendly attentive staff. If you're looking for something more than simple eggs (but they do that too ) be sure to put this on your list.
(5)
Ashley F.
I researched the best restaurants in Chicago an Nightwood kept coming up. We decided to try it an thank goodness we did! It was absolutely perfect from start to finish and our dinner was SO GOOD! I ordered the chicken and it was like a favor bomb, best chicken I've ever eaten! Even the sides were delicious. The server was kind, prompt, and helpful. The space is simple and chic while still having a casual feel. I hear their brunch is amazing as well. Definitely check this place out! We will be back for sure next time we're in town.
(5)
sarah p.
Went to Nightwood with one of my best mates and couldn't have had a better time. Both food obsessed, we ate our way through at least 1/3 of the menu and probably 100% of the beverage list. It was just that kind of night (you know what I mean?) The service was attentive, informative and lovely. The atmosphere was warm, inviting and unpretentious. And most importantly, the bites were flavorful, approachable and downright delicious. The bang for the buck here is insane. I would expect the prices to be at least 25% higher than they are. It's a delicious meal that is literally a total steal, and a damn good time. Great place for date night, friend date night, foodie date night.
(5)
Erin P.
Mocktail Report: Nightwood used to put their nonalcoholic options on the cocktail menu. However, I just checked the website and it appears that is no more. Too bad, I loved not having to ask for special options. I am sure they will still make you something wonderful, if you ask. I have had smashes, rickeys and more here and have loved them all!
(5)
Mike W.
The food was great, the service was even better. I picked this place because I wanted to do something different and off the beaten path for my birthday (dinner), and I have to say I was really happy with it. Obviously you want to check the menu before you go and make sure you see something you like. Although we had quite a few dishes, and all of them were great. The plates are not that big so I wouldn't go if I was dead starving otherwise you might suck it all down and not actually taste anything.
(5)
Thor T.
Went to Nightwood for brunch and loved it - starting with the fine cocktails (an earthy Bloody Mary was the favorite) and the rightly beloved donuts (two varieties were available). While the cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and the omelette with fingerling potatoes and and bacon jam were delicious, it was the smoked, steamed, and grilled pork belly sandwich with green garlic chili mayo, runny egg, and pea shoots (with a good dose of cilantro) that was my favorite, restoring my faith in the goodness of pork belly after some pretty mediocre versions at other Chicago restaurants. Another important brunch ingredient was very good: the coffee. The service: friendly, efficient, welcoming, lovely all around. A light atmosphere pervades the cozy room, we left happy.
(5)
Richard W.
The service at this place is amazing! We loved the focaccia bread, and they only brought one for the table initially but were super quick to bring more when we requested it. The waiter joked we might get full before our main courses but the bread really is pretty small. The appetizer I got (agnolotti) was smaller than what I would have expected for the price but apparently someone comes in every day at 8am to hand make the pasta. The main course wood-grilled duck was tasty but also a little pricey. The restaurant is known for the wood-grilled dishes in particular.
(4)
Keegan W.
Had their pre fixe for restaurant week; did not disappoint! Really enjoyed the whole experience. Highlights were the tartare, pasta dish I can't even describe, and the rosemary ice cream! If I had to nit pick, I felt like the drinks were over priced, but I'm starting to feel like that's the case throughout the city.
(4)
DJ S.
We wanted to love this place. Father's Day brunch was our first try. The restaurant is really cute. The food was really yucky. Well not all of it. The donuts are amazing. Great starter! The deconstructed BLT has a substitute for the bacon that looks like chewed up cat food. It turned out our stomachs. Seriously induced gagging. No accommodation or apology was given. The frittata was served cold. Cold eggs are gross. The only dish our table liked was the cheddar biscuits and gravy. Oh well. Not coming back ever but there are so many other places in Chicago right? Not a huge loss.
This place probably gets 5 stars for food and service and 2-3 stars for value in my book. As mentioned in other brunch reviews, we started with the donut (bacon butterscotch) and it was incredible. The main dishes were very tasty (though I thought that the one I got--ended up being a caprese-type salad thing was not really as I felt it was described on the menu). Despite being parched and chugging the tiny water glasses they give you, mine was rarely dry and the server was very friendly. We just thought that for basically some eggs, veggies and bread (we didn't leave hungry but were definitely not stuffed), it was kind of overpriced.
(4)
Veronica C.
Great spot for a date night. It seemed like a hole in the wall from the outside but as soon as I walked in, it changed completely. It was beautiful! I ate a flavorful burger with fries. We also ate the trout! I also really enjoyed the pretzel bread. The dessert was delectable....the pastry chef put her heart into the presentation. :-) Very happy with the experience.
(5)
MIke O.
Excellent meal. I had the spit roasted chicken and it was very tasty. Others in my party had the pork belly and the trout, both were excellent.
(5)
Janet S.
The last stop on our Pilson night tour. close to the crib, we popped in at 10.45 and it was still packed, indoor/out door, we opted for two seats at the bar. We closed out our evening with the grilled octopus appetizer with mole. The portion was easily big enough for two without feeling cheated $16, the mole delicious but could have been less. Draft beer selected extremely limited whined Pablo, I on the other hand enjoyed my cocktail Problems faced when Travelling, a nifty concoction with Tequila, yellow chartreuse, campari, grapefruit and sea salt for $12. The desserts were tempting bud bed was a calling. The list of entrees ranged from $16-32. The handwritten menu is a bit of a scrawl and hard to read.
(4)
Susan M.
Nightwood is definite must try restaurant. Dined there on 3/21/15. Had a reservation and was immediately seated on time with a warm welcome. Food was beyond amazing. 3 of us shared 3 appetizers : the barrata, the spaghetti ala chitarra and beef tartare. What great flavors in all and each was beyond an ample amount to share. For entree's : Duck Breast, Hanger Steak and Cheeseburger. Each one had such unique, fresh ingredients and were prepared perfect. I never saw a cheeseburger that was soo big and flavorful that sat so high off the plate. We also shared the brussel sprouts which was again beyond ample in size to share amongst the 3 of us. Everything was served hot and such a great presentation on the plate. Our Waiter was such a nice guy. He was helpful in making suggestions and checking on us throughout our dining experience to make sure we were enjoying. For drinks we had the High Hat (outstanding!) and the Mentaculus and Tito's and Cranberry Juice. We enjoyed cappuccino's after dinner. The food was so plentiful that we didn't have room for the desserts ...which all sounded and looked so yummy as it went by to other diners. We are all looking forward to returning again to try some other great dishes on the menu. Don't miss out trying this restaurant. Can't say thank you enough for the great dining experience. Kudo's to the Chef and bartender and our great waiter.
(5)
Thomas D.
Went for a date with my girlfriend. Overall, A great spot. Cool vibe without being pretentious. Service was great and the food was solid. Wasn't too impressed by the burrata appetizer or the hanger steak entree but the clam chowder and the burger were fantastic. Get the punch to share..its great!
(4)
Martha Z.
We were here on fathers day for brunch. It was a 9am rez so not very crowded yet. We started with the donuts which were very good- after the 20 minutes it took them to arrive at the table. The food problems came with our entrees. I got an omelette and my husband got the BLT. Both were extremely salty and barely edible. The service was also very slow and the side of bacon we ordered in the very beginning was forgotten. All in all, my excitement to come here faded quickly and we won't be back any time soon.
Went as part of a large group - so under normal circumstances, my rating might be higher. Even with 12 of us (ugh), the food and service were spot-on
(3)
Carmen D.
Great Food! The place is quaint, with outdoor seating in better weather. It's got a nice "home-y" feel to inside. The food was great and the waiter was very helpful with making a decision.
(4)
Claudia M.
Nightwood was ok. I guess the best part really is the bacon butterscotch donuts. Incredibly good. The servers were super attentive and friendly. The food was very simple nothing fancy and nothing that was super tasty either. For brunch I had scrambled eggs, toast and potatoes and it came with three (yes, three) hush puppy like potatoes. The bloody mary was a bitter one. It was still a great time because I was with my buddies but not what I was expecting for all the hype this place gets. meh....ok
(3)
Lauren B.
The food was incredible. I am not a big eater and kept attempting to eat more. The menu constantly changes and is always freshly made in front of your eyes. The staff was down to earth and welcoming. Hip and Peaceful ambience. I am so happy right now :)
(5)
Alex M.
The staff seemed bougie and as if they didn't want to be there. Their draught wasn't working so I ordered a bottled beer. Let's say it wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. I have colder beers at home in my fridge. We weren't impressed with the staff or drinks, so left and ate elsewhere.
(2)
Talia G.
Oh dearest Nightwood, cousin of my love, Lula Cafe, I heart you. My boyfriend took me here on Saturday night for my birthday dinner, and it was definitely an A+ all around. The menu has so many fantastic choices, the decor is nice, the food is outstanding, and the service was satisfactory enough. First off - wine: We ordered a bottle of the Old Soul Red from Mendocino, CA. The waitress didn't seem very knowledgable about the wine list, so I think she defaulted on what she knew and recommended this one. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit too fruity. This was my only gripe - if she didn't know the wines, she should have asked someone who did to recommend one based on our description. But moving on to the food. For appetizers we ordered: + The Brussels Sprouts with Fermented Sablefish - not my favorite version of brussels sprouts, but extremely tasty nonetheless. I would order it again. + Fried squid with Cucumber, Yogurt, and Chili Arbol - I love calamari and I love spicy things, so this was a hit for me. The presentation was nice with the yogurt dip on the bottom of the dish. For entrees: + Lake Superior Walleye - Omg this was absolutely amazing. The onion and corn on the bottom was unbelievably delicious and the fish was perfection. Love Love Love this dish. + Spaghetti alla Rock Shrimp, etc - Homemade al dente spaghetti with shrimp, beans, and other good things. Totally unique and surprisingly well-composed. I would never have thought of putting beans in spaghetti, but it worked! And finally, for dessert: + Mexican Chocolate Cremeux - insanely rich, insanely good. + Laura's Pumpkin Pie - I can't put into words how much I loved this dish. The chai ice cream was out of this world when paired with the pie. I'll be dreaming about this pie for a long time. I need to know how to make it!! Overall a very nice meal. At the back, there's a bar looking directly into the kitchen, which I thought was an awesome concept. Next time I'll try to sit there.
Ordered the crispy pig ears to begin the meal. They were reminiscent of a pork rind flavor, only much crispier and flavor dense, although some pieces were a bit too hard. The applewood-grilled octopus with monteau sausage warm potato and kale salad habanero lemon oil was light, yet flavorful and refreshing. I thought the marinated Illinois tomatoes with warm chorizo vinaigrette and goat cheese would stand out more, but the chorizo fell short in seasoning and serving size. The Fussolli with Illinois lamb ragu pine nut anchovy whey was about what I expected based on the description, a nicely balanced savory entree. My friends also let me take a bite of their burger which was a little over the top, but still delicious. The wood grilled seagel farm chicken thigh, potato, honey, and yeast gnocchi in dried chili sauce, greek yogurt, mint was simply delicious. The gnocchi and dried chili sauce was masterfully put together, and was the reason I did not give Nightwood four stars, as I felt let down by some of the other orders.
(5)
Noah G.
The cocktails were creative and well thought out. Appetizers hit or miss. Entrees were complex, well presented, and very flavorful. The desserts (especially the ice cream) particularly impressive. 4/5 So I usually hate it when I read a review based on service, but it is my day to be that guy. It was surprisingly lackluster and honestly bothersome, and I never usually notice that type of thing. Our table of four was presented with a flat, uninterested, and seemingly checked-out waitstaff. It interrupted the flow of conversation and dulled our sense of excitement over the wonderful food we were presented with. There were no recommendations or guidance,no enthusiasm over the dishes presented, and friendliness and warmth were definitely kept to a minimum. By the end of the meal, we were as over it as they were, and maybe that was the goal....
(3)
Ciara G.
Dear Nightwood, Be still my brunch loving heart. This was the one CHI eatery that i was most excited about. Nightwood, you were everything I hoped, dreamed, and imagined you to be. Nothing disappointed. Service was flawless. The food, beyond fantastic. I'll be returning to CHI in the near future just for a meal here. Nightwood, you are my ad hoc of the mid-right coast.
(5)
Natalie L.
The dinner menu here has completely changed since our visit back in April so I will forgo the play by play. I will say that we really enjoyed this meal. We sat on the line in the kitchen, which we like but I know it's not everyone's jam. We were told it would have been a 10-15 min wait for a table. We had a reservation, so if we wanted a table, we would have had to wait past our reservation time. Service was excellent throughout the meal and our server gave us excellent suggestions. Our only complaint was that the meal felt really hearty and "winter-y" for late spring. We enjoyed the duck more than the fish and the dessert did not blow us away. The pasta appetizer was great. We would definitely come back.
(4)
Mike M.
I've never written a Yelp review before. I wish my first review were a positive one, but I was driven to create this account by a very disappointing dining experience at Nightwood. I had very high hopes for Nightwood. I tried to reserve a table for 2 for Valentine's Day with my girlfriend, but missed availability. So, I decided to reserve early for our anniversary one month later. I was expecting extremely fresh and tasty food from local suppliers. Maybe I hyped the restaurant too much in my mind from all the great reviews here, but it was by far my most disappointing dining experience in Chicago. The night started well. We were seated immediately upon arrival at a good table and were provided water and visited by our server within a few minutes. We ordered the crispy pig ears to start. They literally were brought to the table 1 minute after ordering them, were way too crunchy (almost to the point of hurting your teeth), were cold, and had obviously just been brushed with a sweet glaze. It was in no way fresh and seemed it had been sitting out for quite a while before being brought to our table. We looked passed the first appetizer and asked our server for a recommendation. He pointed us toward the veal shortrib casoncelli, which we ordered. About 5 minutes later the dish came out with 6 small pieces of stuffed pasta, each the size of a quarter on a huge white plate. The pasta was fresh, and the flavor was good, not great, but it seemed ridiculous to charge $18 for a plate with such small portions. I get that the pasta is handmade and used prime ingredients, but that breaks down to $3 per quarter-sized piece of pasta. If you're going to price dishes this way at least put it on an appropriate sized plate that complements the small portion, not exacerbates it. We were a bit turned off at this point, but still had high hopes for the main course. After asking our server for recommendations, I chose the top sirloin steak and my girlfriend chose the striped bass. As a side note, when I asked my server where the sirloin was sourced from, he didn't know. I asked if it was from Slagel Farms, and he said, "Oh yeah, that place I think." This wouldn't normally turn me off, but if you're featuring locally sourced protein dishes at those prices, please make sure servers are knowledgeable of the dishes. We then ordered a bottle of wine for the main course. When our server came back with the wine and poured, he spilled wine down the side of the bottle, on the label, on the side of my wine glass, and dripped wine onto the table. He didn't acknowledge any of this and didn't come back to wipe any of it up. If I hadn't noticed and had leaned forward on the table I would have stained my shirt. I waited for 10 minutes for it to be wiped down and then did it myself. After an appropriate amount of time the main dishes came out. They smelled and looked great. Upon looking closer at my steak, which I ordered rare-medium-rare, I could tell it was a bit overcooked to medium-medium-rare. No biggie. Then I took a bite and was completely overwhelmed by the saltiness of the dish. The steak was over-seasoned, not allowing me to taste the great piece of local meat I just ordered. Even worse, the farro beneath the steak was even saltier. I've never made faces at a nice dinner before, but I admit to contorting my face in reaction to the absurd levels of salt in this dish that ruined the taste of it all. I tried the steak just with the bacon jam, which was better, but overall it was a waste of $34. I implored my girlfriend to try her fish, hoping her main course was better than mine. I'm fine with my dish being bad on our anniversary, but not hers. The delicate striped bass was also a bit over cooked and over seasoned with salt. It wasn't as bad as the steak, but the salt overpowered the taste of the fish and threw the flavor profile of the dish out of balance. I know. I should have said something in the moment. Sent the dishes back. Grabbed the manager at that moment and said, can you make this right? But I didn't. I'm a bit shy, don't speak out at restaurants and didn't want to do so and mess up a nice anniversary dinner with my girlfriend. We did grab the manager on the way out. He listened to our concerns and said he wished I'd have said something during dinner service. He apologized, left our more than $200 bill on the table and walked away. I'm not looking for a discount, but the fact that nothing was done to make up for our bad experience was another turn off. I know I should have said something during dinner service and they probably would have fixed my dish. The bottom line is that I came here expecting what they advertise and was deeply disappointed. A restaurant critic won't send dishes back. They'll judge and review the restaurant based upon what was served and the overall experience. That's what I'm doing here. And if I were a critic, I'd have considerable hesitation recommending this restaurant to anyone.
(2)
Michael B.
The place, the vibe, decor is all good, really nice as a matter of fact. The place has style while being authentic and comfortable. The people working there are intelligent, professional and fit in well with the overall feel of the place. Candles on each table, large windows, high ceilings make it casually and comfortably romantic in the evening. Decent wine list though I thought they could use more Italian wine selections. Oh and yes, the food was delicious, creative and interesting. We shared about 4-5 appetizers and they were great. The Burrata ravioili exploded with savory deliciousness, the shishito peppers with cherry tomatoes were spectacular and other appetizers, which change on a regular basis all delivered in spades So why only 3 stars...two reasons, the music was a little too loud for the hip yet romantic ambiance, which spoiled the mood as we couldn't talk or carry on a conversation without shouting or asking to repeat what we said. Easy fix! Mostly, I agree with Yvonne B that the price / value balance is not there. The portions were not large, were in the 15$ range for appetizers and despite everything else being great, I didn't feel I was getting a satisfying experience for the money. That said, there are so many other positives going for the place that I will be back at some point, but at those prices, I won't be a regular.
(3)
Ellen F.
I love their sister restaurant, Lulu, but I think this place is overhyped. It's too overpriced, and I just felt like they did the weirdest combinations they could with whatever locally sourced meat is trendy without questioning whether or not it's actually tasty. Kind of maple bacon donuts. Yuck. Sorry hipsters and trend-obsessed foodies. That being said, I loved the inside!
(3)
Phill C.
Bacon Butterscotch Donut... now this is why I love brunch! What other meal of the day can you find a sweet & porky creation like this? One order includes a single donut, served warm, glazed in a Butterscotch sauce and topped with crumbled crispy bacon. Plus you get some sugar donut holes to sop up whatever fell off your donut. Bacon donut heaven. I'm planning on trying both of their donuts next time. Oh yah, you can't forget the Bloody Mary's. That is mandatory for brunch. NWood's was refreshing, topped with a slice of fresh avocado. They were out of what I wanted, so ended up ordering a Bagel Sandwich, which filled me up quick. It had some smoked trout cream, bacon, cheese, slaw, and yolky egg, which made for a tasty sandwich. But I loved the Tots even more - golf ball size nuggets of crispy fried potato. Excellente. Their donuts are definitely bringing me back, plus their menu is always changing. They're so close to Chinatown, I might just have to drop by for some dessert after dim sum.
(4)
Emily S.
We had a really excellent dinner here recently. Everything was really well-prepared and tasty. The service was very good. Our issue was that it was a bit on the expensive side as compared to similar restaurants (Longman & Eagle comes to mind). I thought the entrees were reasonably priced for a restaurant of its caliber (high teens to mid-twenties, but the appetizers were crazy expensive in comparison ($16-18). The veal tortellini (not actually tortellini - same concept but called something else) came 5 TINY filled pasta to an order and I think it was $18. I'd go back, but probably for brunch.
(3)
Lisa D.
I felt like I was in Logan Square when I entered Nightwood, then I learned that it is affiliated with Lula Cafe and it all made sense. I love the atmosphere here and am happy it's come to the neighborhood. One odd thing I noticed both times I've gone is there's a strange odor when you enter. I thought the hostess had really strong B.O. the first time I went but I think it's actually from the open kitchen, maybe the pig ears? I'm not into pork. I preferred the brunch to the dinner. The menu is always changing but sorta similar; you must try whatever donut they have when you go. The three pasta appetizers we tried at dinner time all seemed pretty similar. I like that the portions are controlled and don't leave you feeling like you over ate. The service was really attentive and fast.
(4)
William H.
Good experience. Complimentary biscuits and butter--it was okay. KFC's buttery biscuits are still the gold standard. Green City Market Gazpacho - was more like a chunky gazpacho salsa, with lots of macerated cubes of fresh vegetables. yum Simple summer vegetables and toasted goat cheese was delicious--my favorite was the goat cheese--it seemed more deep fried than toasted, but regardless oh so delicious (see picture). Everyone else enjoyed their entrees (half-chicken, fish) I could tell as we drove to this restaurant that is was one of those up and coming neighborhoods. I also wished we sat the the wine room/basement, especially on such a warm night.
(4)
Katie B.
If you're sick of paying Randolph St. prices but still want a Randolph St. experience, then check out Nightwood. My first time to Nightwood was in January 2013. I've been three times since then & always look forward to my next visit. It is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. Delicious food. Spot on service. Never have to wait for a table when I arrive at my reservation time, which is saying something in Chicago these days. Very, very fair prices for what you're getting! This place won't disappoint. Check it out for yourself.
(4)
Kimberlie T.
Pilsen Gem. I can't say enough about their food, ambiance and drinks. We had their burger (so fairly priced) and the duck. It was outstanding & tasty! Highly recommended!
(5)
Sarah S.
Nightwood is fantastic! THIS IS WHAT LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD SHOULD BE. I would describe the ambiance of upscale hipster, but any patron-pretentiousness is completely justified: Their food is magical! We tried the Burrata Ravioli, but everything else we had is already off the menu (looks like they change it quite frequently). Either way, all of the food was amazing: totally balanced, and you never felt like it could use a little more or a little less of anything. I will be going back here for sure! The ambiance was nice, and it was surprisingly uncrowded, considering how amazing the food was. Our waiter was extremely helpful in calling us two cabs, as it's not the easiest place to catch one.
(5)
Annie N.
Overpriced overhyped pretentious hipster service! To start, we shared the crispy pig ears which was more like candied pig ears: sweet and cold. It was fine, but a little too hard IMO. Pig ears already have a crunchiness to it, I really don't think you have to make it harder. To follow was the scramble eggs running yolk - which was blah. The brilliant presentation (the poached egg had a beautiful egg-white cover that made us wonder about the technique they used) did not make up for the lack of flavor and the disappointing portion. Ricotta cheese and egg yolk together just seem like a lot of fat for me, and this dish fell short. As main entree, we had the trout and a shrimp pasta which was supposed to have kale. Both plates came out cold, even thought we both had hot entrees. The pasta was not fully cooked. Portion was disappointing for the price. I debated whether to send mine back but our server never came by to check on us. Dessert was fine - perhaps the best part of the meal (we had the apple bread pudding). Service was horrible - our server, after taking our order and presenting our wine, went MIA for the rest of the night. The food runner (or perhaps another server) literally threw the dishes in front of our face and walked straight away without explaining anything. I didn't have a chance to catch her to tell her about the cold plate. When we asked her about some ingredients on the dessert, she had no clue and had to run back to the kitchen to check. I know it's not fine-dining by no mean but the items aren't cheap on the menu and if you're going to charge that much please educate your staff. Also, half of the staff here looks like they haven't showered for months and wear the PJs or grandpas' sweaters to work. Really, I get it, you're different and you're cool and you don't care but if I can smell the busser as he was pouring water it's a problem! Meh, really meh!
(2)
Lorena A.
How have I missed out on such a fabulous place?! My husband and I had breakfast at Nightwood and we could not be happier. The interior of this restaurant is stunning and their attention to detail, impeccable. All staff were extremely pleasant, friendly, and attentive. The donuts are a must (and a fabulous touch on their part to bring this out with a birthday candle for my husband)! My husband ordered the gnocchi and I had the crepes...yum!! I feel that whatever you order, you can't go wrong. Thank you for such a great experience; we will definitely be back!
(5)
Fygar F.
You want to love Nightwood, but you just don't feel welcome there. The staff seems distracted and indifferent. The food is creative and seasonal. The crispy pig ears are popular - I tried them as I've never had a pig ear before (and I won't again). The portions are quite small and everything seems very expensive for what you get. Draft beers cost as much as $14. Appetizers are just a few bites. Our check for 4 was $350 before tip.
(3)
Mike S.
This is such a Gem in the Pilsen/South Loop neighborhood. They have great cocktails and a great ambiance as its one of a kind in this up and coming artsy neighborhood. Sit at the chefs bar area in the back for a up close view of the kitchen at work. Love the burger!!
(4)
Sarah S.
I've passed Nightwood in Pilsen many times on my way into Chinatown and finally got the chance to try them a couple weeks ago. This hipster haven at brunch has some amazing choices to nosh on from 9am to 230pm on Sundays. Their bacon butterscotch donut for $5 may just be the best I've ever had! It was sticky & savory topped with chunks of bacon, completely on point in the flavor combination. This was the shining star of my meal. I'll probably skip the $9 Mimosa next time as it was nice and strong but not overly special. I had the two egg plate with tots and toast as my main entree. I don't usually eat toast served at breakfast places but I polished this off as the jam I spread on it with whole blueberries in it was phenomenal! Their tots are so unusual and accompany just about every main dish. Three deep fried little balls with unique crust on them...do NOT skip the tots! My friend and I added the side of bacon to share and I'd honestly probably skip that on my next visit as mine was very overcooked & way too crispy. Our bill was $63 with tax and tip for brunch for two including a bloody mary & a mimosa. A bit much but I think I have a better idea of what can be skipped & what can't be passed up for next time. I will go back to Nightwood for the donut and tots alone! Those two items are just marvelous!
(4)
marcy s.
Such a great atmosphere. The menu changes often and is always interesting. John, the manager, is more than accommodating & friendly. Tonight we shRed the burata and beef tartar. Dinner we had a trout dish and a cod dish. Both were outstanding with wonderful, rich tastes. A great date night or couples dinner!
(5)
Matthew A.
Returning to this place for dinner was a good idea. We were greeted quickly as soon as we arrived and seated right away. the menu was quick and easy a little hard to read with the handwritten font that's being used but that was not a major concern. I was impressed with their wines as we ordered a nice bottle of champagne. The place was filled but not too much for a Tuesday night. A couple of large parties which made the time we ordered to the time the food arrive a bit long. I would go back and try something a little less costly.
(3)
John I.
Good, solid, food with excellent ingredients, prepared competently. I was with a vegetarian, and I didn't want to be offensive by trying the much-touted butterscotch bacon donut (more fool me). But the rolled omelette with goat cheese would have made Julia Child swoon, and the decadent "tots" (balled-up hash browns, deep fried to a perfectly-crispy outside and moist, chewy, spud-ifying inside) turned my tongue into a comfort-foodie erogenous zone. The blueberry jam on the delicious toast was another delight. Icing on the cake? Our server's cheerful face reminded me of Megan from Mad Men. I don't want to reduce her essence to good looks, because she was excellent in her job and fun to chat with, but it would have been hard for an average bloke not to have his heart warmed by her, beyond the excellent Intelligentsia coffee she was pouring. Sit at the counter by the kitchen in the back--a laid-back symphony of flavors being orchestrated.
(5)
Rebecca O.
I went for brunch at Nightwood with a few friends today, and was very happy with the service and the food. Our server was friendly and the food came out fast, which was awesome because I was starving. The restaurant itself is beautiful and gets lots of light. I had the bacon and fig? or something doughnut, as well as the bagel sandwich. Everything tasted incredible. Reasons I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5: 1. I wish the tots had been more cooked on the inside. Plus, each plate only came with 3 tots, which was kind of lame. 2. This place is definitely on the higher end price-wise... I usually hope to spend no more than $15 tops per person on brunch. With the coffee, entree, tax, tip, etc. it was more like $20-25 per person, and that was without cocktails. Due to my paltry social work salary, I probably won't go back for a while.
(4)
Sophia Y.
Pros: Great atmosphere, cool interior, extensive drinks list Cons: The food is TOO SALTY!, overpriced, the wait can be preeeetty long.
(3)
Elizabeth C.
I was really looking forward to my first brunch Nightwood, but left feeling disappointed and a bit letdown. I have heard nothing but good things about their excellent brunch, which is why I rallied a group of other first-timers for brunch last weekend. (Always a risk to pick the restaurant when you've never been), but that's how confident I was that our experience would be amazing! First of all, they were very busy- I get it. It's not easy to provide impeccable service when the place is overflowing with eager brunchsters. But I DO expect someone to swing by the table earlier than 15 minutes after we've been seated. Unfortunately we had to flag down someone, who made it clear she was not our server, but would take our drink order (thanks?). However, she did end up being our server for the duration... The bloody mary was good- could have used more garnish, however, considering the price (cauliflower?) The doughnuts= amazing and worth it!!! Beyond that, our group was unimpressed with their food. My bagel sandwich was good, but it's hard to screw that up. No one in the group had rave reviews and (politely) said their entrees were 'fine!' I was surprised to find the lack of non-meat options on the menu. I realize as a pescatarian I am annoying, but a few items I asked if the bacon could be removed, and the server advised it was already 'mixed in' (um, pre made?) and therefore they could not accomodate. Which literally left me with the bagel sandwich or the yogurt as my options. Bottom line, the service was subpar, and the food was just 'OK'. I recommend keeping expectations low, and you might be pleasantly surprised!
(2)
Nina G.
Still going here, still bringing friends, still 5 stars :) Glad the bagel sandwich & the bacon/maple donut is still on the menu!
(5)
Laura K.
A-OK is exactly how I would describe this place. Nice atmosphere (great enclosed patio), good service and good food. We ordered a lot of the menu, and it was definitely good but I didn't LOVE anything. Had we gone with more people, we probably would have liked it more. A lot of what we ordered we thought was good, but didn't want a whole plate of pig ears or shishito peppers...we had a few bites of each and were over it. If we lived closer, we might go again, but since we don't live close, we likely won't be back.
(3)
Jen C.
Weird food. In a good way. After making reservations and getting over here on a Friday night, we were seated early and also scored patio seats, which by the way, is nice for the summer. Our waiter was very friendly and provided us drinks (including wine in a decanter and a non-alcoholic soda, which was OK). The grilled octopus appetizer was very good and flavorful, and came with beans and sausage slices. The spaghetti entree that comes with a shrimp sauce and beans was odd but interesting, as I've never had a variety of beans as the sauce. The texture of the spaghetti was interesting as well--it was made square and a little tougher to the bite (think shriveled tofu), rather than the smooth usual bite you get. But, overall the cheapest item on the menu that was very tasty. The flank steak was also very tasty, and came over a bed of watercress, which made me feel awkward. With such a beautifully done meat, it was odd to pair it with such a raw, peppery spicy kind of green. Overall, the service was great; all of our entrees were delivered at the same time by multiple wait staff, and our silverware were cleared often and waters replenished. I wanted to love it as a unique Chicago restaurant, but I think its just food done really well (some done in their wood oven) set in a hipster environment, and not much more to it than that.
(4)
Victor P.
I've eaten here the last 3 visits to Chicago and I'm never disappointed. Great service. Great Maple Bacon Donut. Fresh juice. Tasty egg dishes. Always fresh as they have a new menu everyday. Have only done brunch but I'm sure other meals would be fine too. Didn't have the Biscuits and Gravy but 2 of my sons had it and they said it was fantastic.
(5)
ChingWa C.
I've been living in this neighborhood for 3.5 years and always wanted to try this place. During the spring time, they have outdoor seating and it looks super cute from the outside.The decor is very neat, intimate, and romantic. Came here for a friend's birthday on a Tuesday night. Although we didn't have a reservation, they were able to seat 7 of us very quickly. The cocktails selection is small but very delicious. I ordered their Fit and Working Again, it reminded me if the cocktail I had at Punch House down the street. It's citrusy and easy to drink. For those if you who love wine, they have a huge wine selection as well. Service is excellent. This place is like a hidden gem. Can't wait to come back for brunch next time =)
(5)
Yvonne B.
When Daniel C sent me a text of Nightwood's menu and I saw bacon donuts.... Well. He had me at bacon. I was even more smitten when he told me that he made a reservation! I've never heard of a brunch place taking reservations. Well, except for Marion Street Cheese Market (and I adore them). I drove and found free street parking around the corner from the restaurant. The entrance is a bit strange. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. You go down a dark hallway. On the left it seems as if there might be something of an unused patio area. At the end of the hall is another door that goes into the bustling restaurant. It was about noon and it was really hopping! I couldn't be seated until Daniel arrived, but that was cool. Eventually I made my way to the bar. The bartender seemed really busy or something because it took him a while to acknowledge me and offer me a menu. I promptly ordered a Bloody Mary. It was served in a short glass and was pretty spicy. I felt as if the balance of Bloody Mary components assuredly tipped on the side of spice. I like spice, but I didn't like this Bloody Mary. We were seated at a two person table along the front window the moment Daniel arrived. It was comfortable and sunny. I found the atmosphere to be lively to distraction. Even though it wasn't insanely loud, I had a hard time focusing on our conversation. Daniel ordered both donuts right away. I tasted a bit of both of them and they were really delicious. The donuts were squishy (not cake donuts), glazed, and not overly sweet. I thought the custard filled one was entirely reminiscent of a bun from China Town. The bacon one was incredibly good. Both were phenomenal and the very best thing about Nightwood. They are not to be passed up! Daniel ordered the Nick Tahou Burrito. It was served with pasta on the inside and an egg on top. He liked it. I got the Fish cake and a side of bacon. The fish cake was like a hash brown where the potato shreds were mixed with fish pieces. Cooked kale was served on the side and there was a creamy tomato sauce on top of the fish cake. It was good. My bacon was served hard and burnt along the edges. It was good for dipping in my Bloody Mary but not for eating. The service really wasn't that great. I can't say that it was friendly. The host, bar tender, and server didn't smile or make any kind of small talk. They weren't rude, but they definitely could have been less utilitarian. The server had to be reminded about my bacon. The total of our brunch came to $60 ($69 if you include my Bloody Mary), which I think is overpriced for what we got. I've had far superior service and scrumptious food at a number of other places for about $55.
(2)
Sandra M.
The service was great, and the food was just good. We had dinner here last night for our anniversary. Although I'm a meat and potatoes type, we came here out of convenience...close to home and the babysitters. The Yelp reviews were great too. Not much in the menu seemed very appetizing. We pretty much chose the most normal sounding apps--the pig meat stew and the squash. They were both pretty good. I didn't feel like trying rabbit, so I had the half chicken and my husband had the trout. They were good, but I dont think was worthy of the price. I have been here for breakfast and I remember it being much better. I think from now on, I'll stick to that.
(4)
Jimmy S.
Went here on Saturday for my 1 year wedding anniversary. We had been here before about 4 years ago and wanted to go down memory lane, so we came back for this occasion. Our table was small there was a 4 person table to the left and to my right another 2 person table. Very close togther, i didnt feel like i was having dinner with my husband, instead 6 strangers. We got oysters and spagetti for starters, my husband and i split the spagetti and he eat all the oysters. So he liked them. Spaghetti was okay very small portion we got about 2 medium bites not worth $15. Dinner options were bad from the start. I had the trout which seemed okay but the waitress described something completely different. She said crispy skin and the skin was slimmy and it had this weird popcorn like crust that was disgusting. She came over about 30 seconds after we got our meal so i told here it was fine because i didnt even take a bit. It was pretty gross l moved all the skin and popcorn crust off and eat about 1/2 of the bare fish. The bus boy took my plate away, not asking if i was happy with the meal. Next time the waitress came over was to drop off the dessert menu. On the car ride home my stomach started hurting and i got diarrhea from the meal. Will not be coming back here.
(1)
Stephanie S.
I've been meaning to come here for a while since it's only a few blocks from my house. We went late on a warm evening which was perfect for sitting on their baller patio. The spaghetti alla chitarra was good but not life-changing. The asparagus and egg starter was fabulous, and I'm going to try to replicate the dish at home for a simple but gourmet meal of my own. In general, the appetizers seemed more exciting than the entrees. Maybe next time we'll just munch on those. Hubs had the pork loin (with lots of delicious fat) that melted in your mouth. But he said the end pieces were tastiest - he left some of the middle parts uneaten. For dessert we had the marscapone "cheesecake" which was fab. The rhubarb ice cream that accompanied it was just tart enough to cut through the creaminess. Overall we were very satisfied with our meal. For the two of us it was $108, which we didn't think was that bad considering what we ordered (one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert, two cocktails) and the restaurant's notoriety. Attentive staff. Nice atmosphere. We will very likely be back!
(5)
Liezl E.
After devouring their butterscotch bacon and other donut (I think custard and raspberries were involved), we opted to go for the simpler menu item of 2 eggs and toast with tots... and wow, I didn't know something so simple could be so delicious. It hit the spot right after the indulgent donuts, and I absolutely LOVED the "tots" which turned out to be shredded potato hash, rolled the size of golf balls, and fried, making them perfectly crunchy outside. If you're looking for a simple delicious brunch of eggs and toast, I'd highly recommend this place.
(5)
Yanyao N.
Phenomenal food - be it dinner or brunch. In my opinion, Nightwood has one of the more unique menus in the city. They do sustainable farm-to-table so well. Things are always seasonal. Their menu is constantly changing. A few summers ago, they made the best gazpacho I have ever had - it was very untraditional though, a MOUND of super fresh, cut up vegetables and stone fruit, with a little bit of gazpacho soup. It was truly spectacular, and served with a chorizo grilled cheese. J, who is never shy about proclaiming his dislike of gazpacho, actually enjoyed this one. Brunch here has probably become my favorite in the city. Their donuts are SO light and airy, like a ring cloud of carbs, glazed in either bacon butterscotch, or whatever seasonal glaze/topping they put on the menu that week (subscribe to their newsletter - you'll be sent the Sunday brunch menus on Saturday, and will drool at every one of them. promise). The Bloody Mary is perfect and served with pickled brussel sprouts - what?! Even the gazpacho-hater liked it: "It's very good for a Bloody Mary." The bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese is also highly recommended. As are their tater tots, that from far away look like falafel, but are freakin' awesome. Very unique. The decor is modern, but comfortable. The service is friendly and warm. They have some really neat kitchen bar seating, where you can watch the cooks hard at work. In the summer time, dine on their patio. You'll probably see me there pretty often.
(5)
Lauren G.
Nightwood is the farm-to-table organic restaurant of my dreams. Knowledgeable hipster servers - check Modern chairs, warm wood, big windows, cool vibes - check Small menu where every single item looks good - check Fantastically extensive wine list in budget range - check Inventive desserts with homemade cheez-its - check AND the FOOD. Started with Bucatini with mussels for the table. Pasta was perfect execution of "to the tooth" al dente. I enjoyed a grilled Wisconsin trout cooked to skin-on perfection with a fantastic spanish tortilla and kohlrabi and greens on the side. Mom got the Rhode Island striped bass with 45 minute egg... said it was the bomb. Dad opted for some kind of french meat stew and ate it all. Only thing we commented on was entirely TOO MUCH SALT. If the product is this good, why not let it shine? Plus, there's salt on the table for anyone that has completely burned out their taste buds. This is the only reason I would think of deducting half a star. Otherwise this place is the stars... am I dreaming?
(5)
Chris H.
We didn't have a reservation but got seated within 10 minutes. While waiting we grabbed a few beer mosasa and beer bloody marys. Both sounded strange but were good. The bacon caramel donut was ridiculously good. Try it! The pork belly hoagie was awesome too. Overall, this was one of my favorite brunches in the city
(4)
Bharat W.
This place is off the beaten path, south of most people's mental comfort geography, so if you have managed to convince yourself to arrive here you have already made one of the best eating decisions. Despite the somewhat abandoned gray neighborhood, when you step inside, Nightwood is a warm glow of classy interior that is reminiscent of the au courant hip foodie joints more found in NYC and SF. The lights are not too bright to offend your tired eyes from your late Saturday night excursions and their beermosas and jameson, espresso, porter combo will awaken your senses at the right pace to get you prepared for the experience. The staff was dressed in classy minimalist chic attire, a combo of wicker park hipsters and sophisticated librarians. The subtle classy aesthetics was a visual relief after a night of 15 hour St Patty's drinkathon. This place articulates what exceptional compared to average-good looks like. Skip bongo room and yolk and take a trip here instead to find out what I mean. We ordered the rolled omelet, roasted mushrooms, buttermilk ricotta, spinach walnut pesto which comes with fried hashbrown balls, and a duck hash with biscuit and gravy that will make you wish you would never get full of eating it. The omelet appears as a work of art, clean cut presentation with the side of the pesto. As you bite into it, the succulent mushrooms slowly release flavors while the ricotta pours a nice flavor over it. Their vanilla glazed donut with chocolate filling and pistachio crumbles is the best donut I have ever tasted. The flavors are so complex and the simplistic presentation is visually appealing and digestible whilst engaging your palette in its entirety during the entire course. I cannot wait to go back and makes me a proud Chicagoan to have this place in our city.
(5)
Peace Y.
It's good, but maybe overhyped in my book. I've gone for brunch and dinner. Both times, nothing remarkable but food is solid I suppose. For brunch, had the burrito with pork belly, rice, and beans. Beans were al dente (meaning it could have cooked longer) and all of it was lacking salt. For dinner, I had fish which was actually cooked perfectly with crispy skin, but the whole dish was ok. Best - and probably only - outstanding item is the bacon butterscotch donut. That thing is amazeballs. I don't think I'll end up there again. I do like they change up the menu and I do like the dishes, but the food preparation itself is just okay.
(3)
Stephen S.
Came here for brunch and I'm giving it 5 stars on the basis of the donut alone. I'm often disappointed by donuts because I think I have this childhood notion of donuts being amazing and they often aren't. The donut at Nightwood though, no disappointments, no regrets. We had the filled one with Greek yogurt custard. Everything about this donut was divine from the raspberry glaze and oat topping, and that greek yogurt custard, not overly sweet thanks to the Greek yogurt but sweet enough to be a bit indulgent. Perfection. I think almost every table had a donut brought over to it at some point, I don't think I've ever seen something quite like it at another restaurant. The savory brunch fare was exceptional as well. Creative, flavorful, and extremely well executed. I had the matzobrei with salmon that was satisfying even after a whole 8 days of matzah close just a few days before.
(5)
Carl G.
Came here on a relatively sleepy weeknight, to dine with the lady. The bar seemed to be hopping, but there were plenty of tables available and we were seated promptly. Dark lighting, tight seating, and music loud enough to mute the surrounding conversations led to an intimate feel. Everything we tried was very good. After ordering the appetizer, the server brought out an individual focaccia bread - it was lightly salted and came with a cheese/oil dip. The bread was hot fresh and full of holes - really well done. We had the braised shortrib "ravioli", which was pretty small given the price - but was really flavorful, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. We split the Nightwood burger and the duck cassoulet for the main dishes. The duck was juicy, with a very tasting bark on the outside of the slices. Duck can be difficult to do well, but it was very well done in this case. The burger was like a Big Mac on steroids. Same type of ingredients, only well done, instead of McD style. The burger patties were a little overcooked, but they had good flavor, so can't fault them too much. The fries weren't quite as hot as would have been ideal, but they were well seasoned and clearly home made. The service was excellent. Maybe it's because there were few tables, but we never went without water, and were left alone an appropriate amount. No complaints, and only compliments there. Everything was on the upper end of the price scale, it was good, but the prices are pushing the envelope. Overall an intimate, well cooked meal - someplace to go for a date, or a quiet dinner. Expect to spend a little cash, but to be very pleased with the meal and the dining experience.
(4)
Samantha H.
I had been wanting to go to Nightwood for so long and am so happy I finally got there! There were four of us which meant we could try quite a few things. We were sat at a table between the larger restaurant and the kitchen. Our server was very attentive and helped us choose wine. My only complaint is the wine list mark up is over 200% and many of the wines are not that great but we were able to find some winners. We decided to share a bunch of things and they were accommodating and brought things out as they were ready and cleared our plates once, as though it was a true tapas style place. They were also great when we ordered a second round of the pig tails. These pig tails were a religious experience. There was some habenero chili sauce on them that was amazing. We literally ordered another batch the second we started eating these. It was the hands down favorite. My personal second favorite was the walleye. It was amazingly moist and the skin crispy. Very yum! My husband's next favorite was the cavatelli. It was prepared perfectly al dente and extremely tasty. The chicken was very good as well and I typically don't order chicken because it can be so boring. The pork belly was, well pork belly. Yes it was good but nothing special. The foie gras was probably my least favorite because the way it's prepared is in a sort of ravioli. That sounded good but you really got no foie gras flavor and I'm a foie fan! I probably wouldn't get that again. The rabbit appetizer was great. It was probably the best rabbit I've ever had. They serve it in sort of a cabbage roll type of thing. Our server told us to go with that as opposed to the entree leg and I'm happy we did. Overall I was extremely happy with the food and service and cannot wait to return!
(5)
Jenna S.
OH. EM. GEE. ONE THING: Maple Bacon Donuts. If you only get ONE thing at Nightwood, it needs to be those donuts. But, I recommend you do an entire brunch because this food blew my mind. First, I like this menu better than Lula. I'm not sure why it's so different, but Nightwood has way better selections. Second, the Bloodys are excellent. Get the one that's a mix of Bloody Mary and PBR... it's worth it and very tasty. I can have a few. Lox and Egg Bagel Sandwich? Divine. Seriously excellent. I've had it on two different ocassions and it was excellent both times. Crispy bagel, creamy insides and super tasty. Everyone else with me also loved their brunch choices, so I think Nightwood is a hit. Seriously, this brunch is some of the best I've had in the city. If you haven't been here, get yourself down to Pilsen now to eat some of those donuts. STAT.
(5)
Stephanie L.
Sunday Bitches Brunch BOUT!!!!!! Nightwood has been on my radar for some time. Its interesting how I constantly overlook the same places. Alas, I trucked it down here to check out the HYPE~! I love that we got a booth. SCORE! Already an extra star. HAHAHA Service was lackluster. Our server seemed annoyed. Maybe it was that time of month or maybe she really wanted to be having a Sunday Bitches Brunch Bout. It was mediocre, but it was brunch so not the end of the world. The food. Well I have to say...the donuts were pretty darn good. The bacon was fantastic! The chocolate was subpar to it but was still really good. I had the rolled omelette. It was pretty good. Not anything that I would drive down for again. The little hashbrown things were good as well. The bread was toasted to perfection and the raspberry jam was delicious. Overall, it was decent. Some parts excellent, some parts mediocre. Nothing was terrible :) Super easy street parking, FYI
(4)
John S.
Best brunch in the city with the possible exception of Nightwood's big sister, Lula's Cafe in Logan Sq. Please make your donuts to go! Whatever we can scarf down at brunch leaves us wanting more later. The seasonality of the innovative dinner menu is always delicious. You never know what your going to see on the menu, but you know it's going to be spectacular. Nightwood is the best restaurant in the city that you haven't been to yet.
(5)
Karen M.
I had not yet heard of this place prior to my "wine advisor" selecting it for our monthly gathering. First off, they have a great wine list but do not frown upon you bringing your own for a small corkage fee. Secondly, the service is amazing. Never once did we feel rushed or hovered over. They let us take our time to enjoy the evening. The food was amazingly fresh and inventive. Their menu changes daily based on available ingredients so it is not worth telling you to try one dish over another. Just know this - whatever you order, it will be full of flavor and dance on your tongue with every bite. All around, this is a tremendous place to dine, relax and enjoy!
(5)
Charlie C.
I am mad at myself for writing this review, I really don't want to... alas I push on, why you ask? Because the Nightwood is perfect as-is: underrated, and off the beaten path. But, I must share this Pilsen-based gem so you too can can go there and NOT be swarmed by want-to-be foodies seeking perfect piquancy per plate- which I can assure you you will get! I have been a number of times, I am not let down. The chef's table demonstrates culinary mastery and fun- the dining room is the perfect amount of dark, romantic/intimate, and mysterious all at the same time...and the outdoor seating area is al-fresco-fansastico! I would feel comfortable dining on their (easily top-5 in the city burger) while wearing jeans- or crunching on their crispy pig ears whilst donning my finest suit. Somehow, they pull 'that' off and I love it. I can order wine that is tasty and worth the price, I can mellow out in a very weird and questionable location and not judge it the second I am inside their walls. Nightwood has a lot going on, and is starting to gain traction and popularity. I am happy for them, but sad that I have to make reservations anytime that I go there now. But alas, I will be back many times... on a date, to take my mom out for a perfect adventure, to knock back a bottle of wine and stuff myself on their wonders - it works for any occasion... so enjoy it, but don't take my table!
(5)
Simone M.
The food was ok. Nothing spectacular, but the tots, toast, and drinks were great. I had the omelet which was decent and the best part was the tots that came as a side. The donuts were also ok, we had the bacon maple glaze and the peep donut with vanilla custard. The flavors were less than impressive which was disappointing, but the mini donuts balls were delicious. All in all this place is good if you just want a light breakfast with coffee. I haven't had dinner here, but would like to try it sometime.
(3)
Hk S.
I heard a lot of great things about this place and was truly excited to go. My best friends and I decided to go here for our Valentines day dinner and it was ok. One big plus is that the service was exceptional. They kept our water glasses full at all times. I almost thought I was at an Asian restaurant. :) My best friends both ordered the steak and I had the bucatini. The bucatini sauce was very flavorful, but the noodles wasn't as al dente as I like them to be. The sauce really made up for it and thus it was an overall enjoyable dish. My friends said there was a lot of fat in the steak. A big let down for them especially because the price tag made you expect something amazing. The best thing we had was dessert. We shared the marscapone cheesecake. The texture was soft and silky. It melted in your mouth. Definitely the highlight of the whole night. I'm glad I got to try Nightwood. It's a really cute place, but I'm not dying to come back. I may be a little bias because I'm not a huge fan of fine dining. I'm a girl who likes to eat and I feel I never get full when I go to a fine dining restaurant.
(3)
John C.
Love this place,excellent food and service. will come back again soon.
(4)
L. Danovia ..
Saw on TV that the burger at this place was one of the best. I went, tried it and it was okay. What I REALLY enjoyed was the calamari. One of the best appetizers I have ever had. Unfortunately its not on their current menu. They should bring it back, soon!
(3)
Irene J.
This was on the top of my bucket list, for restaurants in Chicago, and it did not disappoint. Normally I know what I want immediately after a quick glance at the menu. initially, I decided on the rabbit's foot. At the last minute, I switched to the burger, per the waitresses telling me it was a staple item, along with the crispy pig ears. We had the 1) crispy pig ears, 2) the rabbit's leg and the 3) burger. All fantastic!!!! The burger was well crafted, the meat: flavorful, cooked to perfection, the bread: was fresh and brioche, finally: the sauce melded into one (cheese and only god knows). The fries were even delicious!! My boyfriend and I ate in silence. I had the Au Cheval burger two days later. I enjoyed this burger much more! I look forward to brunch.
(5)
Ennis O.
Walked into Nightwood for Sunday brunch and immediately felt like I was back home in SF. Everything from the style, the people, to the seasonal, varied menu. Though if it was SF it would be far more pretentious and be about double the price lol. I'm not a huge donut fan especially when they are filled or topped with something - always taste too sickly sweet for me. BUT...I had it on good authority they were not to be missed so dove into the caramel cream donut with pecans. UH-mazing - and subtlely sweet (well as subtle as one can be with a caramel cream donut) Super tasty. Also had the red pepper scramble with rapini which was just right. And the tots? Crazy good and on my list of things to try at home. Recommend sitting at the kitchen counter which despite the bustling chefs actually feels more intimate then the front of house. Besides, an open kitchen view is basically foreplay so it's almost a must...
(4)
Johnny R.
We got out with our favorite foodie couple and gave Nightwood a try. The restaurant is very nicely laid out. If I was selecting a place just based on how decorated and the vibe, Nightwood would be near the top... trendy, loud, and clearly popular. I like the Pig Ears appetizer, somewhere between crunchy bacon and pork rinds. Clever, and nicely flavored. I'm a salt person so I got pretty excited. I ordered the spit-roasted half chicken, which looked impressive as it was carried to my table. But to be honest, while it was moist, it was also very bland. I liked the fingerling potatoes. My wife had the scallops, and to be honest, she and our other friend who also got the scallops were not wowed. My friend got the lamb chop and was not blown away. The almond butter cake was excellent, we all fought over it. The bittersweet chocolate cake was well received and had it not competed with the almond cake it would have been even more popular. I will say that we four tend to like spicy interesting food, and the somewhat bland flavorings of the entrees were a little underwhelming. But don't go by just my review I would read a number of them. Ironically I had just eaten somewhere else a week ago and though the food was overly seasoned. There's just no pleasing some folks.
(3)
Tiffany K.
I have been wanting to try this place for so long, and I finally got my chance this winter. Seriously, this was one of the top 5 dinners I have ever had in Chicago, hands-down. Came here for my boyfriend's birthday in December. We had reservation on a very rainy day, but it didn't stop us from going nuts and ordering half the things on the menu. Joshua (I think that was his name? Forgive me, it's been a couple of months) was the bomb dot com and recommended the best dinner dishes to us (the trout and the chicken). The entrees were fantastic and perfectly cooked. We also ordered the pigs ears, which were irresistible, and some delicious lemony tortellini for appetizers. We also ordered the donuts for dessert and shared many drinks, of which we most enjoyed the mixed drink made with Malort. Seriously. Malort. Joshua was so nice and helpful, he even gave us a bag of cookies to go. It was an awesome experience, and I would DEFINITELY come back!
(5)
donna y.
The best part of my meal was the Almond Butter Cake. I have been craving it since my visit and will return even for just that! I had scallops for dinner. The dish was flavorful but it looked like a lot thrown on the plate and the scallops are also diced. I haven't craved the dish but it was good.
(4)
Lizbeth T.
A lot has already been written about Nightwood, so I'm just going to focus on the highlights and low points of my recent dinner there. Great: cocktail and wine list. I couldn't pass up a chance to try the house-made tamarind syrup with Buffalo Trace bourbon, so that's what I ordered. Not as fussy as some of the other cocktails on the menu, but I typically prefer straightforward combinations, and this one hit the spot! Simple and just sweet enough. Also great: fried meyer lemon with aioli. Most memorable appetizer of the past few months. Good: our entrees. Trout was fresh, perfectly prepared and lovely, but just a bit boring. Same for the fried chicken. Very good, but too much of one thing on the plate. Amazing: the desserts! We had the goat cheesecake with fig and pistachio brittle, and the vanilla tapioca pudding with cherry marmalade and caramel corn. I can't say enough about either of these, so I will just stop now.
(4)
Kyle F.
Imagine taking restaurants like Burger King and fazoli's, then make the portions smaller, increase the price, and finally add ingredients like kale and yogurt. If you can imagine such a place, you imagined nightwood. I really enjoyed the food here. The fried squid was like eating Burger King onion rings but if the onion rings were touched by the hand of god. If you like junky Americana kind of food, I.e. Pasta, meat, creamy sauces and fried foods, you'll like Nightwood. The only negative I'd add is the desert we ordered. It was the brioche donuts with ice cream. I don't remember what the flavor of ice cream was suppose to be but it tasted like I was sucking on a key while eating peanut butter. The waitress behaved very aloof, which was pretty off putting, but the guy refilling our water was really on his game. He was awesome.
(4)
Stacey A.
I live in Ravenswood. It is a complete and utter pain in the ass to get from Ravenswood to Pilsen via public transportation. You have to take the brown line to the red line to the orange line and THEN, if you're going to Nightwood, you have to double back and walk north for however many blocks and pass a bunch of what look like abandoned factories so you walk with your keys in your hand just in case you need to stab someone. But your end goal in all this is Nightwood, which is an amazing personal reward for not being murdered for walking on Cermack or whatever murder-filled street it is at night. And in the event that you bring a friend with you, you get to try twice as much as you normally would, unless you're the sort of person who eats like, 4 plates of food at every meal and then I'm going to wonder about your metabolism and why you don't have a reality or whatever. Anyhow. In the event that you bring a friend, here's what you should order: -- The agnolotti with the GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS INSIDE. I cannot stress this enough. You should order at least one plate of this for every two people that go to Nightwood, in order to minimize sharing because you will not want to share because it's pasta with GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS IN IT. And you will bite into it and your eyes will become as giant and wide as saucers and you will shovel the remaining pasta into your face with the kind of reckless abandon usually reserved for afternoon quickies before the kids get home from school. -- The sturgeon with the lemon and the creme freche and the BACON BRAISED POTATOES. Don't get me wrong here, the sturgeon is the star of the show and there is nothing better than a big steaky fish that doesn't smell or taste "fishy". But oh lord, I want everything to be braised in bacon after having those potatoes. -- The half chicken with black beans, pickled onions, white sauce, and CORNBREAD CROUTONS. Don't judge me for getting this solely because of the fucking croutons, okay? Because that's pretty much 100% of the reason why I got it. And to Nightwood's credit, chicken is a really easy dish to fuck up or overdo or make boring or lame or whatever - and this was some GOOD chicken. Perfectly seasoned, super moist, and all the flavors went together perfectly, provided you got a magic cornbread crouton in your grill piece. I have no idea how dessert is here because I was too full to eat any. But in terms of dinner? Nightwood delivers. (Not like, they will deliver the food to your house, but in terms of "they will bring some seriously good food to you while you are in the restaurant.) Just don't get murdered on your way there.
(4)
Beth T.
Everything we had for dinner was delicious, from the Pink Whippet (not-too-sweet vodka-based grapefruit cocktail), to the quark (delicious creamy cheese) plate to the scallop entree. The crispy pig's ears were a novelty, but we didn't need quite the large portion that we go and ended up leaving quite a few for, I hope, someone who appreciate it more. I will definitely go again.
(4)
Bill T.
My GF and I visited nightwood two nights ago, and had some very high expectations, but unfortunately, none of the dishes lived up to their hypes, and it was overall very disappointing. The night started off well with the drinks at the bar; the bartenders were friendly, while the drinks weren't incredible, the draft beer was fresh and aromatic, and the mixed cocktail was tasty and refreshing. Having read many positive reviews about the smelt and sweetbread, we were not hesitant to order one of each as appetizers. We also ordered the wood grilled whole trout and the polenta as our entrees. Deep fried smelt: This was supposedly one of the best things Chicago had to offer, and I was deeply disappointed. Maybe, just maybe, for someone who has never had fresh seafood, this dish may be interesting, but overall, I found it to be extremely boring and uninspired. Also, my fish was under-seasoned, and I had to repeatedly add salt from the shaker. Sweetbread: The sweetbread was slightly better than the smelt, but I did not love it either. While the slightly spicy batter was an absolutely delight, its ratio to sweetbread ratio was way too low, perhaps it would have been a better dish had they flatter out the sweetbread for more surface area. The sweetbread was juicy and moist, but I think it would really go well with a sauce of some kind. Whole trout: I was really looking forward to the trout, but unfortunately, it was, by far, the worst dish of the night. Generally speaking, I love a runny egg on anything, but I found it really hard to eat raw yolk with fish, when combined, both the texture and the taste were completely off. The fish was cooked rather nicely, and I commend the restaurant for boning the fish, but again, it was missing a sauce! It's incredibly difficult to just eat plain grilled fish with olive oil. I honestly had trouble finishing this dish. Polenta: This was by far my favourite dish of the night. The ground polenta was cooked very nicely, and the mushroom really added essential flavour and textural contrast. Compared to the fish, this dish was really comforting, and I just wanted to keep on eating it. Dessert: fig cake with goat cheese I really liked the dessert, and it was somewhat of a saving grace for this restaurant (much like my Morimoto experience actually). The dessert was very well thoughtout, the warm fig cake went extremely well with the goat cheese topping, and it was as if I was eating cheese and crackers. Service: I feel bad for saying this, but I really did not enjoy the service. I felt that our waitress had a "holier-than-thou" attitude (this was my perception, to say the least). When I asked for recommendations, she suggested something that she has never tried simply because it "sounded really good". When we inquired about the lack of apple cake on the menu (it's in fact still stated on the website) and showed disappointment, she was extremely unapologetic and stated very matter-of-factly that it was just not there. Maybe it was a particularly bad night, but I will most likely never return.
(2)
Angeli D.
BRUNCH: Had their housemade granola which is so good they should package and sell it. They serve Intelligentsia coffee in a Chemex (oh so good) which is enough for 2 people to share. House made sausages were small but tasty. Beautiful space with seating at the open kitchen in the back as well as a patio. Large windows. A harbinger of gentrification in a rundown-ish location.
(4)
Jenny Z.
Just returned from a wonderful meal at Nightwood. As far as cocktails, I ordered exactly what I was craving (how often do you find exactly what you are craving on a menu?), if you are craving a fresh, citrusy, not to sweet cocktail on a summer day like I was then order the pink whippet! It was divine. For a starter my husband and I shared the crunchy spring vegetable salad with queso fresco and it was again, exactly what I was craving and what I hoped for! Dinner was the spagetti with procini, parmesan and butter....hands down the best homemade pasta I've ever tasted. I also tried the Lake Erie Walleye. I ordered it without bacon and I wonder if that's why it did not taste as impressive as the rest of the dishes. At $29, it should have been phenomenal but wasn't (that's why I only gave Nightwood 4 stars). For dessert we were stuffed so ordered the strawberry lime sorbet and strawberry ice cream....both were flavorful and delicious. The cute little vanilla cone was a nice touch. Our server was great and the patio dining was very nice as well. I don't think I'd come here too often because of the price but I plan on coming back at the end of the summer/early Fall to eat on the patio-hopefully near the fireplace. Overall, I couldn't have been happier with our meal...except for that walleye, if only it was a bit cheaper!
(4)
Jennifer W.
We celebrated a friend's birthday party at Nightwood last night and everything was exceptional- the cocktails, the 6 different first courses I was able to share and sample, and my bacon entree was killer. The rabbit dishes especially stood out. I will happily return. Well worth every dining dollar.
(5)
Tara W.
Went to Nightwood with my fiance last week. We had the Carrots, smoked trout and dill. Amazing! Would never have thought that combo would work but it does. My fiance had the rabbit leg, she was in love. I had the Garlic Mushrooms which I found interesting to try on the menu and I was almost licking my plate after. Cocktails were seemed fresh and delicious. I want go back and try for Brunch I would strongly suggest going here!
(5)
Carolyn H.
How to be bored to death by overly salted food and stupid foodie cliches such as a fried egg on a pizza. Seriously, how could the owners of Lula go so wrong? Did they bury themselves in Pilsen so that their mediocre choices wouldn't stand out? This place is a waste of time and waste of space in stomach. We really came to dinner with high hopes and nothing seemed interesting or even remotely remarkable. Can you say "resting on their laurels?" that is the whole story in a nutshell. If you end up in Pilsen, go to a taqueria. Much better and much cheaper.
(2)
Leslie S.
I've been to Nightwood twice now and here's what I can tell you: the food is fantastic, the service, eh, not so much. The first time we went to Nightwood was in September when the weather was still nice enough to sit outside (those were the days, huh?). The outdoor patio is small but pleasant - perhaps a little noisy so consider yourselves forewarned. The food was very well done - I particularly enjoyed the fried asparagus - but overshadowed by the amount of waiting we had to do to get some attention from our waiter. To give you an inkling of what I'm talking about, we waited 25 minutes for our cocktails and asked for them three times. We returned to Nightwood for Valentine's Day 2011. Like most restaurants, Nightwood offered a prix fixe, but also gave diners the option of selecting off a larger menu, which was greatly appreciated! I couldn't get enough of the Michigan smelts with creme fraiche - a wonderful combination. The spit-roasted half chicken was crispy and perfectly cooked. And the bread pudding with salted caramel sauce is definitely a winner (and I don't normally love bread pudding!). But, once again, we found ourselves wondering where our waitress was and feeling largely ignored. Four stars may be a bit generous for what I consider consistently lacking service, but the food at Nightwood is truly good, and deserving of the rating. Before you get too excited about the dinner offerings though, note that Nightwood changes its menu daily, depending on whatever it buys at the markets that morning (and almost everything on the menu is local and sustainable).
(4)
Robert D.
I've been here for both brunch and dinner. The dinner deserves a 5 and the brunch a 3. Pro's Dinner Atmosphere Dinner Service Dinner Menu Con's Brunch Sevice Brunch Menu For brunch, I prefer Nana or Waffles (both fairly close) Will definitely be back for dinner.
(4)
Lori C.
My husband and I have been wanting to try Nightwood for a while, so it was the restaurant I chose for my birthday dinner on 8/20. One of the appetizers (watermelon seared in a hot skillet topped with gorgonzola) was amazing, the other (with pulled mozzarela) was on the greasy side. We both ordered duck leg as the entree ... and both found it rather tough and unimpressive, yet the sauce of cherry tomatoes, grapes and blueberries was excellent. Dessert was their ice cream assortment, which was lovely. On the down side, when Nightwood booked our reservation, they specifically asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and my husband said it was for a birthday. But ... no acknowledgment of that what-so-ever that evening, no complimentary dessert, nada. It's not like I'm 4 years old and need a candle or anything, but really, Nightwood, why even ask? Just leads to a sense of the restaurant not having their customers feel special so they will return. Which we won't.
(2)
Andrew G.
Best brunch in Chicago, period. Menu changes every Sunday (brunch is only served on Sundays). The appetizer donut is a must. It changes everytime, but the bacon-one seems like a standard one. Very delicious. You can't go wrong with the menu. As a non-foodie, there are plenty of great options for me. I just had the eggs and salami. Sooo good.
(5)
Anika A.
Cozy spot, a nice change from our usual spots further up North. Started off on a disappointing note with the fried squid - over-fried, salty and too much breading and barely any squid. The only good part was the layer of cucumbers in yogurt under the squid. Our entrees definitely made up for the appetizer miss. I had the wood-grilled trout - cooked perfectly, so many flavors and loved the addition of almonds. Husband had the farm chicken breast, almost as good - more of a sweet taste w/ plums. We had the pumpkin pie for dessert - not your average pie - with a scoop of ice cream (cinnamon?), brown sugar and apple pieces on the side...yum! Excited to go again once their menu changes (which is supposedly every 6 weeks).
(4)
Mike D.
I'm going to say this: Nightwood is definitely a diamond in the rough. I moved to Pilsen from Wicker Park a few months ago, and I miss all of those elegant, fine dining establishments that seem to be on every corner in the 60622. I never knew a place as nice as Nightwood could exist in Pilsen, for obvious reasons. However, I was proved wrong when I ate here a few days ago on my birthday. Nightwood is nestled right on Halsted, a little north of Skylark and Cermak Rd. My boyfriend and I were greeted by a warm, inviting host when we walked in. The decor is contemporary, and the kitchen/food prep area is completely visible to guests. Our server was very knowledgable about Nightwood's cuisine, stating how its always fresh and only bought from local farming vendors. I ordered the roasted half chicken, which came with some kind of mint infused quinoa side which was orgasmic! The chicken tasted so fresh and was so tender, it melted in my mouth. My dish was also reasonably portioned; it was not small and scant like some fine dining restaurants are with their food. I felt full after I finished my plate, and that is pretty important to me. My boyfriend hinted that it was my birthday while I was in the bathroom, and our server brought us some delectable pastries for dessert....which were complimentary I might add. The only drawback I can say about Nightwood is the price of the cuisine. For a Pilsen restaurant, its pretty expensive. My plate was $25, but worth it. The menu changes daily, and I would say on average a person can expect to pay between $20-$35 per plate, excluding drinks. However, I understand why the dishes are on the expensive side. Nightwood goes to great lengths to ensure that the food is fresh and organic. In my opinion, this restaurant is worth the extra money.
(5)
Mary B.
Limited menu but the offerings are very good, and the service was strong. I appreciated that our waters were refilled regularly. Great ambiance as well.
Had a terrific dinner here. The decor is wonderful, the server was very friendly and helpful. If there were a couple of things I thought were really great, they were the brussels sprouts appetizer and the apple bread crumb with rosemary ice cream dessert. That dessert alone was worth the price of admission.
(5)
Amanda R.
I visited Nightwood last Friday night with my husband, brother, and VERY PICKY parents. I must admit that I was extremely worried about my parents being able to find things on the small ever-changing menu that would appeal to them. My dad is allergic to most fish and my mom is mostly vegetarian (actually, she doesn't really eat much at all, but that's besides the point). I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful combinations of flavors and textures in the food at Nightwood. I shared the eggplant, summer squash, breadcrumbs, aioli, capers, and lemon oil app, and it was quite possibly one of the best appetizers I have ever had. Creamy, flavorful, rich, and just the perfect portion for sharing. Loved it. We also split the crispy pig ear at the table, which, after becoming obsessed with the pig ear dish at the Purple Pig, I was skeptical. Also very good, though. My entree was the spaghetti alla chitarra with five animal bolognese. To be honest, I think I was just intrigued by the idea of eating five animals in one dish. The dish was delicious. Just salty enough, just savory enough, perfect portion. Even my picky dad tried it and wished he had ordered it. My husband loved his NY Strip with the non-vegetable ratatouille. I like that the ratatouille was advertised by the server as having only meats in it, so that it wouldn't deter vegetable skeptics like my husband. My mom said she liked her spit-roasted Slagel farm half chicken with plums and quinoa, but she only ate about one bite, so who knows. Dad enjoyed his trout but, as expected, didn't like the accompaniment because it was too spicy. The shock came when my simple-meat-and-potatoes-loving-brother ordered the rabbit and loved it, despite his difficulties with figuring out how to get the meat off the bones (he's 21, which means his palate is fond of cheeseburgers, steak, burritos, and Natty Lite, so what did I expect?). Desserts included the blueberry crisp and peach bread pudding with ice cream and they were both some of the best desserts I have ever had, and I am a major dessert person. Conclusion: I would definitely go back, but would go without my parents next time.
(4)
Arthur M.
Having eaten at lula cafe many times and being a big fan and signing up for the newsletter of both restaurants reminding me many times to give it a shot I finally went to nightwood for Sunday brunch. And I'm glad I did. The server asked our drink order and if we wanted donuts first thing and I'm glad she did. Having read and reread the handwritten sample menu's description of donuts for hours and days before the brunch that donut and a cup of coffee were exactly what I wanted. Later I would kick myself for not getting all three kinds because I saw the raspberry chocolate pudding donut and I can't stop picturing it, always just out of reach at the next table. My companion had a trout sandwich. The donut we had was bacon butterscotch, the cinnamon roll blueberry cream cheese, the bacon really good but I also got a side of bacon with my queso fresco cherry tomato scramble. The large open windows gave good light onto the leather and wood interior. The only problem was silverware unpolished and the butterfly leathrr chair accentuated my back fat.
(5)
Johnny T.
So, here's my problem with my latest experience at Nightwood: nothing about it compared to my previous outing and I left feeling extremely insulted. This is a place I'd told friend, yelper and anyone who would listen, "you HAVE to come here. The menu options are so innovative. The flavor combinations will blow your mind!!" Etc. Etc. Imagine my surprise to find those innovative flavor combinations add up to: lettuce with oil, salty pasta and chicken. What in the who? Back up. A group of friends and I came to Nightwood for a tasting menu. We arrived at 8:30. We made our way downstairs to be seated. We were full of smiles and hope. There was a large group of us (about 20). For the majority of the meal, we had one server. Mistake, the first. Since we were being treated to a tasting menu, there was no need to ask us what we wanted to eat, etc. It was already laid out for us. The only thing we needed to be asked was what we wanted to drink. So, we looked at the wine menu, made our choice..and waited. And waited. And, waited. About a half hour in, we got our drink orders to our server. Mind you, this entire time we've had NOTHING in front of us, not even bread. Mistake, the second. "So, you're really excited about this place, right?" "DEFINITELY. Oh man. I ate here previously and it was beyond belief. You'll see." ... Nearly an HOUR later, we get our drinks. Why? "The bar was busy." Yes, that was the response I received. I wrote it down. I took notes on all of this. An hour. Until this point, we have had only glass after glass of water. It's 9:30. Lunch was a looong time ago. My patience is thin. "Can we have some bread and butter or something?" I asked. "Oh, something's coming out." Mistake, the third. Something's coming out? After an hour of waiting, *something* is coming out? I should hope so. Like a man in prison of Biblical times, I ate biscuits and wine. And I was not happy about it. AT TEN PM, we received our first course. Mistake, the fourth (I am going to stop here. There's going to be a lot of these). Yes, an hour and a half after arriving, we finally start to eat something. Have you ever been so hungry that you lost your appetite? That's the point I was nearing. But, it was 10 pm, I figured I should eat someth...what is this? I waited all this time for LETTUCE? Yes, I waited an hour and a half to eat lettuce. Evidently, it was being hydroponically grown out back, hence the wait. No. Not at all. You don't make people wait an hour and a half for lettuce and expect them to be happy about it. Boeuf a la Bourguinonne? Sure. Salad in a bag? No. Then, as if directed by Dale Earnhart Jr, every other course comes out at once at lightning fast speed and all together? Again, are you kidding? Have you heard of pace? Presentation? Why starve us only to serve everything at once? There's no room on the table for all the plates. Nothing is being explained or presented, just dropped off and left. That makes no sense. Whatever. At least I'll eat...what? What is this? Salty pasta? Fish with LEMON and PARSLEY? DRY CHICKEN??? What the h is this? THIS is innovation? THIS is culinary creativity? THIS took nearly (at this point ) TWO HOURS TO ARRIVE TO THE TABLE?? No. If you mean to tell me that this is the BEST EFFORT of a restaurant that boasts 'whipped prairie fruit farm goat cheese on buttered croutons with arugula, and a chili, garlic and cured sardine vinaigrette' and 'Gunthrop farm duck breast with hominy, roasted garlic, snap peas, and remoulade', I will call you a liar. Because you will be lying to me. And, you will be insulting me. To appease the hunger of our group, we received a couple of more plates of pasta with cheese. Does that come with unlimited soup and salad, too? I didn't know Olive Garden had a Pilsen outpost. Oops. My mistake. OG is much cheaper...in price. My brunch experience was a revelation. From tamarind drink to orange cardamom donut to multi-layered bagel, each bite was a surprise. This food was an insult. Waiting so long for this food was an insult. Having one disinterested (or overwhelmed) server was an insult. Everything about this experience told me that Nightwood was not interested in my business or the business of my friends. It told me that rather than giving me a representative dining experience, it would give me polenta WITHOUT the oyster mushroom vinaigrette, small salad and poached egg. The food, service and lack of attention told me not to come back. And, have no doubt, I won't. I work hard. At times, I work long long hours. My time (MY time) is SO precious to me. To have that commodity taken from me needlessly and without care is entirely unacceptable and unforgivable. TFD.
Well you know when you find a piece of tree bark in your salad that the vegetables sure are fresh! Perhaps they were just trying to add a little flavor to the pretty bland salad they served us. Besides the wooden bland salad I found the service for our very large party to be very slllloooowwww (45 minutes just to get biscuits), the chicken to be so-so and the trout smelled awfully funny. Then again I'm pregnant and most things smell funny these days! However, there were a few good things to Yelp about: The polenta was quite tasty. I couldn't get enough of the super fresh egg noodles (seriously, I had about 7 helpings) and the rhubarb cobbler dessert hit the spot. I'm not sure I'd come back here with a large group since they couldn't see to handle it, I may return for the brunch I've been hearing so much about. Or perhaps for more of those noodles.
(3)
Marcus H.
The atmosphere is nice and the pig ears are actually pretty good. The beer selection is pretty good as well. The rest of the dinner options are just o.k. I got the Wisconsin trout and T got the Spaghetti alla Chitarra.
Really cool spot, excellent brunch/breakfast. Everything I had was delicious - the bacon donut, the raspberry oatmeal, the omlette etc. Pretty reasonable pricing too. Would recommend for brunch.
(4)
Liren C.
Best dinning experience ever! I couldn't be more pleased by the service. All the servers were so polite, attentive and gracious. We had dinner there and the food was out of the world! The decor and ambiance were also very pleasant. Appetizer was a combination of lightly sauteed cauliflower, nectarines, sorrel and stracchion cheese (from Italy) on top of a big slice of Wisconsin bacon. The dish was a delightful little summer affair. For entree I ordered the spit roasted Illinois rabbit. The meat was succulent with a faint woody note, not at all gamey as rabbit sometimes can be. The sauce was a savory broth made of finely diced bacon bits, fennel, porcini and whole shishito peppers. My dinner mate had the strip steak cooked to medium well. I was really concern about that when he ordered but when I tried the steak it was perfection. To be able to get a steak to such tenderness at medium well is nothing short of a true testament to the chef's culinary skill! For dessert I picked blueberry crisp with strawberry ice cream which completely blew me away. I could even venture to say that it was the best dessert I've ever had. The strawberry ice cream was packed with flavor. The blueberry crisp was almost good enough to die for with fresh whole blue berries at the bottom. I can't wait to return for another phenomenal meal at Nightwood!
(5)
Katie H.
I wish I could do a 3.5 star rating, but alas... Nightwood was good, but not great. We were seated on the patio, which had a great ambience but unfortunately very uncomfortable chairs. Nice wine and cocktail menu to start off. We had heard great things about the burger, so decided to share that for our entree and get 3 starters as well. The crispy pig ear was pretty delicious (salty and sweet, a little sticky but nicely done), and we enjoyed the melon salad (although as my hubby pointed out, anyone could cut up a good melon and top it with queso fresco - the trick is getting a good melon, which Nightwood definitely did). We also had the warm tomato salad with a baguette and were underwhelmed. The tomatoes were nice, the baguette was average, but the sauce, which was described as a yogurt dill sauce, actually tasted more like a Thai peanut sauce, which I did not love. I'm not sure if others have had the same experience, or maybe the chef just made a mistake on our dish? The burger was very good, and super filling, so we were too full to try their dessert menu. Overall, if you're new to Chicago I wouldn't send you to Nightwood as a first or second choice for dinner - but if you live in the neighborhood or want to soak up the last of the Chicago summer on a nice patio, I'd recommend giving it a try.
(3)
Steven M.
Wonderful dining experience in what is still a work in progress neighborhood. We were seated at the bar and I had the punch. What I thought it was and what I got were two different worlds. The menu just had the name not a description of what you were getting. I did not complain as it looked like a White Russian and tasted like heaven. Had I known, I would have asked for a scoop of ice cream to go with it. Our table was at one of the huge windows in what is a quaint dining room. I started with the spinach salad and a glass of Lumos. Excellent wine, I should have gotten the bottle. The salad was amazing with its subdued flavors that would pop with flavor as you eating. The walleye came next with a glass of Lambet. Not too fond of that choice, but by that time I was very happy! The fish on the other hand was excellent. With a smear of mashed underfoot and the bean sauce on the side. I polished that plate in record time! The staff collects the plates, silverware and glasses between each course as well as wipe down the table. I went to the washroom and I saw the lineup of desserts and I had to try the espresso tart with Illinois figs. Now I have never had a fig in my life, because I didn't like they way they looked at me! But these were delicious and the tart was nice and light. I ate quite a bit and I went home feeling content, not bloated. The atmosphere was young and casual. But I never felt out of place, because the server was right on the money all night long, so aces to Jill for her outstanding attention to detail. And everyone else was in their own element as it should be. This restaurant is why people move to the city.
(5)
Michelle B.
It was nice to "head South" for a Nightwood dinner. Though the location of the restaurant could mark the start of another restaurant row, for now it has an interesting "hole in the wall" feel - without being a hole at all with its somewhat upscale, minimalist decor. Overall my vegetarian dish was pretty good - though it was only one of two veggie options :( My cocktail was definitely worth 5 stars, but with my boyfriend's cocktail being too strong and only TWO vegetarian options I can't bring myself to give this place a 5 star yelp "woohoo."
(4)
Janet E.
We started off with the butterscotch bacon donut. WOW. OUTSTANDING! I wanted three more of them, but I didn't want to start off my Sunday morning being a fatty. I ordered the chicken and waffles and my cousin ordered the trout with fried egg on top. I didn't try the trout, but my cousin cleared off his plate within minutes. As for my chicken and waffles, it was fingerlickin' good! I don't know what batter they used, but it was so tasty and not greasy at all! The raspberry jam and the rice pudding tasted only okay to me. As dishes were being taken out from the kitchen, I was staring at all of them and wished I had ordered EVERYTHING! I need to come back and try more food!! Our server was Maria and she was SOOOOOOOO SWEET to us. Extremely friend, very helpful, and was constantly refilling our coffee or our water (even when she gave us the water bottle to refill our own water, she did it for us anyways!). The service here is exceptional! Everyone works as a team in refilling drinks and taking away plates. We had a plate and utensil change after we used them to attack the butterscotch donut. I was impressed! Parking in the area is pretty easy and free (for now...who knows when the parking boxes will be installed...hopefully never!)
(4)
Howard L.
Nightwood feels like about a 3.5. We had a holiday weekend family reunion outing here prompted by Michelin's recent Bib Gourmand rating for the place (good deals for under $40 per person), and daughter's fond recall of her fried chicken/waffles brunch outing here. Overall, they have some creative and organic servings, a vibrant environment, and a blend of hits and average entrees. First, you can't make the Bib Gourmand criterion (two courses, and wine or dessert for under $40 pre tax and tip) unless you order the cheaper $11 - $13 entrees (like pasta, or cheeseburger). Many entrees are in the $21 - $28 range. We found their appetizers and desserts to be excellent, and 3 out of 4 of our entrees to be average in taste and appeal - wife having garganelli pasta, daughter having a black trumpet mushroom sformato (like a souffle), and son having a blandish duck leg. I had a wood grilled trout, and that was an exception and excellent. It was also flawlessly deboned. Rabbit wasn't available on this night , and too bad! All entrees and other servings are on the smallish side for the price, but you're paying for fresh quality and taste here. Our appetizers were a nice veal sweetbread, and clams. Desserts were a lemon pudding cake, and a nice, very dense pot 'o creme with raspberry filling. I also personally enjoyed a bargain and nice $5 draft pint of Old Rasputin, a California brewed Russian Imperial Stout with 9% ABV, and that was probably a star right there. Street parking was easy and area was well lit and felt safe, as we weren't very familiar with the midway location between Chinatown and Pilsen. The restaurant's dining areas are kind of broken down into three distinct areas - the main area with 2 and 4 person tables up front and by the windows (where we were at), a long narrow strip of 4 person tables adjacent to the bar, and then a dining area by the open kitchen in the back of restaurant. The dining room was vibrant and it felt like we were in Lincoln Park or somewhere similar. The business is 2 years old. Service was friendly and very attentive. Overall, a recommended and interesting place to dine, but you have to personally find out what works best for you here.
(3)
Angela S.
Was here for brunch and man oh man... Craft cocktails with donut appetizers is the breakfast of champions.
(4)
Doreen H.
Had a great dinner last night. Was able to try 3 appetizers which were all great. I'm not very adventurous when it comes down to it but all 3 were different and delicious. My steak dinner.was cooked to perfection. My kudos to chef Shae!
(5)
Moira M.
What an excellent restaurant! The food was delicious and the wine, which was recommended by the waiter, was surprisingly good - and a good value. Also must mention the atmosphere - so trendy with exposed brick, dark hardwood with great use of metal and glass.
Nightwood was a terrific experience. Exposed brick, hardwood floors, large (albeit drafty) windows and a nice feel. I went with 3 others on a Saturday night. We had 8pm reservations and we got seated immediately. I had the sweetbreads appetizer my first time with this dish, and liked it a lot. We had a good Willamette River blend red and the combination was outstanding. My main dish was the duck leg and it was absolutely perfect. The combination of a winter night, cozy restaurant, duck, red wine and good company could not have been better. A nice port with a brownie finished the evening. The only drawback was the draftiness. We sat in a corner in the front of the restaurant and had two large windows by us. It was cold, drafty, and a couple people in our party kept their coats on.
(4)
Nishan P.
My worst date ever! Soon after we were seated I realized I never wanted to see her again. What a waste of the romantic atmosphere. What a waste of the prime window seating. Too late to bolt I decided to make the most of dinner. Our server was full of praise for the pan seared trout. The dish arrived with a whole fish perched on a bed of risotto. The trout seemed to be gazing at me pityingly with one big globular fisheye. Mr. Trout: "Dude, your date sucks. I feel bad for you." Me: "Don't feel sorry for me, Mr. Trout. I am going to be eating you." MT: "Yeah, but I will be gone soon and you'll still be on this boring date." He was right. He was also delicious. The tangy risotto perfectly complemented the fish. Soon all that remained of my aquatic friend was a skeleton. At this point any normal person would have yelled for the check. But, I happen to be cursed with a sweet tooth. The butterscotch tart with its light creamy filling and a caramelized pear was almost worth extending the torture. My one gripe with Nightwood is the noise level in the restaurant. It is very difficult to hear the person sitting across the table from you. Had I been on a more interesting date I might have actually wanted to hear what she had to say.
(4)
Jen B.
After a year delay, I finally made it back to Nightwood, this time for brunch. Right off the bat, they impressed me with how accommodating they were to a large group. The Women Who Bike showed up about 25 strong and the servers and kitchen handled it reasonably well, breaking us up into smaller groups for ordering and keeping the water and coffee refilled regularly. I tried the two eggs, hashbrowns and toast with a side of veggie sausage. It was a LOT of food for one small person. The eggs and toast were standard (not sure how you can improve, though props for getting the eggs a nice 'n' runny over easy). Loved the veggie sausage and couldn't come close to finishing the three big slabs. The real knockout were the hashbrowns. They came in the form of three large tatertots, but, like, the BEST tatertots you've ever had. Crispy outside, mashed potato inside. Perfection. I am dying to know how they make these. My chai was also good, but nothing super special. Wish they had the option of soy milk and a little surprised they didn't, given the aesthetic. [Bad vegetarian aside: So I may have taken a nibble of the bacon donut. Holy wow. Super rich and yummy. Props to anyone who can tackle a whole one because I hit a sugar wall after one bite.] The only issue came up when I tried to pay early and leave. The server was more than happy to accommodate, but then added someone else's egg sandwich to my bill instead of the side of veggie saus. I didn't really have the time or inclination to ask her to fix it (and run the risk of looking like more than a pill than I already did with the leaving early business), so it was kind of a bummer but in the grand scheme it's no big deal. I'll be back, hopefully within the year this time!
(4)
Mike S.
Renovated restaurant, easy street parking, and spacious layout looked to be the makings for a great brunch. Butterscotch n bacon donut is awesome as our most of the dishes. However portion sizes are quite weak for the prices. Also was part of a party of 8 and service was less than stellar. Other smaller parties around us were served drinks and food well before us even though we were sat and ordered first. A one course brunch should not take 2 hours. Will not be back as there are too many good brunch places in the city with much better service.
(2)
Laura G.
I came here for dinner with a girlfriend on Friday night at around 6:30. We got seated right away without a reservation. Our waiter was very helpful and gave great descriptions about the food. He also let us taste a couple wines before deciding what we wanted. We started off the carrots which were outstanding. They were flavored with dill and trout, and they were awesome. Next, we got the rolled pasta with ricotta and pepperoni sauce. The sauce was really good, but this dish was probably our least favorite of the evening. We split the mushrooms with polenta and sturgeon for our entrees. We loved the vegetarian mushroom dish and it had a good combination of flavors and textures. The fish was good and nicely cooked as well. Although we were full, we ended on the chocolate cake which was delicious! I can't wait to come back here for brunch!
(4)
Mindy S.
ok Nightwood. You got me. Will be back for my craving of the butterscotch bacon donuts. Damn you.
(3)
Shelu B.
best brunch ever. pricey. geeky foodie crowd.
(4)
Matt M.
A haiku: For you if you like Slow cooked pork, Joy Division, and the Halsted bus
(4)
Eric W.
Very good meal, if you are looking for a truly great meal there are better options in Chicago
(3)
Joey T.
I was at Nightwood for the first time on Saturday night. I only make it down to Pilsen every once in a while, so I had been looking for an excuse to get over there for dinner. Finally, the opportunity arrived and 4 of us decided to take Nightwood in for the evening. Two of us arrived early for some pre-dinner drinks. The staff was very pleasant and showed us to the bar. The "outdoor" covered seating area looked awesome. I will definitely want to eat in that section at some point. I started out with the "Lucky Rabbit's Foot". It was a bourbon base with bitters, honey and grapefruit. Simple, but decent enough for a pregamer. Once the other 2 arrived, we were seated in the front section of the restaurant. I loved the atmosphere inside. It was lively, yet not so loud that you had to yell to compete with the ambiance. It was a perfect blend of fun and conversation. Our server was kind and helpful, and seemed to honestly care about whether we were having an enjoyable experience. He recommended a couple starters, including the cauliflower and the watermelon plate. We were all pleased with the choices. For our entrees, we all went with a different dish: 1) split roasted chicken; 2) duck leg; 3) summer vegetables and 4) salmon. Everyone really enjoyed their dish. I will definitely visit this place again and will recommend to friends who want to get away from the Randolph scene.
(4)
Jose L.
Asked for the burger and it took forever. The server blamed me for asking for well done and then it arrived bloody. Terrible experience.
(1)
Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)
Liz R.
One of the most phenomenal meals that I have had in a long while. I was in Chicago for a trade show and this restaurant was recommended to me by a local. I went with a friend from the Netherlands. We started off with an appetizer with a rolled piece of pasta stuffed with ricotta and on the outside some grilled chorizo or sausage and some heavenly sauce. For dinner, I got the duck which was perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside, served over lentils. Don't ask me how the lentils were cooked, but the flavor was bountiful. My friend ordered the rabbit and if I remember correctly, he almost licked the plate clean. For dessert, I got a small cake, that at first bite, resembled cornbread, but then evolved into a sweet bite. A plop of pumpkin ice cream with candid walnuts topped this piece of genius. The other dessert was a molten chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream. Needless to say, we couldn't help but devour every bite of our meals. Our server spent the time to help us make our choices and took great care of us, even taking the initiative to call us a cab since there weren't too many in the neighborhood. Truly, a meal to remember.
(5)
Colleen C.
Finally, I made it. Dinner at Nightwood to celebrate the dawn of December: 12/1/09. Ok, not really, just a random dinner spot... Date's review: "The lettuce is beautiful." (he's an expert in concise foliage appraisal). And, I concur. The lettuce is truly beautiful. Ordering a salad would be beneficial to overall meal appreciation and health. There are several to choose from...simple, yet satisfying. My review: Neighborhood: Love. East Pilsen is still somewhat untraveled (by the North side masses), and this cozy nook just north of Cermak (and Skylark!) on Halsted is a "blink and you'll miss it" sort of situation, which of course...is why I like it, and why I could get a pretty good table (corner/window) without a reservation on a random Tuesday night. Had it not been dipping below 40 degrees, the fireplace flickering the patio seating may have been an amiable option, but alas...winter has arrived and inside warmth was necessary. Quickly situated with menus (oh, handwritten? nice touch), water (still or sparkling, both complimentary) and an above average wine/beer/cocktail list...our server was both congenial and well-versed in what the restaurant offered and what might be good to try. Indeed, ma'am! Locally focused, sustainable menu has prices a little above average, but the quality and consistency of the food is evident, and much worth it. IN addition, the service and atmosphere is worth some dime all in itself... Glasses of: Zin + Pinot Noir in the correct glasses, at the correct temperature, from the correct vineyards. (I said we were celebrating winter!) Buttermilk biscuits with honey butter. Aforementioned Salad Whitefish with root vegetables for me: Excellent. Pasta with lamb confit for the salad spinner. I would most definitely go back...perfect for a date, or a group of friends (make a reservation). Excellent cocktail list (they were out of ginger syrup for the hot toddy), beer list is extensive and local, and of course...the wine left me feeling warm and happy, thus doing its job very well. Reading Tricia L's review...just realized they do brunch. OF course they do. They are from Lula! How did I overlook this? I will be back for brunching and the Sunday Morning cocktail with prosecco, fruit puree and bitters...mmmmm.
(4)
Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)
Steve M.
Nightwood absolutely killed brunch yesterday. Brunch was all, "oh hi, Nightwood." And Nightwood was like, "whutup biotch!" and then BLAM!!!!!!!!! We beat the crowds by 5 minutes. Score. I had a bloody mary that was so-so. Honestly, the mix was a bit mealy, with tomato bits floating about. The coffee tasted excellent, and did it's job effectively. On to the food... The table decided to split a bacon and caramel (!!!!!!!!!!) donut to start off the whole affair. When I first put a bit in my mouth, I was disappointed that the bacon wasn't standing out more. Then, just as I was voicing the thought, a deliciously smokey bacon aftertaste came across my mouth and finished the sweet caramel sensation. Damn, bacony caramely donut... you're tricky! I ordered a wood roasted Wisconsin trout with roasted potatoes, braised kale, olives, a fried egg and hot sauce. The fish was de-boned perfectly, and the entire dish was light and delicious. Other dishes included duck confit eggs benedict, a mutton and white bean pita sandwich w/ fried egg, and the real game changer: a bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese, pickled garden vegetables, lettuce, fried egg and bacon. At first I thought trout cream cheese sounded gross, but when I tried it, all the flavors came together deliciously. Salt, smoke and swine goodness from the bacon; the tangy, lightly fishy creaminess of their homemade cream cheese; the gooey from the egg yolks; the lettuce crunch -- all on the perfect bagel. All of the 3 dishes mentioned above came with hashbrown balls. That's right. Imagine a ball of hashbrown about the size of a cueball, with delicious golden, flakiness. Serve up w/ a side of ketchup, and we're in business. Food aside, the service was friendly and attentive. The space was really, really cool. Kind of lofty, but with a cozy feel. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can check out that side yard w/ fire place and chill-out area. I'll be back for sure. Perhaps for some dinner, and then cocktails at nearby Skylark..
(5)
John K.
Good food but not great. I have been there once. We tried 5 dishes. Nothing really stood out. If I lived in pilsen I would go back for a second try.
(4)
Will V.
I've been looking forward to trying Nightwood since it opened and I heard great things about it from Scott M, who wrote the first review of Nightwood on Yelp. I finally went last night to meet Scott and his brother for dinner. The atmosphere is fantastic, it's obvious the owner put considerable planning into the restaurant (three years, according to Scott!). The dining room chairs in particular impressed me, they seem to be Eames-inspired, covered with leather and they are very comfortable. I hoped that, as is so infrequently the case, the owner put as much effort into the food as the eye candy. I had a Nightwood Old-Fashioned at the bar while I waited for Scott and David. The drink was mixed perfectly and speedily, with fresh ice and maraschino cherries that were obviously a cut or two above your typical bar cherries. The host (who I gathered is the owner) and the bartender were both very accommodating and friendly. My friends arrived and we sat down for dinner, and ordered a couple of appetizers, a creamy fresh mozzarella and fruit compote dish, almost like a bruschetta, and pork and fig ravioli. Both were as good as they were unusual. The ravioli was cooked perfectly. There were some tough entree choices on the menu, but I decided to order the cheeseburger. In retrospect it may have been a cop-out moment, but I don't regret it a bit. The burger was obviously made from very fresh, high quality beef, and cooked to perfection. There was definitely a smoky flavor, but it did not overwhelm any of the other flavors. The bun was a ciabatta-like roll. In short, it was probably one of the best burgers I've ever had, way better than the one I had at Bad Apple last week. And when you take away the novelty of the burgers at Kuma's, I believe the Nightwood burger blows Kuma's away. Of course, if you want a burger topped with pulled pork and bacon, you're going to have to go to Kuma's! But judged on the quality of the burger itself, I believe Nightwood has Kuma's beat. The fries were excellent as well, obviously hand-cut and crispy. Nightwood also has a nice beer list and an extensive wine selection. I had a Tripel Karmeliet and a nice Cabernet Sauvignon that complimented the burger well. Overall, I was incredibly impressed by the entire experience. I look forward to going back and being more adventurous with the menu (which changes daily, by the way). Nightwood is a Pilsen gem (and not the only one!), and well worth venturing out of Lakeview or Lincoln Park for a visit.
(5)
Amanda G.
Nightwood is a hidden gem of Chicago. It's not really hidden but it's definitely off the beaten path in Pilsen. It was well worth the 15 min drive from Wicker Park. My boyfriend and I had such a great dinner here and we will definitely be back for more Nightwood. I want to go back and try there brunch ASAP! We got two appetizers: the Michigan Char Roe an $18 appetizer that's worth every penny and Chicken Liver Pate which had such a nice plating & presentation. For our entrees, we ordered a pasta they had on special and the buttermilk crusted scallops. The scallops were perfectly cooked and were excellent. We ended our meal with a walnut tart with egg nog ice-cream. Service was excellent and I loved the ambiance. Next time we go back I want to sit by the kitchen. It's an open kitchen and you can watch the action!
(4)
Reuben H.
*WARNING: the content of this review makes mention of the butchering of animals, in particular- furry, fuzzy ones. If you are squeamish and/or have a soft spot in your heart for such cute cuddly animals, you may not appreciate this review.* Now, I have learned my lesson. Don't order rabbit at any restaurant unless my wife says up front that she knows, for a fact, that they do it the right way. You see, rabbit is quite difficult to cook (when done on the bone, as a whole or a half). For that reason, I have a hard time faulting Nightwood for their rabbit. It wasn't that it was totally bad since parts of it in fact were quite good. They seemed to pay particular attention to the skin of the rabbit. So much so that the skin flap that stays on the beast itself that is a part of the belly (but is split open in order to gut said beast) was folded over to the side during cooking to form this very nice, crisp bacon-like piece that was delicious. Did I just mention rabbit bacon? Did I just use the word "beast" to describe rabbit? The problem with it, like at so many other places where I have had rabbit before is that it was not cooked perfectly. Once again, rabbit is a very challenging meat to cook, but I guess I had high expectations for Nightwood thinking that they would never put something like it on their menu without being able to master it. The meat was not cooked down enough and at some parts was quite dry. Otherwise, the flavors were very well put together. Coupled with a delicious sauce, roasted brussels sprouts, red grapes and olives, this dish was well composed despite the not so perfect execution of cooking the rabbit half. Bunnies are supposed to be soft (fork tender), not tough! The rest of the meal was pretty nice. We also ordered ricotta gnocchi that was terrific- the highlight of the meal. The chicken liver pate had this incredibly strong flavor. It reminded me of liverwurst (usually made of pork liver). It wasn't that it was bad, just very strong and hard to take down as an appetizer. Just not something that I expected (the strength of the flavor that is). The pickled onions and cucumber was a good way to cut the rich flavor- but in the end the pate itself was a bit too over powering. For dessert we ordered the cookie assortment. These cookies were quite good, but to get four small cookies for $7, I felt a bit let down. Some other things that I really appreciate about Nightwood: - They have an extensive wine list, including quite a few nice selections by the glass. - Their menu changes daily which is usually a good sign of freshness and quality. - Their ingredients, in particular their animal proteins (meat- OK?) all came from well respected farms. - Interesting menu items that included a lot of variety. - For someone who doesn't always want to drink alcohol with his meal, offering a non-alcoholic cocktail for a very reasonable price was a welcome site (though tonight I ordered a nice syrah/granach from Washington state). I guess over all having experienced quite a few of these "new American" casual, yet stylish restaurants, Nightwood left some things to be desired. I hold this concept of food in high regards and when it doesn't come out near perfect (like I have had at Blue 13, Naha, and MK to name a few) I guess I leave a bit disappointed. That is not to say that this place should be ignored. I love the fact that they opened up this side of town- at basically the cross roads of Chinatown, Bridgeport, and Pilsen. The space itself is warm and inviting, and over all, the concept is a good one. Just remember this though. If you find yourself leaving Nightwood the way I did tonight- feeling a bit underwhelmed (then again can anyone ever be "whelmed"?)- walk due south on Halsted to Skylark and get yourself a pint of a good beer and some tater tots. Somehow that was the perfect "last course" to an otherwise almost forgettable meal.
(3)
Parris M.
Went on an early dinner trip with my boyfriend and his friend. They both ordered first, and ordered entrees. I, being apparently naïve, ordered pasta and expected a full sized plate, seeing as how it was the same price as an entree. It wasn't. I received approximately 15 pieces of pea sized gnocchi on a plate drenched in a butter salt sauce. It was practically cold. Politely, I told the waitress that it was way too under temp for my liking (or anyone's, really) and she apologized and brought back half of what was on my plate on a different warm plate. so now, I have a noticeably smaller amount of pasta left on my plate. While I'm watching my boyfriend and his friend enjoying their entrees, I'm enjoying each tiny morsel of salt. The waitress noticed my discontent, and offered me dessert on the house for not realizing I would want a full meal too. Which made me feel a little better. Until I saw the bill. When asked "still or sparkling water?" It should be implied that they're both the same price. Its not the same as asking "would you like a 7 dollar bottle of san pellegrino?" The appetizer I had was good, but I don't even remember what it was.
(2)
Milly P.
I live for brunch and Nightwood is definitely one of my favorite brunch places. I wouldn't call them a "standard" brunch place as you won't find an eggs + breakfast meat + starch combo deal. However, their dishes are delicious and a nice change in pace from standard brunch fare. Their dishes are seasonal so you may not always get what yo loved. My favorite used to be their fried chicken and waffles but I noticed it is not on the menu lately. They do keep their bacon donuts on the menu year-round, and I definitely recommend that! Their bagel sandwiches are always a good bet, as well as any sandwich with pork belly! The service is OK. I think the servers have too many tables and at times it feels like they are no where to be found. The vibe and wardrobe is very hipster-esque, so if that is your thing, you will love it!
(4)
Allison A.
Hot Damn! That's some damn good food! All I got to say.
(5)
Boon K.
The service was very attentive during our dinner and everything we had was pretty good. Except for the ribs. They were so tough that a knife couldn't help get the meat out. The favor was good but the preparation was terrible, they just threw it on the grill. Well, we mention it to the wait staff and they apologize and did not include it on our bill and offer to send out another but we decline and they comp us on dessert, which was very nice of them.
(4)
Heather K.
Drink of the night: The Aviation - Yes, Please! Adorable servers, smiling water boys, an open kitchen with bar seats, a warm purple hue on the walls, a nice patio, and honey biscuits; I was really enamored. I had a pistachio ricotta pasta dish and the arugula salad. Not a ton of options if your a vegetarian but hey, we're used that. Here's my gripe - the chairs are not comfortable and I really do think Lula is surperior, thus 4 and not 5. A long time fan of Lula Cafe - Nightwood left me impressed and yelping for more.
(4)
Lisa L.
Yum! Expensive meal, but to be honest, it wasn't as pricey as I was expecting. We did it up with two apps, two entrees, three adult beverages, and one dessert, and got out of there (using a $10 gift cert) for under $100. To boot, we got to relax on their lovely, modern, outdoor patio; the rest of the indoor space was equally impressive, but it was too nice out to eat inside. The rundown I can vouch for the smelts, sardines, and trout - they were all phenomenal. Smelts were lightly breaded and fried, and served with a creme fraiche. The Sardines were smoked, and prepared with a delicious rosemary butter - there were veggies with this, but they didn't really add or detract from the dish. The sardines in the sauce were good enough to stand on their own. Now the trout - I can honestly say that this is the most tasty fish entree I can recall ever having. The fish has a smoky flavor, paired with a salad of mustard greens, beets, onions, and an almost salty dressing that is just perfect. I had a small bite of my husband's ratatouille, but not enough to really vouch for it. He seemed really pleased. He also had a blackberry and peach crumble that seemed to vaporize before I could have second thoughts about being too full to try some. Also of special note was the tamarind drink with vodka (it's usually a non-alc drink, but you can get it with spirits as well). Beer enthusiasts may be interested to know that they just got Old Rasputin on tap, and it's only $5 for a pint. I would absolutely come here again.
(3)
Kymberly J.
You really have to be in the mood for unusual combinations...for brunch anyway; I havent been here for dinner. Dont go in expecting to find traditional breakfast fare. I did see one ordinary thing on the menu, which I almost ordered. It was eggs, tots, and toast. I felt so boring even considering that I changed my mind. I had the English pea and ricotta eggs. A little salty but really good. Who knew peas with scrambled eggs would be good? Now YOU do! it came with their unique version of tots: a glob of shredded potatoes (like has browns) fried up as little balls. A work of art! It also came with toast that was thrown on the wood fire grill and served with a raspberry jam. A few things I would change: since my meal was one big protein and carb fest I would have loved to see a fruit plate on the menu. I always feel better ordering such items as I had when I can get in some healthful fruit. I would also get rid of the iced tea. It was possibly the worst fresh brewed iced tea I have ever had. The outdoor eating area is nice and cozy with a fire place in the center. Dont expect to sit and wathc the passersby because it is closed off from street view...hence the cozzyness!
(4)
Troy H.
Tater tots here are the truth. Went here for Sunday brunch with a friend, and really enjoyed it. The sausage is excellent, my eggs buttery and fluffy, and the tater tots. THE TOTS. Ordered an extra side of those afterwards. If you can, sit in the the counter/kitchen area. Watching people do what they like doing is a treat.
(5)
Daina B.
Nightwood is in a totally unassuming location on a random street corner in Pilsen. But when you walk in you would think that you were in the middle of Brooklyn (from the decor to the staff). I love that you can walk in without a reservation and sit by the kitchen and get your food served lickety split and watch the talented chefs do their thang. I love that the food is made from locally purchased and fresh food. The menu changes daily and the offerings are inventive. It's really a fantastic place when you think about it. Another thing that I love - the portion sizes. This ain't no cheese cake factory where you can order one thing and feed a family of four. Portions are perfect for one person - you won't feel like your stomach is about to explode if you have just. one. more. bite. So if you are looking for a new place to chow down, or want to take an out of towner to an 'off the beaten path' location then this is the place for you.
(5)
Cecilia G.
I was intrigued by the name, appearance and location of this place so I decided to use my a-la-card coupon and try it out. We went late on a weeknight and were seated right away next to the window. I liked the interior but it was way too dark for my taste.. maybe I just don't get the charm of eating in the dark, but I want to see what I'm eating! The streetlamp outside was basically our only light source. On to the food: great!! They have a changing menu that uses fresh, seasonal, local products. we tried a pasta dish (farfalle with olives, anchovies, chili) and the roasted duck with a great almond and prunes salad. both were flavorful and delicious. I just wish there was more - the pasta especially was a quite small portion. I love that you can choose still or sparkling water, which is not bottled but made from tap water with the soda maker. Complimentary biscuits and butter before the meal are also a nice touch. Dessert was good but not extraordinary. Overall a great meal, just a bit too pretentious (and pricey).
(3)
andrea m.
I recently went here on a first date, and while things did not work out with the gentleman I was with, I do plan on continuing my relationship with Nightwood. I had the hangar steak, and it was good. The portion size was just fine for me, but I am not a heavy eater. The bruschetta appetizer was really good, too. It was beautiful outside, so we sat on their patio. The space out there is really cute, and there is a fireplace in the middle of it. I am glad this restaurant is in the area!
(4)
Ariel G.
Been for both brunch and dinner service and both are equally as delicious. The atmosphere was amazing, aside from the group of seven seated next to us who couldn't stop shouting-but that's no fault of the restaurant's, and our server Jill was very accommodating. I thoroughly enjoy that the menu changes from day to day, it gives the restaurant a unique "homey" quality.
(5)
Carol K.
Nightwood is the newest addition to this southern stretch of Halsted in Pilsen. Owned by the same people as Lula Cafe, they had been open for about a week when we stopped in for dinner. Nightwood is named after the 1936 novel written by Djuna Dumas. It's an interesting choice as I was wondering what the link to the book would be- and as it turns out--there is no link. Just the mystery of why they named it that. The interior is contemporary and bright. As our waiter said- they want it to be a "beaken of light" lighting their corner of Halsted. And the place is larger than it looks- with an outdoor patio, back seating area as well as a large room downstairs for private parties. We were seated right away at a perfect corner, window table (it was early) and since they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more- if you don't want to wait- I'd suggest you go early as when we were leaving the place was pretty full. Our server brought over a simple menu that changes daily- so the food that we enjoyed may not be be there if you go but I'm sure they will be replaced with equally delicious creations! We started with a couple of the appetizers- the ravioli in butter sauce and these interesting spears of asparagus coated with smoked trout and cream cheese, lightly breaded and deep fried. While the ravioli was good-the asparagus spears were amazing! What an interesting combination of flavors! For our entrees- I had the chicken and my friend had the pork loin. Both were extremely tasty. The chicken was a huge portion. The pork looked great- the only challenge was there was quite a bit of fat on it. Finally dessert. I love that you can order a plate of fresh, hot from the oven cookies in 4 flavors. The toffee one was my favorite- but the peanut butter one came in a close second. Service was good- they work in teams so different people were bringing out food out- but our server always checked in to make sure things were good. And free street parking is still available in this area which is always nice. The name Nightwood may remain a mystery- but the delicious food that they are serving shouldn't. It's a great addition to this neighborhood!
(4)
Kelly H.
Went here for dinner and sat in the back where the kitchen is open and you can watch the staff prepare everything! If you are a foodie like me you will love it! The seating around the kitchen is bar style and the staff will interact and answer any questions while cooking! SO COOL! The food was amazing, menu is always changing and only use fresh food from local farms! Must try!
(5)
Elizabeth S.
The talk is true. Having longed to try this place since it first opened, I was excitedly talking to various friends about my upcoming Friday night reservations. In response, everyone would tell me: I LOVE THAT PLACE. My curiosity and excitement only grew - and after my visit, my trust in these friends did too! Nightwood is a unique spot (worth the Pilsen trip) with dishes that parallel its character. Lamb+Octopus: uh, yeah! Enough said. Everything we had was great. Additionally, the staff was beyond generous (...we closed the place down, and they didn't seem to mind that we honestly had a hard time leaving our table). Thanks for making us feel so welcomed. I can't wait to return with more friends.
(5)
Char Y.
we came for the famed burger and it was HUGE! the burger is layered with crispy onion rings, lettuce, pickles and two patties. delicious.
(4)
mei s.
i was initially put off at first as i made reservations on opentable.com and i had specifically indicated in the notes, it's a special dinner, if you can seat us at a nice table, that would be appreciated. well, we showed up 15 minutes early and the dude sat us at a table against a wall adjacent to the bar. the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and he seats us against a wall next to the bar??? really? so, i immediately, asked, hey, can we get a window seat, especially since there were a few open too. sure, and he immediately moved us. don't you people read the notes on a reservation? you guys take the time to call people to confirm the reservation, you think you could read the notes too? good thing we moved, as the night progressed, there were asses that would have been rubbing against our heads while we were dining!!! despite the initial interaction, the rest of the night was fine. our server was excellent. very friendly and took the time to explain the terms to us. the meal was well-paced until it came to our entree, which actually was fine, bc we were full from the two appys and pasta dish. we ordered the warm raisin-nut bread with duck schmaltz, which is basically onions rendered in duck fat. i swear they flash-fried that piece of bread as it was glistening!! we also ordered the honey-roasted pears, bacon, spinach, podda (which is a hard goat cheese), sorrel and yeast. that was not a healthy salad by any means but it was damn tasty. and then we ordered the potato gnocchi with foie gras. that was awesome!!! it was a very small plate of pasta. i would have been peeved if that was my only dish. but i seriously, can't think of eating a big plate of it anyways though. for the entree, i ordered the fried scallops. there were three and they were finger-licking good. a bit salty, but good. hubby ordered the indiana duck. it was a lot of duck!! like a whole half of a duck. but i guess if you are going to charge $36 it better be half. btw, i ordered two tamarind rickeys, loved them. nice place, can cross off my list now.
(4)
chris g.
BRUNCH. This is not your routine breakfast to say the least. Throw normal out the window & think chef inspired inventive breakfast. Even the homemade doughnuts are delish. I had a Cuban sandwich type dish that was layered with all kinds of things from pork to pickled greens. There's also some seasoned pancakes in there with an egg on top. It may sound weird but boy did all those flavors play well together. I can't wait for my next play date here. Two people with two brunch entrees, a doughnut, two coffee's & tax was $41. not including tip & no alcohol drinks.
(4)
Taranika E.
Such a tiny place with a big menu... Definitely a first date kinda place.
(4)
Chad C.
Butterscotch bacon donut, bread pudding French toast. Both good, didn't blow me away.
(3)
Kathryn S.
My daughter made a reservation and they basically got the wrong night for us, so we didn't have a table when I got to the restaurant. I have to say that has thankfully never happened to me. I know people make mistakes, but their worst mistake was the manager didn't come over to me and apologize, or offer me a drink, or a free dessert. Nothing. He left it to the host to say, we'll find you a table soon. No one apologized. The menu gives the appearance of locavore, sustainable farms, organic, blah, blah, blah. The wait staff for our table couldn't tell me if the fish was farm raised or wild caught and had to check. She also could not tell me if the special, the duck, was organic. So, it's apparent the staff gets no heads up about the menu before opening. $35 for the duck? You would think they would know the menu. Quack, Quack. Impressed? Not in the least. Was the food good? The corn tortillas with the green garlic salsa was delicious. With the duck? Strange. The semi, under grilled vegetables were over powered by the very hot sliced pepper. Not that good. I won't be going back any time soon. However, if the manager had gone out of his way to apologize and to try to make amends, I would give it another try. I won't miss this place in the least. Like my daughter once asked me, "Mom, why is this dentist so expensive?", to which I replied, "if there's a problem, he'll know what to do; that's why he gets paid the big bucks." Clearly, this management didn't know what to do. it's a people business folks. Duh. Another mediocre experience that could have been great. Suck it up.
(2)
Peter H.
went for restaurant week. had an awesome cocktail, dinner was just ok. the desserts were amazing. pretzels w/mustard caramel and lemon ice saved the trip. awesome service, but the menu left us wanting more. a dumpling, sausage, felt they could've been a bit more creative.
(3)
Maureen S.
You can't get food this good for this price in very many places. It's expensive, sure, but worth every damn penny. The appetizers are inventive and flavorful, the cocktails (though I haven't tried them yet) looked delicious and smart. I'm excited to come back for brunch sometime. I wish they had more vegetarian options, but I'm not complaining because the food there is excellent, fresh, and creative. I'm very impressed with the decor- it's beautiful and modern without being garish, while still maintaining comfort and functionality. The space was certainly designed with many factors in mind, which I appreciated. The kitchen is completely visible from the back- it's always refreshing when a restaurant has nothing to hide. They use lots of locally sourced produce and meat from the Butcher and Larder in Noble Square, so if that's your jam, you can be sure you're eating something local and quality for your dollar, too. I recommend the vanilla cake for desert- it sounds simple, but the brown butter ice cream it came with was absolutely delicious. The marinated turnips and carrots, as well as house made pickles were a favorite, also. Tucked away in Southeast Pilsen, it's more than worth the visit, though I wish it was just around the corner.
(5)
Liz W.
I had a semi-private event at Nightwood for my wedding reception. My (now) husband and I were looking for something that had somewhat of a wine cellar feel to it, and we were so impressed with what we found at Nightwood. We booked it sight unseen, food untasted. We didn't reserve the entire downstairs, we just asked - and Erin kindly agreed - to have it be private for the first couple of hours. We had a party of 12 people, so we had some preset appetizers, salads and my guests could choose between 4 entrees. Rarely do you have a party of 12 people in which each and every one of them raves of about their respective meals. Well, that happened. My grandmother is what you would call "finicky" and even she was pleased. I whole heartedly recommend Nightwood for dinner, private event or semi-private event. We had such a lovely time and Erin was so great as we were planning everything. Final note - the cake... I still think about that cake. We did the vanilla cake with the salted ganache filling and chocolate frosting with bits of toffee candy on top. Oh my goodness. I can't keep thinking about it or I'll want to go back. right. now.
(5)
Daniel K.
On a recent visit to Chicago we had dinner at this restaurant...after hearing all the praise and reading the YELP reviews I can only say that this was the WORST restaurant experience we have had in a long time Of the 4 dinners the only one that satisfied was my wife's Atlantic Char. I had a "bowl" of pasta (spaghetti), well for $16 IIRC there was not enough spaghetti to fill a large teacup...friends has a half chicken dish the came out undercooked and leaking pink juice, after sending it back for more "fire" it was still inedible, seems to me that for what we spent, the wine was good, this was an absolute DISASTER...UGH.
(1)
Gina G.
Nightwood is a wonderful restaurant that does not get enough attention. The menu changes weekly and sometimes nightly because of the farm to table concept they use. Everything is local, which I love! I had never heard about this restaurant before a friend recommended it. My boyfriend and I had a wonderful experience with excellent food, outstanding service and a great atmosphere. I would definitely recommend the glazed carrot and the pork belly to start. The spaghetti with meat sauce is to die for!! It's probably the best in the city, if not one of th best. We ended with the cheeseburger, which was also great. We will be back to Nightwood for sure! I want to try their brunch as well.
(5)
Dutch B.
I'd say the ratings got me in the door, but the food was super standard. Ya, the tots were good and a bonus, but not worth a revisit. i got the trout spread bagel. LAME-O The egg was a mess and was oozing all over my bagel, the spread was nasty.. drink prices for that area- highway robbery. service, the bus boy and server didn't want to give us new silverware after our overrated donuts for apps. strange experience.. i'd won't be back..
(2)
Kristin R.
I came here with the famed Filly G. of yelp the other night, and our mutual friend Frank, who has had the itch to try out some Mexican in Pilsen. Considering we could not settle on a Mexican place we all agreed on (namely Phil's aversion to one specific Mexi restaurant Frank wanted to try), we decided to give Nightwood a shot. Because I don't eat most meats, I checked out the menu beforehand to make sure there were at least a couple veggie options that I would consider, and there were. However, this restaurant is not very vegetarian-friendly as most of the entrees were straight up meat on a bone with only two pasta dish entrees, and one fish (I think). In any case, one of the pasta dishes was called "Potato Bugs". So get this, I am such a gullible moron I actually thought this restaurant served straight up big ass black potato bugs. I was actually looking forward to hearing our server explain this as I was so perplexed, yet intrigued. When I asked if there "really were potato bugs on the menu?" she snickered and said "oh, I forgot that we have an 'insect' on the menu. no, those would be the nickname for gnocci". So yeah, I felt like an ass. She was nice about it and maybe found my naivety a tad endearing. Who knows. So, on to the food... I ordered a licorice type pasta with some ricotta cheese and pistachio sauce concoction, which I enjoyed. And Frank's potato bugs were delish as well. I actually liked Frank's dish the best out of all of them. Phil's trout (?) I did not try; however, he claimed it was too fishy. We also were served some biscuits with honey butter, and I ordered a glass of pinot gris. This place is not cheap. My (moderate) portion of pasta cost $22! And my glass of wine $11.50 (I opted for the cheaper glass of white as the only other glass was $15). And I just felt like the food, and their limited selection, was not enough to justify anything above a 3-star rating. In fact, I was considering 2-star, but I did like my meal. I didn't love it, but I liked it. We skipped on dessert because we thought it would be fun to change it up and go elsewhere. Much to our chagrin, most dessert places are closed after 9 on Monday evenings.
(3)
Gary M.
OK, so maybe I am being a little more critical that usual because a meal for two people with a few drinks was $140... We came for restaurant week and the food just wasn't impressive. To start we had a salad and a crostini - hard to really mess that up and that course was fine. For entrees, we had pork loin and chicken. Both were not good. The pork loin consisted of thinly slice pieces of fat with a negligible amount of real meat attached. The chicken was flavored well but really was nothing to write home about and the portion was also severely lacking. Drinks were decent (although $12 for a cocktail) and the service was great (we only waited 10 mins for our table to free up and after we were seated the food came in a timely manner).
(2)
Mari Y.
Nightwood is not as impressive as it's set up to be. Food is just ok. Donuts are overpriced and the bacon maple was just not my scene. I liked the decor of the restaurant and the feel but the food was not that great. I had the cheeseburger, my bf had the biscuits and gravy and my friend had the tuna grinder. We all agreed that the food was meh. I said that I'd like to go back for dinner since everyone says it's good but my bf and friend both said no way, what's the point if the brunch was just meh and dinner would be twice the price? So....3 stars. It was fine. Eh.
(3)
Brent C.
Quick review- Food is hit or miss and way overpriced, cocktails sound better than they are, and the service is not the best. The room is beautiful and the patio looks amazing. My date and I randomly walked in with out a reservation on a Tuesday night. We were in the neighborhood and had heard good things about the place. The host asked if we had a reservation and acted like it was a slight imposition for her that we didn't have one. My first cocktail was the Tamarand Rickey with rum. I found it to be overly sweet and lacking in Tamarand flavor. After we ordered, biscuits and honey butter were brought to the table. The biscuits were not good- too tough and definitely made by a Yankee- you would be thrown out of the restaurant for serving those in the south. I started my meal with the fried Myer lemons- interesting and I am glad I tried them, but I found them to be a bit greasy and heavy.I did not like the sauce they were served with- it was basically mayo smeared artistically on the plate. For an entree I had the Wood roasted beef brisket which had its moments, but overall was dry and lacking in flavor. My date had the wood grilled Wisconsin trout with roast potatoes and ripe melon with prosciutto ham. The trout was large, well cooked and had a great smokey flavor. My date found the potatoes to be undercooked and salty- I agreed, but it did not bother me that much- mostly because the fish was so good. The Ripe melon and prosciutto was interesting, but underwhelming and I did not care for the texture or flavor of the melon. I would consider getting this dish in the unlikely event that I find myself at Nightwood again. I was to disappointed with my meal and drinks to order dessert, so we headed down the block to Skylark where we had a couple of great beers, played pinball, tipped well and left with a smile.
(2)
phil m.
WAY TOOO OVERPRICED!!!! I like Lula's and also overpriced. The food is good but really and great they support local farmers. The question is how are those farmers feeding the livestock or preventing bugs in the vegetation. It's pretty 'hip' to dine and support local farmers but yet do very little to name the farmers and their location. What is local btw? Anyhow, had a burger at the bar and was pleased. It was way overpriced and thought the staff are NOT from the neighborhood. Too many folk in here trying hard to be seen ....
(2)
Tony B.
Great beer list. Anything with Rocky's revenge is a winner. Cool atmosphere and service. I went with a large party of 9, and the staff did a great job handling the large party. we got the carrots with creme fraiche as an appetizer, which was tasty. i also got the ham and egg salad which had everything I like in this world: ham, eggs, sharp cheese, candied pecans. It was an outstanding start to dinner. for my entree, I got the roast chicken, which was their signature dish. it was just OK. it was served with some preserved tuna, which added an interesting twist. my issue with the dish wasn't with the flavor; rather, the chicken was cold. having been in the restaurant industry, I understand the difficulty the kitchen would have in plating a 9-top, but cold chicken is not acceptable. The menu was exciting and adventurous; I bet if I went with a smaller group, it would have been a better experience.
(3)
Rebecca M.
The bacon-butterscotch donuts are worth a 6 star rating alone. But everything else on the brunch menu I've tried has also been incredible. And both times I've been to nightwood the food has arrived quickly and service has been good (although you get the impression that cracking a smile is a punishable crime in this place). It's also hard to guess which of the 500 deadpan hipsters is a patron, bartender or waitstaff. I only wish they had a better or more obvious waiting area. Everyone just kinda crowds around the front/bar area with their asses in the faces of the poor patrons who end up seated at tables near the bar. Also, for what it's worth, I saw Rahm Emmanuel having brunch here. You can decide for yourself if that's a plus or minus.
(5)
Jessica L.
WOW-ZAH! What a meal I just experienced at this Pilsen gem. I was in the hood for Second Fridays where I was able to experience some truly fantastic art exhibits finishing off the evening with a fabulous meal here. The ambiance is so inviting yet chique at the same time. The lighting is dim and romantic but also suitable for a group. We were a party of five this evening and were promptly seated and poured water (choice of sparkling or still). It took awhile for the waitress to get to us, but we didn't mind as we were enjoying our conversation. When she did arrive, she was incredibly knowledgeable and was patient when we played 20 questions with her on the menu (we were really just curious about a lot of the food - she didn't miss a beat with her descriptions). The food was simply delicious. I was able to try the spicy jalepeno popper, the heirloom tomato, the spaghetti and the duck. Everything tasted BETTER than it sounded on the menu (which is how it should be if you ask me). The stand out, knock out punch of the night was the duck by a long shot. It may have been the best duck I have ever set my lips on. Brown sugar glaze, moist meat, crisp skin - I ate myself into a coma. I should have stopped there, but no, I needed dessert...and caffeine. So, I ordered a cappacino and the dark chocolate pudding with roasted marshmallow and graham crackers. The cappacino was nice and foamy but not quite as hot as I like (consider asking for it extra hot if you go that route). And the smores type dessert was tasty, but entirely too rich and sugary for my taste. I only made it three bites in before throwing in the towel. Overall, this was just a fantastic evening. The only reason I did not give five stars is because the service was noticeably slow at key times throughout the meal. I will be back here soon for a second try and see if it was an anomoly or just par for the course.
(4)
Ayako M.
Amazing brunch. Grilled pumpkin bread with maple butter...to.die.for! I had a biscuit and sausage gravy over kale dish and it was so rich and delicious! I'll admit, I ordered it specifically for the "cheddar biscuits" that were included....you had me at cheddar biscuit...and it was not disappointing, at all. Bloody Mary was funk-key! had a strange thin, yet chunky consistency, a strange dishwater taste and an overall weird look to it. On the bright side our server was super nice and took them away and replaced them with Mimosas...you can't go wrong with Mimosas! I will definitely make a trip here for dinner.
(4)
Erika G.
Yeeeeaahhh, delicious. I don't know if it was the fact that I was in Pilsen, and would have chewed off the ears of a rat I was so damn hungry (and there's really no other game in the 'hood), but I LOVED IT. Went to the Pilsen Art Walk, and frankly, our first stop (here) was the best thing about the evening. Eating a delicious dinner before we go see the trustafarian art students. Ah, yes. I was starved, so I went 12 year old boy on it and got the cheeseburger. MMmmmmm. And it was done properly, very adult. Mmm! My pals got the gnocchi and the pate appetizers - and they were both a good size to share. Pate and fig jam and gnocchi and chunks of bacon. Mmmmmm. Seriously, we couldn't stop yapping about how great everything was. I went back to the bathroom to send a sext 'cos the food WAS sexy and saw my sexy reason to come back. The Chef Bar/Table in back! Kitchen as theater! Mon dieu! Pilsen, as a neighborhood, sucks. There's nothing there. But, this is a reason to go here. Hang out at the Skylark next door while you call a cab to get the hell outta there after dinner, but GO!!
(4)
Michelle O.
I have visited Nightwood for dinner 3 times now and I have to say each time I walk away with the same feeling. Last night my friend and I shared the Polenta appetizer with Parmesan and it was very good. However, I think another layer of flavor would have been nice. It said it had spicy peppers in it but I was not tasting the pepper or the spice, in fact I was reaching for the table pepper to add it in. My main dish was the buttermilk fried scallops which were excellent. They had a very different deep fried outside crust and sat on a bed of beans and sauce. The sauce consistency was a little watered down and again lacking some flavor but overall a strong dish. My friend had the Spaghetti alla chitarra, broccoli raab and we both felt that it was extremely salty. It was also very oily and not in a good way were it makes a nice sauce, it was in a greasy way where it hurts your stomach and tastes like your eating only oil. It's the kind of dish where you take one bight and you're like Mmmm but then after the 2nd and the 3rd you're like Hmm... Overall, Nightwood is a cool environment where you can get creative food that needs some tweaking with seasoning and execution.
(3)
Jeff G.
went on a sat night with 3 others, 7:45 rezzie. pace of meal was not rushed, we took our time ordering appies and entrees. food was very good, kind of pricey. i like the whole local and sustainable, but not sure why they had trout from oregon and snapper (probably from the gulf) on the menu tasty, but not sure worth driving to from andersonville. if we were in the neighborhood, we'd go back again.
(4)
Aaron P.
I can't get enough of this place - I've been back several times for brunch, but have been wanting to go for dinner since day 1. The menu changes (I think) weekly, if not daily, and is hand written - too cool! At brunch, the bloody marys are to die for. Spicy and seasoned just right, using Tito's vodka. The doghnuts are almost always on the menu in some shape or form (different sauces or fillings) and are a must try. The hashbrowns are great too - formed into ping-pong sized balls and fried, served with a homemade/home-jazzed up ketchsup. I recommend a reservation for brunch, otherwise, you'll be toasted from the bloody marys while you wait at the bar! You must try this place!
(5)
Ryan B.
A vibrant place, with creative options, and good service. I can't believe I found this Pilsen gem on accident. T'was a roll of the die that paid off when it usually doesn't. I love the quality and how the menu changes daily - just look at the date printed on the bottom - with unique combinations of local and seasonal foods that only talented chefs can pull off. And yes, you can eat in the kitchen - well really darn close to it - which is fun. It's a bar with a kitchen instead of shelves alcohol. You can watch the cooks make each delicious dish and even see a rabbit twirling on a spit (not visible from the regular seating). Cool to me. I had the brunch for the first time last week. I had a tough time choosing from all of the tempting options. I ended up with eggs with hollandaise sauce. Very tasty. The made to order donuts were rich and exquisite - I had to try them but couldn't finish 'em. I had a pork chop and chicken on separate visits and was delighted. Portions are old-school-sized, which means you can eat everything in one sitting - not a complaint. Other reviewers complain that this place is expensive, but they might be better off at Red Lobster. If you think about the quality of the ingredients and the talent required to have a seasonal menu, how could it not be (look in the kitchen - from what I can tell there are no TGI Friday's manual-educated fry cooks). You must appreciate these things if you are going to go here. Anyway, I haven't had the salads, but they look very enticing. I might just try one on my next visit.
(4)
Stan W.
Both really, really good and not really that good all wrapped into one. It's a very charming place, good service, cool open kitchen where you can see all the action. The burger was perfect - one of the better burgers I've had anywhere, with solid fries. But you don't usually go to a place like this for a burger and fries. We got the raisin bread, which at $5 and smaller than most muffin's I've seen was a complete ripoff and should've been served to us for free. The salted bass pasta was just as described: SALTY. It also came with one rib floating in it that was pretty tough and chewy - not sure if that was on purpose. This dish was tiny too - I think there might've consisted of 6 noodles, 3 oysters, and 1 rib. So after seeing these dainty portions, I was already making plans to pick up a Happy Meal on the way home. When my ribs came, I was shocked. Was predicting a max of 4 bones and it was a full slab, with a hunk of cornbread and slaw. Unfortunately, the ribs were not good at all - salted beyond recognition and I could only choke down 3, leaving like 2/3 of the slab uneaten. Not only did the salt destroy them, but they weren't cooked well at all. The ribs were tough and dried out - not cooked low and slow. I've made far better ribs myself with my smoker. So I don't know what to make of this place. Seems fancypants, but serves things like overpriced burgers (very good) and ribs (terrible). This would've gotten 2 stars, but the mini baked alaska dessert we got was both interesting and very good. I'd rate the burger a 5, the dessert a 4, the ribs a 1, and the other courses a 2. All over the place.
(3)
Anne P.
I went and ate dinner the day after Nightwood's "soft" public opening--that is, not advertised, etc, but word gets around--and was very pleased with the experience. So happy to have another excellent local option. Since it's so new, of course there was the usual 20-servers-for-3-diners thing going on, but that's unsurprising, and the staff handled it with grace, balancing sweetly between attentive and too-attentive, but with a dash of humor added. It did get quite a bit busier before I left, I might add: I arrived quite early, at 5:30ish, right after work--places to be and all. Of course, that was the night before they got their liquor license, but they offered a BYOB option, which was nice. No more, though, or so I hear. From what my server told me (and what I've read), Nightwood's very focused on local, fresh ingredients, and that showed in my meal: "suckling pig and morel ravioli with spinach and green olives." Amazingly rich, and the olives and morels packed way more taste than your usual options. Same could be said for my strawberry sorbet with macerated berries. The berries, I might add, were way more strawberry than normal strawberries, and definitely more strawberry than the sorbet--I know sorbet's supposed to be light, but in the last few bites, I could hardly tell what flavor it was supposed to be. Perrrfectly cooked, too: a good al dente, so that you know your pasta's there, you know? That said, the meal was pretty subtle. If you're not paying attention, it could be lost on you. And the portions are definitely fine dining-sized (though not terribly fine dining-priced). I was hungry again by the end of the night, though that may also be due to me eating early in the evening. But my particular dishes aside--since they're going to rotate the menu regularly according to what's in season and fresh and available and all--it's a very, very pretty place. Low, soft-orange retro-esque chairs, medium-toned woods, hanging iron lamps, steel barstools, etc. The flowers here and there were also a great touch: I kept catching their scent and wondering if they'd perfumed the place. But no, just the lilies sitting right next to me, I finally realized. You can also eat right in front of the kitchen, which is totally open, so you can watch your meal being cooked. The patio also looks lovely, though it was too chilly on the day I went to attempt it. The one bit I found rather unsurprising but annoying (and may have only noticed due to having my leisure to see all the staff wandering about) is the makeup of the staff: was there a BMI cap during hiring or something? Every one of them that I saw was slim-to-teensy, it seemed. For that matter, there were three girls hanging out at the hostess stand, and not one of them topped 5'4", if I were to guess. Nor did I spot any non-whites, I might add. Not that any one physical appearance is a problem, just that that particular trend struck me as irking (and potentially discriminatory, frankly). But it was just one night: there may be other folks around and I just missed them. But for such a diverse neighborhood to have such a cookie-cutter staff is a little... odd. Absolutely nothing against the current staff, though: every single one of them was lovely to me--friendly, chatting and informative, but also willing to leave me alone when I was focused on my meal. The bartender even gave me a short tour, which was super-nice of her. So in short: love the vibe, love the decor, love the focus on fresh and local, love the food, love the current staff, but really wish they'd expand a little in that department.
I'm a fan of Cafe Lula so I'm not surprised at how much I really liked this place. I mean these guys have great attention to the look and feel. As a designer I appreciate that. Good, functional use of space and the exposed Kendall College or Food Network like kitchen is a nice touch on your way to the water closet. The waitstaff was uber friendly. They were very helpful in selecting the courses and beverages. Fresh and delicious, it has a little bit of everything for the omni, herb and carni taste. It's similar to something you would find in Portland, Or or the PNW in general. I definitely want to check it out in the summer. They have a nice lil area in front that needs exploration.
(5)
Lisa B.
Tasty food insanely over-priced. I felt like a sap paying the bill.
(2)
Megan C.
Generally good food and good service, but wasn't mind-blowingly amazing...just okay. I was underwhelmed. I have to say though that the desserts were the best part of the meal. Went here for the CRW 2012 dinner and essentially tried every dish on the menu (was with 2 other people so we just shared things)--most of their dishes appear on their regular menu as well: -Spinach salad with buttermilk dressing, artichokes, pecans and fried onions--I thought it was too much dressing and cheese, making it a bit on the heavy side -Crostini--I thought they put too much gorgonzola to the point of overpowering the garlicky bread (which was great) -Foie agnolotti--delicious but the foie was a bit on the salty side, I would've preferred that it would've been either less salty or balanced off with more of the balsamic reduction sauce -Soft-scrambled egg with Michigan char roe--pretty creamy and delicious with the toast, but if this is supposedly a similar value to the foie risotto, it may be a bit of a ripoff -Spit roasted pork loin with farro, capers, onion rings, sugar--I was expecting something a bit more substantial than thin slices of pork with some farro, but it was cooked well, smoky, and had lots of "delicious fat" as stated on the menu -Chicken with a side salad and radish--reminded me of a mashup of sweet-and-sour chicken and barbeque (it was slightly spicy); the chicken didn't seem to have much meat on it, and the sauce just reminded me of eating spicy sweet and sour dishes (ie in Chinese cuisine) -Semifreddo with brownie chunks--deliciously like eating clouds of light but oh-so-creamy ice cream; I wish the brownie chunks were chewy instead of hard though -Sourdough bread pudding with toffee and salted caramel--probably the best bread pudding I've had so far because it was not cloyingly sweet nor too heavy or soggy Overall: food was not bad--just in some cases overseasoned; given portion size and the regular prices (30+ for the entrees), I don't think I would go here...it's a little bit overrated for my taste.
(3)
Rusty S.
Great find in Pilsen neighborhood. unique menu, great fresh food and nice atmosphere.
(5)
Michael W.
Went here with a friend who used to live in Pilsen and swore by it. We grabbed dinner not too long ago and I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it was the best but the ambiance is great and it's a perfect date spot. The food was very good and the prices weren't too bad, but our waiter did some hovering which made it at times a little uncomfortable. I don't think he knew he was doing it but we're all adults here so ask your question and then beat it. Not saying that rudely because i've worked in the industry, but we've all had that person. After reading a number of the brunch reviews, I can't wait to go check it out. Thinking this weekend so stay tuned..
(4)
Michael B.
In a word, the brunch was ridiculous. So, so good. Had a cheese omelet with summer vegetables, and that, the toast, and potatoes (shredded and fried into the shape of little balls) were all perfect. Good coffee, which is unfortunately something that has to be noted. Friendly and attentive service. Really, the white russian donut (yes, get it, don't think twice, it's f***ing amazing) is worth four stars in itself. Can't really think of any reason not to give the place five stars other than I try to be sparing with those.
I have been wanting forever to check out Nightwood. I love places that use seasonal/ local ingredients! We made reservations for an early dinner at 5:30 on a Saturday night because we had tix for a show after. We didn't need the rezzies but ya never know. We were seated outside on the patio which is very cozy, loved it! Let me get the negative out of the way. Our waitress. She was aloof as aloof can be. She was sort of unwelcoming and it was hard to flag her down sometimes which I find annoying when I'm paying high prices. I don't mind paying high prices but if I do I have expectations of the service. Maybe this was just an off night for her. My hubby is not as much of a foodie as I am but he loved his spit fired chix. I tried it and it did have a fantastic smokey flavor, I have never tasted chicken quite like that. I had the salmon and it was good but I was wishing for hubbys chicken instead. Oh and I loved the pea tendrils.. who knew I'd love pea tendrils? I know there are some comments about the portions being too small here. What we ordered, we did not find that to be true. I felt the portions were just right. We opted out of dessert partly because I was ready to get away from our waitress. We went to Taylor street for italian ice instead. YUM! I would go back. I love that the menu changes constantly.
(3)
Zeke A.
I came to Nightwood for brunch this morning with a friend from high school and we had a great meal and a great time! The place was extremely busy and crowded as expected at 11:30am on a Sunday. That made the service a little slow, but we were in no rush so it was fine. However, our food came out so quickly so that was great! We both could not take our eyes of the goat cheese crepes and we did not go wrong with that selection! A little savory and a little sweet...a great balance! The portions were small, but the goat cheese is so rich and creamy that's it's just fine. We both had coffee and I had a mimosa and our entrees and it was a bit pricey. However, you pay what you get for and the quality, presentation, atmosphere, and welcoming staff all make it worth it! This was a special occasion as I hadn't seen my friend in 7 years I think...so when I have a new guest from out of town visiting. I'm definitely making reservations here again. (Yes they take brunch reservations -- Score!!) Thank you Nightwood!! Looking forward to my next visit!
(4)
Caitlin G.
Mama may have taught me not to talk with my mouth full, but Mama never ate the spit-roasted half chicken at Nightwood. How can one raised with even the best of manners not praise the heavens and the chef for this dish while shoveling it into her grateful mouth? As a special surprise on my birthday, I was treated to dinner at Nightwood. It was the perfect place to celebrate my birthday. Though we arrived early for our reservations, we were able to snag two spots at the bar where the gentleman ordered a whiskey straight and I ordered a Whiskey Daisy, a delicious concoction of Jim Bean Rye, mulberry syrup and lemon. We were promptly seated at a table by the window where my bulky coat was whisked away for comfort's sake. After deliberating over the menu, we ordered the Slagel Farm Spit-Roasted Chicken for him and the Roast Squab, Foie Gras, Parsnip, Pear, Pea Tendrils with Black Walnuts dish for her. Yep. I like my meals ridiculously succulent and fatty, thank you. We were given a delicious plate of bread, which appeared to melt in our mouths, while we waited, and sipped on wine. The atmosphere of the place was bustling, but not overwhelming or oppressive. We were cozy and comfortable and lost in our own conversation while we waited. Now, about the squab, I did not know what I was ordering, but this is the beauty of a place like Nightwood. You can go in pretty ignorant and end up with a dish that is different but delicious. Nightwood allows you to take chances where you might not at other establishments. The squab was exactly as it should be--bursting wtih flavor, featuring fatty and greasy skin and tender red meat that was somewhat tough to get to, given that the bird is so small. Would I have ordered squab if I had known that it was a baby pigeon? Probably not. Was it delicious? Yes. So there you have it. The little foie gras mixed with the dish were MIND. BLO. WING. Mind-blowing, people. The gentleman's half chicken was, as I mentioned above, unreal. Chicken has never tasted as savory as it was. It was rich with flavor, moist and absolutely decadent. The dude kept slipping more on my plate for me, which was sweet because it was so tasty and my squab was so tiny. We literally could not stop talking about how delicious this dish was. As it was my birthday, I ordered myself the chocolate pumpernickel bread pudding. It was also scrumptious. The chocolate melted in my mouth and made me weak at the knees. I cleaned the plate! Nightwood's not in my budget for visiting regularly, but I'm sticking it in my back pocket as a great spot for a special treat.
(5)
Rick C.
We stopped in late on a Thursday night and get seated immediately. My wife had been here before and she enjoyed it, so I was hoping for a similar experience. The place itself was cool, nice but casual. Our waitress let us know they were out of sweet breads, so we went with the soft shell crab with corn relish. Probably one of the better soft shell crabs that I've had. Nothing fancy, just a good quality crab done right. We had two appetizer sized pastas, the trofie which was delicious and the cavatelli with duck heart. I liked both. I think they really do their pastas well here. The duck heart had almost a livery taste. Good, but the trofie was better. For our entrees, my wife had the corn custard with a side salad and polenta croutons. The croutons were awesome. the custard was rich and tasty. Probably a bit overpriced for what you get, but good. I was in the mood for a burger so I gave theirs a shot. I enjoyed it. I've been using the burger at Owen and Engine as my comparison point recently and this one held up well. I believe it was on a ciabatta bun which was a nice touch. Again, not fancy but good quality beef cooked well. That would also probably sum up how I felt about the food here.
(4)
Amy L.
I like the concept and how the menu was presented in handwritten format.. food wise I get it that most things are organic but the prices don't really justify it for me. $4 for a cup of grapefruit juice that can from a plastic gallon jug.. that tasted like any other store bought grapefruit juice $7 for a bowl of oatmeal with dried cherries and milk.. steel cut oats yes and it was thick yes but its not that different from the ones I make at home from the cans. Nothing superb. maple bacon donut.. this was good and I think if I were to go back this would be the only thing I get. My friends tried the dish with the tater and tots and they liked it but again I didn't think it was worth it from the presentation to the portion, to the taste.
(3)
Melissa L.
My guidebook listed this restaurant as worthy of trying and I would have to agree - this is certainly a hidden gem, at least for us tourists. I'm not sure how many make it out to Pilsen but I felt like we were the only ones. My husband was lecturing me about choosing a restaurant in a potentially unsafe area of the city but it was worth it and we would later learn that the sketchy area was really quite a few blocks away from there. We went for brunch, and the peanut butter and jelly donut was soo good.. but how could it not be really? I got the breakfast bagel with egg, bacon and other good stuff. It was good yet a bit heavy.. The real standout was the rosti potato balls.. I've never had better. My hubby enjoyed the trout omellete. Will definately go back for dinner next time I'm in Chicago. Yet I'll probably take a cab there ;)
(4)
Brit D.
this review is based on brunch ONLY. soooooo good. If you are looking for a good brunch place, definitely check this out. They use only fresh organic ingredients here which makes it a bit more pricey then your average brunch spot, but well worth it. Last time we were here my boyfriend and I both got the bagel with trout spread, bacon, egg, and potatoes...sooooo good. I've also tried the oatmeal and butterscotch bacon donuts....YUM! The service here is also fantastic....very artsy waitstaff who have always been very attentive and helpful! oh and they also have an outdoor patio, too bad summer is almost over! :-(
(5)
Tera D.
I really really really liked this place! I went on a Saturday night to celebrate my bday with my husband. It was full but not crazy - a nice atmosphere for actually being able to talk to each other. We started with drinks at the bar before we were seated. Good drink list, and outrageously reasonable wine prices. As for food, the menu isn't huge, and it's set up in a pretty standard fashion - apps, pastas, entrees, desserts. We're so used to small plate menus these days that we decided to order 3 apps, 1 pasta and 1 entree and just split everything. All three apps were great - the pig ear and the caramelized carrots being the standouts. Our pasta was the farfalle with anchovies and other goodies. To be fair, the hubs would probably only give Nightwood 4 stars because he was very offended by the fact that the pasta had a ton of olives in the sauce and they weren't mentioned on the menu. He has a point, since olives are a strong flavor, but I happen to love them and thought the pasta was great. Our entree was the duck, which was to die for. It had this great garlicy rappini on the side, plus dates that were the perfect sweet pairing for the smokey, crispy duck. Yummmm. And best of all, our final bill was $150, which included 3 drinks, a bottle of champagne, and all the aforementioned delicious food! I'll be recommending this place often, and hopefully heading back soon!
(5)
Wiz M.
Came here a couple nights ago. I live close by and first time I've been there. Heard about the menu changes almost on a daily basis which is really cool. I also like restaurants that support local farms. It was a really good meal. Our waitress hooked me up with the last duck that wasn't on the menu. It was a spit roasted half duck. it was cook perfect. The portions are pretty big. My guest had the quail, it was ok, I wouldn't have that again. But the duck was to die for. Very good beer selection, mostly midwest brews. Everything is really fresh and you can tell. I heard from others that the brunch is really good, I will definitely come for that sometime soon.
(4)
Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I had been wanting to try here for ages and finally we did. It was GREAT! After we finally figured out which door to go in off the sidewalk, we were sat immediately, per our reservation. The staff was super friendly and made us feel welcomed. We started with the pork cheek and the scallops. The pork cheek wasn't what we expected and didn't quite sit well; it's not worth trying. The scallops were fairly good though. For entrees we had the wood-grilled whole trout and the pork shank. Both were amazing! The trout was huge and super flaky and buttery. It was one of my favorite fish dishes I've had out in awhile. The pork shank was super tender and melted in your mouth. Unfortunately, they were out of the dessert we were craving so we opted for a simple scoop of chocolate cake ice cream. It was rich and tasted a bit different than the usual chocolate, but we definitely want to go back for a more appealing dessert. We can't wait to go again and try a pasta; they looked pretty good as well!
(4)
Adrian J.
While most of the surrounding area can look a bit "disorganized" don't be dismayed. For those not in the area, this is a place worth the trip. They change their menu all the time but I highly suggest the fried lemons. For the entree I had the sturgeon which came with in a perfectly sized portion. I also got a chance to sample their fries and burger. The burger took on the scent on their wood grill. As for the drinks, I had the chance to sample their Virgina Wolf punch. A big fan of gin, it definitely hit the spot. The service was spot on. No complaints. They were totally willing to split up the check according to what the person ate (took a little longer) but it made it much easier when paying. Since we had a larger party, they seated us downstairs which was more intimate than upstairs. The upstairs was definitely more noisy but I wouldn't say unbearable by any means. I will definitely be recommending to all my s. loop friends.
(4)
Anne D.
I came here with a large group for brunch, and we were seated in the basement, which seemed to be a wine cellar. The basement had long tables with benches - not exactly the best for when you're wearing a dress and trying to gracefully swing your legs over the bench! The service was lacking - we were ignored by the waiters for a large amount of time and were met with confused looks when requesting simple things like hot sauce. We ended up being there for about 2.5 hours because the food service took so long. Good thing I was with good company! The food was quite good and the hot chocolate I got was adorable, but the portions were very small for the price. If I come back, I'll try the main dining room and hope for better service!
(3)
alex m.
BRUNCH Bacon butterscotch donut?! I don't even like butterscotch. Hot DAMN! Bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese bagon egg and slaw. YES. TOTS, yayy! BRUNCH HERE IS AMAZING. Why can't NYC have brunch like this? Simple understated perfection. And yummy. Housed under a great roof. can't wait to return for the burger which I hear rave reviews about.
(5)
John G.
The brunch menu is definitely limited to say the least. While, the burger I had was great, it's $3-$5 over priced. Our server was inattentive, leaving the table thirsty and hopeful to get a simple drink refill while the apparent manager touched my boyfriend twice while telling him where he could find the restroom.
(2)
Monique M.
I love dining in Chicago, and had high expectations for this spot based on the yelp reviews. True, the atmosphere/ambiance is great...with a very attractive, friendly crowd. And yes, service was quick and friendly...although our waiter was a tad awkward. I got the distinct impression he wasn't used to seeing ladies like us (non-anglo) in there that often. Anyhow, we asked the waiter about portion sizes...he should have been able to advise us a bit better just looking at our mid-sections! We ordered a salad and beef tenderloin to split and were disappointed by the microscopic portions...which added to two glasses of wine came to the tune of $100. I'm used to foo-foo sizing in better restaurants, but COME ON. The salad was delish, but the tenderloin was not-so-tender, and my jaws ached by the time we left. Sad, but true, we we forced to drive straight to a white castle and order a dozen sliders. Plus one star for a VERY cute ladies room, but I think I would just come for drinks next time.
(3)
katy h.
The donut was simply the best. Fresh, melt-in-your mouth, maple sweetness with thick chunks of bacon. We sat at the kitchen counter on a Sunday morning, and watching the kitchen staff in action was terrific! Hot chocolate was dark and rich, if not that hot. Bloody Mary's were bland, and salami and cheese swizzle stick was not very flavorful either. That said, the French toast with a pastrami and ground mustard filling and Cuban sandwich both had good combinations of flavors and texture. The potato balls were crisp on the outside, and gooey on the inside. The host and hostess were very accommodating, and our waitress was efficient, if not friendly. We went with our 11 year old daughter, and she enjoyed her eggs and toast, and the kitchen view. We will return at night for dinner. FYI = 1 donut, 3 breakfasts, 1 hot cocoa, 2 Bloody Mary's = $74.00
(4)
Amanda C.
Meh. The hype around this place seems predicated on the notion that 30-something yuppie-hipsters who prefer to dine on Restaurant Row can come to a non-gentrified neighborhood in order to look 'cool' and ahead of the curve. Great concept (co-created menu with their farmers) but Nightwood hasn't quite mastered the execution. I came for dinner and was disappointed in the quality (and originality) of the goat cheese beet baguette and found the polenta to be under-seasoned with a texture that resembled morning oatmeal. Portion sizes are too large for my taste, while the vegetarian options were a little slim. The carrot soup was delicious, but lacked the complexity of the soup you would get at, say, Girl and the Goat. Too much bread, butter, oil and pasta throughout. A pleasant-enough experience if you adjust your expectations but I'm not jumping to go back.
(2)
Luis C.
Love this place. If i had the money to spend, I would come here weekly. So, my wife and I saved this spot for special occasions. I love the fact that their menu tends to change in season. The staff is very friendly and the deserts are to die for. I've had friends rave to me about their brunch but i have not had it yet but plan to soon! !
(5)
April W.
Really enjoyed brunch here. I had the cheeseburger and it is fair to say that it was one of my top 5 burgers I have had. I also enjoyed their beer mimiosa and really liked that it was something different. The service was a touch slow, but it was a Sunday and it was brunch so it was understandable. I never knew such a chic place with so much culinary talent existed on that strip of halsted.
(4)
Michael C.
Great food, terrible service. We had a large group and were seated downstairs, which was awesome, but the service was slow. Slow enough to detract from the meal.
(4)
Sao-Mai N.
What a hidden gem! Tucked away among dreary, abandoned looking buildings, juxtaposed next to the highway, Nightwood is a beacon of deliciousness. Highlights are the donuts and the tater tots among other things.
(4)
Allyn S.
Went here for my birthday on Feb 5th - right after the blizzard of the century. It was absolutely worth the trip. We were a party of 13, and making the reservation was a wonderful experience. They gave us a table in the Wine Room downstairs (LOVELY) and suggested picking a couple of bottles of wine beforehand so that everyone could have a drink as they arrived. What a great idea for a larger party of people who traveled a decent distance with snow and crap still everywhere. It was great. The food was DELICIOUS. I had a burrata and prosciutto appetizer that was to die for and trout for dinner. So so good. Everything that everyone else had looked yummy, too. The service was attentive without being too in-your-face, and we had a great night. Thanks, Nightwood. I'll be back!
(5)
Phil F.
I would describe this place as chincy and in bed with people that just wanna be trendy.....I was really underwhelmed. Sad too, because I think that Lula is great. Or it was the last time I was there. Maybe its crappy too these days? We sat at the kitchen bar, which was exciting. Turned out to be more exciting sounding, it was a pretty chilled out kitchen, which is fine. The biscuits they gave us at first were meh....kinda dry and easy to forget. So was the sweetened up butter. I think what really turned me off was our first course, the burrata, an Italian mozzarella which has a silken creamy center which is to be savored as sweeter than the most profound nectar. BUT, the one they gave us was already cut open and we were given a 1/4 piece of the whole......for 15 BUCKS? EWW. On the menu it was described as being served with charred peppers, but we got ONE hidden in some greens. and we got a half of some ciabatta bread or something. I seriously felt robbed. My main course was overly chewy oricchiette with braised porcinis and pea pods. Good aside from the overly chewiness. And the portion definitely was chincy. Drinks were alright. But they might want to invest in some more inspired garnishes, since the drinks are not cheap. So I would not go back.
(2)
Alan M.
I'd have to agree with some of the reviews I've read, that have preceeded mine. Good, but nothing outstanding. Too far to drive (from the north shore) for just "good". There's plenty of good and great in between us.
(2)
Aaron K.
Oh Nightwood. Why did we wait so long to meet you? Soon I will not work close to you. You will no longer be within my supple grasp. You gave us so much and offered us even more. Why can I not reciprocate? Why o Why? Your freshness was refreshing. Your cocktails raised our cockles. I only hope we can rekindle the flame and have another night like tonight.
(4)
Kristen M.
Menu is quite small and limited, but food is tasty. Servers are pretty arrogant and "stuffy". We had a group of 6 and the server, who never once smiled, let alone earned her tip, added a TWENTY percent gratuity on our bill without any notification.
(2)
Chaz A.
If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad? This place is a paradox. How could such a cool enviornment and innovative concept and such talent produce such a dull and uninspired product? I don't know, but It must be the menu Changes daily thing. Maybe I came on an off night. Maybe I am too quick to judge. I don't know, but Nightwood tonight, did not satisfy. We waited an hour and 7 minutes for our entrees. Our waiter was unfriendly as hell. The food was goodish, but NOT good enough for a feature film wait from when we ordered. Chef Candace was very nice, but we were sitting at the counter and she was the only one who even acknowlaged our presence. A single tear, Nightwood. I want to return. But, alas, I was so dissapointed.
(2)
Leigh K.
I wanted my 500th review to be a good one! One of the most stellar meals my boo and I have eaten together yet. We went there for my 31st birthday in May and I had noted in Open Table that I was excited to try their duck dish. They went out of their way and called me to let me know they were switching the menu, but that they were going to have a duck for me. Stellar, I tell you. Our server was excellent and we went with his recommendations for a good number of our selections. It was such a special night out and I keep meaning to go back. 2011 New Year's Resolution: Go back to Nightwood a few times this year!
(5)
Jane T.
I actually came here late last summer and forgot to review til now. "I'll do it later" and now I'm months behind. Regardless of the time frame, I still remember what I had - pan seared duck on a bed of arugula and other vegetable-y goodness. It was amazing. I also had a piece of my friend's wood grilled whole trout, which was cooked perfectly and deboned as well! We sat right by the kitchen so we were able to see all the other culinary creations that left the open kitchen. I must say, their burger looked awesome. I'll probably try that my next visit, if they have it on the menu. The wait staff was also very pleasant. I loved that they didn't have any specific dress attire - it made the whole experience very comfortable.
(5)
Sarah M.
Holy crap on a cracker. This place brings it. Bacon butterscotch donut? Cynics might scoff at the sudden "ironic" hipster nature of bacon and that donuts are the new cupcakes but just shut up for a sec and eat this thing. Would have been five stars had I not ordered a bloody Mary which was just not good. So simple, but so wrong. Can I at least get a celery stalk or a skewer of olives? I guess I was just disappointed that the creativity of the food menu didn't carry over to the cocktail menu. But whatevs. I'm full and need a nap.
(4)
Suz M.
De-lic-ious. So good. Everything they brought was really tasty, including the amazing little biscuits they bring while you are waiting. The food is pricey. If you want a full meal you will pay a lot of money. My only problem with the food is that it is incredibly rich, which to most people isn't a problem but to someone who has a stomach problem... it can be. I'll go back here again for sure.
(5)
Graham L.
I thought I had my life in order. I have a halfway decent job, excellent friends and family, numerous and engaging hobbies... But then I came here for brunch where a beautiful woman brought me a butterscotch bacon donut and I realized that there are indeed higher levels of living out there. Damn.
(5)
Elyse C.
I managed to get a table without a reservation on the patio (which isnt really a patio but sort of an airy room with no ceiling, but really nice regardless) on a Friday night, sweet! Service waa fine, lacking in personality, but adequate. A lot of my comments have already been said...I had the duck confit and it was really good with a crunchy fennel salad and black beans, but expensive, i did clean my plate! My only recommendation: Im not a big wine person so I ordered the two brothers draft...I could get a six pack of the same beer at Whole Foods for a dollar more than the tulip I got at Nightwood. Kegs dont cost that much! Skip the drinks for one meal, or just get one glass of wine. My mom and I went to Skylark afterwards and her gin and tonic + my lagunitas were about the same as my beer at Nightwood.
(4)
Eli H.
Not worth it. Decent food, utterly horrible service. It took 45 minutes to bring out half of the appetizers followed by an over an hour wait for the entrees. I've worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and I've never experienced worse service. Absolutely not recommended. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Ellen H.
Just like Lula (live just across the Square), I would dash off to Nightwood in a heart beat for the brunch. It's larger, with an open floor plan and so bright compared to it's big sister - which has it's own ambiance. All the wood details, the design, and open kitchen really liven it up. We had reservations for a birthday brunch, and had no trouble adding attendees (ended up with 4, from the original 2). We did wait a few minutes, but the bartender was making drinks and we could peak around a little bit. Always tricky deciding what to order, but we were early for a change, so breakfast was the winner. Ever since a great breakfast at a little spot (King's Cafe) in Cali - I lust after quiche with a nice simple side salad. Upon discovering a lovely ham, aged cheddar and broccoli quiche on the menu with greens - my decision was easy. Drinks were tasty (our table sampled both coffee and bar drinks), donuts were divine, and for the most part, everything was stellar and we all traded tastes. Loved the fall components of the menu - tried the sweet potato frittata, the bagel sandwich (spied at the bar) while messy, was enjoyed by our tablemate. The only small issue - our companion ordered eggs over medium, and sent them back (too runny). When they arrived again, they were more towards over hard (at that point, she went with it); she works in food service, finds that many places can't quite hit over medium.
(4)
Sophia T.
I think the best part about the restaurant is the ambiance and the strive for experimenting with a changing menu. What I think bad is that the service is a little slow, which is okay sometimes if the food was great. The food however, was not that great for the price you pay. I would say it is mediocre, nothing too special, just fancy.
(2)
Jason M.
When I saw Nightwood on Check Please, I was excited. Then, I saw the address. 2119 N. Halsted. Ugh, no way. Not interested in being in the heart of Lincoln Park. But then...in one magic moment, I realized it was 2119 S. Halsted. Wonderful. While I live north and I generally don't like to treck all over the city, I was excited to hit up the Pilsen Arts District and see what Nightwood had to offer. To admit my own prejudices, had the address really been at Armitage and Sheffield, I probably would've declined. Nightwood was well worth the trip. It's a little cliche in its "alternativeness" but it's excellent. As an example, 100% of male bartenders were wearing cardigan sweaters. We had a couple cocktails. I found the cocktail list to be similar to a place like the Whistler. The pumpkin old fashioned was very good, but the tamarind syrup vodka was even better. While sweet, it was fresh tasting and just beautiful. As for food, the lamb shank and butternut squash casoncelli were both excellent and the burrata was a little different than usual, but also very good. In general, this isn't amazing in the way that Girl/Goat or Takashi or Davanti Enoteca or some other places are, but it's really good, affordable and a great spot to eat.
(4)
Natalia D.
The boyfriend and I had made an unexpected trip to Pilsen one Sunday morning and decided to stop in for brunch. Overall our experience was just OK. No real complaints, but nothing that blew us away either. The food was okay, typical Sunday morning brunch fare, although my boyfriend was a bit disappointed at the fact that there were no pancakes on the menu (he loves pancakes). We each started with their two choices of doughnuts, a maple glazed bacon and a concord grape and peanut butter. These were probably the best food choices we made. Both of the doughnuts were obviously fresh and surprisingly complex. And I mean c'mon, anything with bacon is gonna be good. For our entree I got the rabbit and corn flautas and the hubby got a burger. The portion sizes were definately on the smaller end and like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, they were just OK. Nothing spectacular, just as promised. The one complaint that my boyfriend had was that the choice of the bun for his burger seemed a little tough and everytime he took a bite, the bun would push the burger out and he's end up with a mouthful of bun, and a burger hanging over the side of his remaining bun. As for the service, again, it was just OK. Noone stepping on our toes, just a straight forward "What will you have?" Would I go back? Probably would not go out of my way to do so, but maybe the next time we're in Pilsen, we'll give this one another shot.
(3)
Elizabeth W.
I am very disappointed to report that I recently had a terrible experience here, considering how much I used to love this place (see my previous review). Our server (who was either vaguely British or feigning an accent) conspicuously ignored my hubs and me in favor of fawning over a table near us at which three older men were seated. For the entire first hour, she blatantly ignored our polite hand gestures and other verbal attempts to get her attention. We considered just walking out. I'm not sure if she believed the other table would tip her higher or if she was just abiding by her own twisted version of a Jim Crow system, but no matter -- her offensive treatment was enough to keep us away for a very, very long time. I'm giving 3 stars only because the food and drinks were still good. But as most people know, being treated rudely (worse, being completely ignored!) by one's server is enough to ruin any dining out experience, regardless of the quality of the food.
(3)
Jon A.
"I hear they reserve a special ring in Hell for those who waste good scotch," shoots scotch, "damn fine scotch, sir." Replace Scotch for my Time, and you'll know what happened at Nightwood. I watched all of Inglourious Basterds before I was served. Granted, I was in a party of 20? But that wait is the same equivalent of forcing a bum to watch this place make handmade noodles every day & serve them, without ever offering them. Now...jump-cut to when the food was served...and my Taratino violent tendencies left and I became a Technicolor dreamcoat of a food lover. The way the lettuce felt on my palate was the way Costanza feels when draped in velvet. The house made daily made noodles took me back to the adoration I had as a 9 year old for my Gram's noodles. The wood fired chicken left on the bone is exactly how I cook my chicken when I dream of being a hunter 'round a campfire. The food is more American Country than New American, which seemed good for the crowd (mostly young and detached from family dining). Wait, did you just pour my Saison without proper glass tilting, creating an uglier head on my beer than the mohawk you're donning? Wait, you just did it again? Oh, and for my tablemate, too? Okay, now I'm back to Mr. Orange madness and I'm threatening to cut off your ear. Thankfully, you just served me another plate of those noodles. Placated. My experience at this place was as disjointed as a non-linear Godard-ian plot. Tender drapes of country food. Jump-cut to: running around searching for a spoon that hasn't touched my dirty table. Now...if they would've offered me a fully poured Das Boot when I entered the subterranean dining room...maybe it wouldn't have felt like a roller coaster...because we all know a Das Boot maintains all homeostasis of joy.
(3)
Lady J.
I enjoyed Nightwood's brunch experience but I think it is a bit overpriced. I do appreciate that things are locally sourced but my friend had the quiche (asparagus and goat cheese) and it came with greens and vinaigrette and it was $14! It was not a giant piece (shallow like a tart) and no other garnish so we both felt that was pushing it. We split that butterscotch bacon donut and I would recommend trying that, it was obscene, in a good way. Wow. Yum. The coffee prices are $3 for drip, $4 for a latte and $5 for a mocha. Today the drip coffee tasted like diner coffee and the mugs are small. I think they are pushing it on that coffee price too. (just the drip). I found the staff friendly and attentive and everything did taste wonderful, eggs were done correctly and the surroundings were pleasant. We sat outside on this garden patio that is very modern with a fireplace in the middle because there was a 30-45 minute wait for seats inside. You get a cloth napkin and nice utensils as well. Chairs and benchs are comfy and it's not over crowded. I would definitely return but I would like them to consider rolling back some of those prices on the smaller plates! I think quiche and salad should be $10 or $11 tops, and add some fresh fruit and vegetables in the salad..... I plan on coming back soon to try the dinner as well....overall a positive experience.
(3)
Zo O.
This place makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Just a casual restaurant with really simple and warm decor. The type of place I'd like to return to because it's just lovely. Creative and fresh menu, but I won't lie, my food wasn't out of this world. It was okay to good. I do appreciate the local ingredients and creativity though. The food also took preeeeety long to come out. And the restaurant gets preeeeeeety loud. But I'm still a fan :) My rigatoni just tasted like grown mac & cheese, which can be excellent when executed well, but it was ... alright. My soup with olive oil poached egg was pretty hearty. and lastly, the mocha gelato(idk if the gelato is made in house???) was excellent. Prices aren't ridiculous and parking is ample!
(4)
Kim W.
i drank here. the vibe is nice. the cocktails were dope. cool of this place to exist in pilsen. the end.
(3)
Jeannine H.
I went here a few weeks ago for a birthday dinner with my family. I am wondering why it took me so long to come here. My family can be a rather finicky bunch about new restaurants they dont like new places or things and are very particular about what they consider "good" food as they are all pretty good cooks themselves. Well Nightwood did not disappoint! We started with the fried Smelt appetizer, good flavor, not at all greasy...we were fighting with each other for the last few. As for entrees I enjoyed my duck, the veal meatloaf and whitefish were excellent and the burger and fries were also very good. Desserts were incredible...all I can say is don't sleep on the plate of warm cookies and the buttermilk gelato! I also liked the decor and casual/chic/neighborhoody (is that a word) vibe. Definately plan to return
(4)
Julie A.
The location is a little strange, but the ambiance was very nice. I could have sat in there for hours, and next time I go, I'd like to try sitting at the bar that overlooks the kitchen. I especially liked the fireplace on the patio. Service was excellent. The server was attentive without drawing attention to himself. The courses were spaced well. We never felt rushed nor had to wait. Since the menu changes every day, I won't describe what I had except that it was fresh and delicious and both comforting and surprising. That said the proportions seemed a little small, but I arrived quite hungry, and I'm a fairly big eater. On the whole, nothing to complain about - just letting people know. I'm definitely going back soon.
(4)
Steven N.
A very popular brunch location in the Bridgeport area, and for good reasons. If you come here on the weekends, make sure you arrive early and be prepared to spend some time waiting. I believe they may take reservations as well. The food's taste is good but nothing memorable, however, the presentation / style is noteworthy. Request to sit at the bar right in front of the kitchen where you can watch the chefs cook right in front of you. Believe me, watching these guys cook together is an experience all by itself. There's even an outdoor seating area during the summer time.
(3)
Cris C.
We have never had anything less than a wonderful experience here. Service is great and food is always amazing. The atmosphere is perfect.
(5)
Michelle L.
I've been looking forward to dining at Nightwood for a while and finally got the opportunity... The restaurant reminded me of one in Napa, it was charming and cozy and they use seasonal ingredients from local sources, which I love. And while I liked our food, I definitely was not blown away. The app of the cornbread with pork belly was nothing special, between three of us we actually didn't even finish it. The salad we had was great, the goat cheese in it was creamy and delicious. My roast chicken was also delicious, but really there was nothing special about it - I felt like I could have made it at home. The best thing on our table was the gnocci, it was extremely light and airy, and absolutely delicious. My other friends pasta was actually way too dense and not very tasty, but really nothing could compare to the amazing gnocci. We got two deserts, the brownies with ice cream and then a plate of cookies...I can't believe I'm saying this but the cookies were so wonderful and I would get those over any of Nightwoods desserts next time. I know, what's so special about cookies? Every one was just perfect, especially a cold sugar cookie type that was doughy and amazing. I would go back to Nightwood, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)
Raymond W.
The food was great. The wait staff was excellent and friendly. A must try in my book.
(4)
Aurore L.
So, even without rabbit - I am still not impressed by Knight Wood. Yeah, don't ask, I like picturing the name like that for some silly reason...it's way better than the other thing I am regularly thinking of when I talk about this place...which involves morning. And wood. OK. I stop. I came in twice this week - once for brunch on Sunday, and once for dinner on Wednesday because I had forgotten my gloves there three days earlier. Regular habit of mine....but since they were brand new from Eee-ddie Bau-eeeerr (see review directly below this one for spelling explanation) I wanted them back. Bad. I still love the space, the lamp fixtures, the bricks, the wine wall.... Service is a bit formal and very reserved but efficient....so it's ok. Duck poutine....meh...greasy and quite strong. Sloppy looking (even though I'll admit that poutine doesn't make for the best presentation) Egg dish of mine was on the tiny side, but very tasty. My pants say thank you. Flank steak request medium rare and served RARE. Like almost raw. The meat had obviously not even been flipped over. Sad face. So yeah...even though it's probably the fine dining location closest to home I probably won't be back anytime soon. That's really too bad.
(3)
Melissa B.
The donut of the day was butterscotch bacon and it was ridiculous! We started with that and bloody's. They were strong and soo fresh! Mt dining companion had the bagel sandwich with smoked trout, holly cow, so good! I had the pork with eggs and it was delicious as well. It was like a flavor explosion of classy pulled pork with seasonal greens, yum! Our waitress was super on it and the water service was awesome as well. We really liked brunch here and plan to return very soon for dinner. I love supporting places that do their part to source local, sustainable, seasonal food.
(4)
Gayle G.
I dream about the bacon donuts. I've only been to brunch at Nightwood and will not consider going for any other meal unless the bacon donut is available. I like to sit at the counter in the back and watch the kitchen do its business. Not great for a party of greater than three, so grab your two besties and get to brunch and watch the cooks do their thang. Tots. Who doesn't like tots? Nightwood's tots rocks! Homemade tots that are bigger than golfballs? Yum! Not long ago we three were at the counter enjoying our bacon donut (share one, otherwise, you'll have a heart attack) and admiring the white chocolate cranberry breakfast bread pudding that the chef was plating. We finished our donut (in three bites!) and were sipping our tasty bloodys when a huge plate of bread pudding arrived and I explained that there must be an error, we hadn't order it. The reply? "Oh, it's a gift from the chef." Nice! It was delicious! The chicken and waffles are the way to go for this non-egg eater. I strayed once and spent my entire meal coveting the chicken and waffles as the made their way out of the kitchen and into the mouths of other diners. Bonus? They take reservations for brunch!
(4)
L L.
Brunch, donuts, eggs, Brunch cocktails, love, love, love AMAZE Great service LOVE
(5)
Laurence K.
Came for a wine dinner had 3 courses 2 were good 1 not so. I need to come back and try the reg menu.
We got to our reservation at 8:30 and it was for 8:45. They were able to sit us early. Than ambiance is amazing. The place is beautiful. The service was great! It has high end food but definitely not high end attitude. We never had to really wait for anything. It was busy so you have to be understanding of that aspect. We were never rushed and never felt that we were being forced out to turn over the table. The food was outstanding. At first when we saw the menu we weren't excited but when we ordered the flavors of the dishes were very classic. They were not trying to do anything fancy or super different, just put a twist on a few things here and there. We had the beef carp. app., and the soup, it was amazing. I had the duck leg which was incredible and my fiance had the veal meatballs. I liked the duck better, he like the meatballs. For dessert we had the graham cracker crust/pumpkin tart. It was a great and a well thought out meal. The presentation was great. I had a drink, quite stiff but they had a great unique selection of beers. Overall what a great experience. Liked it even better than girl and the goat.
(4)
Rinko E.
Oh Nightwood. A hipster restaurant in the heart of hipster neighborhood aka Pilsen. I know everyone should love you. I like your wallpaper & lighting, but I think all hand-written menus and specifically identified ingredients (It's like, "Hello I am pork. I came from xxxx farm in Michigan")...you are just trying really hard... I don't really give a fuck about where pork came from and what his name is, as long as the food is cooked with love and it tastes delicious. But...oh well... I came to the Nightwood during the Restaurant Week this year. I ordered duck in pork stew. And it was not that impressive. Couldn't finish the whole thing so I took the rest home, but I was not interested in eating it again. So I gave it to my husband. But their Salty Caramel Ice Cream was good. Employees all looked flat and somewhat pissed. I think that was also a hipster requirement... like, "I am too cool and hip to be friendly to my customers" kind of attitude. Oh but there was some amusing thing at the bar. This young girl was so fucking drunk. She was talking loudly on her cell for the entire time, but she started fucking cursing. She was gently kicked out. Because it's not hip to yell profanity in a fucking hipster restaurant.
(2)
Padraic S.
Been talking about checking out Nightwood for about as long as I can remember. Finally made the trip down to Pilsen last night and had a relaxing evening with fresh farm-to-table dishes. Luckily, our relaxed evening was one of the nicer nights we've had in Chicago over the past month, so we decided to eat on their patio. Wood walls, high ceilings and big windows help build on the urban-hip interior feel of Nightwood, and I'm sure the outdoor fireplace and heat lamps are a hit in spring and fall. First and foremost, the specialty cocktails. We both ordered the Paris Wife, a fantastic combination of Mt. Gay Rum, amoro, lime, egg white and bitters. At $12 its not cheap, but it packs a punch with flavor and more. With dinner, craft beer favorites and a few rarities are offered as well. As far as the meal, we decided to split two appetizers and move on from there. Spicy fish broth with salmon, cilantro, avocado and mini carrots was surprisingly easy to share and appropriate for a summer night. The bread with garlic and sea salt butter is another can't miss. For my entree I ordered the hangar steak, cooked medium per the chef's suggestion. Great crust with a soft inside worked well. The real stars of this meal were the fired egg and the farro. Not sure I've ever had "farro" before, but whatever it is, I support it 100%. My fiance had the half chicken which was seasoned well and cooked well to keep it juicy. While I noticed some people have mentioned the price, and we did notice it when the bill came, we have to remember this is Chicago and that's the price of dining out at somewhere interesting. At least parking is free and easy along Halsted. Nightwood is worth the trip and the price.
(4)
Susan H.
We finally had the opportunity (read: free babysitter) to go to Nightwood. When we arrived, they asked if we would like to be seated back at the kitchen counter, where it was cooler and we could watch the action. Since we're food geeks, we gladly accepted, and loved the chance to talk to Chef Jason and his excellent staff. Cocktails were great and the food exceeded our expectations. As we were asking questions and wondering if we should have ordered the crispy pig ear, the chef handed us a serving on the house. As a near-vegetarian, I have never gobbled down unusual pig parts with such abandon. Outstanding food, and great people. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jeannine T.
So the bf was pretending to be nice one day and decided to take me out for dinner. I have no clue why he decided on Nightwood, especially since he didn't provide much compliments about it during his previous visit. Nonetheless, I've never been here, and I always look forward to a new experience. Judging from my sister's review, the menu hasn't changed much since last summer. The duck and the wood grill trout was still on the list. Starter: Deep Fried Mortadella and Lamb Belly. I believe the lamb belly should never be served as an appetizer. The rough texture of the meat and high fat content made me feel as if though my artery was going to clog with each bite. It would have been better if it was pork belly instead. The Deep Fried Mortadella tasted like a fried ham and cheese ball. It was ok. Finally, here comes my steak... Wood grill round steak for one. As always, I requested for the meat to be cooked to medium. The steak is served already sliced, so immediately I noticed that the center was red. Medium usually means pink, right? Not a big deal. I flag the waitress down and asked that it gets slightly more cooked. Steak 1.1 is served. New steak? No. (I wasn't expecting one - not that much of a food snob.) Slightly more cooked? Yes. Perfect medium? No. Since the meat was cooked after it's been sliced, the texture has changed dramatically. It was tough, rough, and a battle to cut through even with a steak knife. The flavor was mediocre at best, but I ate away at the steak anyway because I just felt bad wasting food. I'm saddened. I've waited so long to try this place. My sister raved about it, and now I've departed with the haunting memory of that awful steak. On a good note: my bf had the burger which wasn't bad and the service there is pretty good. Above all, they are very generous with the alcohol for some of their house cocktails.
(2)
Nichole C.
Yum, just yum. Brunch was really lovely and I thought about it all day. Also, the crowd was damn good looking, if that matters.
(5)
Elisa E.
It was 10:30. After nearly two hours of watching art students scamper around in togas and shout motherf***er (performance art based on Greek myths--say no more), we were tired and hungry. Sweet Zeus, the Nightwood was still serving, and a wee table next to a window had just opened! There is nothing quite as satisfying as cradling a glass of red Zinfadel while gazing out upon a rain-swept street. Our waitress was prompt and friendly. She was also quite apologetic when the wrong appetizer was sent to our table. She comp'd us, since we were confused/hungry enough to start eating it. Our pasta dishes were excellent; mine was ham-filled angliotti (long ravioli?) with white beans and fragrant aged parmesan. When our check arrived, we were surprised to see that we had dined so elegantly (including wine and after-dinner drinks) for a little over 80 bucks. Despite our good experience, I imagine that waits are the norm here. The server recommended dining early in the week and later seatings, all of which seemed common sense.
(5)
Roderick C.
Both times I've dined at Nightwood were this past May (first with a friend and then again with an uncle visiting from out of town), and both times, we chose to dine in the back space with bar-like seating, overlooking the open kitchen. This area felt somewhat secluded from the crowd in the main room and turned out to be a pretty cool location for dining--sometimes, it's satisfying to be able to see what goes into preparing your food. The chefs were friendly, seemed to want our feedback, and would even chat with us briefly when they were able to do so. Overall, the food I ordered was of good quality and solidly prepared and presented, but not quite to die for (except for what I heard about the spit-roasted duck); both times, the ambiance and service were excellent and on par with what one would expect from a hip, buzzworthy restaurant like this. Quality, local organic Midwestern American ingredients seemed to form the basis of the menu (I learned what a ramp was here), yet to me, the fare had enough of a fresh, unique twist to it to make it interesting. For example, my first time there, my entree was a nicely prepared wood-grilled fish (either lake bass or trout, can't remember). But what what WAS memorable to me about it, and what I enjoyed, was that it was served whole, complete with head, Asian style. Meanwhile my companion had the aforementioned spit-roasted duck and raved that it was among the best he's ever had. I had just had my birthday and got some nice, complimentary cookies for dessert as well. My second time at Nightwood, I started out with a refreshing goat cheese salad and ended up ordering the "Illinois pork belly." Also a unique offering from a so-called American restaurant. It was new to me, at least. As I was watching it being prepared, it looked an awful lot like a slab of bacon (after all, that's where bacon comes from), but at the end it had a smooth, lean taste and nice tenderness. Who would have thought? (I hardly ever eat pork, except for bacon). Pretty big portion, too. And bonus to the waitress with great ears who overheard us talking about my birthday, and gave me yet another dessert plate of cookies--I felt guilty getting treats from them twice for my birthday. Food, plus the wine, may have been overpriced, but considering the quality of what I had relative to other, similar places where I've dined, I can't say Nightwood was at all egregiously overpriced. I'd go back there again.
(4)
Jane T.
I've only been here for brunch, but everything I've tasted has been delicious. Their doughnuts are worth the hype (yeast raised with finger-licking toppings), and everything is just cooked and seasoned so well. I had some soft-scrambled eggs with squash, and it was really basic but so tasty. My brunchmates hadthe cheeseburger (which was supposedly out of this world), the fish hash, and the salmon rillettes. I've also been told by friends that dinner is just as good.
(5)
Jamie O.
Note: I ate here in September 2009 and the food may have improved since then. Nightwood is forgettable. Its prices are way too high for the amount of taste they serve. The watermelon salad appetizer was a familiar, trendy dish in restaurant world. It had corn, bacon and onion alongside of huge, one-inch watermelon chunks. The lack of balance with proportions made the salad into a mixture instead of a homogeneous blend. I had a pork chop for dinner which was slightly over cooked and chewy. Its sauce and accompanying salad left much to be desired. When I find a place who is overcharging for the quality of food they serve, I take off major points.
(1)
Garvin C.
Had brunch here a couple weeks ago. My wife and I and ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, confit duck egg omelet, and pea tendtril egg scramble. Let me say the bacon butterscotch donut was truly delicious. It was a fresh donut with a butterscotch glaze that was topped with diced thick cut bacon. I'm not necessarily the biggest bacon fan, but this combination really worked. The confit duck omelet and the pea tendril egg scramble were good, but nothing special. However, the tater tots that come with those items were AWESOME! these tots are nothing like those ore-ida (nothing wrong with those) and are much better. They have a thicker very crunchy outside and a very soft and fluffy inside. It's something you really have to try there. I wish they gave more than just three per plate!! Oh, I also ordered a hot chocolate. The consistency was good, but the tempearture was actually very lukewarm, which was odd to me. So, this was a slight disappointment on an otherwise great meal. The inside is very spacious, had large windows and high ceilings. Overally a good vibe and nice place to have a meal with friends and family.
(4)
Dan C.
Enjoyed everything about dinner here. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and a competent server. Highly recommended.
(4)
Sean D.
As a decade long resident of the south loop, this is the restaurant that I've been waiting for. Sadly, I can't claim it as a neighborhood establishment, but Pilsen is close enough and far enough away from Gold Coast and Streeterville that my friends up "north" have never heard of it. We stopped in on a Friday night after the gallery walk on second Fridays. We had a reservation, but decided to wait for a table on the patio. It was well worth the wait. The patio has high wood paneled walls so that you don't realize that you are right on Halsted. The restaurant was having a rose festival and had close to 30 roses by the glass. What great way to start the meal! As everyone has already mentioned here, the ingredients are very fresh and they run out of dining options often. As it were, two of our top choices were already out by the time we sat. But no knock on the restaurant, we knew the deal going in and our fault for eating at 9pm on a Friday night. I've never raved so much about a salad, but holy crap! My salad was incredible. A simple green salad with homemade croutons and a vinaigrette. Sounds simple, right? Only if the ruffage is your regular boring kind. This salad was so incredibly flavorful and interesting, I just could not get enough! My date's Michigan pear salad was likewise delicious, but had nothing on the simple green salad. For entrees, we had the whitefish and the red pepper wide ribbon pasta. The whitefish was perfectly prepared with a side of mayo. I'm not a huge mayo fan, but it paired well with the light fish on a hot summer night. I was only able to grab a taste of the red pepper pasta before the plate across the table from me was licked clean. For weeks after that meal, my gf raved about her red pepper pasta and has had dreams of it since. We will definitely be returning.
(5)
Melody L.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here, from the time I walked in, to the time I walked out. I took my best friend out to dinner. We walked into a bustling restaurant. Tons of people everywhere. Once we checked in, we made our way to the bar. They had some great cocktails in the menu and I had my sites set on the Tamarind Rickey. Wow....went down two quickly, ended up having a couple the rest of the night. My bbf had a grapefruit one. She seemed to like it. We got to our table and we ordered a couple of dishes to start, the fried smelt (oh so tasty!! it brought me back to my childhood) and a pasta dish (it was very flavorful, the most flavorful pasta I had in some time). We both ordered fish, but I think I liked hers better than mine. I think I ordered the wrong thing...my bad! Dessert was great! The coconut cream tart/pie was great! The coffee was divine. I need to show up for brunch next time!
(4)
Tom S.
After reading all the reviews in Yelp I was really excited to go to Nightwood. After actually experiencing it I was kind if disappointed. Pros: 1. Ambiance. The look and feel of this place is pretty sweet. Trendy and sophisticated Nightwood is split into two floors with the downstairs being sort of dungeon-like. 2. Fresh food. The food is bought and prepared daily. 3. Staff. The staff is Friendly, nice, and helpful. Cons: 1. Food. The food just wasn't that good. The pasta dish I ordered was bland and didn't have much taste. I was extremely hungry and only ate half of the dish. Frankly, I just got bored of eating it. When my pasta dish costs $26, I expect it to taste pretty good. The appetizers we ordered were decent but significantly over priced ($10+). Also, we also showed up a little later in the night around 9 on a Saturday (all reservation time slots beforehand were taken) and couldn't order many of the dishes including any of the soups because they ran out of ingredients. Overall, I left this place dissatisfied. For two people our bill which included appetizers, entrees and no alcohol was ~ $100. For $100 there are much better places in the city to spend your money.
(2)
Mikki K.
Tried this place for the first time today. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't really good. Service was acceptable up until I saw the waitress making catty comments about the likelihood of our table tipping (some of your patrons can lip read, you might want to gripe away from their sight!) which dropped her tip from my standard 20% to barely 15%. It would have been less (my bigot tax can be steep), but I didn't want to screw the runners and bus boys. I ordered the french toast which was drowned in sauce & goat cheese. I liked both, but I couldn't actually taste the bread & it wound up with a weird texture. The bacon was delicious, & my husband's raspberry cinnamon roll was okay though it could have been bigger. I doubt we'll go back, but maybe dinner is better than brunch?
(2)
Kimberly L.
What a delightful surprise: a restaurant that fully lives up to its hype! I came here recently for dinner and it was just a perfect evening. We sat outside with no wait whatsoever. The patio was breezy and comfortable. Our server was helpful, friendly and efficient. And the food was delish! We shared the burrata appetizer--Italian cheese with grilled shisito peppers and a baguette. Yum! I ordered the wood-grilled Wisconsin trout with a mustard green salad. (Don't be afraid of the "whole fish" thing. The server graciously offered to have the chef serve it up "sans head." Why thank you!) It was so tasty that I'm still thinking about it, days later. Bonus that everything is local and sustainable! I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Rod O.
We had brunch here on a Sunday morning and the food was definitely good. We started with the donut with bacon and butterscotch which was really good. I had the cheeseburger which wasn't the best burger I have had but it was solid. My friend had the steak and eggs and liked it but thought it was kind of pricey for what he got. My wife had the salmon scramble which was good and my other friend has the bagel sandwich which was good. Overall good food only thing to complain was that service was somewhat slow.
(4)
Emily N.
Boo to this restaurant. Would never recommend it and would absolutely never return. Unfortunately I thought this restaurant had potential. From what I heard it is owned by the same friendly people that own Lula's in Logan Square. While the restaurant itself was warm and inviting, the staff inside was anything but. My husband and I met up with 2 of our friends at the restaurant and were unfortunately disappointed. It pretty much began when the waitress asked me if I wanted the "organic vodka" and couldn't explain what organic vodka was, when we legitimately didn't understand the idea of organic vodka. Then a "totally alternative" server kept hounding us with whether or not we preferred "still" or "sparkling" water... to the point where it actually broke up the flow of our conversation. We get it, you're hip, and fancy...but we'll still take the "still" water please. Our server had a MAJOR attitude problem, and when the bill of over 200 dollars came, she didn't even bother to stick around to say goodnight and bring our cards back. Then when we had a problem with the bill, we were forced to ask the hostess a question as our server was completely MIA, she was also BEYOND rude. I have to say with all the competition in this city, sometimes people don't realize if your food is just average maybe you should try to cover it up with at least having warm and friendly staff. Definitely wouldn't waste your time here.
(2)
Robot A.
First off...every time I walk into the bathroom at Nightwood, I immedietly think about taking a sledgehammer to my own bathroom and redoing it. My wife is lucky that I get the inspiration to do this before we order food so that the distraction of a good meal wipes the idea out of my head. Start with a bacon donut. Menu changes daily so there is nothing I want to tell you to get...just enjoy. Brunch is fantastic! May be on the little pricey side, but hey...I don't go out much now that I have a newborn so when I do, I like to enjoy. A welcomed (and well needed) place to eat in Pilsen.
(5)
Amy S.
Nightwood you made my taste buds dance and for that I thank you. But let me break it down. The good: the food. Ok, that's the fabulous. Everything we had was delicious. Menu changes and is handwritten daily. The chicken pate with homemade chips was delectable. The pesto dip with rustic bread mouthwatering. Spinach handmade pasta with bolognese, yes please! Wisconsin trout-done perfectly. The flavors were layered nicely and the dishes actually had complexity which is something I've found lacking lately. We had the warm cookies for dessert. They were tasty but could be skipped. The bad: Price points-seemingly somewhat random. Half chicken with cornbread $25? Rabbit with cabbage $30? It was a lovely meal so I was overall ok with the cost but found them just this side of high. The ugly: For us it was the service. Our waiter just could not read our table which I gots to tell ya, wasn't that hard. Having been industry generally when three women start off with a bottle of champagne and ask to keep the wine list they are probably going to relax AND order another bottle. Add three appetizers and them letting you know they are "going to keep ordering"-hmm, yeah, you probably shouldn't rush them. Plates were taken before we were asked if we were done, dishes were rushed, we had to ask a few times for our champagne to be brought back and poured (they were keeping it chilled at the bar), had to request dessert menu, etc, etc. It just unfortunately took away from an otherwise great dinner. Perhaps he was just off and it won't keep me from going again. But we all agreed we would have said something to the manager had he been available when we left. Worth it though. I'll go back.
(4)
Andrea B.
I knew this place would be fun as soon as I saw buttons with their logo instead of cheap matchbooks at the entrance. I was also giddy from having only 4 hours of sleep, being out on a Monday night, and being in Pilsen, a neighborhood I don't go to often, but which contains some of the most fascinating history in Chicago. Let's just say I was excited. The atmosphere of Nightwood is something I really liked. The decor is something like modern meets antique meets urban meets chic. Or something like that. I didn't like how voices travelled, which made it seem as if the large dinner party in the next room was actually right next to us, but no matter. I actually want to come back and try out their outdoor seating (or what looked like outdoor seating) because it looks very intimate and charming. What i liked best and almost wish that we got were the bar-stool like seats that looked over the kitchen, so one could see the chefs at work and see exactly how your food is being prepared. Lovely. It's too bad I missed out, but i was happy where i was nonetheless. I guess Nightwood is popular for making fresh, handwritten menus daily (perhaps weekly) using only what the local farms/grocers/what have you have in stock. Everything is fresh and organic, and very comforting. My boyfriend, our friend, and I wanted to try an array of dishes, so we ordered 4 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, and 2 entrees, all to share (in case you can't tell, we seem to eat a lot and enjoy doing so). In terms of appetizers, I wasn't fond of the deep fried smelts, but that's probably because I am not fond of fish. Moving on, I thought the fresh mozzarella with white beans and sardines was delicious; everything fit together perfectly and tasted lovely. The chicken liver pate with chips seemed like an odd combo, but in reality was amazing. The veal served over the grilled baguette was also really tasty...and I didn't know I liked veal! But here, it seemed like I have liked it all my life, I gobbled it up with no regrets. On to the pasta! We ordered the potato gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and sheep's milk cheese as well as the hand cut pasta with pine nuts, arugula pesto, and breadcrumbs. The gnocchi was very good in combination with the mushrooms and the vinaigrette- like sauce added a nice touch in terms of flavor. Now, i am a huge fan of gnocchi, so I was not disappointed, but the real winner was the hand cut pasta with pine nuts. The nuts added such a wonderful, crunchy and great burst of flavor to the pasta I just could not stop eating it. I could have totally ordered that as my entree and been entirely happy with it. Yum. The entrees included were the red wine beef stew and polenta tart with a poached egg on top. The polenta had a beautiful presentation to it, and the spinach salad it came with tasted heavenly...it was very simple, but the taste left you wondering how it could be possible to put so much flavor into something that uses very little ingredients. The poached egg was perfectly done. So good. The beef stew was hearty and rich and made you feel like you were sitting in a wood cabin in front of a fireplace watching the snow fall outside, it was that comforting and good. I didn't really care for the glazed carrots (they seemed hard and cut in big pieces that made the dish look awkward to me), but the beef....ohh the beef. I would go back just for that. By now I was sufficiently full and tired and ready for a long sleep, but we couldn't leave without dessert. I had the chocolate pudding which was dark and chocolatety and yummy and just plain good. My boyfriend and our friend got the sorbets and caramel bread pudding, respectively. I didn't try much of the bread pudding as i was too busy shoving pudding into my face, but i will say it was light and tasty and seemed to have a citrus like taste to it, but maybe that's just me. The sorbet I enjoyed most was the plum, very light and cleansing. YUM! I don't know why i had to go into so much detail about the food, as the menu will probably change in a few days time anyway. It doesn't matter. You need to know the goodness I had to know the goodness you will have. A gripe we had was that our server didn't seem to be all that engaged in what we were eating or trying to help us decide what to drink in the cocktail menu. Every time we declared how amazing something was, all he did was smile and nod and take our plates away. ah well, at least our dishes were coursed and paired together nicely, which made for a lovely, and very filling dinner!
(4)
Jen F.
Nightwood is my favorite neighborhood restaurant in Chicago. We eat here once a month or more. The food is always incredible - fresh, delicious, creative but not over-the-top. The trout tastes like it came out of a stream out back (I believe it is actually from Wisconsin most of the time). I love the handmade pastas as well - they usually lure me in while my husband has a beef, pork, or lamb dish that I can sample. They are doing interesting things at the bar too & have a great selection of wines. Brunch is great as well - I wake up on Sundays dreaming of the bacon butterscotch donut and the bagel sandwich. They also did a great job with a private Sunday brunch party for 30 people in the downstairs wine room. Great space, great food, great service, very flexible with coming up with menu options for the party. Everyone really enjoyed it. The vibe is a little hipster-ish, but the clientele is mixed. There are always older couples, groups of friends, and yuppie types along with the hipster crowd. It's a very friendly and relaxed place.
(5)
Esther Y.
First off, I get annoyed when people say the area is "sketchy." It's not. If you are remotely urban, then it's not sketchy, it's fine. Ugh. Glad I got that off my chest. Now, for the goodies. I loved this place. We were here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and they emailed us the menu for the night. I don't know if they do that for everyone, or if it was a request my friend made, but it was a nice touch. It gave us ample time to gchat about the menu, discuss our eating plan, and really get excited about the meal. We got there, and were greeted by at least 3 people. There were 9 of us, so we were seated downstairs, which is a nice space. The place is nice, it's chill, cozy, and just an easy place to be in. (I do want to go back so that I can enjoy the outdoor space-it looked like a nice place to hang out and have a couple of drinks.) We started with the pate, the fried mozzarella and the gnocchi. The pate was good! Even people that were scared to eat it enjoyed it. As for the friend mozzarella, I think the general concensus was that the greens that they served with it were better than the actual cheese...though who can pass up fried cheese? The gnocchi was delicious, but I am partial to homemade pasta. It is a little denser, but it's so good! For the entrees, we had some burgers (delish-the ciabatta bread was a little too thick but they came with really good condiments and the meat was nicely seasoned), the rigatoni with fried chicken mushroom (which are actually a particular kind of mushroom... and are not fried mushrooms, or fried chicken bits in the pasta with mushrooms), the spaghetti with an over easy egg and short ribs, and the whitefish. Everyone really enjoyed their meals....I think the rigatoni was a little dense, but that is the whole homemade pasta thing. We were all stuffed and didn't order dessert, but then they surprised us with a plate of their warm cookies and a candle for my friend! Yay! I love when people do this! I would definitely go here again, especially since their menu changes everyday...that is part of what makes it so exciting! The vibe is nice, the employees are attentive, relaxed and helpful, and the whole experience was great. This was the perfect place to go with a group of friends for a long, fun, enjoyable dinner...that is if your friends are fun and are cool enough to know the area isn't "sketchy." Good thing my friends are awesome!
(4)
Claudia C.
Great spot for a date. We split the duck egg/chorizo appetizer, squash casoncelli (ravioli), and pork belly, with the chocolate mousse for dessert. Everything was absolutely, out-of-this-world amazing. There is no denying that. The mixture of flavors (squash, prosciutto, arugula) in the casoncelli was perfect, in my opinion, and the pork belly positively melted in your mouth (just don't think of your arteries while you eat it). The atmosphere is great, and the wood-centric design of the place is charming and romantic. The staff is also great, from the bartenders to the hostess. Again, only removing a star because of the noise level of conversations (though the music selection was good) and because of the high price tag. Though, in the end, after that meal, one really can't feel too bad about paying $12 for appetizers and $25 for entrees.
(4)
Kate H.
Went to Nightwood for Sunday brunch with my parents. Food quality is much better than average brunch fare (and brunch is my absolute favorite meal), mostly because they use noticeably fresh and high quality ingredients. Their house specialty is a house-made donut, so the four of us shared the Bacon Butterscotch donut, which came with glazed bacon bits and three small cinnamon dusted donut holes. The donut was airy and cakey at the same time, and it was very very good. The other dishes were also similarly inventive: my mom and I shared a Wild Mushroom and Parmesan Scramble and an artichoke-specked foccacia topped with an over-easy egg. Again, their attention to choosing quality ingredients and careful preparation shone through, and each bite burst with flavor. I was even more impressed by the side of "tots," shoestring hash browns rolled into a ball and deep-fried--so good! All in all, it was a great meal. The downside is that one of my favorite things about brunch is walking out stuffed, but this was not the case, and I felt I left slightly hungry. Clearly, the money went towards quality and not quantity. Price: ~$15 per person for brunch
(4)
candace l.
I can only write about the brunch, and that is to say it was fantastic! First off, we walked in on a Sunday at noon and didn't wait for seating. The hostess asked if we had reservations, which we didn't, but it led me to believe that they accept them (for brunch this is almost unheard of, so kudos, Nightwood if that is indeed the case!), which is a plus if you're the plan ahead type (I am not). I later learned they have additional seating in the back, downstairs and an outside patio for summer. Whew, they can pack them in! Fortunately it didn't compromise the length of wait for our order. I was a little worried at first because there is not a lot of meatless options as the menu isn't extensive, and I was glad it wasn't an issue. I ordered the eggs benedict and it was excellent! My bf had the waffles with strawberry something or other, and he also really loved his. Street parking is plentiful (and free!) on Halsted if you're not in the area. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Sarah B.
I wanted to give them 4 stars based on a previous dining experience but unfortunately I had a very disappointing restaurant week meal there last Saturday. The menu was odd (baseball themed) but my boyfriend and I thought we would keep an open mind and ordered everything between us. Nothing was great and a couple of the dishes were straight out bad. My first course was grisly salmon sashimi, and my 2nd was a dumpling (good) in a cracker jack broth (bad - too sweet and lumpy). My boyfriend's 2nd course was mushroom "cinnamon" roll that was something you'd expect in the bread basket, not as a course. My trout was OK, nothing special, same with my boyfriend's (too salty) sausage. Dessert of lemon ice totally missed the mark for Feb. Service was good and wine was great but based on our (expensive) meal and the fact my boyfriend and I were both ill the next day I won't be going back any time soon.
(1)
Jocelyn h.
Love this place. 4 of us went during the week. had excellent service. i had the trout. which i was a bit scared of. but they removed the eye for me. and it was delish. we had blush wine, which we all snickered at when we opened the menu. but then considered ourselves trendsetters, bringing back the rose! the service was great and those honey biscuits are dangerous. not sure it was worth all of the hype. but good all the same.
(3)
John V.
interesting menu options, I don't know how often they really change, but if every night features something like duck, duck eggs and rabbit, I'm impressed. We went with a party of about eight, so we got a little bit of almost everything on the menu. We did manage to do some sharing, towards the end of the night and we got some baked goat cheese to share around the table, and it was excellent. The pasta dishes are small portions, the kind of portions you expect from a super-expensive restaurant, small and made to look even smaller by the huge plate it comes on. However, the more expensive entrees are kind of large portions... much larger than you'd expect. Everything I tried was very tasty. The standout of the night were the desserts. Very impressive and worth every penny.
(4)
Edward H.
Hung over from Saturday's partying or just plain ravenous for some tasty Sunday morning grub? The guys at Nightwood serves up THE best brunch in Pilsen hands down and is ranked amongst my favorite weekend bruncherias. There are hearty stews, delicious fish, savory biscuits'n'gravy, and of course the crown jewel that is their chicken'n'waffles! Their menu changes from day to day since they only nab the freshest goodies from the market. Although this is definitely a blessing, I consider it a double-edged sword as it makes the task of deciding on what to order is next to impossible. The solution? Take your friends... LOTS of them so you can rotate your plates (not unlike gastro-musical chairs). Pull up a seat at the counter in their open kitchen and watch the masters at work churning out savory goodies. They're easy going and a lot of fun to watch. Don't forget to save a bit of room for the fresh made to order donuts covered in chocolate icing and sprinkled with the crack that is bacon! (For those of you saying "WTH? Bacon and chocolate??? Utter madness!" - try it first, you'll thank me later)
(4)
Anthony H.
A little on the pricey side, this new local hotspot nonetheless served up interesting choices for the meat-lovers in our party as well as the vegetarians. The diverse menu changes daily and the bar offered a great selection of interesting beers. I recommend the fish of the day and the Dogfish Head beer!
(4)
Ben C.
Great food - plain and simple. We go to sit at the kitchen counter which was a neat experience. If you have a party of 2 people I would definitely try and get the counter seating. Spinach salad with apples and goat cheese was very good. The fact that they carry bottles of Dogfish Head 90 Minute is another huge plus! I little higher price point than Lula cafe but I would say its worth it. The execution is a little cleaner, the staff more friendly and the space of the restaurant makes me much less claustrophobic.
(4)
Michelle B.
Best brunch I've had in a while! Was pleasantly surprised by the menu, service and food. Love the bagel sandwich and bottomless coffee...you just can't go wrong with the hot donuts either. Innovative all-around brunch, without the pretentious vibe. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Brad B.
On a whim I called yesterday afternoon to see if I could get a reservation for two at a decent time and was shocked to have the hostess say, "why yes, we've just had two cancellations - one at 19:30 and one at 20:00." Me: "Might I take the 8PM, then?" And we're off to the races. Who needs Bono and 71,000 of his closest friends over at Soldier Field, certainly not us! Pfftttt - to you, Bono, Edge, Larry-Bob, Jr and whomever that other guy is (is there another guy?) We arrived and ordered some of the interesting cocktails: a blueberry gimlet and a drink called The Louisiana Purchase - which was fun and yummy. We were directed to our table (this yelper is somewhat critical of the seats in his dining venue of choice) and these passed with flying colors. Baseball glove leather covered and totally awesome in every way. First course: roasted corn and jalapeño soup with creme fraiche - and rabbit raviolis in some sort of spicy broth. Both were highly enjoyable. **keep your damn menu throughout if your memory isn't so great** Second course: duck breast with a jumble of beans - and - whole roasted trout with BACON and some other stuff. At this point we cracked into the wine list with a Cotes du Rhone which was cheap, subtle and pretty damn good, especially for $34 bucks. The whole mess was great, totally lovely perfectly cooked and spot on. Third course: dark chocolate tart with raspberry goo, dusted with coco powder and finished with a dollop of creme anglaise. We rocked out of there around 11PM with smiles on our faces a bill for about $175 (20% tip inclusive) paid for and that perfect feeling of satiated but, not stuffed.... I think this place is great, I will definitely be back but, must find viable public transport options to get there / back without paying $50 for a cab ride so I can properly imbibe...or dupe a friend into dropping me off....either or.
(5)
Alexander B.
Flawlessly delicious. This brunch stop has climbed its way to the top of my list. Going early saved us the long waits this place is (rightfully) known for. I had both doughnuts, zucchini choco chip muffin, coffee, and the cheeseburger. I also tried the omelette. Amazing. Don't miss the pickled avocados in the bloodys.
(5)
rebecca g.
Returned for dinner and have reaffirmed my love for you, Nightwood! I honestly dreamed about the Spinach & Taleggio Garganelli. It was so divine, my friend & I were close to licking the plate. We weren't as enamored of the Butternut Squash Casoncelli with Prosciutto (small portion, a bit over-vinegared, and the pile of wild arugula made it a bit tricky to eat/ share), but the flavors were still good. We also split the Pork Belly with Maple Baked Beans, which have proven to me that it is possible to have good baked beans! (I was never a fan of the canned ones.) The pork was luscious and tender, although the meat was buried under quite a bit more fat than we might have preferred. Overall, an amazing meal...and worth every penny for the ingenuity, freshness, and local ingredients.
(4)
Stephen G.
So I finally got the chance to check out this cool Pilsen hot spot! I didn't get to experience the patio area. . yet but see myself drinking a PBR there frequently this summer. While it was tempting to sit and eat at the Kitchen bar I was more interested in conversation with my date so we chose a store front table cornered by glass. The place was a bit loud but a nice vibe and at 7:00 almost all the tables were occupied. The host was very polite and offered a few options in the way of seating, etc. I ordered the pork but found it to be a bit more work than I anticipated to eat. I was thinking the dish was going to be along the lines of pork tenderloin but turned out to be more like a pork chop. The pork was a bit tough for me. The presentation was very nice as the cut of pork sat a top black eyed peas. (yes for those kids out there, the peas were not named after the music group. ) She had the Polenta which was delicious to both our pallets. So all in all I would like to go again. Our server was very mellow and not overly helpful but it sort of fit the vibe of that space. The experience was very nice and the prices are towards the higher side. A great destination spot!
(4)
Robyn T.
9 pm on a Friday night. The restaurant is bustling and there's nary a seat in the house. Luckily I was able to squeeze in at the one available table on the patio because my party had 3 and not 2. Is this a first or what? I loved the whole layout of the restaurant with the dining room straddling the corner allowing for great window views onto the neighborhood, a wraparound counter overlooking the open kitchen, and the patio which though strikingly modern offered warmth with its deep woods and lighting. The cocktail menu is worth checking out for some fairly innovative options, and the wine menu was impressive as well. I had high expectations for the cuisine being a fan of Lula and for the most part the menu did not disappoint. With the focus on sustainability, the menu changes daily. By the time my group rolled around for dinner they were out of a few menu items I was hoping to try, but our friendly waitress did make some great recommendations. Ravioli with goat cheese and honey in a light pesto sauce was divine. The pasta was so fresh and just a little al dente. A gnocchi with tomatillo sauce was good but not as spectacular as the first appetizer. Still hungry for more we tried the chicken pate which was like velvet. Should I say that this liver was better than my Grandmother's? It was and was accompanied by sliced cucumbers and a garnish of dill, onion salad. Entree choices were tough. Everything sounded wonderful. What wouldn't I recommend? The burger. Our waitress said it's one of the best in the city, and if you're putting a burger on the menu at a place like this it better be good. My 2 dining companions ordered it and were underwhelmed. Apparently there was an overpowering cheese/mayonnaise on it they weren't wild about. I opted for the rabbit entree because its not something I'd make at home. The meat was tender and though I loved the originality of pairing brussel sprouts with olives and grapes, the olives were overpowering. Will I go back? Most definitely. I'm practically foaming at the mouth to sit at the kitchen at watch the goings on. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes with the menu as we move into fall and I'm sure they're bound to delight.
(4)
Hope K.
Initially we wanted to finally try out Lula Cafe, but they didn't take reservations. We were on a tight schedule due to catching the big Bear's game against New England, so we decided to try out it's sister restaurant since we were able to make a reservation on a short notice. This is how it all went down: Host - He was nice and friendly and made us feel welcome and offered to take our coats... I decided to keep my coat on for a bit because it was so cold out and I didn't feel warm even after being seated. We waited for a while before anyone attended to us. Someone finally brought us water and left. Obviously, he wasn't our server. We wondered who our server was... then a lady came over asking if we'd like to get started with something to drink. I actually asked her if she was our server... and she was. We asked to move to a warmer part of the restaurant, away from the main entrance where it was super cold due to the extremely cold weather outside. We were seated near the open kitchen in the back of the restaurant. I immediately felt warmer and I was able to take off my coat. Then we waited some more... I guess since we were moved to a different section of the restaurant, the lady server wasn't serving us any longer... FINALLY, our new server had come to our table. He asked us if we wanted something to drink. I told him that we wanted to have something to drink but we were also ready order. We started with the chestnut cream stuffed donut with chocolate glaze and marshmallow. It sounded better than it actually tasted. We split the donut in half, but unfortunately, my half of the donut barely had any filling. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of the chestnut flavor in the filling. The chocolate glaze was over powering and didn't seem like that special. It was warm and crispy but not worth $4. For our entrees, we ordered the spinach goat cheese quiche and the malted waffle with chicken wings. To my surprise, our entrees came out pretty fast. The quiche was really good and just perfect in flavor and texture but I would have liked it to be a bit warmer. The malted waffle was really crispy and so were the chicken wings. To my surprise, the salted caramel sauce went well with the chicken wings. Overall, the food was great! We would definitely come back for the food. Service was just ok, since we had to constantly track down our server to get the refill on the coffee and the ginger ale. I would have given it a 3.5 stars, if I could have. I would definitely recommend the restaurant for the food, but don't go there if you are in a rush!
(3)
Andy M.
I went to Nightwood with my girlfriend before heading out to the Pilsen art walk on Friday. It was the first time I'd been here and I had been wanting to try it ever since we moved to Pilsen. We had a table near the front of the restaurant, which was drafty and crammed in a little too tight. I understand that a lot of popular upscale restaurants with younger clientele tend to do this (like Avec), but if I'm going to make reservations, then I'd appreciate at least a little bit of space. That aside, the wine list was good (but I don't know much about wine, so that doesn't matter to me much) and the service was good as well. Our waitress was attentive, but not overbearing. I appreciated that. My main complaint is that my entree, which was essentially a french onion soup with lamb, just wasn't very good. Some of the lamb was burned to the point of being inedible, which was extremely disappointing, especially since it was one of the more expensive dishes at $27. Our dessert was excellent, but it didn't save this place for me. I don't think I'd ever suggest going here again.
(3)
Shalin D.
Best place for a man date! A friend and I were looking for some serious food after Second Friday in Pilsen. We love Lula Cafe so we decided we'd go to its sister restaurant in the neighborhood: Nightwood. It did not disappoint! Ambience: You can't help but notice the various seating options. Private tables. Outdoor seating on an enclosed patio. A bar overlooking the action in the kitchen. A private dining room. And a full bar. All of those options exist at Nightwood. As such, it's perfect for a multitude of occasions. It's perfect for a man date but also romantic dates. I've also been here for a birthday party and it worked well for large groups. Just beware: if you come without reservations, you will wait a while before you're seated. Food: Farm fresh ingredients. A constantly changing menu. And an unparalleled dedication to excellent food preparation. It's all there. I'm not surprised since Lula Cafe functions in pretty much the same way. The only difference is that the portions at Nightwood are much larger. We ordered sweetbreads as an appetizer. Succulent and tasty! I ordered a pork chop (huge and juicy) and my friend ordered the modified BLT (huge and tasty). Since I'm a glutton, I finished my chop. But, my friend had a hard time getting the last bite of his BLT in his mouth. But, we savored each bite. After a 20 minute hiatus, I ordered tea and the house cookies. I'm glad I decided to go all the way. The cookies were chewy and delicious on the inside. Between the two of us, we managed to polish them off. The best part? On a man date you can both sit in the car on the ride home and unbuckle your belt... without judgment. That's a testament to how much we loved Nightwood. (N.B. The only reason this place does not get five stars is the fact that my reservation on another occasion was botched. But, that's a minor point compared to how great the food here is.)
(4)
caroline k.
My first time in the Pilsen area, and a surprisingly good find. Group of 4 of us went on a Saturday evening to a busy house on a cold night. Lengthy 'hand-written' menu includes a variety of new-American and Italian style appetizers, pastas, and entrees from primarly local providers. Here's what we had: - escarole and chopped vegetable salad in buttermilk dressing: a bit too creamy, mediocre - burrata crostini with spiced honey and pears: surprisingly rich and sweet, could have used a touch of salt to balance the honey - sweet potato ravioli: 3 square raviolis for $12, what gives? - whitefish poached in bacon broth: I am always hesitant of fish in liquid, but the bacon really made this dish - beef stew in farro: more like a thick chilli bow, not exactly what I had expected - wood-grilled cheeseburger: Pretty good, with a good dab of dijon to add a kick Good date spot, will definitely be back.
(4)
Allie J.
Great food. Great ambiance. Good service. I'm looking forward to our next trip back.
(4)
Tia S.
I went to Nightwood for brunch with friends after hearing about it for months. We made reservations, and when we arrived there we let the hostess know we were there. She said it would be a few minutes. So we waited outside (there was really no other place to wait), and waited... and waited... Had she forgotten about us? We had no clue, so we went back in and the woman said "Oh! Your table is ready!" as if we were supposed to guess that. Uh, okay. So we sit down, and one of my friends tries to order chai tea. They're out of almost all of their teas, and chai tea isn't on the menu. However, a chai latte is on the menu. So my friend asks if they have chai tea - he specifies TEA, not a latte - our waitress thinks about it for a moment and tells us she can make something like that. Great. A few minutes later she comes out with a cup full of warm chai concentrate and water. Um, what?! That is NOT chai tea. There are also no free refills on this weird chai concoction, which is problematic for my friend who drinks five cups of tea with most meals. So my friend lets the waitress know that he asked for chai tea, and that's not what he received. The waitress looks at us for a minute as if my friend had made a mistake in ordering his drink and was now inconveniencing her with trivialities. Yeah no. That's not how that works. After a few seconds of looking like she's trying to hide the fact that she hates us, the waitress takes the drink back to the kitchen. Not off to a good start. We ordered the doughnuts as an appetizer, which were absolutely delicious (the strawberry/custard ones). Our meals came a little while later, and the food was alright. Good, even, if a little boring. Maybe that's my fault for not ordering some weird meat I've never heard of. Oh well, I can settle for good food. At least the hash brown balls were awesome (yes, they come in little fried balls). So we get our check and head out. Definitely a bit pricey for such small portions, but it's local/free-range/organic/award winning... I get it. Overall, not a terrible experience, but I was expecting more. Nightwood does have great decor though, I'll give them that. I do plan on going back for dinner sometime, and maybe then I'll be able to give them a better review.
(3)
Amy D.
I'm glad this gets to be my 200th review. I heart you Nightwood. I have been there four time now and I loved each time, I do have to say though, some more than others. The menu changes daily which is a good and bad thing, b/c I love the Banh mi but it's not there anymore! :( But you def. get variety. I take my clients out there for celebatory dinners (I'm a Realtor) and they're always really impressed with this hidden gem. Drinks are great, but a tad expensive. Food price range is pretty good, sometimes can get pricey but no different than similar restaurants, and the decor is amazing. Great service! I'm really happy a great restaurant came to the area!
(5)
Keith T.
Decent food and drinks. The polenta was well done, same for the brussel sprouts. This is what prompted me to leave a review and the 3 stars: very odd vibe from the staff/management. The night I went, it Felt like they are snickering and talking smack about every table.... I am willing to give another chance though.
(3)
Thomas L.
Ever get that feeling that the people around you are on a higher intellectual level? I got that vibe here for some reason and it was very strange. The location was odd; I guess it works that you can pull the "up and coming neighborhood" thing for a bit longer. Food had clean flavors and noteworthy philosophy.
(3)
maurice s.
This place is awesome. They have an open kitchen in the back, the centerpiece of which is a large rotisserie smoker. This is where the magic happens. We had smoked chicken and smoked pork. Both were excellent. The chicken came with a side of caramelized brussels sprouts. The pork appeared to be smoked as a bone-in roast, then sliced into chops and finished on the grill. It came with a nice side salad. For appetizers, we had tomato soup and gnocchi with goat and goat cheese. The portion sizes are ample and a good value. The only mediocre aspect of the meal was desert, so pass on that. NOTE: The entrance is on the left through the patio. The building was designed with a corner entrance, which makes sense given the location. For some reason, they walled in the corner entrance, so folks who approach the building at the apparent entrance point have to turn around and walk back to the actual entrance. Remarkably, I saw at least 20 people make this turn during the 1.5 hours I spent at the restaurant, so it's a fairly substantial design flaw that probably should be addressed with signage.
(5)
Alli Y.
We went to Nightwood for brunch around 10am on a weekend morning. They take reservations so we were seated very quickly and the ambience of the downstairs was lovely. The food was exactly what I would have expected for a trendy brunch place - well presented on crisp white plates and described impeccably in the menu, but fairly normal tasting. Not bad by any means, but also not "wow" inducing. We had two different appetizers (a bacon donut and a lemony-donut) both of which were excellent. The main courses (bread pudding and quiche) were simply okay. Our experience was also colored by the fact that the waitress basically ignored us for 2 hours, and when we brought that up with her, she was less than receptive.
My brother and I came here as my farewell to life in Pilsen, and it was overall, a delicious experience. The decor was modern and bright, and it was fancier than I expected, based off the casual (but nice) feel of Lula. As others have attested, the service was excellent. Our server was helpful and gave good suggestions, without being intrusive. He recommended a good beer for my brother, and gave me some background on the one I chose as well. Later during the meal, he came to check up on how everything was and seemed to truly be passionate about the food and making sure we had a nice experience. I thought the menu options seemed great- I couldn't decide what to get, because they all seemed delicious. They had just redone them, so it sounds like they probably make a lot of seasonal items or go with what's fresh. My brother went for trout, which came out whole, served with greens on the side, which he said was good. I ordered a trout BLT. Yes, a trout BLT. It was delicious! It was served on thick soft bread with bacon, lettuce, tomato, a trout fillet, and barbeque sauce (!) with a sunny side egg (!!) placed on top of the sandwich. It was SO good. It's making me hungry again writing about it.. Served on the side was a small side salad with a tart and light vinaigrette. Great experience, though a little pricey, but I will definitely be back for special occasions.
(5)
Kristi K.
Quite simply, the most satisfying meal I've ever eaten. I took the afternoon to traverse to Pilsen. I walked around, checked out a few places, and then decided, while I was here, to check out Nightwood. I walked in, and it's just beautiful. Warm, inviting. Simple. I love it. I am seated immediately, brought water and a menu. Menus change daily, so they're nicely handwritten. Nice touch! My server comes over, and asks if I have any questions. I start my typical...what do you recommend routine. Ok...if the menu changes as often as they say (I'm sure they repeat items, but still...) he would have to be on his game. Effortless. I settled on a cheese starter that was somewhat like a combination of Brie and Mozzarella. It was served with a fennel sauce and toast points. I told him to surprise me on drink--beer, wine or cocktail. He got excited. I love it when a server loves their job, knows the food AND can pair a drink with it. Class act. He chose a beer which was amazing. Ephemere. It's a Canadian lager with an apple base (but no means a cider) and coriander. I couldn't taste the coriander until I got a bite of the fennel in the starter, and took a swig. Perfectly paired. Next, I had chicken with a white bean and bread salad. It was exquisite. The bean salad was as good with the chicken. The chicken was seasoned well, yet not over seasoned. Once again, he brought me a perfectly paired glass of white wine. A french blend...I don't remember the name. Desert was a glass of desert red (almost a port, but not quite) and a chocolate and hazelnut custard. Again, perfect. Overall, no complaints. Was it cheap? No. Have I spent that much at "the best restaurants in the city". Yes. Was I nearly as happy when I left said restaurants? Absolutely not. I loved it. I had high expectations, as I love Lula, and I thought there would be no way Nightwood could be different enough yet maintain the quality. It exceeded my expectations. Much better service. No attitude. Actually...they had pleasure in what they were doing. Everyone from the hostess, to the server to the gentleman who brought out my entree. If I could give it 10 stars, I would.
(5)
Pete D.
Pleasantly surprised here. The inside of the place is really nicely decorated. The menu... I don't think my taste buds are fancy so this menu was a bit concerning at first. Lots of liver meats, beef fat, tuna sauces on chickens, whale turds (okay maybe not). But honestly we just asked the waitress what was good and dove right into it. The food was really great! You read it on the menu and think it will be so exotic that it won't taste good, but truly, the food was really amazing and unique. And the dessert! Try the pretzel bread pudding for some yummy but different type comfort food. I actually can believe that all of their desserts are amazing. Great service here too. Give it a go if you're in the area or looking for a different type of dinner, stray away from your boring italian places!!
(4)
Sue S.
Absolutely worth the drive to this out of the way location. Be sure to make a reservation though since it's not huge and very popular. Hip, comfortable atmosphere with great service and excellent food. It's loud, but tables are spaced apart so you won't have any trouble hearing others at your table. Menu changes with seasonal offerings. Our party thoroughly enjoyed two appetizers: the smelt and asparagus. The waiter helped us select our entrees: the trout, a pasta dish, and duck. Each was cooked perfectly and delicious. We had the plate of cookies and strawberry shortcake sundae for dessert. Very nice selection of wine. Would definitely return.
(4)
Erin R.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. A donut with bacon in the middle, covered with a delightful glaze, washed down with a nice cup of coffee. We went to brunch at Nightwood this morning, dragging along our cranky 19 month old to this great restaurant in the Pilsen nabe. At first I wasn't too sure how kid-friendly the place was but within seconds of being seated, our waitress offered up many options for kids, which aren't relegated to a separate menu. Shortly after we sat down there was a parade of fashionably dressed youngsters, hitting the fancy food on the early side of a Sunday morning. Like I said, we split the bacon donut. Good lord that was evil. Evil in the best way ever, basically. After our hearts recovered from the indulgence (we split one donut between three people and it was plenty), we ordered our breakfasts. The service was great. The "tots" are not to be missed. I had an apple omelet with blue cheese. Oh man it was good. My husband had some spicy eggplant thing and our friend had a frittata. Frittata is just a fun word to say, admit it (and hard to spell). The baby had a waffle and some fruit but was really more interested in trying to snag our cups of coffee. I will most definitely be back. It is so nice to know that there are standout dining options on the south side and those of us who live south don't always have to trek to the north side for excellent food.
(4)
Gina R.
fantastic food. it's nice to know it's always "good" meat (locally farmed, etc), even if you pay a little more for it. brunch is always 100%. dinner can sometimes be spotty, though they do change out items every day, so I can't blame them. I do feel like I didn't put enough time in planning my outfit when I see the service staff, however. so damn hip. whatever; they have bacon butterscotch donuts. nuff said.
(5)
Lali j.
I finally found a place that is worthy of saying, " I think I died and went to heaven"! I went here with 6 other ladies, and we decided to really go to town on the menu. This was over a month ago, while on my yearly Chicago vacation, so I'm sure the menu is completely retooled by now. However... Jesus Christ almighty the Trout BLT on Brioche bread with a Fried egg (everything is better with a fried egg) rocked my F'ing world. I'm sure that someone sold their soul to the devil to achieve the level of scrumdiddlyumptious achieved in the lamb pate with with fried got cheese appetizer. The burger: BEST EVER. Ditto on the fries. I dream of the day when a restaurant with this type of atmosphere and generously loving expressions for all things fine and delicious grace the desert that I call home.
(5)
Rachel H.
I love getting invited to a party where everyone lives on the South side. It makes the chances of the location being in my 'hood that much better. We started out with some cocktails on the patio, and I would love nothing more than to spend an evening out there just chatting and sipping berry mojitos. I'm glad it wasn't oppressively hot and we were able to enjoy the evening. Our large party was seated downstairs which felt like a very stylish cave and we lovely ladies pretended that our long wooden table was the setting for a medieval feast. We definitely had a feast. I was pleased with all the wines we tried (and there was a lot of wine) as well as the previously mentioned berry mojito, but let's get down to brass tacks... though I didn't order an appetizer, I snuck a bite of the bread pudding with ham, and wished I'd ordered five of them. The lightly dressed salad I stole from someone else was also very good, if a bit too simple. I ordered the cheeseburger which tasted like a cow had wandered into a forest fire. I mean this in the best of ways. The meat was very distinct in its wood grilled flavor. I also loved that the waitress assumed I wanted medium rare. Of course I did. Sadly the pickle wasn't my favorite, but nobody's perfect, I suppose. Other people ordered the trout which they loved, the risotto, and the trout BLT which intrigued me. They were able to accommodate our vegan pal and made her a special pasta which looked tasty. I finished up the meal with a scoop of lemon balm sorbet which was refreshing and hit the bottomless spot of my current lemon cravings. I swear, what is wrong with me? I would lick a lemon right now. I will be back to Nightwood (or Morning Wood as a friend's companion calls it) as soon as I have some more $$$. It's definitely on my list for special occasion spots, especially for larger groups.
(4)
Melissa P.
I love this place. I went here for my birthday this year and had a great experience. The two big highlights were the burrata appetizer and the duck confit I got. Both were amazing. Although, neither were as good as the trout I had here when I had dinner with a friend after it first opened. The only downside was that our waiter recommended a less than amazing wine to us. Still, I'll be back here I'm sure. I can't wait to try it after a visit to Skylark one of these days.
(5)
Molly F.
After all these years, my brain has finally decided to connect the atrocious factory farming system with my palette and consciousness when consuming meat. Hence, the search for a restaurant that buys direct from farmers--Nightwood fit the bill. From accommodating us at the bar when we arrived too early to be seated and then all the way through dinner, Nightwood was on the ball. First off, they offered me a water choice--sparkling vs. still--which always makes me giggle and sparks an internal monologue of "Haha, they don't know I'm not this classy!" But, it set the right tone and it subconsciously set my mind to consider this restaurant seriously. Also, they didn't futz with ice in water glasses--again, a deliberate choice that sets a tone. The food was excellent (smelt appetizer, asparagus with goat cheese appetizer, and hand-ground, farm raised burgers), the buzz in the restaurant was comfy, the service was top notch, and the bartender gave us a great wine recommendation. My dinner compadre and I were on a burger hunt, and we were way satisfied with this place, but I will be more adventurous upon my return--their menu was stacked with seasonal greatness! Not until the end of my dining experience did I realize the OPEN FRAKKING KITCHEN in the back! I can't wait to go back so I can watch my food being cooked! Any establishment that allows the restaurant experience to be demystified is a-ok by me. Nightwood, I'll be back, and I'll be bringing more people with me next time.
(4)
Carine M.
Love Nightwood. Farm totable seasonal delicious food with great drinks. Um, what more could I want? I went once for the May edition of supper club, and again last night. Last might we sat at the bar, had great food (all recos from our awesome bartender Joe-who also pretty much made our night because of his hilarity in discussing Inception, the movie we had just come from). We had the smelts, sam's summer salad, stinging nettles risotto, rigatoni with line caught albacore, and the whole trout. They sent out an order of green beans with house cured bacon that my husband thought was amazing, but I'm off meat now:(
(5)
Brian I.
I've always enjoyed Nightwood a tremendous amount. On a recent trip for brunch, I made a comparison between Nightwood and a comparably priced breakfast restaurant (that shall remain nameless for this review). Nightwood provides an amazing value for very high quality execution and service. The space is inviting for both a brunch and dinner atmosphere (depending on the time of day). So, I highly recommend heading down to Pilsen and making the effort to enjoy a meal at Nightwood.
(4)
Tiffany A.
We checked this place out for brunch based on a friend's recommendation! It did not disappoint. Cons: We went on a Sunday morning and it as quite busy so the service was not great - it took ages to just get our drinks and for someone to stop by to take our order (and it sounds like other Yelpers had a similar experience - so that's a bummer). Pros: The menu includes a good selection of brunch dishes, the mimosas were tasty and the food was great! Do not miss ordering Enoch's doughnuts when you go. You MUST try the bacon butterscotch. They come to the table hot and they are to die for! We ordered a few as apps for the table and we were practically licking the plate clean!
(4)
Krishna A.
I came here on a Tuesday night with 3 friends and I was pleasantly surprised to see it pretty packed - a good sign of things to come. Ambiance/decor: A wonderfully located recessed bar is the center of the room. The huge windows on the facade of the restaurant really open up the space. The juxtaposition of traditional woodworking and the interesting light fixtures gives off a cool mix of rustic and nouveau. There is an outdoor seating area with a gas firepit which is probably really cool in the summer. Drinks: An amazing wine list. My buddy and his wife picked up a 2009 Enamore - a Malbec blend from Renacer. A great choice! I of course had to peruse the beer list, which was quite extensive, and had a surprising selection of quality microbrews. Food: The menu changes every day, and all the ingredients are from local farms. We ordered the ramps with ricotta cheese and mint, and smelts with aioli for appetizers. Oh ramp - where have you been all my life? It's as if spinach and garlic had a delicious love-child. The ricotta cheese was the highlight of the dish - perfectly paired with mint, we licked the plate clean. The smelts were kind of on the fishy side, and we were not all that impressed. For entrees, we split the roasted half-chicken, the Wisconsin trout and the duck leg (all 3 of which are on the menu every day). We also had the vermicelli with clams. I'm so glad chicken is making it's way back to menus since it was my favorite dish. It was so tender - I'd put it somewhere between a baby's bottom and an earlobe. It was served with soft cornbread cubes and dates which were really great when you ate everything together. The trout was delic as well - served with black beans, charred tomato and cilantro. It had a very smokey taste (which went great with our wine). I am not a huge fan of duck leg, but my 3 comrades really enjoyed it. It is served with asparagus and roasted fennel, both of which carry strong flavors and add to the boldness of the duck. The vermicelli was OK - nothing to write home to yelp about. For dessert we had the 3 warm cookies which paired awesomely with the gelatto (mint, dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla). The bourbon vanilla was insane - I highly recommend it. All in all, a great place. Great service - the staff really understands the menu every day and make great recommendations. Absolutely no pretension. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Lindsay D.
Without feeling the need to write a novel-- ahem-- Nightwood was fabulous! Sitting at the kitchen counter, I got to watch the cooks at work. While I find this interesting, everyone else should appreciate that as my group peered over the counter and looked intrigued, the cooks were even more enthusiastic about their work and their product. Love that! While not everything was perfect, each dish was executed with care and excitement. No need to tell you what we ate, because it will change. Just know that you will eat seasonally, locally, and deliciously (shoot, not a word, but totally accurate). And the servers want you to be happy, and worked hard to make sure that we were. Quality for the Cost: 9 Service: 9
(5)
Mark L.
Amazing Brunch and great people watching !! nightwoodrestaurant.com/…
(5)
A S.
HUGE disappointment. This place was not good at all. The food was average at best and it was way expensive for what it was. Ugh. I wouldnt even go back to give it another try. .
(1)
Scott M.
Wow. The restaurant owners were kind enough to treat area businesses and ourselves (we run South Halsted Gallery down the street and to the North) to a decadent dinner on the house prior to opening. Please don't count my review tainted as such... I feel incredibly lucky to welcome such a quality restaurant (and owner/chef with a vision) in what I might be biased on as a gem of an artistic community, for a long time now. Now on to the review... the wait staff was ridiculously attentive but not to the point of annoying. Homemade sparkling water was served (I normally drink Lake Michigan's finest) was off the charts refreshing and clean. I have to say what really shines through with every dish albeit appetizer or main course is the ingredients. I had a spinach salad with morels, potatoes, hard-cooked egg, Parmesan and aged balsamic. I cannot recall ever tasting spinach like this... that normal chalky-like texture and taste was nowhere to be found. Fresh and crunchy with no odd aftertaste. My wife had deep fried Mississippi prawns with dill butter... not off the charts great but still very tasty and perfectly cooked. For the main course, I had wood grilled trout with lentils, hamhock and pea tendrils. Wow. The trout tasted like someone just pulled it out of a lake (a clean one that is). Super fresh. A bit rare for my taste but nonetheless I have to respect the fresh quality of fish served up. My wife had handcut parsley noodles with braised short ribs and cream. It was super rich and tasted homemade to the core. The only tweak I would make, but honestly hard to say after just one visit and likely the first time doors were open to the dining public, is the dishes are prepared almost too delicately. The food is seasoned in such a way to keep the freshness of the ingredients pure but I could see getting a bit more bold with the preparation or seasoning. Besides that, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND and plan on recommending to anyone who comes out for Second Fridays or otherwise.
(4)
Lissette M.
Just had brunch there today, and prior to that i had dinner, i have to say this place is great, good food great presentation, superb customer service. They do have great vegetarian meals but i recommend going in early, they do run out of some ingredients towards the end of the night.
(4)
Grace S.
My husband and I ate dinner at Nightwood last Tuesday night. We sat on the patio and enjoyed a bottle of reasonably priced wine. We enjoyed the complementary bread and nice outdoor seating. For our appetizers we had the spring salad with raw ramps and raw asparagus. It was tasty, but intense. Definitely healthy, but not comfort food. We also tried the cold asparagus soup, which was simple and had a nice pickled asparagus. For entrees, we ate the two fishes of the day--whole trout and fried whitefish. The whitefish was much better than the trout, but both were fresh and flavorful. Dessert was 2 different kinds of gelatos (dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla) plus rhubarb sorbet. Very good on a hot night! Our server was attentive and courteous. We have no complaints about the restaurant and would go back for more healthy, delicious local seasonal food. We only wish it was open for lunch.
(5)
Kristen F.
Had dinner there on a Saturday night. Got there around 7 and there was only a 20 minute wait. There was no one on the patio, which makes me wonder if it is in use yet. The first thing I noticed is that this place is really beautiful, and everyone there was way way way more dressy than they are at Lula. The menu changes almost every day, so the menu they had on Time Out Chicago was already changed, but there seemed to be some regulars such as the hamburger, the chicken pate, and the half chicken. First - they have an amazing wine selection and I am so excited to have a place down the street from me with so much wine! Too bad I am moving soon. My best friend and I got the cured trout belly and the deep fried asparagus appetizer to start. The cured trout belly was overly salted and the pasta was undercooked. For 11 dollars it was NOT worth it. The deep fried asparagus was AMAZING. I mean.. I would eat that every single damn day. Blue cheese was rolled up inside of the asparagus and then it is deep fried. The flavors were perfect together. We then got the Lamb with white cornmeal and the pork belly with roasted potatoes. Everything was amazing. It was all seasoned perfectly and presented beautifully. The flavors were so delicate and soft. My mouth was in heaven. For desert we got the Rhubarb crisp for two with a homemade ice cream, I think, either way that was fantastic. Of course, all the people who work here are part time models. The servers wear dresses or jackets and all look like they just walked off the pages of some low end society magazine. I got over that really quick though, once the food hit my mouth. Except for that trout belly and the undercooked pasta. This place is pretty sweet. Oh and our Bill? 111.00. Just keep THAT in mind also.
(4)
Francesca L.
What a gem in Pilsen! Nightwood has fresh and delicious food. The decor is warm and romantic yet casual. We started off with the smelt and they were very tasty. I had the whitefish with fresh vegetables as my entree. The fish was cooked perfectly, a little salty, but the white wine helped wash it down. The vegtables were amazing ... a mix of all fresh and different veggies. You will not be disappointed if you like to try new things. The menu is great because it changes daily and contains information as to where the produce and meat are purchased... what a plus! This was my first time dining at Nightwood and I was with a large group. I agree with others that commented about the service when sitting in a large group. We were at a long table in the basement level ... no problem! However, the service seemed somewhat slow ... not horrible. Can't wait to go back with my husband!
(4)
Alima H.
Nightwood feels like one of those old friends that is consistently good to you. It has a wonderful intimate interior that is especially welcoming on cold days. Food is excellent and the chefs are top-notch. Service is friendly. I've often felt that Nightwood is one of those restaurants that strives to build relationships with its patrons. They're doing a good job.
(4)
The Host W.
$$$ is right; this place is expensive. I wouldn't care if I was rich but I'm not. Appetizers, my girlfriend and I went for the pig ears and veal sweetbreads. I don't think I've ever had veal or sweetbreads of any kind but we were feeling adventurous. Pig ears, nice but cold and very thin strips, nothing like we thought and just very average in general. It would have tasted better without the sweetness. I was a little hesitant to try the sweetbreads but they were actually very good. Eating them felt incredibly decadent but whatever, this was only one night. Entrees, she got a rabbit leg meal and I got the cheeseburger with fries. I know getting a cheeseburger at a restaurant like this is stupid and I completely agree but my logic was that if I ordered something cheaper, then we could get another appetizer (veal sweetbreads). Rabbit leg, very nice and it didn't have a gamey taste at all. Cheeseburger, you could get a better burger for cheaper at a place like Five Guy's. I wish I had ordered something else. I give a two star rating because even with the fancy food and atmosphere, I still thought the prices were too high. If money wasn't a concern for me (or if we split the bill but this was a special night), then this place would be three or higher. In the end though, my girlfriend was happy and that made me happy. Is that cheesy? Shut up!
(2)
Jean C.
We decided to drive to Nightwood around 5pm on a Saturday. During the Puerto Rican Parade. After an hour and fifteen minutes later, we finally arrived. While in the car, we were all grumbling that the food better be worth the headache of just getting there. The entrance is some what hidden. The beautiful patio is to the left and then the entrance is a side door. This was evident to the numerous people we saw walk by the entrance and go around the building while we sat at our corner window table. But, I digress. That is not going to be the focal point of this review. The food. We were not disappointed. Our dinner party consisted of my parents, husband and myself and when we get together, we eat well. We started out with appetizers: chicken livers, beet salad, and two walleye on a bed of greens. My chicken livers were perfect. I love the irony creamy taste and everyone agreed. I normally don't like to share my meal with people. I admit it, I'm selfish. I like to eat MY ordered meal. But, it was too good to not share! Dinner was as follows: whole Wisconsin trout with bacon, wood grilled cheeseburger, and two orders of duck. The food was divine. I ordered the trout which was a touch too salty for my taste, but the English peas and bacon added a nice balance of flavors. Everyone enjoyed their meals as evident to the cleaned plates. The ambiance, the service and the food made Nightwood a great experience for us all. The open kitchen has a bar along one side so you may sit and watch the food being prepared. I would love to sit there and watch the magic happen. The brunch menu looks equally tasty as the dinner menu. This is a place to have an intimate dinner or a small dinner party. It is top notch and you won't leave disappointed.
(4)
Vivian Y.
Our server Alex probably saved our experience at this restaurant. Our waitress barely acknowledged our existence and by the time our entrees were served, we were 1 hour 15 mins into waiting. Our waitress was busy doing something else up front including checking on her faux hawk. The restaurant is very nice - unique decor including a light fixture inside a giant birdcage above the stair case. Be forewarned that this is a very noisy restaurant. There is really cool bar seating at the back overlooking the kitchen which looks like it could be a very fun experience! None of the food blew me away except maybe the polenta dish served with pancetta. The combination of flavors were unique and exciting. The sopresatta and mozzeralla cheese was good and simple. We shared two bottles of low priced wine, two appetizers, 4 entrees, two desserts and two scotches for the gentlemen. For Pilsen (and I'm a Pilsen resident), I thought the place was a little overpriced. They could withstand a 20% price reduction! Everything else was ok but I walked out hungry and $60 poorer. I had the grilled trout served whole. While it did have a nice smokey flavor, it lacked any basic seasonings. I did like that it was boneless yet entact. My friend Chris ordered the pork loin and we both agreed that the texture of the pork was really strange. It was almost rubbery and the flavors from the rub had not penetrated the meat at all leaving the dish rather unsatisfying. Michelle had the pate and corned beef sandwich which really was quite delicious if you love pate. Warning: you have to LOVE pate to enjoy this. I mean, love it enough to be rolling around in it because it is so strong in flavor and so rich from the fat and the buttered exterior of the sandwich! Bonus points for being unique. James ordered the half chicken which was probably the star of the night in terms of entrees. The portion was very very generous and the chicken was pull-off-the-bone tender. Dessert: save room for the almond tart. I'm a caramel lover and this was SOOOO good. The pana cotta was good too but I was seeking something a little sweeter. Again, service - we were not impressed. it took us a total of 2.5 hours to finish our dinner. Luckily we weren't in a rush to go anywhere. I will come back again because i want to see Pilsen emerge into a diversified community and hopefully my next experience will be better!
(3)
Cindy D.
Just had dinner with my sister and I love this place. It's very very trendy and hip! The food was interesting flavors. 1. Got a french wine, forgot the name but it was $25. Not great, but the waitress placed in a decanter and got better overtime. 2. Veal bologense - YUMMY! Just got a half order, it seemed small at first, but it was plenty since it's so rich. very very good 3. Trout - It was def. different. Initially very smokey, but got over it with diminishing returns. Don't think i would get again 4. Choc cake with toffee gelato - great!!! fluffy and gelato was delish Overall dinner was $80 total, so pretty good deal for higher end food. Also, menu changes, so everything I'm reviewing will probably not be there for you! Sorry!
(4)
Bess R.
Stopped by for a late dinner (10ish) and drinks on a Friday night, and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. We sat inside, but the outside tables looked pretty nice and intimate. Started with a few drinks at the bar - great selection of wine, beer and interesting cocktails. For food, we started with an appetizer of goat cheese on croutons with a sardine vinaigrette and a side of greens. Really interesting taste - we liked it! I had one of the pasta dishes for my entree, and it was outstanding. They make all the pasta in-house, and I would definitely recommend it. Friends had the burger and the polenta. They both enjoyed their dishes. All veggies were SO fresh and delicious. Cool spot, nice ambiance, good service and interesting food. I'll be back.
(4)
Frances C.
Ok, so I'm from Logan Square. I'm a huge, huge fan of Lula. It's walking distance from where I live and I've been in Logan Square for 6 years now. I hate leaving the neighborhood but considered going to Nightwood because it's the owners of my beloved Lula. I was not disappointed. They went above and beyond the restoration of the space. It's interior is simply beautiful - wood, exposed brick, leather chairs (all in clean modern lines of course), and yet, totally family friendly and amazing service by the staff. The owner recognized me and my family and thanked us for coming all the way down from Logan Square! How awesome is that?! The food - one word: exquisite. We started with a butterscotch bacon donut. Melt in your mouth and the candied bacon... well, I'm big smoked pork fan... so... My husband had the poutine with duck confit, Brunkow cheese curds and whatever they did to those fries, despite the gravy and cheese held their crispness throughout the meal! I had chicken and waffles. Tender, tender chicken and the waffles were light as air. It was topped with sweet figs and a creme anglaise. It was a foodgasm. My little girl had a blast looking around and making googly eyes at the other baby a table over. The space is big enough that you have several places to sit -front, back, bar, and kitchen bar where you can watch the chefs in action while a whole wall of wines in beautiful wine holders call to you! (Yes, even in the morning.) I'm so glad this restaurant is in Pilsen. Yes, it's a way to go for a great meal, but it's right off the highway and the neighborhood is definitely buzzing with activity. It's worth the trip! I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)
Noopur L.
I've had brunch here twice and one thing was consistent both times .... the doughnuts. Yum yum yum!!! I always make sure to work out the morning of so that I can splurge on the decadent chocolate goodness. I've never had fried chicken and waffles before and decided to try them out and I was wonderfully surprised! The stone fruit compote adds a great touch and evens out the flavors of the dish. The $6 eggs any style is a STEAL and with the hashbrowns/toast consists of plenty of food for one person. Nightwood has a great setting and I love any restaurant that doesn't have a TV. I wish I had a car so I can drive here more often. Two thumbs up!
(5)
Clausewitz V.
Dear Nightwood, Full house. Cozy seat overlooking the kitchen. An assortment of characters. Never a dull moment. The drinks were solid. So was my dessert. Server came off as being chill when we sat and ordered. But as soon as we were settled, she seriously, had no table side manner. Was having a conversation, which she made it her duty to continuously interrupt. Great that she took pride in the cocktail department. Knowledgeable. Probably applied for the bartender position, but had to settle for floor. But drinks either never came or came late. And if I gotta stop what I'm doing, which is eating my $8 sorbet and partaking in a private conversation, so that you can pop in and recite the ingredients and history behind my Le Maudit Français, then we'll just have to conclude that you're just a little miss know it all. Take it down a few notches and I'm sure we'll get along perfectly fine. Ta ta for now, Fog of War
(3)
Tim H.
I won't be back to Nightwood and I think I am being quite generous with my two star rating. Service was lacking and i had one of the most disgusting dishes I have ever eaten in a restaurant here with no attempt by the servers to give me a different dish. I had a side of vegetarian sausage here that was pretty good. My dining companions had dishes that they said were ok to good. I tried the french toast and it was pretty good. The problems: The rabbit rillette sandwich I had came as a recommendation from the server. It tasted pretty bland and was just a mass of greasy and creamy mushiness on a sandwich. The server messed up the charging on my bill. Not sure how difficult it is to process a bill correctly on two credit cards, but they failed to do it correctly here.
(2)
Ruth B.
Cocktails truly original and delish. Food outrageously good and creative, service attentive. My only complaint was with the front of the house, when I make a reservation a month in advance I expect a comfortable in a good location soon after the reservation time. Instead I was offered after a 15 minute wait a table with very uncomfortable chairs near the kitchen. We sourced out a different table and the meal was outstanding. Too bad the welcome wasn't quite up to the same level at the food.
(3)
Edie J.
So delicious!! This morning my friend and I did the Big Lebowski brunch. White russian donut?? hell yea! There were other funny menu items as well. The service was good, coffee was plentiful, we were not rushed and didn't wait for anything. Great start to the day, will be returning!!
(4)
A S.
Really enjoyed this place. Ambience, menu, food quality, wine list, wait staff. We had the fried lemon app and the spicy melon app -- both delicious. The trout was perfect and the fresh tomatoes and greens complimented it wonderfully. I can't stop thinking about it! Oh and the women's bathroom is one of the best appointed and clean bathrooms I've seen in a restaurant in a while. Thanks Nightwood!
(5)
Shelley A. D.
This place is beautiful, great location, clear on its mission. However the portions are way too big; there are not enough vegetarian; fish; poultry options; no kids' menu; no Sunday dinner offering. Cannot wait until they diversify!
(4)
Eva V.
We did brunch. Ambiance is beautiful, food is just ok - one dimensional and weirdly small portions for the price on some of the dishes. Husband had Monte Cristo type sandwich; this was fine from a serving size perspective, but overpowered by the maple syrup it was coated in to the point where he could only manage to eat half. He took it home to give the second half a chance; managed to finish another quarter of a sandwich there before finally tossing it. I had some kind of Asian-inspired rice/scrambled egg dish, which was fine, but nothing mind-blowing - it was better than something I could have put together myself, but not anywhere near the kind of consistently awesome flavor combinations you experience at the Publican, for example (the Publican continues to be my gold standard for what brunch *can* be like). My portion size was super small; about half a cup of egg/rice mixture. Thankfully there were enough toast and tater tots to round the dish out, but for $13 per plate, I expected more (as in, more food). I was also put off by the fact that the beef rib tips that were supposed to be a part of the meal basically consisted of two millimeter thick slivers of meat hidden amongst the eggs. Why bother naming it if it's not going to be a substantial component of the dish? We had the server recommended bacon/butterscotch donut, and I was underwhelmed. I love myself a good, fresh, gourmet donut (Dazed and Confused, DoRite, etc.); this one was just too one-dimensionally sweet, so hard to enjoy after more than one bite. Frankly, there are just better places in Chicago to have really intriguing, innovative brunches at for the same price point to bother with Nightwood.
(3)
Shanti N.
Having passed by here on a bitterly cold Art Walk last month, I decided to check out Nightwood last Friday, an unseasonably warm evening, to celebrate the coming of spring. I am glad that I took advantage when I did, as I am typing this and looking out at a wintry mix (rain/sleet). Mainly in mind of a drink, I decided to have a seat at the bar. I must have timed it right, as it was not nearly as hopping when I came in (around 7 pm) as it became later on. I went with a glass of the Wilamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It was a very smooth pour and the classic, crisp finish made me realize what I'd been missing all of these hibernating months with my default to Yellowtail Chardonnay. Later on, a couple came into the bar and sat down nearby. From the way the chef greeted them, I could tell that they were regulars here, so I decided to check out what they were ordering. I thought that I had gotten the same pasta dish as what they had ordered, but I ended up with the house-made pasta with a sauce that included veal. I was pleased that the portion was small, and not gut-busting, allowing me to savor the nuances of this decadent dish. The bread provided with dipping sauce was an inspired touch, as the bread appeared to have been baked in a mid-size ramekin and the cheese-based dipping sauce provided with it served as an excellent amuse bouche (though on a less precious scale) to whet my appetite for the main course. I plan on returning, next time to sample the cocktail offerings and the dessert side of the menu.
(3)
Justin B.
About the only surprise that occurred on my visit last Friday night? How quiet it was inside the restaurant. We made a reservation but we could have strolled right in at 7:30 PM; this seems surprising and speaks volumes to how good the food is in Chicago that this place wasn't jammed. The food is fantastic. You'll fight to not request additional warm bread; the cocktails are quite good (the Pink Whippet and the Dark Star were two of the three I put to bed...sassy), the farfalle was tasty, and the Nightwood Cheeseburger is surprisingly good for a burger at a semi-fancy restaurant. I tasted my wife's salmon entree and that was also very good...the outside was crispy, but not crunchy, just right. Dessert was a minor misstep, as the descriptions for the Chocolate Bombe and the Soft Pretzel Bread Pudding were written better than they tasted. Good, just not as amazing as "dark chocolate, caramel vanilla bean, chocolate-covered pretzel ice cream" sounds! The crowd got larger as 8 turned to 9 PM, so it got lively later, and when we left around 10:30 it was closing time. I got the sense that this is a great place to take your parents and because the neighborhood has the look of "transitioning" (a popular term where I was back in DC), you'll get that jewel-in-the-nile feel when you walk back to your parked car two blocks away. This is also reflected in the incredible mix of people inside; people of all races, faiths, ages and interests seem to eat at Nightwood, so it's got a decent people-watching quotient too. Good stuff!
(4)
Erika H.
Service was okay, not real complaints, but nothing that wowed me either. I ordered the bagel sandwich and perhaps I would have been able to enjoy it had the bagel not been so hard! Did they toast the bagel and let it sit there for hours? It was so ridiculously hard to bite into it!
(3)
Anthony G.
This place just feels nice when you're looking for fancy but chill. I like the tasteful low key decor so your mind just sinks into the food. The stuff they create here is my kind of flavor - often times clean with spikes of interesting bits of flavor to keep your mind awake.
(5)
Jason H.
We LOVE Nightwood. The drinks are amazing, the food is amazing, the service is amazing, the room is amazing. Amazing.
(4)
Becky Z.
The location is great for bridgeporter~~~ The food was awesome. We had an 8 people party on Friday night and we almost ordered every entree. The duck leg was great, but they could add more sauce in it. The lake trout was juicy and fresh. The pork belly, omg, so good. The burger, extremely big portion! Great thing is every thing is local farm raised. It tastes fresh. The service was also fantastic. The parking is very easy. Free parking spot every where. It is not a noisy dining place. And we really liked it.
(5)
Robert G.
Dang this place was great! We went here during Restaurant Week 2013. Really wish I knew about the adjacent seating next to the open kitchen before I was seated in the dining room! It reminded me of sitting at a sushi bar, which I prefer. We enjoyed the 4-course prix fixe menu ($44.) I really, really liked the "sausage, peppers, onions." My most memorable moment of the evening was when the patrons seating next to us ordered, the gentleman wanted to order the sausage without green peppers. Dude?! The green peppers are in the "bath" the sausages are cooked in! The poor waitress had to attempt to elegantly explain they were in the recipe. Thanks Choose Chicago and Nightwood Restaurant for this experience!
(5)
Jonah E.
I went during restaurant week with a friend and together we were able to try everything on their restaurant week menu. A couple of things to note: - The waiters and waittresses were very responsive as my water glass never reached empty - The meals came out like rapid fire. Within minutes of finished one course, they would come out with the next - I came in with high expectations and they were all met or exceeded. - Ravioli Bolognese was probably my favorite dish, but the apple bread pudding is a close 2nd - noise level was on the louder end of moderate. - was a little on the expensive side at $44 per person, but overall it was worth it
(5)
natalie b.
This was amazing! We had a little of everything. Buttered Beans, oysters, tartar, brussels sprouts, beets, carrots and everything was GREAT! I recommend coming with friends and sharing so you can get a bite of everything. Homemade chicken and dumplings was exactly want I needed on that snowy night. The smell when you walked in the door was enough to know it was going to be great!
(4)
Dustin T.
Delicious brunch! Food is unique and gourmet. Drinks are also very good. Service could be a little better but overall a great place to check out!
(5)
Cristina T.
Food was amazing, service was very friendly. Went for my birthday dinner & loved the romantic atmosphere. Had the fried meyer lemons & bone marrow gnocchi to start. Had the 1/2 chicken as my entree and the portion was enormous. It was cooked to perfection and served with walnuts, pecans and a delicious raisin/walnut bread. Got the plate of warm cookies for dessert & was not disappointed. The gooey butter cookie is to die for. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Linda B.
Very fresh and flavorful, cool interior, great patio, and attentive service. But the problem at Nightwood is an erroneous assumption that sophisticated and fresh = tiny portions. My corn custard tasted very good, but it was exactly 1 inch by 1 inch, came with five chard leaves and two (2) polenta croutons. It was kind of funny watching people's faces when their entrees showed up--so minimal for the price. And one teeny tiny biscuit per person? Please. Bring more or make them just a bit larger. I suppose Nightwood is worth checking out if you're having a $$$ evening, but I suggest ordering fish or meat and an appetizer.
(2)
Edwin W.
4 beers, 1 app, and 2 burgers. I don't know about you, but I usually don't have to spend $100 for a meal like that. The beers were craft beers so I'm not going to complain about the price. The app was literally a plate of sliced cucumbers laid delicately on a plate drizzled with olive oil and topped with chopped peppers, radish, onions and jalapenos. Worst salad EVER! We came here for the burgers as we have seen it listed on many Top Burgers in Chicago lists. When we ordered the burgers with the server, we were not asked how we wanted them cooked, so I asked how they are prepared. The server said they are usually cooked Medium. I had a hunch this would be a mistake as I recalled reading on the menu that the burger consisted of two patties which usually meant 2 patties that equated to a burger somewhere in between a 1/4 lb. to 1/2 lb. burger. Knowing that the patties would be thin, it meant that the burgers would likely be over cooked especially at medium. That was EXACTLY what we were served. Overcooked patties, in between a focaccia type bun that did not help the burger. The burger was under seasoned and the only redeeming feature of this burger was the onion ring that almost got lost with soaked bun. Usually when you are paying $15 for a burger, you would expect better quality burger. Outside of the food (that we ordered), this place appears to be a trendy restaurant as it was nearly packed (both outside seating and inside dining) on a Wednesday evening. The server mentioned that the menu changes daily depending on what ingredients the kitchen wants to use. The service was impeccable as everyone was friendly was the host to the people clearing our table. I won't say I'm ruling this place out as it has great outdoor patio seating and the menu suggests that they use fresh ingredients. I strongly recommend not trying the burger as you can definitely go somewhere else for a tastier burger with less damage to your wallet.
(2)
Arash R.
Well its a mixed bag , some dishes are really good and some are just average . great baby octopus and duck , average deserts and Fish . all in all not a bad place but for the price you can find a better place .
(3)
Julia S.
Excellent farm-to-table restaurant. The combinations of ingredients were wonderful and unique. We had two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert, all of which were amazing! The atmosphere and decor are also excellent.
(5)
Edith R.
I want to give a great review, really I do. But I agree with a lot of other approved and non-approved reviews: The food is hit or miss and service is the same. Prices are unreasonable for a hit or miss experience. I have walked past this restaurant many times, because it's only 4 blocks from my house and I've avoided it due to mixed reviews regarding quality of service and food taste and price. However, my gf recommended it as a good place for brunch. So off I went. Some parts were good, some parts not so great. I sat at the bar to wait for my party to arrive before getting seated, and the bartender hardly acknowledged me...let alone barely talked to me. She was very personable to the guy next to me. She spent a good while telling him about her favorite food. When she finally took my drink order, she looked less than thrilled to even to assist me. I ordered the Americano drink, which I cannot find on the online menu right now. I am all for trying new cocktails and learning about them, but this thing was badly bitter, and I like bitter stuff. It took a lot of diluting, lemon juice and swirling for it to grow on me. If any of you cocktail connoisseurs can educate me about that drink, please send me a message so I'm not so biased. Otherwise, I do not recommend that drink. And just before my party arrived, the bartender didn't say a word to me. She just gave me the bill in a glass and walked away. total: $8.85 for a bitter, crappy drink and crappy service. Ok, I admit I was dressed in yoga pants and a yoga hoodie; but really, shouldn't they treat us all the same? Do I need to tell you I'm dressed like that because I just ran 8 miles only an hour before i got to your snobby counter and my body is sore? Thank god I had cash and just begrudgingly threw in a $10 bill. I really should have just left her $0.15 as a tip, considering how indifferent she was to me. I WILL be back to find her and remind her how she treated me. I do, after all walk past that place weekly from my nearby home to grab myself 2 delicious craft beers at skylark--for the same price as that drink. Upon getting seated, service was far better. The girl in the glasses was very, very attentive and pleasant. I ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, which is THE BEST donut in the world. I will go back to order that for takeout. Delicious, absolutely, positively delicious. If you've ever had the bacon long john from Glazed and Infused (and you know it's fab), this is even better. It is well worth the price. I also ordered the den-fjord: listed as a rye flour crepe Swedish meatballs smoked salmon, braised kale, glazed cippolinis (unreadable handwritten item), sunnyside egg. The dish looked absolutely scrumptious, but I'm really not sure what happened there. First, it was really salty; but to be fair, I don't like a lot of salt in my food in general. My friend likes her food salty so that just depends on your palate. However, the saltiness didn't really do much for the overall flavor. With all those ingredients, I expected more flavor. Flavor from the kale, maybe a tad more flavor from the salmon. I'm not sure. I wouldn't have minded paying the $14 for that dish if the overall taste was more than just meh. To close out our meal, we caved and ordered bloody Marys...we really like our bloody Marys. So when they came in at a more than bitter taste, we were really disappointed. The garnish was really tasty, i believe it was a sliver of ginger (very good), but i don't remember what the second garnish was, it was salmon colored and crunch--that was it. I reiterate that service at the table was great, despite the crowd at 12p-ish. I'm all for giving places a second try but $20+ dollars for 2 bad drinks is outright insane. I will return for the donut as takeout but I really hope some of those folks, or that bartender chick treats all patrons better and the same across the board. After all, Pilsen is my home and I support my local businesses. I don't demand high services, but I do notice snobby service when I'm being a friendly customer and you do not reciprocate the gesture. I won't say I won't ever be back, but I will think twice next time.
(2)
Shannon B.
I don't write 5-star reviews for many places unless you wow me with your service which this place does, your food is amazing and savory which at this place it is. Boyfriend and I both ordered the same dish it was the homemade Gnocchi I can't tell you how pillowy and amazing it was. Beyond flavor! The service was a bit slow this day, so the waitress showed up at the end of the meal with a tasting tray of deserts two mini pies and a custard. She definitely made up for the wait because all the deserts were amazing. Its always good with staff and a restaurant can read the mood and where they fell flat and make up for it without the customer even asking. Put this on your must try list in Chicago! You'll be glad you did.
(5)
Sean H.
went with a friend on a thu. really nice ambience, not too dark, never got overly loud. a nice relief from the november cold. friendly wait service. came at 7:15, there's no wait though we had a reservation. was packed around 8 or so. two entrees + dessert + appetizer came out to about 44 a person (37 w/out tip). you get some free bread (like, a teeny tiny little loaf) at the beginning and then some teeny tiny cookies at the end. we ordered this salad made of peppers and this meat sauce for an appetizer. it was a nice appetizer. i think $14. entrees were this fish with some mushroom and something else i wasn't sure about, but it was good. it was pretty expensive though ($28) and def. not something that I think would be filling for an average sized person. however there's a cheap (relatively) hamburger that is also good for $15 - it's technically a double cheeseburger + fries. that combo plus appetizer etc. was really filling. then we got this bread pudding thing for $10, which was super small, but the flavors were really nice. didn't order alcohol but that will probably run you $10-$15 a person if you get one drink . i'd like to try the brunch later.
(5)
Nanette F.
I guess I don't get it. I went there because I had so many friends rave about the place, but I don't see the big deal. The service would have been better,but the hipster server had the worst BO that I have encountered in a restaurant. I mean, it was down right abusive. I ordered one of their specialty bourbon cocktails which tasted like a cross between salmon and bitters. I had a pasta dish which was okay, however my husband's burger was wonderful. So, to wrap it up. take nose plugs and order the burger.
(2)
Raytus C.
Wow - Nightwood - how your star has fallen! We started with some fried squid and a mackerel appetizer. The squid were tiny ringlets that were so fried, it was really just salty batter that was left. The mackerel was the size of my thumb for $18. That's just not fair. We'll normally order the half chicken as a reliable standby - but it was replaced on tonight's menu with a chicken thigh for $26. As we discussed the menu, I noted the thigh was singular. Thinking it wasn't possible, we ordered the chicken and indeed - it was one thigh for $26 - the cheapest cut of chicken. No joke. The thigh was okay, but the greens it was served on where so salty, they were inedible. I had the burger and it was also incredibly salty. I don't mind smaller portions - but a chicken thigh would be overprices at $16 as an appetizer - what this entree really was - let alone $26. Nightwood - one more visit like this and we are done.
(2)
Yuki H.
Came in for dinner to see what the hype was all about. I really enjoyed the pasta and the desserts where phenomenal.
(5)
Roger W.
This place was really nice. The food was really OK. I've heard brunch is awesome and want to come back and give this place a better review.
(3)
Moe f.
I was skeptical to schlep that far south from our north side fortress but it was totally worth it. Started with some nice pumpkin soup and beet/goat cheese salad. The wife had the duck with risotto that was pretty good. The winner of the night was the squab. I could have eaten 2 of those delicious little birds. The dessert menu didn't really do it for me so we opted out. I'll be back.
The food and service was great. I would have given 4 stars if the portions weren't so small. I had the $25 single roast chicken thigh and my husband ordered the $32 duck breast while we shared a side. They should've served two thighs or half a chicken cuz we both walked out still feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Ordered glasses of wine and it wasn't even a full pour like you would get at any ordinary restaurant in river north either....Quality and flavors were excellent but overpriced for the neighborhood and lack of portion. I'm sticking to their brunch only!
(3)
Carolyn L.
OK so I went here after the Shamrock Shuffle because dammit I earned it! And the first thing I had to get my hands on was the Nightella doughnut, stuffed with, you guessed it, nutella. It was rich and divine. I also snagged some bites of my parents' butterscotch doughnut with bacon on top. I almost jumped over the counter to grab the jar of bacon soaking in maple syrup. It was just...so...amazing. The salty bacon really complimented the sweet butterscotch. Every bite melted in my mouth. For the rest of the meal, we enjoyed some great bacon and sausage from The Butcher and Larder. Both had a great taste and were very enjoyable. My mother ordered the bread pudding french toast and for sure I helped her out on the last few bites. It had a lemon curd sauce served and raspberry couliswith it. The light flavors all came together really well, and the entire dish was just rich and delicious. My father had the breakfast sandwich on a bagle. Again, I stole a few bites and even ate the rest for breakfast the next morning. The sauce was just the right amount of savory, nothing overpowering. I loved Nightwood. And I would love to go back and try everything else on their brunch menu over time. It was definitely a hard decision to choose just one thing off the menu!!!
(5)
Michal F.
The patio ambiance puts you in the middle of a lush garden. It's a great setup for a meal full of fresh vegetables. I got the breakfast burrito which i thought was excellent. It had a fresh taste with a mediterranean feel. The lamb in it was juicy. It also contained hummus, rice yogurt, feta, mint and a vegetable with thick stems that I've never seen before. The downside was hydration. It was incredibly hot on the day we went so we wanted alot of water. Each time it was served to us in a small glass that we'd finish in a minute then have to wait 20 minutes to flag down a waiter for a re-fill. Near the end of the meal we got a pitcher but this was after five refilled glasses that just would not sate our thirst.
(4)
Kate C.
We came here for our anniversary and loved it. The food was amazing and the service was perfect and friendly. I want to go back to try the brunch! :)
(5)
Chase M.
Good food from a farm-to-table menu. Flexible with eating preferences (paleo, vegetarian diets.) Fantastic drinks.
(5)
Jennifer T.
I like Lula Cafe (sister restaurant to Nightwood) so I had high hopes for my first visit here. Unfortunately the service was inattentive and 3 (out of 4 that we ordered) dishes were below average. Sadly, I will not return. Dish that was pretty good: Nightwood burger Dishes that were not: Ravioli, Grilled Octopus, Fried Rice. All three were overpowered by salt and vinegar, Service was disappointing. We had empty water glasses for the first 10 minutes after being seated at our table. Our waitress passed us many times without even glancing our way. As for the setting - do avoid the north part of the bar. There was a sulfur or sewage scent that definitely took away from the ambiance of the rest of the restaurant.
(2)
Jay K.
Nightwood is definitely worth checking out. I'm a huge fan of the upscale farm to table genre of restaurants and decided to give this a try. When we got there, I was happy I made a reservation (even despite a 9pm one) because the place was packed. My initial impression was that the place has a nice ambience (although I prefer the indoors than outdoor patio). The drinks and service was very good. I ordered the fish entree and it was good as well. Overall, the portion sizes are just right. If you end up going for the full experience with drinks to desserts, the bill will run up. Why not 5 stars? My only critique is that my entree (and I tried one of my friend's entree) was somewhat bland. The appetizers were spot on but the entree seemed somewhat lacking.
(4)
Brandon T.
Came here today for the b-day brunch. Turned out, for the most part, excellent! Ended up having a few mimosa's, the bacon butterscotch donut, granola, and the hamburger. The butterscoth bacon donut was incredible. So ridiculously sweet & savory, I would recommend spliting it if you are going to eat anything else. The granola was disappointing. Not nearly enough yogurt, but it did tasted nice by itself just didn't really want a dry bowl of cereal if you know what I mean. The hamburger was great. The bread, contrary to others opinions, I thought to be perfect for how juicy the burger was. It made the entire sandwich manageable with the sauce and juiciness of the meat. Of course the mimosa's were also good, yet a bit pricey. Note: If you end up going here, DRIVE! Public transportation here is a pain, and cabs are non-existent. It started storming today half way through our lunch. Ended up waiting 45 minutes after the restaurant was nice enough to call two cab companies for us.
(4)
Laurence B.
Dined here August 1 2013. This place is amazing. Sat in the patio (open air) area on a beautiful night. The food is amazing. The most stunning dish was the shisito peppers (appetizer). Very carefully selected wine list. You can't lose. All the wines are well-chosen and reasonably priced. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. Drive your own car, or assume you may have to wait for a cab for the return trip.
(5)
Tricia D.
Props to Nightwood for earning a Bib Gourmand award for 2011! This late breaking news was even more incentive to return to this fine Pilsen establishment after my blissful brunch here circa one year ago. And knowing what I know now, I would only return for brunch. The dinner offerings had - hm, what's the word I'm looking for? - muted flavors to me. The mushroom sformato (like a savory custard), handmade pasta, and duck risotto were all tasty, but lacked that extra kick of culinary flavors to bring it to the next level. I left wanting more, and the same goes for the lemon pudding cake and vanilla pot de creme desserts we tried. The clam appetizer was a winner and the highlight for me. I was hoping to be more blown away, but I was simply not. Like the cocktail list and open kitchen though. Bring your semi-outdoor voice because the noise level gets energetic in here. +100 on Opentable.
(3)
Bryan W.
Worth the trip!! So much has already been said about this wonderful spot so I will keep it brief, just go. This place is perfect for brunch or dinner and has to be experienced.
(5)
Andrew S.
Just like its older sister Lula this place does not disappoint. Love the Lu but want sleeker decor? Try Nightwood. I feel here is urban and polished, the menu changes seasonally and pulls from local farms and seasonal produce. You can get the very basic and lovely burger or branch out to small plates and unique entrees. To me, perhaps the dishes are a bit more pared down than Lula. Sorry to keep comparing but the similarities are undeniable. One of the two best restaurants in the city, in my opinion.
(5)
Cyn C.
Ooh-dah-lolly, ooh-dah-lolly, golly what a day!!! It was my last weekend as a resident of Chicago and I had some serious decisions to make: try new (to me) restaurants or go to my tried-and-true spots one last time? I tend to lean toward the conservative, so I'm surprised I tried this new place instead of going to my beloved brunch spot (which isn't so far away from this one). The three of us shared the two special donuts (the maple bourbon bacon one and the lemon verbena creme filled donut), each of which came with a side of donut holes. How can you not be charmed by a place that serves its donuts with a side of donuts? Then, in typical family style, we all shared the following: 1) wood-grilled goat cheese stuffed french toast with blackberry jam. (mmm. was good. not as good as the place in Bridgeport, but still delicious). 2) eggplant and lamb casserole with... can't remember. but the eggplant was deliciously done. 3) bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, cole slaw (made with vinagrette or very light on the mayo), maple thick cut bacon pieces and a runny over easy egg. This breakfast sandwich was delicious, but could be made better with a better grade bagel. Now, the bagel wasn't BAD, it just wasn't top notch. But those tots were more than enough to make up for an "ok" bagel. Tips: 1) make reservations. 2) come a bit early to drive around and find free! street parking 3) wear your stretchies 4) don't order the bagel sandwich if you're on a first date. it's a messy monstrosity.
(4)
Adoley J.
Yum yum good food! Came here with a group of friends for some Sunday brunch and post Saturday night chat session. I mean why else do brunch, am I right. As soon as we arrived we ordered some donuts for the table. They were amazing with just the right amount of sweetness. I ordered the crab salad which was really good. It was baked crab with lettuce and cheese and came with focaccia bread. All in all a good meal. My only complaint comes because of our waiter. I understand we all have our off days, but he was short with us and kept rolling his eyes. At the end of the meal, he went behind the bar to make drinks and left us hanging. So while the meal was good the service could have been better.
(3)
Mare G.
Loved the decor and seats. Ordered the burger and wish I had tried something more adventurous. The apple bread pudding with rosemary ice cream made the meal complete!
(4)
Charlene B.
One of our top five favorite restaurants in Chicago. Recommend it for dinner AND brunch. Also recommend nabbing a seat at the chef's counter in the back. Makes for great theater. But, truly, any seat in the house is a lucky seat -- the food is that consistently standout, the interior design + comfort that consistently good. We love bringing people here who have never been and watching as they are blown away as course after course arrives. Nightwood nails the intersection of inventive, seasonal dishes, warm + hip vibe, and staff friendliness. Their ever-changing menu is incentive to go again and again.
(5)
Pascal M.
"Old McDonald had a farm" but he sure as hell didn't feed his family this kinda' food! I'm diggin' Nightwood. Cool part of town and easy to find a spot near by. The interior dining area is simple, yet refined, and the ceilings and windows really make you feel like you've got a lot of space. PLUS! There's some chairs in the back if you want to watch the kitchen work it's magic. I'm sure theyyy luhhhhhhve that... Perhaps if you are a regular or know them personally you could watch them work without holding back. The pirate ship like atmosphere is what I tend to love about kitchens, hopefully they wouldn't hold back for fussy dining crowds. Who knows, maybe you could even get some innovative creations tossed your way from time to time. Their cocktails compliment the fresh cuisine. Plenty of ingenuity with their wide array of spirits, liqueurs, and extras can be found in their well crafted drinks. The food is about as fresh as your gonna get. Some dishes are raw and simple so you can get the best out of certain ingredients, while other entrees clearly have an expressive attention to detail and skill. It mus be great to be a local so you can come in here frequently and try the always changing menu. Although it must stink to have something you loved, gone the next week. BUT THAT'S HOW THEY GETCHA! Their dessert. "GREAT SCOTT!" They could open a small pastry or dessert shop based entirely on the expertise of sweets they got goin' on. The night we went, they very well served us the best bread pudding I've ever had in my life. Quite simply. Their cuisine blew us away, from beginning to end. I can't wait to go back from season to season and try some of their other menus. Nightwood is a restaurant where superheroes would go to eat.
(5)
Kurt F.
Incredible experience at Nightwood! Sat at the bar just off the kitchen and had a very cool experience watching the chefs work their magic. I HIGHLY recommend the crispy pig ears and rabbit cabbage roll...both were exceptional! Bay scallops with beef tendon, mushroom and quail egg in bacon broth was on point as well! If you are a dessert person I would highly recommend the apple bread pudding with the rosemary ice cream. Overall, great dinning experience.
I went here as part of large party for my bff's law school graduation. We arrived first and had a mimosa and bloody mary at the bar. When the rest of our party was a bit late, they were not only accommodating, but the hostess came over to us and let us know! We sat downstairs, which was quieter than upstairs and very reasonable given that we were such a large party. There was one other large party seated downstairs. We all shared the butterscotch bacon doughnuts to begin, and these were amazing: definitely the highlight of the meal! I ate oatmeal, which was delicious. Most people at the table ordered the eggs and toast combo, and they all seemed please with it. I'd love to see some non egg-centric dishes, but the food was good, and I'd definitely return. My mimosas were good, and the bf's bloody marys were "amazing, and very well-spiced". Prices were in line with the quality- it's not IHOP, people!
(4)
Christie B.
When we first got there, they seated our party in the basement and we were the only ones down there and it felt weird. I have never asked to have my table moved before, so I was a little nervous as to what to say. My friend just asked our server if we could be seated upstairs and she checked, came back down and reseated us upstairs. I don't know why they didn't just do that in the first place. Besides that, the food was really good. I think it was a little overpriced, but maybe I am just judging it because it was in Pilsen. I really liked the pasta salad appetizer and my friend said their cheeseburger was one of the best in Chicago. Overall, I liked it and would recommend to anyone finding themself in this neighborhood.
(4)
Rachel W.
I really wanted to love Nightwood, but was only marginally impressed w/the food unfortunately, and it just didn't have a relaxed feel to it, which didn't' fit the decor and ambiance of the place. I dined at Perennial a few nights later and while both are based on seasonal and local ingredients, I felt that Perennial far surpassed in terms of flavors and creativity. But, I would go back for a cocktail if i was down in Pilsen and could sit at the bar instead.
(3)
Saneel R.
Pilsen. It's so hot right now. Ok, but seriously, Nightwood is absolutely worth the trek south. A completely local menu that is accompanied by brilliant dessert pastries and wine. Try the short rib ravioli, the burrata (like a raw, creamy mozzerella you spread on toast), and their hand made pastas with anything. Also, request the kitchen table (more like a bar) and the staff back there will chat you up if you engage them first. Just please don't wear sunglasses inside.
(4)
Anne M.
The goods: browned butter pizzetta with burata, pistachio, anchovy and parsley, an outstanding mushroom appetizer with savory cornmeal and fabulously spot-on homemade rigatoni with browned butter panko crumbs, chicken, broccoli in a roasted garlic cream sauce. The food has definitely got the Lula quality/creativity. The decor is very nice and homey (fantastic old church fixtures?). The bad? We forgot that they take reservations and had to wait an hour and a half in a very, very loud front room. I don't know if sound bounces around the rest of the house, but in front near the windows it's deafening. The bar seating overlooking the kitchen looks awesome - that's my seat next time.
I've heard chattering here and there about NIghtwood and had always wanted to check it out. So, I was absolutely thrilled to get an invitation to brunch. A group of us met late Sunday morning and were seated downstairs. Yes, there is a downstairs that is used for larger parties. It was bustling on the main floor so we were appreciative of the quieter atmosphere. The brunch menu seems to change weekly but there is at least one item that is always on the menu from what I understand: bacon butterscotch doughnuts. And they are freakin delicious. Nightwood does a good job with the savory sweet trend that you can find at virtually any place that sells sweets. The doughnut is done with a butterscotch glaze, piled high with bits of cubed fried bacony goodness and served with sugared doughnut holes. OMIGOSH. I died. Nightwood is also serving the best tots in all of Chicago. You heard me right. THE BEST. I'm not normally a tot person. Up until this brunch, Hot Doug's held this title. Sorry Doug but Nightwood has you beat. I got three hefty perfectly golden balls of freshly grated tots. They are ridiculous. Accompanying my tots were a soft scramble of eggs with celeriac cream, anchovy, gruyere, parsley & truffle oil. It was cooked perfectly, wonderful smokiness. The homemade blueberry compote that arrived along side my toast was also delicious. As if this wasn't enough, Nightwood cures their own bacon. Don't think twice about this. Get it. Fresh juice and Intelligentsia coffee rounded out this seemingly perfect brunch. I cannot wait to return to Nightwood and might even check out the dinner menu if I can tear myself way from those tots.
(5)
Jen D.
I've now been to Nightwood twice for brunch and recently went for dinner. Dinner did not disappoint either. I am continually impressed by their use of vegetables - the abundance of locally grown veggies and the creative use. I ordered a trout dish that came with a little pot of some magical veggie and chorizo concoction. The fish was flavorfully perfect and the side was out of this world. I've not had anything here that was bad. Service was outstanding as before. Atmosphere has energy without being too loud. RUN, don't walk to Nightwood. Can't wait to go back. I just wish it wasn't in Pilsen (I live at the other end of the earth - Wrigleyville).
(5)
Emily B.
Is it worth making the trek to Pilsen? Yes, but just once. Most kitchen tables are reserved for the elite - those willing to spend a little extra to sit closer to the magic. At Nightwood, it's first-come, first-served for front-row seats to the all the action. Foodies, rejoice. Because all pastas are made in-house, we went with their spaghetti dish. Served with veal meatballs, all in all not bad. My dining partner sprung for the cheeseburger and I was jealous. Although the consensus was: it had nothing on Acadia or Au Cheval. For dessert? The soft pretzel bread pudding, which was nothing short of heavenly. In sum, it was a custard cup of sweet, salty, soft, crunchy warm gooey goodness topped with a ball of vanilla ice cream with flecks of chocolate covered pretzels. Service is very, very, very far from being humble, warm, and friendly and is the main reason this place will hover around the "just okay" mark for me.
(3)
Agnes L.
A bright, airy and covered patio area with tons of plants and a menu font type mimicking scrawled handwriting help to create a laid-back yet hip atmosphere. And with a unique brunch menu that has seasonal ingredients, I was enticed from the get-go. We had bacon-butterscotch and berry creme fraiche donuts has appetizers to split among four people. I'm not a big sweet tooth so the bacon-butterscotch with its sweet/savory combo of flavor was more to my liking. I had ordered the bagel sandwich, which I ended up eating as if it was an eggs Benedict (with a fork and knife) because it was served open-faced and packed with tons of slaw. I was disappointed to see that the smoked trout was not a separate component in the sandwich but was instead infused into the cream cheese spread. The thick bagel seemed to overtake the entire dish, so it would have been better to have a thinner piece of bread like sliced foccacia. The "tots" on the side were intriguing because the image mimicked little wicker basket balls that I've seen used as decor in bowls on coffee tables because they were shoestring potatoes rolled up and baked/fried. Our group agreed that traditional tots or breakfast hash is more flavorful and satisfying. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which I liked much more because of all the unique ingredients and how much more it was balanced in flavor and texture. The hummus, rice, yogurt, mint and feta mixed in with the braised beef rolled up into a tortilla, alongside a chickpea, cucumber and greens salad gave a fresh Mediterranean vibe. Also, our server informed us that this item would not be on the menu for too much longer, so we felt obligated to try it.
(4)
Zeb M.
Best brunch of my life. Coffee, eggs, hashbrowns that come to you in the shape of fritters, toast, veggie sausage, and a couple of free pastries on the house. Just believe me on this one.
(5)
Eric M.
Quietly positioned in a gentrifying near South-Side neighborhood, this attractive place effectively finds the sweet spot between understatement and flair, which, in this day and age, is a goal of so many restaurants that it almost seems like conscious, pretentious irony. Not so with Nightwood. The popular Sunday brunch offers donuts--yes, donuts, not brioche or beignets or even macaroons. Just tasty donuts. (Granted, these donuts may be filled with mint-cilantro and cost $7 a pop, but nobody's trying to deny this isn't quintessential Chicagoyuppie dining. It is.) That said, the spin on modern comfort food here is nicely seasoned and smartly blended between the sweet and the savory. The three of us were all happy with our meals, if the portions were a tad small for the prices. An early-ish (1015a) brunch should still leave you satisfied enough to make it through to dinner--not ready for a real lunch just two hours later. However, the meal was good enough that I would have been willing to give it a go at Nightwood again at 12:30p, if my credit card weren't still so sore!
(4)
Denise A.
Real food, nothing processed everything made on site or locally. Decor is lovely and the wait is never over the top long. In the summer the outdoor seating is amazing, with a modern fireplace in the center to add to the coziness. I never know what to expect when I order, the menu description is so simple but the servers are usually good at filling in the blanks. Breads are a common part of the menu and salads are usually light.
(4)
Jason V.
Visited Nightwood for a mid-February Sunday brunch. We snagged a reservation earlier in the morning and waited only a couple of minutes for our table to clear. The restaurant was packed, which made the six hangers for coats in the middle of winter a little ridiculous. Our table of four was seated near the front door in stylish but relatively uncomfortable chairs. The table split one of the Bacon Butterscotch doughnuts and one of the Raspberry Jelly doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze and Candied Coco Nibs. While the doughnuts tasted decent, they are not worth the menu prices of $4 and $5 respectively. Hell, the Bacon Butterscotch doughnut is simply a regular doughnut covered in butterscotch sauce and pieces of bacon--no infusion, twist, or anything that seemed particularly innovative. The Duck Confit and Pig Skin Stew with Scrambled Eggs and Tortilla Chips was substantially better. An odd combination to be sure, but the duck and pig skin make for an extremely hearty pairing. The rest of the plate is practically an afterthought (or perhaps a last-minute attempt to characterize this as a brunch dish), but the eggs and salsa were pretty good while the tortilla chips (think more along the lines of what you'd get in a tortilla soup at Houlihan's) were probably unnecessary. Overall, I was pretty pleased with Nightwood, and the restaurant should get extra credit for changing the menu frequently to keep things fresh and keep the diners on their toes. Of brunch spots I've visited in Chicago, though, Nightwood falls behind The Gage and Jam (at least at the old location).
(3)
Colleen S.
Not sure why this place got rave reviews from Chicago Magazine. I ordered the Duck which was very good - meat fell off the bone - but the portion size was skimpy. A small side of roasted asparagus swimming in olive oil sat beside it. There was so much oil it really ruined the asparagus. To me this is not a good value for $30 [Should have gone to the Tuesday night 3 course special at La Sardine for $30 - could have had the oxtail to start, a hanger steak and a souffle.] Meanwhile, it seemed my water glass was refreshed after nearly every sip- a pet peeve of mine. I don't need that many interruptions at the table. My friend and I split 2 desserts - banana bread pudding and cherry pie. These were very good, but since we sat outside the ice cream melted quite quickly. Our server was cordial but not extremely helpful or tolerant of the fact that we needed time to decide on our orders. The open kitchen is entertaining and the outdoor seating area is nice.
(2)
Scott H.
Went with friends and loved this place. First time in a while that I can remember being really excited by a menu. Great local produce on the menu, and a huge variety of options means that nobody leaves disappointed. Will be back here for sure - and that's a rare thing for me to say.
not sure what all the hype is about. i went for brunch on a sunday because everyone was talking about it. i mean, it was ok...my wife liked her hamburger and the corned beef hash i ordered was ok. but to drive all the way to pilsen? it should be better...
(3)
Toyo K.
Cool place located south of downtown Chicago. The service and atmosphere were great and I could tell this was a hip place. Place was packed on a Monday night which is always a good sign. In the back there's an open kitchen with bar seating so if you want you can sit and eat and watch the cooks do their thing. The inside can get very noisy - so noisy that you may not be able to hear everyone at your table (we had a table of 5). They also have outdoor seating so that may be a better option. I heard the menu changes daily at this place. For appetizers we ordered a bruschetta plate and a vegetable plate. Both were excellent and the presentation were creative. I ordered the cheeseburger on focaccia bread for an entree and I was really looking forward to a delicious, juicy burger. I was a bit disappointed in a couple of things: 1. My burger tasted dry 2. The focaccia bread did not work with the burger. It was too tough making it hard to bite through and did not soak up any of the burger's juices 3. The cheese (I believe it was goat) was overpowering Everyone else seemed to really enjoy their meals. Although my burger fell short, I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a fun and enjoyable dining experience.
(4)
Graham D.
A lot has been written about Nightwood that tells you how creative and unique they are, so I'll spare you the repetition, save that I most wholeheartedly agree they are amazingly crafty with their menu choices. I think the overarching signature of this place is its dedication to local and sustainable food sources. As has been noted, the menu changes, because their food sources change as the seasons do. (It's what we all used to do before cheap airfreight!) The night we were there, spring lamb on lentils was on the menu as was flattened salmon. We paired this a pleasant Sauvignon Blanc at a very modest price. In fact their wine list is comfortably approachable; not a whole bunch of listings with astronomical numbers which always makes me feel small and inadequate. Portions are generous without being threatening to your waistline and it's worth checking the dessert menu, because more creativity abounds here. The street parking can be a bit of hassle, but this restaurant bears your checking it out. They've been there for better than 4 years, so they are clearly doing something very right!
(4)
Heather M.
I've been dying to try Nightwood, and I finally got my chance during restaurant week. First of all, bonus points to them for creating a restaurant week menu and not just giving you a choice of their standard fare. From cocktails to dessert, everything was fabulous. I won't elaborate on the details of the entrees, as that menu has ended, but I will say that they turn out some creative, delicious preparations of high quality ingredients. The service could not have been more attentive and friendly. I think it's one of the best examples of the Chicago style of food right now: high-end riffs on comfort food, using excellent technique and the best ingredients. This is a great place to take out of town-ers to show them what the food scene here is all about. Enjoy!
(5)
Edgar V.
A "foodie" friend of mine in Chicago referred me to this restaurant. Overall it was great. I had the appetizer salad (good but too much onion) and the sirloin steak for dinner. The steak was good, but Nightwood is not a steakhouse. This is definitely a hipster haven - from the servers to the clients. I felt like I had been transported to Seattle (think Local 360). My only complaint is that although my table was ready, I was told that it would be 15 minutes and they asked that I wait in the bar. They clearly had a strategy tin place to sell drinks before seating customers by pretending that there is a wait. That's kinda rude and deceitful. I'd go back...maybe....Chicago has so many options for great food.
(4)
Chris G.
It was close to 7pm on a nearly-perfect Chicago summer Friday night. I was on my sofa and had enjoyed a nap. It was also my friend's bday... but took me nearly 2 hours to force him to abandon a laid back evening and hurry up the street to Nightwood, arriving around 9pm. The restaurant was packed as expected but we spotted an open patio table, then rushed to the desk to ask how deep the waiting list was. Though we saw several people standing nearby, the kind gentlemen asked if we had reservations (no) and said oh wait, let me see.. I only have a patio opening, will that do? It all felt a bit Disney-esque to me possibly because I still had cobwebs from my nap, but more so because how rare is it to saunter up to a popular spot on one of the busiest nights and get prime seating somewhere other than next to their boiler room? We sat down, the sun was setting and the breeze felt pleasantly tropical. The smells of nearby patrons' orders crossed us and we had a good feeling about what was to come. After receiving a mediocre bite-sized square, buttery pastry with a side of fresh butter, we looked forward to the hand cut pasta with basil, cauliflower and almonds. The dish was offered with an herbed butter sauce and the noodles were tight and firm. It paired well with the bottle of chilled '07 Methven Vineyards Pinot Gris from Oregon's Willamette Valley, which was perfectly smooth and crisp. Birthday boy ordered the very delicate and succulent Superior Whitefish with Three Sisters hominy and Cilantro and I pressed for the Confit of Gunthorp Farm duck leg with summer squash and oyster mushrooms. I bit into the butt of the whitefish and it was quite gamey, seemingly soaked in a room-temp Durian fruit (which isn't a turnoff personally). But Bday boy offered bits of the middle and it was a quite different, adult Tilapia treat, still with slight gamey overtones that brought out the floral notes in our Pinot Gris. Anyone familiar with birds like duck, ostrich and quail realize that it's quite easy to overcook. We were impressed that they served a leg that was well-seasoned and tender, despite the challenge. The accompanying summer squash and mushrooms did not upstage the main act. Here's a confession. The couple next to us ordered a few dishes and had a bowl of golden fries parked in the middle of their table. The smell was so sensual that we flagged our very attentive server down and asked how quickly could she get a bowl of them over to us. She chuckled and said it could come out with our entrees. I'm a fat guy and've had many different kinds of french fries, but if one had to DIE and go to french fry heaven, THEY WOULD SERVE THESE FRIES. The were impossibly crisp (cooked in a little duck fat??) on the outside but took on a fluffy, Yukon Gold potato richness inside. We were joined for dessert by our neighbor and friend who's expecting any day now. After a bit of debate, we settled on Nightwood's chocolate raspberry tart, almond toffee gelato and a cherry turnover. Though the cherry turnover was light and tangy, the tart was surprisingly airy, crisp and offered subtle, high-end chocolate and fresh raspberry flavors. It looked heavy but was quite the opposite. Bday boy decided to slather the gelato over the tart and took it to a new pleasurable level. After crashing their party, uninvited on possibly the busiest night of the week, one would hesitate to be most critical. But I can honestly share, I felt the cuisine at Nightwood was better than what was served at Charlie Trotter's. And our meal last night was just less-than-half of his $450 bill AND included two bottles of the Pinot Gris. We plan to become regulars. :) --- UPDATE: So it was Easter weekend and after 8pm on a gorgeous Saturday night. Me and birthday boy were over on Taylor Street trying to get into a popular Italian Eatery by Stax Cafe and I'd learnt that he hadn't made a reservation as we walked through the door. 2.5 hour wait we were told. We contemplated hitting up Bevi Amo across the street, Chez Joel nearby or going north to Cotes du Rhone but decided against that since we wanted to finish the night at Simone's Bar in Pilsen. Chez Joel couldn't seat us for another 1.5 hours and Nightwood said about 1 hour also. We drove around and contemplated other places but it was packed all around. I said screw it, let's park by Nightwood and just walk in and see how it goes. So we decided to just order a bottle and stand at the bar until something opened up. A french Cab Franc. Was tasty. We nibbled on puffy fried lemon slices and ordered salmon rillettes apps, both mouth watering. We finished up at a table, ordering the quite flavorful, crispy, spit-roasted India duck entree with foie gras (so buttery good!) and the spit-roasted chicken with Michigan ramps, lemon, garlic, mint. The chunky goat cheesecake with toasted pecans, rosemary honey and crunchy crust was sinful enough to send us to hell many times over. Good times. :)
(4)
Angelina K.
Bacon butterscotch donuts for brunch ! Amazing . So good and addicting . Great restaurant . Awesome cocktails .
(5)
Melanie V.
Pilsen, Pilsen, Pilsen. Believe me, as a life-long Chicagoan, I would have never step foot in Pilsen ever. It's reputation has definitely preceeded itself for me. But, thanks to the recent facelift up and down Halsted, Nightwood finally gave me a reason to stop in. And I'm super happy I did. Here's a rundown: Setting: 10am, Sunday, brunch Crowd: A lovely bunch, with such diverse backgrounds. Common ground? Love of new restaurants and intriguing food dishes. Menu: Omg, amazing. All of it. You do not understand how long it took me to decide on what I actually wanted to order. Everything sounded soooo yum. The adorable part was the handwritten menus. *sigh* Atmosphere: Airy, sunny, semi-private, incredibly friendly staff. Perfection on a Sunday morning. But, seriously? Can we talk about the food? The chocolate + bacon donuts were heavenly. Like, DD will never, ever compare to this.. In fact, if I didn't eat so much of it, I probably would have been able to finish my actual meal. As a treat, the staff brought out this peanut butter and jelly donut that they're thinking of offering. Genius. Crispy pb&j. As my meal, I ordered the cheesy polenta (that came with bacon, HOME MADE tater tots and a soft boiled egg). That entire dish was freakin' awesome. I wanted to finish all of it, but only could attack less than a quarter. As my dining companions kept repeating, we all needed to be rolled out of the restaurant. Seriously. In a wheel barrel. I haven't gushed about a brunch like this...probably ever. Nightwood is pure genius. Lookin' forward to stopping in again. And again....
(5)
J C.
My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary. Service was excellent. Food was legendary. Wine pairing was accurate. They even gave us an anniversary goat milk ice cream finale. Very rich and delicious.
(5)
Daniel C.
BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! saw Anne Burrell here a few weeks ago so it's Food Network Chef approved!
(5)
Brett F.
Haven't you heard?? Long, diatribe reviews are so out for the Fall. Get with the program, Hemingway, this season it's all about clear, concise gushfests... especially if we're talking about my new paramour, Nightwood!! Easily one of my new favorite restaurants in 2009 and here's why: 1. Love the location; off the beaten path in Pilsen it enlightens one to a new neighborhood with a ton of culture and fun things to see. Plus it's easy to do without a reservation (though one shouldn't to be safe) if you're feeling adventurous and up for a little road trip. 2. Great menu that revolves nightly. Never the same show twice, folks! Only the freshest, lushest and most decadent ingredients are here on display... if you can catch it, I highly recommend the pappardelle with braised rabbit and swiss chard as well as the spit-roast pork loin with creme fraiche and white anchovy. Holy Bazookas! That pork loin was enough to feed a small army and in the best of culinary style. We drooled, we tore into it, we conquered!! It was absolutely a meal for the record books. 3. Fabulous patio dining. While the weather still permits, I can't stress it enough.. it's absolutely luxurious! No haphazard street side folding chairs here. Nah.. the patio is stylish, sumptuous and the consummate setting for a romantic evening spent fawning over velvety chilled sweet corn gazpacho (with serrano chiles!) and the most fabulous 'Michigan' salad with sweet nectarines, salty mustard greens and creamy, smooth ricotta. 4. An equally matched beautiful interior. The folks of Lula Cafe has one-upped them hipselves at Nightwood. It's gorge! Especially love the open air kitchen with marble seat-and-eat bar... watch the chefs at work, or just wink at 'em as you pass by. Lots of eye candy among this staff! 5. Overall an extremely impressive experience that I can't wait to head back for. Nightwood... indeed, a night that gave me wood. What an apt moniker!
(5)
James C.
This restaurant provided me with one of the best meals I have had in Chicago. First, we started with fried oysters on a remoulade and crackers. The oysters had just enough crunch, which played well off the texture of the remoulade. We then had a dungeness crab salad and roasted carrots. It had a sharp flavor that worked well with the Burgundy. The next course was a ricotta ravioli and honey. I never thought these flavors would go well with a red wine, but the pairing was fantastic. The ravioli were cooked perfect. The next course was a sturgeon. Again, we paired it with a red wine that perfectly complimented the dish. The mushroom accompanying the sturgeon made the red wine appropriate. It added body to an otherwise light dish. The main course was a flank steak accompanied by an apple chutney. The textures in the dish were amazing, balancing hard and soft. The ranch on the side gave it the right sharpness to pair with our Syrah. The service was perfect, atmosphere perfect, food perfect. I will be back.
(5)
Genni O.
Talk about the most over-priced, over-rated, restaurant to come around in recent memory. The owner and his merry band o' emo losers came to pilsen to take advantage of cheap real estate - not to embrace the community, but to rape it. You WILL leave hungry and most likely, be secretly upset that you got taken by their scam.
(1)
Ryan D.
Food and drinks were excellent, a must try.
(5)
Jose V.
Came here for brunch with friends, due to a recommendation. As a start, had to order their famous bacon glazed donuts, they were good, but you will get over them fast! :-) As far as the meal, I went for their ciabatta, topped with eggs and sun-dried tomatoes and a side of arugula salad. The bread was warm, crispy and had nice oregano aroma to it, you could tell it was freshly baked! They could maybe have more choices in their menu, my recommendation is to unless you're totally allergic or really hate an ingredient, to stick to their menu and enjoy the dish as is, and you will have a great experience! They also take reservations on a Sunday, which is a plus, offer good service and have good, quality food! Totally worth a visit!
(4)
Merrill O.
Bacon Butterscotch donuts. Yum, right?? You would think after having that for a starter, brunch would go downhill from there, but surprisingly, Nightwood managed to top that with our entrees. The highlight of the meal was actually the soft-scrambled eggs, with spicy squash and sheep's milk feta cheese. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. They also did a nice rolled omelet with Bolognese sauce. The Bolognese sauce was quite good, except I thought it needed a bit more kick to it for the omelet to work well. I also loved the way they did the hashbrowns...served fried in balls like hushpuppies...quite fun! My only complaint about Nightwood is that fact that it's not conveniently accessible from my neighborhood...otherwise, I'm sure I'd be there quite often!! 4.5 stars!!
(4)
Rebecca D.
Excellent! Highlights were the golden frills salad, the pig ears, and the chicken. Fantastic service for our party of 11.
(5)
Jennifer L.
What a great restaurant! I sure miss living walking distance from here. Love the vibe when you walk in...the decor is a mix of rustic/natural with modern classic touches. The bathroom for example is SO cute, in my opinion... apart from the black toilet... can't get over that.. First off we were here with a large party of, so some of us came early and had a drink at the bar. I thought the drinks that I tasted were not spectacular.....in my opinion. We were kinda wondering where a party of 9 would sit because the dining room is pretty small... then they took us downstairs... What a cozy cool wine cellar-ish dining area in the basement! great for a big group! We started with some appetizers of pig ears (SOOoooo delicious!!) which were in a sweet/salty glaze and were awesomely crispy. I could eat these all day. We shared the sweetbreads and prawns were were also really tasty. For the main course I got the rabbit which was cooked perfectly with this great sausage ragu sauce.. soooo delicious!! Someone in my party got the burger... he was pretty dissapointed as they did not ask him how he wanted it cooked and he got it back medium well.....big no no i think For dessert the soft pretzel bread pudding was to die for with that hint of salt from the pretzel and great texture. It came with some of the best pistachio ice cream I have ever had. What a great meal and great atmosphere!
(4)
Allison E.
So as I sit here and catch up on my yelp reviews, I realize that I am a lot more yelp productive when I am dating and Nightwood just happened to be the starting point for a good one.....if ya know what I mean. Apparently amazing food, cocktails, and a long walk on the beach really is the perfect combination. Cliche? Maybe. OH! and it was summer too, which meant fireworks of off Navy Pier. This date is beginning to sound like a stupid Nicolas Sparks novel, ug. Back to Nightwood. My dinner was amazing. I had the duck. My date had the burger and you may be judging him for ordering a burger in a nice restaurant, but it was a damn good burger. He also had some sort of ginger cocktail that he remembered from a previous dining experience, but was no longer on the menu. The awesome folks at Nightwood happily made him one anyway. How cool is that! Lovely night, good food.
(4)
Chicago C.
We visited Nightwood for a delicious Sunday Brunch... and you should too! We walked in to the Pilsen farm-to-table restaurant for a late brunch and were shocked to find there wasn't a wait. We were immediately seated in the front room, which was beautifully lit from the sun shining in from large street-facing windows. Almost every table was full. The service was great; very friendly and happily recommended menu-favorites. What we ordered: --Traditional Bloody Mary-- This is a bloody mary we look forward to ordering again! It was a great way to start off the meal; it accurately reflects the feel of the restaurant: fresh, quality ingredients. The tomato juice in the drink tasted as if it had just been juiced. We especially loved that it was garnished with pickled brussel sprouts. Very unique and something we haven't seen in Chicago before! Amazing and one of our new favorites. --Rolled Omelet w Roasted Apples and Sunchokes, Smokey Blue Cheese, and Tarragon-- This omelet was light and packed with flavor. The egg was cooked perfectly, the blue cheese wasn't overpowering, and the roasted apples and sunchokes offered an unexpected twist to the dish. Wonderful omelet to try! --Bagel Sandwich Smoked Trout Cream Cheese, Slaw, Bacon, and Fried Egg Served Over Easy-- One of the (if not the...) best breakfast sandwiches in Chicago. Hands down. This sandwich blew us away. Each ingredient has a unique and vibrant flavor that it adds to the dish. It's important to get a little bit of everything into each bite. Served with amazing bite-sized crispy hashbrown balls that left us wanting more... This is a breakfast sandwich that will be on our minds for quite some time. --Coffe Custard Donut w Chocolate Glaze-- A truly delicious, decadent donut. The coffee custard filling oozed out with every bite... leaving us wanting more. In addition to Brunch, we strongly recommend visiting Nightwood for dinner! This was our second time dining at the Pilsen restaurant. On our first visit, we sat outside on their beautiful patio and enjoyed a delicious dinner, with many ingredients coming from the garden in the back of the restaurant.
(5)
Hyzel P.
I live within walking distance from Nightwood, which is great, as this has become a go-to dinner spot. Since their menu is always changing, it becomes difficult to recommended dishes. Who knows, in one month it may not even be there! Here are some must try items, if they ever pop back up on the list : 1. Sauteed carrots with sour scream and dill, on top of mackerel (I think it was mackerel) 2. Scallops with a creamy butter sauce 3. Garlic braised oyster mushrooms (DELISH) 4. Long noodle (Ask them not too make it too tangy, it tends to take over) 5. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake (perfect couple of salt and sweet) I LOVE savory dishes, so these HIT THE SPOT. They don't make you so full that you're falling over, but enough to talk about the dishes after. There is a lot of hype to this restaurant, yes, but I don't think you should come in with that mindset. Be open to the change in menu and try it out :) The staff is super friendly, and the bartender makes wonderful drinks. Before your meal is served, they place focaccia with a nice date sauce. I'm generally not for carbs, but this is one that I cannot picking at. For the summer, request sitting at the "patio". Who doesn't enjoy a nice breeze with good food?!
(4)
Lidia L.
We shall see how this restaurant plays out. So far, the person who I spoke with on the phone was a bit of a downer. I just called to make reservations for my anniversary dinner (ANNIVERSARY DINNER! shouldn't you be happier?)and the lady on the other line was not friendly at all. It sounded like all she wanted to do was hang up on me. She wasn't enthusiastic or nice. She sounded disinterested in having my patronage It didn't even sound like she wanted to take my reservation! So far this place is not on my best side. I'll let you know if I make it through dinner or if I'll have to walk out because of the service.
(2)
Kristine M.
I had a pretty nice experience at Nightwood. My friends and I came here during the winter and the atmosphere inside the restaurant is really warm, soothing, and very hipster . In addition, as you walk to the bathroom near the back of the restaurant you get a good view of the kitchen. I think I saw some people sitting at the bar so if you like seeing your food being made definitely sit at the kitchen bar. It was really cool how the food was locally sourced and the food was pretty decent. However, it did feel like the portions were really small for the amount of price you were paying. The free bread that the restaurants gives their customers before the entrees/appetizers.. IS AMAZING!!! My friends and I asked for more even after we finished eating our entree. Overall, it's a light atmosphere but formal enough. A great place for a first date!! *wink *wink
(4)
Katie V.
I have had two stellar meals here. The menu changes a lot, so whatever I rave about is probably gone by now....suffice it to say that the dishes are inventive and complex, if you will, but also delicious. Sometimes high-concept food gets lost in the concept, but every bite of every dish I've had here has been memorable. If there is an app with foie, get it. I've had two different ones and both were stellar. The prize-winning pork tastes as good as the name implies. The seafood entrees are also great -- I've had trout and scallops. Save room for dessert -- I had blueberry pancake ice cream there once and I still think about it. It's in a weird neighborhood, but well worth the schlep to Pilsen.
(5)
Ellen C.
Ok, so I'm writing a review because I was SOOO disappointed in this place. Before I begin, I will say I like the idea that they buy fresh ingredients so their menu changes according to what they can get....but: 1. The food was just ok. Not good, not great, and certainly not amazing. We got -the hanger steak (this was the best of the dishes. It was good.) -the veal (the "soup" had an interesting blend of spices, and the veal itself was a little bland) -the radish appetizer.....omg. WHAT WAS THAT? It was literally plain radish. -the soft shell crab appetizer (this was good, too. The sauce was a little thick and heavy) -OH. The biscuits and honey butter was AMAZING, however. Get full off those if you can! 2. The portions were TINY. Now I realize that a lot of snazzy restaurants love to leave you starving at the end of the meal....and this is no exception. I was mildly satisfied with my dish, but the guys with us (who got the steak) were not even close to full. 3. With that said, this place was WAY expensive. The steak was $26, the veal $24, the radish $6, and the crab $12. With everything that we ordered and split evenly, it was $38 a person!! (The total check was $235 O_o) To not be full...that's a lot to me. 4. THEY CHARGED US 20% TIP. We had a group of 6, which ok, most places automatically add tip. That's fine. But if you do, they need to tell you somewhere, and I never, ever, ever, ever have been charged TWENTY PERCENT. 5. And what pissed me off more? THEY DIDN'T GIVE US OUR CHANGE. What kind of business does that?! I realize it was only like $4....but after over-charging us, and then extra-charging us tip, they keep our change? SHADY. SO SHADY. 6. Decent parking in the area. 7. Service was good.
(1)
Maria C.
At Nightwood for brunch! Food good but surprised that it took 38 minutes to get food while others around us got fast service. :( with no explanation when I asked about why it took so long. Sad. Will have to find another place for brunch, didn't feel welcome.
(1)
Erin N.
Every course of this meal, from the cocktails to dessert and the port that went with it, was delicious. For a livelier restaurant experience, sit in the back by the open kitchen and ask the chef his favorites. My date and I had such a great time indulging the server suggestions and watching the preparation right in front of us. The front of the restaurant is more darkly lit and romantic in nature-- a setting for intimate conversation with dates/family/friends. Lastly, the staff is kind and gracious--no pretention present, so feel free to relax and enjoy the meal.
(5)
Brooke B.
Thank goodness this place is in my neighborhood, where I can walk there to round up my appetite and walk home to burn those heavenly calories away. I prefer this place much better for brunch rather than dinner. And for brunch, I've never been disappointed. Great service, strong coffee and creative dishes...the menu always changes. Typically though, they'll have some sort of quiche, some sort of bagel sandwich and always organic ingredients. I've only been there once where I struggled at finding SOMETHING on the menu. It's not huge, but there's typically something for everyone, between sweet and savory. And, for heaven's sake...don't pass up that bacon doughnut. I'm not a huge fan of bacon or doughnuts for that matter, but for some reason, that dough melts in your mouth and leaves you smiling. Actually, every single doughnut I've tried here has left me dipping the last piece and wanting more. Wish it was open for brunch every day and not just Sunday!!
(4)
Mahsa T.
When you treat your customers poorly, those customers are going to get on Yelp and tell all their friends that you like to treat your customers badly. Well, I'm telling my friends that they should definitely not spend a dime of their money supporting this establishment because they have let their popularity go to their heads. And with their giant inflated heads, they can't possibly quote an accurate wait, provide good customer service, or have the decency to make it up to you when they've royally screwed up. I have NEVER ever waited for a table for this long. I got a table at Hot Doug's faster. Yes, it was our fault for not having reservations on a Saturday night but this was not planned. The other restaurant we were originally going to go to didn't take reservations and had a two and a half hour wait, so we decided to go to Nightwood instead--big mistake. I called ahead and put our name down. We were quoted an hour for a table for four. We ended up waiting almost TWO whole hours for a table!!! We kept checking in with the host and hostess who kept saying a table is just about to get up--except one hour went by and no one got up. There's nothing around here within walking distance of the restaurant so it's a destination spot and people like to linger at their table for hours!!! So you would think that the manager of a well-known restaurant would: A) recognize that it's wrong to go over your quote by a whole hour (you should know by now what the Saturday night flow is at your restaurant). B) Come over and apologize and take immediate steps to remedy the situation (like for example, let us order food at the bar). C) Comp a portion of the meal. What did the manager do? NOTHING. In fact when he got word that I was irritated and annoyed, he avoided us. So all of this would have been water under the bridge if the following didn't happen. A table finally opened up. It had two seats on it but was definitely large enough to seat four people. The hostess walks right past me and seats a couple that just walked in through the door. At this point I became IRATE!!! I went up to her and asked why we were not seated at that table and her response was that she didn't think we'd be comfortable at that table and would want to wait for another larger table. REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Do you think it's comfortable sitting on a metal bar stool for TWO hours, holding your winter jacket in your lap, starving, watching everyone else around you eat?????? Are you kidding me?!?!?! Twenty minutes later, we were finally seated at a drafty table by the door. Our waitress provided sub-par service. Even after all of this I was excited to try the food, but even the food was a huge let down. Pork belly--I've had better at XOCO. Lamb shank--not even really a lamb shank, more like tiny pieces of lamb served in a small patty. You want awesome lamb shank, go to Noon O Kabab. Polenta with mushrooms--you want better polenta, go to Enoteca Roma. Burrata--should just be called bread in tomato sauce with side of cheese. Food was uninspired, lacking originality and taste. Overpriced for the tiny portions. There was nothing at all worth coming here for. The two stars I've given are for the two genuinely nice bartenders at the bar who were the only ones who cared about us. They provided excellent service, chatted with us, and made an effort to ease our pain. The manager and hostess should be fired and the bartenders should run this place.
(2)
Brady H.
Tremendously good, just in a very sketchy looking part of town. Warm cozy room, friendly wait staff - perhaps a bit too informal, but competent enough. Food was perfectly prepared - I was impressed that my trout had been deboned so cleanly. We tried three starters, four entrees, and three desserts (including 3 gelatos and 1 sorbet). The menu changes daily so this might not help anyone, but the marinated mozerella was delicious, the pate was good but overpowered by the potato chips (so ask for some bread), and the lobster risotto was not so lobsertry and even if the lobster reference was for the mushrooms it still wasn't that lobstery. For the entrees - two people tried the duck dish - really delicious. My friend raved about the roasted chicken and my trout with almonds was perfectly executed. The desserts were also good - soul satisfying bread pudding, chocolatly ganache tart, and four scoops with caramel being the best. Thumbs up except for the location! No gimmicks, just well executed American comfort dishes.
(5)
Taylor E.
The location is a little bit out of the way - indeed, upon making the trip up here from Hyde Park my friends and didn't quite figure out the most efficient way to get here on the CTA and as a result ended up crossing through some fairly scary parts of town at night on foot, although the area around the restaurant itself is totally fine. The food, however, is totally worth it - FRESH, interesting, and delicious. The menu seems to vary, but I had the caramelized carrot salad w/ garlic aioli and pate and nut-stuffed pasta that no longer seems to be on the menu but was very flavorful. Friends had the smelts appetizer with lemon and crème fraîche, whole-roasted wisconsin trout, a lamb with a cranberry reduction dish, and a fried hominy/goat cheese dish - all delicious. Dessert was equally good - we all shared a coffee fudge cake, a sweet ricotta with dried berries, and, in what was surprisingly the highlight a brown sugar cake, wonderful in its homey simplicity. The atmosphere is wonderful - definitely suitable for a date or a nice family celebration but not stuffy in the slightest - and their wine/liquor selection is absolutely fantastic.
(5)
Mike E.
Food is good, but not worth the price. For the amount of money spent I would expect a little larger portions and a couple more selections on the menu.
(2)
Daniel P.
Best. Brunch. Ever. Go for the Butterscotch Bacon Donut, stay for the Chicken and Waffles.
(4)
Bottomless B.
- food: creative and delicious - atmosphere: vintage, hipster - staff: friendly / accommodating - price: as expected for the quality additional info: - order the glazed carrots
(4)
Chuck M.
Stumbled upon this, going to breakfast in Pilsen and Hashbrowns was overpacked. Delicious cuisine, but not a cheap place to go and the brunch menu is a bit limited. But everything was gourmet level. I will return to try dinner there because the dinner menu looks fantastic. The atmosphere is a genteel nouveau rustic, and very pleasant. Street parking was actually fairly easy. Find by the address--I don't think they even have a sign with their name on it.
(4)
Anna P.
I wish the star-rating system on yelp didn't exist, or, at least a more comphrehensive one did--because I would give this place 5 stars for service, 3 stars for food, 4 stars for ambiance, and 2 stars for the politics of the situation. That equals about a 3.5, so I'll give them the benefit of my doubt with a 4. Remarkably, the host staff, bar staff and serving staff were all extremely friendly and approachable. At a fashionable place such as this, one could expect much less genuine kindness than was delivered. On the service alone, I would return. We started with the green garlic soup and a simple salad of mixed local lettuces. The soup was a good size, extremely creamy, a little tangy, super garlicky. MMM. The salad was, alas, just a salad. I got the "porcini & mozarella panino" with olives and some other stuff. Rich and extremely buttery. I love olives so this was the right choice for me. The heavy sandwich was relieved by a side salad of mixed greens; it was quite like my appetizer, so I wish someone had told me the mains were served with salad. But whatevs. Like Lula, any bread that might find its way into your dish is going to be DELICIOUS BREAD! The only disappointment was my dining companion's tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta. (SHUDDER! I hate nettles. Why must nettles, and not, say, pomegranates, be native to this clime?) But the nettles weren't the problem; it was the size of this little tart. It was about 3, optimistically 4 inches across. TINY!!!! Who do they think they are, serving us silver dollars worth of food, and calling it dinner? But i'm over it. The crust was delicious on this little tart--fresh and buttery, flaky but not crumbly...The same goes for the strawberry tart I enjoyed for dessert. For now, there is not a fancy cocktails list, though I saw well dressed young ladies around me sipping rhubarb-colored concoctions. I had 2 glasses of wine--the latter, which was recommended to me by my charming and humble server, was a Californian pinot noir (I think it was called Laetitia). I normally am not one to rave over such light bodied wines, but wow! It was super. And super fruity. I had previously thought that Simone's was really the straw that broke the camel's back for gentrification in Pilsen. But I spoke too soon--Nightwood added an extra load on the broken back of the previously mentioned camel. But as it is so far east, I see the future of the area morphing from "east Pilsen" to "East Pilsen," meaning, the southernly environs of Halsted are truly becoming a different neighborhood than the more westernly, Latino areas of Pilsen. This is both good and bad, as it lets the fashion folk have their lofts and eat their nightwood too, while the western parts of the area can maintain their cultural identity. For now.
(4)
Mollie O.
I went to Nightwood on a cold winter night and had a fantastic winter dinner. We started with the chicken liver pate and goat cheese, beet and avocado salad. The goat cheese salad while terrific was really more of a beet salad, and I felt lucky because I liked beets while my dining companion wasn't too thrilled. As for the entrees, we had the trout and the gnocci with sausage. Both were excellent. The trout was served on the bone with cabbage, slaw and roasted potato. The gnocci was pillowy and made by hand while the sausage made the dish spicy but not spicy. For dessert try the bread pudding. I haven't been here for brunch, but, I can tell you tasting the bread pudding makes me think the french toast and/or pancakes at Nightwood must be by default, delicious.
(4)
Jodi W.
I think I would dine here often if I lived close. We got one of the best seats in the house - near the windows, tucked in the corner. Had champagne to kick it off right, then just enjoyed dish after lovely sustainably organic farm-to-table dish of deliciously and perfected cooked/roasted/smoked foods. Service was very good. Our server had many tables, and she floated quickly and efficiently to each one of them. One of our dishes came out a little slow (we didn't really notice), and she promptly took it off the bill, apologized and brought me a comp'ed glass of wine (totally unnecessary but nice). Our taxi driver got lost - no idea where we were headed, so bring your iphone with you if you don't know the area. Also, make sure the hostess calls a cab when you are done - not much going on down in this part of town (yet, but it's coming...)
(5)
Nicole M.
Our bosses took us there for our employee dinner.. i think there was like 15 or so of us.. cocktails- Amazing! wine- Amazing! food--we ordered pretty much everything and it was all delicious service-outstanding overall- had a great night, everyone agreed!!!
(5)
Daniel S.
I've been to paradise, but have I ever really been to me? Okay, so that quote has nothing to do with this review. Nightwood rocked my world just as elder sibling Lula did. What I enjoy about this place- and Lula too- is the attention to detail. Detail that foodies are sure to find reassuring. The seasonal menu is comprised of many local offerings, and they pair very well with the wine offerings. The preparation is exact without being fastidious or over bearing. The same with the service and the surrounding. It is enjoyable and slick without being pretentious. And like Lula they employ some tres sexy cooks. I dined here last week with two friends and we made our own sampling menu. Starting with two salads- one of which was poblano peppers and bacon, another starter of duck confit raviolis and rabbit entre. All were carefully executed and presented. The server too was more than willing to make thoughtful suggestions on the menu and wine pairings. In short I cannot wait to return!
(4)
Chris S.
Warm, homemade butterscotch-bacon doughnuts. Bacon is on everything these days, but I finally found where it truly belongs - on my doughnut. Holy cow. I was in for brunch on Mothers Day and cannot wait for a reason to go back. Do I really need a reason? Everything was too good, from the trio of doughnuts, to the eggs benedict; from the whole trout to the bloody marys, and lest I forget the service, it certainly gets the "too good" label as well. The food is locally sourced so the menu changes regularly, but every time I have looked at it online I have been left trying to decide what looks best between about 5 different items. It's all so good. The space changes as you walk through the restaurant. The front by the bar is light and open, and as you move to the back it gets more cozy and intimate, and they have an outdoor area which looked like it would make for a fun evening lingering over dinner and drinks. Oh look - I think I found my reason to go back!
(4)
Ria C.
Bustling and trendy on a cool Sunday afternoon. The service was attentive and the clientelle was top notch. We started off with a cinnamon roll and were offered 2 complimentary donuts-cinnamon holes and a caramel donut topped with caramalized bacon-yes BACON! This is seriously one of the best sweets I have ever tried-umami explosion in my mouth for sure. All of this was brought to us because we waited more than 10 minutes for our food, which was not long at all considering the crowd. I opted for the fried chicken and waffles-the chicken was crispy and juicy inside and the spices were just right. The lemon cream complimented both the chicken and the waffles quite well; however, my compaints would be that the portion size lacked (4 small chicken wings, no drummies) and the waffles were already sweetened and a bit too sugary. I was on a fried chicken hunt, and should have gone to Stanleys for complete Satisfaction. The bubs daringly chose the special of the day: Sardines topped with bacon and 2 fried eggs. For a man who used to hate sardines (changed his mind after our trip to southeast asia and hong kong as dried fish is a staple in every breakfast) he gulped his meal like a cool cat-meow.... I had a bite of my friend Emily's scalloped potatoes and wow that was tasty. I would return for dinner.
(4)
A F.
I am not pleased to say that I (we) had a very unpleasant first experience at Nightwood last night. I was so looking forward to Nightwood and therein lies some of the depth of my disappointment. The six of us arrived to find a very attractive dining room and bar with exposed brick and nicely spaced tables. Everyone appeared content in their conversation, food and drink. I felt warmly welcomed by an inviting atmosphere. But oh no, this was not to be our ambiance...we were escorted to our table in the basement cellar, a windowless dungeon with exposed brick bouncing the high spirited conversations around to an aggregated decibel level that obviated any attempt at less-than-shouting talk. I have never been in so loud avrestaurant in my life, and I've eaten in many places that test my aural tolerances. But we are family so shouting is not entirely foreign to us. The menu was an especially toothsome read and we all found easy choices. The presentation matched the menu and compelled us to dig in. We all took our first bites and came up with a sad realization that the kitchen took a heavy hand with salt. And we are not salt-sensitive folks. We will return to try the main floor dining area and enjoy real conversations and hopefully a better salinity experience.
(2)
Lauren V.
Finally got there for Sunday breakfast. While I'm not typically a sweet-eater, a friend told me we HAVE TO GET A DONUT. So, I got the bacon, caramel donut. The bacon was yummy, sweetened with caramel, but the actual donut wasn't great. The small donut holes that accompanied the plate were cinnamon sugar coated and were great! The quiche that morning was outstanding! Duck confit with squash bits. This was by far the best, and biggest (how do they get it so tall?) quiche piece I've ever had. Service was terrific; they seemed to have a lot of help on hand, and we are so looking forward to going back for dinner. Good value for the meal.
(4)
Perla T.
Lately, I've been a bit more harsh with my Yelp reviews. So...... I am not sure if this is a case where Nightwood should be getting one more star. My friend and I, who both live in the area, decided to come here and try it out, since it is a new restaurant in Pilsen. Pilsen, obviously has a ton of great mexican restaurants, but when something different opens up, I am especially intent on trying it. I went there, during it's "official" opening week. The decor is pretty and modern. It blends in well with the art galleries that line up Halsted. As you walk in, to the left, there is an outdoor patio which seems like a perfect place for a date. I walked in and was immediately greeted by a small cluster of pretty people. They all seemed so enthusiastic. I guess it was that first week excitement and jitters. My friend wasn't there so I sat and waited for him to arrive. In the time I waited, I had three people approach me and ask me if I wanted water (either sparkling or from a glass bottle) which I thought was kind of cool. They also brought me a wine list and it had a nice selection. The only bad part is that the prices were either really low or really high and it made no sense based on the brands. My friend arrived, we ordered a bottle of wine. The menus are pretty - a work of art on their own. They look like someone handwrote them in that perfect penmanship you only see in commercials or movies. Our waiter told us that the menu changes every day. So that's kind of nice about it too. I ordered a field greens salad and the garlic soup, which was nice. My friend ordered the (freshly, handmade) pasta. We were full after dinner, so we didn't order dessert. We did sneek a peek at the menu and I would have ordered anything on there, it all sounded delicious. So, I would say it was a good restaurant. I think the only reason why this place doesn't get one more star is because, I feel it is yet another restaurant on the map that will soon blend in to all the other one name restaurants in Chicago. (It has become really annoying that restaurants now feel the need to only have one word in their name. That trend is played out in my book.) I think I was also slightly disappointed with it, because I am not sure it lived up to the hype. For so long, we heard about the new "Lula" restaurant that was opening in Pilsen. I think if it hadn't been overhyped, my expectations wouldn't have been so high. BUT, because it is in Pilsen, I do appreciate it. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would. I will definitely come here again, but not before I have made the rounds on a few other places. I would bring an out of town guest here if we wanted to go somewhere with good food but wanted to stay in the area. Best thing about it though is that it is right by the Skylark. When it comes to restaurants, I don't mind paying whatever for a great meal. Yet, given the close proximity, if I had to choose, I would go to the Skylark over Nightwood, and feel I got equally great food and drinks at half the price.
(3)
Yumiko F.
Dark atmosphere but hear people laugh and talk. Very interesting design in a back of the room where you could see the chef preparing food and you could sit and watch while you eat. My wonderful friend took me there and we got seated by the door so it was actually not that present area to seat but food was excellent. I was super hungry but it was too much to have all appetizer and Entree. Their scone ( instead of bread, they were serving scone) was very small and wish there were 2 of them but it was really good. I would go back but will make a reservation for less wait.
(4)
Kerri M.
A girlfriend and I went to Nightwood before hitting the galleries along Halsted. She'd been there once on a date, and this was my first time. Coming into the restaurant, the front of the house definitely screams for an intimate date night setting; my friend and i, having no reservations, were told that we could sit at the kitchen bar. this was WONDERFUL! we were sat at the along a bar that allowed us to watch all the goings-ons of the kitchen. also, this afforded us the opportunity to talk with the head chef, who was very kind and offered to answer any questions we had. As a vegetarian, I, of course, had questions. He explained that every dish is made to order, but some have prepped stock, etc. made from animal broth. he pointed out the dishes i could choose from. i know that some have made comments regarding service and portions. the menu clearly states what are entrees and what are not. the pasta dishes are smaller and are priced reasonably to reflect that. also, the service was great. we had a very knowledgeable server who was friendly and outgoing. the food? well, first we split an excellent whipped goat cheese with beets, avacado and a cilantro vinagrette. because we both told the head chef we weren't fans of cilantro, it was made to order with very light cilantro and placed on the side for us. i had the buttersquash pasta, with arugula. delicious! normally, this would include proscuitto, but mine was made without. the squash was a lovely puree that tasted fresh--not creamy, not heavy. we split bread pudding for dessert. the winter menu was perfect--warm, seasonal flavors. i highly recommend a reservation for date night or sitting in the back at the kitchen bar with a friend!
(4)
Beatrize N.
I love Lula so I knew I would love this place and from everything I had read about it, it did not disappoint. They were still working out the bugs a bit but in a few months I'm sure it will be much better. I had a tiny problem with the hostess because I had read on citysearch that they did not take reservations and I had also read that on their website but when we got to the place they asked if we had any...so I told them what I had read and why I didn't make any and they said they had just changed that and it had been updated on the web but since I just had seen it a couple of hours ago..I was like ok whatever, can we get a table and it was early and it was honestly fairly empty...what's the big deal, right? As the meal was progressing she suddenly interpreted us to tell me that I was wrong as she just checked the website and handed me a little Nightwood business card to check it out. Wow, that was a little aggressive.. I didn't care for the attitude and it was unnecessary at that point. Luckily the good food and super nice server put me back in the mood. So we get seated and the server was just lovely and explained everything and was super nice all evening and all her suggestions were awesome. The tomatoes in the salad were so amazing and the Trout BLT was mouthwatering. My friend had the pasta with this yummy lemony sauce. We had great drinks and the deserts where to die for! The cherries in one of the desserts were heavenly. It will become one of my favorites and I'm sure each time things will get better and better!
(4)
chris c.
Still my favorite brunch spot in the city. Their ability to take ordinary brunch and make it something special is not to be missed. I just wish they would bring back the Oaxacan chocolate donut which is my favorite.
(4)
Jebadiah S.
Yea, I'll never go back here. Why do you people go to this place??? To see and be seen? That's the only pathetic shallow reason I can think of. I've had it up to here with hipsters and I'm done with them and their stupid ignorance, they don't know how to do anything, especially manage and be a server in restaurants. I'm a normal Chicago person, I want you to take my order, not rip me off, and shut up. No one is special because they eat organic, they are simply eating normal, natural human food. This place has such an elitist vibe to me it really turns me off. You know why you never, ever need to go here? Because you can easily stop by a farmers market and get the same exact same ingredients they use and make yourself the same food! For waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy cheaper and MUCH larger portions and no added BS. This entire place is a scam, a rip off, I cannot believe I payed so much money for such tiny portions for food I could have made myself. The food was good, but it is literally not biologically possible for the food to be worth what they charge here. I hate hipsters, I hate them with a passion.
(1)
Hollywood G.
Hopped in a Zip Car - as this neighborhood is a bit of a trek away - and popped in for brunch over the weekend. After seeing Nightwood on Chicago's Best show, I knew I had to go and sample the Bacon Butterscotch Donut. The donut did not disappoint. Neither did the rustic vintage chic decor/ambiance. My husband loved his cocktail, an Ol Rasputin w a shot of jameson and a shot of espresso. He's still telling people about it. Overall I felt like the menu looked interesting. We had a taco omlette and a benedict with pork and corn. On the benedict one of the muffins was impossible to cut through, even with a steak knife. The food was good, but it didn't blow our minds. The service was great and we were sat immediately (we did have a reservation). I would possibly go back again for brunch, I would try here again for dinner - that is next time I feel like trekking down to Pilsen.
(3)
Joe A.
Not another posh brunch spot, opening with an endless wait, punctuated by a snooty wait staff, ending with a shocking bill. The bill was not small, but the first two presumptions couldn't be further from the truth. Unlike any other brunch spot I can think of, Nightwood allows not just reservations but online reservations. I came with a party of 7, including two small children. We were led downstairs, to the dark stuffy dungeon I thought. Surprisingly, it was bright and cheerful, with cute storm lights, wainscotting, and polished benches, the perfect setting for restless kids. The whole staff went out of their way to be friendly and were remarkable tolerant of the wee ones. Before coming in, I had given the menu a look and being a vegetarian was a bit put off by the meatiness. However the brunch menu had fabulous cornmeal ligonberry pancakes, and my mom seemed pleased with her homemade grannola. It weren't cheap for sure. About $20/person. But overall, the experience was worth it. I'd go back, for sure.
(4)
Sunil D.
I had a really pleasurable experience at brunch yesterday. It was jam packed when we showed up and had to wait for a table to open up....and wait and wait...The manager (owner?) came up to us several times to keep us updated on wait times and told us people kept lingering despite having their bills on the table. Finally she recommended/gave us the option to grab bar seating in the back, I was reluctant at first but my hunger won out. I am glad I did, the bar at the back gives you a first hand view of the open kitchen. It was almost hypnotic watching the four chefs churn out plate after plate of beautiful food. The one downside was that I was so consumed by what was going on in the kitchen that I was not the most conversant brunch date (I blamed it on a rough Saturday night out though...). Before we even ordered the manager brought over a round of free drinks and apologized for the wait and then after we ordered one of the chefs gave us a free bacon glazed donut (yes, you read correctly...and trust me, this isn't of these kitschy "lets put bacon on everything" deals....it was a mind blowing (read: best ever) donut). It's the little things like this that help ease the unavoidable and often frustrating long wait times on the Chicago brunch scene. The food was spectacular (beyond the donut), I had the Ram and Eggs. It was hearty, yet sophisticated and complex, but still had a rustic and simple feel to it. Everything was well balanced, my egg was cooked perfectly and topped with anchovies, pistachio and a touch of some type of herb/olive oil dressing. This was all draped over a bratwurst sized sausage (which I'm not sure what was in it, but it was lean, tasty and perfectly cooked) in-between a nice crusty bread roll. I really loved the menu, it was a departure from standard brunch fare, but it wasn't different just for the sake of being "inventive" or "avant-guarde." The interesting combinations seemed to work very well (but to be honest, I didn't know what a lot of the ingredients on the menu were), while still giving you a different take on your old favorites but not stray so far that they are unrecognizable. The food was stellar, the service was great, I really liked the impression that all the employees felt like they had a vested interest in our meal/experience. Two of the chefs came over separately and asked about our meal, not just how it was but how specific components were. Overall a great time, although quite popular and busy, management did a great job balancing this out. A lesson that should be taken note of from their fellow competitors. Prices were also very reasonable (everything was well under $20), despite using top notched ingredients (everything seemed to be locallly sourced, but I am not 100% on this).
(5)
Zeen A.
Ok...so being a fan of Lula's, I was curious to check out the new spot in my old hood...(moved out of Pilsen years ago and don't make it back often)...The wait was lengthy, but i gave us a quick chance to hit up Skylark for a few...when we returned an hour later we were still a few minutes from being sat so the owner bought us our first round of drinks! (super nice guy) I ordered an Old Fashioned and I've gotta say it was probably the best one I've had in the city... The food was solid, but there wasn't anything that was mind blowing...every dish just did a good job of doin' its job...I'd definitely go back for a round two...
(4)
Anthony S.
Celebrated a friend's birthday here, I don't live too far from it (The South Loop), so was pretty convenient for me to get to by car. I would describe the neighborhood as artsy/hipsterish/ethnic with a fresh dash of yuppie, make of that what you will. When we arrived our table hadn't been setup up yet, so we went to the bar. My friend and I ordered this excellent German beer, I believe it was called something Adele Weiss (will have to double check on the exact name). After about a short wait at the bar, we were seated. Really dig the seats and this place, very cool looking and comfortable. For the appetizers we had the Agnolotti with sardines and this cheese that was out of this world, it was like mozzarella with creme injected into the middle of it. For my entree, I was a bit disappointed. I ordered the pork, after the waiter told me it was the last one left. Now I really like cured pork and ham and other pork like this, but usually when I order a pork roast, it's always almost too fatty, and sure enough here it was also. Even the center, which was surrounded by a gelatin-like layer of fat, seemed a bit fatty. Maybe it is just be me though, since everyone else seemed to like it. Despite not liking the texture, the flavor was very good, tasted a bit like a honey-baked ham, the sauce and the cabbage that were surrounding it were also very good, I just didn't care for the texture. For dessert had the chocolate pudding with this sort of whipped cherry flavored topping with pieces of chocolate in it. The pudding itself was very thick and chocolately, highly recommend this if you like pudding and it's on the menu when you visit. The menu at this place changes everyday, which I personally think is a very good thing, so there's many things to try here. Looking forward to going back so I can try a different entree.
(4)
Richard N.
4.5 Stars for brunch. Stellar menu. There's something for brunch traditionalists and the more adventurous set as well. I had a goat leg and eggplant omelet with pickled peppers, fresh parsley and aioli with homemade tater totts and toast. The utter jam. Also had a butterscotch bacon doughnut - off the hook. My mom had oatmeal with fresh blueberries and my dad had a fritatta with creme fraich, dill, and cucumber. They were slammed but the service was attentive and considerate. The only detraction was the coffee, which was a little weak for my taste. Next time I'm in Chicago on a Sunday, I'll be there.
(5)
graham h.
Gonna try not to be too verbose here. Nightwood was absolutely superb. Genuinely kind service. The most gorgeous dining room I've ever seen. A peaceful and comfortable patio. Clean, tasty food with impeccable ingredients. Just go - drink wine, and get dessert, especially blackberries and cream.
(5)
Italo C.
If this place can bring luxury sedans and fur coats to Pilsen-- they are doing something so right its unhuman.
(5)
Scott M.
We ate here last Sat night with friends. I had heard (and read here some mixed reviews), but it was a great meal from start to finish. Cocktails were good and the wine list was impressive...many off-the-beaten-path selections and a very wide range of prices. There were a ton of bottles from $30-$50, which was nice. Shared the foie gras appetizer with my wife, which was delicious. One of our friends had the gazpacho--her only minor complaint was that it was a bit too spicy, but I liked it. Some reviews here have been disappointed with the portion sizes for the price, and I couldn't disagree more. I had the whole-roasted snapper (seasoned and cooked perfectly), which was huge, as was everyone's meal. And for most entrees being in the mid $20s, it was a fair value. Desserts and service were good (and parking was free!). We'll definitely recommend this to friends...
(4)
Daani C.
We are new to Chicago and haven't discovered restaurants we really love yet. After several friends and neighbors raved, we tried this place for dinner. it had charm and ambience and all that, but snobby food snob from NY I may be, the food just wasn't that great. We had a hard time choosing because nothing really jumped off the menu. The stand-out in the end, by far, was the fried meyer lemon and pickle appetizer. Really yummy, creative and beautiful. My husband was surprised - he thought I was ordering it to satisfy my weird pregnancy penchant for sour stuff, but he loved it too. We also had the burrata with lamb debri, which was ok but not actually delicious. The quality of the burrata was not top notch, I've had way better. The biscuits are tasty though, perfect biscuit-y texture. I ordered the duck. It had good smoky/sweet flavor, but the meat was just tough. It's often risky to order duck for that reason, but I went for it anyway. The duck itself was under-seasoned, but the veggies it came with were way over-seasoned. The lima beans were good, but they threw the chard in raw which didn't really work. Husband had the skirt steak with black beans. Again unevenly seasoned, but the steak was better cooked than the duck. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. The crisp itself was rich and better than the entrees, but the salted caramel ice cream was really really really salty. I think there was an extra sprinkling of fleur de sel on top of the whole thing, which was total overkill. I guess the main problem overall with this meal was inconsistent seasoning. Service was friendly but spotty at times, like at one point one guy took away my clean utensils, then someone else served my food and I had no mis en place and had to ask. I had half a glass of sparkling water and the waiter filled it back up with still water without asking. Stuff like that, probably poor communication between the front and back servers. We just didn't love the food enough to want to come back, we thought maybe we should have tried their homemade pasta dishes but I make my own homemade pasta often so we rarely order it out. Still looking for our go-to Friday night spot!
(3)
t. o.
We have friends who live by Lula, have taken us there, and rave about it. I was completely underwhelmed. I feel pretty much the same about their new joint, Nightwood. The place looks amazing! Best design I've seen in ages. And the service is great. I love the idea of both these restaurants, but the menu and food are just not that inspired. I had pasta, and it was home-made. I know good hand-made pasta, but this is what you'd end up doing if you tried at home for the first time. It was heavy, gummy, too chewy, and sat in my gut like, well, a big pile of wheat flour. I had trouble finding something to order, because the plate combinations just didn't seem that appealing - a number of us agreed on this point (we were a large party.) Prices weren't too bad, but then, the food just "wasn't too bad" as well. Others had the trout - we found the nearly raw egg with fish thing verging on gross. Seasoning was erratic, some things under-salted, others over. Food seemed to tend toward heavy, rich dishes and flavors, with heavy-handed preparation and plating, and I just really wanted to find more chances throughout the meal to "lighten up." I get what they are going for - unpretentious slo-cal cuisine - but it needs work. I need to go back to really give it a proper chance. I love the idea of Nightwood! I want to like it. But I was underwhelmed.
(2)
J T.
Food: Deep-fried Michigan smelts w/creme fraiche; chicken liver pate - both good. Veal sugo - a bit on the salty side, otherwise would've been a good dish. Service: Attentive and friendly.
(3)
Maggie F.
My first visit to Nightwood was a little disappointing - an especially fatty cut of pork belly, some undercooked peas, and an unpleasant scent hanging mysteriously in the air of the spotless dining area left my date and I underwhelmed by Lula's baby sister. But our second meal at Nightwood more than made up for our mediocre first impression. Local, ethically produced, überfresh ingredients are combined expertly and served amply. I loved the perfectly al dente rigatoni with lamb meatballs, tomato, currants, pine nuts, garlic and arugula. Deep fried mozzarella with tart cherries and greens competed with fresh zucchini and golden tomatoes. Dessert: the apricot-glazed bread pudding with amaretto gelato couldn't be beat. Look for great cocktails, a menu that changes daily, and some of the best and most knowledgeable servers in town. The decor is minimalist and yet robust, with a beautifully done covered patio.
(5)
Laura D.
I have had two very bad experiences at Nightwood. The first time, not only was the food blah, but the kitchen forgot to plate a few key ingredients on an appetizer we ordered and we only noticed when the table next to ours had the same thing. When I mentioned it to our server, he mumbled a, "uhh, sorry" and did nothing. Then he charged us for the dish! When we complained, he offered to take one of the desserts off our bill.... it was just super weird. I decided to give the restaurant another chance. My second trip there, we ordered the sardine appetizer based on a recommendation. It was so disgusting that after one bite, we asked them to remove it from the table because of the smell. My entree was a solid C, and my boyfriend found 2 hairs in his gnocchi. I'm not sure what is going on in the kitchen or with the service there. I am frankly shocked they have made it this long...
(1)
Agnes F.
I am a fan of Nightwood, 3 of us went there for dinner and had a very good time started off with some cocktails, i had the hot toddy (it was godsend in this frigid weather), my friends had martini and hot and Balmy for appetizers we shared an argula salad and the wild mushroom risotto the salad was fresh and tart which was perfect against the much richer mushroom risotto the risotto was tasty but maybe a tiney bit salty for my taste i had the roasted chicken for entree and absolutely loved it! the chicken was wonderfully smoky and moist, hands down the best roasted chicken i ever had my friend had the duck leg and i got a bite, hmm, yummy as well dessert we shared the chocolate cake, moist and light wine choices were good, service was friendly the only thing was what happened to the beautiful biscuits they used to give us before the meal starts? we didn't get them this time (i forgot to ask) and i totally miss that all in all, a good restaurant that i will not hesitate to go back
(5)
Kate S.
3 stars = vegetarians (like me) 4-5 stars = those who eat meat My friend had a chicken dish and adored it--she said she could taste the woody-cooked flavor. However, there were ZERO entrees that were veggie. Our server was lovely and said they could make any of them w/o meat, but really now? Not ONE veggie entree? That said, there were plenty of veggie apps, so I got two of those instead. The squash dish I ordered was supposed to have a yogurt-mint sauce. It had the yogurt, but I couldn't taste the mint, which was disappointing. 5-star atmosphere though, the inside is rather big but feels small, and the outside patio is well-structured and lumber-ly modern looking. Bonus: They have Lula's delicious sangria.
(3)
Tim S.
This will be quick but this place knocked my socks off. Drinks, meals, dessert that we ordered for dinner last night were wonderful. Our server was attentive but allowed us to enjoy our dining experience. And the manager even gave me and my friend change for the bus and travel directions (and the number for a cab), since cabs don't usually frequent that area. It was a bit of a jont from our downtown hotel, but well worth it. The nights prior we ate at the Publican and the night prior to that Spiaggia and Nightwood was both orders of magnitude less expensive and more tasty. My *only* slight amount of dissatisfaction with Nightwood was the cold breeze every time the door opened.
(5)
ben w.
Beautiful restaurant, great service. Went for brunch, over priced and BLAND. I got the braised beef omelet. The omelet itself was tiny, the bread and potatoes took up most of the plate. Thirteen bucks for a tiny bland omelet. Yogurt and granola was also bad, the granola was good but the yogurt had the consistency of water. Literally water. Don't sell it as yogurt if it's not. Sell it as milk. This place is perfect if you like to feel better about your food if it's more expensive. Hopefully they take this criticism constructively and make some adjustments.
(2)
Eric F.
Went to NIghtwood on a Monday night. The meal was just 'ok', To summarize, the place had decent flavors and was worth the price but did not impress. Some things were really excellent, and others were not. I really enjoyed the 'off the beaten path' location and cozy atmosphere. But the service was a bit slower than what I would have expected on a Monday night. The Pork appetizer was absolutely excellent, with very good flavor profiles. Bread came out cold and stale. The Fois Gras Pasta was pretty good, but I was not impressed with the flavor; had expected more from a homemade pasta that contained fois gras. The spit roasted chicken was nothing special. I've had better at KFC and Jewel! It really did not taste any different than what I have had elsewhere. We wanted to get the pork but they were out. Maybe we just had a bad pick. I really wanted to love this place, but it just wasnt that great. I am currently unsure if I will be back to try this place again.
(3)
Sarah F.
Amazing atomsphere and lovely location in Pilsen! Truly a top notch, in-the-know crowd, and great service at Nightwood! I went for V-day brunch, and started w/ the the homemade donuts (coffee chicory and also bacon butterscotch) which were TO-DIE-FOR! The other brunch items we ordered left something to be desired, I think. Small portions and kind of odd combinations. Although I wasn't in love with my strada (fig and pork belly) and my boyfriend wasn't in love with his clam chowder egg dish, I am DEFINITELY willing to give this place the benefit of the doubt. I can't wait to try dinner here! They allegedly have a better burger than Kuma's corner, and the rest of the menu looks so fabulous as well!
(3)
Andrew M.
Loved it! Everything was perfect - the ambiance, decor, vibrant bar scene, artfully created fresh cocktails, inventive and tasty cuisine - exactly what I look for in a great restaurant. The menu changes daily, so you can always try something new. I had pheasant - it was delightful. I can't wait until the weather warms up and the outside fireplace starts up. Best part was getting the bill - 2 people with 3 courses and a bottle of wine came in under $150.
(4)
Sally M.
Went for restaurant week and felt underwhelmed. After tax and tip, my meal cost $60. I would have paid $30 MAX for the meal that I ate. The portions were tiny and the food tasted bland--nothing special, and certainly nothing worth $60. Their entrees looked more promising, though, so maybe worth trying regularly.
(1)
Monica S.
Actual rating is 3 1/2 stars. Nightwood was highly recommended by friends and thought this might be a good place to celebrate my husband's birthday. Going in with high expectations, it was disappointing that the overall experience was just a tad above average. The food was tasty but the prices for some of their dishes were too expensive. Because they use locally grown seasonal vegetables and their menu changes daily, that is a plus and we will try this place again but without preconceived expectations.
(3)
Ryan P.
I am still obsessed! How do other restaurants lose their magic after a few months, but Nightwood is still as delicious and special as the first time I came? Idk, but I looove it. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. And I am still thinking about that delicious meyer lemon dish, it was so amazing!
(5)
Sophia A.
Went here for my brother's 20th birthday. This is the brother that loves a good meal but will make a scene wherever he goes. (He once loudly sang peanut butter jelly time in the middle of Spiaggia.) Since it was a party of 12, you'd think they'd send us to the basement. However, they were really accommodating and gave us a large table near the kitchen. They might have regretted that move once they saw my suburbanite parents whip out the camcorder and camera that has a lighting storm of flashes and endlessly take photos against the mirror and towards the kitchen staff and servers. Or when my brother decided to randomly make gorilla or dog noises. (Huge mea culpa, Nightwood!) But they were really nice and at least showed some good humor about it. Phew. But my oh my, LOVED the food. Love how the menu changes. (Also love whoever's handwriting that is. The "g"s are cute.) Love the cocktails and their extensive use of Koval's products. And I really love it when a restaurant puts sardines in the spotlight and prepares it in a way that can convert sardine-haters into lovers of the fish underdog. The gnocchi & gruyere app was ordered again once the sibling realized how awesome it was. The entrees need no explanation. You can't go wrong. I guess only thing i was meh about were the desserts. They were good, but I guess since everything else was so incredible - they ended just being an afterthought for us. Definitely returning to try the brunch!
(4)
Kate L.
Love at first bite: Fresh doughnuts with a butterscotch bacon glaze, accompanied by mini donut holes, lightly tossed in cinnamon and sugar. My first taste, of my first (and as of yet only) visit to Nightwood, and it was one of those tastes that you just want to keep going and going in your mouth. I've said it before, I'm a sucker for donuts. Correction: I'm a sucker for FRESH donuts. I don't generally bother with donuts unless they're fresh, it just seems like a waste of time, taste and calories otherwise. This was not just a fresh donut, though, this was the BEST fresh donut I've had in recent memory. I will be back for the donuts alone, however, the entree I had was amazingly tasty as well; a somewhat unusual, though not that different of a take on eggs benedict. Fresh english muffins topped with spicy cabbage, perfectly poached eggs with the yolks still runny and hollandaise drizzled on top. There was also a strangely large amount of fresh frissee lettuce on top, just under the hollandaise, obscuring most of the other elements on the plate. I suppose I should have been thankful for a little fresh, uncooked green addition to my brunch, which is somewhat of a rarity, and I think it would have been a good idea perhaps, if only the amount had been a bit smaller, and the leaves themselves had been cut down into more manageably-edible sized pieces. Overall, it was still really good eggs benedict In addition to the eggs benedict part of the eggs benedict, you also get "tots", which are like a tater tot but 20 times better, or a round, extra crispy mini latke ball. Rejoice: now you can order tater tots as part of your breakfast without regret. One last thing I must mention which was absolutely wonderful is that on a Sunday, at around 12:30, my friend and I were able to sit down for brunch in Chicago without waiting. With such good food on offer, and a lovely seating area too, I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with this picture, but me and my hunger happily accepted not having to wait. Another last, last thing: I had planned another trip to Nightwood for brunch on Saturday the week after my first visit, but sadly learned that they only have brunch on Sunday. Devastating.
(5)
First L.
We always wondered why there were so many dandily-dressed folks meandering around South Halsted late at night...and finally found out for ourselves. We started with the salted butter, flaky pastry-like biscuits and cocktails, the Four Under Par (vodka, sweat tea, lime) and gin concoction that was strong but not otherwise memorable. We followed the cocktails with some Provencal Rose wine, bread, and foie gras (just coming back from France made this even more delectable). The grilled foie gras was quite well done with fresh Michigan cherries and birch syrup. For our mains, we had the cavatelli with chantarelles and an incredible ratatouille. As with the appetizers, they were incredible. The portions seemed small for Chicago, but were actually very filling. Dessert had to wait until next time, although MANY fantastic looking pastries were delivered to tables all around us. It was a bit loud and the service - although good - was pretty affected. It also seemed that horn-rimmed glasses (think Buddy Holly or Elvis Costello) are part of the mandatory uniform for both guests and waitstaff alike. Outdoor seating enviable on a cooler night. More later after we try the brunch.
(4)
Paulius N.
butterscotch bacon donut fantasy delight quiet orgasm One tremendous Sunday brunch. The bacon butterscotch donut was a mind blower. And frankly, I'm not a big fan of this bacon fad, but this was insanely great. Sturgeon chowder; awesome. Homemade tots; priceless. A kitchen in full view; major props. Bravo. Carry on.
(5)
Lauren C.
Best Manhattan in the city! The food was so good. The service was fun, chill and clever. We can't wait to go back and sit at the kitchen bar. We had the spit roasted chicken. I have to say I still like Popeye's in Lake Geneva, BUT it was really good. The Blueberry dessert was so good. SO good.
(4)
Ray d.
Just had sunday brunch this past weekend with a large group. The food was amazing! My personal favorite was the bacon covered doughnuts (I know, I know...). However, the service seemed a bit lacking. I suspect this is just growing pains that any new restaurant has, but a number of things went wrong. Half our table had food for almost 10 minutes before the last person's dish came out. Had to ask for cream for our coffee, and the food took far too time (hence the complimentary bacon doughnuts). Overall, it was a great time. And I'm willing to chalk up the service issues to it being new, but it really needs to be addressed...
(4)
P P.
I am actually rating this place 4.5 stars. I went there this past weekend with a friend. I had the Spaghetti alla Chitarra and my friend had the trout which actually really looked more like a salmon. We both loved our food. The ambiance inside is great. Nice and dim with a contemporary urban feel to it. They do have a small outdoor seating area which is where we chose to sit since it was a nice evening. I actually can't wait to go back. I didn't give it 5 stars only because of our waiter. He was constantly coming by to ask how we were doing, if we wanted anything else, etc... it was a bit excessive which made it hard to hold a long conversation without interruption.
(4)
Swati B.
Came here on a sunday around 11am for brunch, we had a party of 10 and had reservations, we arrived on time but it took a few minutes to actually get seated...and then about 30 minutes for someone to actually acknowledge us downstairs, and then another 30 minutes for someone to take an order..did I mention I came with 3 pregnant women who were fiending for food??? My friend asked for the jalepeno biscuits first thing with her coffee...and another friend ordered an OJ...those items never made it to the table..needless to say, they were not happy. Sure it was extremely crowded..to the point where while you were waiting to be seated you either were going to elbow someone you didn't know..or be in the way of a server..it was just ridiculous! The menu definitely has a very random mix of items, things you likely would never imagine going together...I actually got the scrambled eggs with pea shoots, radishes and cream cheese with tater tots..it sounds...interesting i know..but actually it was DAMN good...now there aren't many vegetarian options here...and if you are vegan you can probably have some toast and jelly..but honestly not a vegan friendly place...a few girls had the goat cheese quiche which they raved about (and it was really tasty!), and the french toast that they had for the day was really amazing as well. They have a great list of morning cocktails...most girls loved their mimosas...the girls that had their bloody mary's thought it needed a lot more salt, as in like 3 more tablespoons but had a lot of spice... I hear that they change their menu weekly and that they have different variety, but I don't know if I would come back on a Sunday..maybe I'd have to come a little earlier in the day..the food was good no doubt but the service and crowd kind of make me want to stay away...
(3)
Tazeen C.
Awesome, unpretentious brunch spot --anywhere that serves tater tots gets bonus points in my book.
(4)
Cupcake C.
I wanted to LOVE this place. The atmosphere was good but it is no Avec. It was o.k. The salad was good. We had a chicken dish and a burger.
(2)
Katie G.
Yum. yum. yum. Everything about this place was fantastic! My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, and we both LOVED it. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the food....oh the food. The menu changes daily, and I can't wait to go back. Everything looked wonderful....I'll go back starving next time, so I can indulge a bit more! He had handmade pasta with jalapenos, some kind of creamy sauce, etc. He all but licked his plate. I had the whitefish with cauliflower, pumpkin seeds, olives....YUM. It was very light and very fresh. The drink list is very extensive (cocktails, craft beers, wine), albeit a bit pricey for the area. The only reason I gave this place a 4 out of 5 is because our waiter started to forget about us towards the end of our meal. Besides that, they've nailed just about every element: Ambiance: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Noise Level: 5 stars Service: 4 stars People Watching: 5 stars
(4)
Dave P.
Visited again, this time for Sunday morning brunch (a.k.a. Morningwood....ha ha ha I crack myself up sometimes.) Overall, a very pleasant experience. Menu is split between more basic and affordable options (granola, oatmeal, eggs, donuts, etc.) and more creative and expensive options. I had.... Intelligensia Coffee brewed to perfection Bloody Mary that was fresh tasting a spiced well...but almost unsalted. Chicken (wings) and Waffles....delicious but could have used a thigh for $14. Butterscotch and Bacon Donut...no review necessary. Others with me had... Bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, pickled winter veg, and "tots".....this was the best thing I ate. Mutton Omelet...very tasty but not exceptional. Rhubarb and cardamom crepes....again very tasty but not exceptional. Would certainly return...plus if you sign up for emails you can have the brunch menu emailed to you Saturday night so you can decide whether or not to get your ass out of bed Sunday morning.
(4)
kelly a.
Positives: love the decor, good ambiance, farm fresh ingredients, extensive wine list, daily menu, DELICIOUS buccantini, crunchy ramps, cool cocktail creations, close to Skylark. Negatives: terribly inattentive waiter, tough veal, the $9 plate of lettuce I had for an appetizer, bathroom was out of toilet paper.
(3)
Anisha A.
Nightwood shouldn't be confused with It's Always Sunny's NightMan, but should absolutely be chanted in the same singsong tune. Being fans of Lula, we made the trek to Pilsen to check it out. The scene did not disappoint, the food kinda did. Would recommend going here if you're a sucker for fun dining chairs or if your commute is under 7 minutes. Otherwise opt for Lula instead. Started with the short rib tortellini and beet salad, both respectable. For mains, had the goat. The waiter reveled in letting us know that the goat was, in fact, a kid goat. So we stamped our tickets to hell, eating the animal equivalent of a fetus. But it was sweet and interesting- bottomed with brioche and topped with an egg. Besides that, the trout was so-so and the pasta was slightly hardened and dry. For dessert, had the ganache tart with expresso ice cream. Almost lost a tooth biting into it.
(3)
Evan R.
I am just not impressed with this place. I live in the neighborhood and I don't feel that the food presented at Nightwood is worth the money that is being put on the menu. I have been here a few times for brunch, which I would recommend the Bacon Butterscotch donut, but you can get as good of a brunch down the street at Nana on Halsted for WAY less money. For dinner, this place is very overrated and I REALLY wanted to like this place after loving Lula Cafe for so long. The food is ok (everyone does a burger well these days)but it does not justify the prices. The menu is small but not very well thought out. Salmon appetizer with a salad for $15! The plate had like three bites of salmon. Come on dudes! The wine by the glass is too expensive too. Come on, it's Pilsen! Make the menu realistic. I don't feel that many local people eat here. It is for the people that look at NIghtwood as a destination dining experience. It definitely is not and it is not going to be somewhere where I go to or recommend again.
(2)
Lara E.
we went on a friday night. 2 people. no reservation. and were seated within 10 minutes. = nice. why 3 stars? - great ambiance and style. - a clueless waitress. when i ask a waitress about a particular dish, i expect more than her reading the menu to me. i say how's the burrata? she says "oh, it's good. it's served with honey and pears." well guess what? i could have determined that by reading the menu! a truly well trained staff would give you additional details about the preparation, the flavor, the ingredients (local/not?, etc), its popularity, etc. etc. sadly to say, she was nice but had peas for brains and having worked in food service before, i am not easy on these cute but totally clueless, deer-in-headlights waitresses working at nice, new american restaurants. on the food: good not spectacular. sweet potato ravioli = 3 small squares for 12 bucks. insanely great flavor. served with fried sage. just wish there was more.... burrata crostini = needed heat? something pickled? some acid?just anything to contrast the creaminess. sardines = lentils were excellent, but sardines were a leeeeetle too fishy. i mean really fishy. pecan pie = good portion. get a scoop of ice cream. yelpers that give nightwood 5 stars are almost always talking about brunch. i don't see very many 5 star dinner reviews. consistency is key nightwood!
(3)
Tom A.
We're in the camp of Lula fans who drove past Lula, trekked out of Logan Square into the unknowns of the Pilsen area to visit Nightwood -- and, given the online menus, I most certainly would not have ventured here without my extensive background at Lula. Skeptical, we let curiosity get the better of us. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed. I had high hopes and expectations, went out of my way and had my very nice friend treat me to a pricy meal which was rather lackluster. Vegetarian options are highly limited. 3 apps and one main course (two if you take them up on the spaghetti and meatballs hold the meatballs/pay for the meatballs anyway), so we got them all. Gnocchi app was quite excellent and is the only thing that could constitute a standout. Beet salad was ok; it had these huge deep fired croutons, which didn't add much. Pizza was ok. I'd like it more for a couple dollars less. Main course pasta dish was unforgivably salty. Borderline inedible. For the cost ($22!) i would expect more. It was mostly pasta and salt. Food cost must be in the 10% range on this item. I had some serious belly aches after the meal, which I am attributing to the not-particularly-cooked onions in this dish. No side vegetables available. Wine selection is rather large, mostly midlevel bottles with a few by the glass. We did well with a ~$35 bottle. Beer selection is decent. However, my 90 Min IPA came about 15-20 degrees below recommended serving temperature (50-55F). Although by now I know almost no restaurant can handle serving beer even remotely correctly, it does bother me every time. It's like getting a good red wine served to you in a mug at 34F. Non-iced filtered water (still or with gas) appreciated. Gelato by the scoop (@$2 each) is a nice little end to the meal. I do appreciate the availability of a smaller dessert, although 'full' desserts are also available. Staff: attentive, hip. Decor: dark, grey. Sort of cave-like. open kitchen.
(2)
constance p.
Always incredible! One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago
(5)
Joshua R.
Attention Nightwood owners/managers. If someone asked me what my favorite restaurant in Chicago was about 6 months ago, I would have said Nightwood. Don't get me wrong -- I love the vibe, love the quality of the food, love your servers. BUT, I've gone recently twice for special occasions and I think you're a victim of your own success. Each night you were out of like half the menu which was disappointing. The service and wait times have gotten borderline bad. The noise had become deafening. It's been hot as hell in the restaurant. Bottom line -- it's becoming not very pleasant!!?? Guys...WTF? Maybe you need to stop taking walk ins, I'm not sure. It's just too busy, too crowded, too hot, the service is starting to suck, and half your menu items on any given night are gone by 8PM!! Make some imporvements and you'll get 5 stars from me once more.
(2)
lesley h.
Loved this place for a great dinner with friends---we all enjoyed every one of our appetizers, entrees and desserts. Lovely setting, great service, will be back!
(5)
Jo Jo B.
Excellent! All of our dishes tasted fantastic, they definitely catered to my food allergies as well. This place can be quite noisy though, so prepare yourself for that. Other than that everything was great. It's definitely worth the trip.
(5)
K B.
Went back for brunch again with a group. This time I was disappointed. I would downgrade the entire brunch menu to a 3, but as long as you order what they do well you'll leave very happily. I had the griddle cakes topped beans and egg - it wasn't good. Someone at my table had the salad with I think rabbit or some other meat, and they were also disappointed. However, the bagel sandwich (this time with Trout), the hashbrowns, and the donuts are still killer. So get that if you for sure want a delicious meal. Otherwise I'm giving no guarantees.
I went here last tuesday, and upon looking at the menu I knew I was in for a good experience. This restaurant deals in authenticity that so many haut-cuisine wannabe Chicago restaurants sadly imitate. Our waiter was outstanding, we made conversation with him about the restaurant, its philosophy, and history. As for the food. On the day I was there, I had a mushroom soup which was ok to good. The taste was rich and creamy, yet the texture was watery for its intensity. My entree though, proved that there is some hope in this city. It was a sandwich with porter mustard (Old Rasputin Imperial Porter I was told, which is one of my favorites), pulled pork loin, and a fried egg. Fried egg seems cliche these days, but let me just say, in the same fashion as I said to our waiter, "Despite your daily menu changes, serving this pork any other way would be a war crime." It was absolutely stellar. The restaurant's ambiance, seats surround in the kitchen, and very cool looking outside area in the summer make it a winner. Shitty location, but I don't mind trekking to enjoy it.
(4)
Samuel M.
Wood Grilled Foie Gras - superbly smoky, a memorably unique twist on the classic seared style. Whole roasted striped bass with peas and bacon - the ends of the fish were ever-so-slightly slightly overdone, but otherwise perfect; the accompaniment truly elevated the fish. Buttermilk pot de creme - I'd have liked the buttermilk flavor to be more prevalent, but the dish was otherwise well-executed; the berries and pleasantly crumbly cornmeal cookies contributed to a harmonious dessert. Nightwood Manhattan - buffalo trace is almost too good to embellish, but the vermouth and bitters truly took it to the next level. Decor and ambiance were like the food - simple and understated, but truly pleasant. The one knock on the place was that the portions were a little small for the price, but I didn't mind, as the quality was superb.
(4)
Amanda Z.
One of the best brunch spots EVER. Definitely the best donut of my LIFE - that deserves the 5 stars, no question. Freshly fried Boston cream pie donut at Nightwood = best breakfast treat of all time. After this sensational bite, we wanted to be gluttonous and order the bacon butterscotch donut as well, but we were too full after our yummy breakfasts to have another donut. Next time for sure. My fiance had the fish tacos which were served deconstructed in a bowl w/all the ingredients and you make the taco yourself. He enjoyed it immensely, but I tried it and was not too impressed (however, I was NOT in the fish taco mood and I didn't like the hominy beans in it). I wanted some lighter fare even though the bagel fried egg sandwich looked sooooo freakin good. So I went with the whipped goat cheese with prosciutto and pears on a baguette...it was so decadent and I've never had anything like that. There were GOBS of goat cheese left over so the chef that made it quickly got me another piece of the wonderful bread to sop up all the goodness (we were sitting at the kitchen counter, which was really neat to see all the chefs in action and how quickly they put out all the food!). We also had the tots as a side, and boy were they delicious and different! Fried ball of hash browns, not a solid tot like you would expect...oh it was so wonderful. Service was a little slow but it didn't matter since we were entertained with watching the kitchen, but had we not been sitting there, it may have been a problem. I can't wait to go back to Nightwood for another amazing brunch (and for the bacon donut!!) and for dinner as well.
(5)
Jodi R.
Nightwood is deserving of its Michelin rating. Amazing brunch. Menu changes daily. They use fresh & local ingredients. Space is cool , inviting & comfy. Chocolate eclairs may be one of the best things I've eaten all year: homemade pastry with custard the likes of which I have never tasted. Please give me a vat of the chocolate topping. Hubby said the cheeseburger was one of the best he has ever eaten. Rolled omelet featured lentils & herbs. Portion was a bit small but every bite was perfect. Enjoyed the tator tots which are like a hush puppy made of potatoes . Hot chocolate is homemade , no package stuff here. Even though we live on the other side of town, Nightwood will now be in our rotation. Server was very friendly and helpful. Street parking not so much fun. Crowd is quite diverse.
(5)
David T.
Had dinner here tonight, and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. The dishes are all very seasonal and organic, so I would anticipate that the menu changes regularly. According to our gracious dinner host who is also friends with the owners, this is owned by the same couple that owns Lula Cafe in our 'hood, Logan Square. That being said, we had high expectations, and quite honestly those expectations were exceeded. We started out splitting some appetizers for the table which included onion rings with some kind of tasty cream sauce, and chicken liver pate. I also had a watermelon-tomato-mozzarella-bacon salad while my wife ordered a nectarine salad. We also had a very satisfying heirloom tomato and mozzarella soup. For my entree, I ordered the wood-grilled whole trout (which was excellent) and also sampled the spaghetti with lobster as well as the steak. Everything was very flavorful and well-prepared. I didn't have a chance to review the wine list as our host selected the wines, but we had an excellent Zin from Mendocino County, a crisp Gruner Veltliner from Austria, and a delicate sparkling Rose from France. Judging from the quality of the wines we enjoyed, I would assume that the rest of the wine list was also of equal caliber. For dessert, we split a chocolate gelato as well as a salted butterscotch gelato, and also had a sampling of a super-rich chocolate cake. Again, the quality of the desserts was on par with the rest of our meal. As for service, our waiter was very friendly and very attentive and seemed to have a very good grasp of the menu. We are definitely returning, and will likely try to get a seat by the kitchen.
(4)
Jims L.
Forgot I ate here, Yelp is telling me I did. Had brunch. It was decent. Will try dinner next time.
(3)
Mallory G.
Came here for brunch on Easter Sunday - 5 stars for the bacon butterscotch donut. The bacon is extra bacon-y, perhaps it's bacon-infused bacon and combined with the butterscotch, this could be one of my favorite foods in Chicago. However, donuts do not a brunch make. I had the rabbit omelette and my dad had the ramchillada. He loved the ramchillada, probably because it was huge, I thought it was good but nothing to write home about. My rabbit omelette was just ok - wished I had tried the smoked trout bagel sandwich. The donuts live up to the hype...everything else, meh. Went to Longman & Eagle the day before for brunch (it was a good brunch weekend!) and I was far more impressed. My favorite part of the restaurant was probably the aesthetic, unfortunately for Nightwood, this isn't a design review.
(3)
Beer H.
My wife works down the street, and we have been wanting to try Nightwood for some time. We made a reservation for 8:30. We were about 15 minutes early. The hostess said that we would be seated at our reservation time. Little did I know there were multiple groups of people with reservations waiting to be seated. At about 8:45 we started talking to the group standing by us, and they had a reservation for 8:00. I told them I would have been long gone if I were you! They said that they probably would have ,but they gave them free champaign. A few minutes later they were seated. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and offered us free champaign. Not being "champaign people" we declined, and told her that if we were not seated before 9:00 we were going to have to leave. We were finally seated at 8:59. If it was a Friday or a Saturday I would understand this, but it is a Thursday. I understand that is isn't the burbs, and sometimes you have to wait a little longer to eat at the new-hot spots. However, if you are having problems seating people on around their reservation time you should stop taking them. The have a good beer and wine list, but that is what I would expect from a restaurant like this. They sever brought out some bread with goat cheese and rhubarb preserves. It was good, and I tend not too like goat cheese. I had the the confit duck leg with turnip greens salad. The duck leg cam with most of the meat missing from the duck leg. I tried to rationalize it by saying, maybe it is some fancy way to plate it. Also, the duck wasn't that great. The turnip green salad was awesome! There wasn't much to it, it was bitter, sweet, and salty all at the same time! Very interesting! My wife had the pollenate tart with olive oil poached egg. It was ok, it was differnent. She liked it, but it wasn't for me. Sorry, I didn't think the food was that great. And telling us we would be seated at our reservation time when they knew that we wouldn't be seated for a long time pissed me off. Both of those things shouldn't happen from a place with a reputation like this. I'm not going back!
(2)
Annie R.
Food not as good as I hoped but the experience was super.
(4)
Becca S.
I went for brunch and just loved it. We had a reservation and still had to wait a bit, but got a seat at the bar and had a Bloody Mary made with PBR instead of vodka. UM, yum! Everything on the menu looked amazing. My friend and I split the butterscotch and bacon donut (could have just had that for my brunch) and we each got the soft shell crab hoagie I think it was called. It was good but really big and we almost could have split it. I know this sounds contradictory, but the crab was a little too fishy. I think I might have been happier with something else, but my meal was good enough to keep me coming back. Plus, thanks Pilsen for having loads of free street parking.
(3)
Suzanne K.
Nightwood has been the perfect gem in Pilsen. It's so dangerously close to where we live, that I would go there often, if I could! What I love most is that the menu changes based on what foods/ingredients are in season. My husband and I have been there for dinner and brunch, both very good. You can find dishes that satisfy every palate, from fresh cut pastas to even one of the tastiest burgers. Brunch offers tasty doughnuts of the day, chicken and waffles and an amazing cup of coffee. They have a wonderful wine, beer and cocktail list to complement your food as well.
(5)
Matt J.
Pretty good food but in my opinion, didn't live up to the hype. Based on the reviews and the lines outside we've been wanting to come here for some time. We called and got in early on Saturday night. Once we found the door (hint: it's on the North side and you have to walk through the patio), we were quickly seated in the "window corner". For appetizers we had the duck ravioli and fried green tomatoes. Both were excellent. As an appetizer, I got the "vietnamese sandwich" (pate, shredded meatballs, veggies on a french roll). A very good sandwich, but ultimately more bar food than an entree in a fine dining restaurant. My girlfriend got the trout and she enjoyed it, but it wasn't life-changing. We finished up with the warm apple cake and sorbet/gelato combo. The apple cake was EXCELLENT. The best dish of the meal. The sorbet and gelato's were just OK. The vanilla bean gelato just tasted like vanilla ice cream. All in all a good meal, but didn't live up to the hype. That said, I'm not sure that the restaurant itself has made it out to be anything more than what it is. Therefore, the 4th star. I'd go back, but it's not at the top of the list.
(4)
Amanda S.
Went again on a Monday night and found out they have 1/2 price bottles of wine, so I'm adding a star! Now all they have to do is offer the bacon donuts for dessert and it will be perfection :)
(5)
Russ S.
it's pretty good. The whole place was full of those types.. you know what I'm talking about.. semi-fat, middle aged managers from the burbs. But hey, rich people, nah mean.
(4)
Elizabeth T.
I wanted this place to rock my world. But I guess that's like going into the movie you've been hearing excited utterances about for months--you can only be disappointed. I love the space here. I love the location. I love the design. I love the concept. But the food? Meh. I get that the simple presentation and preparation are the style here but there was just no punch to anything I ate. I have no doubt it is high quality food, but my pork was just boring, my date's trout lacked any real flavor much less punch and he disliked that the skin had not been crisped. I like the minimalist presentation. But I kept waiting for the one dish that would make my mouth just curl in delight. And, surprisingly, I didn't get that pretty much the whole night, save for the bread pudding desert. Disappointing? Yes. Expensive? Yes. But we'll be back, have no doubt. I'm giving it a month or two to work out the kinks. I'm hopeful!
(3)
Courtland H.
This place has one of the best brunch's in Chicago. A little off the beaten path, but not hard to get to at all, everything was top notch. Not a huge menu, but what they did have was excellent. The bacon donuts, delicious, the eggs very creamy and good, the hash brown tater tots were the size of tumbleweed from an old western. They were definitely the highlight of the meal. Service was quick and attentive, and the coffee was great. Most places have watered down diner coffee, these guys had the good stuff and were not stingy about it. When we walked in the lady asked if we have reservations, never thought you could make brunch reservations but i guess people do. I myself cannot predict how i will feel on a Sunday morning, and what hour past noon i will getup. Recap - awesome, definitely check it out. outdoor patio looked like it would be nice in the summer, not so much with 6 inches of snow o the ground
(5)
Alee B.
Came in a larger group, celebrating a birthday, and our crew included a vegetarian. I'll get my one negative comment out of the way first: there was only 1 entree (and no pasta) for the vegetarian. She was a little bummed, but she ordered the veg option (stuffed peppers) and absolutely loved it. Moving on... So we ordered several apps. The fried lemons were heavenly. The grilled (but cold) octopus was a stretch for some of the more conservative eaters in our group, but it went over well. The burratta was rich and smooth, it just needed more than 4 pieces of toast for a bigger party! For entrees, we had a veal pasta with ravioli which was fantastic. Lemony ricotta filling and succulent veal, all around great. We also ordered the tuna spaghetti. I wanted to try it, but the person that ordered it loved it so much, he refused to share! We also had a whole roasted fish at the table. Only complaint with that was there were a few pin bones, which made the eater a little nervous. The last in our crew ordered the cheeseburger (which we didn't understand being at a place with such great food!), but she said it was one of the best she'd had in a while, so mission accomplished. We finished the night with a plate of cookies, some cinnamon and vanilla ice creams, and blueberry cake. While the rest of the food was great, the desserts were easily the best part of the night. And I can't go without mentioning the coffee. I usually base my return to a restaurant based on their coffee and Nightwood doesn't miss. It was clearly fresh, smooth, and had great balance. I had to peek at the bar to check what they were using and of course, the bartender told me it was a blend, specially made for them! It just means I'll have to come in for the coffee more often. Have heard great things about brunch, so that may be my next trip in...
(4)
Nathan K.
I came with a friend on Friday night and we were both very impressed - it was well worth the trip from the north side. The ambiance is warm, sophisticated and modern without being cold contemporary. The service was equally warm, staff greeted and served us with genuine warmth and grace. And the meal was fantastic, although I was a little underwhelmed with the pretzels and chocolate dessert (but then again, it was as described so my fault for ordering). I'll be back soon. Northsiders who rarely leave their red line corridor shouldn't fear a trek; the restaurant is right on the 8 bus and about a 10 minute walk from the Halsted orange line.
(5)
Simone L.
You will never be disappointed by anything you have here. Everything is prepared perfectly from the best ingredients. The atmosphere is hip but relaxed.
(5)
Dennis J.
Even if the only positive part of my experience was the bacon and butterscotch donuts, it would still get all 5 stars. They're THAT good! I had been to their sister restaurant (Lula's Cafe) before and loved it and was happy to have a similarly excellent meal here. We also came back for dinner a few weeks later and it was also great. Surprisingly good cocktails!
(5)
R R.
It is the first day of Restaurant week and my boyfriend and I decided to try Nightwood in Pilsen. I have driven by some many times that I needed to see what it was all about and it had some nice write ups in Time Out magazine. We got there on time for our reservation and the place was packed. Once we were seated, I immediately read the prix fixe menu for restaurant week and there were NO vegetarian options! You had a choice of chicken or pork as your main course. I was so shocked and disappointed that it immediately colored my opinion of the restaurant. It touts that it is local, organic and sustainable. Usually that also means Vegetarian friendly. So I was not able to participate in the "restaurant week experience" and my boyfriend was able to enjoy a 4 course $44 menu. So I reluctantly went to their usual menu and choose the fried Meyer lemon and Mizuna salad ($9) and Pumpkin ravioli ($14) as my main course. The only other vegetarian option was Hominy, Chickpea and beet creation for $16. It did not sound appetizing. I received the salad and it had 5 fried thin lemon slices and a small (I mean tiny -would fit in a table spoon) heap of Mizuna greens. It was tasty and who knew fried meyer lemon was yummy, but it was so small that I finished in 3 bites. My boyfriend's first course of lemon cheese bread with mixed greens was HUGE compared to serving and just as tasty. So I of course had salad envy. He got his second course of fish roe /egg mix on toast. I was not a fan but the meat eating boyfriend liked it. Then the mains came. Surprisingly the pasta was very good and the presentation was very modern, but again it was tiny in portion. I had 3 average size ravioli on my plate with a smear of sauce on the side. I really wish they would increase the portion of what little vegetarian friendly food they have. My boyfriend got a nice size piece of chicken with turnips. We finished the night with dessert and finally that is when everything felt right. He had bread pudding, which was great and I had a trio of ice cream (red velvet, vanilla and blood orange sorbet). We had a spoon war over the ice cream. So in conclusion, the meal was "ok" but still teetering on "lack luster" for the experience and price ($128 with tax and tip). I do not think I will be revisiting Nightwood for any future meals until they become more veggie friendly. PS: Nightwood, we veggie folks like gourmand experiences as well; and if Joel Robuchon can provide a stellar vegetarian experience, so can you! Note: Street Parking is hard on Friday night. You may need to park south of Cermak on Halsted and walk back up to the restaurant. Watch yourself! Chitown Veg Gal
(2)
Rett L.
Went back. Perfectly as awesome as the first time. CHRIST I love when this happens. The kicker is that I was suffering from the type of sinus infection that ends wars. But with a reservation and my significant other having a rare night off, I said "screw my nasal misery, we are going to Pilsen." So we did, armed with an actual box of tissues and my near deafness due to congestion. There is NO way our waitress did not take into account my disgusting state of doom. If I had been serving myself, I would have surely taken a step back and downed a shot of hand sanitizer. Our waitress, rather, recommended a zesty drink to clear my sinuses, did not cringe when I surely yelled at her about the duck heart pasta and where the bathroom was, and immediately brought out some delicious biscuits about which I bellowed I had enjoyed so much in a previous visit. Once again, our order was coursed with timeliness, our drinks were refreshed without question, and the food... well. the FOOD, This is what it is - I feel like I am on vacation at this restaurant. The only other place you feel so comfortable and spoiled is staying with your Great Aunt Sue in Vancouver. The aunt with the wine cellar in the basement and the farm handed down generation after generation and her own special recipe for whipped butter and, of course, Puffs plus Lotion in the rehabbed victorian bathroom. You know. That aunt.
(5)
Sara G.
I sometimes wish I had a bottomless stomach and elastic waist jeans. I came here on Sunday for the B Words: Brunch and Binge. Its very dangerous in a good way because you can get chicken and waffles and donuts and booze all under one roof. What a combo. It gets better: its affordable. I'm not sure how this is possible but I wish I lived next door to Nightwood, or maybe not. If I lived next door I'd need bigger pants.
(5)
Debra R.
a new favorite. i want to LIVE at nightwood. adorable outdoor seating, cozy indoor seating, bar overlooking the kitchen and adorable private dining space downstairs. i went with my man on thanksgiving eve on my way outta town. we didn't have a reservation and they asked if we wanted to sit in the restaurant or at the bar overlooking the kitchen. the bar sounded interesting so we took her up on it. what a great choice - so neat to watch the chefs at work!! we kept a hold of a menu so to figure out what each dish was as we saw it being prepared. our waiter was adorable. i wanted to put the fellow freckled in my pocket. he was very attentive and patient with us even when i asked him to explain almost everything on the menu. i finally decided on a nice glass of red wine to go with my beet salad and trophie pasta. next up was the rolls. we could have eaten these rolls all night. they are those delicious kind that are flakey and you can peel off the layers. my favorite!! all in all - great place, terrific service, amazing food - did i mention that it is all from local sustainable sources?! my only advice is they should obtain a list from the baker for the ingredients in the dessert items as we had asked for something with no nuts due to allergy but couldn't get a definite answer as the baker was not around. i can't wait to go back for brunch now that i have experienced an amazing dinner!
(5)
Zenia R.
is slowly becoming my favorite weekend breakfast/brunch spot. the food is always super fresh. the donuts are absolutely delicious and i love the changing menu. their take on hashbrowns is a fantastic, crispy potato ball of goodness. i've enjoyed every meal there and look forward to my next visit. reservations highly recommended.
(5)
Joyce H.
Was recently there with my husband on the 1/2 off wine Monday night which is a really great value. The wine menu is huge and varies in pricing. We had a delicious italian red. I wanted to try several things on the menu since they all looked so interesting. We tried the fried meyer lemon chips with aioli. Super delicious. We were feeling a little adventurous and tried the veal sweetbreads. We did know what they were and although they were very tasty, we both had a hard time finishing it, knowing what we were eating. It was just a mental thing. We're glad we tried them but probably won't order them again. Let's see, we also had the pasta with pistachios and ricotta butter. I really enjoyed this dish. It was very flavorful, yet simple ingredients. I would get it again for sure. We then split a burger and my husband really enjoyed it. I love burgers but for some reason just wasn't into it. I can't really explain it. Delicious fries alongside. Really nice server and host staff. A friendly place with an interesting menu if you're looking to try that sort of thing.
(3)
Kristin J.
Awesome! Only two small complaints: 1) Host was a little snooty about our 25 minute tardiness, and while we were waiting (understandable, since we were later), the bar was super crowded so we awkwardly hovered between the packed bar and some poor couple's table, despite several tables being unoccupied at that time. 2) Pasta plates were a bit small, but so rich and delicious that I didn't really mind (and the waitress had warned us they were "smaller entrees"). Everything else, great: 1) Honey butter and biscuits brought over after we ordered were unexpected in this kind of restaurant but delicious (if a wee bit salty). 2) Drinks were tasty and not too strong. I had the pink whippet, she had some sort of concord grape concoction that did not bring to mind the slightly tart and overly sweet artificial taste of most grape beverages. 3) Starter of beets, avocado in some sort of lime-cilantro marinade, and whipped goat cheese was fantastic. The three separate little piles of flavor complemented each other very well and also worked well together on the accompanying bread. 4) Pasta dishes (I got farfalle with mornay, crab and pea shoots, my dinner partner had rigatoni bolognese) were both flawless. Right amount of sauce, pasta was cooked perfectly al dente (just the right amount of chewiness) and tasted super-fresh, and the cook was not stingy on the other components (crab/ pea shoots/ meat). 5) Buttermilk panna cotta with citrusy shortbread wafer, honey citrus salad and sweet citrus syrup was the perfect, balanced end to our meal. Not too sweet, just tart enough, and the panna cotta was small but didn't overwhelm with its creaminess. 6) Waitress and bus boy were both super attentive and out water was constantly refilled.
(4)
Rick F.
Nice environment, great food, parking available. A bit picier than I would have liked, but still ok. Good selection of beers. Just what this neighborhood needed.
(4)
Elisse B.
The bartenders's have an impressive amount of sex appeal...also the food was phenomenal.
(5)
Richard F.
One of my favorite spots in the spring/summertime. Nice date spot. Menu changes from time to time which is pretty cool because you don't get stuck on going to a place for one particular dish. They encourage you to try other dishes. Want to try brunch on a sunday though...
(5)
Anne H.
The food is extraordinary. Truly. We sat overlooking the kitchen and one could see the dedication and care that the chefs were putting into each and every dish. It was fascinating to observe. But what I really want to talk about is the service. Every single person we encountered at this restaurant was amazing. From the hostess to the bartender to the server...everyone went above and beyond the call of duty to make our visit enjoyable. We were pretty late for our reservation and they did not send us away. Our food came promptly and we were asked frequently if everything was ok? The bartenders were superb. One doesn't always get offered a glass of water with your cocktail. I know this may seem small but it was an amazing gesture in a crowded bar on a Saturday night. I know I am running out of adjectives here but I just have to mention the bartender again. We were having lots of trouble getting a cab in the rain and seeing our distress he helped by calling one and offering us a glass of wine while we waited. His concern truly touched me. Thank you everyone at Nightwood.
(5)
Dina I.
Only a few minutes south of my condo, so I've been here quite a few times. The only bad experience I had was when we arrived for a late meal on a weekend, and they were out of pretty much everything on their menu. Other than that, dependable meals every time. They had an impressive rose wine list this past summer!
(4)
Joe S.
Really delicious and very good. Nice and highly enjoyable. Pleasing aromas. Great seating and top shelf drinks. Wine has a nice bouquet. Neat menu.
(4)
Brie Y.
I came here for dinner on a Saturday during restaurant week. Sad to say I was not impressed with the food, they are trying really hard but it just missed the mark. The best thing was my second course which was a foie gras stuffed ravioli. The meyer lemon garlic bread was too strong came with a side of greens. The salad was good, nothing to write home about. The third courses were OK I think I lucked out with the chicken, even though the sauce didn't have too many layers and once again it came with a side of greens. Dessert was the best, I tried both dishes for restaurant week, the sourdough pudding and the "brownies ice cream" to dumb it down, both were better than the main courses. Also tried the red velvet and chocolate ice cream, very tasty and I am not even a big sweet person. Over all take the $44 which turned into $77 a person with a bottle of wine tax and tip. Much better places where the $33 menu is amazing. This is off the list, sorry to say, I will not be back anytime soon.
(2)
Karen O.
Great brunch spot - well worth the drive to Pilsen. Agree with other posters that the beer & bacon donuts are a highlight... the bagel sandwich was exactly as messy and delicious as it should be. Check out the kitchen table - awesome view of the proceedings.
(4)
annie r.
so this sunday, i visited nightwood for the second time for brunch. once again, the experience was fabulous. i didn't realize it, but the menu changes (i'm not sure how often, but last time i was there was about a month ago, nothing was the same) and the food ordered by all parties on all occasions was delicious. this past time: my brunch date and i split a very tasty maple and bacon donut, sometimes i'm not such a huge fan of bacon mixed with sweet, but this one was definitely a good combination. for my meal, i had the tomato and parmesan polenta with stewed beef and baguette toast. he had the brussel sprout scramble with tots. yum yum yum. plus, good coffee, nice waiter and no wait for a table. time before: i dont remember what my friend had and really, i dont care, because i had the most unbelievable chicken (fried chicken like no other) and waffles (crunchy AND fluffy, mindboggling) that i've ever experienced, with a habenero/peach/apple compote. gaggity gaggity. i was kind of hoping it would be on the menu again, but no such luck. its good for me because otherwise, i would never try anything else. mm mm mm definitely will be back. also, decor is fabulous. and so much more comfortable than lula.
(5)
Adam S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Great scene, great food, just go.
(5)
Celine S.
A friend referred me to Nightwood after raving about the quality and unique taste. There's no doubt, the ambiance is very nice in a sort of unpretentious way. We decided to be seated outside on the covered patio. I would recommend dining outside to those who would like the fresh air minus the direct sunlight exposure. DRINKS: We ordered about four drinks, each of them very unique and what I'd call "grown up drinks''. They were good, complex, and stiff with just enough flavor to make them smooth palatable-certainly worth the the twelve bucks. We also had their Moscato Diasti, which was delicious! Even for myself, one who isn't a huge fan of sweet white wine. FOOD: I ordered the lamb and my partner ordered the pasta. We also had the smelt for as an appetizer. There's no doubt the food quality was impeccable. Don't let the small portions deter you. Although, I'm a fan of large dishes, I'm also aware that when food is of high quality and richness, it doesn't take as much to to feel satiated. The smelt was our favorite dish of all. It's breaded, lightly salted and had very little oil. The lamb was served with polenta. Although it was supposed to have squid, there was only one small piece in the whole plate. I enjoyed the texture of the meat, however the flavor wasn't for me. It reminded me of salty bbq. I enjoy salty sweet flavors, but not with my lamb. I tried the pasta with ricotta cheese and again they seemed have gotten carried away with the salt a bit. It' didn't really taste like like a pasta dish to me. Again, the quality, service and ambiance was super. I think those who are huge fans of traditional ultra gourmet style American cuisine will appreciate this place. It just wasn't for me.
(3)
Hannah B.
Hurrah for Nightwood! I've always loved the Lula, and so I've been excited to try Nightwood, especially as it is a quick trip from downtown, making it a good option for an after-work dinner. DH and I arrived around 7:00 on a recent week night. There was no wait for the outdoor patio, so we took advantage of that. I would warn you that some of the patio chairs have backs, and some are more of the tree-stump stool variety. We had the latter, and DH's back hurt by the end of dinner. Other than that, we were very pleased with the patio, which is covered by a roof that has clever skylights to let in some light, but not to overwhelm you with intense summer sun. (Also means that you could eat out there in a light rain too.) (The interior of the restaurant also looked very cool, but we didn't spend any time inside.) The place was really filling up by about 8:00, even on a weekday, so go early because they don't take reservations! (And, if I may be allowed to digress for a moment: why not?? If you want to service walk-ins as well, limit the number of reservations you take, but please, please permit me to make a reservation!) The dining experience itself was top-notch. Our server - apparently Vivian Y's maligned "faux hawk"- sporting server - was attentive in an unobtrusive way. All other aspects of service, including the wait time for food, etc., was well-executed. No complaints there. The food was a glory of simplicity and fresh ingredients. I hesitated to tell you too much because by the time you go, the menu will have changed. (I experienced great disappointment at having missed the fried asparagus described by others in prior reviews.) But I will say that the fried fresh mozzarella with bacon and apricot -- bacon works with nearly everything! -- was a particular highlight, as was DH's spaghetti with bolognese. As I said before, all the preparations were fairly simple. The flavors are straightforward -- no competition between discordant elements in your mouth -- and so you could really taste what the food was supposed to taste like. Quite refreshing! For dessert, we opted for the cookie plate. I wished that we could have eaten a whole bunch of the almond cookies, which are so much better fresh from the oven! The drinks were also quite good. I sampled one of the house cocktails, which was made with fresh juice and went down smoothly. DH is an avowed hop-head, and he approved of the beer list, particularly the prices on some microbrews that are pricier elsewhere. Yes, it was somewhat pricier than Lula, but worth it. We will be back!
(4)
maggie t.
Seriously fantastic. My friend and I ordered three appetizers and two mains and each was perfect. Great, if only a few, vegetarian options. Undoubtedly the best Chicago dining experience I've had in two years.
(5)
Aaron J.
The trout and smelts are tasty, as is the butter lettuce with bacon. My veal didn't have a whole lot of edible meat but I liked the flavor. The danger is that you might leave a little hungry if you're a big guy. We chose more alcohol instead of dessert so I can't comment there. The decor is pleasantly modern and service was attentive without being annoying. I'm sure I'll go back, before 7PM to avoid the crowd.
(4)
Andrew S.
nightwood came highly recommended. the service, food and cocktails met expectations. craft specialty cocktails were delicious-sucker for anything with chartreuse. ravioli was incredibly rich. burger and fries surpassed any burger in the same price point. intimate, upscale ambiance yet casual. will definitely return.
(5)
Temple H.
This is my 1st restaurant review. My dining experience @ Nightwood was so 'strong' that I felt that I had to write a review, and write it as soon as I returned from this dining experience. Let's start w/ the positive: The restaurant itself is quite lovely - very old school chicago (exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, tray/tin ceiling): hip but not pretentious, great light (from gorgeous fixtures and great huge windows in the front room where we were sitting), good looking bar, loved the music (80s/90s 'Pretty in Pink'), The whole environment was friendly and welcoming, really liked the crowd (all ages, but didn't see any kids - it was a school night). Our party didn't arrive 'til nearly 40 min after our reservation time (crazy rush hour traffic); but not worries - the staff was wonderful, understanding, we had drinks in the walled terrace til everyone arrived and our table was waiting. Now for the not-so-good: the food. The appetizers were fussy and not that tasty. W/ the exception of the Rabbit Pate (yumm!). The entrees, spec. the cheeseburger, and chicken were abysmal. The chicken was undercooked/veggies burned, the cheeseburger was a soggy mess on a stale huge bun that was as hard as a rock, the fries - tasteless mush. Wine by the glass was actually a glass filled 1/4 full - for $13! And I don't get the wine list at all - very little that was actually interesting (way too trendy). Dessert was equally dissapointing - tasteless glop (the torte), a tiny scoop of ice cream. The rasberry/lemon tart was just okay. For some reason, even though Chi-town is having an unusually cool August, the air conditioner was on full frigid blow AND they had fans blowing. At every table most people ate w/ their coats on (I'm not exaggerating), my husband was kind enough to run to the car for a blanket for my legs - and I had long pants on. At the end our party of 6 spent more than $100 each. Yep $600+ not inc. the mandatory 20% tip. For the 1st time ever, I left a restaurant hungry. We had to stop at a drive thru on the way home. Nearly every review I've read @ Nightwood has been positive. I don't know what went wrong: an off night, the stars were misaligned? All I know is that I hope the restaurant uses every cent we paid b/c we will never return.
(1)
Kristina C.
I recently came here for brunch. Butterscotch bacon donut - orgasmic. Bloody mary - tasty. Eggs Benedict - to die for.
(4)
Cory R.
Went to dinner Tuesday night with 4 other people. Service and hospitality were excellent. They were very friendly and accommodating. They also didn't rush us through dinner, which is always a great sign of a nice place. Highlights of the night were the fried smelt and heirloom tomato appys. The duck breast and ratatouille were both amazing and highly recommended. The ratatouille had an almost Moroccan flair to it. Entres are around $20, so mid priced but very worth it. Try the duck!
(4)
Colin K.
I have to update about a dish I had last night at Nightwood: Hand-cut noodles with grilled beef short rib, white anchovy, olives, and spicy peppers. The anchovy overpowered everything! Don't get me wrong, I love white anchovies in Caesar salads. But this was too much; I couldn't even taste the beef. It was kinda like the Food Network show where they start with random ingredients and have to create something out of it. Despite that, the noodles were amazing with the kind of texture you only get from homemade noodles. This place remains one of my favorites in the city.
(5)
Alana H.
As a big fan of Lula Cafe, I was excited to hear that the culinary masters behind this fine establishment had opened a new restaurant. I arrived early to find ample free street parking (21st and Halsted) and a charming exterior with an impressive back patio. Entering through the patio gave me almost a feeling of going into someone's home through their back porch. I was greeted by the hostess who kindly suggested I wait at the bar for the rest of my party. Every cocktail on the menu was enticing but, being a Bourbon girl, I settled on the Bear Paw which was complex, flavorful, and ever so tasty with hints of allspice, maple, and citrus. Only complaint is that they issued a sales tax on the drinks (Is it just me or is that atypical?). Once my dad arrived, we were seated at a great two-top by the window. Every item on the menu, which changes constantly depending on local and seasonal availabilty, made my mouth water. I split an appetizer, pasta, and main course. Everything was flavorful, unique and absolutely delicous but the main cource was most impressive to me. It was lamb and octopus pieces interspersed on a skewer with an apricot barbeque sauce and a smattering of some sort of delicious grits type thing. Awesome twist on surf 'n turf and delectable! Dessert was a butterscotch creme pudding-type thing with shortbread dipping cookies and fresh, tasty coffee complete with brown sugar cubes and fresh creme. Beer list was also impressive and my father and I left full, contented, buzzed and completely satisfied. I will definitely be back and would heartily recomment Nightwood.
(5)
David S.
I've heard and read a lot about this place but I can't say I was that impressed. It's actually nice on the inside considering its location. I was expecting more from the food though. I had the chicken which came with some really bitter and off tasting broccoli rabe. I thought the rabe and the chicken were a tad undercooked. My dining companion liked the brussels sprouts appetizer and his pasta was good, but I thought the portion was pretty skimpy.
(2)
Jennifer N.
I eventually went back at summer's beginning for Sunday Brunch. I was happier with Brunch than my dinner experience. I went with a friend and she ordered the donuts. I had quiche which was very nice, and it came with a small salad. I want to go back to try their recent selection of donuts (minus bacon!). I liked sitting outside for Brunch, compared to the basement for dinner. I'm glad I went back because I really do want to like this place.
(4)
Sarah W.
Loved it. I live nearby so we were ecstatic to find this place. I have been there for brunch twice and really liked it but think dinner is even better. I've had pork, pasta, chicken, etc. Obviously we keep going back because the food is delicious.
(5)
Anna G.
We went to the first wine dinner of a series of 4. There was 3 communal tables downstairs and each table had their own wine maker to talk to! You cannot beat that. Our winemaker from Greece was fun and full of information which made the night special. The food was really delicious and actually amazing. I docked it one star because they started late and their was no bread or carbs for the reception of champagne which made it for a tipsy evening. Well, we were headed there anyway but maybe we got there a little too fast!
(4)
Kristin S.
Nightwood was phenomenal! I absolutely loved it. We got seated right away. The atmosphere was casual, but a bit loud (particularly the loud gentleman to our left!). I had the chicken wings and waffles. This was out of this world. I am from Atlanta and grew up there. I have to say this was the best fried chicken I have ever had. The seasoning in the batter was outstanding. I asked and it was a great combo of salt, pepper, onion powder, ginger, paprika, and garlic. WOWOWOWOW. The waffle was just as good. It was served with an orange marmalade type deal with toasted cashews on top. Yum. Under the waffle was a vanilla sauce of sorts. It was sooo good. No syrup required. The combo was excellent and more than just savory and sweet. The spices of the fried chicken melded with the tangy and vanilla bean of the waffle/sauce. They have outdone themselves with this combo. I hardly ever give a 5 star, but this is worthy. The coffee (Intelligensia) was not brewed as rich as I would have liked, but I am a snob or rather, I am picky. My husband had the burger and he loved it, the fries were perfect, long, crispy with the skins left on. The service was excellent. The owner came and graciously spoke with us. I so recommend this place and will be back again and again.
(5)
Nicholas W.
Fresh ingredients + cool design + and brilliant cooking
(5)
bonnie b.
I feel like many of the other reviews capture the essence so I'll just write a short note here. Having lived in Logan Square for several years I have always loved Lula's Cafe. Now that I'm in Pilsen a lot I also love Nightwood. Great space, great design, helpful staff and an interesting menu that changes frequently. As for some of the complaints about portion size, I thought it was perfect. Some of the dishes are so rich I couldn't imagine eating a larger amount of them.
(4)
Jessica G.
okay.... i really think i need to give this place another shot, i really want to like it. I had the spaghetti bolognese... parsley and peas all up it in... it was really just okay.. REALLY not worth the i think 18 or 20$ i had that and a drink and my bill was 32$.....which is fine, if the food is amazing or really good. not so nightwood, but i will try again to give it a fair chance!
I had the pleasure of dining at Nightwood last night, which I think was their first "official" open night, although they've apparently been serving meals for about a week now. My husband and I have been waiting for this place to open forever, as we're huge fans of Lula. When we first arrived, we were greeted happily, and escorted directly to a lovely table that was about halfway between the bar and the kitchen. The space itself is gorgeous, the bar is beautiful, and they have really lovely seating along the windows, and at a counter that faces the open kitchen. Opposite the kitchen there is shelving, which holds logs, which I presume was for the wood grill they are using in the kitchen. I saw one guy stop to positively inhale the scent of one of the pieces of wood, which I found strange, but worth noting. Anyway. The service was fantastic -- very attentive, but not annoying or overbearing at all. Very much in line with the service you'll get at Lula, in that our server was very knowledgeable and willing to share his opinions and recommendations, but wasn't suffocating in doing so, as I find to be a problem with a lot of other restaurants. They have a rotating menu, and we had a really difficult time trying to decide what to order. My husband ordered two appetizers -- the garlic soup, and the lamb meatballs with noodles. The soup portion was large, and the meatballs were a typical appetizer size, and came with three meatballs and a bed of noodles and sauce beneath. My husband said they were both very delicious. I ordered the morel and short ribs with garlic bread appetizer, which was fantastic, and for my entree I had the asparagus and potato tart with hollandaise, which came with a side salad, and honestly is one of the best things I have eaten in recent memory. My husband, who isn't really a "tart" kind of guy, couldn't stop raving about how good it was either. I opted out of dessert, as I was too full at this point, but my husband ordered the tangerine panna cotta,w hich looked beautiful, and which he said was delicious. It came in a ramekin with tangerine pieces on top, as well as a bit of rind. A word to the wise -- Nightwood doesn't currently have their liquor license, although they are expecting to have it by next week. So, BYOB, my friends. There is a liquor store just next door, so you can stop in there on your way in. Or, if you're someone like me who didn't know that, the staff of the restaurant might be inclined to gift you with a courtesy beer or two during your meal. Overall, great meal, great space, great vibe, really wonderful service. I can't wait to go back! They also have a nice outdoor space, which I can imagine will be wonderful to visit over the summer.
(5)
Rose G.
I hate to give a Lula production such a bad review, but I had a horrible experience at Nightwood. I was really looking forward to trying Nightwood, because I tend to really enjoy my meals at Lula. While the place is aesthetically pleasing-- beautiful interior design--the service was really unusually bad and my boyfriend, who will eat almost anything- couldn't choke down his fish. It was downright nasty. When I walked in on time for my reservation, the host was talking to a co-worker for five or six minutes before they even looked up at me. They were incredibly snotty and rude. My boyfriend and I ordered two different fish dishes-- I had trout with lentils, and it was nearly inedible. His fish was so bad that he left his plate mostly full, even though he was hungry. We would have considered sending it back (which is something neither of us ever do!) but the server didn't come back to ask how the food was. Overall, a really awful meal priced nearly $80. Skip it.
(1)
Heidi O.
I'm glad that I can update this because I was pretty bummed my last time here. So a friend wanted to check this place out. Time has passed, seasons have changed, and I'm happy to report, this place continues to better itself. I was seriously surprised at how much the service improved from my last visit. Everyone was attentive and made sure beverages were full, things were to our liking, etc. and this time there wasn't any attitude with it. The serving seemed to be much more of a communal effort this time, and because we went after a storm, there wasn't a wait and they weren't rushing people. The outdoor seating is cute and in the future I wouldn't mind sitting outside. I still don't think there is anything particularly special about the donuts, and it's difficult to comment on the menu because it changes frequently and I don't want to get any body's hopes up only to have them shattered at a later date. But the food again proved to be solid. They could cut back on the salt a bit, especially with the tots, but even the coffee had improved flavor this time. I secretly wish they had a few more staple breakfast items to build from but things are really evening out now with this place. Who knows, someday maybe I'll give this place 5 stars. On a bizarre note, I find the bathroom to be quite lovely.
(4)
john m.
I was told that Nightwood was too expensive for what it was, NOT TRUE. I had a great dining experience and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great contemporary American meal. I also suggest arriving early so you can hang out at the bar and enjoy a cocktail or two before dinner, they're great (on par with the Whistler) and they pour them stiff. For dinner we got a few appetizers to share and we each had something that was Spit-fire roasted which was excellent! The menu changes daily so it's hard to make specific recommendations, but I suggest getting down there as soon as you can, this is a great addition to the Lula family!
(5)
Hagene L.
I've been here twice now and it's been great both times. I got the hand cut pasta, each time prepared differently but both were delicious. The food is fresh and the menu is unique.The atmosphere is great with good music and decor.
(4)
Erin M.
MMM the food was out of this world great. I had the rabbit for an appetizer and the duck for my entree... I cleaned my plate it was so good. Also, what was cool was that we sat back by the kitchen. So it was cool to see our food being made as well as everyone elses!!
(5)
Colt E.
We came to Nightwood for their weekend brunch menu, something I've heard many good things about. I therefore have no idea how their dinner menu is. I can tell you though, that we were all very pleased with the brunch. The donuts were fresh and tasty. The food was all done well, tasty, and each had it's unique points of interest (5 of us shared 5 dishes). If you're expecting the kind of brunch that borders on dessert food (ie waffles stuffed with cream cheese and covered in a chocolate sauce), don't come here. Where else can you get chicken and waffles and blueberry ginger ale though? To top it off the place has great friendly service, and it's HUGE, so our party of five barely had to wait for a table. Most brunch places have an hour wait, so that was a huge plus. This might be a new go-to brunch spot for me.
(4)
Jennifer P.
Utter Disappointment. Being a huge fan of Lula I was stupidly excited to try out Nightwood...only to be let down. Let's start with the decor. The patio seating looks like a outdoor japanese business savvy cafeteria. Inside...is fully lined with wood!-No way. The place does have a gorgeous bar though. I have mixed feelings about the ambiance of this place. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday about a month ago and we were both originally very excited as I stated earlier. We got there on a warm day and after 5 minutes he had to hand me his suit jacket because it was freezing inside. I understand that they want to keep it cool on these hot days, but really? make me cover up my adorable new dress with an over sized coat, really? This all makes me very bitter, but I digress... The beer selection is pretty good. Can never go wrong with anything by Two Brothers and Great Lakes. Instead of bread we got TWO (as in one per person) biscuits. They were dry and lacking every element that a biscuit should have. Plus, they were the size of quarters. Yeah, sounds satisfying? I got the chicken, which is also on Lula's menu and it was great. The boyfriend got some sort of pasta dish that I can hardly remember because it didn't stand out in the slightest. Prices seemed average, but I honestly didn't feel as though I was getting my money's worth. Service was very mediocre. I understand it's an opening of a new restaurant, but our waitress seemed really clueless and showed up at the table at all the wrong times. Overall, I probably won't go back here. I wish I could have given this place a positive review, but it doesn't deserve one in my opinion. Go to Lula instead!
(2)
Allison B.
Went here on a romantic date and it was completely wonderful. Perfectly designed space with great bathrooms (loved the black sink and toilet). Our waiter was amazing and completely attentive. Our dinners were mouthwatering, I had the half of chicken and my date had the steak. The dessert of rhubarb cake ale mode was hard to stop eating. I would go here again in a minute.
(5)
Kristen H.
Came here on a Friday night with 2 lady friends with no reservation. The hostess said it'd be about an hour wait and she was right. The 3 of us decided to order family style and share everything. As an appetizer we had the whipped chicken liver with crispy sunchokes. The presentation of the plate was beautiful resembling that of a wreath. The liver was quite flavorful, light and tasty. The sunchokes, onion and fried chicken skin were a great addition. For dinner we ordered a pasta dish that had be added to the menu that night that included short ribs and round flat pasta along with the buttermilk-fried scallops. The pasta had good flavor combinations and the scallops were prepared differently than usual, but melted in your mouth as scallops should. Overall the meal I enjoyed Nightwood - it's a place you visit once a season to try all the fresh ingredients. The service was great and the atmosphere was pleasant - love the open kitchen towards the back of the restaurant that has seats at the counter for viewing. I'm interested in trying Nightwood again for brunch.
(4)
Michael B.
good food, somewhat overpriced for brunch items, staff very hipsterish, which is fine, but we could have done without the snobby attitude toward non-hipsters.
(2)
jim m.
My wife and I decided it should really be more like 3-1/2 stars, and we'll explain why. First, there is definitely a shortage of "real" restaurants south of Randolph street on the Halsted St. strip, so Nightwood deserves accolades just for being in the area, joining Amelia's on 46th as a "valid" dining destination. They also have a liquor license, which is semi-miraculous around here, and their wine selection is fairly reasonable. We got the Reader dining update e-mail which informed us Nightwood was open, though not taking reservations, or as we found, even phone calls, so we decided to take a chance and just show up. We were able to be seated right away, joining another couple of friends who just happened to be going there at the same time. The place is certainly beautiful, with a carefully and lovingly designed interior, and a nice outdoor drinks area. Indoors got pretty noisy at the height of busyness. We had the green onion and morel soup, a blended soup, very tasty, and the deep-fried asparagus with an aioli dip, satisfying the fried stuff craving. For entrees we did the trout, which came with swiss chard and a very light buerre blanc, and the half chicken, very plump, which came with white beans and a sort of bread dumpling. These items had a pleasant wood smoke taste and were exquisitely prepared, if not particularly exciting. Probably what was most noticeable was that the plates were almost entirely main dish, with their sides being minimal to almost nonexistent. This made them sort of one-note affairs, crying out for a little more garnish and balance. It would be nice to be able to add vegetable and starch sides if desired. Also, the flavors, as somebody else noted, were pretty mild and delicate, a stylistic choice, we assume. For dessert we had the almond tart with chocolate sorbet and the tangerine panna cotta. The panna cotta was supposed to have saffron in it but the tangerine certainly predominated. Service was great, and one of the owners, Jason, came by to chat with us. Overall we had a pleasant time but feel the flavors and plate content need a little more push to propel this place into a favorite.
(4)
paul z.
TO be honest, I can't believe I'm writing this. But my experience here was horrible. For starters, our waiter was obviously new to nightwood, as well as new to being a waiter. He was nervous and overwhelmed. But, that's not his fault. But at one point in the evening I had to point out to him that my gin and tonic was ready and sitting at the wait station. I wouldn't have said anything but I noticed my drinking sitting at the wait station for 10 mins! For starters my date and I split a appetizer which was a beet salad, w/ goat cheese and a balsamic dressing I think. VERY good. The only reason I'm giving this place a star! :) Off the chain and fantastic with every beet. For dinner, we both had a pasta dish. Bad idea I guess. My date had a pasta and sausage dish which just didn't have any flavor, but was by far better then my dish. I had a rigatoni with walnut, olives and shit ton of olive oil (something else was in there as well but I can't remember). The pasta itself couldn't have been made fresh because it was very under cooked and I wouldn't even dare call it al dente. After hearing a few good reviews from people who went, I thought it couldn't miss. IT missed and then some. Save your money and go down the street to Simone's or get some taters at Skylark....
(1)
Cecelia M.
We had reservations for 3 and, as other diners have experienced, we still had to wait for 30 minutes at the bar. The place gets one star deducted for that. As for the food, it was, like the food at Lula, weirdly overwrought. I have been to Lula numerous times and I always leave with a vague feeling of discontent. At Nightwood, my reaction is a bit stronger. The appetizers were very good - chicken livers, green beans and fried smelts. The flavor combinations in these dishes worked very well. I had trout with hominy and black beans for my main course, The hominy and black beans were wonderful. My first bite of the trout had a little bone in it and was just overpoweringly salty and smoky. Also, the shredded onion on the creme freche was so strongly flavored. Together with the trout, it was just too much. I did not finish my entree. The trout dish could have been a fantastic dish. Great in concept, poor execution. I may try this place again sometime.
(3)
Isabella M.
Just went here for Sunday Brunch! Started off with a bloody mary, extra spicy, extra delicious. $8! holy cow, but good. I only realized this place had the same owners as Lula in Logan Square when the check came, but it makes perfect sense! Two great brunchin' spots! I think it might have ended up being cheaper than Lula, for two people with drinks it was only $48. More of a special occasion brunch, but worth the treat! Then I ordered the eggs benedict, and it is my new favorite eggs benedict of the city. (yes it's better than the eggs royale at feast!!!!) My boyfriend had a simple eggs and hash browns with toast and a side of soy sausage. Delicious soy sausage, and they had delicious jam. It was also one of the better deals ($6). The hash browns are adorable, they're little crispy balls and they are also very delicious! Afterwards he got a coffee, I got a latte, both good. The service was great, and very attentive, especially since we are sort of late brunchers (we walked in there at 2:00).
(5)
Lisa C.
I hoped for so much more and was let down. We sat at the bar and waited while staring at an unoccupied table, then it took 15 minutes for one of the random people to take our drink order. Then the waitress tried to sit us before we got our drinks from the bar and looked flustered and confused as to whether or not we could just have our drinks brought to the table. Their daily menu sounds like a good idea, but if you don't like Pork (which was the key ingredient on the day we went), there was nothing else to choose from. My vegetarian friend had the option of a salad, which they were out of, along with 5 other dishes listed on the menu. My pasta was cold except in the middle, and I paid $9 for 3 fried asparagus. And then $15 for 3 ravioli. Overall, I don't think I would intentionally go back. Overpriced food, not much variety, poor infusion of daily ingredients, confused service. At least the owners are changing the menu more than every 3 years unlike their other restaurant Lula.
(2)
Dina L.
Had the two egg omelet and bf had the duck confit stew for brunch along with the maple bacon donut. Everything was delicious. Better than several restaurants serving brunch in River North and worth the short drive.
(4)
Sven K.
Three of us went to Nightwood and it was a mixed bag. We really enjoyed the setting (casual, modern - maybe a bit loud) and the service was great (especially recommended wine)! We had three different appetizers: fried asparagus with trout and cream cheese (awesome), a simple mixed salad (very good) and the highly recommended fatback (thin slices of pork fat) on crostini (disappointing - very few slices with little flavor). Two of us had the smoked pork rib roast - a huge chunk of meat that came with lentils. While my friend enjoyed his, I thought that the meat lacked in flavor and was on the dry side. The lentils were great. The third entree was oricchiette with breaded pork cutlets and beets; the pork was very average, pasta and beets were good. Pricing was adequate to high - portion size was fine.
(3)
Jenna H.
Nightwood is a little out of the way, but definitely worth venturing over to Pilsen for. It's a gorgeous restaurant, I went in for brunch and it was bustling but not ridiculously crowded. Our service was friendly and extremely efficient, all of our food came out very quickly and our coffee and water stayed full. We had the coffee cake (with house made nutella!), the bacon, the biscuits and gravy and the salmon scramble - everything was excellent, unique, and very fresh. Nightwood is definitley a noteworthy stop - I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)
Erin S.
great brunch spot!!! we started out with the donuts which most reviews rave about....we tried all 3 on the menu and all were delicious!!! there are some really unique dishes on the menu. this is just your typical pancake, eggs brunch spot. all 3 people at our table raved about the coffee too. the decor and ambiance really add something special to the already good food. and the staff is super nice and friendly too. parking is really easy-no parking meters! i would definitely check out this place again for dinner or bring back out of town visitors to this cool brunch spot!! also, this place scored "not good for kids' which i would agree for dinner but for brunch our baby seemed very welcome amoung our fellow diners!
(4)
Six B.
love the local greens and local meats they are using! i had a dish last night, though and it was over-salted (i've had this problem with lula too (same owners))....please, lay off the salt! the local green salad with fiddleheads and radishes was great (though a bit sweet, which was weird), the pork meatballs were delish, but the polenta underneath and sauce (puttanesca?) were oversalted. the drinks are amazing! i'll go back and ask for less salt! best pasta i have ever had. best drinks. best deserts.
(5)
shell h.
Third time visiting Nightwood last night, had the usual fried Myer lemons and a delicious salad and ordered the roasted branzino, it was delicious. I was a little bummed out that there was no local fish on the menu and so my boyfriend ordered the spit-roasted chicken and it was also delicious. My favorite thing came at the end of the meal with the amazing blueberry warm pie accompanied with some A-MAZING lavender icecream.
(4)
K P.
Amazing new restaurant by the Lula team. The food is incredible - it represents some of the best new cuisine without being too trendy. Even staples like the roasted chicken are outstanding. I recommend getting a seat at the kitchen counter if you can swing it.
(5)
Karen L.
Apparently this is the new place to go and I have been wanting to try it for some time now. It is a little out of the way, being all the way in Pilsen, but boy am I glad we went there! You walk into the restaurant through this cute outdoor patio... I will have to go back when it is nice weather again (ugh, probably another 9 months!) and enjoy that lovely space. I walked in and immediately loved the decor with the exposed brick walls and the exquisite ceilings. Very cute and nicely decorated, but not in a pretentious or trendy way. (I didn't feel out of place in my Friday casual work clothes.) It is definitely more upscale than Lula but still the similar comfortable feeling. We got there right after work and it was not that busy at all - maybe half of all the tables were full. They tried to put us at the bar at first saying all the tables were reserved. We were a bit upset as we just called about 1 hour before and they said that walking in wouldn't be a problem as they never reserve out all their tables... plus it was only 6:30 so it was still early. So we ended up getting a table which was really good b/c I don't think I would have enjoyed the dinner quite as much at the bar. Instead of regular bread, they brought out these honey biscuits which were quite tasty! For an appetizer, we started with a butternut squash ravioli with egg yolk. It was good, a little interesting on the flavors, but still good. It reminded us of the stuff they would make on Top Chef. It was one (bigger than average size) ravioli which I thought was kind of skimpy since it was almost $10! For my entree I ordered the grilled duck. OMG! SOOOO good... the duck was tender and juicy and perfectly seasoned! I also liked how they had the skin on (not everyone would like that), since that is my favorite! The salad on the side with corn and apples was just okay but really, the duck made my night! It was delicious! My boyfriend wasn't super hungry so he just ordered the goat cheese gnocchi. That was good in flavor but nothing as impressive as the duck. He usually does not like duck but also thought my entree was excellent! I will have to say that the menu is pretty limited. There are probably about 10 entree choices and I would only eat about 3-4 of them. And really, only the duck one stood out to me as looking really good. But I bet the menu changes pretty frequently so hopefully when I go back there will be some other dishes available. (Although I may just want to go back for the duck.) All the ingredients were really fresh and I think since it is Lula's same owners it is probably all organic. The service was good, as well. I also got a small dessert... one scoop of the blueberry-pear sorbet, which was the perfect amount to end the night with. I am not a huge dessert person and usually nothing really appeals to me. As far as the cocktail menu, nothing jumped out at me too much but I opted for an apple cider cocktail which was just okay. I pretty much enjoyed Nightwood for the Duck Entree and the atmosphere. I would recommend making the trek out there and checking it out!
(4)
Sharon P.
I had been to Nightwood before for dinner and it was pretty great, although the portions are small. Brunch was terrible. But the service was very good- constant supply of fresh coffee, and quick, friendly service. The food I got was actually so gross I spit out a bite in my napkin, and then sent it back for the malted waffles, which were nothing special- toaster waffles (burnt on the edges) with chocolate sauce on top. Size: about 1.5 actual toaster waffles. Lame. So my original order was the venison omlette with creme fraiche. The "omlette" was like one millimeter thick, and just looked sad and flopped over. The craime fraiche was the exact same color as the omelette (lite yellow), and looked like a watery cheese sauce. The venison inside was kind of pulled, but also with lots of big chunks of pure gelatinous fat. The overall effect: slimy upon slimy upon slimy (and visually off-putting) was so gross I couldn't chew or swallow my bite of it. I have not spit my food out at a restaurant in a long time. My dining companion had some scrambled egg dish that he said was just OK. Also, the hash browns look like hairy balls. As in testicles. Finally, the server promptly brough me a new dish, and seemed genuinely interested in why I sent the dish back, and I explained nicely. I would not go back here.
(2)
Peter G.
the dinner was okay it started raining and it was difficult to get a seat relocation. The server wasn't attentative at all and slightly awkward. I almost gave my tip to the hostess who paid much more attention. She was great, but other then that the service was poor. The food was decent, but the desert was more impressive. The main dishes took a very long time to come out. I do admit though I thoroughly enjoyed the kitchen. I had the chicken. It was decent, quite affordable, but was a little bland in presentation and taste. The menus were just shy of illegible, in a poor attempt at trendyness.
(3)
tracey t.
Brunch was a dream at Nightwood. Our table enjoyed the burger, croquettes, the bagel sandwich and eggs benedict (quite possibly the most perfect combo of sweet and salty). That tater tot/hash browns were definitely a hit as well. My bloody mary hit the spot minimizing any lingering hangover from the shenanigans the night before. The staff was polite and helpful and the restaurant itself is warm and inviting. A definite must visit!
(5)
Sorabh K.
Great food and great drinks in an enjoyable atmosphere. This hidden gem in pilsen can get a little pricey but is worth the dough especially since they use such high quality ingredients. I definitely recommend this place and look forward to dining here again!
(4)
Meg E.
dang. this place is gooood. bacon butterscotch donuts?! what more can a fat kid ask for. the trout scramble and shrimp griddle cakes were both unique and delicious. dinner aint too shabby either. service could have been a bit better...but the food made up for it. great place to take out of towners for brunch because the line isnt around the corner.
(4)
Drew F.
It took me a while to write this review, I went to Nightwood becasue I want to support the resturants and bars where I live. I went on a Friday night and the place was jumping with people who dont live in the area. You can tell by the look on there face when you see them walk past the big windows looking lost, the menu is not deep enough. It had 10 entrees and just about 90% of the items where over $20, the appetizers prices where crazy! Decor was nice the server we had was awesome we didnt feel like we where being rushed, we stayed until then end with 1 bottle of wine left to finish. Nightwood is great for our neighborhood, I think they need to work on the menu price's so all of pilsen can enjoy them.
(5)
Beth O.
Could have been an off night, but tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta tart was disappointingly dry. I am fiercely picky about crust, since my family (mom, Grandma, me) make some of the best, lightest and flakiest tarts and pies in the country. Although my date enjoyed his fresh and well-seasoned pork as though Pavlov had rung his bell, my tart seemed to have spent days hanging out on a hot plate or been reheated from the first bake. What salvaged our meal were the expectedly delightful bookends of arugula salads and rhubarb crisp. Have to say Lula has never disappointed, and little sister needs to practice more to get up to Lula's level.
(3)
Nancy S.
None of the people in my 5-person group will return. Small, poorly displayed food. One of our $20 pasta dishes (consisting of broad noodles, broccoli, chilis & some goat cheese) had exactly 6 noodles. The $30 pork roast was unedible. The appetizers were so disappointing that one person in our 5 person group decided not not even order a main course. I decided to play it safe & order the hamburger. It was so over-done that I had trouble swallowing it. The bun was enormous & the burger was like a tiny hockey puck. One of the appetizers, and both pasta dishes were just slapped onto plates...spread out everywhere. The fava beans were just literally dumped onto a big white plate. Completely unappetizing. We left & went somewhere else because we were hungry & annoyed. I do have to say that our waitress was nice. And, upstairs, the ambiance seemed cool. But, even though we had reservations, we were seated in the musty basement. And, yes, it smelled musty. There was just one other table of people in the dungeon while we were there. They were elderly people.
(1)
Morgan O.
Disappointing with a capital "D". I was so excited to sample this highly recommended restaurant, but every dish I ordered tasted like pickles. I thought that the homemade ice cream for desert would make up for a flavor-lacking meal, however, I was AGAIN unbelievably mistaken. I wish I would have known because $100 for a crappy meal is a real bummer. Bottom line: Great space and environment. Awful food. And by awful, I mean almost inedible.
(1)
Julie F.
Came here for brunch with the fam. With a table of 6 we were seated in the "wine cellar" commonly known as a basement. This suited us fine though as the dim light complimented our slight hangovers nicely. We were also seated in a booth against the wall with real chairs as opposed to the backless benches supplying most of the room - another big plus. Watching the 80 year old grandmother try to slide and sit comfortable on a bench at the table next to us was enough for me to wonder again when people will come to their good senses and join me in a backless bench boycott. Anyhow, we all tried a different brunch special and all were rich, and delicious. I especially liked the short rib Benedict. One thing you absolutely MUST try are the butterscotch and bacon donuts. They are amazing. In fact, as good as are meals were, I would have been just as happy with a cup of coffee and a couple of those donuts! The only small (very small) complaint would be the toast that was all burnt, like black around the edges burnt but, everything else was great! Oh, and our server was knowledgeable, kind, and relaxed - exactly what you want on a Sunday morning.
(4)
Colleen S.
The food was awesome. The interior/decor was awesome. The service was...eh. They tried to seat us at a table in the "alley" between the two rooms. No ambience whatsoever. They begrudgingly moved us. The server we got was disinterested and lacked any sort of personality or charisma. We didn't feel rushed, which I appreciate, but we did at times feel neglected. The short rib and potato pierogi were outstanding. And this comes from someone who's family makes their own peirogi by hand each year for the holidays. If they are on the app menu, order them for sure. Also terrific was the spaghetti and meatballs. It had a totally American spin and the homemade pasta was perfect. The spinach/garlic/pear salad was salty. The halibut was decent. This place would be 5 stars if the host and the server could have dropped the 'tude.
(4)
Chris H.
We were happy to find this place a short walk from the new apartment. My dad was in from out of town, and we took him here for dinner, having never been. We all had a great time, starting with a drink at the bar, and continuing back to the kitchen bar where the three of us (this area seats maybe 6 or 7 at most) were able to watch them work while we ate. We were skeptical at first to sit back there, but it was great. I don't remember everything we had exactly, but I do recall my wife had the pan seared trout which she loved. My dad was really impressed with the rigatoni w/ veal bolognese, and since we were sitting by the kitchen he could even thank the man who made it! We had a great time and were all well fed. I'm not sure what the complainers on here had a problem about, we all thought it was great and will be back.
(4)
Noah L.
OVERRATED.. By far the worst dining experience I've had in a long time. It started with a bitter, poorly mixed cocktail from the cocktail menu, followed by a so-so appetizer. Then came our "pasta" dish which we clearly ordered as an entree, however, the waiter failed to inform us was literally the size of 3 nickels and was really not so much a pasta dish as it was another appetizer, a clear indication of the lacking attention we received from our waiter. But it got even worse with the other entree, a tough, gamy and foul smelling veal dish. Service was lackadaisical and uninterested. Not what you would expect for what they charge.
(1)
Ali P.
I dined here for the third time over the weekend and left feeling disappointed. We started the evening by sharing the tomato and burrata appetizer which was delicious! I have only had cheese this creamy once or twice in my life. We also shared the raviolini bolognese and a potato gnocchi with sweet corn, butter and bacon - both delicious as well. The pasta was homemade, light, but extremely flavoful! If my evening would have ended here, I would give five stars. For an entree we shared the grilled short ribs. I should have expected them to be different than what I am used to as they were grilled, not braised but decided to give it a shot. The short ribs were EXTREMELY fatty, tough, and had no flavor. Probably one my least favorite dishes I've had in a long time. Overall, I like Nightwood - great ambiance, good food, nice people. I have had delicous meals there before, but this time was let down. I will give it another shot but will probably stick to an appetizer or pasta dish the next time I go.
(3)
Genevieve P.
This was probably the best restaurant meal I've ever had and that's saying a lot. I've eaten in some of the top spots in Chicago, not to mention, Paris, NY, etc. What was so remarkable about my experience is that EVERY dish NAILED it! We might have been lucky and just ordered the best Nightwood has to offer but that's why I say it was the best experience. Even at Charlie Trotters or Avec or other great places, one dish will just be so so... a little lacking in flavor... a little dull. Not so with the dishes we had at Nightwood. We ordered 2 appetizers, 1 pasta and 1 entree and ALL knocked it out of the park. Would go there again in a heartbeat. Our meal for two with 1 dessert and drink was ~ $60. Not too bad for the wonderful experience.
(5)
Lois A.
I fell hard for nightwood. The food is just fantastic. Recently I had french toast stuffed with apples, ham and cheese and it was incredible. The eggs benedict is also excellent and who can resist the extremely fun way the tots are prepared? This place gets packed for good reason. I love the open kitchen in the back where you can sit diner style and watch the chefs work. Service is great. I felt horrible for the waitress we had a couple of weeks ago. Seated next to us was a couple with their two children and they kept sending their burgers back to be cooked more. I saw the burgers and they were cooked perfectly. I'd noticed the couple when we first sat down next to them because they were seated next to the door and a cold blast of air came in every time it opened - I'd thought it strange they had seated their very young kids closest to the door instead of sitting there themselves...nice. Anyway, the waitress was more than polite and kept a smile while dealing with them for over an hour, all the while dealing with a packed house. Coffee is great and parking is easy.
(4)
Aaron G.
for the price, it should be all hits and no misses. but there are misses
(3)
johnny s.
Had brunch here over the summer - Sat outside - service/food/seating was top notch - great stuff - not inexpensive but the best stuff is never is....
(5)
Steven M.
This place is too hip for its own good! The decor is cool, with chairs that look like they have come from someone's rec room from the early 80s. The waiter was a late 20s obnoxious, condescending hipster who told us that the burger was "gourmet" and that our cautiousness about its description on the menu was unnecessary. My friend is a burger purist so her cautiousness was apropos. When asked about tomatoes for the burger, we were told they are out of season...cut the crap, you're just out of them...tomatoes are in season year round in this country...keep some damned tomatoes in house bee-yotches! Then, there was no Splenda for the iced tea, and the omelets with root vegetables and paneer cheese was NOT good. In fact, it was odd. The root vegetables were undercooked and just way too big...dice those roots and really roast them next time. They were just bad. The paneer cheese was peculiar and did not remotely resemble paneer cheese I had ever eaten. I also felt remarkably queasy an hour later...it was just way too rich for my taste. Surprisingly, this place is owned by the same folks who run Lula Cafe which I love...meh, this place just underwhelms me.
(2)
Lisa M.
*Loved* this place. We had high expectations and they were met. The food was thoughtful, well-prepared, extremely fresh and local. We had the burger (which might be the best in the city), the spit roasted pork loin chop (which was perfectly cooked--slightly pink, not dry at all, perfectly seasoned), and two appetizers--the agnolotti pasta with foie gras filling and the sweet corn and garlic soup. Both were great. We even got a taste of the rabbit tortellini in jalepeno broth, which might have been my favorite dish of the night. It was all really so yummy, and so worth it, considering just average restaurants are charging the same prices for food that is not nearly as thoughtful or well-prepared. Oh, I almost forgot--dessert was great too--we had 2 scoops of house made ice cream (a salted butterscotch gelato and a rasberry sorbet). The rasberry really captured the essence of fresh rasberries and wasn't too sweet. The salted butterscotch was great too. We also had the rice pudding with Michigan peach compote, which was lovely (and rich!). The kitchen staff were so friendly and helpful. Loved their attitude. We will definitely be back!!
(5)
L N.
Extremely enjoyable dinner here last Friday. The staff is warm and welcoming. The room is cozy and buzzy but you can easily converse with your dinner mate. Our server was charming and efficient. They offer still and sparking water at the table which is nice, and no ice, which I prefer so that made me happy. My friend and I shared the chicken liver pate appetizer. You get sort of a big shmear of it on a plate with seed-y mustard, cornichon, and sliced baguette. More bread was provided promptly upon our request. The pate was creamy and fresh; nicely cut with the vinegary side things. For dinner my friend had ribbon pasta with duck and broccoli. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the long ribbons were very pretty on the plate. The duck was tender and just enough to provide some heft to the dish without being too filling or overwhelming. I had smoked trout on a bed of sweet corn with bacon (bits). Probably the better of the two dishes. The dish does not look super impressive -- its a whole trout with the skin on a bed corn basically -- however, incredibly delicious! Mildly smoky, tender and juicy trout which pulled away easily from the skin with no bones. The corn had been cut from the cob and was bright, sweet and a perfect compliment to the fish. Bacon punctuated the smoky theme. Oh, and the bottle of wine we wanted was out so they upgraded us to something better at no extra charge. Nice. We shared chocolate pudding for desert which was more like a dense cake. Not bad but I would probably order a different desert next time. And I hope to have many next times!
(4)
Jo W.
Everything was good -- and I NEVER say that. From the burrata to the rabbit pasta to the pork loin. And don't forget the warm cookies. Service also stellar. Wish these folks had something closer to the north :). As a heads up, it is pricey but you're paying for fresh stuff. Love it.
(5)
kristin t.
When this place opened up just a few blocks from home I could not wait to try it. We headed out with another couple on Saturday to try this place and I could not have been more surprised by the atmosphere or happy with my food. The ambiance was amazing, the decor spot on, the service friendly and attentive and the food was amazing. We had the escarole and chopped vegi salad which had the perfect mix of flavor and texture, the burrata crostini which was to die for, sweet potato ravioli, the poached whitefish and the whole trout were also wonderful and the hand-cut noodles with rabbit loin was impressive. Our cocktails were fabulous and personally I could have stayed until they kicked me out. Without a doubt we will be returning here over and over.
(4)
Lisa W.
Clean, spare, fresh, beautiful. Gorgeous people, gorgeous food. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
(5)
Julie N.
Great space, great service but not great food. Starters were perfect: homemade bresaola, short rib ravioli, tomato soup. Mains were way, way off. Duck confit was very good, but surrounded with cold chunks of cucumber (why???). Pork tenderloin was incredibly fatty and undercooked, inedible. Cheesburger was just fine. STAY AWAY until they get the kitchen tuned up.
(2)
Mary M.
..just "the best restaurant in Chicago" right now!!,,if you are looking for wholesome, fresh locally grown products..the wood burning grill and the pairing are just out of this world! and the desserts..the pie to die for...complimenti!!
(5)
jo d.
One word of caution: the drinks may take a while, and although they are great (Chipolte Margarita!= phenomenal) the proportion of strength to $ is not equal, so stick to beer or the wine list. I needed to get the bad part out of the way so it does not sway your decision as much as the good that follows below. I make no claim to being a foodie, but I love good, interesting food. I love experimenting in the kitchen and can appreciate the effort it takes to put out inspired quality plates. We have been to Nightwood a number of times and have loved it each and every time! Our first experience was a brunch. I was VERY excited about the bacon donuts (REALLY BACON ....ON DONUTS!!!???), as well as the Poutine with Duck confit, duck gravy and poached egg. Can life get any better? Since the brunch we have been to Nightwood more than a handful of times. Many people have issue with the size of the portions, but I think they are just right. I think in the US we have come to accept overeating and massive plates as getting your money's worth. Not true or right. Nightwood practices a quality over quantity approach to food. It is evident in each bite. I am a little one, and at other restaurants I typically can split an appetizer and finish 1/2 the entree, then feel like crap for overeating yet upset for not being able to try one of the awesome looking deserts. But at Nightwood the freshness and lightness of each of the meals is a refreshing change. At the end of each course, you are left a little depressed that there is no more to eat because it was so good, but if you choose the correct next course according to your tastes you are not upset for too long. AND THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR A LITTLE DESSERT! I love feeling satisfied... not full to the point of splitting at the seams. Every dish that I have had or have tasted from other people at the table was amazing. Eat bite is a perfect bite. Overall highly recommended! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we have.
(5)
Harold J.
Being an pilen/bridgeport/chinatownian , I am pleased to have a restaurant in my neighborhood I can go to that will impress out of town guests. In this case, it was my girlfriend and her friend from Philadelphia. The staff was very helpful and attentive. The plates were of ample size. The wine selection is extensive and impressive. As the night went on, I can see that there are a lot of restaurant fans in the community because it was packed on a Wednesday night with no specials or gimmicks of any sort. Just great food, ambiance(FYI, if you're a smoker you will love the faux fireplace outside for you to warm yourself as you puff away), and service. Looking forward to a brunch there on a sunny June afternoon. But, I'm sure I'll be there beforehand.
(4)
Grace C.
This place was recommended by a friend. The hostesses were not helpful at all I think they forgot to put us on the list. the wait staff were fantastic - they got us a seat at the chefs table. we had the goat cheese gnocchi as appetizer, trout and duck, then sorbet and pecan tart. The savory food was excellent . My husband rated the duck as 9/10. My trout was good too 7/10. The desserts were a bit of a disappointment after the dinner . Sorbet was ok and tart was good but standard.
(4)
cindy g.
I am and I am not a fan. Originally we ate at Nightwood 8-10 weeks ago and had amazing food and memorable service. I took the time to mention it to the owner when we were eating at his other restaurant last week. I was looking forward to going to Nightwood to celebrate our husbands' birthdays. We made our reservation for last night weeks ago and when I confirmed yesterday I thought that I made it clear we wanted to be in the front room. We arrived to a packed restaurant. When we were seated it was near the kitchen- with the wait staff going back and forth, and back and forth. It was NOT where I had anticipated our celebration- it was unappealing and the back and forth was driving us crazy. I left the table to speak with our waitress and the owner's wife overheard us talking and graciously changed our table although I would have preferred that it had been done initially when I said something instead of essentially being ignored. Our meal was delicious although with a few negative comments- they were already our of one appetizer and one main and served the skimpiest smelts appetizer. We were told that it was because they had only received a limited amount that day and coupled it with beets. (I think there were 6 smelts on our plate and my husband had been so looking forward to them since our last visit- he had been told by our waitress then that they were always on the menu. Desserts were underwhelming. I think a first class restaurant plans well for its clientele and doesn't run out of ITEMS. I bring up this point over and over- if you have had an outstanding meal on one occasion, do you try and repeat it or move on to the other myriad of restaurants in Chicagoland?
(4)
Elisabeth A.
I have eaten dinner at Nightwood 3 times, and while the overall experience has always been pleasant, I have one major complaint. The knives they give you to cut meat are TOTALLY INADEQUATE! Here's the deal. Nightwood serves family farm-raised, organic beet-and-arugula-fed, designer-shod, psychologically, ecologically, physiologically and emotionally well-balanced meat that was sensitively slaughtered, like, this morning. This meat is expensive and flavorful, but because it is so fresh it has a weird, tough, kinda rubbery texture. It doesn't fall off the bone. You gotta saw that sh*t if you want to consume it. This is where the knives come in. They have these super fancy white enameled French knives that cost an arm and a leg at Williams and Sonoma, but despite their beauty they suck suck suck. So you're there, attacking your meat, hacking away at it like some kind of deranged serial killer, because the g-damn unserrated knives are too busy being tres cute to actually cut anything. Nightwood deserves more than one star, because the atmosphere is very nice and much of their food (I'm thinking of the trout, and all the fabulous veggie sides) is wonderful. But they need new knives and they need to figure out how to cook their chicken so that the meat falls off the bones like it's supposed to. If KFC can do it, so can they!!
(1)
Rachel P.
I was very excited to dine at Nightwood and feel it was a nice, but not a great experience. We were seated on the patio which was beautiful. It has heat lamps going to take the edge off of the fall chill. Our drinks were good, not great. For the price I expected a little more. They were much more basic tasting then described on the drink menu. The appetizer we had was great; creamy cheese, delicious cherry tomatoes and bread, really well balanced and tasty. My friend got gnocchi with short rib which was good, and I had a burger. The burger was good...but here is my biggest complaint-this chef clearly has firm beliefs on how his food "should" be cooked despite the guests' order. Before my meal was delivered, two diners next to us received their burgers, one promptly sent hers back for being too under cooked and the other left much on her plate. I over heard her later explaining she didn't know how raw it was until she took a few bites. Now I do not like my meat cooked to extremes, just a nice pink medium for me, which is how I ordered. My burger was better described as rare; very rare. Why bother asking diners how they want their food cooked if the chef will not honor it and simply cooks the food to his or her own liking? Not the best dining experience I have had recently. The flavors were good, however, i would have loved to enjoy the burger even more with it being cooked properly, as in how it was ordered.
(3)
Brian M.
We went here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and were promptly seated in the basement. Unfortunately we didn't get menus and water until 15 minutes later. After sitting for 20 minutes we ordered the bacon donuts, two burgers and eggs and toast for our kids. 45 minutes into the meal, we had received nothing except one cup of coffee and my wife's cream never made it to the table. We cancelled the doughnut starter and waited for our burgers instead. They were both pretty good but not worth $13. The fries were actually some of the worst I have had in a while and my daughter wouldn't even eat them. The eggs and toast were pretty standard. Needless to say, we wont be going back here for brunch again, but the space was cool and we would give it a second chance for dinner. They don't seem to have a handle on the brunch biz and the food is only marginal so its certainly not worth the trek from Lincoln park. Very disappointing considering how exceptional Lula has always been for breakfast.
(2)
LB F.
BRUNCH review: Wow -- cool place. Pretty decor (dark wood bar, pressed tin ceiling, wrought iron fixtures, a nice enclosed outdoor patio/courtyard); friendly service (hosts and servers are patient with questions, conversational and welcoming / Maria was awesome!); and a wonderful restaurant philosophy (mostly local ingredients and a frequently-changing menu). This is the epitome of haute junk food... from plastic fork to silver fork... aka several doughnuts made to order, a pop tart with fresh cream cheese frosting, buttermilk friend chicken and waffles (with fruit compote and vanilla sauce, no less), and crispy, salty tater tots the size of golf balls. With a menu dominated by heavy food, this resto is not for the faint of heart (or those with heart problems -- think melted butter glistening on just about everything except the coffee), but the price is right and the food and drinks are yummy. At least it's different. If you're looking for a very filling meal in a lovely little spot, make the trek to Pilsen.
(4)
Melissa M.
Mostly fabulous brunch this morning. As the menu constantly changes, we asked for advice on what to order. The salmon scramble, biscuits with gravy, and butterscotch bacon doughnut were all fabulous. The coffee was excellent. The service was stellar. But, alas, the waitperson also recommended the sardines, which were so full of tiny bones that I spent over an hour trying to extract the edible parts and was mostly just frustrated and greasy by the end. Do. Not. Order. The. Sardines.
(4)
Chris S.
The food was very good, but not outstanding. I loved the ambiance, especially the chairs. Great place to impress a North-side lady with on a date.
(4)
Van D.
Have been to Nightwood for both dinner and Sunday brunch. Food was excellent each time. I am also a big fan of their sister restaurant Lula Cafe so its inevitable that I (and probably many others) want to compare the two. Nightwood has less choices and probably a bit pricier but food quality is excellent. Liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Expect it to be jam packed like Lula Cafe very soon
(5)
todd s.
Second time here for brunch and had the house made doughnuts again-fabulous. Tried the burger this time and was definitely impressed. The bun tasted fresh made and was sturdy enough to hold the large juicy burger. It was cooked perfectly but could have had a bit more seasoning in the meat. And do not pass up the house made tater tots. Will return.
(4)
P P.
I am actually rating this place 4.5 stars. I went there this past weekend with a friend. I had the Spaghetti alla Chitarra and my friend had the trout which actually really looked more like a salmon. We both loved our food. The ambiance inside is great. Nice and dim with a contemporary urban feel to it. They do have a small outdoor seating area which is where we chose to sit since it was a nice evening. I actually can't wait to go back. I didn't give it 5 stars only because of our waiter. He was constantly coming by to ask how we were doing, if we wanted anything else, etc... it was a bit excessive which made it hard to hold a long conversation without interruption.
(4)
Sao-Mai N.
What a hidden gem! Tucked away among dreary, abandoned looking buildings, juxtaposed next to the highway, Nightwood is a beacon of deliciousness. Highlights are the donuts and the tater tots among other things.
(4)
Moe f.
I was skeptical to schlep that far south from our north side fortress but it was totally worth it. Started with some nice pumpkin soup and beet/goat cheese salad. The wife had the duck with risotto that was pretty good. The winner of the night was the squab. I could have eaten 2 of those delicious little birds. The dessert menu didn't really do it for me so we opted out. I'll be back.
(4)
Italo C.
If this place can bring luxury sedans and fur coats to Pilsen-- they are doing something so right its unhuman.
(5)
Tina L.
I've added another favorite burger to my list! This burger has an amazing sauce and TWO patties. I think I can split it into 3 separate meals!!~ Our server was very friendly and informative. I had a lot of questions about the drink menu, and she pretty much went down the list and went into detail what each cocktail would taste like and what she liked about it. I love the personal and thoughtful explanations and it helped me pick a delicious cocktail!
(4)
Riva L.
Attention Chicago: nightwood closes on Saturday. GO GO GO GO GO. I went here last night as a goodbye to my favorite restaurant. We got to sit on the beautiful patio, right next to the fireplace (which they unfortunately did not light!). The atmosphere was perfect - the restaurant was busy and loud because everyone's trying to get their last trip in, but the restaurant maintains an aura of peace/ happiness. The meal was so good, I legitimately shed a tear over the fact that I'll never get to eat at Nightwood again. We got: -Chicken liver mousse with strawberries, mint, snap peas, and Szechuan pepper - the mousse was so smooth and flavorful! It tasted like delicious silk. I wished they'd given us more amazing, toasty bread to go with it but instead we just opted to pack tons of mousse onto every slice and this was totally fine with me. The strawberries went so well with it. -spit-roasted, maple-glazed half chicken with cashew bread salad, chili oil, ham, and pea shoots - this was the part of the meal that brought on emotions. I usually don't get chicken dishes when I go out to eat, but I always get them at nightwood because they're so INSANELY good. The flavors, sweet and spicy, paired together perfectly, allowing for a rich, incredibly tasty dish. If you make it there in the next two days, I beg you to get this; eating it was an experience that I'm sad I'll never have again. -the nightwood cheeseburger - always said I was going to get it next time I went...so now was the time! It was very well-cooked and seasoned. I wish there had been more cheese and sauce because it did taste a little plain. All in all though, this was our least favorite dish of the meal and it was still very, very good. Nightwood, I'll miss you. Chicagoans, GO NOW.
(5)
Ivy Z.
Yum. Came here for brunch and dinner and both hit the spot perfectly. The donuts were great - split one to start - and the entrees delicious. The polenta and soft scrambled eggs for brunch were absolutely tasty. However I would recommend coming for dinner. Atmosphere is romantic, candle lit, and rustic. The pork belly with red quinoa and cabbage was the best pork belly I've ever had - and pork belly is one of my favorite foods. I raved about it forever. A little steep on the price but well worth it for a special occasion. I found myself really enjoying the Pilsen neighborhood as well, so that's a plus.
(5)
Brianna B.
The only reason I would come back is for the beautiful, open and relaxing space. The food itself (brunch) was extremely disappointing. I don't know why they are making their own bagels - mine was bread in the shape of a bagel, not an actual bagel (no bagel chew, and pretty lacking in flavor, which they tried to overcome with butter). I had really high hopes for the donut (a fruit one, not the bacon one), and it was only alright, and certainly not worth the $5 they are charging for it. The tots are terrible: unseasoned fried balls of nothing. Seriously, I had to dump salt on these, and that hardly helped. My partner had a scrambled egg dish that he said was pretty boring. My friend ordered bacon (extra crispy) and toast and didn't eat the bacon, and the server didn't ask if there was a problem with the bacon. The food was a huge surprise given how much I enjoy Lula.
(2)
Jeffrey C.
Located at 21st and Halsted, Nightwood is kind of in the rapidly gentrifying Pilsen neighborhood, but not really. A little off the main drag nexus of 18th and Blue Island, Nightwood feels like its own little outpost away from it all. It still subscribes to the Chicago-patented "Trendy Casual American (New)" that defines the mid-price point deliciousness of the city. We went for a last-minute, no reservations brunch and were seated in the the very lovely courtyard. On a good day (like that day), the shining light and charming atmosphere already provides a scenic sereneness perfect with a cup of joe and a plate of eggs. The butterscotch donut with bacon crumble? It's all that Yelp says it is. I love me the maple bacon donuts of Chicago (get thee to Bridgeport Bakery), but I'm totally willing to pay the premium for Nightwood's concoction. That bad boy costs $5, but the superior bacon plus butterscotch plus sugared donut holes on the side are worth the willingness to pay. The brunch menu is scant and short, but chock full of good stuff. The bagel sandwich gets lots of love. Its description leads with a smoked trout cream cheese spread. Note, though, that the main meat of the sandwich is crispy bacon, and that the trout is infused in the spread. Regardless, it's a very good brunch option. The accompanying potato croquettes might be my favorite thing on the menu. I went with the polenta, which was solid, though the short rib was extremely rich for breakfast. The soft boiled egg was cooked perfectly. I almost got the fabled cheeseburger, and after seeing another table receive that order, I got that buyer's remorse thing. Alas. Our table also ordered the scrambled eggs (mostly for the baby, natch), which was solid as well. Nightwood definitely gets plus points on a good-weather day, as the patio setting is hard to beat. The food is good, and with a lot of similar competition in the city, the unique location becomes a key differentiator. Food-wise, there are other, similar places I just like better (think Dusek's nearby), but I won't dissuade you if you think Nightwood is amongst the best.
(4)
Steve W.
Looking on yelp made me think this place was going to be really good and i was sold a dream. The menu was very small nothing majority of the pics I seen on yelp were not available ok fine I understand but I end up ordering a burger had to wait and ask for napkins ketchup and pepper. It's definitely over priced and horrible service definitely won't be back here
(1)
Carolyn I.
I've been wanting to go here for awhile to try the burger. It did not disappoint! The meat was juicy and flavorful. It was a little messy and hard to eat since it was piled high. For drinks, I ordered a non alcoholic drink with soda and strawberries and it was very refreshing. I also tried the trout and butterscotch pudding. The crispy black rice on the trout added great texture. The dessert was a little too sweet for me, but still good. Overall, I had a great experience! The outdoor seating was lovely and our server was friendly.
(4)
Belle L.
Brunch and Restaurant Week are better values for $$. Excellent food quality, original menu with a 5-star service. First Date Venue. The one and only worthy fine dining in Pilsen area. FIRST DATE VENUE -- best seat is by the kitchen. Quieter. In a moment of awkwardness, kitchen activities are a great ice breaker. Great food and service allows both of you to focus on each other. Uber a ride home, and the gal gets dropped off first with a second date set in place. * * * RESTAURANT WEEK MENU: PRETZEL BREAD -- a nice unique touch in a world where bread and butter doesn't drop by anymore unless asked or as additional cost. DRY AGED BEEF TARTARE -- tasty. I usually dread tartare as it is not my dish, but I ate it all with an extra garlic bread. SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA -- hearty for my taste. Perfect portion. My first black walnut pesto. PORK -- dryness of pork is offset by the flavorful 8 winter vegetables. APPLE BREAD PUDDING -- interesting combination with rosemary ice cream (a tad overpowering). Best eaten with a perfect bite. CLAUSTHALER -- a non-alcoholic drink. A nice addition to the beer and cider list. INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE ($3) -- bottomless cup. Colombian blend for Nightwood with a tinge of tang. 5-STAR SERVICE -- (1) change of utensils after each dish, (2) napkin is folded when one steps out, (3) free carbonated water, (4) consistent water refills, (5) well-informed staff.
(5)
Lauren F.
I've had Nightwood on my to-do list for quite some time now, I just never made it a priority to get down to Pilsen and check it out. As soon as I saw their lunch prix fixe menu for Restaurant Week I knew this was the perfect time to check them out. Many restaurants have items on their Restaurant Week menus that aren't on their regular menus, so it's hard to know if you're actually getting a deal and you don't get to try the great dishes that everyone talks about. Nightwood, however, was offering their big fat Nightwood Cheeseburger, usually found for $16 on their regular menus, as part of their $22 3-course lunch menu during restaurant week. Not only is the cheeseburger one of their most popular dishes, for 3 courses it was a total steal! Those two juicy patties topped with 8-year cheddar, a crispy onion ring, crunchy pickles, mustard, and special sauce, served with a side of fries, made it a no-brainer. I added a glass of their Black Currant Fizz soda, the bright Beet Salad with winter citrus, and the tart Honey Goat Cheese Ice Cream to round out a DELICIOUS weekday lunch. Nightwood is normally only open for dinner and for weekend brunch, but added weekday lunch hours just for Restaurant Week. This burger is a fixture on their regular menus so you can swing by and give it a try any time!
(4)
Liliana P.
So I'm sometimes late to the reviewing game and I am just starting to catch up from my trips, but I really wanted to leave a review because I JUST found out that this establishment has closed and I hope the Nightwood team reads this. This was by far one of my favorite places I visited while in Chicago. The space is so rustic, I could see myself venturing out here in the mornings for brunch. I really liked the chairs so much, I had to sneak a picture of one. This is also one of the first places that I have come across to have polenta on the menu so early in morning, and I loved every last savory bite! If it was socially acceptable, I probably would've licked the bowl... I scraped the bowl with my spoon for good measure though. This was really the perfect way to end my Chicago visit. Thank you, Nightwood team for giving me an unforgettable experience.
(5)
Heather B.
Chicago Sunday= brunch It's a basic requirement anytime I visit, and my friend has been talking this place up is for ages. Her recommendation was spot on! Our group of three made a booking for 11, which I would definitely advise to avoid a long wait. The menu changes often, and features brunch classics like omelettes and French toast, but each with a modern and indulgent twist. Our French toast came with pear compote and a well paired cinnamon spiced creme anglaise- sweet tooth required for this dish! Other dishes are more contemporary, like my favourite dish of the day, confit duck and goats cheese crepes. Rich and juicy duck meat, delicate freshly made crepes and a perfectly runny egg to top it off! We also ordered the cavatelli, which although flavourful, for me was the least successful. Served with a rich tomato sauce and topped with an egg, which for my taste could have been a touch runnier, and the pasta was ever so slightly underdone, bordering on chewy in some places. Please note this is me being real picky!! Another house speciality are the donuts, labeled as starters on the menu. Freshly made in the open kitchen, our butterscotch glazed with bacon donut was light, sweet, and indulgent, a fantastically naughty treat to start our meal! The staff were brilliant, attentive and friendly, and you have to love the American style of endless coffee, intelligensia no less! Oh, and our grapefruit bellinis were fantastic.
(4)
Angela P.
I was almost positive that my friend Courtney C was going to throw up right on Halsted Street after our indulgent meal at Nightwood - but in the very best, most complimentary way possible. The food at Nighwood is tasty, but that burger is enormous and really could be shared by two people. We made the mistake of having an appetizer and drinks two doors down at Del Toro. Don't make the same mistake we did - just don't. You're hungry? Trust me, you can wait. I made reservations a week or two in advance for a Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. When we arrived, there was only one other table occupied. By the time we left, there was a good crowd, but I would not say that reservations are mandatory on a weeknight. Service was fantastic. Our server was attentive and did a great job explaining some of the drinks to us. Try the cocktails! I had the "Fit and Working Again," with vodka, apple crisp, elderflower, and lemon. I love drinks with elderflower, and this one was fantastic. Courtney C had a drink with blackberry in it and spent a few minutes pondering how to make her own at home. The cocktails at Nightwood are fabulous - get one! We both started with the Sunchoke Clam Chowder, which is as good as soup is ever going to get. For $10, you get a large bowl of soup, but I would have been happy with a smaller portion. I mean, $10 for SOUP? It was very good though, and it was a $10 well spent. Nightwood also serves piping hot, complimentary pretzel bread and garlic butter. I shouldn't have eaten all of that bread... Then came the burger, which was more like a TOWER of food. The burger was cooked to my liking, and very good. I don't think it cracked my top 5 though. As I mentioned before, this burger is a total belly buster. We each ate about half of ours and took the rest home. The burger is also served with a massive portion of fries, which are also very good. If I had to do it again, perhaps brunch with some cocktails, or someone to share a burger with!
(4)
Amanda P.
NIGHTWOOD BRUNCH. Finally got around to checking this place out. Unbelievable. Had a reservation for 3 people @ 11AM so we were seated right away (a rare brunch occurrence in this city). Everything we ate was delicious. Lemon curd doughnut. Whaaaaat. I am a breakfast potato/hashbrown connoisseur and these were great. The three of us ordered three different and perfect meals. Blueberry compote french toast tasty stuff, soft scrambled egg deliciousness, and pork gnocchi something or another wonderment. Friendly and quick service. One of my favorite brunches I've ever had in the city. I was hesitant to write this review because I don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but this place deserves to be commended. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Charles Z.
I've been wanting to check out Nightwood since it opened, so I chose to have dinner here on my B-day this year. Service was great, our waitress was very nice and attentive. We didn't feel rushed at all, through our visit, which was nice. I had the Pork Belly w/ a side of Brussel Sprouts. Pork Belly was alright I guess, I mean I ate it but it wasn't fantastic or anything. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing, I was pretty bummed that the portion was so small. Only complaint was being seated right in front of the door. I made reservations for 2, a month in advance, figured maybe I'd be given a decent table at the least. Sucked because it was cold out that day so every time the door would open we got a strong cold breeze! If I make it back, it will be for brunch.
(3)
Danny W.
I went to Nightwood when it opened and had not been back since. I think my first visit was sometime in the fall of 2008 because I recall listening to Vampire Weekend on the drive to the restaurant but I could be wrong. Anyhow, I finally back came to Nightwood two weeks ago to get the burger because I'm in a burger club with some friends. We call it Burgz with Friends (it's a play on words). The burger was delicious in a totally unmanageable way. I cut my burgers in half because I'm civilized like that. I don't not regret that decision (I couldn't envision eating any more than a half of this grass-fed-monster) but the mess -as others have noted - is real. Lost among this beef-analysis is the fries are really good also. Would happily return to eat again. It's an interesting trend that almost all contemporary-American/farm-to-table restaurants have a burger on their menu now. I'm all for giving the people what they want (I certainly have eaten my share of burgers at restaurants known for cuisine to which burgers aren't native i.e. Owen & Engine, Three Aces, etc) but part of me wonders if some of these chefs don't resent customers like myself i.e. the internet-reader-eaters that have come in specifically to try one menu item that is sort of an aberration amidst the rest of their menu. For example, Acadia is now known for their burger. This dude has a Michelin star and people write about them to talk about their burger. That's not cool, I think. Maybe it is. You know what? I'm not sure I care. I'm going back for the burger. I think I hate Nightwood.
(5)
Mike R.
Coming from San Francisco, I would expect a lot from a restaurant and this one more than delivered. It was a cold and rainy and windy Chicago evening when we walked in to find a warm welcoming room. Being lined by nearly floor to ceiling windows I felt like we were part of the neighborhood. Our server, Sarah, was an absolute joy. Frankly, I find her to be a true restauranteur - she made wonderful suggestions and had really interesting and informative responses to our questions about the food, the restaurant, and the neighborhood. We ordered a series of appetizers including the chicken pate, the burrata, and asparagus. Each dish had a beautiful presentation, just the right amount of serving, and most importantly had wonderful flavors. For the main course I ordered the half chicken dish. It was wonderful he cooked with a sweet and spicy sauce on the plate. I have to say this is probably the best chicken dish I have had in many many years. I will certainly recommend this restaurant to all who will listen and will be back as well.
(5)
Sandy C.
Had an amazing dinner here for the last time last night. Everything we ordered was excellent and executed with perfection, from the appetizer to the desserts!! You can taste how fresh the ingredients used and how sophisticated the dishes are. Now that they are closing soon, I would highly recommend everyone to go one last time, or try for the very first time!! Worth the time and the $$.
(4)
Ashley C.
I finally got to check Nightwood off my list. It lived up to expectations - good service and good food. Their menu is very appetizing and it was hard to pick what to try. Thankfully my dining companions are into sharing so we were able to try a bunch of different plates. We were seated around the time of our reservation (reservations are recommended). Service was good. Our waitress was helpful in providing wine and food recommendations. She checked on us the right amount and no one batted an eye that we had a very long dinner. Even though our table had a mix of still and sparkling water, they got it right the entire night (and I got to avoid my "I-really-don't-like-sparkling-water" face). For appetizers, we split the potato risotto, the spinach and endive salad and the steak tartare. While I don't say it often, the salad was my favorite starter. It was fresh and the pecorino cheese was amazing. There was just enough of the tasty buttermilk-hemp seed dressing without it being overdressed. However, I would skip the potato risotto next time (with uni butter and black truffles). First, the risotto was undercooked and had too much of a bite to it. The other problem was I didn't get the uni taste from the uni butter and it was a small portion for $18. The entrees were tasty. We tried the trout, cod, winter squash, and pork belly. We also split the carrots and beets for sides which the table enjoyed. Everything was cooked perfectly and it is hard to pick a favorite. The winter squash dish was very flavorful. While I don't normally pass the meat dishes for vegetarian dishes, I just couldn't put it down which says a lot. Of the two fish dishes, I preferred the cod with the light lemon sauce. The fish was so tender and flakey it was falling off my fork. The pork belly and the trout were very good but I preferred the other two entrees. With good food and service, next up is to try their brunch.
(4)
Kate J.
Three sister's polenta was amazing. I wish the portion was bigger because it was so good. I had a glass of champagne also $9, good deal. It was super cold and refreshing. You must order the bacon donut for a starter either to share with 2-4 people or your own if you're not into sharing the most amazing donut ever. I came here with two other people on Easter Sunday around 11:30am after mass and we were seated no problem without a reservation. Great service as well!
(5)
Cat G.
Nightwood has been on my to-do list for.. well.... a long time. Suffice it to say that the only thing keeping me from going was that (I think) they used to not take OpenTable reservations, and I was like "I have to actually talk to a person to make reservations? nah son". The other day though, I noticed them showing up on OpenTable and made a reservation immediately. We came in on a Saturday night at 5:30pm and were seated quickly. The interior of the restaurant is super cozy and cool - lots of wood, industrial looking, pretty much right up my alley decor-wise. There were several other people dining so it was lively but the atmosphere was still relatively intimate - good place to bring your friends, parents, or a date (but probably a good idea to leave the under-12 set at home). We started off with the potato gnocchi appetizer, which was delicious and topped with sliced truffles (this was a kicker for me - the menu says truffles, and usually I anticipate ground truffles because that's what most places do - they actually give you whole slices! Hallelujah.) They also give you bread to start. Not sure if this changes with the menu, but ours was house-made pretzel bread with butter or spread of some sort. No idea what the spread actually was but it was buttery (yay) and also green (??). Delicious though, so I didn't actually really care what it was. I had the huckleberry smoked and glazed pork belly and my dining companion had the wood-grilled duck breast. The pork belly was amazing in texture and I loved that it didn't have huge hunks of fat on it - fat on pork belly is obviously essential, but sometimes there's just way too much of it. Not the case here. My one complaint was that it was a bit too salty, but I cleaned my plate so it couldn't have been too bad. The quinoa was surprisingly good too - I don't usually like quinoa, but it worked well on this dish. I also sampled the duck breast, which was tender and delicious as well. For dessert we ordered the honeycrisp apple bread pudding. One of my favorite dishes of the night probably - the bread pudding is more bread than pudding (if they hadn't called it that on the menu, I would never have guessed) but really tasty and came with a side of rosemary ice cream. Have you ever had rosemary ice cream? Me neither, and I'm a better person now for having tried it (just kidding, but it was really unexpectedly good). Overall a really nice experience - definitely worth a trip on a special occasion. I'm hoping to try their brunch the next time around!
(4)
Amy H.
I went with my boyfriend and his brother to his celebrate his new job. I read the bacon doughnut was good. We ordered that and the other doughnut on the menu. Both were good and not overly sweet. The bacon doughnut had thick cut bacon on there and a salted caramel sauce. We each ordered a meal. I got French toast with sweet potatoes and maple whipped cream. The French toast was fluffy; it almost had a cake texture. My boyfriend got the cheeseburger. It was good. It was an amped up Big Mac. His tother got two eggs and sausage links. He said he liked it. The service was very good. Multiple waiters came and kept pouring us water. The food was good but it was pricey. Our total was $87 for the three of us. I was ok because this was for a special occasion. If you don't mind the price, then give the place a try. I recommend it.
(5)
Vanessa H.
We have been trying to check this place out for a while because the hours are a bit strange. (Breakfast & brunch, close, open again for dinner). I live nearby and love checking out the trendy restaurants in Pilsen. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mexican restaurants, but I can eat some foie gras and steak too. The menu changes so while looking at pictures will make your mouth water, know it might not be available. The place is GORGEOUS. So much space, even the patio seating is enclosed. All of the breeze, none of the pollen, of outside seating. While it looks faaaancy, they were family friendly during brunch time when we went. Bathrooms were clean, always a plus when we try someplace new. Ok, now the food. Menu wasn't as crazy/weird as some other places I have gone. That's a good thing when dining with children. They were able to make a regular pancake with maple syrup for my 3 year old. My husband ordered the double burger (pictured) and I had the rolled omelet. We LOVED it. It was filling, but not like I need to take a nap filling. My omelet had ricotta and asparagus. The little brown balls are deep fried hash browns. Super tasty, and I like the crunchiness of them. Service was awesome, it was a Sunday so the full staff was out. My husband loved the burger, cooked medium. It was a little heavy on the mayo ( I don't like mayo) my hubby thought it was perfect. We ended it with a butterscotch glazed donut with bacon crumbles on top. YUMMMMM. Even my little one was eating bacon! Definitely recommend and would try again. Semi-pricey, but not much more than the other places we have gone that sell better quality food. ($50 for 2 adults one toddler). We are going to check out the dinner scene with just us grown ups.
(5)
Allison J.
I've been twice for brunch and it was definitely one of the best brunchs I've had in Chicago! I'm not a big fan of sweets, but their donuts are a must have. Both entrees were delicious as well. No complaints! Great full bar too, which doesn't hurt. Their menu changes very frequently, so you'll get the chance to try new things everytime. I've already been twice and plan on trying dinner soon! Update: I've finally made it for dinner. The flavors were still unique and interesting. The burger and pork belly were delicious. I ordered a fish dish, which was good, but nothing I would come back for. Altogether it was a great dinner, but I do prefer the brunch! If give brunch 5 stars and dinner 4 stars.
(5)
Susan S.
Excellent food and service !!!!! Lovely decor and fireplace outside seating. Try their pastas - on the appetizer section but perfect for a one person meal. Very fresh hamburger double stacked!
(3)
Shan D.
I know it's had a Michelin rating, but I didn't think this place was deserving of it. The items we ordered were hit or miss. The duck was cooked to perfection. However, the long noodle dish was too salty. Everything else was not memorable. It's a nice, quiet restaurant with good service. Maybe I just showed up on one of their off days?
(3)
Steve N.
Had one of the best brunches ever here!!!! Beautiful, well thought out food with fresh ingredients. Amazing!!!!
(5)
Jesse C.
I was a little skeptical coming here for dinner since it seems like this place is really known for breakfast/brunch, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Made a reservation for 7pm on a Thursday. It was pretty empty when we arrived but by 8pm the place was packed. Our server was very sweet and made some nice recommendations for us. My friend and I shared several dishes: Mango and crispy pork belly salad with grilled watermelon: All the components of this dish meshed together really well. The pork belly added a nice salty/crunchy element, and the fruit was fresh and ripe. This was actually my first time having grilled watermelon and I loved it. The watermelon was sliced like sashimi with perfect grill marks on it. Apparently the grilling gives the watermelon a more meaty texture which was perfect in this salad. Highly recommended! Salmon with spaghetti squash: This may have been the juicest piece of salmon I have ever eaten! Another nicely balanced dish served with perfectly done spaghetti squash and some kind of green (don't remember what it was). So delicious, highly recommended if you're in the mood for fish! Cheeseburger with fries: This burger was outstanding, right up there with other gourmet burger places in LA like Father's Office and Standing Room. The cheddar and mustard went so well together, beef patties were a perfectly done medium, and the thick skin-on fries were the perfect complement. Highly recommended! Peach cake: Our server recommended this and we really enjoyed it. It was served a la mode and I think I remember a little ginger in there too. Recommended. Overall, this place far exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to return for brunch or dinner to try more items!
(5)
Thomas C.
Third Visit to Nightwood, definitely the best. Fortunately this time we were seated down in the wine cellar, which was more intimate making conversation easier, and while we waited a long time for our meal, it was worth it. The burger, the drinks, the pork belly....all heavenly.
(4)
Toni R.
Great ambiance, and the food was spectacular! We have tried the duck and the pork belly it was phenomenal. We're glad to have tried the pork belly before they change the menu. An absolute gem in Pilsen
(5)
joshua b.
Love this place and go a couple times a month for Brunch on Sunday's. Food is always TOP notch. Unfortunately today we had a horrible service experience. Sarah was mean and practically nasty to us. Someone clearly peed in her Cheerios this morning. Food is amazing, the owner/MNgr guy is always there and super nice.
(4)
Marti M.
BEST burger in Chicago. I love this place!
(5)
Mary Ann C.
Third visit to Nightwood. We arrived last night without a reservation (none available on OpenTable) and were promptly seated in the wine room in the basement. Very nice! As with the upstairs, it is still conversation challenged. Our server was full of great tips and very helpful. Our food was extremely slow arriving. Maybe due to a busy Friday and the Art Walk taking place. Burger was nicely executed with delicious fries and a nice soft bun. Not the best in town but respectable. The pork belly was devine. Sinful. Amazing. Nice cocktail selection with interesting ingredients. Yummmmmm
(4)
Kendra N.
So I've heard this is the best brunch spot in town but I guess it wasn't my favorite. We rolled in around 11am the day of the marathon and we had absolutely no trouble getting a table. I ordered a bloody mary which was good but not the best I've had. I also had the apple crepes - again good but not amazing. I think I was most disappointed by the menu options - none of the options really suited my palate. I like crepes but not really apple crepes and I'm not really an eggs, toast, and potatoes kind of gal - so nothing was on par with what I would choose to order. However, I still enjoyed my meal, just had to compromise on my ideal breakfast. My hubby had a burger and he said it was one of the better ones he's had recently. If you do like the things on their menu, you will likely enjoy your meal!
(4)
Alexandra H.
Love their brunch. Like, amazing super delicious. Their tots will change the way you look at potatoes. Dinner is slightly over priced for what you get but pretty creative. Worth going not necessarily repeating regularly.
(4)
Ellie D.
Really wanted to love this place, but I can only give it 2 stars because I almost choked on the fish. I ordered the trout. It was covered with almonds and fried black rice. The rice tasted burnt instead of crispy. The trout smelled fishy. One of my last bites had the fish tail in it. I almost choked and had to spit it out. My date had the burger and the bun was stale. The patties were dry. We also ordered side dishes: beets and Brussels sprouts. They were ok. We also got dessert which was ok as well. The servers also hovered too much, yet our plates stayed on the table for a long time after we were done eating. I had to stack the plates to remind the servers that we were done. Also if your table isn't by the window, you'll need your iphone flashlight to read the menu. We spent ~$100 and I was so bummed that I didn't get my moneys worth. Maybe it was an off night?
(2)
Judy N.
Amazing!! You have to start with their doughnut! I had the maple glazed with bacon. And then had the polenta with pork belly and a side of toys. Everything was delicious!! Noise level was high on a Sunday afternoon, but the food made up for it.
(5)
Gabriela B.
The burger, hanger steak and service were great. On a Thursday night, we were sat right away. The wait for the food was a little long, but worth the wait. Food was amazing!
(5)
Sarah G.
BACON BUTTERSCOTCH DONUT. You will be in my dreams forever. That chicory custard stuff donut also pretty phenomenal, but you had me at bacon, butterscotch and donut and you had me after each bite I took after that perfect donut of bliss. Really though, that donut will make me want to come back out to Pilsen for sure. Nightwood is a new restaurant in that are and it is super adorable inside in a hip trendy hipster sort of way, and they have an awesome looking enclosed patio with an outdoor fireplace too which I would love to come back and check out in action one day. We went for brunch and I got a special they were rotating of tiny bay shrimp and gravy and biscuits with a sunny side up egg on top and it was so tasty! The biscuit was nice and moist and easy to cut up with each bite of the shrimp and gravy, so I was a happy camper. Matt J. got the house made cavatelli pasta with their mini meatballs which he loved but I thought didn't pack quite as much flavor as I thought it would to be honest. Other group orders were the classic eggs and toast and tots and those tots were the fanciest tots I have ever seen! They looked like little pieces of art they were definitely the fanciest breakfast hashbrowns ever. The soft scrambled eggs with queso fresco and such also was a hit and my other friend ordered their oatmeal which our server claimed was "perfect" in consistency when she asked if it was chunkier or runnier oatmeal and it actually was pretty perfect too! We were glad we had a reservation, although it wasn't too crowded for Sunday brunch, but we were seated right away, I got my unlimited inteligensia coffee and next time maybe I'll splurge for that Chemex--$10 but I bet worth it?? Hmmmm
(4)
Mark T.
A few years ago, a friend of mine had mentioned to me the details of the great dinner that she had here one night. Ever since then, Nightwood has been on my list of places to go, and Chicago Restaurant Week provided the perfect opportunity. The place looks pretty small from the outside. We got seated in the front room, which was pretty tight space wise. This could be a disadvantage for some places with the setup not being conducive to intimate conversation; I didn't get that feel at all here since the area wasn't loud and we could comfortably carry out a conversation while enjoying our meal. We had a few choices for our four course prix-fixe meal: I started off with the dry aged beef tartare, with rich duck yolk, parsley, winter pickles, and tallow roasted bread. Second, I had the sunchoke & clam bisque, with grilled sage, sweet leeks, & Pecorino Toscana. The main course consisted of the braised pork, with eight winter vegetables. (I didn't count, I trust the chef put exactly eight in there). The menu was capped with a plate of apple bread pudding with vanilla creme fraiche, pine nuts, house made cheese its (yum!) & rosemary ice cream. I was comfortably full after that meal; everything that I ate was a nice mixture of sweet, sour, and succulent. It also helped that we had a long walk back to the car afterwards to work the meal off. Service was great and I can tell that the chef had a great attention to detail with each plate. This is definitely a place worth coming back to.
(4)
Kathleen C.
I am SO glad I visited Nightwood! I had a late weeknight reservation during restaurant week and couldn't be happier that I stayed up late to dine here. First of all, we lucked out and while we got stuck in a little traffic on the way (seriously Chicago?!?!), we found a spot on the street immediately when we arrived. The restaurant is so inviting - cosy, dimly lit and exposed brick and an open kitchen. I could have stayed for hours had it not been a work night. A nice thing about the restaurant week menu here is that it is a separate, special menu. The options were so delicious-sounding that it was hard to choose. Thankfully, there were 2 options from each of the four courses and 2 of us, so we each got to try the entire menu! First up, foie gras and pear. WOW! The beet salad was also good, but the pear was the best. Second course - oyster chowder. Yep, you read that right and darn it was delicious! The corned beef also wonderful and I don't even like corned beef very much! I had an amazing lemon scented ricotta ravioli with bolognese sauce and got a few bites of pork loin as well. Both - wonderful though I think I preferred the ravioli as it was light and really unique. Desserts - yum! Chocolate with the cutest caramel corn and an apple bread pudding. Both insanely good! The food, atmosphere, value, service - absolutely perfect.
(5)
Caralyn O.
Nightwood is a romantic, delicious, gem that leaves me with a new favorite item every time I go. Their menu changes frequently, and everything is consistently fresh. The prices are reasonable enough that you can try as many of the inventive menu items as you'd like without breaking the bank (and I highly recommend doing so). I love their unique cocktails, and friendly service. I first came to Nightwood about a year ago, and we've been back three times to celebrate a few special occasions since. Every time, the staff has been attentive without hovering or making us feel rushed and the meals have been fantastic. I am so rarely a dessert person, but Nightwood has never disappointed. When in doubt, go for it. Just like everything else at this restaurant, the sweets are so worth the splurge. If you're not within walking distance, I've had difficulty finding cabs after dinner. Uber/Lyft/etc come in handy - or we may have just been unlucky. Doesn't matter much -- I'd walk to Pilsen and back again for my favorite restaurant in Chicago!
(5)
Rebecca N.
I absolutely love it here! The menu changes daily and the food is very interesting. I would recommend going with people who have open minds. I preferred my brunch experience compared to dinner, but both we wonderful. The bagel sandwich is perfect! It is a very cool atmosphere and great service.
(5)
Jennifer R.
My Roommate and I have been here a few times for dinner and brunch. We had brunch with two friends today and enjoyed a variety of item. We shared two donuts as starters today. As someone who isn't a big donut fan I have to say I love the Butterscotch Bacon Donut. The butterscotch glaze is plate licking good and the chunks of bacon make this a must try treat. We ordered the Pork Belly & Grits, the Cherry Pancake and the Bagel Sandwich. The Pork Belly and Bagel Sandwich were heavy savory items. While the Bagel Sandwich is almost impossible to eat without making a mess, its well worth the trouble. Great service and a helpful staff make this one of the best brunch spots in Chicago.
(4)
Melissa M.
Nightwood is just...wow-worthy. Never would you expect to find such artistry in food on this side of town, but man, is it worth the trip. Yes, you might want to sit near the window to make sure that your car doesn't get broken into while you eat, but you won't be sorry you came. From beginning to end, this was a foodie's dream dining experience. Our server was one of the most genuinely nice people I've ever encountered in food service. Her attention to detail, and genuine interest in what we wanted was incredible. Even if the food sucked, I'd probably still walk out of here happy because her demeanor was just that refreshing. The two of us had some of the best meals we'd had in ages. The boyfriend started with some of the fried pig ear, about which he could not stop gushing. Although not my thing in the least, his obsession was so palpable that I had to take a small bite. Still not my thing, but that really doesn't mean anything. People who are into eating any part of Babe would, I'm sure, love those. The real pleasure came with our wine, which was basically picked by our server after we explained what we liked and what we were in the mood to drink. She did an excellent job, and I truly appreciated her skill with that. As the menu evolves based on what's in season, you cannot go into Nightwood expecting standard dishes, nor can you go back expecting to have what you had last time. For creatures of habit, this may be a tough pill to swallow, but you have to appreciate the chef's talent. I had a roasted chicken that was simply perfect. That's all I can really say about our meal - it was simple, and perfect. I hope Nightwood continues to do well, but I also hope it doesn't get too busy, since I love the truly "under the radar" feel of this hidden gem in Pilsen.
(5)
Sara B.
Because my husband is AWESOME a client gave him a certificate to eat here! What an AWESOME date night. Some patrons a little rude but the food, beverages and desserts were all amazing! Interesting location. Parking could be a challenge but it was fun!
(4)
Andrew W.
Yeah this place was rocking awesome. Seedy area a little bit. And a lot of patrons who like to gawk. Friendly bar and wait staff, delicious beverages and food. Thanks MITS for the gift cert.
(4)
Jessica P R.
This is one of the best meals I've ever had! I came in solo on a business trip. The hospitality was phenomenal from the start. They offered to seat me at the kitchen bar, and it was unbelievable to watch each dish being made. I'm a huge food nerd and watch a lot of food shows. Everything came to life at Nightwood. It was an experience and not just a meal. This probably hinges on being seated at the kitchen bar. Though the food was out of this world too. I had the burrata app and the vegetarian dish. Both were delicious. I wish I lived closer so I could go back again and again.
(5)
Peter M.
I went to Nightwood on a Sunday, early afternoon. The place was full but the hostess was able to provide a table within a half hour. I found the brunch menu options rather limited. I was hoping to try the maple bacon donut and the other pastry appetizer but they were out of both. We did arrive later in the day so I can understand that they ran out. The meal was okay, nothing spectacular. Toast and tots were on the cold side. I might go back to try the dinner menu but I doubt I'd return for Sunday brunch.
(2)
Annie S.
THE BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUT!!!!!!!!! BEST FOOD I HAD IN CHICAGO. It wasn't the deep dish pizza, portillo's, or whatever else Chicago is known for that stuck out... IT WAS THIS DONUT! SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even a big fan of bacon, but wow... I miss this donut. I came here with four other people for lunch on a Sunday. We made reservations, but ended up arriving almost an hour early. Fortunately, even though the restaurant looked busy, they got us seated pretty quickly. Yay for good service! I ordered the bagel sandwich... and it was aiiiitee and pretty difficult to eat. I tried to slice it into pieces, but it just got really messy... I wouldn't order it again. BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY ORDER 23904209349023490234 BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Zach J.
Went here on Saturday evening. I was very impressed with the set up of this place, very nice decor and a pleasant setting. We chose to eat in the outdoor area; however, that did not last long due to two screaming babies that had parents that did not even try to hush them up, mainly because they were too busy talking very loudly and being drunk, so we moved indoors where it was quiter. I ordered the cheeseburger which is probably the cheapest thing on the menu; however, you get the largest portion of food. The burger is a double burger with 8 year old aged chedder cheese in melted form. They also top it with onion rings, lettuce and pickles. The pickles were so fresh they actually stood out in taste, especially blended with the amazing chedder sauce. The was absolutely delicious too. The beef was of top quality but in thin patty form. The great news is they put two patties on the burger, so you get double the burger goodness. The fries were really good, not home cut in appearance but the taste says otherwise. The wait staff is extremely attentative and do not leave you thirsty of sitting in filth. After your complementary bread with jam they wipe down your area, after your appetizer they wipe down your area, after your meal they wipe down your area, after your desert they wipe down your area. They also refill your water glass constantly as soon as someone, anyone, at your table gets half full. The desert I had was a chocolate tart with strawberys and ice cream filled into it. The ice cream on the side was amazing and fresh tasting. The tart was thick and rice, but not too rich. I will definately return here, and the burger was worth the $16 I paid.
(5)
Caroline M.
Nightwood is stellar. I came here based on a recommendation from a friend who used to live in Chicago. And he did not steer me wrong! I have had both brunch and dinner at Nightwood and they are equally fabulous. Brunch was wonderful because, well quite honestly, I love brunch! Plus...those hash browns are addictive! How do they make cute little crunchy nests of potato!? Dinner is also fabulous. I dined here with a girlfriend and we had a solid girls night out. The cocktails deserve a review of their own--while they sound like your average fancy cocktails they will blow you away. We're talking rivaling Violet Hour(!!) Dinner involved seasonal ingredients, none of which I do not recall, due to imbibing a little too much :) What I am saying here is, if you rate Nightwood less than 5 stars you are an idiot.
(5)
Alden V.
This is a phenomenal restaurant. Everything was top notch. Clam Chowder, house made pasta, dry aged tartar. mhMm! The burger was irresistible to me, and it came through big time. I look forward to going back for more of the entree items and sitting kitchen-side.
(5)
Tunaidi A.
Nightwood was a pleasant surprise. I'm always impressed with farm-to-table restaurants' decor. There's a main area, which looks pretty typical in terms of seating; a bar area, where the kitchen is open and you can see the chefs preparing your food; and an patio area, which is considered "outside", but you're surrounded with greenery, and temperature can be controlled. Brunch was amazing. Service was great. Food was better. Donuts... you can't have brunch here without the donuts. They are absolutely delicious. The burger is amazing. The pork belly sandwich is a win. The bagel sandwiches are great. Things on the menu change, but I can't imagine the quality and the tingle on your taste buds changing too much.
(4)
AJ W.
It's a very good restaurant...but the service...kinda lacking. But the food is outstanding! The bacon donut is amazing...but oy, I really hated the service. I never appreciate being treated like I'm not cool enough to eat your food...especially when it's BRUNCH.
(3)
Karen N.
They do the whole farm to table thing very well. But my last dinner left a little to be desired. Spaghetti with clams-home made spaghetti but chopped clams, not fresh clams in shells. What's up with that? I was happy with the pasta texture and creative ramp butter sauce, but really wished the clams were fresh. Duck breast dish was very tender and tasty. Like, but not love.
(3)
Shuangshuang W.
The dishes were good but not anything outstanding. I wouldn't come back if not for special reasons. The 4stars was mostly for the surprise birthday sorbet.
(4)
Melissa B.
Bacon Butterscotch donut. Do I really need to say more? My friend and I had brunch here on a Sunday. The drink menu is awesome. I kinda wished we didn't have to be somewhere right after here. I would of liked to try one of each. I stuck with the Bellini's and he had some sort of drink that was a beer with a shot of espresso and a shot of whiskey in it. We both loved our choices. We were in the mood to eat. We started with a bacon butterscotch donut and a blueberry lemon bar. I wanted to lick the plates! I could hardly contain myself. My mouth is watering thinking about how absolutely perfect the lemon bar was. After the sweet start to our meal we decided on lunch items. I had pasta in a cream sauce topped with bacon and a sunny side up egg. Just writing that makes me feel fat. It was worth every single calorie. He had a meatball sub and it looked delicious! It was pretty crowded but they accept reservations. Service was friendly. They didn't rush us at all. It's not what I like to spend on brunch weekly, but its not over priced either.
(5)
Kasia L.
I've been wanting to have to dinner here for as long as I can remember and finally made a point of it to do it. Restaurant itself is really cool with the interior design and the open kitchen counter seating. Food was as fantastic as I'd always imagined it would be. The burrata appetizer is honestly so good that I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Burger-amazing, seriously. Cavatelli pasta, delicious. Side of marinated beets - who would think that this would be so incredibly yummy? And the dessert...I had the honey & goat cheese ice cream. What? It was so so so so so good. SO GOOD. I cannot wait to go again.
(5)
Steve Z.
I am looking at these other reviews and I just can't believe what they are saying. I may have to re-try this place when it's not chef's week but I don't want to spend close to $200 for a meal that was, for lack of a better word, bad. I'll start with the pros of this place. Very nice atmosphere and the staff was amazing. I mean, I've been to a lot of restaurants and have friends who own restaurants and they Nightwood is definitely one of the best for service. Now the food. One think I can say about every single dish is salty. Very, very, very salty. I was constantly drinking water and this morning I woke up feeling awful after these courses. Also, it's almost like there are too many things going on in every dish. Like, just over thought and the flavors just didn't make sense. For the first course we had the burrata with white asparagus and dill and the spinach and endive salad. I'll sum it up. VERY SALTY. I actually didn't finish the burrata. it wasn't my thing to be honest. The salad was a highlight. The dressing was very good but it was salty. My partner said that she thought it was salty right away. Anyway, we moved on. Second course was the red wine braised lamb neck and borlotti beans and the pasta with a hazelnut sauce. The star here was the lamb neck. Just that though. The other flavors in the dish made no sense to me. The beans seemed dry and old and had no flavor. The sauce it was in was sort of bitter. Anyway, we ate around everything and only took the meat. Now the pasta. The sauce was good. We ate the majority. But the spaghetti used was grossly under cooked almost like it was sitting under a heat lamp for a while. The sauce was very good. But all in all it was very salty as well. The last course was the maitake mushroom and the hanger steak. The mushroom dish was so salty that I took one bite and could barely swallow it. And the mushroom was just not good. When we tried it, it was almost like when you have to respect your grandma's cooking even though it's bad. The flavors again made no sense to me. There was a lot going on that turned me off. The first hanger steak I received was cold so I sent it back for another and I got a hot steak that was cooked perfectly. But the cut I received the second time had a lot of gristle and again, it was overly salted. And the feta and chickpeas are a nice touch, but the feta just added to the salty flavor. I don't want to get into dessert because I saw cracker jacks on one plate and cheez-it bits on the other. And I just laughed. But the desert was good. Probably the star of the entire course. Honestly, when we left we could barely feel our tongue. Everything was over seasoned and for the prices you pay you'd expect more dishes that make sense. Then again, any place that charges $16 for a burger you might have to question. Is the food the star or is the chef just showing off? I've been to a lot of places around the world and this being in my home town in very low on the list. I usually don't go on yelp and post a review. This time I had to because the prices don't match up the quality and execution. What a let down.
(2)
Aeri B.
The food was delicious and the portions were satisfying. The rosemary ice cream was interesting but for some reason I couldn't stop eating it. I had the pork belly which were like burnt ends. Super tender. My friend had the 1/2 chicken. Huge! Really good as well. The space is nice and I can see it really coming alive on a nice summer evening. The seating is tight but that's the style they were going for. Not conducive for an intimate conversation. My server was perfect. Very attentive and knew the menu. Sweet girl. Would definitely come back here!
I didn't understand this place. The host sneered at the notion that we sit by the window. The Punch for Two was bourbon, champagne and currant (?). Undrinkable (though I drank it). Fresh oysters with a mayonnaise sauce? Hm. The farfalle with grilled squid was pretty good -- not remarkable -- but among the options, passable. The word "juvenile" just kept coming to mind. As an out-of-towner, it didn't represent Chicago's food scene well (I hope). I would strongly advise anyone with a decent palate to pass on this place.
(2)
Bo Y.
Came here for brunch on weekends. shared bacon donuts. tried difference entrees. very good. loved their cocktails.
(4)
Brian P.
Brunch? We came for dinner and everything was fabulous. As we had a large group we were able to sample many dishes on the menu. Highlights for me included a local rib eye steak (with wild rice), seared trout, and pig ears. My friends duck leg was also superb. The only thing I didn't really like was the fois gras.... but thats just my personal taste. Service was very laid back.
(4)
Fernando O.
This place is hidden gem on the south side. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, modern, lively, great ambience. The service was great! I came here for brunch. The food was great I had a trout and egg sandwich which at first I was reluctant to order but thank God I did. It was delicious. I have a sweet good so I ordered the donut dessert which was also delicious. The coffee is very good. The menu is never the same since everyday they buy fresh products. I have not been here for dinner but plan to do so very soon. A friend of mine told me the drinks are great.
(5)
Deena H.
After my second dining experience here, I think it is fair to rate it. 1. Ambiance: There is a eat in front of kitchen experience where you sit at a counter with stools and totally worth it; you watch them make these amazing creations and dishes. There is also very Romantic sitting inside and there is a patio seating outside. I believe there is lower level room for groups but i have not seen it 2. Service: Fantastic, friendly, comfortable. They offer sparkling and still water. There is also a bar available as well as a wine list. There is literally a wall full of wine as part of their decor 3. FOOD: The menu changes but you will not find fresher, more succulent, and original dishes anywhere. We recently had the cucumber dish and it was spicy and refreshing at the same time. The DESSERTS are A MUST. YOU MUST try them. They have a cherry pie with a coffee dessert that is sweet and hits the spot. There are also cookies galore for the cookie monster in you. They also have sorbet. There are vegetarian options as well as plenty of different meat options. My husband recently had a sort of chicken dish and it was so juicy (i tried it of course). I gave the nightwood burger a shot and loved the onion ring included with it on the burger. 4. Bathroom: For the girls out there, the bathroom is adorable. I know that is weird but it literally is like this funky green color with an old style lock on the door. It is super clean, has a long mirror on the door you can check yourself in as well as mirror in front of sink. There is only one bathroom for women so if it is busy, you may need to wait but not that bad. There was one night my husband and I were actually able to meet Chef Che. He was friendly, down to earth, and we were just so pleased with our whole experience. YOU MUST try this place at least ONCE. I do not think you will be sad you did. Worth every penny.
(5)
Sharon M.
My favorite brunch spot. When you start with bacon butterscotch doughnuts and a beermosa, it's hard to go wrong. And here you won't. Today i had white polenta, braised short rib, with a soft boiled egg on top. Every flavor complimented the one beside it. Sat in the back bar over looking the kitchen, was great fun watching the team do their work. Super friendly attentive staff. If you're looking for something more than simple eggs (but they do that too ) be sure to put this on your list.
(5)
Erin P.
Mocktail Report: Nightwood used to put their nonalcoholic options on the cocktail menu. However, I just checked the website and it appears that is no more. Too bad, I loved not having to ask for special options. I am sure they will still make you something wonderful, if you ask. I have had smashes, rickeys and more here and have loved them all!
(5)
Thor T.
Went to Nightwood for brunch and loved it - starting with the fine cocktails (an earthy Bloody Mary was the favorite) and the rightly beloved donuts (two varieties were available). While the cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and the omelette with fingerling potatoes and and bacon jam were delicious, it was the smoked, steamed, and grilled pork belly sandwich with green garlic chili mayo, runny egg, and pea shoots (with a good dose of cilantro) that was my favorite, restoring my faith in the goodness of pork belly after some pretty mediocre versions at other Chicago restaurants. Another important brunch ingredient was very good: the coffee. The service: friendly, efficient, welcoming, lovely all around. A light atmosphere pervades the cozy room, we left happy.
(5)
Angela Z.
The donuts are delicious, but brunch is just ok. Especially for the price, the crepes and the meat item (can't recall the name but had beans and meat and an egg with salad) weren't that great. Though the atmosphere is nice and the decor is awesome!
(4)
Shauna M.
Definitely disappointed Nightwood is closing...it's been a standby for brunch and more recently dinner. Will miss those tots and daily menu changes. Brunch is heavy but always satisfying. Looking forward to what is next for chef and current location.
(4)
Christopher V.
Service is always friendly, knowledgable and helpful.. Romantic spot, especially at night. I was a huge fan of the fire-grilled half chicken a few years ago. Unfortunately, this has been replace with a single breast or thigh, depending on the night, for the same price. I've sampled most of the menu and while all dishes are prepared well and ascetically pleasing, only the chicken is especially good. At $25 for a single piece of chicken, I can't say it's worth a special visit. Even the burger at $16 is just ok, can't compete with Au Cheval's. Moving forward, I'll probably only stop in for cocktails which is definitely what they do best.
(3)
Richard W.
The service at this place is amazing! We loved the focaccia bread, and they only brought one for the table initially but were super quick to bring more when we requested it. The waiter joked we might get full before our main courses but the bread really is pretty small. The appetizer I got (agnolotti) was smaller than what I would have expected for the price but apparently someone comes in every day at 8am to hand make the pasta. The main course wood-grilled duck was tasty but also a little pricey. The restaurant is known for the wood-grilled dishes in particular.
(4)
Keegan W.
Had their pre fixe for restaurant week; did not disappoint! Really enjoyed the whole experience. Highlights were the tartare, pasta dish I can't even describe, and the rosemary ice cream! If I had to nit pick, I felt like the drinks were over priced, but I'm starting to feel like that's the case throughout the city.
This place probably gets 5 stars for food and service and 2-3 stars for value in my book. As mentioned in other brunch reviews, we started with the donut (bacon butterscotch) and it was incredible. The main dishes were very tasty (though I thought that the one I got--ended up being a caprese-type salad thing was not really as I felt it was described on the menu). Despite being parched and chugging the tiny water glasses they give you, mine was rarely dry and the server was very friendly. We just thought that for basically some eggs, veggies and bread (we didn't leave hungry but were definitely not stuffed), it was kind of overpriced.
(4)
Veronica C.
Great spot for a date night. It seemed like a hole in the wall from the outside but as soon as I walked in, it changed completely. It was beautiful! I ate a flavorful burger with fries. We also ate the trout! I also really enjoyed the pretzel bread. The dessert was delectable....the pastry chef put her heart into the presentation. :-) Very happy with the experience.
(5)
MIke O.
Excellent meal. I had the spit roasted chicken and it was very tasty. Others in my party had the pork belly and the trout, both were excellent.
(5)
Janet S.
The last stop on our Pilson night tour. close to the crib, we popped in at 10.45 and it was still packed, indoor/out door, we opted for two seats at the bar. We closed out our evening with the grilled octopus appetizer with mole. The portion was easily big enough for two without feeling cheated $16, the mole delicious but could have been less. Draft beer selected extremely limited whined Pablo, I on the other hand enjoyed my cocktail Problems faced when Travelling, a nifty concoction with Tequila, yellow chartreuse, campari, grapefruit and sea salt for $12. The desserts were tempting bud bed was a calling. The list of entrees ranged from $16-32. The handwritten menu is a bit of a scrawl and hard to read.
(4)
Susan M.
Nightwood is definite must try restaurant. Dined there on 3/21/15. Had a reservation and was immediately seated on time with a warm welcome. Food was beyond amazing. 3 of us shared 3 appetizers : the barrata, the spaghetti ala chitarra and beef tartare. What great flavors in all and each was beyond an ample amount to share. For entree's : Duck Breast, Hanger Steak and Cheeseburger. Each one had such unique, fresh ingredients and were prepared perfect. I never saw a cheeseburger that was soo big and flavorful that sat so high off the plate. We also shared the brussel sprouts which was again beyond ample in size to share amongst the 3 of us. Everything was served hot and such a great presentation on the plate. Our Waiter was such a nice guy. He was helpful in making suggestions and checking on us throughout our dining experience to make sure we were enjoying. For drinks we had the High Hat (outstanding!) and the Mentaculus and Tito's and Cranberry Juice. We enjoyed cappuccino's after dinner. The food was so plentiful that we didn't have room for the desserts ...which all sounded and looked so yummy as it went by to other diners. We are all looking forward to returning again to try some other great dishes on the menu. Don't miss out trying this restaurant. Can't say thank you enough for the great dining experience. Kudo's to the Chef and bartender and our great waiter.
(5)
Thomas D.
Went for a date with my girlfriend. Overall, A great spot. Cool vibe without being pretentious. Service was great and the food was solid. Wasn't too impressed by the burrata appetizer or the hanger steak entree but the clam chowder and the burger were fantastic. Get the punch to share..its great!
(4)
Martha Z.
We were here on fathers day for brunch. It was a 9am rez so not very crowded yet. We started with the donuts which were very good- after the 20 minutes it took them to arrive at the table. The food problems came with our entrees. I got an omelette and my husband got the BLT. Both were extremely salty and barely edible. The service was also very slow and the side of bacon we ordered in the very beginning was forgotten. All in all, my excitement to come here faded quickly and we won't be back any time soon.
(2)
Lauren B.
The food was incredible. I am not a big eater and kept attempting to eat more. The menu constantly changes and is always freshly made in front of your eyes. The staff was down to earth and welcoming. Hip and Peaceful ambience. I am so happy right now :)
(5)
Kimberlie T.
Pilsen Gem. I can't say enough about their food, ambiance and drinks. We had their burger (so fairly priced) and the duck. It was outstanding & tasty! Highly recommended!
Went as part of a large group - so under normal circumstances, my rating might be higher. Even with 12 of us (ugh), the food and service were spot-on
(3)
Carmen D.
Great Food! The place is quaint, with outdoor seating in better weather. It's got a nice "home-y" feel to inside. The food was great and the waiter was very helpful with making a decision.
(4)
Claudia M.
Nightwood was ok. I guess the best part really is the bacon butterscotch donuts. Incredibly good. The servers were super attentive and friendly. The food was very simple nothing fancy and nothing that was super tasty either. For brunch I had scrambled eggs, toast and potatoes and it came with three (yes, three) hush puppy like potatoes. The bloody mary was a bitter one. It was still a great time because I was with my buddies but not what I was expecting for all the hype this place gets. meh....ok
(3)
Talia G.
Oh dearest Nightwood, cousin of my love, Lula Cafe, I heart you. My boyfriend took me here on Saturday night for my birthday dinner, and it was definitely an A+ all around. The menu has so many fantastic choices, the decor is nice, the food is outstanding, and the service was satisfactory enough. First off - wine: We ordered a bottle of the Old Soul Red from Mendocino, CA. The waitress didn't seem very knowledgable about the wine list, so I think she defaulted on what she knew and recommended this one. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit too fruity. This was my only gripe - if she didn't know the wines, she should have asked someone who did to recommend one based on our description. But moving on to the food. For appetizers we ordered: + The Brussels Sprouts with Fermented Sablefish - not my favorite version of brussels sprouts, but extremely tasty nonetheless. I would order it again. + Fried squid with Cucumber, Yogurt, and Chili Arbol - I love calamari and I love spicy things, so this was a hit for me. The presentation was nice with the yogurt dip on the bottom of the dish. For entrees: + Lake Superior Walleye - Omg this was absolutely amazing. The onion and corn on the bottom was unbelievably delicious and the fish was perfection. Love Love Love this dish. + Spaghetti alla Rock Shrimp, etc - Homemade al dente spaghetti with shrimp, beans, and other good things. Totally unique and surprisingly well-composed. I would never have thought of putting beans in spaghetti, but it worked! And finally, for dessert: + Mexican Chocolate Cremeux - insanely rich, insanely good. + Laura's Pumpkin Pie - I can't put into words how much I loved this dish. The chai ice cream was out of this world when paired with the pie. I'll be dreaming about this pie for a long time. I need to know how to make it!! Overall a very nice meal. At the back, there's a bar looking directly into the kitchen, which I thought was an awesome concept. Next time I'll try to sit there.
Ordered the crispy pig ears to begin the meal. They were reminiscent of a pork rind flavor, only much crispier and flavor dense, although some pieces were a bit too hard. The applewood-grilled octopus with monteau sausage warm potato and kale salad habanero lemon oil was light, yet flavorful and refreshing. I thought the marinated Illinois tomatoes with warm chorizo vinaigrette and goat cheese would stand out more, but the chorizo fell short in seasoning and serving size. The Fussolli with Illinois lamb ragu pine nut anchovy whey was about what I expected based on the description, a nicely balanced savory entree. My friends also let me take a bite of their burger which was a little over the top, but still delicious. The wood grilled seagel farm chicken thigh, potato, honey, and yeast gnocchi in dried chili sauce, greek yogurt, mint was simply delicious. The gnocchi and dried chili sauce was masterfully put together, and was the reason I did not give Nightwood four stars, as I felt let down by some of the other orders.
(5)
Noah G.
The cocktails were creative and well thought out. Appetizers hit or miss. Entrees were complex, well presented, and very flavorful. The desserts (especially the ice cream) particularly impressive. 4/5 So I usually hate it when I read a review based on service, but it is my day to be that guy. It was surprisingly lackluster and honestly bothersome, and I never usually notice that type of thing. Our table of four was presented with a flat, uninterested, and seemingly checked-out waitstaff. It interrupted the flow of conversation and dulled our sense of excitement over the wonderful food we were presented with. There were no recommendations or guidance,no enthusiasm over the dishes presented, and friendliness and warmth were definitely kept to a minimum. By the end of the meal, we were as over it as they were, and maybe that was the goal....
(3)
Ciara G.
Dear Nightwood, Be still my brunch loving heart. This was the one CHI eatery that i was most excited about. Nightwood, you were everything I hoped, dreamed, and imagined you to be. Nothing disappointed. Service was flawless. The food, beyond fantastic. I'll be returning to CHI in the near future just for a meal here. Nightwood, you are my ad hoc of the mid-right coast.
(5)
Natalie L.
The dinner menu here has completely changed since our visit back in April so I will forgo the play by play. I will say that we really enjoyed this meal. We sat on the line in the kitchen, which we like but I know it's not everyone's jam. We were told it would have been a 10-15 min wait for a table. We had a reservation, so if we wanted a table, we would have had to wait past our reservation time. Service was excellent throughout the meal and our server gave us excellent suggestions. Our only complaint was that the meal felt really hearty and "winter-y" for late spring. We enjoyed the duck more than the fish and the dessert did not blow us away. The pasta appetizer was great. We would definitely come back.
(4)
Mike M.
I've never written a Yelp review before. I wish my first review were a positive one, but I was driven to create this account by a very disappointing dining experience at Nightwood. I had very high hopes for Nightwood. I tried to reserve a table for 2 for Valentine's Day with my girlfriend, but missed availability. So, I decided to reserve early for our anniversary one month later. I was expecting extremely fresh and tasty food from local suppliers. Maybe I hyped the restaurant too much in my mind from all the great reviews here, but it was by far my most disappointing dining experience in Chicago. The night started well. We were seated immediately upon arrival at a good table and were provided water and visited by our server within a few minutes. We ordered the crispy pig ears to start. They literally were brought to the table 1 minute after ordering them, were way too crunchy (almost to the point of hurting your teeth), were cold, and had obviously just been brushed with a sweet glaze. It was in no way fresh and seemed it had been sitting out for quite a while before being brought to our table. We looked passed the first appetizer and asked our server for a recommendation. He pointed us toward the veal shortrib casoncelli, which we ordered. About 5 minutes later the dish came out with 6 small pieces of stuffed pasta, each the size of a quarter on a huge white plate. The pasta was fresh, and the flavor was good, not great, but it seemed ridiculous to charge $18 for a plate with such small portions. I get that the pasta is handmade and used prime ingredients, but that breaks down to $3 per quarter-sized piece of pasta. If you're going to price dishes this way at least put it on an appropriate sized plate that complements the small portion, not exacerbates it. We were a bit turned off at this point, but still had high hopes for the main course. After asking our server for recommendations, I chose the top sirloin steak and my girlfriend chose the striped bass. As a side note, when I asked my server where the sirloin was sourced from, he didn't know. I asked if it was from Slagel Farms, and he said, "Oh yeah, that place I think." This wouldn't normally turn me off, but if you're featuring locally sourced protein dishes at those prices, please make sure servers are knowledgeable of the dishes. We then ordered a bottle of wine for the main course. When our server came back with the wine and poured, he spilled wine down the side of the bottle, on the label, on the side of my wine glass, and dripped wine onto the table. He didn't acknowledge any of this and didn't come back to wipe any of it up. If I hadn't noticed and had leaned forward on the table I would have stained my shirt. I waited for 10 minutes for it to be wiped down and then did it myself. After an appropriate amount of time the main dishes came out. They smelled and looked great. Upon looking closer at my steak, which I ordered rare-medium-rare, I could tell it was a bit overcooked to medium-medium-rare. No biggie. Then I took a bite and was completely overwhelmed by the saltiness of the dish. The steak was over-seasoned, not allowing me to taste the great piece of local meat I just ordered. Even worse, the farro beneath the steak was even saltier. I've never made faces at a nice dinner before, but I admit to contorting my face in reaction to the absurd levels of salt in this dish that ruined the taste of it all. I tried the steak just with the bacon jam, which was better, but overall it was a waste of $34. I implored my girlfriend to try her fish, hoping her main course was better than mine. I'm fine with my dish being bad on our anniversary, but not hers. The delicate striped bass was also a bit over cooked and over seasoned with salt. It wasn't as bad as the steak, but the salt overpowered the taste of the fish and threw the flavor profile of the dish out of balance. I know. I should have said something in the moment. Sent the dishes back. Grabbed the manager at that moment and said, can you make this right? But I didn't. I'm a bit shy, don't speak out at restaurants and didn't want to do so and mess up a nice anniversary dinner with my girlfriend. We did grab the manager on the way out. He listened to our concerns and said he wished I'd have said something during dinner service. He apologized, left our more than $200 bill on the table and walked away. I'm not looking for a discount, but the fact that nothing was done to make up for our bad experience was another turn off. I know I should have said something during dinner service and they probably would have fixed my dish. The bottom line is that I came here expecting what they advertise and was deeply disappointed. A restaurant critic won't send dishes back. They'll judge and review the restaurant based upon what was served and the overall experience. That's what I'm doing here. And if I were a critic, I'd have considerable hesitation recommending this restaurant to anyone.
(2)
Michael B.
The place, the vibe, decor is all good, really nice as a matter of fact. The place has style while being authentic and comfortable. The people working there are intelligent, professional and fit in well with the overall feel of the place. Candles on each table, large windows, high ceilings make it casually and comfortably romantic in the evening. Decent wine list though I thought they could use more Italian wine selections. Oh and yes, the food was delicious, creative and interesting. We shared about 4-5 appetizers and they were great. The Burrata ravioili exploded with savory deliciousness, the shishito peppers with cherry tomatoes were spectacular and other appetizers, which change on a regular basis all delivered in spades So why only 3 stars...two reasons, the music was a little too loud for the hip yet romantic ambiance, which spoiled the mood as we couldn't talk or carry on a conversation without shouting or asking to repeat what we said. Easy fix! Mostly, I agree with Yvonne B that the price / value balance is not there. The portions were not large, were in the 15$ range for appetizers and despite everything else being great, I didn't feel I was getting a satisfying experience for the money. That said, there are so many other positives going for the place that I will be back at some point, but at those prices, I won't be a regular.
(3)
Ellen F.
I love their sister restaurant, Lulu, but I think this place is overhyped. It's too overpriced, and I just felt like they did the weirdest combinations they could with whatever locally sourced meat is trendy without questioning whether or not it's actually tasty. Kind of maple bacon donuts. Yuck. Sorry hipsters and trend-obsessed foodies. That being said, I loved the inside!
(3)
Phill C.
Bacon Butterscotch Donut... now this is why I love brunch! What other meal of the day can you find a sweet & porky creation like this? One order includes a single donut, served warm, glazed in a Butterscotch sauce and topped with crumbled crispy bacon. Plus you get some sugar donut holes to sop up whatever fell off your donut. Bacon donut heaven. I'm planning on trying both of their donuts next time. Oh yah, you can't forget the Bloody Mary's. That is mandatory for brunch. NWood's was refreshing, topped with a slice of fresh avocado. They were out of what I wanted, so ended up ordering a Bagel Sandwich, which filled me up quick. It had some smoked trout cream, bacon, cheese, slaw, and yolky egg, which made for a tasty sandwich. But I loved the Tots even more - golf ball size nuggets of crispy fried potato. Excellente. Their donuts are definitely bringing me back, plus their menu is always changing. They're so close to Chinatown, I might just have to drop by for some dessert after dim sum.
(4)
Emily S.
We had a really excellent dinner here recently. Everything was really well-prepared and tasty. The service was very good. Our issue was that it was a bit on the expensive side as compared to similar restaurants (Longman & Eagle comes to mind). I thought the entrees were reasonably priced for a restaurant of its caliber (high teens to mid-twenties, but the appetizers were crazy expensive in comparison ($16-18). The veal tortellini (not actually tortellini - same concept but called something else) came 5 TINY filled pasta to an order and I think it was $18. I'd go back, but probably for brunch.
(3)
Lisa D.
I felt like I was in Logan Square when I entered Nightwood, then I learned that it is affiliated with Lula Cafe and it all made sense. I love the atmosphere here and am happy it's come to the neighborhood. One odd thing I noticed both times I've gone is there's a strange odor when you enter. I thought the hostess had really strong B.O. the first time I went but I think it's actually from the open kitchen, maybe the pig ears? I'm not into pork. I preferred the brunch to the dinner. The menu is always changing but sorta similar; you must try whatever donut they have when you go. The three pasta appetizers we tried at dinner time all seemed pretty similar. I like that the portions are controlled and don't leave you feeling like you over ate. The service was really attentive and fast.
(4)
William H.
Good experience. Complimentary biscuits and butter--it was okay. KFC's buttery biscuits are still the gold standard. Green City Market Gazpacho - was more like a chunky gazpacho salsa, with lots of macerated cubes of fresh vegetables. yum Simple summer vegetables and toasted goat cheese was delicious--my favorite was the goat cheese--it seemed more deep fried than toasted, but regardless oh so delicious (see picture). Everyone else enjoyed their entrees (half-chicken, fish) I could tell as we drove to this restaurant that is was one of those up and coming neighborhoods. I also wished we sat the the wine room/basement, especially on such a warm night.
(4)
Katie B.
If you're sick of paying Randolph St. prices but still want a Randolph St. experience, then check out Nightwood. My first time to Nightwood was in January 2013. I've been three times since then & always look forward to my next visit. It is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. Delicious food. Spot on service. Never have to wait for a table when I arrive at my reservation time, which is saying something in Chicago these days. Very, very fair prices for what you're getting! This place won't disappoint. Check it out for yourself.
(4)
Annie N.
Overpriced overhyped pretentious hipster service! To start, we shared the crispy pig ears which was more like candied pig ears: sweet and cold. It was fine, but a little too hard IMO. Pig ears already have a crunchiness to it, I really don't think you have to make it harder. To follow was the scramble eggs running yolk - which was blah. The brilliant presentation (the poached egg had a beautiful egg-white cover that made us wonder about the technique they used) did not make up for the lack of flavor and the disappointing portion. Ricotta cheese and egg yolk together just seem like a lot of fat for me, and this dish fell short. As main entree, we had the trout and a shrimp pasta which was supposed to have kale. Both plates came out cold, even thought we both had hot entrees. The pasta was not fully cooked. Portion was disappointing for the price. I debated whether to send mine back but our server never came by to check on us. Dessert was fine - perhaps the best part of the meal (we had the apple bread pudding). Service was horrible - our server, after taking our order and presenting our wine, went MIA for the rest of the night. The food runner (or perhaps another server) literally threw the dishes in front of our face and walked straight away without explaining anything. I didn't have a chance to catch her to tell her about the cold plate. When we asked her about some ingredients on the dessert, she had no clue and had to run back to the kitchen to check. I know it's not fine-dining by no mean but the items aren't cheap on the menu and if you're going to charge that much please educate your staff. Also, half of the staff here looks like they haven't showered for months and wear the PJs or grandpas' sweaters to work. Really, I get it, you're different and you're cool and you don't care but if I can smell the busser as he was pouring water it's a problem! Meh, really meh!
(2)
Lorena A.
How have I missed out on such a fabulous place?! My husband and I had breakfast at Nightwood and we could not be happier. The interior of this restaurant is stunning and their attention to detail, impeccable. All staff were extremely pleasant, friendly, and attentive. The donuts are a must (and a fabulous touch on their part to bring this out with a birthday candle for my husband)! My husband ordered the gnocchi and I had the crepes...yum!! I feel that whatever you order, you can't go wrong. Thank you for such a great experience; we will definitely be back!
(5)
Fygar F.
You want to love Nightwood, but you just don't feel welcome there. The staff seems distracted and indifferent. The food is creative and seasonal. The crispy pig ears are popular - I tried them as I've never had a pig ear before (and I won't again). The portions are quite small and everything seems very expensive for what you get. Draft beers cost as much as $14. Appetizers are just a few bites. Our check for 4 was $350 before tip.
(3)
Mike S.
This is such a Gem in the Pilsen/South Loop neighborhood. They have great cocktails and a great ambiance as its one of a kind in this up and coming artsy neighborhood. Sit at the chefs bar area in the back for a up close view of the kitchen at work. Love the burger!!
(4)
Sarah S.
Nightwood is fantastic! THIS IS WHAT LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD SHOULD BE. I would describe the ambiance of upscale hipster, but any patron-pretentiousness is completely justified: Their food is magical! We tried the Burrata Ravioli, but everything else we had is already off the menu (looks like they change it quite frequently). Either way, all of the food was amazing: totally balanced, and you never felt like it could use a little more or a little less of anything. I will be going back here for sure! The ambiance was nice, and it was surprisingly uncrowded, considering how amazing the food was. Our waiter was extremely helpful in calling us two cabs, as it's not the easiest place to catch one.
(5)
Jen C.
Weird food. In a good way. After making reservations and getting over here on a Friday night, we were seated early and also scored patio seats, which by the way, is nice for the summer. Our waiter was very friendly and provided us drinks (including wine in a decanter and a non-alcoholic soda, which was OK). The grilled octopus appetizer was very good and flavorful, and came with beans and sausage slices. The spaghetti entree that comes with a shrimp sauce and beans was odd but interesting, as I've never had a variety of beans as the sauce. The texture of the spaghetti was interesting as well--it was made square and a little tougher to the bite (think shriveled tofu), rather than the smooth usual bite you get. But, overall the cheapest item on the menu that was very tasty. The flank steak was also very tasty, and came over a bed of watercress, which made me feel awkward. With such a beautifully done meat, it was odd to pair it with such a raw, peppery spicy kind of green. Overall, the service was great; all of our entrees were delivered at the same time by multiple wait staff, and our silverware were cleared often and waters replenished. I wanted to love it as a unique Chicago restaurant, but I think its just food done really well (some done in their wood oven) set in a hipster environment, and not much more to it than that.
(4)
Victor P.
I've eaten here the last 3 visits to Chicago and I'm never disappointed. Great service. Great Maple Bacon Donut. Fresh juice. Tasty egg dishes. Always fresh as they have a new menu everyday. Have only done brunch but I'm sure other meals would be fine too. Didn't have the Biscuits and Gravy but 2 of my sons had it and they said it was fantastic.
(5)
ChingWa C.
I've been living in this neighborhood for 3.5 years and always wanted to try this place. During the spring time, they have outdoor seating and it looks super cute from the outside.The decor is very neat, intimate, and romantic. Came here for a friend's birthday on a Tuesday night. Although we didn't have a reservation, they were able to seat 7 of us very quickly. The cocktails selection is small but very delicious. I ordered their Fit and Working Again, it reminded me if the cocktail I had at Punch House down the street. It's citrusy and easy to drink. For those if you who love wine, they have a huge wine selection as well. Service is excellent. This place is like a hidden gem. Can't wait to come back for brunch next time =)
(5)
Yvonne B.
When Daniel C sent me a text of Nightwood's menu and I saw bacon donuts.... Well. He had me at bacon. I was even more smitten when he told me that he made a reservation! I've never heard of a brunch place taking reservations. Well, except for Marion Street Cheese Market (and I adore them). I drove and found free street parking around the corner from the restaurant. The entrance is a bit strange. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. You go down a dark hallway. On the left it seems as if there might be something of an unused patio area. At the end of the hall is another door that goes into the bustling restaurant. It was about noon and it was really hopping! I couldn't be seated until Daniel arrived, but that was cool. Eventually I made my way to the bar. The bartender seemed really busy or something because it took him a while to acknowledge me and offer me a menu. I promptly ordered a Bloody Mary. It was served in a short glass and was pretty spicy. I felt as if the balance of Bloody Mary components assuredly tipped on the side of spice. I like spice, but I didn't like this Bloody Mary. We were seated at a two person table along the front window the moment Daniel arrived. It was comfortable and sunny. I found the atmosphere to be lively to distraction. Even though it wasn't insanely loud, I had a hard time focusing on our conversation. Daniel ordered both donuts right away. I tasted a bit of both of them and they were really delicious. The donuts were squishy (not cake donuts), glazed, and not overly sweet. I thought the custard filled one was entirely reminiscent of a bun from China Town. The bacon one was incredibly good. Both were phenomenal and the very best thing about Nightwood. They are not to be passed up! Daniel ordered the Nick Tahou Burrito. It was served with pasta on the inside and an egg on top. He liked it. I got the Fish cake and a side of bacon. The fish cake was like a hash brown where the potato shreds were mixed with fish pieces. Cooked kale was served on the side and there was a creamy tomato sauce on top of the fish cake. It was good. My bacon was served hard and burnt along the edges. It was good for dipping in my Bloody Mary but not for eating. The service really wasn't that great. I can't say that it was friendly. The host, bar tender, and server didn't smile or make any kind of small talk. They weren't rude, but they definitely could have been less utilitarian. The server had to be reminded about my bacon. The total of our brunch came to $60 ($69 if you include my Bloody Mary), which I think is overpriced for what we got. I've had far superior service and scrumptious food at a number of other places for about $55.
(2)
Sandra M.
The service was great, and the food was just good. We had dinner here last night for our anniversary. Although I'm a meat and potatoes type, we came here out of convenience...close to home and the babysitters. The Yelp reviews were great too. Not much in the menu seemed very appetizing. We pretty much chose the most normal sounding apps--the pig meat stew and the squash. They were both pretty good. I didn't feel like trying rabbit, so I had the half chicken and my husband had the trout. They were good, but I dont think was worthy of the price. I have been here for breakfast and I remember it being much better. I think from now on, I'll stick to that.
(4)
Jimmy S.
Went here on Saturday for my 1 year wedding anniversary. We had been here before about 4 years ago and wanted to go down memory lane, so we came back for this occasion. Our table was small there was a 4 person table to the left and to my right another 2 person table. Very close togther, i didnt feel like i was having dinner with my husband, instead 6 strangers. We got oysters and spagetti for starters, my husband and i split the spagetti and he eat all the oysters. So he liked them. Spaghetti was okay very small portion we got about 2 medium bites not worth $15. Dinner options were bad from the start. I had the trout which seemed okay but the waitress described something completely different. She said crispy skin and the skin was slimmy and it had this weird popcorn like crust that was disgusting. She came over about 30 seconds after we got our meal so i told here it was fine because i didnt even take a bit. It was pretty gross l moved all the skin and popcorn crust off and eat about 1/2 of the bare fish. The bus boy took my plate away, not asking if i was happy with the meal. Next time the waitress came over was to drop off the dessert menu. On the car ride home my stomach started hurting and i got diarrhea from the meal. Will not be coming back here.
(1)
Stephanie S.
I've been meaning to come here for a while since it's only a few blocks from my house. We went late on a warm evening which was perfect for sitting on their baller patio. The spaghetti alla chitarra was good but not life-changing. The asparagus and egg starter was fabulous, and I'm going to try to replicate the dish at home for a simple but gourmet meal of my own. In general, the appetizers seemed more exciting than the entrees. Maybe next time we'll just munch on those. Hubs had the pork loin (with lots of delicious fat) that melted in your mouth. But he said the end pieces were tastiest - he left some of the middle parts uneaten. For dessert we had the marscapone "cheesecake" which was fab. The rhubarb ice cream that accompanied it was just tart enough to cut through the creaminess. Overall we were very satisfied with our meal. For the two of us it was $108, which we didn't think was that bad considering what we ordered (one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert, two cocktails) and the restaurant's notoriety. Attentive staff. Nice atmosphere. We will very likely be back!
(5)
Dina L.
Had the two egg omelet and bf had the duck confit stew for brunch along with the maple bacon donut. Everything was delicious. Better than several restaurants serving brunch in River North and worth the short drive.
(4)
Aaron J.
The trout and smelts are tasty, as is the butter lettuce with bacon. My veal didn't have a whole lot of edible meat but I liked the flavor. The danger is that you might leave a little hungry if you're a big guy. We chose more alcohol instead of dessert so I can't comment there. The decor is pleasantly modern and service was attentive without being annoying. I'm sure I'll go back, before 7PM to avoid the crowd.
(4)
Andrew S.
nightwood came highly recommended. the service, food and cocktails met expectations. craft specialty cocktails were delicious-sucker for anything with chartreuse. ravioli was incredibly rich. burger and fries surpassed any burger in the same price point. intimate, upscale ambiance yet casual. will definitely return.
(5)
Saneel R.
Pilsen. It's so hot right now. Ok, but seriously, Nightwood is absolutely worth the trek south. A completely local menu that is accompanied by brilliant dessert pastries and wine. Try the short rib ravioli, the burrata (like a raw, creamy mozzerella you spread on toast), and their hand made pastas with anything. Also, request the kitchen table (more like a bar) and the staff back there will chat you up if you engage them first. Just please don't wear sunglasses inside.
(4)
Anne M.
The goods: browned butter pizzetta with burata, pistachio, anchovy and parsley, an outstanding mushroom appetizer with savory cornmeal and fabulously spot-on homemade rigatoni with browned butter panko crumbs, chicken, broccoli in a roasted garlic cream sauce. The food has definitely got the Lula quality/creativity. The decor is very nice and homey (fantastic old church fixtures?). The bad? We forgot that they take reservations and had to wait an hour and a half in a very, very loud front room. I don't know if sound bounces around the rest of the house, but in front near the windows it's deafening. The bar seating overlooking the kitchen looks awesome - that's my seat next time.
(4)
Sven K.
Three of us went to Nightwood and it was a mixed bag. We really enjoyed the setting (casual, modern - maybe a bit loud) and the service was great (especially recommended wine)! We had three different appetizers: fried asparagus with trout and cream cheese (awesome), a simple mixed salad (very good) and the highly recommended fatback (thin slices of pork fat) on crostini (disappointing - very few slices with little flavor). Two of us had the smoked pork rib roast - a huge chunk of meat that came with lentils. While my friend enjoyed his, I thought that the meat lacked in flavor and was on the dry side. The lentils were great. The third entree was oricchiette with breaded pork cutlets and beets; the pork was very average, pasta and beets were good. Pricing was adequate to high - portion size was fine.
(3)
Jenna H.
Nightwood is a little out of the way, but definitely worth venturing over to Pilsen for. It's a gorgeous restaurant, I went in for brunch and it was bustling but not ridiculously crowded. Our service was friendly and extremely efficient, all of our food came out very quickly and our coffee and water stayed full. We had the coffee cake (with house made nutella!), the bacon, the biscuits and gravy and the salmon scramble - everything was excellent, unique, and very fresh. Nightwood is definitley a noteworthy stop - I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)
Erin S.
great brunch spot!!! we started out with the donuts which most reviews rave about....we tried all 3 on the menu and all were delicious!!! there are some really unique dishes on the menu. this is just your typical pancake, eggs brunch spot. all 3 people at our table raved about the coffee too. the decor and ambiance really add something special to the already good food. and the staff is super nice and friendly too. parking is really easy-no parking meters! i would definitely check out this place again for dinner or bring back out of town visitors to this cool brunch spot!! also, this place scored "not good for kids' which i would agree for dinner but for brunch our baby seemed very welcome amoung our fellow diners!
(4)
Six B.
love the local greens and local meats they are using! i had a dish last night, though and it was over-salted (i've had this problem with lula too (same owners))....please, lay off the salt! the local green salad with fiddleheads and radishes was great (though a bit sweet, which was weird), the pork meatballs were delish, but the polenta underneath and sauce (puttanesca?) were oversalted. the drinks are amazing! i'll go back and ask for less salt! best pasta i have ever had. best drinks. best deserts.
(5)
Sorabh K.
Great food and great drinks in an enjoyable atmosphere. This hidden gem in pilsen can get a little pricey but is worth the dough especially since they use such high quality ingredients. I definitely recommend this place and look forward to dining here again!
(4)
Meg E.
dang. this place is gooood. bacon butterscotch donuts?! what more can a fat kid ask for. the trout scramble and shrimp griddle cakes were both unique and delicious. dinner aint too shabby either. service could have been a bit better...but the food made up for it. great place to take out of towners for brunch because the line isnt around the corner.
(4)
Karen L.
Apparently this is the new place to go and I have been wanting to try it for some time now. It is a little out of the way, being all the way in Pilsen, but boy am I glad we went there! You walk into the restaurant through this cute outdoor patio... I will have to go back when it is nice weather again (ugh, probably another 9 months!) and enjoy that lovely space. I walked in and immediately loved the decor with the exposed brick walls and the exquisite ceilings. Very cute and nicely decorated, but not in a pretentious or trendy way. (I didn't feel out of place in my Friday casual work clothes.) It is definitely more upscale than Lula but still the similar comfortable feeling. We got there right after work and it was not that busy at all - maybe half of all the tables were full. They tried to put us at the bar at first saying all the tables were reserved. We were a bit upset as we just called about 1 hour before and they said that walking in wouldn't be a problem as they never reserve out all their tables... plus it was only 6:30 so it was still early. So we ended up getting a table which was really good b/c I don't think I would have enjoyed the dinner quite as much at the bar. Instead of regular bread, they brought out these honey biscuits which were quite tasty! For an appetizer, we started with a butternut squash ravioli with egg yolk. It was good, a little interesting on the flavors, but still good. It reminded us of the stuff they would make on Top Chef. It was one (bigger than average size) ravioli which I thought was kind of skimpy since it was almost $10! For my entree I ordered the grilled duck. OMG! SOOOO good... the duck was tender and juicy and perfectly seasoned! I also liked how they had the skin on (not everyone would like that), since that is my favorite! The salad on the side with corn and apples was just okay but really, the duck made my night! It was delicious! My boyfriend wasn't super hungry so he just ordered the goat cheese gnocchi. That was good in flavor but nothing as impressive as the duck. He usually does not like duck but also thought my entree was excellent! I will have to say that the menu is pretty limited. There are probably about 10 entree choices and I would only eat about 3-4 of them. And really, only the duck one stood out to me as looking really good. But I bet the menu changes pretty frequently so hopefully when I go back there will be some other dishes available. (Although I may just want to go back for the duck.) All the ingredients were really fresh and I think since it is Lula's same owners it is probably all organic. The service was good, as well. I also got a small dessert... one scoop of the blueberry-pear sorbet, which was the perfect amount to end the night with. I am not a huge dessert person and usually nothing really appeals to me. As far as the cocktail menu, nothing jumped out at me too much but I opted for an apple cider cocktail which was just okay. I pretty much enjoyed Nightwood for the Duck Entree and the atmosphere. I would recommend making the trek out there and checking it out!
(4)
Ray d.
Just had sunday brunch this past weekend with a large group. The food was amazing! My personal favorite was the bacon covered doughnuts (I know, I know...). However, the service seemed a bit lacking. I suspect this is just growing pains that any new restaurant has, but a number of things went wrong. Half our table had food for almost 10 minutes before the last person's dish came out. Had to ask for cream for our coffee, and the food took far too time (hence the complimentary bacon doughnuts). Overall, it was a great time. And I'm willing to chalk up the service issues to it being new, but it really needs to be addressed...
(4)
Sharon P.
I had been to Nightwood before for dinner and it was pretty great, although the portions are small. Brunch was terrible. But the service was very good- constant supply of fresh coffee, and quick, friendly service. The food I got was actually so gross I spit out a bite in my napkin, and then sent it back for the malted waffles, which were nothing special- toaster waffles (burnt on the edges) with chocolate sauce on top. Size: about 1.5 actual toaster waffles. Lame. So my original order was the venison omlette with creme fraiche. The "omlette" was like one millimeter thick, and just looked sad and flopped over. The craime fraiche was the exact same color as the omelette (lite yellow), and looked like a watery cheese sauce. The venison inside was kind of pulled, but also with lots of big chunks of pure gelatinous fat. The overall effect: slimy upon slimy upon slimy (and visually off-putting) was so gross I couldn't chew or swallow my bite of it. I have not spit my food out at a restaurant in a long time. My dining companion had some scrambled egg dish that he said was just OK. Also, the hash browns look like hairy balls. As in testicles. Finally, the server promptly brough me a new dish, and seemed genuinely interested in why I sent the dish back, and I explained nicely. I would not go back here.
(2)
Peter G.
the dinner was okay it started raining and it was difficult to get a seat relocation. The server wasn't attentative at all and slightly awkward. I almost gave my tip to the hostess who paid much more attention. She was great, but other then that the service was poor. The food was decent, but the desert was more impressive. The main dishes took a very long time to come out. I do admit though I thoroughly enjoyed the kitchen. I had the chicken. It was decent, quite affordable, but was a little bland in presentation and taste. The menus were just shy of illegible, in a poor attempt at trendyness.
(3)
tracey t.
Brunch was a dream at Nightwood. Our table enjoyed the burger, croquettes, the bagel sandwich and eggs benedict (quite possibly the most perfect combo of sweet and salty). That tater tot/hash browns were definitely a hit as well. My bloody mary hit the spot minimizing any lingering hangover from the shenanigans the night before. The staff was polite and helpful and the restaurant itself is warm and inviting. A definite must visit!
(5)
Julie F.
Came here for brunch with the fam. With a table of 6 we were seated in the "wine cellar" commonly known as a basement. This suited us fine though as the dim light complimented our slight hangovers nicely. We were also seated in a booth against the wall with real chairs as opposed to the backless benches supplying most of the room - another big plus. Watching the 80 year old grandmother try to slide and sit comfortable on a bench at the table next to us was enough for me to wonder again when people will come to their good senses and join me in a backless bench boycott. Anyhow, we all tried a different brunch special and all were rich, and delicious. I especially liked the short rib Benedict. One thing you absolutely MUST try are the butterscotch and bacon donuts. They are amazing. In fact, as good as are meals were, I would have been just as happy with a cup of coffee and a couple of those donuts! The only small (very small) complaint would be the toast that was all burnt, like black around the edges burnt but, everything else was great! Oh, and our server was knowledgeable, kind, and relaxed - exactly what you want on a Sunday morning.
(4)
Colleen S.
The food was awesome. The interior/decor was awesome. The service was...eh. They tried to seat us at a table in the "alley" between the two rooms. No ambience whatsoever. They begrudgingly moved us. The server we got was disinterested and lacked any sort of personality or charisma. We didn't feel rushed, which I appreciate, but we did at times feel neglected. The short rib and potato pierogi were outstanding. And this comes from someone who's family makes their own peirogi by hand each year for the holidays. If they are on the app menu, order them for sure. Also terrific was the spaghetti and meatballs. It had a totally American spin and the homemade pasta was perfect. The spinach/garlic/pear salad was salty. The halibut was decent. This place would be 5 stars if the host and the server could have dropped the 'tude.
(4)
Chris H.
We were happy to find this place a short walk from the new apartment. My dad was in from out of town, and we took him here for dinner, having never been. We all had a great time, starting with a drink at the bar, and continuing back to the kitchen bar where the three of us (this area seats maybe 6 or 7 at most) were able to watch them work while we ate. We were skeptical at first to sit back there, but it was great. I don't remember everything we had exactly, but I do recall my wife had the pan seared trout which she loved. My dad was really impressed with the rigatoni w/ veal bolognese, and since we were sitting by the kitchen he could even thank the man who made it! We had a great time and were all well fed. I'm not sure what the complainers on here had a problem about, we all thought it was great and will be back.
(4)
Noah L.
OVERRATED.. By far the worst dining experience I've had in a long time. It started with a bitter, poorly mixed cocktail from the cocktail menu, followed by a so-so appetizer. Then came our "pasta" dish which we clearly ordered as an entree, however, the waiter failed to inform us was literally the size of 3 nickels and was really not so much a pasta dish as it was another appetizer, a clear indication of the lacking attention we received from our waiter. But it got even worse with the other entree, a tough, gamy and foul smelling veal dish. Service was lackadaisical and uninterested. Not what you would expect for what they charge.
(1)
shell h.
Third time visiting Nightwood last night, had the usual fried Myer lemons and a delicious salad and ordered the roasted branzino, it was delicious. I was a little bummed out that there was no local fish on the menu and so my boyfriend ordered the spit-roasted chicken and it was also delicious. My favorite thing came at the end of the meal with the amazing blueberry warm pie accompanied with some A-MAZING lavender icecream.
(4)
K P.
Amazing new restaurant by the Lula team. The food is incredible - it represents some of the best new cuisine without being too trendy. Even staples like the roasted chicken are outstanding. I recommend getting a seat at the kitchen counter if you can swing it.
(5)
Ali P.
I dined here for the third time over the weekend and left feeling disappointed. We started the evening by sharing the tomato and burrata appetizer which was delicious! I have only had cheese this creamy once or twice in my life. We also shared the raviolini bolognese and a potato gnocchi with sweet corn, butter and bacon - both delicious as well. The pasta was homemade, light, but extremely flavoful! If my evening would have ended here, I would give five stars. For an entree we shared the grilled short ribs. I should have expected them to be different than what I am used to as they were grilled, not braised but decided to give it a shot. The short ribs were EXTREMELY fatty, tough, and had no flavor. Probably one my least favorite dishes I've had in a long time. Overall, I like Nightwood - great ambiance, good food, nice people. I have had delicous meals there before, but this time was let down. I will give it another shot but will probably stick to an appetizer or pasta dish the next time I go.
(3)
Genevieve P.
This was probably the best restaurant meal I've ever had and that's saying a lot. I've eaten in some of the top spots in Chicago, not to mention, Paris, NY, etc. What was so remarkable about my experience is that EVERY dish NAILED it! We might have been lucky and just ordered the best Nightwood has to offer but that's why I say it was the best experience. Even at Charlie Trotters or Avec or other great places, one dish will just be so so... a little lacking in flavor... a little dull. Not so with the dishes we had at Nightwood. We ordered 2 appetizers, 1 pasta and 1 entree and ALL knocked it out of the park. Would go there again in a heartbeat. Our meal for two with 1 dessert and drink was ~ $60. Not too bad for the wonderful experience.
(5)
Lois A.
I fell hard for nightwood. The food is just fantastic. Recently I had french toast stuffed with apples, ham and cheese and it was incredible. The eggs benedict is also excellent and who can resist the extremely fun way the tots are prepared? This place gets packed for good reason. I love the open kitchen in the back where you can sit diner style and watch the chefs work. Service is great. I felt horrible for the waitress we had a couple of weeks ago. Seated next to us was a couple with their two children and they kept sending their burgers back to be cooked more. I saw the burgers and they were cooked perfectly. I'd noticed the couple when we first sat down next to them because they were seated next to the door and a cold blast of air came in every time it opened - I'd thought it strange they had seated their very young kids closest to the door instead of sitting there themselves...nice. Anyway, the waitress was more than polite and kept a smile while dealing with them for over an hour, all the while dealing with a packed house. Coffee is great and parking is easy.
(4)
Aaron G.
for the price, it should be all hits and no misses. but there are misses
(3)
johnny s.
Had brunch here over the summer - Sat outside - service/food/seating was top notch - great stuff - not inexpensive but the best stuff is never is....
(5)
Liezl E.
After devouring their butterscotch bacon and other donut (I think custard and raspberries were involved), we opted to go for the simpler menu item of 2 eggs and toast with tots... and wow, I didn't know something so simple could be so delicious. It hit the spot right after the indulgent donuts, and I absolutely LOVED the "tots" which turned out to be shredded potato hash, rolled the size of golf balls, and fried, making them perfectly crunchy outside. If you're looking for a simple delicious brunch of eggs and toast, I'd highly recommend this place.
(5)
Yanyao N.
Phenomenal food - be it dinner or brunch. In my opinion, Nightwood has one of the more unique menus in the city. They do sustainable farm-to-table so well. Things are always seasonal. Their menu is constantly changing. A few summers ago, they made the best gazpacho I have ever had - it was very untraditional though, a MOUND of super fresh, cut up vegetables and stone fruit, with a little bit of gazpacho soup. It was truly spectacular, and served with a chorizo grilled cheese. J, who is never shy about proclaiming his dislike of gazpacho, actually enjoyed this one. Brunch here has probably become my favorite in the city. Their donuts are SO light and airy, like a ring cloud of carbs, glazed in either bacon butterscotch, or whatever seasonal glaze/topping they put on the menu that week (subscribe to their newsletter - you'll be sent the Sunday brunch menus on Saturday, and will drool at every one of them. promise). The Bloody Mary is perfect and served with pickled brussel sprouts - what?! Even the gazpacho-hater liked it: "It's very good for a Bloody Mary." The bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese is also highly recommended. As are their tater tots, that from far away look like falafel, but are freakin' awesome. Very unique. The decor is modern, but comfortable. The service is friendly and warm. They have some really neat kitchen bar seating, where you can watch the cooks hard at work. In the summer time, dine on their patio. You'll probably see me there pretty often.
(5)
Lauren G.
Nightwood is the farm-to-table organic restaurant of my dreams. Knowledgeable hipster servers - check Modern chairs, warm wood, big windows, cool vibes - check Small menu where every single item looks good - check Fantastically extensive wine list in budget range - check Inventive desserts with homemade cheez-its - check AND the FOOD. Started with Bucatini with mussels for the table. Pasta was perfect execution of "to the tooth" al dente. I enjoyed a grilled Wisconsin trout cooked to skin-on perfection with a fantastic spanish tortilla and kohlrabi and greens on the side. Mom got the Rhode Island striped bass with 45 minute egg... said it was the bomb. Dad opted for some kind of french meat stew and ate it all. Only thing we commented on was entirely TOO MUCH SALT. If the product is this good, why not let it shine? Plus, there's salt on the table for anyone that has completely burned out their taste buds. This is the only reason I would think of deducting half a star. Otherwise this place is the stars... am I dreaming?
(5)
DJ S.
We wanted to love this place. Father's Day brunch was our first try. The restaurant is really cute. The food was really yucky. Well not all of it. The donuts are amazing. Great starter! The deconstructed BLT has a substitute for the bacon that looks like chewed up cat food. It turned out our stomachs. Seriously induced gagging. No accommodation or apology was given. The frittata was served cold. Cold eggs are gross. The only dish our table liked was the cheddar biscuits and gravy. Oh well. Not coming back ever but there are so many other places in Chicago right? Not a huge loss.
(1)
Bharat W.
This place is off the beaten path, south of most people's mental comfort geography, so if you have managed to convince yourself to arrive here you have already made one of the best eating decisions. Despite the somewhat abandoned gray neighborhood, when you step inside, Nightwood is a warm glow of classy interior that is reminiscent of the au courant hip foodie joints more found in NYC and SF. The lights are not too bright to offend your tired eyes from your late Saturday night excursions and their beermosas and jameson, espresso, porter combo will awaken your senses at the right pace to get you prepared for the experience. The staff was dressed in classy minimalist chic attire, a combo of wicker park hipsters and sophisticated librarians. The subtle classy aesthetics was a visual relief after a night of 15 hour St Patty's drinkathon. This place articulates what exceptional compared to average-good looks like. Skip bongo room and yolk and take a trip here instead to find out what I mean. We ordered the rolled omelet, roasted mushrooms, buttermilk ricotta, spinach walnut pesto which comes with fried hashbrown balls, and a duck hash with biscuit and gravy that will make you wish you would never get full of eating it. The omelet appears as a work of art, clean cut presentation with the side of the pesto. As you bite into it, the succulent mushrooms slowly release flavors while the ricotta pours a nice flavor over it. Their vanilla glazed donut with chocolate filling and pistachio crumbles is the best donut I have ever tasted. The flavors are so complex and the simplistic presentation is visually appealing and digestible whilst engaging your palette in its entirety during the entire course. I cannot wait to go back and makes me a proud Chicagoan to have this place in our city.
(5)
Peace Y.
It's good, but maybe overhyped in my book. I've gone for brunch and dinner. Both times, nothing remarkable but food is solid I suppose. For brunch, had the burrito with pork belly, rice, and beans. Beans were al dente (meaning it could have cooked longer) and all of it was lacking salt. For dinner, I had fish which was actually cooked perfectly with crispy skin, but the whole dish was ok. Best - and probably only - outstanding item is the bacon butterscotch donut. That thing is amazeballs. I don't think I'll end up there again. I do like they change up the menu and I do like the dishes, but the food preparation itself is just okay.
(3)
Stephen S.
Came here for brunch and I'm giving it 5 stars on the basis of the donut alone. I'm often disappointed by donuts because I think I have this childhood notion of donuts being amazing and they often aren't. The donut at Nightwood though, no disappointments, no regrets. We had the filled one with Greek yogurt custard. Everything about this donut was divine from the raspberry glaze and oat topping, and that greek yogurt custard, not overly sweet thanks to the Greek yogurt but sweet enough to be a bit indulgent. Perfection. I think almost every table had a donut brought over to it at some point, I don't think I've ever seen something quite like it at another restaurant. The savory brunch fare was exceptional as well. Creative, flavorful, and extremely well executed. I had the matzobrei with salmon that was satisfying even after a whole 8 days of matzah close just a few days before.
This has been on my list for awhile. I finally decided to go with a friend for brunch. Great addition to the neighborhood. The food was delicious and very flavorful. Living on the Northside (closer to Lula Cafe), I don't see myself coming back here often. Not that the food wasn't extraordinary, it's just inconvienient to get to. Definitely worth trying if you're close to the neighborhood, but I can see people putting it off because of the location.
(4)
Amanda K.
While on our lollamoon (pre-honey moon post-wedding weekend at lollapalooza) our friend treated us to a romantic dinner at nightwood. WHAT A TREAT! The ambiance is amazing. This is a great place for a date, and the patio is so cool and green. The service was amazing. We ordered a variety of appetizers and had them in courses, split an entree, and then had dessert. Everything we had was amazing. We tried: the salad which was fresh and delicious, the mozarella and peaches which was SO yummy and different, the churchilini which had the best flavors, and the agnolotti- yum. For the entree we got the gnocchi and it was unlike and gnocchi i've ever had. (For the record, we never eat this much pasta, but everything was so good we couldn't help ourselves). For dessert we had the cherry pie, which was the perfect sweet, delicious, finish. To drink we got the punch for two, which is a fantastic cocktail and also a great deal! $22 and you get at least 1 1/2 drinks per person - not bad when the single drinks are like $12 each. GO HERE NOW!
(5)
Brian I.
I've always enjoyed Nightwood a tremendous amount. On a recent trip for brunch, I made a comparison between Nightwood and a comparably priced breakfast restaurant (that shall remain nameless for this review). Nightwood provides an amazing value for very high quality execution and service. The space is inviting for both a brunch and dinner atmosphere (depending on the time of day). So, I highly recommend heading down to Pilsen and making the effort to enjoy a meal at Nightwood.
(4)
Jennifer Q.
So, my review is going to be kinda interesting here. I did not know this was "the" Nightwood. My coworkers and I wanted to have a drink after a work event down the street. The bar we had originally wanted to go to was super crowded so one of the girls poked her head in here and found they had this enclosed patio that was wide open. There were nearly 20 of us. The good news is the service was great. We felt like we had our own little private space and the drinks kept coming. However, the food -in my opinion - was just OK. The portions were super small and very expensive. We ordered a bunch of plates to share and I can't say anything was super memorable. In fairness, this was not a "normal" dining experience. That said, I would return to have a proper dinner in the very beautiful and chic dining room. But, truth me told, I did not really see the big deal based on what we ordered. I will have to give it another shot and focus my attention on the food.
(3)
Ashley F.
I researched the best restaurants in Chicago an Nightwood kept coming up. We decided to try it an thank goodness we did! It was absolutely perfect from start to finish and our dinner was SO GOOD! I ordered the chicken and it was like a favor bomb, best chicken I've ever eaten! Even the sides were delicious. The server was kind, prompt, and helpful. The space is simple and chic while still having a casual feel. I hear their brunch is amazing as well. Definitely check this place out! We will be back for sure next time we're in town.
(5)
sarah p.
Went to Nightwood with one of my best mates and couldn't have had a better time. Both food obsessed, we ate our way through at least 1/3 of the menu and probably 100% of the beverage list. It was just that kind of night (you know what I mean?) The service was attentive, informative and lovely. The atmosphere was warm, inviting and unpretentious. And most importantly, the bites were flavorful, approachable and downright delicious. The bang for the buck here is insane. I would expect the prices to be at least 25% higher than they are. It's a delicious meal that is literally a total steal, and a damn good time. Great place for date night, friend date night, foodie date night.
(5)
Mike W.
The food was great, the service was even better. I picked this place because I wanted to do something different and off the beaten path for my birthday (dinner), and I have to say I was really happy with it. Obviously you want to check the menu before you go and make sure you see something you like. Although we had quite a few dishes, and all of them were great. The plates are not that big so I wouldn't go if I was dead starving otherwise you might suck it all down and not actually taste anything.
(5)
Karen M.
I had not yet heard of this place prior to my "wine advisor" selecting it for our monthly gathering. First off, they have a great wine list but do not frown upon you bringing your own for a small corkage fee. Secondly, the service is amazing. Never once did we feel rushed or hovered over. They let us take our time to enjoy the evening. The food was amazingly fresh and inventive. Their menu changes daily based on available ingredients so it is not worth telling you to try one dish over another. Just know this - whatever you order, it will be full of flavor and dance on your tongue with every bite. All around, this is a tremendous place to dine, relax and enjoy!
(5)
Carl G.
Came here on a relatively sleepy weeknight, to dine with the lady. The bar seemed to be hopping, but there were plenty of tables available and we were seated promptly. Dark lighting, tight seating, and music loud enough to mute the surrounding conversations led to an intimate feel. Everything we tried was very good. After ordering the appetizer, the server brought out an individual focaccia bread - it was lightly salted and came with a cheese/oil dip. The bread was hot fresh and full of holes - really well done. We had the braised shortrib "ravioli", which was pretty small given the price - but was really flavorful, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. We split the Nightwood burger and the duck cassoulet for the main dishes. The duck was juicy, with a very tasting bark on the outside of the slices. Duck can be difficult to do well, but it was very well done in this case. The burger was like a Big Mac on steroids. Same type of ingredients, only well done, instead of McD style. The burger patties were a little overcooked, but they had good flavor, so can't fault them too much. The fries weren't quite as hot as would have been ideal, but they were well seasoned and clearly home made. The service was excellent. Maybe it's because there were few tables, but we never went without water, and were left alone an appropriate amount. No complaints, and only compliments there. Everything was on the upper end of the price scale, it was good, but the prices are pushing the envelope. Overall an intimate, well cooked meal - someplace to go for a date, or a quiet dinner. Expect to spend a little cash, but to be very pleased with the meal and the dining experience.
(4)
Samantha H.
I had been wanting to go to Nightwood for so long and am so happy I finally got there! There were four of us which meant we could try quite a few things. We were sat at a table between the larger restaurant and the kitchen. Our server was very attentive and helped us choose wine. My only complaint is the wine list mark up is over 200% and many of the wines are not that great but we were able to find some winners. We decided to share a bunch of things and they were accommodating and brought things out as they were ready and cleared our plates once, as though it was a true tapas style place. They were also great when we ordered a second round of the pig tails. These pig tails were a religious experience. There was some habenero chili sauce on them that was amazing. We literally ordered another batch the second we started eating these. It was the hands down favorite. My personal second favorite was the walleye. It was amazingly moist and the skin crispy. Very yum! My husband's next favorite was the cavatelli. It was prepared perfectly al dente and extremely tasty. The chicken was very good as well and I typically don't order chicken because it can be so boring. The pork belly was, well pork belly. Yes it was good but nothing special. The foie gras was probably my least favorite because the way it's prepared is in a sort of ravioli. That sounded good but you really got no foie gras flavor and I'm a foie fan! I probably wouldn't get that again. The rabbit appetizer was great. It was probably the best rabbit I've ever had. They serve it in sort of a cabbage roll type of thing. Our server told us to go with that as opposed to the entree leg and I'm happy we did. Overall I was extremely happy with the food and service and cannot wait to return!
(5)
Jenna S.
OH. EM. GEE. ONE THING: Maple Bacon Donuts. If you only get ONE thing at Nightwood, it needs to be those donuts. But, I recommend you do an entire brunch because this food blew my mind. First, I like this menu better than Lula. I'm not sure why it's so different, but Nightwood has way better selections. Second, the Bloodys are excellent. Get the one that's a mix of Bloody Mary and PBR... it's worth it and very tasty. I can have a few. Lox and Egg Bagel Sandwich? Divine. Seriously excellent. I've had it on two different ocassions and it was excellent both times. Crispy bagel, creamy insides and super tasty. Everyone else with me also loved their brunch choices, so I think Nightwood is a hit. Seriously, this brunch is some of the best I've had in the city. If you haven't been here, get yourself down to Pilsen now to eat some of those donuts. STAT.
(5)
Stephanie L.
Sunday Bitches Brunch BOUT!!!!!! Nightwood has been on my radar for some time. Its interesting how I constantly overlook the same places. Alas, I trucked it down here to check out the HYPE~! I love that we got a booth. SCORE! Already an extra star. HAHAHA Service was lackluster. Our server seemed annoyed. Maybe it was that time of month or maybe she really wanted to be having a Sunday Bitches Brunch Bout. It was mediocre, but it was brunch so not the end of the world. The food. Well I have to say...the donuts were pretty darn good. The bacon was fantastic! The chocolate was subpar to it but was still really good. I had the rolled omelette. It was pretty good. Not anything that I would drive down for again. The little hashbrown things were good as well. The bread was toasted to perfection and the raspberry jam was delicious. Overall, it was decent. Some parts excellent, some parts mediocre. Nothing was terrible :) Super easy street parking, FYI
(4)
John S.
Best brunch in the city with the possible exception of Nightwood's big sister, Lula's Cafe in Logan Sq. Please make your donuts to go! Whatever we can scarf down at brunch leaves us wanting more later. The seasonality of the innovative dinner menu is always delicious. You never know what your going to see on the menu, but you know it's going to be spectacular. Nightwood is the best restaurant in the city that you haven't been to yet.
(5)
Charlie C.
I am mad at myself for writing this review, I really don't want to... alas I push on, why you ask? Because the Nightwood is perfect as-is: underrated, and off the beaten path. But, I must share this Pilsen-based gem so you too can can go there and NOT be swarmed by want-to-be foodies seeking perfect piquancy per plate- which I can assure you you will get! I have been a number of times, I am not let down. The chef's table demonstrates culinary mastery and fun- the dining room is the perfect amount of dark, romantic/intimate, and mysterious all at the same time...and the outdoor seating area is al-fresco-fansastico! I would feel comfortable dining on their (easily top-5 in the city burger) while wearing jeans- or crunching on their crispy pig ears whilst donning my finest suit. Somehow, they pull 'that' off and I love it. I can order wine that is tasty and worth the price, I can mellow out in a very weird and questionable location and not judge it the second I am inside their walls. Nightwood has a lot going on, and is starting to gain traction and popularity. I am happy for them, but sad that I have to make reservations anytime that I go there now. But alas, I will be back many times... on a date, to take my mom out for a perfect adventure, to knock back a bottle of wine and stuff myself on their wonders - it works for any occasion... so enjoy it, but don't take my table!
(5)
Simone M.
The food was ok. Nothing spectacular, but the tots, toast, and drinks were great. I had the omelet which was decent and the best part was the tots that came as a side. The donuts were also ok, we had the bacon maple glaze and the peep donut with vanilla custard. The flavors were less than impressive which was disappointing, but the mini donuts balls were delicious. All in all this place is good if you just want a light breakfast with coffee. I haven't had dinner here, but would like to try it sometime.
(3)
Hk S.
I heard a lot of great things about this place and was truly excited to go. My best friends and I decided to go here for our Valentines day dinner and it was ok. One big plus is that the service was exceptional. They kept our water glasses full at all times. I almost thought I was at an Asian restaurant. :) My best friends both ordered the steak and I had the bucatini. The bucatini sauce was very flavorful, but the noodles wasn't as al dente as I like them to be. The sauce really made up for it and thus it was an overall enjoyable dish. My friends said there was a lot of fat in the steak. A big let down for them especially because the price tag made you expect something amazing. The best thing we had was dessert. We shared the marscapone cheesecake. The texture was soft and silky. It melted in your mouth. Definitely the highlight of the whole night. I'm glad I got to try Nightwood. It's a really cute place, but I'm not dying to come back. I may be a little bias because I'm not a huge fan of fine dining. I'm a girl who likes to eat and I feel I never get full when I go to a fine dining restaurant.
(3)
John C.
Love this place,excellent food and service. will come back again soon.
(4)
L. Danovia ..
Saw on TV that the burger at this place was one of the best. I went, tried it and it was okay. What I REALLY enjoyed was the calamari. One of the best appetizers I have ever had. Unfortunately its not on their current menu. They should bring it back, soon!
(3)
Clausewitz V.
Dear Nightwood, Full house. Cozy seat overlooking the kitchen. An assortment of characters. Never a dull moment. The drinks were solid. So was my dessert. Server came off as being chill when we sat and ordered. But as soon as we were settled, she seriously, had no table side manner. Was having a conversation, which she made it her duty to continuously interrupt. Great that she took pride in the cocktail department. Knowledgeable. Probably applied for the bartender position, but had to settle for floor. But drinks either never came or came late. And if I gotta stop what I'm doing, which is eating my $8 sorbet and partaking in a private conversation, so that you can pop in and recite the ingredients and history behind my Le Maudit Français, then we'll just have to conclude that you're just a little miss know it all. Take it down a few notches and I'm sure we'll get along perfectly fine. Ta ta for now, Fog of War
(3)
Tim H.
I won't be back to Nightwood and I think I am being quite generous with my two star rating. Service was lacking and i had one of the most disgusting dishes I have ever eaten in a restaurant here with no attempt by the servers to give me a different dish. I had a side of vegetarian sausage here that was pretty good. My dining companions had dishes that they said were ok to good. I tried the french toast and it was pretty good. The problems: The rabbit rillette sandwich I had came as a recommendation from the server. It tasted pretty bland and was just a mass of greasy and creamy mushiness on a sandwich. The server messed up the charging on my bill. Not sure how difficult it is to process a bill correctly on two credit cards, but they failed to do it correctly here.
(2)
Ruth B.
Cocktails truly original and delish. Food outrageously good and creative, service attentive. My only complaint was with the front of the house, when I make a reservation a month in advance I expect a comfortable in a good location soon after the reservation time. Instead I was offered after a 15 minute wait a table with very uncomfortable chairs near the kitchen. We sourced out a different table and the meal was outstanding. Too bad the welcome wasn't quite up to the same level at the food.
(3)
Alima H.
Nightwood feels like one of those old friends that is consistently good to you. It has a wonderful intimate interior that is especially welcoming on cold days. Food is excellent and the chefs are top-notch. Service is friendly. I've often felt that Nightwood is one of those restaurants that strives to build relationships with its patrons. They're doing a good job.
(4)
Genni O.
Talk about the most over-priced, over-rated, restaurant to come around in recent memory. The owner and his merry band o' emo losers came to pilsen to take advantage of cheap real estate - not to embrace the community, but to rape it. You WILL leave hungry and most likely, be secretly upset that you got taken by their scam.
(1)
Ryan D.
Food and drinks were excellent, a must try.
(5)
Eva V.
We did brunch. Ambiance is beautiful, food is just ok - one dimensional and weirdly small portions for the price on some of the dishes. Husband had Monte Cristo type sandwich; this was fine from a serving size perspective, but overpowered by the maple syrup it was coated in to the point where he could only manage to eat half. He took it home to give the second half a chance; managed to finish another quarter of a sandwich there before finally tossing it. I had some kind of Asian-inspired rice/scrambled egg dish, which was fine, but nothing mind-blowing - it was better than something I could have put together myself, but not anywhere near the kind of consistently awesome flavor combinations you experience at the Publican, for example (the Publican continues to be my gold standard for what brunch *can* be like). My portion size was super small; about half a cup of egg/rice mixture. Thankfully there were enough toast and tater tots to round the dish out, but for $13 per plate, I expected more (as in, more food). I was also put off by the fact that the beef rib tips that were supposed to be a part of the meal basically consisted of two millimeter thick slivers of meat hidden amongst the eggs. Why bother naming it if it's not going to be a substantial component of the dish? We had the server recommended bacon/butterscotch donut, and I was underwhelmed. I love myself a good, fresh, gourmet donut (Dazed and Confused, DoRite, etc.); this one was just too one-dimensionally sweet, so hard to enjoy after more than one bite. Frankly, there are just better places in Chicago to have really intriguing, innovative brunches at for the same price point to bother with Nightwood.
(3)
Shanti N.
Having passed by here on a bitterly cold Art Walk last month, I decided to check out Nightwood last Friday, an unseasonably warm evening, to celebrate the coming of spring. I am glad that I took advantage when I did, as I am typing this and looking out at a wintry mix (rain/sleet). Mainly in mind of a drink, I decided to have a seat at the bar. I must have timed it right, as it was not nearly as hopping when I came in (around 7 pm) as it became later on. I went with a glass of the Wilamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It was a very smooth pour and the classic, crisp finish made me realize what I'd been missing all of these hibernating months with my default to Yellowtail Chardonnay. Later on, a couple came into the bar and sat down nearby. From the way the chef greeted them, I could tell that they were regulars here, so I decided to check out what they were ordering. I thought that I had gotten the same pasta dish as what they had ordered, but I ended up with the house-made pasta with a sauce that included veal. I was pleased that the portion was small, and not gut-busting, allowing me to savor the nuances of this decadent dish. The bread provided with dipping sauce was an inspired touch, as the bread appeared to have been baked in a mid-size ramekin and the cheese-based dipping sauce provided with it served as an excellent amuse bouche (though on a less precious scale) to whet my appetite for the main course. I plan on returning, next time to sample the cocktail offerings and the dessert side of the menu.
(3)
Justin B.
About the only surprise that occurred on my visit last Friday night? How quiet it was inside the restaurant. We made a reservation but we could have strolled right in at 7:30 PM; this seems surprising and speaks volumes to how good the food is in Chicago that this place wasn't jammed. The food is fantastic. You'll fight to not request additional warm bread; the cocktails are quite good (the Pink Whippet and the Dark Star were two of the three I put to bed...sassy), the farfalle was tasty, and the Nightwood Cheeseburger is surprisingly good for a burger at a semi-fancy restaurant. I tasted my wife's salmon entree and that was also very good...the outside was crispy, but not crunchy, just right. Dessert was a minor misstep, as the descriptions for the Chocolate Bombe and the Soft Pretzel Bread Pudding were written better than they tasted. Good, just not as amazing as "dark chocolate, caramel vanilla bean, chocolate-covered pretzel ice cream" sounds! The crowd got larger as 8 turned to 9 PM, so it got lively later, and when we left around 10:30 it was closing time. I got the sense that this is a great place to take your parents and because the neighborhood has the look of "transitioning" (a popular term where I was back in DC), you'll get that jewel-in-the-nile feel when you walk back to your parked car two blocks away. This is also reflected in the incredible mix of people inside; people of all races, faiths, ages and interests seem to eat at Nightwood, so it's got a decent people-watching quotient too. Good stuff!
(4)
Erika H.
Service was okay, not real complaints, but nothing that wowed me either. I ordered the bagel sandwich and perhaps I would have been able to enjoy it had the bagel not been so hard! Did they toast the bagel and let it sit there for hours? It was so ridiculously hard to bite into it!
(3)
Anthony G.
This place just feels nice when you're looking for fancy but chill. I like the tasteful low key decor so your mind just sinks into the food. The stuff they create here is my kind of flavor - often times clean with spikes of interesting bits of flavor to keep your mind awake.
(5)
Jason H.
We LOVE Nightwood. The drinks are amazing, the food is amazing, the service is amazing, the room is amazing. Amazing.
(4)
Becky Z.
The location is great for bridgeporter~~~ The food was awesome. We had an 8 people party on Friday night and we almost ordered every entree. The duck leg was great, but they could add more sauce in it. The lake trout was juicy and fresh. The pork belly, omg, so good. The burger, extremely big portion! Great thing is every thing is local farm raised. It tastes fresh. The service was also fantastic. The parking is very easy. Free parking spot every where. It is not a noisy dining place. And we really liked it.
(5)
Robert G.
Dang this place was great! We went here during Restaurant Week 2013. Really wish I knew about the adjacent seating next to the open kitchen before I was seated in the dining room! It reminded me of sitting at a sushi bar, which I prefer. We enjoyed the 4-course prix fixe menu ($44.) I really, really liked the "sausage, peppers, onions." My most memorable moment of the evening was when the patrons seating next to us ordered, the gentleman wanted to order the sausage without green peppers. Dude?! The green peppers are in the "bath" the sausages are cooked in! The poor waitress had to attempt to elegantly explain they were in the recipe. Thanks Choose Chicago and Nightwood Restaurant for this experience!
(5)
Jonah E.
I went during restaurant week with a friend and together we were able to try everything on their restaurant week menu. A couple of things to note: - The waiters and waittresses were very responsive as my water glass never reached empty - The meals came out like rapid fire. Within minutes of finished one course, they would come out with the next - I came in with high expectations and they were all met or exceeded. - Ravioli Bolognese was probably my favorite dish, but the apple bread pudding is a close 2nd - noise level was on the louder end of moderate. - was a little on the expensive side at $44 per person, but overall it was worth it
(5)
natalie b.
This was amazing! We had a little of everything. Buttered Beans, oysters, tartar, brussels sprouts, beets, carrots and everything was GREAT! I recommend coming with friends and sharing so you can get a bite of everything. Homemade chicken and dumplings was exactly want I needed on that snowy night. The smell when you walked in the door was enough to know it was going to be great!
(4)
Dustin T.
Delicious brunch! Food is unique and gourmet. Drinks are also very good. Service could be a little better but overall a great place to check out!
(5)
Edwin W.
4 beers, 1 app, and 2 burgers. I don't know about you, but I usually don't have to spend $100 for a meal like that. The beers were craft beers so I'm not going to complain about the price. The app was literally a plate of sliced cucumbers laid delicately on a plate drizzled with olive oil and topped with chopped peppers, radish, onions and jalapenos. Worst salad EVER! We came here for the burgers as we have seen it listed on many Top Burgers in Chicago lists. When we ordered the burgers with the server, we were not asked how we wanted them cooked, so I asked how they are prepared. The server said they are usually cooked Medium. I had a hunch this would be a mistake as I recalled reading on the menu that the burger consisted of two patties which usually meant 2 patties that equated to a burger somewhere in between a 1/4 lb. to 1/2 lb. burger. Knowing that the patties would be thin, it meant that the burgers would likely be over cooked especially at medium. That was EXACTLY what we were served. Overcooked patties, in between a focaccia type bun that did not help the burger. The burger was under seasoned and the only redeeming feature of this burger was the onion ring that almost got lost with soaked bun. Usually when you are paying $15 for a burger, you would expect better quality burger. Outside of the food (that we ordered), this place appears to be a trendy restaurant as it was nearly packed (both outside seating and inside dining) on a Wednesday evening. The server mentioned that the menu changes daily depending on what ingredients the kitchen wants to use. The service was impeccable as everyone was friendly was the host to the people clearing our table. I won't say I'm ruling this place out as it has great outdoor patio seating and the menu suggests that they use fresh ingredients. I strongly recommend not trying the burger as you can definitely go somewhere else for a tastier burger with less damage to your wallet.
(2)
Arash R.
Well its a mixed bag , some dishes are really good and some are just average . great baby octopus and duck , average deserts and Fish . all in all not a bad place but for the price you can find a better place .
(3)
Julia S.
Excellent farm-to-table restaurant. The combinations of ingredients were wonderful and unique. We had two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert, all of which were amazing! The atmosphere and decor are also excellent.
(5)
Edith R.
I want to give a great review, really I do. But I agree with a lot of other approved and non-approved reviews: The food is hit or miss and service is the same. Prices are unreasonable for a hit or miss experience. I have walked past this restaurant many times, because it's only 4 blocks from my house and I've avoided it due to mixed reviews regarding quality of service and food taste and price. However, my gf recommended it as a good place for brunch. So off I went. Some parts were good, some parts not so great. I sat at the bar to wait for my party to arrive before getting seated, and the bartender hardly acknowledged me...let alone barely talked to me. She was very personable to the guy next to me. She spent a good while telling him about her favorite food. When she finally took my drink order, she looked less than thrilled to even to assist me. I ordered the Americano drink, which I cannot find on the online menu right now. I am all for trying new cocktails and learning about them, but this thing was badly bitter, and I like bitter stuff. It took a lot of diluting, lemon juice and swirling for it to grow on me. If any of you cocktail connoisseurs can educate me about that drink, please send me a message so I'm not so biased. Otherwise, I do not recommend that drink. And just before my party arrived, the bartender didn't say a word to me. She just gave me the bill in a glass and walked away. total: $8.85 for a bitter, crappy drink and crappy service. Ok, I admit I was dressed in yoga pants and a yoga hoodie; but really, shouldn't they treat us all the same? Do I need to tell you I'm dressed like that because I just ran 8 miles only an hour before i got to your snobby counter and my body is sore? Thank god I had cash and just begrudgingly threw in a $10 bill. I really should have just left her $0.15 as a tip, considering how indifferent she was to me. I WILL be back to find her and remind her how she treated me. I do, after all walk past that place weekly from my nearby home to grab myself 2 delicious craft beers at skylark--for the same price as that drink. Upon getting seated, service was far better. The girl in the glasses was very, very attentive and pleasant. I ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, which is THE BEST donut in the world. I will go back to order that for takeout. Delicious, absolutely, positively delicious. If you've ever had the bacon long john from Glazed and Infused (and you know it's fab), this is even better. It is well worth the price. I also ordered the den-fjord: listed as a rye flour crepe Swedish meatballs smoked salmon, braised kale, glazed cippolinis (unreadable handwritten item), sunnyside egg. The dish looked absolutely scrumptious, but I'm really not sure what happened there. First, it was really salty; but to be fair, I don't like a lot of salt in my food in general. My friend likes her food salty so that just depends on your palate. However, the saltiness didn't really do much for the overall flavor. With all those ingredients, I expected more flavor. Flavor from the kale, maybe a tad more flavor from the salmon. I'm not sure. I wouldn't have minded paying the $14 for that dish if the overall taste was more than just meh. To close out our meal, we caved and ordered bloody Marys...we really like our bloody Marys. So when they came in at a more than bitter taste, we were really disappointed. The garnish was really tasty, i believe it was a sliver of ginger (very good), but i don't remember what the second garnish was, it was salmon colored and crunch--that was it. I reiterate that service at the table was great, despite the crowd at 12p-ish. I'm all for giving places a second try but $20+ dollars for 2 bad drinks is outright insane. I will return for the donut as takeout but I really hope some of those folks, or that bartender chick treats all patrons better and the same across the board. After all, Pilsen is my home and I support my local businesses. I don't demand high services, but I do notice snobby service when I'm being a friendly customer and you do not reciprocate the gesture. I won't say I won't ever be back, but I will think twice next time.
(2)
Shannon B.
I don't write 5-star reviews for many places unless you wow me with your service which this place does, your food is amazing and savory which at this place it is. Boyfriend and I both ordered the same dish it was the homemade Gnocchi I can't tell you how pillowy and amazing it was. Beyond flavor! The service was a bit slow this day, so the waitress showed up at the end of the meal with a tasting tray of deserts two mini pies and a custard. She definitely made up for the wait because all the deserts were amazing. Its always good with staff and a restaurant can read the mood and where they fell flat and make up for it without the customer even asking. Put this on your must try list in Chicago! You'll be glad you did.
(5)
Sean H.
went with a friend on a thu. really nice ambience, not too dark, never got overly loud. a nice relief from the november cold. friendly wait service. came at 7:15, there's no wait though we had a reservation. was packed around 8 or so. two entrees + dessert + appetizer came out to about 44 a person (37 w/out tip). you get some free bread (like, a teeny tiny little loaf) at the beginning and then some teeny tiny cookies at the end. we ordered this salad made of peppers and this meat sauce for an appetizer. it was a nice appetizer. i think $14. entrees were this fish with some mushroom and something else i wasn't sure about, but it was good. it was pretty expensive though ($28) and def. not something that I think would be filling for an average sized person. however there's a cheap (relatively) hamburger that is also good for $15 - it's technically a double cheeseburger + fries. that combo plus appetizer etc. was really filling. then we got this bread pudding thing for $10, which was super small, but the flavors were really nice. didn't order alcohol but that will probably run you $10-$15 a person if you get one drink . i'd like to try the brunch later.
(5)
Nanette F.
I guess I don't get it. I went there because I had so many friends rave about the place, but I don't see the big deal. The service would have been better,but the hipster server had the worst BO that I have encountered in a restaurant. I mean, it was down right abusive. I ordered one of their specialty bourbon cocktails which tasted like a cross between salmon and bitters. I had a pasta dish which was okay, however my husband's burger was wonderful. So, to wrap it up. take nose plugs and order the burger.
(2)
Raytus C.
Wow - Nightwood - how your star has fallen! We started with some fried squid and a mackerel appetizer. The squid were tiny ringlets that were so fried, it was really just salty batter that was left. The mackerel was the size of my thumb for $18. That's just not fair. We'll normally order the half chicken as a reliable standby - but it was replaced on tonight's menu with a chicken thigh for $26. As we discussed the menu, I noted the thigh was singular. Thinking it wasn't possible, we ordered the chicken and indeed - it was one thigh for $26 - the cheapest cut of chicken. No joke. The thigh was okay, but the greens it was served on where so salty, they were inedible. I had the burger and it was also incredibly salty. I don't mind smaller portions - but a chicken thigh would be overprices at $16 as an appetizer - what this entree really was - let alone $26. Nightwood - one more visit like this and we are done.
(2)
Yuki H.
Came in for dinner to see what the hype was all about. I really enjoyed the pasta and the desserts where phenomenal.
(5)
Chris S.
The food was very good, but not outstanding. I loved the ambiance, especially the chairs. Great place to impress a North-side lady with on a date.
The food and service was great. I would have given 4 stars if the portions weren't so small. I had the $25 single roast chicken thigh and my husband ordered the $32 duck breast while we shared a side. They should've served two thighs or half a chicken cuz we both walked out still feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Ordered glasses of wine and it wasn't even a full pour like you would get at any ordinary restaurant in river north either....Quality and flavors were excellent but overpriced for the neighborhood and lack of portion. I'm sticking to their brunch only!
(3)
Carolyn L.
OK so I went here after the Shamrock Shuffle because dammit I earned it! And the first thing I had to get my hands on was the Nightella doughnut, stuffed with, you guessed it, nutella. It was rich and divine. I also snagged some bites of my parents' butterscotch doughnut with bacon on top. I almost jumped over the counter to grab the jar of bacon soaking in maple syrup. It was just...so...amazing. The salty bacon really complimented the sweet butterscotch. Every bite melted in my mouth. For the rest of the meal, we enjoyed some great bacon and sausage from The Butcher and Larder. Both had a great taste and were very enjoyable. My mother ordered the bread pudding french toast and for sure I helped her out on the last few bites. It had a lemon curd sauce served and raspberry couliswith it. The light flavors all came together really well, and the entire dish was just rich and delicious. My father had the breakfast sandwich on a bagle. Again, I stole a few bites and even ate the rest for breakfast the next morning. The sauce was just the right amount of savory, nothing overpowering. I loved Nightwood. And I would love to go back and try everything else on their brunch menu over time. It was definitely a hard decision to choose just one thing off the menu!!!
(5)
Michal F.
The patio ambiance puts you in the middle of a lush garden. It's a great setup for a meal full of fresh vegetables. I got the breakfast burrito which i thought was excellent. It had a fresh taste with a mediterranean feel. The lamb in it was juicy. It also contained hummus, rice yogurt, feta, mint and a vegetable with thick stems that I've never seen before. The downside was hydration. It was incredibly hot on the day we went so we wanted alot of water. Each time it was served to us in a small glass that we'd finish in a minute then have to wait 20 minutes to flag down a waiter for a re-fill. Near the end of the meal we got a pitcher but this was after five refilled glasses that just would not sate our thirst.
(4)
Kate C.
We came here for our anniversary and loved it. The food was amazing and the service was perfect and friendly. I want to go back to try the brunch! :)
(5)
Chase M.
Good food from a farm-to-table menu. Flexible with eating preferences (paleo, vegetarian diets.) Fantastic drinks.
(5)
Jennifer T.
I like Lula Cafe (sister restaurant to Nightwood) so I had high hopes for my first visit here. Unfortunately the service was inattentive and 3 (out of 4 that we ordered) dishes were below average. Sadly, I will not return. Dish that was pretty good: Nightwood burger Dishes that were not: Ravioli, Grilled Octopus, Fried Rice. All three were overpowered by salt and vinegar, Service was disappointing. We had empty water glasses for the first 10 minutes after being seated at our table. Our waitress passed us many times without even glancing our way. As for the setting - do avoid the north part of the bar. There was a sulfur or sewage scent that definitely took away from the ambiance of the rest of the restaurant.
(2)
Jay K.
Nightwood is definitely worth checking out. I'm a huge fan of the upscale farm to table genre of restaurants and decided to give this a try. When we got there, I was happy I made a reservation (even despite a 9pm one) because the place was packed. My initial impression was that the place has a nice ambience (although I prefer the indoors than outdoor patio). The drinks and service was very good. I ordered the fish entree and it was good as well. Overall, the portion sizes are just right. If you end up going for the full experience with drinks to desserts, the bill will run up. Why not 5 stars? My only critique is that my entree (and I tried one of my friend's entree) was somewhat bland. The appetizers were spot on but the entree seemed somewhat lacking.
(4)
David S.
I've heard and read a lot about this place but I can't say I was that impressed. It's actually nice on the inside considering its location. I was expecting more from the food though. I had the chicken which came with some really bitter and off tasting broccoli rabe. I thought the rabe and the chicken were a tad undercooked. My dining companion liked the brussels sprouts appetizer and his pasta was good, but I thought the portion was pretty skimpy.
(2)
Brandon T.
Came here today for the b-day brunch. Turned out, for the most part, excellent! Ended up having a few mimosa's, the bacon butterscotch donut, granola, and the hamburger. The butterscoth bacon donut was incredible. So ridiculously sweet & savory, I would recommend spliting it if you are going to eat anything else. The granola was disappointing. Not nearly enough yogurt, but it did tasted nice by itself just didn't really want a dry bowl of cereal if you know what I mean. The hamburger was great. The bread, contrary to others opinions, I thought to be perfect for how juicy the burger was. It made the entire sandwich manageable with the sauce and juiciness of the meat. Of course the mimosa's were also good, yet a bit pricey. Note: If you end up going here, DRIVE! Public transportation here is a pain, and cabs are non-existent. It started storming today half way through our lunch. Ended up waiting 45 minutes after the restaurant was nice enough to call two cab companies for us.
(4)
Laurence B.
Dined here August 1 2013. This place is amazing. Sat in the patio (open air) area on a beautiful night. The food is amazing. The most stunning dish was the shisito peppers (appetizer). Very carefully selected wine list. You can't lose. All the wines are well-chosen and reasonably priced. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. Drive your own car, or assume you may have to wait for a cab for the return trip.
(5)
Tricia D.
Props to Nightwood for earning a Bib Gourmand award for 2011! This late breaking news was even more incentive to return to this fine Pilsen establishment after my blissful brunch here circa one year ago. And knowing what I know now, I would only return for brunch. The dinner offerings had - hm, what's the word I'm looking for? - muted flavors to me. The mushroom sformato (like a savory custard), handmade pasta, and duck risotto were all tasty, but lacked that extra kick of culinary flavors to bring it to the next level. I left wanting more, and the same goes for the lemon pudding cake and vanilla pot de creme desserts we tried. The clam appetizer was a winner and the highlight for me. I was hoping to be more blown away, but I was simply not. Like the cocktail list and open kitchen though. Bring your semi-outdoor voice because the noise level gets energetic in here. +100 on Opentable.
(3)
Bryan W.
Worth the trip!! So much has already been said about this wonderful spot so I will keep it brief, just go. This place is perfect for brunch or dinner and has to be experienced.
(5)
Jennifer N.
I eventually went back at summer's beginning for Sunday Brunch. I was happier with Brunch than my dinner experience. I went with a friend and she ordered the donuts. I had quiche which was very nice, and it came with a small salad. I want to go back to try their recent selection of donuts (minus bacon!). I liked sitting outside for Brunch, compared to the basement for dinner. I'm glad I went back because I really do want to like this place.
(4)
Cyn C.
Ooh-dah-lolly, ooh-dah-lolly, golly what a day!!! It was my last weekend as a resident of Chicago and I had some serious decisions to make: try new (to me) restaurants or go to my tried-and-true spots one last time? I tend to lean toward the conservative, so I'm surprised I tried this new place instead of going to my beloved brunch spot (which isn't so far away from this one). The three of us shared the two special donuts (the maple bourbon bacon one and the lemon verbena creme filled donut), each of which came with a side of donut holes. How can you not be charmed by a place that serves its donuts with a side of donuts? Then, in typical family style, we all shared the following: 1) wood-grilled goat cheese stuffed french toast with blackberry jam. (mmm. was good. not as good as the place in Bridgeport, but still delicious). 2) eggplant and lamb casserole with... can't remember. but the eggplant was deliciously done. 3) bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, cole slaw (made with vinagrette or very light on the mayo), maple thick cut bacon pieces and a runny over easy egg. This breakfast sandwich was delicious, but could be made better with a better grade bagel. Now, the bagel wasn't BAD, it just wasn't top notch. But those tots were more than enough to make up for an "ok" bagel. Tips: 1) make reservations. 2) come a bit early to drive around and find free! street parking 3) wear your stretchies 4) don't order the bagel sandwich if you're on a first date. it's a messy monstrosity.
(4)
Adoley J.
Yum yum good food! Came here with a group of friends for some Sunday brunch and post Saturday night chat session. I mean why else do brunch, am I right. As soon as we arrived we ordered some donuts for the table. They were amazing with just the right amount of sweetness. I ordered the crab salad which was really good. It was baked crab with lettuce and cheese and came with focaccia bread. All in all a good meal. My only complaint comes because of our waiter. I understand we all have our off days, but he was short with us and kept rolling his eyes. At the end of the meal, he went behind the bar to make drinks and left us hanging. So while the meal was good the service could have been better.
(3)
Mare G.
Loved the decor and seats. Ordered the burger and wish I had tried something more adventurous. The apple bread pudding with rosemary ice cream made the meal complete!
(4)
Charlene B.
One of our top five favorite restaurants in Chicago. Recommend it for dinner AND brunch. Also recommend nabbing a seat at the chef's counter in the back. Makes for great theater. But, truly, any seat in the house is a lucky seat -- the food is that consistently standout, the interior design + comfort that consistently good. We love bringing people here who have never been and watching as they are blown away as course after course arrives. Nightwood nails the intersection of inventive, seasonal dishes, warm + hip vibe, and staff friendliness. Their ever-changing menu is incentive to go again and again.
(5)
Pascal M.
"Old McDonald had a farm" but he sure as hell didn't feed his family this kinda' food! I'm diggin' Nightwood. Cool part of town and easy to find a spot near by. The interior dining area is simple, yet refined, and the ceilings and windows really make you feel like you've got a lot of space. PLUS! There's some chairs in the back if you want to watch the kitchen work it's magic. I'm sure theyyy luhhhhhhve that... Perhaps if you are a regular or know them personally you could watch them work without holding back. The pirate ship like atmosphere is what I tend to love about kitchens, hopefully they wouldn't hold back for fussy dining crowds. Who knows, maybe you could even get some innovative creations tossed your way from time to time. Their cocktails compliment the fresh cuisine. Plenty of ingenuity with their wide array of spirits, liqueurs, and extras can be found in their well crafted drinks. The food is about as fresh as your gonna get. Some dishes are raw and simple so you can get the best out of certain ingredients, while other entrees clearly have an expressive attention to detail and skill. It mus be great to be a local so you can come in here frequently and try the always changing menu. Although it must stink to have something you loved, gone the next week. BUT THAT'S HOW THEY GETCHA! Their dessert. "GREAT SCOTT!" They could open a small pastry or dessert shop based entirely on the expertise of sweets they got goin' on. The night we went, they very well served us the best bread pudding I've ever had in my life. Quite simply. Their cuisine blew us away, from beginning to end. I can't wait to go back from season to season and try some of their other menus. Nightwood is a restaurant where superheroes would go to eat.
(5)
Kurt F.
Incredible experience at Nightwood! Sat at the bar just off the kitchen and had a very cool experience watching the chefs work their magic. I HIGHLY recommend the crispy pig ears and rabbit cabbage roll...both were exceptional! Bay scallops with beef tendon, mushroom and quail egg in bacon broth was on point as well! If you are a dessert person I would highly recommend the apple bread pudding with the rosemary ice cream. Overall, great dinning experience.
I went here as part of large party for my bff's law school graduation. We arrived first and had a mimosa and bloody mary at the bar. When the rest of our party was a bit late, they were not only accommodating, but the hostess came over to us and let us know! We sat downstairs, which was quieter than upstairs and very reasonable given that we were such a large party. There was one other large party seated downstairs. We all shared the butterscotch bacon doughnuts to begin, and these were amazing: definitely the highlight of the meal! I ate oatmeal, which was delicious. Most people at the table ordered the eggs and toast combo, and they all seemed please with it. I'd love to see some non egg-centric dishes, but the food was good, and I'd definitely return. My mimosas were good, and the bf's bloody marys were "amazing, and very well-spiced". Prices were in line with the quality- it's not IHOP, people!
(4)
Christie B.
When we first got there, they seated our party in the basement and we were the only ones down there and it felt weird. I have never asked to have my table moved before, so I was a little nervous as to what to say. My friend just asked our server if we could be seated upstairs and she checked, came back down and reseated us upstairs. I don't know why they didn't just do that in the first place. Besides that, the food was really good. I think it was a little overpriced, but maybe I am just judging it because it was in Pilsen. I really liked the pasta salad appetizer and my friend said their cheeseburger was one of the best in Chicago. Overall, I liked it and would recommend to anyone finding themself in this neighborhood.
(4)
Rachel W.
I really wanted to love Nightwood, but was only marginally impressed w/the food unfortunately, and it just didn't have a relaxed feel to it, which didn't' fit the decor and ambiance of the place. I dined at Perennial a few nights later and while both are based on seasonal and local ingredients, I felt that Perennial far surpassed in terms of flavors and creativity. But, I would go back for a cocktail if i was down in Pilsen and could sit at the bar instead.
(3)
Melissa B.
The donut of the day was butterscotch bacon and it was ridiculous! We started with that and bloody's. They were strong and soo fresh! Mt dining companion had the bagel sandwich with smoked trout, holly cow, so good! I had the pork with eggs and it was delicious as well. It was like a flavor explosion of classy pulled pork with seasonal greens, yum! Our waitress was super on it and the water service was awesome as well. We really liked brunch here and plan to return very soon for dinner. I love supporting places that do their part to source local, sustainable, seasonal food.
(4)
Nichole C.
Yum, just yum. Brunch was really lovely and I thought about it all day. Also, the crowd was damn good looking, if that matters.
I've heard chattering here and there about NIghtwood and had always wanted to check it out. So, I was absolutely thrilled to get an invitation to brunch. A group of us met late Sunday morning and were seated downstairs. Yes, there is a downstairs that is used for larger parties. It was bustling on the main floor so we were appreciative of the quieter atmosphere. The brunch menu seems to change weekly but there is at least one item that is always on the menu from what I understand: bacon butterscotch doughnuts. And they are freakin delicious. Nightwood does a good job with the savory sweet trend that you can find at virtually any place that sells sweets. The doughnut is done with a butterscotch glaze, piled high with bits of cubed fried bacony goodness and served with sugared doughnut holes. OMIGOSH. I died. Nightwood is also serving the best tots in all of Chicago. You heard me right. THE BEST. I'm not normally a tot person. Up until this brunch, Hot Doug's held this title. Sorry Doug but Nightwood has you beat. I got three hefty perfectly golden balls of freshly grated tots. They are ridiculous. Accompanying my tots were a soft scramble of eggs with celeriac cream, anchovy, gruyere, parsley & truffle oil. It was cooked perfectly, wonderful smokiness. The homemade blueberry compote that arrived along side my toast was also delicious. As if this wasn't enough, Nightwood cures their own bacon. Don't think twice about this. Get it. Fresh juice and Intelligentsia coffee rounded out this seemingly perfect brunch. I cannot wait to return to Nightwood and might even check out the dinner menu if I can tear myself way from those tots.
(5)
Jen D.
I've now been to Nightwood twice for brunch and recently went for dinner. Dinner did not disappoint either. I am continually impressed by their use of vegetables - the abundance of locally grown veggies and the creative use. I ordered a trout dish that came with a little pot of some magical veggie and chorizo concoction. The fish was flavorfully perfect and the side was out of this world. I've not had anything here that was bad. Service was outstanding as before. Atmosphere has energy without being too loud. RUN, don't walk to Nightwood. Can't wait to go back. I just wish it wasn't in Pilsen (I live at the other end of the earth - Wrigleyville).
(5)
Emily B.
Is it worth making the trek to Pilsen? Yes, but just once. Most kitchen tables are reserved for the elite - those willing to spend a little extra to sit closer to the magic. At Nightwood, it's first-come, first-served for front-row seats to the all the action. Foodies, rejoice. Because all pastas are made in-house, we went with their spaghetti dish. Served with veal meatballs, all in all not bad. My dining partner sprung for the cheeseburger and I was jealous. Although the consensus was: it had nothing on Acadia or Au Cheval. For dessert? The soft pretzel bread pudding, which was nothing short of heavenly. In sum, it was a custard cup of sweet, salty, soft, crunchy warm gooey goodness topped with a ball of vanilla ice cream with flecks of chocolate covered pretzels. Service is very, very, very far from being humble, warm, and friendly and is the main reason this place will hover around the "just okay" mark for me.
(3)
Agnes L.
A bright, airy and covered patio area with tons of plants and a menu font type mimicking scrawled handwriting help to create a laid-back yet hip atmosphere. And with a unique brunch menu that has seasonal ingredients, I was enticed from the get-go. We had bacon-butterscotch and berry creme fraiche donuts has appetizers to split among four people. I'm not a big sweet tooth so the bacon-butterscotch with its sweet/savory combo of flavor was more to my liking. I had ordered the bagel sandwich, which I ended up eating as if it was an eggs Benedict (with a fork and knife) because it was served open-faced and packed with tons of slaw. I was disappointed to see that the smoked trout was not a separate component in the sandwich but was instead infused into the cream cheese spread. The thick bagel seemed to overtake the entire dish, so it would have been better to have a thinner piece of bread like sliced foccacia. The "tots" on the side were intriguing because the image mimicked little wicker basket balls that I've seen used as decor in bowls on coffee tables because they were shoestring potatoes rolled up and baked/fried. Our group agreed that traditional tots or breakfast hash is more flavorful and satisfying. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which I liked much more because of all the unique ingredients and how much more it was balanced in flavor and texture. The hummus, rice, yogurt, mint and feta mixed in with the braised beef rolled up into a tortilla, alongside a chickpea, cucumber and greens salad gave a fresh Mediterranean vibe. Also, our server informed us that this item would not be on the menu for too much longer, so we felt obligated to try it.
(4)
Zeb M.
Best brunch of my life. Coffee, eggs, hashbrowns that come to you in the shape of fritters, toast, veggie sausage, and a couple of free pastries on the house. Just believe me on this one.
(5)
Eric M.
Quietly positioned in a gentrifying near South-Side neighborhood, this attractive place effectively finds the sweet spot between understatement and flair, which, in this day and age, is a goal of so many restaurants that it almost seems like conscious, pretentious irony. Not so with Nightwood. The popular Sunday brunch offers donuts--yes, donuts, not brioche or beignets or even macaroons. Just tasty donuts. (Granted, these donuts may be filled with mint-cilantro and cost $7 a pop, but nobody's trying to deny this isn't quintessential Chicagoyuppie dining. It is.) That said, the spin on modern comfort food here is nicely seasoned and smartly blended between the sweet and the savory. The three of us were all happy with our meals, if the portions were a tad small for the prices. An early-ish (1015a) brunch should still leave you satisfied enough to make it through to dinner--not ready for a real lunch just two hours later. However, the meal was good enough that I would have been willing to give it a go at Nightwood again at 12:30p, if my credit card weren't still so sore!
(4)
Denise A.
Real food, nothing processed everything made on site or locally. Decor is lovely and the wait is never over the top long. In the summer the outdoor seating is amazing, with a modern fireplace in the center to add to the coziness. I never know what to expect when I order, the menu description is so simple but the servers are usually good at filling in the blanks. Breads are a common part of the menu and salads are usually light.
(4)
Jason V.
Visited Nightwood for a mid-February Sunday brunch. We snagged a reservation earlier in the morning and waited only a couple of minutes for our table to clear. The restaurant was packed, which made the six hangers for coats in the middle of winter a little ridiculous. Our table of four was seated near the front door in stylish but relatively uncomfortable chairs. The table split one of the Bacon Butterscotch doughnuts and one of the Raspberry Jelly doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze and Candied Coco Nibs. While the doughnuts tasted decent, they are not worth the menu prices of $4 and $5 respectively. Hell, the Bacon Butterscotch doughnut is simply a regular doughnut covered in butterscotch sauce and pieces of bacon--no infusion, twist, or anything that seemed particularly innovative. The Duck Confit and Pig Skin Stew with Scrambled Eggs and Tortilla Chips was substantially better. An odd combination to be sure, but the duck and pig skin make for an extremely hearty pairing. The rest of the plate is practically an afterthought (or perhaps a last-minute attempt to characterize this as a brunch dish), but the eggs and salsa were pretty good while the tortilla chips (think more along the lines of what you'd get in a tortilla soup at Houlihan's) were probably unnecessary. Overall, I was pretty pleased with Nightwood, and the restaurant should get extra credit for changing the menu frequently to keep things fresh and keep the diners on their toes. Of brunch spots I've visited in Chicago, though, Nightwood falls behind The Gage and Jam (at least at the old location).
(3)
Colleen S.
Not sure why this place got rave reviews from Chicago Magazine. I ordered the Duck which was very good - meat fell off the bone - but the portion size was skimpy. A small side of roasted asparagus swimming in olive oil sat beside it. There was so much oil it really ruined the asparagus. To me this is not a good value for $30 [Should have gone to the Tuesday night 3 course special at La Sardine for $30 - could have had the oxtail to start, a hanger steak and a souffle.] Meanwhile, it seemed my water glass was refreshed after nearly every sip- a pet peeve of mine. I don't need that many interruptions at the table. My friend and I split 2 desserts - banana bread pudding and cherry pie. These were very good, but since we sat outside the ice cream melted quite quickly. Our server was cordial but not extremely helpful or tolerant of the fact that we needed time to decide on our orders. The open kitchen is entertaining and the outdoor seating area is nice.
(2)
Gina R.
fantastic food. it's nice to know it's always "good" meat (locally farmed, etc), even if you pay a little more for it. brunch is always 100%. dinner can sometimes be spotty, though they do change out items every day, so I can't blame them. I do feel like I didn't put enough time in planning my outfit when I see the service staff, however. so damn hip. whatever; they have bacon butterscotch donuts. nuff said.
(5)
Edie J.
So delicious!! This morning my friend and I did the Big Lebowski brunch. White russian donut?? hell yea! There were other funny menu items as well. The service was good, coffee was plentiful, we were not rushed and didn't wait for anything. Great start to the day, will be returning!!
(4)
Toyo K.
Cool place located south of downtown Chicago. The service and atmosphere were great and I could tell this was a hip place. Place was packed on a Monday night which is always a good sign. In the back there's an open kitchen with bar seating so if you want you can sit and eat and watch the cooks do their thing. The inside can get very noisy - so noisy that you may not be able to hear everyone at your table (we had a table of 5). They also have outdoor seating so that may be a better option. I heard the menu changes daily at this place. For appetizers we ordered a bruschetta plate and a vegetable plate. Both were excellent and the presentation were creative. I ordered the cheeseburger on focaccia bread for an entree and I was really looking forward to a delicious, juicy burger. I was a bit disappointed in a couple of things: 1. My burger tasted dry 2. The focaccia bread did not work with the burger. It was too tough making it hard to bite through and did not soak up any of the burger's juices 3. The cheese (I believe it was goat) was overpowering Everyone else seemed to really enjoy their meals. Although my burger fell short, I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a fun and enjoyable dining experience.
(4)
Graham D.
A lot has been written about Nightwood that tells you how creative and unique they are, so I'll spare you the repetition, save that I most wholeheartedly agree they are amazingly crafty with their menu choices. I think the overarching signature of this place is its dedication to local and sustainable food sources. As has been noted, the menu changes, because their food sources change as the seasons do. (It's what we all used to do before cheap airfreight!) The night we were there, spring lamb on lentils was on the menu as was flattened salmon. We paired this a pleasant Sauvignon Blanc at a very modest price. In fact their wine list is comfortably approachable; not a whole bunch of listings with astronomical numbers which always makes me feel small and inadequate. Portions are generous without being threatening to your waistline and it's worth checking the dessert menu, because more creativity abounds here. The street parking can be a bit of hassle, but this restaurant bears your checking it out. They've been there for better than 4 years, so they are clearly doing something very right!
(4)
Heather M.
I've been dying to try Nightwood, and I finally got my chance during restaurant week. First of all, bonus points to them for creating a restaurant week menu and not just giving you a choice of their standard fare. From cocktails to dessert, everything was fabulous. I won't elaborate on the details of the entrees, as that menu has ended, but I will say that they turn out some creative, delicious preparations of high quality ingredients. The service could not have been more attentive and friendly. I think it's one of the best examples of the Chicago style of food right now: high-end riffs on comfort food, using excellent technique and the best ingredients. This is a great place to take out of town-ers to show them what the food scene here is all about. Enjoy!
(5)
Edgar V.
A "foodie" friend of mine in Chicago referred me to this restaurant. Overall it was great. I had the appetizer salad (good but too much onion) and the sirloin steak for dinner. The steak was good, but Nightwood is not a steakhouse. This is definitely a hipster haven - from the servers to the clients. I felt like I had been transported to Seattle (think Local 360). My only complaint is that although my table was ready, I was told that it would be 15 minutes and they asked that I wait in the bar. They clearly had a strategy tin place to sell drinks before seating customers by pretending that there is a wait. That's kinda rude and deceitful. I'd go back...maybe....Chicago has so many options for great food.
(4)
Chris G.
It was close to 7pm on a nearly-perfect Chicago summer Friday night. I was on my sofa and had enjoyed a nap. It was also my friend's bday... but took me nearly 2 hours to force him to abandon a laid back evening and hurry up the street to Nightwood, arriving around 9pm. The restaurant was packed as expected but we spotted an open patio table, then rushed to the desk to ask how deep the waiting list was. Though we saw several people standing nearby, the kind gentlemen asked if we had reservations (no) and said oh wait, let me see.. I only have a patio opening, will that do? It all felt a bit Disney-esque to me possibly because I still had cobwebs from my nap, but more so because how rare is it to saunter up to a popular spot on one of the busiest nights and get prime seating somewhere other than next to their boiler room? We sat down, the sun was setting and the breeze felt pleasantly tropical. The smells of nearby patrons' orders crossed us and we had a good feeling about what was to come. After receiving a mediocre bite-sized square, buttery pastry with a side of fresh butter, we looked forward to the hand cut pasta with basil, cauliflower and almonds. The dish was offered with an herbed butter sauce and the noodles were tight and firm. It paired well with the bottle of chilled '07 Methven Vineyards Pinot Gris from Oregon's Willamette Valley, which was perfectly smooth and crisp. Birthday boy ordered the very delicate and succulent Superior Whitefish with Three Sisters hominy and Cilantro and I pressed for the Confit of Gunthorp Farm duck leg with summer squash and oyster mushrooms. I bit into the butt of the whitefish and it was quite gamey, seemingly soaked in a room-temp Durian fruit (which isn't a turnoff personally). But Bday boy offered bits of the middle and it was a quite different, adult Tilapia treat, still with slight gamey overtones that brought out the floral notes in our Pinot Gris. Anyone familiar with birds like duck, ostrich and quail realize that it's quite easy to overcook. We were impressed that they served a leg that was well-seasoned and tender, despite the challenge. The accompanying summer squash and mushrooms did not upstage the main act. Here's a confession. The couple next to us ordered a few dishes and had a bowl of golden fries parked in the middle of their table. The smell was so sensual that we flagged our very attentive server down and asked how quickly could she get a bowl of them over to us. She chuckled and said it could come out with our entrees. I'm a fat guy and've had many different kinds of french fries, but if one had to DIE and go to french fry heaven, THEY WOULD SERVE THESE FRIES. The were impossibly crisp (cooked in a little duck fat??) on the outside but took on a fluffy, Yukon Gold potato richness inside. We were joined for dessert by our neighbor and friend who's expecting any day now. After a bit of debate, we settled on Nightwood's chocolate raspberry tart, almond toffee gelato and a cherry turnover. Though the cherry turnover was light and tangy, the tart was surprisingly airy, crisp and offered subtle, high-end chocolate and fresh raspberry flavors. It looked heavy but was quite the opposite. Bday boy decided to slather the gelato over the tart and took it to a new pleasurable level. After crashing their party, uninvited on possibly the busiest night of the week, one would hesitate to be most critical. But I can honestly share, I felt the cuisine at Nightwood was better than what was served at Charlie Trotter's. And our meal last night was just less-than-half of his $450 bill AND included two bottles of the Pinot Gris. We plan to become regulars. :) --- UPDATE: So it was Easter weekend and after 8pm on a gorgeous Saturday night. Me and birthday boy were over on Taylor Street trying to get into a popular Italian Eatery by Stax Cafe and I'd learnt that he hadn't made a reservation as we walked through the door. 2.5 hour wait we were told. We contemplated hitting up Bevi Amo across the street, Chez Joel nearby or going north to Cotes du Rhone but decided against that since we wanted to finish the night at Simone's Bar in Pilsen. Chez Joel couldn't seat us for another 1.5 hours and Nightwood said about 1 hour also. We drove around and contemplated other places but it was packed all around. I said screw it, let's park by Nightwood and just walk in and see how it goes. So we decided to just order a bottle and stand at the bar until something opened up. A french Cab Franc. Was tasty. We nibbled on puffy fried lemon slices and ordered salmon rillettes apps, both mouth watering. We finished up at a table, ordering the quite flavorful, crispy, spit-roasted India duck entree with foie gras (so buttery good!) and the spit-roasted chicken with Michigan ramps, lemon, garlic, mint. The chunky goat cheesecake with toasted pecans, rosemary honey and crunchy crust was sinful enough to send us to hell many times over. Good times. :)
(4)
Angelina K.
Bacon butterscotch donuts for brunch ! Amazing . So good and addicting . Great restaurant . Awesome cocktails .
(5)
Melanie V.
Pilsen, Pilsen, Pilsen. Believe me, as a life-long Chicagoan, I would have never step foot in Pilsen ever. It's reputation has definitely preceeded itself for me. But, thanks to the recent facelift up and down Halsted, Nightwood finally gave me a reason to stop in. And I'm super happy I did. Here's a rundown: Setting: 10am, Sunday, brunch Crowd: A lovely bunch, with such diverse backgrounds. Common ground? Love of new restaurants and intriguing food dishes. Menu: Omg, amazing. All of it. You do not understand how long it took me to decide on what I actually wanted to order. Everything sounded soooo yum. The adorable part was the handwritten menus. *sigh* Atmosphere: Airy, sunny, semi-private, incredibly friendly staff. Perfection on a Sunday morning. But, seriously? Can we talk about the food? The chocolate + bacon donuts were heavenly. Like, DD will never, ever compare to this.. In fact, if I didn't eat so much of it, I probably would have been able to finish my actual meal. As a treat, the staff brought out this peanut butter and jelly donut that they're thinking of offering. Genius. Crispy pb&j. As my meal, I ordered the cheesy polenta (that came with bacon, HOME MADE tater tots and a soft boiled egg). That entire dish was freakin' awesome. I wanted to finish all of it, but only could attack less than a quarter. As my dining companions kept repeating, we all needed to be rolled out of the restaurant. Seriously. In a wheel barrel. I haven't gushed about a brunch like this...probably ever. Nightwood is pure genius. Lookin' forward to stopping in again. And again....
(5)
J C.
My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary. Service was excellent. Food was legendary. Wine pairing was accurate. They even gave us an anniversary goat milk ice cream finale. Very rich and delicious.
(5)
Daniel C.
BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! saw Anne Burrell here a few weeks ago so it's Food Network Chef approved!
(5)
Brett F.
Haven't you heard?? Long, diatribe reviews are so out for the Fall. Get with the program, Hemingway, this season it's all about clear, concise gushfests... especially if we're talking about my new paramour, Nightwood!! Easily one of my new favorite restaurants in 2009 and here's why: 1. Love the location; off the beaten path in Pilsen it enlightens one to a new neighborhood with a ton of culture and fun things to see. Plus it's easy to do without a reservation (though one shouldn't to be safe) if you're feeling adventurous and up for a little road trip. 2. Great menu that revolves nightly. Never the same show twice, folks! Only the freshest, lushest and most decadent ingredients are here on display... if you can catch it, I highly recommend the pappardelle with braised rabbit and swiss chard as well as the spit-roast pork loin with creme fraiche and white anchovy. Holy Bazookas! That pork loin was enough to feed a small army and in the best of culinary style. We drooled, we tore into it, we conquered!! It was absolutely a meal for the record books. 3. Fabulous patio dining. While the weather still permits, I can't stress it enough.. it's absolutely luxurious! No haphazard street side folding chairs here. Nah.. the patio is stylish, sumptuous and the consummate setting for a romantic evening spent fawning over velvety chilled sweet corn gazpacho (with serrano chiles!) and the most fabulous 'Michigan' salad with sweet nectarines, salty mustard greens and creamy, smooth ricotta. 4. An equally matched beautiful interior. The folks of Lula Cafe has one-upped them hipselves at Nightwood. It's gorge! Especially love the open air kitchen with marble seat-and-eat bar... watch the chefs at work, or just wink at 'em as you pass by. Lots of eye candy among this staff! 5. Overall an extremely impressive experience that I can't wait to head back for. Nightwood... indeed, a night that gave me wood. What an apt moniker!
(5)
James C.
This restaurant provided me with one of the best meals I have had in Chicago. First, we started with fried oysters on a remoulade and crackers. The oysters had just enough crunch, which played well off the texture of the remoulade. We then had a dungeness crab salad and roasted carrots. It had a sharp flavor that worked well with the Burgundy. The next course was a ricotta ravioli and honey. I never thought these flavors would go well with a red wine, but the pairing was fantastic. The ravioli were cooked perfect. The next course was a sturgeon. Again, we paired it with a red wine that perfectly complimented the dish. The mushroom accompanying the sturgeon made the red wine appropriate. It added body to an otherwise light dish. The main course was a flank steak accompanied by an apple chutney. The textures in the dish were amazing, balancing hard and soft. The ranch on the side gave it the right sharpness to pair with our Syrah. The service was perfect, atmosphere perfect, food perfect. I will be back.
(5)
Tim S.
This will be quick but this place knocked my socks off. Drinks, meals, dessert that we ordered for dinner last night were wonderful. Our server was attentive but allowed us to enjoy our dining experience. And the manager even gave me and my friend change for the bus and travel directions (and the number for a cab), since cabs don't usually frequent that area. It was a bit of a jont from our downtown hotel, but well worth it. The nights prior we ate at the Publican and the night prior to that Spiaggia and Nightwood was both orders of magnitude less expensive and more tasty. My *only* slight amount of dissatisfaction with Nightwood was the cold breeze every time the door opened.
(5)
Jose V.
Came here for brunch with friends, due to a recommendation. As a start, had to order their famous bacon glazed donuts, they were good, but you will get over them fast! :-) As far as the meal, I went for their ciabatta, topped with eggs and sun-dried tomatoes and a side of arugula salad. The bread was warm, crispy and had nice oregano aroma to it, you could tell it was freshly baked! They could maybe have more choices in their menu, my recommendation is to unless you're totally allergic or really hate an ingredient, to stick to their menu and enjoy the dish as is, and you will have a great experience! They also take reservations on a Sunday, which is a plus, offer good service and have good, quality food! Totally worth a visit!
(4)
Merrill O.
Bacon Butterscotch donuts. Yum, right?? You would think after having that for a starter, brunch would go downhill from there, but surprisingly, Nightwood managed to top that with our entrees. The highlight of the meal was actually the soft-scrambled eggs, with spicy squash and sheep's milk feta cheese. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. They also did a nice rolled omelet with Bolognese sauce. The Bolognese sauce was quite good, except I thought it needed a bit more kick to it for the omelet to work well. I also loved the way they did the hashbrowns...served fried in balls like hushpuppies...quite fun! My only complaint about Nightwood is that fact that it's not conveniently accessible from my neighborhood...otherwise, I'm sure I'd be there quite often!! 4.5 stars!!
(4)
Rebecca D.
Excellent! Highlights were the golden frills salad, the pig ears, and the chicken. Fantastic service for our party of 11.
(5)
Jennifer L.
What a great restaurant! I sure miss living walking distance from here. Love the vibe when you walk in...the decor is a mix of rustic/natural with modern classic touches. The bathroom for example is SO cute, in my opinion... apart from the black toilet... can't get over that.. First off we were here with a large party of, so some of us came early and had a drink at the bar. I thought the drinks that I tasted were not spectacular.....in my opinion. We were kinda wondering where a party of 9 would sit because the dining room is pretty small... then they took us downstairs... What a cozy cool wine cellar-ish dining area in the basement! great for a big group! We started with some appetizers of pig ears (SOOoooo delicious!!) which were in a sweet/salty glaze and were awesomely crispy. I could eat these all day. We shared the sweetbreads and prawns were were also really tasty. For the main course I got the rabbit which was cooked perfectly with this great sausage ragu sauce.. soooo delicious!! Someone in my party got the burger... he was pretty dissapointed as they did not ask him how he wanted it cooked and he got it back medium well.....big no no i think For dessert the soft pretzel bread pudding was to die for with that hint of salt from the pretzel and great texture. It came with some of the best pistachio ice cream I have ever had. What a great meal and great atmosphere!
(4)
Allison E.
So as I sit here and catch up on my yelp reviews, I realize that I am a lot more yelp productive when I am dating and Nightwood just happened to be the starting point for a good one.....if ya know what I mean. Apparently amazing food, cocktails, and a long walk on the beach really is the perfect combination. Cliche? Maybe. OH! and it was summer too, which meant fireworks of off Navy Pier. This date is beginning to sound like a stupid Nicolas Sparks novel, ug. Back to Nightwood. My dinner was amazing. I had the duck. My date had the burger and you may be judging him for ordering a burger in a nice restaurant, but it was a damn good burger. He also had some sort of ginger cocktail that he remembered from a previous dining experience, but was no longer on the menu. The awesome folks at Nightwood happily made him one anyway. How cool is that! Lovely night, good food.
(4)
Chicago C.
We visited Nightwood for a delicious Sunday Brunch... and you should too! We walked in to the Pilsen farm-to-table restaurant for a late brunch and were shocked to find there wasn't a wait. We were immediately seated in the front room, which was beautifully lit from the sun shining in from large street-facing windows. Almost every table was full. The service was great; very friendly and happily recommended menu-favorites. What we ordered: --Traditional Bloody Mary-- This is a bloody mary we look forward to ordering again! It was a great way to start off the meal; it accurately reflects the feel of the restaurant: fresh, quality ingredients. The tomato juice in the drink tasted as if it had just been juiced. We especially loved that it was garnished with pickled brussel sprouts. Very unique and something we haven't seen in Chicago before! Amazing and one of our new favorites. --Rolled Omelet w Roasted Apples and Sunchokes, Smokey Blue Cheese, and Tarragon-- This omelet was light and packed with flavor. The egg was cooked perfectly, the blue cheese wasn't overpowering, and the roasted apples and sunchokes offered an unexpected twist to the dish. Wonderful omelet to try! --Bagel Sandwich Smoked Trout Cream Cheese, Slaw, Bacon, and Fried Egg Served Over Easy-- One of the (if not the...) best breakfast sandwiches in Chicago. Hands down. This sandwich blew us away. Each ingredient has a unique and vibrant flavor that it adds to the dish. It's important to get a little bit of everything into each bite. Served with amazing bite-sized crispy hashbrown balls that left us wanting more... This is a breakfast sandwich that will be on our minds for quite some time. --Coffe Custard Donut w Chocolate Glaze-- A truly delicious, decadent donut. The coffee custard filling oozed out with every bite... leaving us wanting more. In addition to Brunch, we strongly recommend visiting Nightwood for dinner! This was our second time dining at the Pilsen restaurant. On our first visit, we sat outside on their beautiful patio and enjoyed a delicious dinner, with many ingredients coming from the garden in the back of the restaurant.
(5)
Hyzel P.
I live within walking distance from Nightwood, which is great, as this has become a go-to dinner spot. Since their menu is always changing, it becomes difficult to recommended dishes. Who knows, in one month it may not even be there! Here are some must try items, if they ever pop back up on the list : 1. Sauteed carrots with sour scream and dill, on top of mackerel (I think it was mackerel) 2. Scallops with a creamy butter sauce 3. Garlic braised oyster mushrooms (DELISH) 4. Long noodle (Ask them not too make it too tangy, it tends to take over) 5. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake (perfect couple of salt and sweet) I LOVE savory dishes, so these HIT THE SPOT. They don't make you so full that you're falling over, but enough to talk about the dishes after. There is a lot of hype to this restaurant, yes, but I don't think you should come in with that mindset. Be open to the change in menu and try it out :) The staff is super friendly, and the bartender makes wonderful drinks. Before your meal is served, they place focaccia with a nice date sauce. I'm generally not for carbs, but this is one that I cannot picking at. For the summer, request sitting at the "patio". Who doesn't enjoy a nice breeze with good food?!
(4)
Lidia L.
We shall see how this restaurant plays out. So far, the person who I spoke with on the phone was a bit of a downer. I just called to make reservations for my anniversary dinner (ANNIVERSARY DINNER! shouldn't you be happier?)and the lady on the other line was not friendly at all. It sounded like all she wanted to do was hang up on me. She wasn't enthusiastic or nice. She sounded disinterested in having my patronage It didn't even sound like she wanted to take my reservation! So far this place is not on my best side. I'll let you know if I make it through dinner or if I'll have to walk out because of the service.
(2)
Kristine M.
I had a pretty nice experience at Nightwood. My friends and I came here during the winter and the atmosphere inside the restaurant is really warm, soothing, and very hipster . In addition, as you walk to the bathroom near the back of the restaurant you get a good view of the kitchen. I think I saw some people sitting at the bar so if you like seeing your food being made definitely sit at the kitchen bar. It was really cool how the food was locally sourced and the food was pretty decent. However, it did feel like the portions were really small for the amount of price you were paying. The free bread that the restaurants gives their customers before the entrees/appetizers.. IS AMAZING!!! My friends and I asked for more even after we finished eating our entree. Overall, it's a light atmosphere but formal enough. A great place for a first date!! *wink *wink
(4)
Katie V.
I have had two stellar meals here. The menu changes a lot, so whatever I rave about is probably gone by now....suffice it to say that the dishes are inventive and complex, if you will, but also delicious. Sometimes high-concept food gets lost in the concept, but every bite of every dish I've had here has been memorable. If there is an app with foie, get it. I've had two different ones and both were stellar. The prize-winning pork tastes as good as the name implies. The seafood entrees are also great -- I've had trout and scallops. Save room for dessert -- I had blueberry pancake ice cream there once and I still think about it. It's in a weird neighborhood, but well worth the schlep to Pilsen.
(5)
Ellen C.
Ok, so I'm writing a review because I was SOOO disappointed in this place. Before I begin, I will say I like the idea that they buy fresh ingredients so their menu changes according to what they can get....but: 1. The food was just ok. Not good, not great, and certainly not amazing. We got -the hanger steak (this was the best of the dishes. It was good.) -the veal (the "soup" had an interesting blend of spices, and the veal itself was a little bland) -the radish appetizer.....omg. WHAT WAS THAT? It was literally plain radish. -the soft shell crab appetizer (this was good, too. The sauce was a little thick and heavy) -OH. The biscuits and honey butter was AMAZING, however. Get full off those if you can! 2. The portions were TINY. Now I realize that a lot of snazzy restaurants love to leave you starving at the end of the meal....and this is no exception. I was mildly satisfied with my dish, but the guys with us (who got the steak) were not even close to full. 3. With that said, this place was WAY expensive. The steak was $26, the veal $24, the radish $6, and the crab $12. With everything that we ordered and split evenly, it was $38 a person!! (The total check was $235 O_o) To not be full...that's a lot to me. 4. THEY CHARGED US 20% TIP. We had a group of 6, which ok, most places automatically add tip. That's fine. But if you do, they need to tell you somewhere, and I never, ever, ever, ever have been charged TWENTY PERCENT. 5. And what pissed me off more? THEY DIDN'T GIVE US OUR CHANGE. What kind of business does that?! I realize it was only like $4....but after over-charging us, and then extra-charging us tip, they keep our change? SHADY. SO SHADY. 6. Decent parking in the area. 7. Service was good.
(1)
Hope K.
Initially we wanted to finally try out Lula Cafe, but they didn't take reservations. We were on a tight schedule due to catching the big Bear's game against New England, so we decided to try out it's sister restaurant since we were able to make a reservation on a short notice. This is how it all went down: Host - He was nice and friendly and made us feel welcome and offered to take our coats... I decided to keep my coat on for a bit because it was so cold out and I didn't feel warm even after being seated. We waited for a while before anyone attended to us. Someone finally brought us water and left. Obviously, he wasn't our server. We wondered who our server was... then a lady came over asking if we'd like to get started with something to drink. I actually asked her if she was our server... and she was. We asked to move to a warmer part of the restaurant, away from the main entrance where it was super cold due to the extremely cold weather outside. We were seated near the open kitchen in the back of the restaurant. I immediately felt warmer and I was able to take off my coat. Then we waited some more... I guess since we were moved to a different section of the restaurant, the lady server wasn't serving us any longer... FINALLY, our new server had come to our table. He asked us if we wanted something to drink. I told him that we wanted to have something to drink but we were also ready order. We started with the chestnut cream stuffed donut with chocolate glaze and marshmallow. It sounded better than it actually tasted. We split the donut in half, but unfortunately, my half of the donut barely had any filling. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of the chestnut flavor in the filling. The chocolate glaze was over powering and didn't seem like that special. It was warm and crispy but not worth $4. For our entrees, we ordered the spinach goat cheese quiche and the malted waffle with chicken wings. To my surprise, our entrees came out pretty fast. The quiche was really good and just perfect in flavor and texture but I would have liked it to be a bit warmer. The malted waffle was really crispy and so were the chicken wings. To my surprise, the salted caramel sauce went well with the chicken wings. Overall, the food was great! We would definitely come back for the food. Service was just ok, since we had to constantly track down our server to get the refill on the coffee and the ginger ale. I would have given it a 3.5 stars, if I could have. I would definitely recommend the restaurant for the food, but don't go there if you are in a rush!
(3)
Andy M.
I went to Nightwood with my girlfriend before heading out to the Pilsen art walk on Friday. It was the first time I'd been here and I had been wanting to try it ever since we moved to Pilsen. We had a table near the front of the restaurant, which was drafty and crammed in a little too tight. I understand that a lot of popular upscale restaurants with younger clientele tend to do this (like Avec), but if I'm going to make reservations, then I'd appreciate at least a little bit of space. That aside, the wine list was good (but I don't know much about wine, so that doesn't matter to me much) and the service was good as well. Our waitress was attentive, but not overbearing. I appreciated that. My main complaint is that my entree, which was essentially a french onion soup with lamb, just wasn't very good. Some of the lamb was burned to the point of being inedible, which was extremely disappointing, especially since it was one of the more expensive dishes at $27. Our dessert was excellent, but it didn't save this place for me. I don't think I'd ever suggest going here again.
(3)
Shalin D.
Best place for a man date! A friend and I were looking for some serious food after Second Friday in Pilsen. We love Lula Cafe so we decided we'd go to its sister restaurant in the neighborhood: Nightwood. It did not disappoint! Ambience: You can't help but notice the various seating options. Private tables. Outdoor seating on an enclosed patio. A bar overlooking the action in the kitchen. A private dining room. And a full bar. All of those options exist at Nightwood. As such, it's perfect for a multitude of occasions. It's perfect for a man date but also romantic dates. I've also been here for a birthday party and it worked well for large groups. Just beware: if you come without reservations, you will wait a while before you're seated. Food: Farm fresh ingredients. A constantly changing menu. And an unparalleled dedication to excellent food preparation. It's all there. I'm not surprised since Lula Cafe functions in pretty much the same way. The only difference is that the portions at Nightwood are much larger. We ordered sweetbreads as an appetizer. Succulent and tasty! I ordered a pork chop (huge and juicy) and my friend ordered the modified BLT (huge and tasty). Since I'm a glutton, I finished my chop. But, my friend had a hard time getting the last bite of his BLT in his mouth. But, we savored each bite. After a 20 minute hiatus, I ordered tea and the house cookies. I'm glad I decided to go all the way. The cookies were chewy and delicious on the inside. Between the two of us, we managed to polish them off. The best part? On a man date you can both sit in the car on the ride home and unbuckle your belt... without judgment. That's a testament to how much we loved Nightwood. (N.B. The only reason this place does not get five stars is the fact that my reservation on another occasion was botched. But, that's a minor point compared to how great the food here is.)
(4)
caroline k.
My first time in the Pilsen area, and a surprisingly good find. Group of 4 of us went on a Saturday evening to a busy house on a cold night. Lengthy 'hand-written' menu includes a variety of new-American and Italian style appetizers, pastas, and entrees from primarly local providers. Here's what we had: - escarole and chopped vegetable salad in buttermilk dressing: a bit too creamy, mediocre - burrata crostini with spiced honey and pears: surprisingly rich and sweet, could have used a touch of salt to balance the honey - sweet potato ravioli: 3 square raviolis for $12, what gives? - whitefish poached in bacon broth: I am always hesitant of fish in liquid, but the bacon really made this dish - beef stew in farro: more like a thick chilli bow, not exactly what I had expected - wood-grilled cheeseburger: Pretty good, with a good dab of dijon to add a kick Good date spot, will definitely be back.
(4)
Allie J.
Great food. Great ambiance. Good service. I'm looking forward to our next trip back.
(4)
Tia S.
I went to Nightwood for brunch with friends after hearing about it for months. We made reservations, and when we arrived there we let the hostess know we were there. She said it would be a few minutes. So we waited outside (there was really no other place to wait), and waited... and waited... Had she forgotten about us? We had no clue, so we went back in and the woman said "Oh! Your table is ready!" as if we were supposed to guess that. Uh, okay. So we sit down, and one of my friends tries to order chai tea. They're out of almost all of their teas, and chai tea isn't on the menu. However, a chai latte is on the menu. So my friend asks if they have chai tea - he specifies TEA, not a latte - our waitress thinks about it for a moment and tells us she can make something like that. Great. A few minutes later she comes out with a cup full of warm chai concentrate and water. Um, what?! That is NOT chai tea. There are also no free refills on this weird chai concoction, which is problematic for my friend who drinks five cups of tea with most meals. So my friend lets the waitress know that he asked for chai tea, and that's not what he received. The waitress looks at us for a minute as if my friend had made a mistake in ordering his drink and was now inconveniencing her with trivialities. Yeah no. That's not how that works. After a few seconds of looking like she's trying to hide the fact that she hates us, the waitress takes the drink back to the kitchen. Not off to a good start. We ordered the doughnuts as an appetizer, which were absolutely delicious (the strawberry/custard ones). Our meals came a little while later, and the food was alright. Good, even, if a little boring. Maybe that's my fault for not ordering some weird meat I've never heard of. Oh well, I can settle for good food. At least the hash brown balls were awesome (yes, they come in little fried balls). So we get our check and head out. Definitely a bit pricey for such small portions, but it's local/free-range/organic/award winning... I get it. Overall, not a terrible experience, but I was expecting more. Nightwood does have great decor though, I'll give them that. I do plan on going back for dinner sometime, and maybe then I'll be able to give them a better review.
(3)
Amy D.
I'm glad this gets to be my 200th review. I heart you Nightwood. I have been there four time now and I loved each time, I do have to say though, some more than others. The menu changes daily which is a good and bad thing, b/c I love the Banh mi but it's not there anymore! :( But you def. get variety. I take my clients out there for celebatory dinners (I'm a Realtor) and they're always really impressed with this hidden gem. Drinks are great, but a tad expensive. Food price range is pretty good, sometimes can get pricey but no different than similar restaurants, and the decor is amazing. Great service! I'm really happy a great restaurant came to the area!
(5)
Susan H.
We finally had the opportunity (read: free babysitter) to go to Nightwood. When we arrived, they asked if we would like to be seated back at the kitchen counter, where it was cooler and we could watch the action. Since we're food geeks, we gladly accepted, and loved the chance to talk to Chef Jason and his excellent staff. Cocktails were great and the food exceeded our expectations. As we were asking questions and wondering if we should have ordered the crispy pig ear, the chef handed us a serving on the house. As a near-vegetarian, I have never gobbled down unusual pig parts with such abandon. Outstanding food, and great people. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Lali j.
I finally found a place that is worthy of saying, " I think I died and went to heaven"! I went here with 6 other ladies, and we decided to really go to town on the menu. This was over a month ago, while on my yearly Chicago vacation, so I'm sure the menu is completely retooled by now. However... Jesus Christ almighty the Trout BLT on Brioche bread with a Fried egg (everything is better with a fried egg) rocked my F'ing world. I'm sure that someone sold their soul to the devil to achieve the level of scrumdiddlyumptious achieved in the lamb pate with with fried got cheese appetizer. The burger: BEST EVER. Ditto on the fries. I dream of the day when a restaurant with this type of atmosphere and generously loving expressions for all things fine and delicious grace the desert that I call home.
(5)
Rachel H.
I love getting invited to a party where everyone lives on the South side. It makes the chances of the location being in my 'hood that much better. We started out with some cocktails on the patio, and I would love nothing more than to spend an evening out there just chatting and sipping berry mojitos. I'm glad it wasn't oppressively hot and we were able to enjoy the evening. Our large party was seated downstairs which felt like a very stylish cave and we lovely ladies pretended that our long wooden table was the setting for a medieval feast. We definitely had a feast. I was pleased with all the wines we tried (and there was a lot of wine) as well as the previously mentioned berry mojito, but let's get down to brass tacks... though I didn't order an appetizer, I snuck a bite of the bread pudding with ham, and wished I'd ordered five of them. The lightly dressed salad I stole from someone else was also very good, if a bit too simple. I ordered the cheeseburger which tasted like a cow had wandered into a forest fire. I mean this in the best of ways. The meat was very distinct in its wood grilled flavor. I also loved that the waitress assumed I wanted medium rare. Of course I did. Sadly the pickle wasn't my favorite, but nobody's perfect, I suppose. Other people ordered the trout which they loved, the risotto, and the trout BLT which intrigued me. They were able to accommodate our vegan pal and made her a special pasta which looked tasty. I finished up the meal with a scoop of lemon balm sorbet which was refreshing and hit the bottomless spot of my current lemon cravings. I swear, what is wrong with me? I would lick a lemon right now. I will be back to Nightwood (or Morning Wood as a friend's companion calls it) as soon as I have some more $$$. It's definitely on my list for special occasion spots, especially for larger groups.
(4)
Melissa P.
I love this place. I went here for my birthday this year and had a great experience. The two big highlights were the burrata appetizer and the duck confit I got. Both were amazing. Although, neither were as good as the trout I had here when I had dinner with a friend after it first opened. The only downside was that our waiter recommended a less than amazing wine to us. Still, I'll be back here I'm sure. I can't wait to try it after a visit to Skylark one of these days.
(5)
Molly F.
After all these years, my brain has finally decided to connect the atrocious factory farming system with my palette and consciousness when consuming meat. Hence, the search for a restaurant that buys direct from farmers--Nightwood fit the bill. From accommodating us at the bar when we arrived too early to be seated and then all the way through dinner, Nightwood was on the ball. First off, they offered me a water choice--sparkling vs. still--which always makes me giggle and sparks an internal monologue of "Haha, they don't know I'm not this classy!" But, it set the right tone and it subconsciously set my mind to consider this restaurant seriously. Also, they didn't futz with ice in water glasses--again, a deliberate choice that sets a tone. The food was excellent (smelt appetizer, asparagus with goat cheese appetizer, and hand-ground, farm raised burgers), the buzz in the restaurant was comfy, the service was top notch, and the bartender gave us a great wine recommendation. My dinner compadre and I were on a burger hunt, and we were way satisfied with this place, but I will be more adventurous upon my return--their menu was stacked with seasonal greatness! Not until the end of my dining experience did I realize the OPEN FRAKKING KITCHEN in the back! I can't wait to go back so I can watch my food being cooked! Any establishment that allows the restaurant experience to be demystified is a-ok by me. Nightwood, I'll be back, and I'll be bringing more people with me next time.
(4)
Carine M.
Love Nightwood. Farm totable seasonal delicious food with great drinks. Um, what more could I want? I went once for the May edition of supper club, and again last night. Last might we sat at the bar, had great food (all recos from our awesome bartender Joe-who also pretty much made our night because of his hilarity in discussing Inception, the movie we had just come from). We had the smelts, sam's summer salad, stinging nettles risotto, rigatoni with line caught albacore, and the whole trout. They sent out an order of green beans with house cured bacon that my husband thought was amazing, but I'm off meat now:(
(5)
Chuck M.
Stumbled upon this, going to breakfast in Pilsen and Hashbrowns was overpacked. Delicious cuisine, but not a cheap place to go and the brunch menu is a bit limited. But everything was gourmet level. I will return to try dinner there because the dinner menu looks fantastic. The atmosphere is a genteel nouveau rustic, and very pleasant. Street parking was actually fairly easy. Find by the address--I don't think they even have a sign with their name on it.
(4)
Linda B.
Very fresh and flavorful, cool interior, great patio, and attentive service. But the problem at Nightwood is an erroneous assumption that sophisticated and fresh = tiny portions. My corn custard tasted very good, but it was exactly 1 inch by 1 inch, came with five chard leaves and two (2) polenta croutons. It was kind of funny watching people's faces when their entrees showed up--so minimal for the price. And one teeny tiny biscuit per person? Please. Bring more or make them just a bit larger. I suppose Nightwood is worth checking out if you're having a $$$ evening, but I suggest ordering fish or meat and an appetizer.
(2)
Krishna A.
I came here on a Tuesday night with 3 friends and I was pleasantly surprised to see it pretty packed - a good sign of things to come. Ambiance/decor: A wonderfully located recessed bar is the center of the room. The huge windows on the facade of the restaurant really open up the space. The juxtaposition of traditional woodworking and the interesting light fixtures gives off a cool mix of rustic and nouveau. There is an outdoor seating area with a gas firepit which is probably really cool in the summer. Drinks: An amazing wine list. My buddy and his wife picked up a 2009 Enamore - a Malbec blend from Renacer. A great choice! I of course had to peruse the beer list, which was quite extensive, and had a surprising selection of quality microbrews. Food: The menu changes every day, and all the ingredients are from local farms. We ordered the ramps with ricotta cheese and mint, and smelts with aioli for appetizers. Oh ramp - where have you been all my life? It's as if spinach and garlic had a delicious love-child. The ricotta cheese was the highlight of the dish - perfectly paired with mint, we licked the plate clean. The smelts were kind of on the fishy side, and we were not all that impressed. For entrees, we split the roasted half-chicken, the Wisconsin trout and the duck leg (all 3 of which are on the menu every day). We also had the vermicelli with clams. I'm so glad chicken is making it's way back to menus since it was my favorite dish. It was so tender - I'd put it somewhere between a baby's bottom and an earlobe. It was served with soft cornbread cubes and dates which were really great when you ate everything together. The trout was delic as well - served with black beans, charred tomato and cilantro. It had a very smokey taste (which went great with our wine). I am not a huge fan of duck leg, but my 3 comrades really enjoyed it. It is served with asparagus and roasted fennel, both of which carry strong flavors and add to the boldness of the duck. The vermicelli was OK - nothing to write home to yelp about. For dessert we had the 3 warm cookies which paired awesomely with the gelatto (mint, dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla). The bourbon vanilla was insane - I highly recommend it. All in all, a great place. Great service - the staff really understands the menu every day and make great recommendations. Absolutely no pretension. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Lindsay D.
Without feeling the need to write a novel-- ahem-- Nightwood was fabulous! Sitting at the kitchen counter, I got to watch the cooks at work. While I find this interesting, everyone else should appreciate that as my group peered over the counter and looked intrigued, the cooks were even more enthusiastic about their work and their product. Love that! While not everything was perfect, each dish was executed with care and excitement. No need to tell you what we ate, because it will change. Just know that you will eat seasonally, locally, and deliciously (shoot, not a word, but totally accurate). And the servers want you to be happy, and worked hard to make sure that we were. Quality for the Cost: 9 Service: 9
(5)
Mark L.
Amazing Brunch and great people watching !! nightwoodrestaurant.com/…
(5)
A S.
HUGE disappointment. This place was not good at all. The food was average at best and it was way expensive for what it was. Ugh. I wouldnt even go back to give it another try. .
(1)
Scott M.
Wow. The restaurant owners were kind enough to treat area businesses and ourselves (we run South Halsted Gallery down the street and to the North) to a decadent dinner on the house prior to opening. Please don't count my review tainted as such... I feel incredibly lucky to welcome such a quality restaurant (and owner/chef with a vision) in what I might be biased on as a gem of an artistic community, for a long time now. Now on to the review... the wait staff was ridiculously attentive but not to the point of annoying. Homemade sparkling water was served (I normally drink Lake Michigan's finest) was off the charts refreshing and clean. I have to say what really shines through with every dish albeit appetizer or main course is the ingredients. I had a spinach salad with morels, potatoes, hard-cooked egg, Parmesan and aged balsamic. I cannot recall ever tasting spinach like this... that normal chalky-like texture and taste was nowhere to be found. Fresh and crunchy with no odd aftertaste. My wife had deep fried Mississippi prawns with dill butter... not off the charts great but still very tasty and perfectly cooked. For the main course, I had wood grilled trout with lentils, hamhock and pea tendrils. Wow. The trout tasted like someone just pulled it out of a lake (a clean one that is). Super fresh. A bit rare for my taste but nonetheless I have to respect the fresh quality of fish served up. My wife had handcut parsley noodles with braised short ribs and cream. It was super rich and tasted homemade to the core. The only tweak I would make, but honestly hard to say after just one visit and likely the first time doors were open to the dining public, is the dishes are prepared almost too delicately. The food is seasoned in such a way to keep the freshness of the ingredients pure but I could see getting a bit more bold with the preparation or seasoning. Besides that, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND and plan on recommending to anyone who comes out for Second Fridays or otherwise.
(4)
Lissette M.
Just had brunch there today, and prior to that i had dinner, i have to say this place is great, good food great presentation, superb customer service. They do have great vegetarian meals but i recommend going in early, they do run out of some ingredients towards the end of the night.
(4)
Grace S.
My husband and I ate dinner at Nightwood last Tuesday night. We sat on the patio and enjoyed a bottle of reasonably priced wine. We enjoyed the complementary bread and nice outdoor seating. For our appetizers we had the spring salad with raw ramps and raw asparagus. It was tasty, but intense. Definitely healthy, but not comfort food. We also tried the cold asparagus soup, which was simple and had a nice pickled asparagus. For entrees, we ate the two fishes of the day--whole trout and fried whitefish. The whitefish was much better than the trout, but both were fresh and flavorful. Dessert was 2 different kinds of gelatos (dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla) plus rhubarb sorbet. Very good on a hot night! Our server was attentive and courteous. We have no complaints about the restaurant and would go back for more healthy, delicious local seasonal food. We only wish it was open for lunch.
(5)
Kristen F.
Had dinner there on a Saturday night. Got there around 7 and there was only a 20 minute wait. There was no one on the patio, which makes me wonder if it is in use yet. The first thing I noticed is that this place is really beautiful, and everyone there was way way way more dressy than they are at Lula. The menu changes almost every day, so the menu they had on Time Out Chicago was already changed, but there seemed to be some regulars such as the hamburger, the chicken pate, and the half chicken. First - they have an amazing wine selection and I am so excited to have a place down the street from me with so much wine! Too bad I am moving soon. My best friend and I got the cured trout belly and the deep fried asparagus appetizer to start. The cured trout belly was overly salted and the pasta was undercooked. For 11 dollars it was NOT worth it. The deep fried asparagus was AMAZING. I mean.. I would eat that every single damn day. Blue cheese was rolled up inside of the asparagus and then it is deep fried. The flavors were perfect together. We then got the Lamb with white cornmeal and the pork belly with roasted potatoes. Everything was amazing. It was all seasoned perfectly and presented beautifully. The flavors were so delicate and soft. My mouth was in heaven. For desert we got the Rhubarb crisp for two with a homemade ice cream, I think, either way that was fantastic. Of course, all the people who work here are part time models. The servers wear dresses or jackets and all look like they just walked off the pages of some low end society magazine. I got over that really quick though, once the food hit my mouth. Except for that trout belly and the undercooked pasta. This place is pretty sweet. Oh and our Bill? 111.00. Just keep THAT in mind also.
(4)
Francesca L.
What a gem in Pilsen! Nightwood has fresh and delicious food. The decor is warm and romantic yet casual. We started off with the smelt and they were very tasty. I had the whitefish with fresh vegetables as my entree. The fish was cooked perfectly, a little salty, but the white wine helped wash it down. The vegtables were amazing ... a mix of all fresh and different veggies. You will not be disappointed if you like to try new things. The menu is great because it changes daily and contains information as to where the produce and meat are purchased... what a plus! This was my first time dining at Nightwood and I was with a large group. I agree with others that commented about the service when sitting in a large group. We were at a long table in the basement level ... no problem! However, the service seemed somewhat slow ... not horrible. Can't wait to go back with my husband!
(4)
Andrew S.
Just like its older sister Lula this place does not disappoint. Love the Lu but want sleeker decor? Try Nightwood. I feel here is urban and polished, the menu changes seasonally and pulls from local farms and seasonal produce. You can get the very basic and lovely burger or branch out to small plates and unique entrees. To me, perhaps the dishes are a bit more pared down than Lula. Sorry to keep comparing but the similarities are undeniable. One of the two best restaurants in the city, in my opinion.
(5)
The Host W.
$$$ is right; this place is expensive. I wouldn't care if I was rich but I'm not. Appetizers, my girlfriend and I went for the pig ears and veal sweetbreads. I don't think I've ever had veal or sweetbreads of any kind but we were feeling adventurous. Pig ears, nice but cold and very thin strips, nothing like we thought and just very average in general. It would have tasted better without the sweetness. I was a little hesitant to try the sweetbreads but they were actually very good. Eating them felt incredibly decadent but whatever, this was only one night. Entrees, she got a rabbit leg meal and I got the cheeseburger with fries. I know getting a cheeseburger at a restaurant like this is stupid and I completely agree but my logic was that if I ordered something cheaper, then we could get another appetizer (veal sweetbreads). Rabbit leg, very nice and it didn't have a gamey taste at all. Cheeseburger, you could get a better burger for cheaper at a place like Five Guy's. I wish I had ordered something else. I give a two star rating because even with the fancy food and atmosphere, I still thought the prices were too high. If money wasn't a concern for me (or if we split the bill but this was a special night), then this place would be three or higher. In the end though, my girlfriend was happy and that made me happy. Is that cheesy? Shut up!
(2)
Jean C.
We decided to drive to Nightwood around 5pm on a Saturday. During the Puerto Rican Parade. After an hour and fifteen minutes later, we finally arrived. While in the car, we were all grumbling that the food better be worth the headache of just getting there. The entrance is some what hidden. The beautiful patio is to the left and then the entrance is a side door. This was evident to the numerous people we saw walk by the entrance and go around the building while we sat at our corner window table. But, I digress. That is not going to be the focal point of this review. The food. We were not disappointed. Our dinner party consisted of my parents, husband and myself and when we get together, we eat well. We started out with appetizers: chicken livers, beet salad, and two walleye on a bed of greens. My chicken livers were perfect. I love the irony creamy taste and everyone agreed. I normally don't like to share my meal with people. I admit it, I'm selfish. I like to eat MY ordered meal. But, it was too good to not share! Dinner was as follows: whole Wisconsin trout with bacon, wood grilled cheeseburger, and two orders of duck. The food was divine. I ordered the trout which was a touch too salty for my taste, but the English peas and bacon added a nice balance of flavors. Everyone enjoyed their meals as evident to the cleaned plates. The ambiance, the service and the food made Nightwood a great experience for us all. The open kitchen has a bar along one side so you may sit and watch the food being prepared. I would love to sit there and watch the magic happen. The brunch menu looks equally tasty as the dinner menu. This is a place to have an intimate dinner or a small dinner party. It is top notch and you won't leave disappointed.
(4)
Vivian Y.
Our server Alex probably saved our experience at this restaurant. Our waitress barely acknowledged our existence and by the time our entrees were served, we were 1 hour 15 mins into waiting. Our waitress was busy doing something else up front including checking on her faux hawk. The restaurant is very nice - unique decor including a light fixture inside a giant birdcage above the stair case. Be forewarned that this is a very noisy restaurant. There is really cool bar seating at the back overlooking the kitchen which looks like it could be a very fun experience! None of the food blew me away except maybe the polenta dish served with pancetta. The combination of flavors were unique and exciting. The sopresatta and mozzeralla cheese was good and simple. We shared two bottles of low priced wine, two appetizers, 4 entrees, two desserts and two scotches for the gentlemen. For Pilsen (and I'm a Pilsen resident), I thought the place was a little overpriced. They could withstand a 20% price reduction! Everything else was ok but I walked out hungry and $60 poorer. I had the grilled trout served whole. While it did have a nice smokey flavor, it lacked any basic seasonings. I did like that it was boneless yet entact. My friend Chris ordered the pork loin and we both agreed that the texture of the pork was really strange. It was almost rubbery and the flavors from the rub had not penetrated the meat at all leaving the dish rather unsatisfying. Michelle had the pate and corned beef sandwich which really was quite delicious if you love pate. Warning: you have to LOVE pate to enjoy this. I mean, love it enough to be rolling around in it because it is so strong in flavor and so rich from the fat and the buttered exterior of the sandwich! Bonus points for being unique. James ordered the half chicken which was probably the star of the night in terms of entrees. The portion was very very generous and the chicken was pull-off-the-bone tender. Dessert: save room for the almond tart. I'm a caramel lover and this was SOOOO good. The pana cotta was good too but I was seeking something a little sweeter. Again, service - we were not impressed. it took us a total of 2.5 hours to finish our dinner. Luckily we weren't in a rush to go anywhere. I will come back again because i want to see Pilsen emerge into a diversified community and hopefully my next experience will be better!
(3)
Cindy D.
Just had dinner with my sister and I love this place. It's very very trendy and hip! The food was interesting flavors. 1. Got a french wine, forgot the name but it was $25. Not great, but the waitress placed in a decanter and got better overtime. 2. Veal bologense - YUMMY! Just got a half order, it seemed small at first, but it was plenty since it's so rich. very very good 3. Trout - It was def. different. Initially very smokey, but got over it with diminishing returns. Don't think i would get again 4. Choc cake with toffee gelato - great!!! fluffy and gelato was delish Overall dinner was $80 total, so pretty good deal for higher end food. Also, menu changes, so everything I'm reviewing will probably not be there for you! Sorry!
(4)
Bess R.
Stopped by for a late dinner (10ish) and drinks on a Friday night, and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. We sat inside, but the outside tables looked pretty nice and intimate. Started with a few drinks at the bar - great selection of wine, beer and interesting cocktails. For food, we started with an appetizer of goat cheese on croutons with a sardine vinaigrette and a side of greens. Really interesting taste - we liked it! I had one of the pasta dishes for my entree, and it was outstanding. They make all the pasta in-house, and I would definitely recommend it. Friends had the burger and the polenta. They both enjoyed their dishes. All veggies were SO fresh and delicious. Cool spot, nice ambiance, good service and interesting food. I'll be back.
(4)
Frances C.
Ok, so I'm from Logan Square. I'm a huge, huge fan of Lula. It's walking distance from where I live and I've been in Logan Square for 6 years now. I hate leaving the neighborhood but considered going to Nightwood because it's the owners of my beloved Lula. I was not disappointed. They went above and beyond the restoration of the space. It's interior is simply beautiful - wood, exposed brick, leather chairs (all in clean modern lines of course), and yet, totally family friendly and amazing service by the staff. The owner recognized me and my family and thanked us for coming all the way down from Logan Square! How awesome is that?! The food - one word: exquisite. We started with a butterscotch bacon donut. Melt in your mouth and the candied bacon... well, I'm big smoked pork fan... so... My husband had the poutine with duck confit, Brunkow cheese curds and whatever they did to those fries, despite the gravy and cheese held their crispness throughout the meal! I had chicken and waffles. Tender, tender chicken and the waffles were light as air. It was topped with sweet figs and a creme anglaise. It was a foodgasm. My little girl had a blast looking around and making googly eyes at the other baby a table over. The space is big enough that you have several places to sit -front, back, bar, and kitchen bar where you can watch the chefs in action while a whole wall of wines in beautiful wine holders call to you! (Yes, even in the morning.) I'm so glad this restaurant is in Pilsen. Yes, it's a way to go for a great meal, but it's right off the highway and the neighborhood is definitely buzzing with activity. It's worth the trip! I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)
Noopur L.
I've had brunch here twice and one thing was consistent both times .... the doughnuts. Yum yum yum!!! I always make sure to work out the morning of so that I can splurge on the decadent chocolate goodness. I've never had fried chicken and waffles before and decided to try them out and I was wonderfully surprised! The stone fruit compote adds a great touch and evens out the flavors of the dish. The $6 eggs any style is a STEAL and with the hashbrowns/toast consists of plenty of food for one person. Nightwood has a great setting and I love any restaurant that doesn't have a TV. I wish I had a car so I can drive here more often. Two thumbs up!
(5)
Brady H.
Tremendously good, just in a very sketchy looking part of town. Warm cozy room, friendly wait staff - perhaps a bit too informal, but competent enough. Food was perfectly prepared - I was impressed that my trout had been deboned so cleanly. We tried three starters, four entrees, and three desserts (including 3 gelatos and 1 sorbet). The menu changes daily so this might not help anyone, but the marinated mozerella was delicious, the pate was good but overpowered by the potato chips (so ask for some bread), and the lobster risotto was not so lobsertry and even if the lobster reference was for the mushrooms it still wasn't that lobstery. For the entrees - two people tried the duck dish - really delicious. My friend raved about the roasted chicken and my trout with almonds was perfectly executed. The desserts were also good - soul satisfying bread pudding, chocolatly ganache tart, and four scoops with caramel being the best. Thumbs up except for the location! No gimmicks, just well executed American comfort dishes.
(5)
Anna P.
I wish the star-rating system on yelp didn't exist, or, at least a more comphrehensive one did--because I would give this place 5 stars for service, 3 stars for food, 4 stars for ambiance, and 2 stars for the politics of the situation. That equals about a 3.5, so I'll give them the benefit of my doubt with a 4. Remarkably, the host staff, bar staff and serving staff were all extremely friendly and approachable. At a fashionable place such as this, one could expect much less genuine kindness than was delivered. On the service alone, I would return. We started with the green garlic soup and a simple salad of mixed local lettuces. The soup was a good size, extremely creamy, a little tangy, super garlicky. MMM. The salad was, alas, just a salad. I got the "porcini & mozarella panino" with olives and some other stuff. Rich and extremely buttery. I love olives so this was the right choice for me. The heavy sandwich was relieved by a side salad of mixed greens; it was quite like my appetizer, so I wish someone had told me the mains were served with salad. But whatevs. Like Lula, any bread that might find its way into your dish is going to be DELICIOUS BREAD! The only disappointment was my dining companion's tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta. (SHUDDER! I hate nettles. Why must nettles, and not, say, pomegranates, be native to this clime?) But the nettles weren't the problem; it was the size of this little tart. It was about 3, optimistically 4 inches across. TINY!!!! Who do they think they are, serving us silver dollars worth of food, and calling it dinner? But i'm over it. The crust was delicious on this little tart--fresh and buttery, flaky but not crumbly...The same goes for the strawberry tart I enjoyed for dessert. For now, there is not a fancy cocktails list, though I saw well dressed young ladies around me sipping rhubarb-colored concoctions. I had 2 glasses of wine--the latter, which was recommended to me by my charming and humble server, was a Californian pinot noir (I think it was called Laetitia). I normally am not one to rave over such light bodied wines, but wow! It was super. And super fruity. I had previously thought that Simone's was really the straw that broke the camel's back for gentrification in Pilsen. But I spoke too soon--Nightwood added an extra load on the broken back of the previously mentioned camel. But as it is so far east, I see the future of the area morphing from "east Pilsen" to "East Pilsen," meaning, the southernly environs of Halsted are truly becoming a different neighborhood than the more westernly, Latino areas of Pilsen. This is both good and bad, as it lets the fashion folk have their lofts and eat their nightwood too, while the western parts of the area can maintain their cultural identity. For now.
(4)
Mollie O.
I went to Nightwood on a cold winter night and had a fantastic winter dinner. We started with the chicken liver pate and goat cheese, beet and avocado salad. The goat cheese salad while terrific was really more of a beet salad, and I felt lucky because I liked beets while my dining companion wasn't too thrilled. As for the entrees, we had the trout and the gnocci with sausage. Both were excellent. The trout was served on the bone with cabbage, slaw and roasted potato. The gnocci was pillowy and made by hand while the sausage made the dish spicy but not spicy. For dessert try the bread pudding. I haven't been here for brunch, but, I can tell you tasting the bread pudding makes me think the french toast and/or pancakes at Nightwood must be by default, delicious.
(4)
Taylor E.
The location is a little bit out of the way - indeed, upon making the trip up here from Hyde Park my friends and didn't quite figure out the most efficient way to get here on the CTA and as a result ended up crossing through some fairly scary parts of town at night on foot, although the area around the restaurant itself is totally fine. The food, however, is totally worth it - FRESH, interesting, and delicious. The menu seems to vary, but I had the caramelized carrot salad w/ garlic aioli and pate and nut-stuffed pasta that no longer seems to be on the menu but was very flavorful. Friends had the smelts appetizer with lemon and crème fraîche, whole-roasted wisconsin trout, a lamb with a cranberry reduction dish, and a fried hominy/goat cheese dish - all delicious. Dessert was equally good - we all shared a coffee fudge cake, a sweet ricotta with dried berries, and, in what was surprisingly the highlight a brown sugar cake, wonderful in its homey simplicity. The atmosphere is wonderful - definitely suitable for a date or a nice family celebration but not stuffy in the slightest - and their wine/liquor selection is absolutely fantastic.
(5)
Mike E.
Food is good, but not worth the price. For the amount of money spent I would expect a little larger portions and a couple more selections on the menu.
(2)
Daniel P.
Best. Brunch. Ever. Go for the Butterscotch Bacon Donut, stay for the Chicken and Waffles.
(4)
Bottomless B.
- food: creative and delicious - atmosphere: vintage, hipster - staff: friendly / accommodating - price: as expected for the quality additional info: - order the glazed carrots
(4)
Jodi W.
I think I would dine here often if I lived close. We got one of the best seats in the house - near the windows, tucked in the corner. Had champagne to kick it off right, then just enjoyed dish after lovely sustainably organic farm-to-table dish of deliciously and perfected cooked/roasted/smoked foods. Service was very good. Our server had many tables, and she floated quickly and efficiently to each one of them. One of our dishes came out a little slow (we didn't really notice), and she promptly took it off the bill, apologized and brought me a comp'ed glass of wine (totally unnecessary but nice). Our taxi driver got lost - no idea where we were headed, so bring your iphone with you if you don't know the area. Also, make sure the hostess calls a cab when you are done - not much going on down in this part of town (yet, but it's coming...)
(5)
Nicole M.
Our bosses took us there for our employee dinner.. i think there was like 15 or so of us.. cocktails- Amazing! wine- Amazing! food--we ordered pretty much everything and it was all delicious service-outstanding overall- had a great night, everyone agreed!!!
(5)
Daniel S.
I've been to paradise, but have I ever really been to me? Okay, so that quote has nothing to do with this review. Nightwood rocked my world just as elder sibling Lula did. What I enjoy about this place- and Lula too- is the attention to detail. Detail that foodies are sure to find reassuring. The seasonal menu is comprised of many local offerings, and they pair very well with the wine offerings. The preparation is exact without being fastidious or over bearing. The same with the service and the surrounding. It is enjoyable and slick without being pretentious. And like Lula they employ some tres sexy cooks. I dined here last week with two friends and we made our own sampling menu. Starting with two salads- one of which was poblano peppers and bacon, another starter of duck confit raviolis and rabbit entre. All were carefully executed and presented. The server too was more than willing to make thoughtful suggestions on the menu and wine pairings. In short I cannot wait to return!
(4)
Chris S.
Warm, homemade butterscotch-bacon doughnuts. Bacon is on everything these days, but I finally found where it truly belongs - on my doughnut. Holy cow. I was in for brunch on Mothers Day and cannot wait for a reason to go back. Do I really need a reason? Everything was too good, from the trio of doughnuts, to the eggs benedict; from the whole trout to the bloody marys, and lest I forget the service, it certainly gets the "too good" label as well. The food is locally sourced so the menu changes regularly, but every time I have looked at it online I have been left trying to decide what looks best between about 5 different items. It's all so good. The space changes as you walk through the restaurant. The front by the bar is light and open, and as you move to the back it gets more cozy and intimate, and they have an outdoor area which looked like it would make for a fun evening lingering over dinner and drinks. Oh look - I think I found my reason to go back!
(4)
Ria C.
Bustling and trendy on a cool Sunday afternoon. The service was attentive and the clientelle was top notch. We started off with a cinnamon roll and were offered 2 complimentary donuts-cinnamon holes and a caramel donut topped with caramalized bacon-yes BACON! This is seriously one of the best sweets I have ever tried-umami explosion in my mouth for sure. All of this was brought to us because we waited more than 10 minutes for our food, which was not long at all considering the crowd. I opted for the fried chicken and waffles-the chicken was crispy and juicy inside and the spices were just right. The lemon cream complimented both the chicken and the waffles quite well; however, my compaints would be that the portion size lacked (4 small chicken wings, no drummies) and the waffles were already sweetened and a bit too sugary. I was on a fried chicken hunt, and should have gone to Stanleys for complete Satisfaction. The bubs daringly chose the special of the day: Sardines topped with bacon and 2 fried eggs. For a man who used to hate sardines (changed his mind after our trip to southeast asia and hong kong as dried fish is a staple in every breakfast) he gulped his meal like a cool cat-meow.... I had a bite of my friend Emily's scalloped potatoes and wow that was tasty. I would return for dinner.
(4)
A F.
I am not pleased to say that I (we) had a very unpleasant first experience at Nightwood last night. I was so looking forward to Nightwood and therein lies some of the depth of my disappointment. The six of us arrived to find a very attractive dining room and bar with exposed brick and nicely spaced tables. Everyone appeared content in their conversation, food and drink. I felt warmly welcomed by an inviting atmosphere. But oh no, this was not to be our ambiance...we were escorted to our table in the basement cellar, a windowless dungeon with exposed brick bouncing the high spirited conversations around to an aggregated decibel level that obviated any attempt at less-than-shouting talk. I have never been in so loud avrestaurant in my life, and I've eaten in many places that test my aural tolerances. But we are family so shouting is not entirely foreign to us. The menu was an especially toothsome read and we all found easy choices. The presentation matched the menu and compelled us to dig in. We all took our first bites and came up with a sad realization that the kitchen took a heavy hand with salt. And we are not salt-sensitive folks. We will return to try the main floor dining area and enjoy real conversations and hopefully a better salinity experience.
(2)
Perla T.
Lately, I've been a bit more harsh with my Yelp reviews. So...... I am not sure if this is a case where Nightwood should be getting one more star. My friend and I, who both live in the area, decided to come here and try it out, since it is a new restaurant in Pilsen. Pilsen, obviously has a ton of great mexican restaurants, but when something different opens up, I am especially intent on trying it. I went there, during it's "official" opening week. The decor is pretty and modern. It blends in well with the art galleries that line up Halsted. As you walk in, to the left, there is an outdoor patio which seems like a perfect place for a date. I walked in and was immediately greeted by a small cluster of pretty people. They all seemed so enthusiastic. I guess it was that first week excitement and jitters. My friend wasn't there so I sat and waited for him to arrive. In the time I waited, I had three people approach me and ask me if I wanted water (either sparkling or from a glass bottle) which I thought was kind of cool. They also brought me a wine list and it had a nice selection. The only bad part is that the prices were either really low or really high and it made no sense based on the brands. My friend arrived, we ordered a bottle of wine. The menus are pretty - a work of art on their own. They look like someone handwrote them in that perfect penmanship you only see in commercials or movies. Our waiter told us that the menu changes every day. So that's kind of nice about it too. I ordered a field greens salad and the garlic soup, which was nice. My friend ordered the (freshly, handmade) pasta. We were full after dinner, so we didn't order dessert. We did sneek a peek at the menu and I would have ordered anything on there, it all sounded delicious. So, I would say it was a good restaurant. I think the only reason why this place doesn't get one more star is because, I feel it is yet another restaurant on the map that will soon blend in to all the other one name restaurants in Chicago. (It has become really annoying that restaurants now feel the need to only have one word in their name. That trend is played out in my book.) I think I was also slightly disappointed with it, because I am not sure it lived up to the hype. For so long, we heard about the new "Lula" restaurant that was opening in Pilsen. I think if it hadn't been overhyped, my expectations wouldn't have been so high. BUT, because it is in Pilsen, I do appreciate it. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would. I will definitely come here again, but not before I have made the rounds on a few other places. I would bring an out of town guest here if we wanted to go somewhere with good food but wanted to stay in the area. Best thing about it though is that it is right by the Skylark. When it comes to restaurants, I don't mind paying whatever for a great meal. Yet, given the close proximity, if I had to choose, I would go to the Skylark over Nightwood, and feel I got equally great food and drinks at half the price.
(3)
Yumiko F.
Dark atmosphere but hear people laugh and talk. Very interesting design in a back of the room where you could see the chef preparing food and you could sit and watch while you eat. My wonderful friend took me there and we got seated by the door so it was actually not that present area to seat but food was excellent. I was super hungry but it was too much to have all appetizer and Entree. Their scone ( instead of bread, they were serving scone) was very small and wish there were 2 of them but it was really good. I would go back but will make a reservation for less wait.
(4)
Kerri M.
A girlfriend and I went to Nightwood before hitting the galleries along Halsted. She'd been there once on a date, and this was my first time. Coming into the restaurant, the front of the house definitely screams for an intimate date night setting; my friend and i, having no reservations, were told that we could sit at the kitchen bar. this was WONDERFUL! we were sat at the along a bar that allowed us to watch all the goings-ons of the kitchen. also, this afforded us the opportunity to talk with the head chef, who was very kind and offered to answer any questions we had. As a vegetarian, I, of course, had questions. He explained that every dish is made to order, but some have prepped stock, etc. made from animal broth. he pointed out the dishes i could choose from. i know that some have made comments regarding service and portions. the menu clearly states what are entrees and what are not. the pasta dishes are smaller and are priced reasonably to reflect that. also, the service was great. we had a very knowledgeable server who was friendly and outgoing. the food? well, first we split an excellent whipped goat cheese with beets, avacado and a cilantro vinagrette. because we both told the head chef we weren't fans of cilantro, it was made to order with very light cilantro and placed on the side for us. i had the buttersquash pasta, with arugula. delicious! normally, this would include proscuitto, but mine was made without. the squash was a lovely puree that tasted fresh--not creamy, not heavy. we split bread pudding for dessert. the winter menu was perfect--warm, seasonal flavors. i highly recommend a reservation for date night or sitting in the back at the kitchen bar with a friend!
(4)
Beatrize N.
I love Lula so I knew I would love this place and from everything I had read about it, it did not disappoint. They were still working out the bugs a bit but in a few months I'm sure it will be much better. I had a tiny problem with the hostess because I had read on citysearch that they did not take reservations and I had also read that on their website but when we got to the place they asked if we had any...so I told them what I had read and why I didn't make any and they said they had just changed that and it had been updated on the web but since I just had seen it a couple of hours ago..I was like ok whatever, can we get a table and it was early and it was honestly fairly empty...what's the big deal, right? As the meal was progressing she suddenly interpreted us to tell me that I was wrong as she just checked the website and handed me a little Nightwood business card to check it out. Wow, that was a little aggressive.. I didn't care for the attitude and it was unnecessary at that point. Luckily the good food and super nice server put me back in the mood. So we get seated and the server was just lovely and explained everything and was super nice all evening and all her suggestions were awesome. The tomatoes in the salad were so amazing and the Trout BLT was mouthwatering. My friend had the pasta with this yummy lemony sauce. We had great drinks and the deserts where to die for! The cherries in one of the desserts were heavenly. It will become one of my favorites and I'm sure each time things will get better and better!
(4)
chris c.
Still my favorite brunch spot in the city. Their ability to take ordinary brunch and make it something special is not to be missed. I just wish they would bring back the Oaxacan chocolate donut which is my favorite.
(4)
Jebadiah S.
Yea, I'll never go back here. Why do you people go to this place??? To see and be seen? That's the only pathetic shallow reason I can think of. I've had it up to here with hipsters and I'm done with them and their stupid ignorance, they don't know how to do anything, especially manage and be a server in restaurants. I'm a normal Chicago person, I want you to take my order, not rip me off, and shut up. No one is special because they eat organic, they are simply eating normal, natural human food. This place has such an elitist vibe to me it really turns me off. You know why you never, ever need to go here? Because you can easily stop by a farmers market and get the same exact same ingredients they use and make yourself the same food! For waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy cheaper and MUCH larger portions and no added BS. This entire place is a scam, a rip off, I cannot believe I payed so much money for such tiny portions for food I could have made myself. The food was good, but it is literally not biologically possible for the food to be worth what they charge here. I hate hipsters, I hate them with a passion.
(1)
Hollywood G.
Hopped in a Zip Car - as this neighborhood is a bit of a trek away - and popped in for brunch over the weekend. After seeing Nightwood on Chicago's Best show, I knew I had to go and sample the Bacon Butterscotch Donut. The donut did not disappoint. Neither did the rustic vintage chic decor/ambiance. My husband loved his cocktail, an Ol Rasputin w a shot of jameson and a shot of espresso. He's still telling people about it. Overall I felt like the menu looked interesting. We had a taco omlette and a benedict with pork and corn. On the benedict one of the muffins was impossible to cut through, even with a steak knife. The food was good, but it didn't blow our minds. The service was great and we were sat immediately (we did have a reservation). I would possibly go back again for brunch, I would try here again for dinner - that is next time I feel like trekking down to Pilsen.
(3)
Joe A.
Not another posh brunch spot, opening with an endless wait, punctuated by a snooty wait staff, ending with a shocking bill. The bill was not small, but the first two presumptions couldn't be further from the truth. Unlike any other brunch spot I can think of, Nightwood allows not just reservations but online reservations. I came with a party of 7, including two small children. We were led downstairs, to the dark stuffy dungeon I thought. Surprisingly, it was bright and cheerful, with cute storm lights, wainscotting, and polished benches, the perfect setting for restless kids. The whole staff went out of their way to be friendly and were remarkable tolerant of the wee ones. Before coming in, I had given the menu a look and being a vegetarian was a bit put off by the meatiness. However the brunch menu had fabulous cornmeal ligonberry pancakes, and my mom seemed pleased with her homemade grannola. It weren't cheap for sure. About $20/person. But overall, the experience was worth it. I'd go back, for sure.
(4)
Sunil D.
I had a really pleasurable experience at brunch yesterday. It was jam packed when we showed up and had to wait for a table to open up....and wait and wait...The manager (owner?) came up to us several times to keep us updated on wait times and told us people kept lingering despite having their bills on the table. Finally she recommended/gave us the option to grab bar seating in the back, I was reluctant at first but my hunger won out. I am glad I did, the bar at the back gives you a first hand view of the open kitchen. It was almost hypnotic watching the four chefs churn out plate after plate of beautiful food. The one downside was that I was so consumed by what was going on in the kitchen that I was not the most conversant brunch date (I blamed it on a rough Saturday night out though...). Before we even ordered the manager brought over a round of free drinks and apologized for the wait and then after we ordered one of the chefs gave us a free bacon glazed donut (yes, you read correctly...and trust me, this isn't of these kitschy "lets put bacon on everything" deals....it was a mind blowing (read: best ever) donut). It's the little things like this that help ease the unavoidable and often frustrating long wait times on the Chicago brunch scene. The food was spectacular (beyond the donut), I had the Ram and Eggs. It was hearty, yet sophisticated and complex, but still had a rustic and simple feel to it. Everything was well balanced, my egg was cooked perfectly and topped with anchovies, pistachio and a touch of some type of herb/olive oil dressing. This was all draped over a bratwurst sized sausage (which I'm not sure what was in it, but it was lean, tasty and perfectly cooked) in-between a nice crusty bread roll. I really loved the menu, it was a departure from standard brunch fare, but it wasn't different just for the sake of being "inventive" or "avant-guarde." The interesting combinations seemed to work very well (but to be honest, I didn't know what a lot of the ingredients on the menu were), while still giving you a different take on your old favorites but not stray so far that they are unrecognizable. The food was stellar, the service was great, I really liked the impression that all the employees felt like they had a vested interest in our meal/experience. Two of the chefs came over separately and asked about our meal, not just how it was but how specific components were. Overall a great time, although quite popular and busy, management did a great job balancing this out. A lesson that should be taken note of from their fellow competitors. Prices were also very reasonable (everything was well under $20), despite using top notched ingredients (everything seemed to be locallly sourced, but I am not 100% on this).
(5)
Zeen A.
Ok...so being a fan of Lula's, I was curious to check out the new spot in my old hood...(moved out of Pilsen years ago and don't make it back often)...The wait was lengthy, but i gave us a quick chance to hit up Skylark for a few...when we returned an hour later we were still a few minutes from being sat so the owner bought us our first round of drinks! (super nice guy) I ordered an Old Fashioned and I've gotta say it was probably the best one I've had in the city... The food was solid, but there wasn't anything that was mind blowing...every dish just did a good job of doin' its job...I'd definitely go back for a round two...
(4)
Anthony S.
Celebrated a friend's birthday here, I don't live too far from it (The South Loop), so was pretty convenient for me to get to by car. I would describe the neighborhood as artsy/hipsterish/ethnic with a fresh dash of yuppie, make of that what you will. When we arrived our table hadn't been setup up yet, so we went to the bar. My friend and I ordered this excellent German beer, I believe it was called something Adele Weiss (will have to double check on the exact name). After about a short wait at the bar, we were seated. Really dig the seats and this place, very cool looking and comfortable. For the appetizers we had the Agnolotti with sardines and this cheese that was out of this world, it was like mozzarella with creme injected into the middle of it. For my entree, I was a bit disappointed. I ordered the pork, after the waiter told me it was the last one left. Now I really like cured pork and ham and other pork like this, but usually when I order a pork roast, it's always almost too fatty, and sure enough here it was also. Even the center, which was surrounded by a gelatin-like layer of fat, seemed a bit fatty. Maybe it is just be me though, since everyone else seemed to like it. Despite not liking the texture, the flavor was very good, tasted a bit like a honey-baked ham, the sauce and the cabbage that were surrounding it were also very good, I just didn't care for the texture. For dessert had the chocolate pudding with this sort of whipped cherry flavored topping with pieces of chocolate in it. The pudding itself was very thick and chocolately, highly recommend this if you like pudding and it's on the menu when you visit. The menu at this place changes everyday, which I personally think is a very good thing, so there's many things to try here. Looking forward to going back so I can try a different entree.
(4)
Richard N.
4.5 Stars for brunch. Stellar menu. There's something for brunch traditionalists and the more adventurous set as well. I had a goat leg and eggplant omelet with pickled peppers, fresh parsley and aioli with homemade tater totts and toast. The utter jam. Also had a butterscotch bacon doughnut - off the hook. My mom had oatmeal with fresh blueberries and my dad had a fritatta with creme fraich, dill, and cucumber. They were slammed but the service was attentive and considerate. The only detraction was the coffee, which was a little weak for my taste. Next time I'm in Chicago on a Sunday, I'll be there.
(5)
graham h.
Gonna try not to be too verbose here. Nightwood was absolutely superb. Genuinely kind service. The most gorgeous dining room I've ever seen. A peaceful and comfortable patio. Clean, tasty food with impeccable ingredients. Just go - drink wine, and get dessert, especially blackberries and cream.
(5)
Becca S.
I went for brunch and just loved it. We had a reservation and still had to wait a bit, but got a seat at the bar and had a Bloody Mary made with PBR instead of vodka. UM, yum! Everything on the menu looked amazing. My friend and I split the butterscotch and bacon donut (could have just had that for my brunch) and we each got the soft shell crab hoagie I think it was called. It was good but really big and we almost could have split it. I know this sounds contradictory, but the crab was a little too fishy. I think I might have been happier with something else, but my meal was good enough to keep me coming back. Plus, thanks Pilsen for having loads of free street parking.
(3)
Scott M.
We ate here last Sat night with friends. I had heard (and read here some mixed reviews), but it was a great meal from start to finish. Cocktails were good and the wine list was impressive...many off-the-beaten-path selections and a very wide range of prices. There were a ton of bottles from $30-$50, which was nice. Shared the foie gras appetizer with my wife, which was delicious. One of our friends had the gazpacho--her only minor complaint was that it was a bit too spicy, but I liked it. Some reviews here have been disappointed with the portion sizes for the price, and I couldn't disagree more. I had the whole-roasted snapper (seasoned and cooked perfectly), which was huge, as was everyone's meal. And for most entrees being in the mid $20s, it was a fair value. Desserts and service were good (and parking was free!). We'll definitely recommend this to friends...
(4)
Keith T.
Decent food and drinks. The polenta was well done, same for the brussel sprouts. This is what prompted me to leave a review and the 3 stars: very odd vibe from the staff/management. The night I went, it Felt like they are snickering and talking smack about every table.... I am willing to give another chance though.
(3)
Thomas L.
Ever get that feeling that the people around you are on a higher intellectual level? I got that vibe here for some reason and it was very strange. The location was odd; I guess it works that you can pull the "up and coming neighborhood" thing for a bit longer. Food had clean flavors and noteworthy philosophy.
(3)
maurice s.
This place is awesome. They have an open kitchen in the back, the centerpiece of which is a large rotisserie smoker. This is where the magic happens. We had smoked chicken and smoked pork. Both were excellent. The chicken came with a side of caramelized brussels sprouts. The pork appeared to be smoked as a bone-in roast, then sliced into chops and finished on the grill. It came with a nice side salad. For appetizers, we had tomato soup and gnocchi with goat and goat cheese. The portion sizes are ample and a good value. The only mediocre aspect of the meal was desert, so pass on that. NOTE: The entrance is on the left through the patio. The building was designed with a corner entrance, which makes sense given the location. For some reason, they walled in the corner entrance, so folks who approach the building at the apparent entrance point have to turn around and walk back to the actual entrance. Remarkably, I saw at least 20 people make this turn during the 1.5 hours I spent at the restaurant, so it's a fairly substantial design flaw that probably should be addressed with signage.
(5)
Alli Y.
We went to Nightwood for brunch around 10am on a weekend morning. They take reservations so we were seated very quickly and the ambience of the downstairs was lovely. The food was exactly what I would have expected for a trendy brunch place - well presented on crisp white plates and described impeccably in the menu, but fairly normal tasting. Not bad by any means, but also not "wow" inducing. We had two different appetizers (a bacon donut and a lemony-donut) both of which were excellent. The main courses (bread pudding and quiche) were simply okay. Our experience was also colored by the fact that the waitress basically ignored us for 2 hours, and when we brought that up with her, she was less than receptive.
My brother and I came here as my farewell to life in Pilsen, and it was overall, a delicious experience. The decor was modern and bright, and it was fancier than I expected, based off the casual (but nice) feel of Lula. As others have attested, the service was excellent. Our server was helpful and gave good suggestions, without being intrusive. He recommended a good beer for my brother, and gave me some background on the one I chose as well. Later during the meal, he came to check up on how everything was and seemed to truly be passionate about the food and making sure we had a nice experience. I thought the menu options seemed great- I couldn't decide what to get, because they all seemed delicious. They had just redone them, so it sounds like they probably make a lot of seasonal items or go with what's fresh. My brother went for trout, which came out whole, served with greens on the side, which he said was good. I ordered a trout BLT. Yes, a trout BLT. It was delicious! It was served on thick soft bread with bacon, lettuce, tomato, a trout fillet, and barbeque sauce (!) with a sunny side egg (!!) placed on top of the sandwich. It was SO good. It's making me hungry again writing about it.. Served on the side was a small side salad with a tart and light vinaigrette. Great experience, though a little pricey, but I will definitely be back for special occasions.
(5)
Kristi K.
Quite simply, the most satisfying meal I've ever eaten. I took the afternoon to traverse to Pilsen. I walked around, checked out a few places, and then decided, while I was here, to check out Nightwood. I walked in, and it's just beautiful. Warm, inviting. Simple. I love it. I am seated immediately, brought water and a menu. Menus change daily, so they're nicely handwritten. Nice touch! My server comes over, and asks if I have any questions. I start my typical...what do you recommend routine. Ok...if the menu changes as often as they say (I'm sure they repeat items, but still...) he would have to be on his game. Effortless. I settled on a cheese starter that was somewhat like a combination of Brie and Mozzarella. It was served with a fennel sauce and toast points. I told him to surprise me on drink--beer, wine or cocktail. He got excited. I love it when a server loves their job, knows the food AND can pair a drink with it. Class act. He chose a beer which was amazing. Ephemere. It's a Canadian lager with an apple base (but no means a cider) and coriander. I couldn't taste the coriander until I got a bite of the fennel in the starter, and took a swig. Perfectly paired. Next, I had chicken with a white bean and bread salad. It was exquisite. The bean salad was as good with the chicken. The chicken was seasoned well, yet not over seasoned. Once again, he brought me a perfectly paired glass of white wine. A french blend...I don't remember the name. Desert was a glass of desert red (almost a port, but not quite) and a chocolate and hazelnut custard. Again, perfect. Overall, no complaints. Was it cheap? No. Have I spent that much at "the best restaurants in the city". Yes. Was I nearly as happy when I left said restaurants? Absolutely not. I loved it. I had high expectations, as I love Lula, and I thought there would be no way Nightwood could be different enough yet maintain the quality. It exceeded my expectations. Much better service. No attitude. Actually...they had pleasure in what they were doing. Everyone from the hostess, to the server to the gentleman who brought out my entree. If I could give it 10 stars, I would.
(5)
Pete D.
Pleasantly surprised here. The inside of the place is really nicely decorated. The menu... I don't think my taste buds are fancy so this menu was a bit concerning at first. Lots of liver meats, beef fat, tuna sauces on chickens, whale turds (okay maybe not). But honestly we just asked the waitress what was good and dove right into it. The food was really great! You read it on the menu and think it will be so exotic that it won't taste good, but truly, the food was really amazing and unique. And the dessert! Try the pretzel bread pudding for some yummy but different type comfort food. I actually can believe that all of their desserts are amazing. Great service here too. Give it a go if you're in the area or looking for a different type of dinner, stray away from your boring italian places!!
(4)
Sue S.
Absolutely worth the drive to this out of the way location. Be sure to make a reservation though since it's not huge and very popular. Hip, comfortable atmosphere with great service and excellent food. It's loud, but tables are spaced apart so you won't have any trouble hearing others at your table. Menu changes with seasonal offerings. Our party thoroughly enjoyed two appetizers: the smelt and asparagus. The waiter helped us select our entrees: the trout, a pasta dish, and duck. Each was cooked perfectly and delicious. We had the plate of cookies and strawberry shortcake sundae for dessert. Very nice selection of wine. Would definitely return.
(4)
Erin R.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. A donut with bacon in the middle, covered with a delightful glaze, washed down with a nice cup of coffee. We went to brunch at Nightwood this morning, dragging along our cranky 19 month old to this great restaurant in the Pilsen nabe. At first I wasn't too sure how kid-friendly the place was but within seconds of being seated, our waitress offered up many options for kids, which aren't relegated to a separate menu. Shortly after we sat down there was a parade of fashionably dressed youngsters, hitting the fancy food on the early side of a Sunday morning. Like I said, we split the bacon donut. Good lord that was evil. Evil in the best way ever, basically. After our hearts recovered from the indulgence (we split one donut between three people and it was plenty), we ordered our breakfasts. The service was great. The "tots" are not to be missed. I had an apple omelet with blue cheese. Oh man it was good. My husband had some spicy eggplant thing and our friend had a frittata. Frittata is just a fun word to say, admit it (and hard to spell). The baby had a waffle and some fruit but was really more interested in trying to snag our cups of coffee. I will most definitely be back. It is so nice to know that there are standout dining options on the south side and those of us who live south don't always have to trek to the north side for excellent food.
(4)
Robot A.
First off...every time I walk into the bathroom at Nightwood, I immedietly think about taking a sledgehammer to my own bathroom and redoing it. My wife is lucky that I get the inspiration to do this before we order food so that the distraction of a good meal wipes the idea out of my head. Start with a bacon donut. Menu changes daily so there is nothing I want to tell you to get...just enjoy. Brunch is fantastic! May be on the little pricey side, but hey...I don't go out much now that I have a newborn so when I do, I like to enjoy. A welcomed (and well needed) place to eat in Pilsen.
(5)
Eric F.
Went to NIghtwood on a Monday night. The meal was just 'ok', To summarize, the place had decent flavors and was worth the price but did not impress. Some things were really excellent, and others were not. I really enjoyed the 'off the beaten path' location and cozy atmosphere. But the service was a bit slower than what I would have expected on a Monday night. The Pork appetizer was absolutely excellent, with very good flavor profiles. Bread came out cold and stale. The Fois Gras Pasta was pretty good, but I was not impressed with the flavor; had expected more from a homemade pasta that contained fois gras. The spit roasted chicken was nothing special. I've had better at KFC and Jewel! It really did not taste any different than what I have had elsewhere. We wanted to get the pork but they were out. Maybe we just had a bad pick. I really wanted to love this place, but it just wasnt that great. I am currently unsure if I will be back to try this place again.
(3)
Sarah F.
Amazing atomsphere and lovely location in Pilsen! Truly a top notch, in-the-know crowd, and great service at Nightwood! I went for V-day brunch, and started w/ the the homemade donuts (coffee chicory and also bacon butterscotch) which were TO-DIE-FOR! The other brunch items we ordered left something to be desired, I think. Small portions and kind of odd combinations. Although I wasn't in love with my strada (fig and pork belly) and my boyfriend wasn't in love with his clam chowder egg dish, I am DEFINITELY willing to give this place the benefit of the doubt. I can't wait to try dinner here! They allegedly have a better burger than Kuma's corner, and the rest of the menu looks so fabulous as well!
(3)
Andrew M.
Loved it! Everything was perfect - the ambiance, decor, vibrant bar scene, artfully created fresh cocktails, inventive and tasty cuisine - exactly what I look for in a great restaurant. The menu changes daily, so you can always try something new. I had pheasant - it was delightful. I can't wait until the weather warms up and the outside fireplace starts up. Best part was getting the bill - 2 people with 3 courses and a bottle of wine came in under $150.
(4)
Sally M.
Went for restaurant week and felt underwhelmed. After tax and tip, my meal cost $60. I would have paid $30 MAX for the meal that I ate. The portions were tiny and the food tasted bland--nothing special, and certainly nothing worth $60. Their entrees looked more promising, though, so maybe worth trying regularly.
(1)
Sophia A.
Went here for my brother's 20th birthday. This is the brother that loves a good meal but will make a scene wherever he goes. (He once loudly sang peanut butter jelly time in the middle of Spiaggia.) Since it was a party of 12, you'd think they'd send us to the basement. However, they were really accommodating and gave us a large table near the kitchen. They might have regretted that move once they saw my suburbanite parents whip out the camcorder and camera that has a lighting storm of flashes and endlessly take photos against the mirror and towards the kitchen staff and servers. Or when my brother decided to randomly make gorilla or dog noises. (Huge mea culpa, Nightwood!) But they were really nice and at least showed some good humor about it. Phew. But my oh my, LOVED the food. Love how the menu changes. (Also love whoever's handwriting that is. The "g"s are cute.) Love the cocktails and their extensive use of Koval's products. And I really love it when a restaurant puts sardines in the spotlight and prepares it in a way that can convert sardine-haters into lovers of the fish underdog. The gnocchi & gruyere app was ordered again once the sibling realized how awesome it was. The entrees need no explanation. You can't go wrong. I guess only thing i was meh about were the desserts. They were good, but I guess since everything else was so incredible - they ended just being an afterthought for us. Definitely returning to try the brunch!
(4)
Kate L.
Love at first bite: Fresh doughnuts with a butterscotch bacon glaze, accompanied by mini donut holes, lightly tossed in cinnamon and sugar. My first taste, of my first (and as of yet only) visit to Nightwood, and it was one of those tastes that you just want to keep going and going in your mouth. I've said it before, I'm a sucker for donuts. Correction: I'm a sucker for FRESH donuts. I don't generally bother with donuts unless they're fresh, it just seems like a waste of time, taste and calories otherwise. This was not just a fresh donut, though, this was the BEST fresh donut I've had in recent memory. I will be back for the donuts alone, however, the entree I had was amazingly tasty as well; a somewhat unusual, though not that different of a take on eggs benedict. Fresh english muffins topped with spicy cabbage, perfectly poached eggs with the yolks still runny and hollandaise drizzled on top. There was also a strangely large amount of fresh frissee lettuce on top, just under the hollandaise, obscuring most of the other elements on the plate. I suppose I should have been thankful for a little fresh, uncooked green addition to my brunch, which is somewhat of a rarity, and I think it would have been a good idea perhaps, if only the amount had been a bit smaller, and the leaves themselves had been cut down into more manageably-edible sized pieces. Overall, it was still really good eggs benedict In addition to the eggs benedict part of the eggs benedict, you also get "tots", which are like a tater tot but 20 times better, or a round, extra crispy mini latke ball. Rejoice: now you can order tater tots as part of your breakfast without regret. One last thing I must mention which was absolutely wonderful is that on a Sunday, at around 12:30, my friend and I were able to sit down for brunch in Chicago without waiting. With such good food on offer, and a lovely seating area too, I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with this picture, but me and my hunger happily accepted not having to wait. Another last, last thing: I had planned another trip to Nightwood for brunch on Saturday the week after my first visit, but sadly learned that they only have brunch on Sunday. Devastating.
(5)
Monica S.
Actual rating is 3 1/2 stars. Nightwood was highly recommended by friends and thought this might be a good place to celebrate my husband's birthday. Going in with high expectations, it was disappointing that the overall experience was just a tad above average. The food was tasty but the prices for some of their dishes were too expensive. Because they use locally grown seasonal vegetables and their menu changes daily, that is a plus and we will try this place again but without preconceived expectations.
(3)
Ryan P.
I am still obsessed! How do other restaurants lose their magic after a few months, but Nightwood is still as delicious and special as the first time I came? Idk, but I looove it. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. And I am still thinking about that delicious meyer lemon dish, it was so amazing!
(5)
Cristina T.
Food was amazing, service was very friendly. Went for my birthday dinner & loved the romantic atmosphere. Had the fried meyer lemons & bone marrow gnocchi to start. Had the 1/2 chicken as my entree and the portion was enormous. It was cooked to perfection and served with walnuts, pecans and a delicious raisin/walnut bread. Got the plate of warm cookies for dessert & was not disappointed. The gooey butter cookie is to die for. Will definitely be back!
(5)
First L.
We always wondered why there were so many dandily-dressed folks meandering around South Halsted late at night...and finally found out for ourselves. We started with the salted butter, flaky pastry-like biscuits and cocktails, the Four Under Par (vodka, sweat tea, lime) and gin concoction that was strong but not otherwise memorable. We followed the cocktails with some Provencal Rose wine, bread, and foie gras (just coming back from France made this even more delectable). The grilled foie gras was quite well done with fresh Michigan cherries and birch syrup. For our mains, we had the cavatelli with chantarelles and an incredible ratatouille. As with the appetizers, they were incredible. The portions seemed small for Chicago, but were actually very filling. Dessert had to wait until next time, although MANY fantastic looking pastries were delivered to tables all around us. It was a bit loud and the service - although good - was pretty affected. It also seemed that horn-rimmed glasses (think Buddy Holly or Elvis Costello) are part of the mandatory uniform for both guests and waitstaff alike. Outdoor seating enviable on a cooler night. More later after we try the brunch.
(4)
Paulius N.
butterscotch bacon donut fantasy delight quiet orgasm One tremendous Sunday brunch. The bacon butterscotch donut was a mind blower. And frankly, I'm not a big fan of this bacon fad, but this was insanely great. Sturgeon chowder; awesome. Homemade tots; priceless. A kitchen in full view; major props. Bravo. Carry on.
(5)
Lauren C.
Best Manhattan in the city! The food was so good. The service was fun, chill and clever. We can't wait to go back and sit at the kitchen bar. We had the spit roasted chicken. I have to say I still like Popeye's in Lake Geneva, BUT it was really good. The Blueberry dessert was so good. SO good.
(4)
Suzanne K.
Nightwood has been the perfect gem in Pilsen. It's so dangerously close to where we live, that I would go there often, if I could! What I love most is that the menu changes based on what foods/ingredients are in season. My husband and I have been there for dinner and brunch, both very good. You can find dishes that satisfy every palate, from fresh cut pastas to even one of the tastiest burgers. Brunch offers tasty doughnuts of the day, chicken and waffles and an amazing cup of coffee. They have a wonderful wine, beer and cocktail list to complement your food as well.
(5)
A S.
Really enjoyed this place. Ambience, menu, food quality, wine list, wait staff. We had the fried lemon app and the spicy melon app -- both delicious. The trout was perfect and the fresh tomatoes and greens complimented it wonderfully. I can't stop thinking about it! Oh and the women's bathroom is one of the best appointed and clean bathrooms I've seen in a restaurant in a while. Thanks Nightwood!
(5)
Shelley A. D.
This place is beautiful, great location, clear on its mission. However the portions are way too big; there are not enough vegetarian; fish; poultry options; no kids' menu; no Sunday dinner offering. Cannot wait until they diversify!
(4)
Roger W.
This place was really nice. The food was really OK. I've heard brunch is awesome and want to come back and give this place a better review.
(3)
Swati B.
Came here on a sunday around 11am for brunch, we had a party of 10 and had reservations, we arrived on time but it took a few minutes to actually get seated...and then about 30 minutes for someone to actually acknowledge us downstairs, and then another 30 minutes for someone to take an order..did I mention I came with 3 pregnant women who were fiending for food??? My friend asked for the jalepeno biscuits first thing with her coffee...and another friend ordered an OJ...those items never made it to the table..needless to say, they were not happy. Sure it was extremely crowded..to the point where while you were waiting to be seated you either were going to elbow someone you didn't know..or be in the way of a server..it was just ridiculous! The menu definitely has a very random mix of items, things you likely would never imagine going together...I actually got the scrambled eggs with pea shoots, radishes and cream cheese with tater tots..it sounds...interesting i know..but actually it was DAMN good...now there aren't many vegetarian options here...and if you are vegan you can probably have some toast and jelly..but honestly not a vegan friendly place...a few girls had the goat cheese quiche which they raved about (and it was really tasty!), and the french toast that they had for the day was really amazing as well. They have a great list of morning cocktails...most girls loved their mimosas...the girls that had their bloody mary's thought it needed a lot more salt, as in like 3 more tablespoons but had a lot of spice... I hear that they change their menu weekly and that they have different variety, but I don't know if I would come back on a Sunday..maybe I'd have to come a little earlier in the day..the food was good no doubt but the service and crowd kind of make me want to stay away...
(3)
Tazeen C.
Awesome, unpretentious brunch spot --anywhere that serves tater tots gets bonus points in my book.
(4)
Cupcake C.
I wanted to LOVE this place. The atmosphere was good but it is no Avec. It was o.k. The salad was good. We had a chicken dish and a burger.
(2)
Katie G.
Yum. yum. yum. Everything about this place was fantastic! My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, and we both LOVED it. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the food....oh the food. The menu changes daily, and I can't wait to go back. Everything looked wonderful....I'll go back starving next time, so I can indulge a bit more! He had handmade pasta with jalapenos, some kind of creamy sauce, etc. He all but licked his plate. I had the whitefish with cauliflower, pumpkin seeds, olives....YUM. It was very light and very fresh. The drink list is very extensive (cocktails, craft beers, wine), albeit a bit pricey for the area. The only reason I gave this place a 4 out of 5 is because our waiter started to forget about us towards the end of our meal. Besides that, they've nailed just about every element: Ambiance: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Noise Level: 5 stars Service: 4 stars People Watching: 5 stars
(4)
Dave P.
Visited again, this time for Sunday morning brunch (a.k.a. Morningwood....ha ha ha I crack myself up sometimes.) Overall, a very pleasant experience. Menu is split between more basic and affordable options (granola, oatmeal, eggs, donuts, etc.) and more creative and expensive options. I had.... Intelligensia Coffee brewed to perfection Bloody Mary that was fresh tasting a spiced well...but almost unsalted. Chicken (wings) and Waffles....delicious but could have used a thigh for $14. Butterscotch and Bacon Donut...no review necessary. Others with me had... Bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, pickled winter veg, and "tots".....this was the best thing I ate. Mutton Omelet...very tasty but not exceptional. Rhubarb and cardamom crepes....again very tasty but not exceptional. Would certainly return...plus if you sign up for emails you can have the brunch menu emailed to you Saturday night so you can decide whether or not to get your ass out of bed Sunday morning.
(4)
kelly a.
Positives: love the decor, good ambiance, farm fresh ingredients, extensive wine list, daily menu, DELICIOUS buccantini, crunchy ramps, cool cocktail creations, close to Skylark. Negatives: terribly inattentive waiter, tough veal, the $9 plate of lettuce I had for an appetizer, bathroom was out of toilet paper.
(3)
Anisha A.
Nightwood shouldn't be confused with It's Always Sunny's NightMan, but should absolutely be chanted in the same singsong tune. Being fans of Lula, we made the trek to Pilsen to check it out. The scene did not disappoint, the food kinda did. Would recommend going here if you're a sucker for fun dining chairs or if your commute is under 7 minutes. Otherwise opt for Lula instead. Started with the short rib tortellini and beet salad, both respectable. For mains, had the goat. The waiter reveled in letting us know that the goat was, in fact, a kid goat. So we stamped our tickets to hell, eating the animal equivalent of a fetus. But it was sweet and interesting- bottomed with brioche and topped with an egg. Besides that, the trout was so-so and the pasta was slightly hardened and dry. For dessert, had the ganache tart with expresso ice cream. Almost lost a tooth biting into it.
(3)
Evan R.
I am just not impressed with this place. I live in the neighborhood and I don't feel that the food presented at Nightwood is worth the money that is being put on the menu. I have been here a few times for brunch, which I would recommend the Bacon Butterscotch donut, but you can get as good of a brunch down the street at Nana on Halsted for WAY less money. For dinner, this place is very overrated and I REALLY wanted to like this place after loving Lula Cafe for so long. The food is ok (everyone does a burger well these days)but it does not justify the prices. The menu is small but not very well thought out. Salmon appetizer with a salad for $15! The plate had like three bites of salmon. Come on dudes! The wine by the glass is too expensive too. Come on, it's Pilsen! Make the menu realistic. I don't feel that many local people eat here. It is for the people that look at NIghtwood as a destination dining experience. It definitely is not and it is not going to be somewhere where I go to or recommend again.
(2)
Lara E.
we went on a friday night. 2 people. no reservation. and were seated within 10 minutes. = nice. why 3 stars? - great ambiance and style. - a clueless waitress. when i ask a waitress about a particular dish, i expect more than her reading the menu to me. i say how's the burrata? she says "oh, it's good. it's served with honey and pears." well guess what? i could have determined that by reading the menu! a truly well trained staff would give you additional details about the preparation, the flavor, the ingredients (local/not?, etc), its popularity, etc. etc. sadly to say, she was nice but had peas for brains and having worked in food service before, i am not easy on these cute but totally clueless, deer-in-headlights waitresses working at nice, new american restaurants. on the food: good not spectacular. sweet potato ravioli = 3 small squares for 12 bucks. insanely great flavor. served with fried sage. just wish there was more.... burrata crostini = needed heat? something pickled? some acid?just anything to contrast the creaminess. sardines = lentils were excellent, but sardines were a leeeeetle too fishy. i mean really fishy. pecan pie = good portion. get a scoop of ice cream. yelpers that give nightwood 5 stars are almost always talking about brunch. i don't see very many 5 star dinner reviews. consistency is key nightwood!
(3)
Tom A.
We're in the camp of Lula fans who drove past Lula, trekked out of Logan Square into the unknowns of the Pilsen area to visit Nightwood -- and, given the online menus, I most certainly would not have ventured here without my extensive background at Lula. Skeptical, we let curiosity get the better of us. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed. I had high hopes and expectations, went out of my way and had my very nice friend treat me to a pricy meal which was rather lackluster. Vegetarian options are highly limited. 3 apps and one main course (two if you take them up on the spaghetti and meatballs hold the meatballs/pay for the meatballs anyway), so we got them all. Gnocchi app was quite excellent and is the only thing that could constitute a standout. Beet salad was ok; it had these huge deep fired croutons, which didn't add much. Pizza was ok. I'd like it more for a couple dollars less. Main course pasta dish was unforgivably salty. Borderline inedible. For the cost ($22!) i would expect more. It was mostly pasta and salt. Food cost must be in the 10% range on this item. I had some serious belly aches after the meal, which I am attributing to the not-particularly-cooked onions in this dish. No side vegetables available. Wine selection is rather large, mostly midlevel bottles with a few by the glass. We did well with a ~$35 bottle. Beer selection is decent. However, my 90 Min IPA came about 15-20 degrees below recommended serving temperature (50-55F). Although by now I know almost no restaurant can handle serving beer even remotely correctly, it does bother me every time. It's like getting a good red wine served to you in a mug at 34F. Non-iced filtered water (still or with gas) appreciated. Gelato by the scoop (@$2 each) is a nice little end to the meal. I do appreciate the availability of a smaller dessert, although 'full' desserts are also available. Staff: attentive, hip. Decor: dark, grey. Sort of cave-like. open kitchen.
(2)
constance p.
Always incredible! One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago
(5)
Joshua R.
Attention Nightwood owners/managers. If someone asked me what my favorite restaurant in Chicago was about 6 months ago, I would have said Nightwood. Don't get me wrong -- I love the vibe, love the quality of the food, love your servers. BUT, I've gone recently twice for special occasions and I think you're a victim of your own success. Each night you were out of like half the menu which was disappointing. The service and wait times have gotten borderline bad. The noise had become deafening. It's been hot as hell in the restaurant. Bottom line -- it's becoming not very pleasant!!?? Guys...WTF? Maybe you need to stop taking walk ins, I'm not sure. It's just too busy, too crowded, too hot, the service is starting to suck, and half your menu items on any given night are gone by 8PM!! Make some imporvements and you'll get 5 stars from me once more.
(2)
lesley h.
Loved this place for a great dinner with friends---we all enjoyed every one of our appetizers, entrees and desserts. Lovely setting, great service, will be back!
(5)
Jo Jo B.
Excellent! All of our dishes tasted fantastic, they definitely catered to my food allergies as well. This place can be quite noisy though, so prepare yourself for that. Other than that everything was great. It's definitely worth the trip.
(5)
K B.
Went back for brunch again with a group. This time I was disappointed. I would downgrade the entire brunch menu to a 3, but as long as you order what they do well you'll leave very happily. I had the griddle cakes topped beans and egg - it wasn't good. Someone at my table had the salad with I think rabbit or some other meat, and they were also disappointed. However, the bagel sandwich (this time with Trout), the hashbrowns, and the donuts are still killer. So get that if you for sure want a delicious meal. Otherwise I'm giving no guarantees.
I went here last tuesday, and upon looking at the menu I knew I was in for a good experience. This restaurant deals in authenticity that so many haut-cuisine wannabe Chicago restaurants sadly imitate. Our waiter was outstanding, we made conversation with him about the restaurant, its philosophy, and history. As for the food. On the day I was there, I had a mushroom soup which was ok to good. The taste was rich and creamy, yet the texture was watery for its intensity. My entree though, proved that there is some hope in this city. It was a sandwich with porter mustard (Old Rasputin Imperial Porter I was told, which is one of my favorites), pulled pork loin, and a fried egg. Fried egg seems cliche these days, but let me just say, in the same fashion as I said to our waiter, "Despite your daily menu changes, serving this pork any other way would be a war crime." It was absolutely stellar. The restaurant's ambiance, seats surround in the kitchen, and very cool looking outside area in the summer make it a winner. Shitty location, but I don't mind trekking to enjoy it.
(4)
Samuel M.
Wood Grilled Foie Gras - superbly smoky, a memorably unique twist on the classic seared style. Whole roasted striped bass with peas and bacon - the ends of the fish were ever-so-slightly slightly overdone, but otherwise perfect; the accompaniment truly elevated the fish. Buttermilk pot de creme - I'd have liked the buttermilk flavor to be more prevalent, but the dish was otherwise well-executed; the berries and pleasantly crumbly cornmeal cookies contributed to a harmonious dessert. Nightwood Manhattan - buffalo trace is almost too good to embellish, but the vermouth and bitters truly took it to the next level. Decor and ambiance were like the food - simple and understated, but truly pleasant. The one knock on the place was that the portions were a little small for the price, but I didn't mind, as the quality was superb.
(4)
Amanda Z.
One of the best brunch spots EVER. Definitely the best donut of my LIFE - that deserves the 5 stars, no question. Freshly fried Boston cream pie donut at Nightwood = best breakfast treat of all time. After this sensational bite, we wanted to be gluttonous and order the bacon butterscotch donut as well, but we were too full after our yummy breakfasts to have another donut. Next time for sure. My fiance had the fish tacos which were served deconstructed in a bowl w/all the ingredients and you make the taco yourself. He enjoyed it immensely, but I tried it and was not too impressed (however, I was NOT in the fish taco mood and I didn't like the hominy beans in it). I wanted some lighter fare even though the bagel fried egg sandwich looked sooooo freakin good. So I went with the whipped goat cheese with prosciutto and pears on a baguette...it was so decadent and I've never had anything like that. There were GOBS of goat cheese left over so the chef that made it quickly got me another piece of the wonderful bread to sop up all the goodness (we were sitting at the kitchen counter, which was really neat to see all the chefs in action and how quickly they put out all the food!). We also had the tots as a side, and boy were they delicious and different! Fried ball of hash browns, not a solid tot like you would expect...oh it was so wonderful. Service was a little slow but it didn't matter since we were entertained with watching the kitchen, but had we not been sitting there, it may have been a problem. I can't wait to go back to Nightwood for another amazing brunch (and for the bacon donut!!) and for dinner as well.
(5)
Jodi R.
Nightwood is deserving of its Michelin rating. Amazing brunch. Menu changes daily. They use fresh & local ingredients. Space is cool , inviting & comfy. Chocolate eclairs may be one of the best things I've eaten all year: homemade pastry with custard the likes of which I have never tasted. Please give me a vat of the chocolate topping. Hubby said the cheeseburger was one of the best he has ever eaten. Rolled omelet featured lentils & herbs. Portion was a bit small but every bite was perfect. Enjoyed the tator tots which are like a hush puppy made of potatoes . Hot chocolate is homemade , no package stuff here. Even though we live on the other side of town, Nightwood will now be in our rotation. Server was very friendly and helpful. Street parking not so much fun. Crowd is quite diverse.
(5)
David T.
Had dinner here tonight, and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. The dishes are all very seasonal and organic, so I would anticipate that the menu changes regularly. According to our gracious dinner host who is also friends with the owners, this is owned by the same couple that owns Lula Cafe in our 'hood, Logan Square. That being said, we had high expectations, and quite honestly those expectations were exceeded. We started out splitting some appetizers for the table which included onion rings with some kind of tasty cream sauce, and chicken liver pate. I also had a watermelon-tomato-mozzarella-bacon salad while my wife ordered a nectarine salad. We also had a very satisfying heirloom tomato and mozzarella soup. For my entree, I ordered the wood-grilled whole trout (which was excellent) and also sampled the spaghetti with lobster as well as the steak. Everything was very flavorful and well-prepared. I didn't have a chance to review the wine list as our host selected the wines, but we had an excellent Zin from Mendocino County, a crisp Gruner Veltliner from Austria, and a delicate sparkling Rose from France. Judging from the quality of the wines we enjoyed, I would assume that the rest of the wine list was also of equal caliber. For dessert, we split a chocolate gelato as well as a salted butterscotch gelato, and also had a sampling of a super-rich chocolate cake. Again, the quality of the desserts was on par with the rest of our meal. As for service, our waiter was very friendly and very attentive and seemed to have a very good grasp of the menu. We are definitely returning, and will likely try to get a seat by the kitchen.
(4)
Jims L.
Forgot I ate here, Yelp is telling me I did. Had brunch. It was decent. Will try dinner next time.
(3)
Mallory G.
Came here for brunch on Easter Sunday - 5 stars for the bacon butterscotch donut. The bacon is extra bacon-y, perhaps it's bacon-infused bacon and combined with the butterscotch, this could be one of my favorite foods in Chicago. However, donuts do not a brunch make. I had the rabbit omelette and my dad had the ramchillada. He loved the ramchillada, probably because it was huge, I thought it was good but nothing to write home about. My rabbit omelette was just ok - wished I had tried the smoked trout bagel sandwich. The donuts live up to the hype...everything else, meh. Went to Longman & Eagle the day before for brunch (it was a good brunch weekend!) and I was far more impressed. My favorite part of the restaurant was probably the aesthetic, unfortunately for Nightwood, this isn't a design review.
(3)
Beer H.
My wife works down the street, and we have been wanting to try Nightwood for some time. We made a reservation for 8:30. We were about 15 minutes early. The hostess said that we would be seated at our reservation time. Little did I know there were multiple groups of people with reservations waiting to be seated. At about 8:45 we started talking to the group standing by us, and they had a reservation for 8:00. I told them I would have been long gone if I were you! They said that they probably would have ,but they gave them free champaign. A few minutes later they were seated. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and offered us free champaign. Not being "champaign people" we declined, and told her that if we were not seated before 9:00 we were going to have to leave. We were finally seated at 8:59. If it was a Friday or a Saturday I would understand this, but it is a Thursday. I understand that is isn't the burbs, and sometimes you have to wait a little longer to eat at the new-hot spots. However, if you are having problems seating people on around their reservation time you should stop taking them. The have a good beer and wine list, but that is what I would expect from a restaurant like this. They sever brought out some bread with goat cheese and rhubarb preserves. It was good, and I tend not too like goat cheese. I had the the confit duck leg with turnip greens salad. The duck leg cam with most of the meat missing from the duck leg. I tried to rationalize it by saying, maybe it is some fancy way to plate it. Also, the duck wasn't that great. The turnip green salad was awesome! There wasn't much to it, it was bitter, sweet, and salty all at the same time! Very interesting! My wife had the pollenate tart with olive oil poached egg. It was ok, it was differnent. She liked it, but it wasn't for me. Sorry, I didn't think the food was that great. And telling us we would be seated at our reservation time when they knew that we wouldn't be seated for a long time pissed me off. Both of those things shouldn't happen from a place with a reputation like this. I'm not going back!
(2)
Annie R.
Food not as good as I hoped but the experience was super.
(4)
J T.
Food: Deep-fried Michigan smelts w/creme fraiche; chicken liver pate - both good. Veal sugo - a bit on the salty side, otherwise would've been a good dish. Service: Attentive and friendly.
(3)
Maggie F.
My first visit to Nightwood was a little disappointing - an especially fatty cut of pork belly, some undercooked peas, and an unpleasant scent hanging mysteriously in the air of the spotless dining area left my date and I underwhelmed by Lula's baby sister. But our second meal at Nightwood more than made up for our mediocre first impression. Local, ethically produced, überfresh ingredients are combined expertly and served amply. I loved the perfectly al dente rigatoni with lamb meatballs, tomato, currants, pine nuts, garlic and arugula. Deep fried mozzarella with tart cherries and greens competed with fresh zucchini and golden tomatoes. Dessert: the apricot-glazed bread pudding with amaretto gelato couldn't be beat. Look for great cocktails, a menu that changes daily, and some of the best and most knowledgeable servers in town. The decor is minimalist and yet robust, with a beautifully done covered patio.
(5)
Daani C.
We are new to Chicago and haven't discovered restaurants we really love yet. After several friends and neighbors raved, we tried this place for dinner. it had charm and ambience and all that, but snobby food snob from NY I may be, the food just wasn't that great. We had a hard time choosing because nothing really jumped off the menu. The stand-out in the end, by far, was the fried meyer lemon and pickle appetizer. Really yummy, creative and beautiful. My husband was surprised - he thought I was ordering it to satisfy my weird pregnancy penchant for sour stuff, but he loved it too. We also had the burrata with lamb debri, which was ok but not actually delicious. The quality of the burrata was not top notch, I've had way better. The biscuits are tasty though, perfect biscuit-y texture. I ordered the duck. It had good smoky/sweet flavor, but the meat was just tough. It's often risky to order duck for that reason, but I went for it anyway. The duck itself was under-seasoned, but the veggies it came with were way over-seasoned. The lima beans were good, but they threw the chard in raw which didn't really work. Husband had the skirt steak with black beans. Again unevenly seasoned, but the steak was better cooked than the duck. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. The crisp itself was rich and better than the entrees, but the salted caramel ice cream was really really really salty. I think there was an extra sprinkling of fleur de sel on top of the whole thing, which was total overkill. I guess the main problem overall with this meal was inconsistent seasoning. Service was friendly but spotty at times, like at one point one guy took away my clean utensils, then someone else served my food and I had no mis en place and had to ask. I had half a glass of sparkling water and the waiter filled it back up with still water without asking. Stuff like that, probably poor communication between the front and back servers. We just didn't love the food enough to want to come back, we thought maybe we should have tried their homemade pasta dishes but I make my own homemade pasta often so we rarely order it out. Still looking for our go-to Friday night spot!
(3)
t. o.
We have friends who live by Lula, have taken us there, and rave about it. I was completely underwhelmed. I feel pretty much the same about their new joint, Nightwood. The place looks amazing! Best design I've seen in ages. And the service is great. I love the idea of both these restaurants, but the menu and food are just not that inspired. I had pasta, and it was home-made. I know good hand-made pasta, but this is what you'd end up doing if you tried at home for the first time. It was heavy, gummy, too chewy, and sat in my gut like, well, a big pile of wheat flour. I had trouble finding something to order, because the plate combinations just didn't seem that appealing - a number of us agreed on this point (we were a large party.) Prices weren't too bad, but then, the food just "wasn't too bad" as well. Others had the trout - we found the nearly raw egg with fish thing verging on gross. Seasoning was erratic, some things under-salted, others over. Food seemed to tend toward heavy, rich dishes and flavors, with heavy-handed preparation and plating, and I just really wanted to find more chances throughout the meal to "lighten up." I get what they are going for - unpretentious slo-cal cuisine - but it needs work. I need to go back to really give it a proper chance. I love the idea of Nightwood! I want to like it. But I was underwhelmed.
(2)
Laura D.
I have had two very bad experiences at Nightwood. The first time, not only was the food blah, but the kitchen forgot to plate a few key ingredients on an appetizer we ordered and we only noticed when the table next to ours had the same thing. When I mentioned it to our server, he mumbled a, "uhh, sorry" and did nothing. Then he charged us for the dish! When we complained, he offered to take one of the desserts off our bill.... it was just super weird. I decided to give the restaurant another chance. My second trip there, we ordered the sardine appetizer based on a recommendation. It was so disgusting that after one bite, we asked them to remove it from the table because of the smell. My entree was a solid C, and my boyfriend found 2 hairs in his gnocchi. I'm not sure what is going on in the kitchen or with the service there. I am frankly shocked they have made it this long...
(1)
Tiffany A.
We checked this place out for brunch based on a friend's recommendation! It did not disappoint. Cons: We went on a Sunday morning and it as quite busy so the service was not great - it took ages to just get our drinks and for someone to stop by to take our order (and it sounds like other Yelpers had a similar experience - so that's a bummer). Pros: The menu includes a good selection of brunch dishes, the mimosas were tasty and the food was great! Do not miss ordering Enoch's doughnuts when you go. You MUST try the bacon butterscotch. They come to the table hot and they are to die for! We ordered a few as apps for the table and we were practically licking the plate clean!
(4)
Agnes F.
I am a fan of Nightwood, 3 of us went there for dinner and had a very good time started off with some cocktails, i had the hot toddy (it was godsend in this frigid weather), my friends had martini and hot and Balmy for appetizers we shared an argula salad and the wild mushroom risotto the salad was fresh and tart which was perfect against the much richer mushroom risotto the risotto was tasty but maybe a tiney bit salty for my taste i had the roasted chicken for entree and absolutely loved it! the chicken was wonderfully smoky and moist, hands down the best roasted chicken i ever had my friend had the duck leg and i got a bite, hmm, yummy as well dessert we shared the chocolate cake, moist and light wine choices were good, service was friendly the only thing was what happened to the beautiful biscuits they used to give us before the meal starts? we didn't get them this time (i forgot to ask) and i totally miss that all in all, a good restaurant that i will not hesitate to go back
(5)
Kate S.
3 stars = vegetarians (like me) 4-5 stars = those who eat meat My friend had a chicken dish and adored it--she said she could taste the woody-cooked flavor. However, there were ZERO entrees that were veggie. Our server was lovely and said they could make any of them w/o meat, but really now? Not ONE veggie entree? That said, there were plenty of veggie apps, so I got two of those instead. The squash dish I ordered was supposed to have a yogurt-mint sauce. It had the yogurt, but I couldn't taste the mint, which was disappointing. 5-star atmosphere though, the inside is rather big but feels small, and the outside patio is well-structured and lumber-ly modern looking. Bonus: They have Lula's delicious sangria.
(3)
Matt J.
Pretty good food but in my opinion, didn't live up to the hype. Based on the reviews and the lines outside we've been wanting to come here for some time. We called and got in early on Saturday night. Once we found the door (hint: it's on the North side and you have to walk through the patio), we were quickly seated in the "window corner". For appetizers we had the duck ravioli and fried green tomatoes. Both were excellent. As an appetizer, I got the "vietnamese sandwich" (pate, shredded meatballs, veggies on a french roll). A very good sandwich, but ultimately more bar food than an entree in a fine dining restaurant. My girlfriend got the trout and she enjoyed it, but it wasn't life-changing. We finished up with the warm apple cake and sorbet/gelato combo. The apple cake was EXCELLENT. The best dish of the meal. The sorbet and gelato's were just OK. The vanilla bean gelato just tasted like vanilla ice cream. All in all a good meal, but didn't live up to the hype. That said, I'm not sure that the restaurant itself has made it out to be anything more than what it is. Therefore, the 4th star. I'd go back, but it's not at the top of the list.
(4)
Amanda S.
Went again on a Monday night and found out they have 1/2 price bottles of wine, so I'm adding a star! Now all they have to do is offer the bacon donuts for dessert and it will be perfection :)
(5)
Russ S.
it's pretty good. The whole place was full of those types.. you know what I'm talking about.. semi-fat, middle aged managers from the burbs. But hey, rich people, nah mean.
(4)
Elizabeth T.
I wanted this place to rock my world. But I guess that's like going into the movie you've been hearing excited utterances about for months--you can only be disappointed. I love the space here. I love the location. I love the design. I love the concept. But the food? Meh. I get that the simple presentation and preparation are the style here but there was just no punch to anything I ate. I have no doubt it is high quality food, but my pork was just boring, my date's trout lacked any real flavor much less punch and he disliked that the skin had not been crisped. I like the minimalist presentation. But I kept waiting for the one dish that would make my mouth just curl in delight. And, surprisingly, I didn't get that pretty much the whole night, save for the bread pudding desert. Disappointing? Yes. Expensive? Yes. But we'll be back, have no doubt. I'm giving it a month or two to work out the kinks. I'm hopeful!
(3)
Courtland H.
This place has one of the best brunch's in Chicago. A little off the beaten path, but not hard to get to at all, everything was top notch. Not a huge menu, but what they did have was excellent. The bacon donuts, delicious, the eggs very creamy and good, the hash brown tater tots were the size of tumbleweed from an old western. They were definitely the highlight of the meal. Service was quick and attentive, and the coffee was great. Most places have watered down diner coffee, these guys had the good stuff and were not stingy about it. When we walked in the lady asked if we have reservations, never thought you could make brunch reservations but i guess people do. I myself cannot predict how i will feel on a Sunday morning, and what hour past noon i will getup. Recap - awesome, definitely check it out. outdoor patio looked like it would be nice in the summer, not so much with 6 inches of snow o the ground
(5)
Alee B.
Came in a larger group, celebrating a birthday, and our crew included a vegetarian. I'll get my one negative comment out of the way first: there was only 1 entree (and no pasta) for the vegetarian. She was a little bummed, but she ordered the veg option (stuffed peppers) and absolutely loved it. Moving on... So we ordered several apps. The fried lemons were heavenly. The grilled (but cold) octopus was a stretch for some of the more conservative eaters in our group, but it went over well. The burratta was rich and smooth, it just needed more than 4 pieces of toast for a bigger party! For entrees, we had a veal pasta with ravioli which was fantastic. Lemony ricotta filling and succulent veal, all around great. We also ordered the tuna spaghetti. I wanted to try it, but the person that ordered it loved it so much, he refused to share! We also had a whole roasted fish at the table. Only complaint with that was there were a few pin bones, which made the eater a little nervous. The last in our crew ordered the cheeseburger (which we didn't understand being at a place with such great food!), but she said it was one of the best she'd had in a while, so mission accomplished. We finished the night with a plate of cookies, some cinnamon and vanilla ice creams, and blueberry cake. While the rest of the food was great, the desserts were easily the best part of the night. And I can't go without mentioning the coffee. I usually base my return to a restaurant based on their coffee and Nightwood doesn't miss. It was clearly fresh, smooth, and had great balance. I had to peek at the bar to check what they were using and of course, the bartender told me it was a blend, specially made for them! It just means I'll have to come in for the coffee more often. Have heard great things about brunch, so that may be my next trip in...
(4)
Nathan K.
I came with a friend on Friday night and we were both very impressed - it was well worth the trip from the north side. The ambiance is warm, sophisticated and modern without being cold contemporary. The service was equally warm, staff greeted and served us with genuine warmth and grace. And the meal was fantastic, although I was a little underwhelmed with the pretzels and chocolate dessert (but then again, it was as described so my fault for ordering). I'll be back soon. Northsiders who rarely leave their red line corridor shouldn't fear a trek; the restaurant is right on the 8 bus and about a 10 minute walk from the Halsted orange line.
(5)
Simone L.
You will never be disappointed by anything you have here. Everything is prepared perfectly from the best ingredients. The atmosphere is hip but relaxed.
(5)
Dennis J.
Even if the only positive part of my experience was the bacon and butterscotch donuts, it would still get all 5 stars. They're THAT good! I had been to their sister restaurant (Lula's Cafe) before and loved it and was happy to have a similarly excellent meal here. We also came back for dinner a few weeks later and it was also great. Surprisingly good cocktails!
(5)
R R.
It is the first day of Restaurant week and my boyfriend and I decided to try Nightwood in Pilsen. I have driven by some many times that I needed to see what it was all about and it had some nice write ups in Time Out magazine. We got there on time for our reservation and the place was packed. Once we were seated, I immediately read the prix fixe menu for restaurant week and there were NO vegetarian options! You had a choice of chicken or pork as your main course. I was so shocked and disappointed that it immediately colored my opinion of the restaurant. It touts that it is local, organic and sustainable. Usually that also means Vegetarian friendly. So I was not able to participate in the "restaurant week experience" and my boyfriend was able to enjoy a 4 course $44 menu. So I reluctantly went to their usual menu and choose the fried Meyer lemon and Mizuna salad ($9) and Pumpkin ravioli ($14) as my main course. The only other vegetarian option was Hominy, Chickpea and beet creation for $16. It did not sound appetizing. I received the salad and it had 5 fried thin lemon slices and a small (I mean tiny -would fit in a table spoon) heap of Mizuna greens. It was tasty and who knew fried meyer lemon was yummy, but it was so small that I finished in 3 bites. My boyfriend's first course of lemon cheese bread with mixed greens was HUGE compared to serving and just as tasty. So I of course had salad envy. He got his second course of fish roe /egg mix on toast. I was not a fan but the meat eating boyfriend liked it. Then the mains came. Surprisingly the pasta was very good and the presentation was very modern, but again it was tiny in portion. I had 3 average size ravioli on my plate with a smear of sauce on the side. I really wish they would increase the portion of what little vegetarian friendly food they have. My boyfriend got a nice size piece of chicken with turnips. We finished the night with dessert and finally that is when everything felt right. He had bread pudding, which was great and I had a trio of ice cream (red velvet, vanilla and blood orange sorbet). We had a spoon war over the ice cream. So in conclusion, the meal was "ok" but still teetering on "lack luster" for the experience and price ($128 with tax and tip). I do not think I will be revisiting Nightwood for any future meals until they become more veggie friendly. PS: Nightwood, we veggie folks like gourmand experiences as well; and if Joel Robuchon can provide a stellar vegetarian experience, so can you! Note: Street Parking is hard on Friday night. You may need to park south of Cermak on Halsted and walk back up to the restaurant. Watch yourself! Chitown Veg Gal
(2)
Scott H.
Went with friends and loved this place. First time in a while that I can remember being really excited by a menu. Great local produce on the menu, and a huge variety of options means that nobody leaves disappointed. Will be back here for sure - and that's a rare thing for me to say.
not sure what all the hype is about. i went for brunch on a sunday because everyone was talking about it. i mean, it was ok...my wife liked her hamburger and the corned beef hash i ordered was ok. but to drive all the way to pilsen? it should be better...
(3)
Rett L.
Went back. Perfectly as awesome as the first time. CHRIST I love when this happens. The kicker is that I was suffering from the type of sinus infection that ends wars. But with a reservation and my significant other having a rare night off, I said "screw my nasal misery, we are going to Pilsen." So we did, armed with an actual box of tissues and my near deafness due to congestion. There is NO way our waitress did not take into account my disgusting state of doom. If I had been serving myself, I would have surely taken a step back and downed a shot of hand sanitizer. Our waitress, rather, recommended a zesty drink to clear my sinuses, did not cringe when I surely yelled at her about the duck heart pasta and where the bathroom was, and immediately brought out some delicious biscuits about which I bellowed I had enjoyed so much in a previous visit. Once again, our order was coursed with timeliness, our drinks were refreshed without question, and the food... well. the FOOD, This is what it is - I feel like I am on vacation at this restaurant. The only other place you feel so comfortable and spoiled is staying with your Great Aunt Sue in Vancouver. The aunt with the wine cellar in the basement and the farm handed down generation after generation and her own special recipe for whipped butter and, of course, Puffs plus Lotion in the rehabbed victorian bathroom. You know. That aunt.
(5)
Sara G.
I sometimes wish I had a bottomless stomach and elastic waist jeans. I came here on Sunday for the B Words: Brunch and Binge. Its very dangerous in a good way because you can get chicken and waffles and donuts and booze all under one roof. What a combo. It gets better: its affordable. I'm not sure how this is possible but I wish I lived next door to Nightwood, or maybe not. If I lived next door I'd need bigger pants.
(5)
Debra R.
a new favorite. i want to LIVE at nightwood. adorable outdoor seating, cozy indoor seating, bar overlooking the kitchen and adorable private dining space downstairs. i went with my man on thanksgiving eve on my way outta town. we didn't have a reservation and they asked if we wanted to sit in the restaurant or at the bar overlooking the kitchen. the bar sounded interesting so we took her up on it. what a great choice - so neat to watch the chefs at work!! we kept a hold of a menu so to figure out what each dish was as we saw it being prepared. our waiter was adorable. i wanted to put the fellow freckled in my pocket. he was very attentive and patient with us even when i asked him to explain almost everything on the menu. i finally decided on a nice glass of red wine to go with my beet salad and trophie pasta. next up was the rolls. we could have eaten these rolls all night. they are those delicious kind that are flakey and you can peel off the layers. my favorite!! all in all - great place, terrific service, amazing food - did i mention that it is all from local sustainable sources?! my only advice is they should obtain a list from the baker for the ingredients in the dessert items as we had asked for something with no nuts due to allergy but couldn't get a definite answer as the baker was not around. i can't wait to go back for brunch now that i have experienced an amazing dinner!
(5)
Zenia R.
is slowly becoming my favorite weekend breakfast/brunch spot. the food is always super fresh. the donuts are absolutely delicious and i love the changing menu. their take on hashbrowns is a fantastic, crispy potato ball of goodness. i've enjoyed every meal there and look forward to my next visit. reservations highly recommended.
(5)
Joyce H.
Was recently there with my husband on the 1/2 off wine Monday night which is a really great value. The wine menu is huge and varies in pricing. We had a delicious italian red. I wanted to try several things on the menu since they all looked so interesting. We tried the fried meyer lemon chips with aioli. Super delicious. We were feeling a little adventurous and tried the veal sweetbreads. We did know what they were and although they were very tasty, we both had a hard time finishing it, knowing what we were eating. It was just a mental thing. We're glad we tried them but probably won't order them again. Let's see, we also had the pasta with pistachios and ricotta butter. I really enjoyed this dish. It was very flavorful, yet simple ingredients. I would get it again for sure. We then split a burger and my husband really enjoyed it. I love burgers but for some reason just wasn't into it. I can't really explain it. Delicious fries alongside. Really nice server and host staff. A friendly place with an interesting menu if you're looking to try that sort of thing.
(3)
Kristin J.
Awesome! Only two small complaints: 1) Host was a little snooty about our 25 minute tardiness, and while we were waiting (understandable, since we were later), the bar was super crowded so we awkwardly hovered between the packed bar and some poor couple's table, despite several tables being unoccupied at that time. 2) Pasta plates were a bit small, but so rich and delicious that I didn't really mind (and the waitress had warned us they were "smaller entrees"). Everything else, great: 1) Honey butter and biscuits brought over after we ordered were unexpected in this kind of restaurant but delicious (if a wee bit salty). 2) Drinks were tasty and not too strong. I had the pink whippet, she had some sort of concord grape concoction that did not bring to mind the slightly tart and overly sweet artificial taste of most grape beverages. 3) Starter of beets, avocado in some sort of lime-cilantro marinade, and whipped goat cheese was fantastic. The three separate little piles of flavor complemented each other very well and also worked well together on the accompanying bread. 4) Pasta dishes (I got farfalle with mornay, crab and pea shoots, my dinner partner had rigatoni bolognese) were both flawless. Right amount of sauce, pasta was cooked perfectly al dente (just the right amount of chewiness) and tasted super-fresh, and the cook was not stingy on the other components (crab/ pea shoots/ meat). 5) Buttermilk panna cotta with citrusy shortbread wafer, honey citrus salad and sweet citrus syrup was the perfect, balanced end to our meal. Not too sweet, just tart enough, and the panna cotta was small but didn't overwhelm with its creaminess. 6) Waitress and bus boy were both super attentive and out water was constantly refilled.
(4)
Rick F.
Nice environment, great food, parking available. A bit picier than I would have liked, but still ok. Good selection of beers. Just what this neighborhood needed.
(4)
Elisse B.
The bartenders's have an impressive amount of sex appeal...also the food was phenomenal.
(5)
Richard F.
One of my favorite spots in the spring/summertime. Nice date spot. Menu changes from time to time which is pretty cool because you don't get stuck on going to a place for one particular dish. They encourage you to try other dishes. Want to try brunch on a sunday though...
(5)
Anne H.
The food is extraordinary. Truly. We sat overlooking the kitchen and one could see the dedication and care that the chefs were putting into each and every dish. It was fascinating to observe. But what I really want to talk about is the service. Every single person we encountered at this restaurant was amazing. From the hostess to the bartender to the server...everyone went above and beyond the call of duty to make our visit enjoyable. We were pretty late for our reservation and they did not send us away. Our food came promptly and we were asked frequently if everything was ok? The bartenders were superb. One doesn't always get offered a glass of water with your cocktail. I know this may seem small but it was an amazing gesture in a crowded bar on a Saturday night. I know I am running out of adjectives here but I just have to mention the bartender again. We were having lots of trouble getting a cab in the rain and seeing our distress he helped by calling one and offering us a glass of wine while we waited. His concern truly touched me. Thank you everyone at Nightwood.
(5)
Dina I.
Only a few minutes south of my condo, so I've been here quite a few times. The only bad experience I had was when we arrived for a late meal on a weekend, and they were out of pretty much everything on their menu. Other than that, dependable meals every time. They had an impressive rose wine list this past summer!
(4)
Joe S.
Really delicious and very good. Nice and highly enjoyable. Pleasing aromas. Great seating and top shelf drinks. Wine has a nice bouquet. Neat menu.
(4)
Brie Y.
I came here for dinner on a Saturday during restaurant week. Sad to say I was not impressed with the food, they are trying really hard but it just missed the mark. The best thing was my second course which was a foie gras stuffed ravioli. The meyer lemon garlic bread was too strong came with a side of greens. The salad was good, nothing to write home about. The third courses were OK I think I lucked out with the chicken, even though the sauce didn't have too many layers and once again it came with a side of greens. Dessert was the best, I tried both dishes for restaurant week, the sourdough pudding and the "brownies ice cream" to dumb it down, both were better than the main courses. Also tried the red velvet and chocolate ice cream, very tasty and I am not even a big sweet person. Over all take the $44 which turned into $77 a person with a bottle of wine tax and tip. Much better places where the $33 menu is amazing. This is off the list, sorry to say, I will not be back anytime soon.
(2)
Karen O.
Great brunch spot - well worth the drive to Pilsen. Agree with other posters that the beer & bacon donuts are a highlight... the bagel sandwich was exactly as messy and delicious as it should be. Check out the kitchen table - awesome view of the proceedings.
(4)
annie r.
so this sunday, i visited nightwood for the second time for brunch. once again, the experience was fabulous. i didn't realize it, but the menu changes (i'm not sure how often, but last time i was there was about a month ago, nothing was the same) and the food ordered by all parties on all occasions was delicious. this past time: my brunch date and i split a very tasty maple and bacon donut, sometimes i'm not such a huge fan of bacon mixed with sweet, but this one was definitely a good combination. for my meal, i had the tomato and parmesan polenta with stewed beef and baguette toast. he had the brussel sprout scramble with tots. yum yum yum. plus, good coffee, nice waiter and no wait for a table. time before: i dont remember what my friend had and really, i dont care, because i had the most unbelievable chicken (fried chicken like no other) and waffles (crunchy AND fluffy, mindboggling) that i've ever experienced, with a habenero/peach/apple compote. gaggity gaggity. i was kind of hoping it would be on the menu again, but no such luck. its good for me because otherwise, i would never try anything else. mm mm mm definitely will be back. also, decor is fabulous. and so much more comfortable than lula.
(5)
Adam S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Great scene, great food, just go.
(5)
Sarah S.
I've passed Nightwood in Pilsen many times on my way into Chinatown and finally got the chance to try them a couple weeks ago. This hipster haven at brunch has some amazing choices to nosh on from 9am to 230pm on Sundays. Their bacon butterscotch donut for $5 may just be the best I've ever had! It was sticky & savory topped with chunks of bacon, completely on point in the flavor combination. This was the shining star of my meal. I'll probably skip the $9 Mimosa next time as it was nice and strong but not overly special. I had the two egg plate with tots and toast as my main entree. I don't usually eat toast served at breakfast places but I polished this off as the jam I spread on it with whole blueberries in it was phenomenal! Their tots are so unusual and accompany just about every main dish. Three deep fried little balls with unique crust on them...do NOT skip the tots! My friend and I added the side of bacon to share and I'd honestly probably skip that on my next visit as mine was very overcooked & way too crispy. Our bill was $63 with tax and tip for brunch for two including a bloody mary & a mimosa. A bit much but I think I have a better idea of what can be skipped & what can't be passed up for next time. I will go back to Nightwood for the donut and tots alone! Those two items are just marvelous!
(4)
marcy s.
Such a great atmosphere. The menu changes often and is always interesting. John, the manager, is more than accommodating & friendly. Tonight we shRed the burata and beef tartar. Dinner we had a trout dish and a cod dish. Both were outstanding with wonderful, rich tastes. A great date night or couples dinner!
(5)
Hannah B.
Hurrah for Nightwood! I've always loved the Lula, and so I've been excited to try Nightwood, especially as it is a quick trip from downtown, making it a good option for an after-work dinner. DH and I arrived around 7:00 on a recent week night. There was no wait for the outdoor patio, so we took advantage of that. I would warn you that some of the patio chairs have backs, and some are more of the tree-stump stool variety. We had the latter, and DH's back hurt by the end of dinner. Other than that, we were very pleased with the patio, which is covered by a roof that has clever skylights to let in some light, but not to overwhelm you with intense summer sun. (Also means that you could eat out there in a light rain too.) (The interior of the restaurant also looked very cool, but we didn't spend any time inside.) The place was really filling up by about 8:00, even on a weekday, so go early because they don't take reservations! (And, if I may be allowed to digress for a moment: why not?? If you want to service walk-ins as well, limit the number of reservations you take, but please, please permit me to make a reservation!) The dining experience itself was top-notch. Our server - apparently Vivian Y's maligned "faux hawk"- sporting server - was attentive in an unobtrusive way. All other aspects of service, including the wait time for food, etc., was well-executed. No complaints there. The food was a glory of simplicity and fresh ingredients. I hesitated to tell you too much because by the time you go, the menu will have changed. (I experienced great disappointment at having missed the fried asparagus described by others in prior reviews.) But I will say that the fried fresh mozzarella with bacon and apricot -- bacon works with nearly everything! -- was a particular highlight, as was DH's spaghetti with bolognese. As I said before, all the preparations were fairly simple. The flavors are straightforward -- no competition between discordant elements in your mouth -- and so you could really taste what the food was supposed to taste like. Quite refreshing! For dessert, we opted for the cookie plate. I wished that we could have eaten a whole bunch of the almond cookies, which are so much better fresh from the oven! The drinks were also quite good. I sampled one of the house cocktails, which was made with fresh juice and went down smoothly. DH is an avowed hop-head, and he approved of the beer list, particularly the prices on some microbrews that are pricier elsewhere. Yes, it was somewhat pricier than Lula, but worth it. We will be back!
(4)
Alex M.
The staff seemed bougie and as if they didn't want to be there. Their draught wasn't working so I ordered a bottled beer. Let's say it wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. I have colder beers at home in my fridge. We weren't impressed with the staff or drinks, so left and ate elsewhere.
(2)
Matthew A.
Returning to this place for dinner was a good idea. We were greeted quickly as soon as we arrived and seated right away. the menu was quick and easy a little hard to read with the handwritten font that's being used but that was not a major concern. I was impressed with their wines as we ordered a nice bottle of champagne. The place was filled but not too much for a Tuesday night. A couple of large parties which made the time we ordered to the time the food arrive a bit long. I would go back and try something a little less costly.
(3)
John I.
Good, solid, food with excellent ingredients, prepared competently. I was with a vegetarian, and I didn't want to be offensive by trying the much-touted butterscotch bacon donut (more fool me). But the rolled omelette with goat cheese would have made Julia Child swoon, and the decadent "tots" (balled-up hash browns, deep fried to a perfectly-crispy outside and moist, chewy, spud-ifying inside) turned my tongue into a comfort-foodie erogenous zone. The blueberry jam on the delicious toast was another delight. Icing on the cake? Our server's cheerful face reminded me of Megan from Mad Men. I don't want to reduce her essence to good looks, because she was excellent in her job and fun to chat with, but it would have been hard for an average bloke not to have his heart warmed by her, beyond the excellent Intelligentsia coffee she was pouring. Sit at the counter by the kitchen in the back--a laid-back symphony of flavors being orchestrated.
(5)
Rebecca O.
I went for brunch at Nightwood with a few friends today, and was very happy with the service and the food. Our server was friendly and the food came out fast, which was awesome because I was starving. The restaurant itself is beautiful and gets lots of light. I had the bacon and fig? or something doughnut, as well as the bagel sandwich. Everything tasted incredible. Reasons I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5: 1. I wish the tots had been more cooked on the inside. Plus, each plate only came with 3 tots, which was kind of lame. 2. This place is definitely on the higher end price-wise... I usually hope to spend no more than $15 tops per person on brunch. With the coffee, entree, tax, tip, etc. it was more like $20-25 per person, and that was without cocktails. Due to my paltry social work salary, I probably won't go back for a while.
(4)
Sophia Y.
Pros: Great atmosphere, cool interior, extensive drinks list Cons: The food is TOO SALTY!, overpriced, the wait can be preeeetty long.
(3)
Elizabeth C.
I was really looking forward to my first brunch Nightwood, but left feeling disappointed and a bit letdown. I have heard nothing but good things about their excellent brunch, which is why I rallied a group of other first-timers for brunch last weekend. (Always a risk to pick the restaurant when you've never been), but that's how confident I was that our experience would be amazing! First of all, they were very busy- I get it. It's not easy to provide impeccable service when the place is overflowing with eager brunchsters. But I DO expect someone to swing by the table earlier than 15 minutes after we've been seated. Unfortunately we had to flag down someone, who made it clear she was not our server, but would take our drink order (thanks?). However, she did end up being our server for the duration... The bloody mary was good- could have used more garnish, however, considering the price (cauliflower?) The doughnuts= amazing and worth it!!! Beyond that, our group was unimpressed with their food. My bagel sandwich was good, but it's hard to screw that up. No one in the group had rave reviews and (politely) said their entrees were 'fine!' I was surprised to find the lack of non-meat options on the menu. I realize as a pescatarian I am annoying, but a few items I asked if the bacon could be removed, and the server advised it was already 'mixed in' (um, pre made?) and therefore they could not accomodate. Which literally left me with the bagel sandwich or the yogurt as my options. Bottom line, the service was subpar, and the food was just 'OK'. I recommend keeping expectations low, and you might be pleasantly surprised!
(2)
Celine S.
A friend referred me to Nightwood after raving about the quality and unique taste. There's no doubt, the ambiance is very nice in a sort of unpretentious way. We decided to be seated outside on the covered patio. I would recommend dining outside to those who would like the fresh air minus the direct sunlight exposure. DRINKS: We ordered about four drinks, each of them very unique and what I'd call "grown up drinks''. They were good, complex, and stiff with just enough flavor to make them smooth palatable-certainly worth the the twelve bucks. We also had their Moscato Diasti, which was delicious! Even for myself, one who isn't a huge fan of sweet white wine. FOOD: I ordered the lamb and my partner ordered the pasta. We also had the smelt for as an appetizer. There's no doubt the food quality was impeccable. Don't let the small portions deter you. Although, I'm a fan of large dishes, I'm also aware that when food is of high quality and richness, it doesn't take as much to to feel satiated. The smelt was our favorite dish of all. It's breaded, lightly salted and had very little oil. The lamb was served with polenta. Although it was supposed to have squid, there was only one small piece in the whole plate. I enjoyed the texture of the meat, however the flavor wasn't for me. It reminded me of salty bbq. I enjoy salty sweet flavors, but not with my lamb. I tried the pasta with ricotta cheese and again they seemed have gotten carried away with the salt a bit. It' didn't really taste like like a pasta dish to me. Again, the quality, service and ambiance was super. I think those who are huge fans of traditional ultra gourmet style American cuisine will appreciate this place. It just wasn't for me.
(3)
maggie t.
Seriously fantastic. My friend and I ordered three appetizers and two mains and each was perfect. Great, if only a few, vegetarian options. Undoubtedly the best Chicago dining experience I've had in two years.
(5)
Alana H.
As a big fan of Lula Cafe, I was excited to hear that the culinary masters behind this fine establishment had opened a new restaurant. I arrived early to find ample free street parking (21st and Halsted) and a charming exterior with an impressive back patio. Entering through the patio gave me almost a feeling of going into someone's home through their back porch. I was greeted by the hostess who kindly suggested I wait at the bar for the rest of my party. Every cocktail on the menu was enticing but, being a Bourbon girl, I settled on the Bear Paw which was complex, flavorful, and ever so tasty with hints of allspice, maple, and citrus. Only complaint is that they issued a sales tax on the drinks (Is it just me or is that atypical?). Once my dad arrived, we were seated at a great two-top by the window. Every item on the menu, which changes constantly depending on local and seasonal availabilty, made my mouth water. I split an appetizer, pasta, and main course. Everything was flavorful, unique and absolutely delicous but the main cource was most impressive to me. It was lamb and octopus pieces interspersed on a skewer with an apricot barbeque sauce and a smattering of some sort of delicious grits type thing. Awesome twist on surf 'n turf and delectable! Dessert was a butterscotch creme pudding-type thing with shortbread dipping cookies and fresh, tasty coffee complete with brown sugar cubes and fresh creme. Beer list was also impressive and my father and I left full, contented, buzzed and completely satisfied. I will definitely be back and would heartily recomment Nightwood.
(5)
Temple H.
This is my 1st restaurant review. My dining experience @ Nightwood was so 'strong' that I felt that I had to write a review, and write it as soon as I returned from this dining experience. Let's start w/ the positive: The restaurant itself is quite lovely - very old school chicago (exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, tray/tin ceiling): hip but not pretentious, great light (from gorgeous fixtures and great huge windows in the front room where we were sitting), good looking bar, loved the music (80s/90s 'Pretty in Pink'), The whole environment was friendly and welcoming, really liked the crowd (all ages, but didn't see any kids - it was a school night). Our party didn't arrive 'til nearly 40 min after our reservation time (crazy rush hour traffic); but not worries - the staff was wonderful, understanding, we had drinks in the walled terrace til everyone arrived and our table was waiting. Now for the not-so-good: the food. The appetizers were fussy and not that tasty. W/ the exception of the Rabbit Pate (yumm!). The entrees, spec. the cheeseburger, and chicken were abysmal. The chicken was undercooked/veggies burned, the cheeseburger was a soggy mess on a stale huge bun that was as hard as a rock, the fries - tasteless mush. Wine by the glass was actually a glass filled 1/4 full - for $13! And I don't get the wine list at all - very little that was actually interesting (way too trendy). Dessert was equally dissapointing - tasteless glop (the torte), a tiny scoop of ice cream. The rasberry/lemon tart was just okay. For some reason, even though Chi-town is having an unusually cool August, the air conditioner was on full frigid blow AND they had fans blowing. At every table most people ate w/ their coats on (I'm not exaggerating), my husband was kind enough to run to the car for a blanket for my legs - and I had long pants on. At the end our party of 6 spent more than $100 each. Yep $600+ not inc. the mandatory 20% tip. For the 1st time ever, I left a restaurant hungry. We had to stop at a drive thru on the way home. Nearly every review I've read @ Nightwood has been positive. I don't know what went wrong: an off night, the stars were misaligned? All I know is that I hope the restaurant uses every cent we paid b/c we will never return.
(1)
Kristina C.
I recently came here for brunch. Butterscotch bacon donut - orgasmic. Bloody mary - tasty. Eggs Benedict - to die for.
(4)
Cory R.
Went to dinner Tuesday night with 4 other people. Service and hospitality were excellent. They were very friendly and accommodating. They also didn't rush us through dinner, which is always a great sign of a nice place. Highlights of the night were the fried smelt and heirloom tomato appys. The duck breast and ratatouille were both amazing and highly recommended. The ratatouille had an almost Moroccan flair to it. Entres are around $20, so mid priced but very worth it. Try the duck!
(4)
Colin K.
I have to update about a dish I had last night at Nightwood: Hand-cut noodles with grilled beef short rib, white anchovy, olives, and spicy peppers. The anchovy overpowered everything! Don't get me wrong, I love white anchovies in Caesar salads. But this was too much; I couldn't even taste the beef. It was kinda like the Food Network show where they start with random ingredients and have to create something out of it. Despite that, the noodles were amazing with the kind of texture you only get from homemade noodles. This place remains one of my favorites in the city.
(5)
Kristin S.
Nightwood was phenomenal! I absolutely loved it. We got seated right away. The atmosphere was casual, but a bit loud (particularly the loud gentleman to our left!). I had the chicken wings and waffles. This was out of this world. I am from Atlanta and grew up there. I have to say this was the best fried chicken I have ever had. The seasoning in the batter was outstanding. I asked and it was a great combo of salt, pepper, onion powder, ginger, paprika, and garlic. WOWOWOWOW. The waffle was just as good. It was served with an orange marmalade type deal with toasted cashews on top. Yum. Under the waffle was a vanilla sauce of sorts. It was sooo good. No syrup required. The combo was excellent and more than just savory and sweet. The spices of the fried chicken melded with the tangy and vanilla bean of the waffle/sauce. They have outdone themselves with this combo. I hardly ever give a 5 star, but this is worthy. The coffee (Intelligensia) was not brewed as rich as I would have liked, but I am a snob or rather, I am picky. My husband had the burger and he loved it, the fries were perfect, long, crispy with the skins left on. The service was excellent. The owner came and graciously spoke with us. I so recommend this place and will be back again and again.
(5)
Nicholas W.
Fresh ingredients + cool design + and brilliant cooking
(5)
bonnie b.
I feel like many of the other reviews capture the essence so I'll just write a short note here. Having lived in Logan Square for several years I have always loved Lula's Cafe. Now that I'm in Pilsen a lot I also love Nightwood. Great space, great design, helpful staff and an interesting menu that changes frequently. As for some of the complaints about portion size, I thought it was perfect. Some of the dishes are so rich I couldn't imagine eating a larger amount of them.
(4)
Sarah W.
Loved it. I live nearby so we were ecstatic to find this place. I have been there for brunch twice and really liked it but think dinner is even better. I've had pork, pasta, chicken, etc. Obviously we keep going back because the food is delicious.
(5)
Anna G.
We went to the first wine dinner of a series of 4. There was 3 communal tables downstairs and each table had their own wine maker to talk to! You cannot beat that. Our winemaker from Greece was fun and full of information which made the night special. The food was really delicious and actually amazing. I docked it one star because they started late and their was no bread or carbs for the reception of champagne which made it for a tipsy evening. Well, we were headed there anyway but maybe we got there a little too fast!
(4)
Jessica G.
okay.... i really think i need to give this place another shot, i really want to like it. I had the spaghetti bolognese... parsley and peas all up it in... it was really just okay.. REALLY not worth the i think 18 or 20$ i had that and a drink and my bill was 32$.....which is fine, if the food is amazing or really good. not so nightwood, but i will try again to give it a fair chance!
(2)
Allie B.
I had the pleasure of dining at Nightwood last night, which I think was their first "official" open night, although they've apparently been serving meals for about a week now. My husband and I have been waiting for this place to open forever, as we're huge fans of Lula. When we first arrived, we were greeted happily, and escorted directly to a lovely table that was about halfway between the bar and the kitchen. The space itself is gorgeous, the bar is beautiful, and they have really lovely seating along the windows, and at a counter that faces the open kitchen. Opposite the kitchen there is shelving, which holds logs, which I presume was for the wood grill they are using in the kitchen. I saw one guy stop to positively inhale the scent of one of the pieces of wood, which I found strange, but worth noting. Anyway. The service was fantastic -- very attentive, but not annoying or overbearing at all. Very much in line with the service you'll get at Lula, in that our server was very knowledgeable and willing to share his opinions and recommendations, but wasn't suffocating in doing so, as I find to be a problem with a lot of other restaurants. They have a rotating menu, and we had a really difficult time trying to decide what to order. My husband ordered two appetizers -- the garlic soup, and the lamb meatballs with noodles. The soup portion was large, and the meatballs were a typical appetizer size, and came with three meatballs and a bed of noodles and sauce beneath. My husband said they were both very delicious. I ordered the morel and short ribs with garlic bread appetizer, which was fantastic, and for my entree I had the asparagus and potato tart with hollandaise, which came with a side salad, and honestly is one of the best things I have eaten in recent memory. My husband, who isn't really a "tart" kind of guy, couldn't stop raving about how good it was either. I opted out of dessert, as I was too full at this point, but my husband ordered the tangerine panna cotta,w hich looked beautiful, and which he said was delicious. It came in a ramekin with tangerine pieces on top, as well as a bit of rind. A word to the wise -- Nightwood doesn't currently have their liquor license, although they are expecting to have it by next week. So, BYOB, my friends. There is a liquor store just next door, so you can stop in there on your way in. Or, if you're someone like me who didn't know that, the staff of the restaurant might be inclined to gift you with a courtesy beer or two during your meal. Overall, great meal, great space, great vibe, really wonderful service. I can't wait to go back! They also have a nice outdoor space, which I can imagine will be wonderful to visit over the summer.
(5)
Rose G.
I hate to give a Lula production such a bad review, but I had a horrible experience at Nightwood. I was really looking forward to trying Nightwood, because I tend to really enjoy my meals at Lula. While the place is aesthetically pleasing-- beautiful interior design--the service was really unusually bad and my boyfriend, who will eat almost anything- couldn't choke down his fish. It was downright nasty. When I walked in on time for my reservation, the host was talking to a co-worker for five or six minutes before they even looked up at me. They were incredibly snotty and rude. My boyfriend and I ordered two different fish dishes-- I had trout with lentils, and it was nearly inedible. His fish was so bad that he left his plate mostly full, even though he was hungry. We would have considered sending it back (which is something neither of us ever do!) but the server didn't come back to ask how the food was. Overall, a really awful meal priced nearly $80. Skip it.
(1)
Heidi O.
I'm glad that I can update this because I was pretty bummed my last time here. So a friend wanted to check this place out. Time has passed, seasons have changed, and I'm happy to report, this place continues to better itself. I was seriously surprised at how much the service improved from my last visit. Everyone was attentive and made sure beverages were full, things were to our liking, etc. and this time there wasn't any attitude with it. The serving seemed to be much more of a communal effort this time, and because we went after a storm, there wasn't a wait and they weren't rushing people. The outdoor seating is cute and in the future I wouldn't mind sitting outside. I still don't think there is anything particularly special about the donuts, and it's difficult to comment on the menu because it changes frequently and I don't want to get any body's hopes up only to have them shattered at a later date. But the food again proved to be solid. They could cut back on the salt a bit, especially with the tots, but even the coffee had improved flavor this time. I secretly wish they had a few more staple breakfast items to build from but things are really evening out now with this place. Who knows, someday maybe I'll give this place 5 stars. On a bizarre note, I find the bathroom to be quite lovely.
(4)
john m.
I was told that Nightwood was too expensive for what it was, NOT TRUE. I had a great dining experience and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great contemporary American meal. I also suggest arriving early so you can hang out at the bar and enjoy a cocktail or two before dinner, they're great (on par with the Whistler) and they pour them stiff. For dinner we got a few appetizers to share and we each had something that was Spit-fire roasted which was excellent! The menu changes daily so it's hard to make specific recommendations, but I suggest getting down there as soon as you can, this is a great addition to the Lula family!
(5)
Hagene L.
I've been here twice now and it's been great both times. I got the hand cut pasta, each time prepared differently but both were delicious. The food is fresh and the menu is unique.The atmosphere is great with good music and decor.
(4)
Erin M.
MMM the food was out of this world great. I had the rabbit for an appetizer and the duck for my entree... I cleaned my plate it was so good. Also, what was cool was that we sat back by the kitchen. So it was cool to see our food being made as well as everyone elses!!
(5)
Colt E.
We came to Nightwood for their weekend brunch menu, something I've heard many good things about. I therefore have no idea how their dinner menu is. I can tell you though, that we were all very pleased with the brunch. The donuts were fresh and tasty. The food was all done well, tasty, and each had it's unique points of interest (5 of us shared 5 dishes). If you're expecting the kind of brunch that borders on dessert food (ie waffles stuffed with cream cheese and covered in a chocolate sauce), don't come here. Where else can you get chicken and waffles and blueberry ginger ale though? To top it off the place has great friendly service, and it's HUGE, so our party of five barely had to wait for a table. Most brunch places have an hour wait, so that was a huge plus. This might be a new go-to brunch spot for me.
(4)
Jennifer P.
Utter Disappointment. Being a huge fan of Lula I was stupidly excited to try out Nightwood...only to be let down. Let's start with the decor. The patio seating looks like a outdoor japanese business savvy cafeteria. Inside...is fully lined with wood!-No way. The place does have a gorgeous bar though. I have mixed feelings about the ambiance of this place. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday about a month ago and we were both originally very excited as I stated earlier. We got there on a warm day and after 5 minutes he had to hand me his suit jacket because it was freezing inside. I understand that they want to keep it cool on these hot days, but really? make me cover up my adorable new dress with an over sized coat, really? This all makes me very bitter, but I digress... The beer selection is pretty good. Can never go wrong with anything by Two Brothers and Great Lakes. Instead of bread we got TWO (as in one per person) biscuits. They were dry and lacking every element that a biscuit should have. Plus, they were the size of quarters. Yeah, sounds satisfying? I got the chicken, which is also on Lula's menu and it was great. The boyfriend got some sort of pasta dish that I can hardly remember because it didn't stand out in the slightest. Prices seemed average, but I honestly didn't feel as though I was getting my money's worth. Service was very mediocre. I understand it's an opening of a new restaurant, but our waitress seemed really clueless and showed up at the table at all the wrong times. Overall, I probably won't go back here. I wish I could have given this place a positive review, but it doesn't deserve one in my opinion. Go to Lula instead!
(2)
Allison B.
Went here on a romantic date and it was completely wonderful. Perfectly designed space with great bathrooms (loved the black sink and toilet). Our waiter was amazing and completely attentive. Our dinners were mouthwatering, I had the half of chicken and my date had the steak. The dessert of rhubarb cake ale mode was hard to stop eating. I would go here again in a minute.
(5)
Kristen H.
Came here on a Friday night with 2 lady friends with no reservation. The hostess said it'd be about an hour wait and she was right. The 3 of us decided to order family style and share everything. As an appetizer we had the whipped chicken liver with crispy sunchokes. The presentation of the plate was beautiful resembling that of a wreath. The liver was quite flavorful, light and tasty. The sunchokes, onion and fried chicken skin were a great addition. For dinner we ordered a pasta dish that had be added to the menu that night that included short ribs and round flat pasta along with the buttermilk-fried scallops. The pasta had good flavor combinations and the scallops were prepared differently than usual, but melted in your mouth as scallops should. Overall the meal I enjoyed Nightwood - it's a place you visit once a season to try all the fresh ingredients. The service was great and the atmosphere was pleasant - love the open kitchen towards the back of the restaurant that has seats at the counter for viewing. I'm interested in trying Nightwood again for brunch.
(4)
Michael B.
good food, somewhat overpriced for brunch items, staff very hipsterish, which is fine, but we could have done without the snobby attitude toward non-hipsters.
My wife and I decided it should really be more like 3-1/2 stars, and we'll explain why. First, there is definitely a shortage of "real" restaurants south of Randolph street on the Halsted St. strip, so Nightwood deserves accolades just for being in the area, joining Amelia's on 46th as a "valid" dining destination. They also have a liquor license, which is semi-miraculous around here, and their wine selection is fairly reasonable. We got the Reader dining update e-mail which informed us Nightwood was open, though not taking reservations, or as we found, even phone calls, so we decided to take a chance and just show up. We were able to be seated right away, joining another couple of friends who just happened to be going there at the same time. The place is certainly beautiful, with a carefully and lovingly designed interior, and a nice outdoor drinks area. Indoors got pretty noisy at the height of busyness. We had the green onion and morel soup, a blended soup, very tasty, and the deep-fried asparagus with an aioli dip, satisfying the fried stuff craving. For entrees we did the trout, which came with swiss chard and a very light buerre blanc, and the half chicken, very plump, which came with white beans and a sort of bread dumpling. These items had a pleasant wood smoke taste and were exquisitely prepared, if not particularly exciting. Probably what was most noticeable was that the plates were almost entirely main dish, with their sides being minimal to almost nonexistent. This made them sort of one-note affairs, crying out for a little more garnish and balance. It would be nice to be able to add vegetable and starch sides if desired. Also, the flavors, as somebody else noted, were pretty mild and delicate, a stylistic choice, we assume. For dessert we had the almond tart with chocolate sorbet and the tangerine panna cotta. The panna cotta was supposed to have saffron in it but the tangerine certainly predominated. Service was great, and one of the owners, Jason, came by to chat with us. Overall we had a pleasant time but feel the flavors and plate content need a little more push to propel this place into a favorite.
(4)
paul z.
TO be honest, I can't believe I'm writing this. But my experience here was horrible. For starters, our waiter was obviously new to nightwood, as well as new to being a waiter. He was nervous and overwhelmed. But, that's not his fault. But at one point in the evening I had to point out to him that my gin and tonic was ready and sitting at the wait station. I wouldn't have said anything but I noticed my drinking sitting at the wait station for 10 mins! For starters my date and I split a appetizer which was a beet salad, w/ goat cheese and a balsamic dressing I think. VERY good. The only reason I'm giving this place a star! :) Off the chain and fantastic with every beet. For dinner, we both had a pasta dish. Bad idea I guess. My date had a pasta and sausage dish which just didn't have any flavor, but was by far better then my dish. I had a rigatoni with walnut, olives and shit ton of olive oil (something else was in there as well but I can't remember). The pasta itself couldn't have been made fresh because it was very under cooked and I wouldn't even dare call it al dente. After hearing a few good reviews from people who went, I thought it couldn't miss. IT missed and then some. Save your money and go down the street to Simone's or get some taters at Skylark....
(1)
Cecelia M.
We had reservations for 3 and, as other diners have experienced, we still had to wait for 30 minutes at the bar. The place gets one star deducted for that. As for the food, it was, like the food at Lula, weirdly overwrought. I have been to Lula numerous times and I always leave with a vague feeling of discontent. At Nightwood, my reaction is a bit stronger. The appetizers were very good - chicken livers, green beans and fried smelts. The flavor combinations in these dishes worked very well. I had trout with hominy and black beans for my main course, The hominy and black beans were wonderful. My first bite of the trout had a little bone in it and was just overpoweringly salty and smoky. Also, the shredded onion on the creme freche was so strongly flavored. Together with the trout, it was just too much. I did not finish my entree. The trout dish could have been a fantastic dish. Great in concept, poor execution. I may try this place again sometime.
(3)
Isabella M.
Just went here for Sunday Brunch! Started off with a bloody mary, extra spicy, extra delicious. $8! holy cow, but good. I only realized this place had the same owners as Lula in Logan Square when the check came, but it makes perfect sense! Two great brunchin' spots! I think it might have ended up being cheaper than Lula, for two people with drinks it was only $48. More of a special occasion brunch, but worth the treat! Then I ordered the eggs benedict, and it is my new favorite eggs benedict of the city. (yes it's better than the eggs royale at feast!!!!) My boyfriend had a simple eggs and hash browns with toast and a side of soy sausage. Delicious soy sausage, and they had delicious jam. It was also one of the better deals ($6). The hash browns are adorable, they're little crispy balls and they are also very delicious! Afterwards he got a coffee, I got a latte, both good. The service was great, and very attentive, especially since we are sort of late brunchers (we walked in there at 2:00).
(5)
Lisa C.
I hoped for so much more and was let down. We sat at the bar and waited while staring at an unoccupied table, then it took 15 minutes for one of the random people to take our drink order. Then the waitress tried to sit us before we got our drinks from the bar and looked flustered and confused as to whether or not we could just have our drinks brought to the table. Their daily menu sounds like a good idea, but if you don't like Pork (which was the key ingredient on the day we went), there was nothing else to choose from. My vegetarian friend had the option of a salad, which they were out of, along with 5 other dishes listed on the menu. My pasta was cold except in the middle, and I paid $9 for 3 fried asparagus. And then $15 for 3 ravioli. Overall, I don't think I would intentionally go back. Overpriced food, not much variety, poor infusion of daily ingredients, confused service. At least the owners are changing the menu more than every 3 years unlike their other restaurant Lula.
(2)
Steven M.
This place is too hip for its own good! The decor is cool, with chairs that look like they have come from someone's rec room from the early 80s. The waiter was a late 20s obnoxious, condescending hipster who told us that the burger was "gourmet" and that our cautiousness about its description on the menu was unnecessary. My friend is a burger purist so her cautiousness was apropos. When asked about tomatoes for the burger, we were told they are out of season...cut the crap, you're just out of them...tomatoes are in season year round in this country...keep some damned tomatoes in house bee-yotches! Then, there was no Splenda for the iced tea, and the omelets with root vegetables and paneer cheese was NOT good. In fact, it was odd. The root vegetables were undercooked and just way too big...dice those roots and really roast them next time. They were just bad. The paneer cheese was peculiar and did not remotely resemble paneer cheese I had ever eaten. I also felt remarkably queasy an hour later...it was just way too rich for my taste. Surprisingly, this place is owned by the same folks who run Lula Cafe which I love...meh, this place just underwhelms me.
(2)
Lisa M.
*Loved* this place. We had high expectations and they were met. The food was thoughtful, well-prepared, extremely fresh and local. We had the burger (which might be the best in the city), the spit roasted pork loin chop (which was perfectly cooked--slightly pink, not dry at all, perfectly seasoned), and two appetizers--the agnolotti pasta with foie gras filling and the sweet corn and garlic soup. Both were great. We even got a taste of the rabbit tortellini in jalepeno broth, which might have been my favorite dish of the night. It was all really so yummy, and so worth it, considering just average restaurants are charging the same prices for food that is not nearly as thoughtful or well-prepared. Oh, I almost forgot--dessert was great too--we had 2 scoops of house made ice cream (a salted butterscotch gelato and a rasberry sorbet). The rasberry really captured the essence of fresh rasberries and wasn't too sweet. The salted butterscotch was great too. We also had the rice pudding with Michigan peach compote, which was lovely (and rich!). The kitchen staff were so friendly and helpful. Loved their attitude. We will definitely be back!!
(5)
Van D.
Have been to Nightwood for both dinner and Sunday brunch. Food was excellent each time. I am also a big fan of their sister restaurant Lula Cafe so its inevitable that I (and probably many others) want to compare the two. Nightwood has less choices and probably a bit pricier but food quality is excellent. Liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Expect it to be jam packed like Lula Cafe very soon
(5)
todd s.
Second time here for brunch and had the house made doughnuts again-fabulous. Tried the burger this time and was definitely impressed. The bun tasted fresh made and was sturdy enough to hold the large juicy burger. It was cooked perfectly but could have had a bit more seasoning in the meat. And do not pass up the house made tater tots. Will return.
(4)
L N.
Extremely enjoyable dinner here last Friday. The staff is warm and welcoming. The room is cozy and buzzy but you can easily converse with your dinner mate. Our server was charming and efficient. They offer still and sparking water at the table which is nice, and no ice, which I prefer so that made me happy. My friend and I shared the chicken liver pate appetizer. You get sort of a big shmear of it on a plate with seed-y mustard, cornichon, and sliced baguette. More bread was provided promptly upon our request. The pate was creamy and fresh; nicely cut with the vinegary side things. For dinner my friend had ribbon pasta with duck and broccoli. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the long ribbons were very pretty on the plate. The duck was tender and just enough to provide some heft to the dish without being too filling or overwhelming. I had smoked trout on a bed of sweet corn with bacon (bits). Probably the better of the two dishes. The dish does not look super impressive -- its a whole trout with the skin on a bed corn basically -- however, incredibly delicious! Mildly smoky, tender and juicy trout which pulled away easily from the skin with no bones. The corn had been cut from the cob and was bright, sweet and a perfect compliment to the fish. Bacon punctuated the smoky theme. Oh, and the bottle of wine we wanted was out so they upgraded us to something better at no extra charge. Nice. We shared chocolate pudding for desert which was more like a dense cake. Not bad but I would probably order a different desert next time. And I hope to have many next times!
(4)
Jo W.
Everything was good -- and I NEVER say that. From the burrata to the rabbit pasta to the pork loin. And don't forget the warm cookies. Service also stellar. Wish these folks had something closer to the north :). As a heads up, it is pricey but you're paying for fresh stuff. Love it.
(5)
kristin t.
When this place opened up just a few blocks from home I could not wait to try it. We headed out with another couple on Saturday to try this place and I could not have been more surprised by the atmosphere or happy with my food. The ambiance was amazing, the decor spot on, the service friendly and attentive and the food was amazing. We had the escarole and chopped vegi salad which had the perfect mix of flavor and texture, the burrata crostini which was to die for, sweet potato ravioli, the poached whitefish and the whole trout were also wonderful and the hand-cut noodles with rabbit loin was impressive. Our cocktails were fabulous and personally I could have stayed until they kicked me out. Without a doubt we will be returning here over and over.
(4)
Lisa W.
Clean, spare, fresh, beautiful. Gorgeous people, gorgeous food. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
(5)
Julie N.
Great space, great service but not great food. Starters were perfect: homemade bresaola, short rib ravioli, tomato soup. Mains were way, way off. Duck confit was very good, but surrounded with cold chunks of cucumber (why???). Pork tenderloin was incredibly fatty and undercooked, inedible. Cheesburger was just fine. STAY AWAY until they get the kitchen tuned up.
(2)
Mary M.
..just "the best restaurant in Chicago" right now!!,,if you are looking for wholesome, fresh locally grown products..the wood burning grill and the pairing are just out of this world! and the desserts..the pie to die for...complimenti!!
(5)
jo d.
One word of caution: the drinks may take a while, and although they are great (Chipolte Margarita!= phenomenal) the proportion of strength to $ is not equal, so stick to beer or the wine list. I needed to get the bad part out of the way so it does not sway your decision as much as the good that follows below. I make no claim to being a foodie, but I love good, interesting food. I love experimenting in the kitchen and can appreciate the effort it takes to put out inspired quality plates. We have been to Nightwood a number of times and have loved it each and every time! Our first experience was a brunch. I was VERY excited about the bacon donuts (REALLY BACON ....ON DONUTS!!!???), as well as the Poutine with Duck confit, duck gravy and poached egg. Can life get any better? Since the brunch we have been to Nightwood more than a handful of times. Many people have issue with the size of the portions, but I think they are just right. I think in the US we have come to accept overeating and massive plates as getting your money's worth. Not true or right. Nightwood practices a quality over quantity approach to food. It is evident in each bite. I am a little one, and at other restaurants I typically can split an appetizer and finish 1/2 the entree, then feel like crap for overeating yet upset for not being able to try one of the awesome looking deserts. But at Nightwood the freshness and lightness of each of the meals is a refreshing change. At the end of each course, you are left a little depressed that there is no more to eat because it was so good, but if you choose the correct next course according to your tastes you are not upset for too long. AND THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR A LITTLE DESSERT! I love feeling satisfied... not full to the point of splitting at the seams. Every dish that I have had or have tasted from other people at the table was amazing. Eat bite is a perfect bite. Overall highly recommended! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we have.
(5)
Harold J.
Being an pilen/bridgeport/chinatownian , I am pleased to have a restaurant in my neighborhood I can go to that will impress out of town guests. In this case, it was my girlfriend and her friend from Philadelphia. The staff was very helpful and attentive. The plates were of ample size. The wine selection is extensive and impressive. As the night went on, I can see that there are a lot of restaurant fans in the community because it was packed on a Wednesday night with no specials or gimmicks of any sort. Just great food, ambiance(FYI, if you're a smoker you will love the faux fireplace outside for you to warm yourself as you puff away), and service. Looking forward to a brunch there on a sunny June afternoon. But, I'm sure I'll be there beforehand.
(4)
Grace C.
This place was recommended by a friend. The hostesses were not helpful at all I think they forgot to put us on the list. the wait staff were fantastic - they got us a seat at the chefs table. we had the goat cheese gnocchi as appetizer, trout and duck, then sorbet and pecan tart. The savory food was excellent . My husband rated the duck as 9/10. My trout was good too 7/10. The desserts were a bit of a disappointment after the dinner . Sorbet was ok and tart was good but standard.
(4)
cindy g.
I am and I am not a fan. Originally we ate at Nightwood 8-10 weeks ago and had amazing food and memorable service. I took the time to mention it to the owner when we were eating at his other restaurant last week. I was looking forward to going to Nightwood to celebrate our husbands' birthdays. We made our reservation for last night weeks ago and when I confirmed yesterday I thought that I made it clear we wanted to be in the front room. We arrived to a packed restaurant. When we were seated it was near the kitchen- with the wait staff going back and forth, and back and forth. It was NOT where I had anticipated our celebration- it was unappealing and the back and forth was driving us crazy. I left the table to speak with our waitress and the owner's wife overheard us talking and graciously changed our table although I would have preferred that it had been done initially when I said something instead of essentially being ignored. Our meal was delicious although with a few negative comments- they were already our of one appetizer and one main and served the skimpiest smelts appetizer. We were told that it was because they had only received a limited amount that day and coupled it with beets. (I think there were 6 smelts on our plate and my husband had been so looking forward to them since our last visit- he had been told by our waitress then that they were always on the menu. Desserts were underwhelming. I think a first class restaurant plans well for its clientele and doesn't run out of ITEMS. I bring up this point over and over- if you have had an outstanding meal on one occasion, do you try and repeat it or move on to the other myriad of restaurants in Chicagoland?
(4)
Elisabeth A.
I have eaten dinner at Nightwood 3 times, and while the overall experience has always been pleasant, I have one major complaint. The knives they give you to cut meat are TOTALLY INADEQUATE! Here's the deal. Nightwood serves family farm-raised, organic beet-and-arugula-fed, designer-shod, psychologically, ecologically, physiologically and emotionally well-balanced meat that was sensitively slaughtered, like, this morning. This meat is expensive and flavorful, but because it is so fresh it has a weird, tough, kinda rubbery texture. It doesn't fall off the bone. You gotta saw that sh*t if you want to consume it. This is where the knives come in. They have these super fancy white enameled French knives that cost an arm and a leg at Williams and Sonoma, but despite their beauty they suck suck suck. So you're there, attacking your meat, hacking away at it like some kind of deranged serial killer, because the g-damn unserrated knives are too busy being tres cute to actually cut anything. Nightwood deserves more than one star, because the atmosphere is very nice and much of their food (I'm thinking of the trout, and all the fabulous veggie sides) is wonderful. But they need new knives and they need to figure out how to cook their chicken so that the meat falls off the bones like it's supposed to. If KFC can do it, so can they!!
(1)
Rachel P.
I was very excited to dine at Nightwood and feel it was a nice, but not a great experience. We were seated on the patio which was beautiful. It has heat lamps going to take the edge off of the fall chill. Our drinks were good, not great. For the price I expected a little more. They were much more basic tasting then described on the drink menu. The appetizer we had was great; creamy cheese, delicious cherry tomatoes and bread, really well balanced and tasty. My friend got gnocchi with short rib which was good, and I had a burger. The burger was good...but here is my biggest complaint-this chef clearly has firm beliefs on how his food "should" be cooked despite the guests' order. Before my meal was delivered, two diners next to us received their burgers, one promptly sent hers back for being too under cooked and the other left much on her plate. I over heard her later explaining she didn't know how raw it was until she took a few bites. Now I do not like my meat cooked to extremes, just a nice pink medium for me, which is how I ordered. My burger was better described as rare; very rare. Why bother asking diners how they want their food cooked if the chef will not honor it and simply cooks the food to his or her own liking? Not the best dining experience I have had recently. The flavors were good, however, i would have loved to enjoy the burger even more with it being cooked properly, as in how it was ordered.
(3)
Brian M.
We went here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and were promptly seated in the basement. Unfortunately we didn't get menus and water until 15 minutes later. After sitting for 20 minutes we ordered the bacon donuts, two burgers and eggs and toast for our kids. 45 minutes into the meal, we had received nothing except one cup of coffee and my wife's cream never made it to the table. We cancelled the doughnut starter and waited for our burgers instead. They were both pretty good but not worth $13. The fries were actually some of the worst I have had in a while and my daughter wouldn't even eat them. The eggs and toast were pretty standard. Needless to say, we wont be going back here for brunch again, but the space was cool and we would give it a second chance for dinner. They don't seem to have a handle on the brunch biz and the food is only marginal so its certainly not worth the trek from Lincoln park. Very disappointing considering how exceptional Lula has always been for breakfast.
(2)
LB F.
BRUNCH review: Wow -- cool place. Pretty decor (dark wood bar, pressed tin ceiling, wrought iron fixtures, a nice enclosed outdoor patio/courtyard); friendly service (hosts and servers are patient with questions, conversational and welcoming / Maria was awesome!); and a wonderful restaurant philosophy (mostly local ingredients and a frequently-changing menu). This is the epitome of haute junk food... from plastic fork to silver fork... aka several doughnuts made to order, a pop tart with fresh cream cheese frosting, buttermilk friend chicken and waffles (with fruit compote and vanilla sauce, no less), and crispy, salty tater tots the size of golf balls. With a menu dominated by heavy food, this resto is not for the faint of heart (or those with heart problems -- think melted butter glistening on just about everything except the coffee), but the price is right and the food and drinks are yummy. At least it's different. If you're looking for a very filling meal in a lovely little spot, make the trek to Pilsen.
(4)
Drew F.
It took me a while to write this review, I went to Nightwood becasue I want to support the resturants and bars where I live. I went on a Friday night and the place was jumping with people who dont live in the area. You can tell by the look on there face when you see them walk past the big windows looking lost, the menu is not deep enough. It had 10 entrees and just about 90% of the items where over $20, the appetizers prices where crazy! Decor was nice the server we had was awesome we didnt feel like we where being rushed, we stayed until then end with 1 bottle of wine left to finish. Nightwood is great for our neighborhood, I think they need to work on the menu price's so all of pilsen can enjoy them.
(5)
Beth O.
Could have been an off night, but tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta tart was disappointingly dry. I am fiercely picky about crust, since my family (mom, Grandma, me) make some of the best, lightest and flakiest tarts and pies in the country. Although my date enjoyed his fresh and well-seasoned pork as though Pavlov had rung his bell, my tart seemed to have spent days hanging out on a hot plate or been reheated from the first bake. What salvaged our meal were the expectedly delightful bookends of arugula salads and rhubarb crisp. Have to say Lula has never disappointed, and little sister needs to practice more to get up to Lula's level.
(3)
Nancy S.
None of the people in my 5-person group will return. Small, poorly displayed food. One of our $20 pasta dishes (consisting of broad noodles, broccoli, chilis & some goat cheese) had exactly 6 noodles. The $30 pork roast was unedible. The appetizers were so disappointing that one person in our 5 person group decided not not even order a main course. I decided to play it safe & order the hamburger. It was so over-done that I had trouble swallowing it. The bun was enormous & the burger was like a tiny hockey puck. One of the appetizers, and both pasta dishes were just slapped onto plates...spread out everywhere. The fava beans were just literally dumped onto a big white plate. Completely unappetizing. We left & went somewhere else because we were hungry & annoyed. I do have to say that our waitress was nice. And, upstairs, the ambiance seemed cool. But, even though we had reservations, we were seated in the musty basement. And, yes, it smelled musty. There was just one other table of people in the dungeon while we were there. They were elderly people.
(1)
Morgan O.
Disappointing with a capital "D". I was so excited to sample this highly recommended restaurant, but every dish I ordered tasted like pickles. I thought that the homemade ice cream for desert would make up for a flavor-lacking meal, however, I was AGAIN unbelievably mistaken. I wish I would have known because $100 for a crappy meal is a real bummer. Bottom line: Great space and environment. Awful food. And by awful, I mean almost inedible.
(1)
Maria C.
At Nightwood for brunch! Food good but surprised that it took 38 minutes to get food while others around us got fast service. :( with no explanation when I asked about why it took so long. Sad. Will have to find another place for brunch, didn't feel welcome.
(1)
Erin N.
Every course of this meal, from the cocktails to dessert and the port that went with it, was delicious. For a livelier restaurant experience, sit in the back by the open kitchen and ask the chef his favorites. My date and I had such a great time indulging the server suggestions and watching the preparation right in front of us. The front of the restaurant is more darkly lit and romantic in nature-- a setting for intimate conversation with dates/family/friends. Lastly, the staff is kind and gracious--no pretention present, so feel free to relax and enjoy the meal.
(5)
Brooke B.
Thank goodness this place is in my neighborhood, where I can walk there to round up my appetite and walk home to burn those heavenly calories away. I prefer this place much better for brunch rather than dinner. And for brunch, I've never been disappointed. Great service, strong coffee and creative dishes...the menu always changes. Typically though, they'll have some sort of quiche, some sort of bagel sandwich and always organic ingredients. I've only been there once where I struggled at finding SOMETHING on the menu. It's not huge, but there's typically something for everyone, between sweet and savory. And, for heaven's sake...don't pass up that bacon doughnut. I'm not a huge fan of bacon or doughnuts for that matter, but for some reason, that dough melts in your mouth and leaves you smiling. Actually, every single doughnut I've tried here has left me dipping the last piece and wanting more. Wish it was open for brunch every day and not just Sunday!!
(4)
Mahsa T.
When you treat your customers poorly, those customers are going to get on Yelp and tell all their friends that you like to treat your customers badly. Well, I'm telling my friends that they should definitely not spend a dime of their money supporting this establishment because they have let their popularity go to their heads. And with their giant inflated heads, they can't possibly quote an accurate wait, provide good customer service, or have the decency to make it up to you when they've royally screwed up. I have NEVER ever waited for a table for this long. I got a table at Hot Doug's faster. Yes, it was our fault for not having reservations on a Saturday night but this was not planned. The other restaurant we were originally going to go to didn't take reservations and had a two and a half hour wait, so we decided to go to Nightwood instead--big mistake. I called ahead and put our name down. We were quoted an hour for a table for four. We ended up waiting almost TWO whole hours for a table!!! We kept checking in with the host and hostess who kept saying a table is just about to get up--except one hour went by and no one got up. There's nothing around here within walking distance of the restaurant so it's a destination spot and people like to linger at their table for hours!!! So you would think that the manager of a well-known restaurant would: A) recognize that it's wrong to go over your quote by a whole hour (you should know by now what the Saturday night flow is at your restaurant). B) Come over and apologize and take immediate steps to remedy the situation (like for example, let us order food at the bar). C) Comp a portion of the meal. What did the manager do? NOTHING. In fact when he got word that I was irritated and annoyed, he avoided us. So all of this would have been water under the bridge if the following didn't happen. A table finally opened up. It had two seats on it but was definitely large enough to seat four people. The hostess walks right past me and seats a couple that just walked in through the door. At this point I became IRATE!!! I went up to her and asked why we were not seated at that table and her response was that she didn't think we'd be comfortable at that table and would want to wait for another larger table. REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Do you think it's comfortable sitting on a metal bar stool for TWO hours, holding your winter jacket in your lap, starving, watching everyone else around you eat?????? Are you kidding me?!?!?! Twenty minutes later, we were finally seated at a drafty table by the door. Our waitress provided sub-par service. Even after all of this I was excited to try the food, but even the food was a huge let down. Pork belly--I've had better at XOCO. Lamb shank--not even really a lamb shank, more like tiny pieces of lamb served in a small patty. You want awesome lamb shank, go to Noon O Kabab. Polenta with mushrooms--you want better polenta, go to Enoteca Roma. Burrata--should just be called bread in tomato sauce with side of cheese. Food was uninspired, lacking originality and taste. Overpriced for the tiny portions. There was nothing at all worth coming here for. The two stars I've given are for the two genuinely nice bartenders at the bar who were the only ones who cared about us. They provided excellent service, chatted with us, and made an effort to ease our pain. The manager and hostess should be fired and the bartenders should run this place.
(2)
Irene J.
This was on the top of my bucket list, for restaurants in Chicago, and it did not disappoint. Normally I know what I want immediately after a quick glance at the menu. initially, I decided on the rabbit's foot. At the last minute, I switched to the burger, per the waitresses telling me it was a staple item, along with the crispy pig ears. We had the 1) crispy pig ears, 2) the rabbit's leg and the 3) burger. All fantastic!!!! The burger was well crafted, the meat: flavorful, cooked to perfection, the bread: was fresh and brioche, finally: the sauce melded into one (cheese and only god knows). The fries were even delicious!! My boyfriend and I ate in silence. I had the Au Cheval burger two days later. I enjoyed this burger much more! I look forward to brunch.
(5)
Ennis O.
Walked into Nightwood for Sunday brunch and immediately felt like I was back home in SF. Everything from the style, the people, to the seasonal, varied menu. Though if it was SF it would be far more pretentious and be about double the price lol. I'm not a huge donut fan especially when they are filled or topped with something - always taste too sickly sweet for me. BUT...I had it on good authority they were not to be missed so dove into the caramel cream donut with pecans. UH-mazing - and subtlely sweet (well as subtle as one can be with a caramel cream donut) Super tasty. Also had the red pepper scramble with rapini which was just right. And the tots? Crazy good and on my list of things to try at home. Recommend sitting at the kitchen counter which despite the bustling chefs actually feels more intimate then the front of house. Besides, an open kitchen view is basically foreplay so it's almost a must...
(4)
Johnny R.
We got out with our favorite foodie couple and gave Nightwood a try. The restaurant is very nicely laid out. If I was selecting a place just based on how decorated and the vibe, Nightwood would be near the top... trendy, loud, and clearly popular. I like the Pig Ears appetizer, somewhere between crunchy bacon and pork rinds. Clever, and nicely flavored. I'm a salt person so I got pretty excited. I ordered the spit-roasted half chicken, which looked impressive as it was carried to my table. But to be honest, while it was moist, it was also very bland. I liked the fingerling potatoes. My wife had the scallops, and to be honest, she and our other friend who also got the scallops were not wowed. My friend got the lamb chop and was not blown away. The almond butter cake was excellent, we all fought over it. The bittersweet chocolate cake was well received and had it not competed with the almond cake it would have been even more popular. I will say that we four tend to like spicy interesting food, and the somewhat bland flavorings of the entrees were a little underwhelming. But don't go by just my review I would read a number of them. Ironically I had just eaten somewhere else a week ago and though the food was overly seasoned. There's just no pleasing some folks.
(3)
Tiffany K.
I have been wanting to try this place for so long, and I finally got my chance this winter. Seriously, this was one of the top 5 dinners I have ever had in Chicago, hands-down. Came here for my boyfriend's birthday in December. We had reservation on a very rainy day, but it didn't stop us from going nuts and ordering half the things on the menu. Joshua (I think that was his name? Forgive me, it's been a couple of months) was the bomb dot com and recommended the best dinner dishes to us (the trout and the chicken). The entrees were fantastic and perfectly cooked. We also ordered the pigs ears, which were irresistible, and some delicious lemony tortellini for appetizers. We also ordered the donuts for dessert and shared many drinks, of which we most enjoyed the mixed drink made with Malort. Seriously. Malort. Joshua was so nice and helpful, he even gave us a bag of cookies to go. It was an awesome experience, and I would DEFINITELY come back!
(5)
donna y.
The best part of my meal was the Almond Butter Cake. I have been craving it since my visit and will return even for just that! I had scallops for dinner. The dish was flavorful but it looked like a lot thrown on the plate and the scallops are also diced. I haven't craved the dish but it was good.
(4)
Lizbeth T.
A lot has already been written about Nightwood, so I'm just going to focus on the highlights and low points of my recent dinner there. Great: cocktail and wine list. I couldn't pass up a chance to try the house-made tamarind syrup with Buffalo Trace bourbon, so that's what I ordered. Not as fussy as some of the other cocktails on the menu, but I typically prefer straightforward combinations, and this one hit the spot! Simple and just sweet enough. Also great: fried meyer lemon with aioli. Most memorable appetizer of the past few months. Good: our entrees. Trout was fresh, perfectly prepared and lovely, but just a bit boring. Same for the fried chicken. Very good, but too much of one thing on the plate. Amazing: the desserts! We had the goat cheesecake with fig and pistachio brittle, and the vanilla tapioca pudding with cherry marmalade and caramel corn. I can't say enough about either of these, so I will just stop now.
(4)
Kyle F.
Imagine taking restaurants like Burger King and fazoli's, then make the portions smaller, increase the price, and finally add ingredients like kale and yogurt. If you can imagine such a place, you imagined nightwood. I really enjoyed the food here. The fried squid was like eating Burger King onion rings but if the onion rings were touched by the hand of god. If you like junky Americana kind of food, I.e. Pasta, meat, creamy sauces and fried foods, you'll like Nightwood. The only negative I'd add is the desert we ordered. It was the brioche donuts with ice cream. I don't remember what the flavor of ice cream was suppose to be but it tasted like I was sucking on a key while eating peanut butter. The waitress behaved very aloof, which was pretty off putting, but the guy refilling our water was really on his game. He was awesome.
(4)
Stacey A.
I live in Ravenswood. It is a complete and utter pain in the ass to get from Ravenswood to Pilsen via public transportation. You have to take the brown line to the red line to the orange line and THEN, if you're going to Nightwood, you have to double back and walk north for however many blocks and pass a bunch of what look like abandoned factories so you walk with your keys in your hand just in case you need to stab someone. But your end goal in all this is Nightwood, which is an amazing personal reward for not being murdered for walking on Cermack or whatever murder-filled street it is at night. And in the event that you bring a friend with you, you get to try twice as much as you normally would, unless you're the sort of person who eats like, 4 plates of food at every meal and then I'm going to wonder about your metabolism and why you don't have a reality or whatever. Anyhow. In the event that you bring a friend, here's what you should order: -- The agnolotti with the GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS INSIDE. I cannot stress this enough. You should order at least one plate of this for every two people that go to Nightwood, in order to minimize sharing because you will not want to share because it's pasta with GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS IN IT. And you will bite into it and your eyes will become as giant and wide as saucers and you will shovel the remaining pasta into your face with the kind of reckless abandon usually reserved for afternoon quickies before the kids get home from school. -- The sturgeon with the lemon and the creme freche and the BACON BRAISED POTATOES. Don't get me wrong here, the sturgeon is the star of the show and there is nothing better than a big steaky fish that doesn't smell or taste "fishy". But oh lord, I want everything to be braised in bacon after having those potatoes. -- The half chicken with black beans, pickled onions, white sauce, and CORNBREAD CROUTONS. Don't judge me for getting this solely because of the fucking croutons, okay? Because that's pretty much 100% of the reason why I got it. And to Nightwood's credit, chicken is a really easy dish to fuck up or overdo or make boring or lame or whatever - and this was some GOOD chicken. Perfectly seasoned, super moist, and all the flavors went together perfectly, provided you got a magic cornbread crouton in your grill piece. I have no idea how dessert is here because I was too full to eat any. But in terms of dinner? Nightwood delivers. (Not like, they will deliver the food to your house, but in terms of "they will bring some seriously good food to you while you are in the restaurant.) Just don't get murdered on your way there.
(4)
Chris H.
We didn't have a reservation but got seated within 10 minutes. While waiting we grabbed a few beer mosasa and beer bloody marys. Both sounded strange but were good. The bacon caramel donut was ridiculously good. Try it! The pork belly hoagie was awesome too. Overall, this was one of my favorite brunches in the city
(4)
Luis C.
Love this place. If i had the money to spend, I would come here weekly. So, my wife and I saved this spot for special occasions. I love the fact that their menu tends to change in season. The staff is very friendly and the deserts are to die for. I've had friends rave to me about their brunch but i have not had it yet but plan to soon! !
(5)
Bill T.
My GF and I visited nightwood two nights ago, and had some very high expectations, but unfortunately, none of the dishes lived up to their hypes, and it was overall very disappointing. The night started off well with the drinks at the bar; the bartenders were friendly, while the drinks weren't incredible, the draft beer was fresh and aromatic, and the mixed cocktail was tasty and refreshing. Having read many positive reviews about the smelt and sweetbread, we were not hesitant to order one of each as appetizers. We also ordered the wood grilled whole trout and the polenta as our entrees. Deep fried smelt: This was supposedly one of the best things Chicago had to offer, and I was deeply disappointed. Maybe, just maybe, for someone who has never had fresh seafood, this dish may be interesting, but overall, I found it to be extremely boring and uninspired. Also, my fish was under-seasoned, and I had to repeatedly add salt from the shaker. Sweetbread: The sweetbread was slightly better than the smelt, but I did not love it either. While the slightly spicy batter was an absolutely delight, its ratio to sweetbread ratio was way too low, perhaps it would have been a better dish had they flatter out the sweetbread for more surface area. The sweetbread was juicy and moist, but I think it would really go well with a sauce of some kind. Whole trout: I was really looking forward to the trout, but unfortunately, it was, by far, the worst dish of the night. Generally speaking, I love a runny egg on anything, but I found it really hard to eat raw yolk with fish, when combined, both the texture and the taste were completely off. The fish was cooked rather nicely, and I commend the restaurant for boning the fish, but again, it was missing a sauce! It's incredibly difficult to just eat plain grilled fish with olive oil. I honestly had trouble finishing this dish. Polenta: This was by far my favourite dish of the night. The ground polenta was cooked very nicely, and the mushroom really added essential flavour and textural contrast. Compared to the fish, this dish was really comforting, and I just wanted to keep on eating it. Dessert: fig cake with goat cheese I really liked the dessert, and it was somewhat of a saving grace for this restaurant (much like my Morimoto experience actually). The dessert was very well thoughtout, the warm fig cake went extremely well with the goat cheese topping, and it was as if I was eating cheese and crackers. Service: I feel bad for saying this, but I really did not enjoy the service. I felt that our waitress had a "holier-than-thou" attitude (this was my perception, to say the least). When I asked for recommendations, she suggested something that she has never tried simply because it "sounded really good". When we inquired about the lack of apple cake on the menu (it's in fact still stated on the website) and showed disappointment, she was extremely unapologetic and stated very matter-of-factly that it was just not there. Maybe it was a particularly bad night, but I will most likely never return.
(2)
Beth T.
Everything we had for dinner was delicious, from the Pink Whippet (not-too-sweet vodka-based grapefruit cocktail), to the quark (delicious creamy cheese) plate to the scallop entree. The crispy pig's ears were a novelty, but we didn't need quite the large portion that we go and ended up leaving quite a few for, I hope, someone who appreciate it more. I will definitely go again.
(4)
Jenny Z.
Just returned from a wonderful meal at Nightwood. As far as cocktails, I ordered exactly what I was craving (how often do you find exactly what you are craving on a menu?), if you are craving a fresh, citrusy, not to sweet cocktail on a summer day like I was then order the pink whippet! It was divine. For a starter my husband and I shared the crunchy spring vegetable salad with queso fresco and it was again, exactly what I was craving and what I hoped for! Dinner was the spagetti with procini, parmesan and butter....hands down the best homemade pasta I've ever tasted. I also tried the Lake Erie Walleye. I ordered it without bacon and I wonder if that's why it did not taste as impressive as the rest of the dishes. At $29, it should have been phenomenal but wasn't (that's why I only gave Nightwood 4 stars). For dessert we were stuffed so ordered the strawberry lime sorbet and strawberry ice cream....both were flavorful and delicious. The cute little vanilla cone was a nice touch. Our server was great and the patio dining was very nice as well. I don't think I'd come here too often because of the price but I plan on coming back at the end of the summer/early Fall to eat on the patio-hopefully near the fireplace. Overall, I couldn't have been happier with our meal...except for that walleye, if only it was a bit cheaper!
(4)
Jennifer W.
We celebrated a friend's birthday party at Nightwood last night and everything was exceptional- the cocktails, the 6 different first courses I was able to share and sample, and my bacon entree was killer. The rabbit dishes especially stood out. I will happily return. Well worth every dining dollar.
(5)
John S.
Had a terrific dinner here. The decor is wonderful, the server was very friendly and helpful. If there were a couple of things I thought were really great, they were the brussels sprouts appetizer and the apple bread crumb with rosemary ice cream dessert. That dessert alone was worth the price of admission.
(5)
Moira M.
What an excellent restaurant! The food was delicious and the wine, which was recommended by the waiter, was surprisingly good - and a good value. Also must mention the atmosphere - so trendy with exposed brick, dark hardwood with great use of metal and glass.
(5)
Dutch B.
I'd say the ratings got me in the door, but the food was super standard. Ya, the tots were good and a bonus, but not worth a revisit. i got the trout spread bagel. LAME-O The egg was a mess and was oozing all over my bagel, the spread was nasty.. drink prices for that area- highway robbery. service, the bus boy and server didn't want to give us new silverware after our overrated donuts for apps. strange experience.. i'd won't be back..
(2)
Amanda R.
I visited Nightwood last Friday night with my husband, brother, and VERY PICKY parents. I must admit that I was extremely worried about my parents being able to find things on the small ever-changing menu that would appeal to them. My dad is allergic to most fish and my mom is mostly vegetarian (actually, she doesn't really eat much at all, but that's besides the point). I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful combinations of flavors and textures in the food at Nightwood. I shared the eggplant, summer squash, breadcrumbs, aioli, capers, and lemon oil app, and it was quite possibly one of the best appetizers I have ever had. Creamy, flavorful, rich, and just the perfect portion for sharing. Loved it. We also split the crispy pig ear at the table, which, after becoming obsessed with the pig ear dish at the Purple Pig, I was skeptical. Also very good, though. My entree was the spaghetti alla chitarra with five animal bolognese. To be honest, I think I was just intrigued by the idea of eating five animals in one dish. The dish was delicious. Just salty enough, just savory enough, perfect portion. Even my picky dad tried it and wished he had ordered it. My husband loved his NY Strip with the non-vegetable ratatouille. I like that the ratatouille was advertised by the server as having only meats in it, so that it wouldn't deter vegetable skeptics like my husband. My mom said she liked her spit-roasted Slagel farm half chicken with plums and quinoa, but she only ate about one bite, so who knows. Dad enjoyed his trout but, as expected, didn't like the accompaniment because it was too spicy. The shock came when my simple-meat-and-potatoes-loving-brother ordered the rabbit and loved it, despite his difficulties with figuring out how to get the meat off the bones (he's 21, which means his palate is fond of cheeseburgers, steak, burritos, and Natty Lite, so what did I expect?). Desserts included the blueberry crisp and peach bread pudding with ice cream and they were both some of the best desserts I have ever had, and I am a major dessert person. Conclusion: I would definitely go back, but would go without my parents next time.
(4)
Arthur M.
Having eaten at lula cafe many times and being a big fan and signing up for the newsletter of both restaurants reminding me many times to give it a shot I finally went to nightwood for Sunday brunch. And I'm glad I did. The server asked our drink order and if we wanted donuts first thing and I'm glad she did. Having read and reread the handwritten sample menu's description of donuts for hours and days before the brunch that donut and a cup of coffee were exactly what I wanted. Later I would kick myself for not getting all three kinds because I saw the raspberry chocolate pudding donut and I can't stop picturing it, always just out of reach at the next table. My companion had a trout sandwich. The donut we had was bacon butterscotch, the cinnamon roll blueberry cream cheese, the bacon really good but I also got a side of bacon with my queso fresco cherry tomato scramble. The large open windows gave good light onto the leather and wood interior. The only problem was silverware unpolished and the butterfly leathrr chair accentuated my back fat.
(5)
Johnny T.
So, here's my problem with my latest experience at Nightwood: nothing about it compared to my previous outing and I left feeling extremely insulted. This is a place I'd told friend, yelper and anyone who would listen, "you HAVE to come here. The menu options are so innovative. The flavor combinations will blow your mind!!" Etc. Etc. Imagine my surprise to find those innovative flavor combinations add up to: lettuce with oil, salty pasta and chicken. What in the who? Back up. A group of friends and I came to Nightwood for a tasting menu. We arrived at 8:30. We made our way downstairs to be seated. We were full of smiles and hope. There was a large group of us (about 20). For the majority of the meal, we had one server. Mistake, the first. Since we were being treated to a tasting menu, there was no need to ask us what we wanted to eat, etc. It was already laid out for us. The only thing we needed to be asked was what we wanted to drink. So, we looked at the wine menu, made our choice..and waited. And waited. And, waited. About a half hour in, we got our drink orders to our server. Mind you, this entire time we've had NOTHING in front of us, not even bread. Mistake, the second. "So, you're really excited about this place, right?" "DEFINITELY. Oh man. I ate here previously and it was beyond belief. You'll see." ... Nearly an HOUR later, we get our drinks. Why? "The bar was busy." Yes, that was the response I received. I wrote it down. I took notes on all of this. An hour. Until this point, we have had only glass after glass of water. It's 9:30. Lunch was a looong time ago. My patience is thin. "Can we have some bread and butter or something?" I asked. "Oh, something's coming out." Mistake, the third. Something's coming out? After an hour of waiting, *something* is coming out? I should hope so. Like a man in prison of Biblical times, I ate biscuits and wine. And I was not happy about it. AT TEN PM, we received our first course. Mistake, the fourth (I am going to stop here. There's going to be a lot of these). Yes, an hour and a half after arriving, we finally start to eat something. Have you ever been so hungry that you lost your appetite? That's the point I was nearing. But, it was 10 pm, I figured I should eat someth...what is this? I waited all this time for LETTUCE? Yes, I waited an hour and a half to eat lettuce. Evidently, it was being hydroponically grown out back, hence the wait. No. Not at all. You don't make people wait an hour and a half for lettuce and expect them to be happy about it. Boeuf a la Bourguinonne? Sure. Salad in a bag? No. Then, as if directed by Dale Earnhart Jr, every other course comes out at once at lightning fast speed and all together? Again, are you kidding? Have you heard of pace? Presentation? Why starve us only to serve everything at once? There's no room on the table for all the plates. Nothing is being explained or presented, just dropped off and left. That makes no sense. Whatever. At least I'll eat...what? What is this? Salty pasta? Fish with LEMON and PARSLEY? DRY CHICKEN??? What the h is this? THIS is innovation? THIS is culinary creativity? THIS took nearly (at this point ) TWO HOURS TO ARRIVE TO THE TABLE?? No. If you mean to tell me that this is the BEST EFFORT of a restaurant that boasts 'whipped prairie fruit farm goat cheese on buttered croutons with arugula, and a chili, garlic and cured sardine vinaigrette' and 'Gunthrop farm duck breast with hominy, roasted garlic, snap peas, and remoulade', I will call you a liar. Because you will be lying to me. And, you will be insulting me. To appease the hunger of our group, we received a couple of more plates of pasta with cheese. Does that come with unlimited soup and salad, too? I didn't know Olive Garden had a Pilsen outpost. Oops. My mistake. OG is much cheaper...in price. My brunch experience was a revelation. From tamarind drink to orange cardamom donut to multi-layered bagel, each bite was a surprise. This food was an insult. Waiting so long for this food was an insult. Having one disinterested (or overwhelmed) server was an insult. Everything about this experience told me that Nightwood was not interested in my business or the business of my friends. It told me that rather than giving me a representative dining experience, it would give me polenta WITHOUT the oyster mushroom vinaigrette, small salad and poached egg. The food, service and lack of attention told me not to come back. And, have no doubt, I won't. I work hard. At times, I work long long hours. My time (MY time) is SO precious to me. To have that commodity taken from me needlessly and without care is entirely unacceptable and unforgivable. TFD.
Well you know when you find a piece of tree bark in your salad that the vegetables sure are fresh! Perhaps they were just trying to add a little flavor to the pretty bland salad they served us. Besides the wooden bland salad I found the service for our very large party to be very slllloooowwww (45 minutes just to get biscuits), the chicken to be so-so and the trout smelled awfully funny. Then again I'm pregnant and most things smell funny these days! However, there were a few good things to Yelp about: The polenta was quite tasty. I couldn't get enough of the super fresh egg noodles (seriously, I had about 7 helpings) and the rhubarb cobbler dessert hit the spot. I'm not sure I'd come back here with a large group since they couldn't see to handle it, I may return for the brunch I've been hearing so much about. Or perhaps for more of those noodles.
(3)
Marcus H.
The atmosphere is nice and the pig ears are actually pretty good. The beer selection is pretty good as well. The rest of the dinner options are just o.k. I got the Wisconsin trout and T got the Spaghetti alla Chitarra.
Really cool spot, excellent brunch/breakfast. Everything I had was delicious - the bacon donut, the raspberry oatmeal, the omlette etc. Pretty reasonable pricing too. Would recommend for brunch.
(4)
Liren C.
Best dinning experience ever! I couldn't be more pleased by the service. All the servers were so polite, attentive and gracious. We had dinner there and the food was out of the world! The decor and ambiance were also very pleasant. Appetizer was a combination of lightly sauteed cauliflower, nectarines, sorrel and stracchion cheese (from Italy) on top of a big slice of Wisconsin bacon. The dish was a delightful little summer affair. For entree I ordered the spit roasted Illinois rabbit. The meat was succulent with a faint woody note, not at all gamey as rabbit sometimes can be. The sauce was a savory broth made of finely diced bacon bits, fennel, porcini and whole shishito peppers. My dinner mate had the strip steak cooked to medium well. I was really concern about that when he ordered but when I tried the steak it was perfection. To be able to get a steak to such tenderness at medium well is nothing short of a true testament to the chef's culinary skill! For dessert I picked blueberry crisp with strawberry ice cream which completely blew me away. I could even venture to say that it was the best dessert I've ever had. The strawberry ice cream was packed with flavor. The blueberry crisp was almost good enough to die for with fresh whole blue berries at the bottom. I can't wait to return for another phenomenal meal at Nightwood!
(5)
Katie H.
I wish I could do a 3.5 star rating, but alas... Nightwood was good, but not great. We were seated on the patio, which had a great ambience but unfortunately very uncomfortable chairs. Nice wine and cocktail menu to start off. We had heard great things about the burger, so decided to share that for our entree and get 3 starters as well. The crispy pig ear was pretty delicious (salty and sweet, a little sticky but nicely done), and we enjoyed the melon salad (although as my hubby pointed out, anyone could cut up a good melon and top it with queso fresco - the trick is getting a good melon, which Nightwood definitely did). We also had the warm tomato salad with a baguette and were underwhelmed. The tomatoes were nice, the baguette was average, but the sauce, which was described as a yogurt dill sauce, actually tasted more like a Thai peanut sauce, which I did not love. I'm not sure if others have had the same experience, or maybe the chef just made a mistake on our dish? The burger was very good, and super filling, so we were too full to try their dessert menu. Overall, if you're new to Chicago I wouldn't send you to Nightwood as a first or second choice for dinner - but if you live in the neighborhood or want to soak up the last of the Chicago summer on a nice patio, I'd recommend giving it a try.
(3)
April W.
Really enjoyed brunch here. I had the cheeseburger and it is fair to say that it was one of my top 5 burgers I have had. I also enjoyed their beer mimiosa and really liked that it was something different. The service was a touch slow, but it was a Sunday and it was brunch so it was understandable. I never knew such a chic place with so much culinary talent existed on that strip of halsted.
(4)
Michael C.
Great food, terrible service. We had a large group and were seated downstairs, which was awesome, but the service was slow. Slow enough to detract from the meal.
(4)
Steven M.
Wonderful dining experience in what is still a work in progress neighborhood. We were seated at the bar and I had the punch. What I thought it was and what I got were two different worlds. The menu just had the name not a description of what you were getting. I did not complain as it looked like a White Russian and tasted like heaven. Had I known, I would have asked for a scoop of ice cream to go with it. Our table was at one of the huge windows in what is a quaint dining room. I started with the spinach salad and a glass of Lumos. Excellent wine, I should have gotten the bottle. The salad was amazing with its subdued flavors that would pop with flavor as you eating. The walleye came next with a glass of Lambet. Not too fond of that choice, but by that time I was very happy! The fish on the other hand was excellent. With a smear of mashed underfoot and the bean sauce on the side. I polished that plate in record time! The staff collects the plates, silverware and glasses between each course as well as wipe down the table. I went to the washroom and I saw the lineup of desserts and I had to try the espresso tart with Illinois figs. Now I have never had a fig in my life, because I didn't like they way they looked at me! But these were delicious and the tart was nice and light. I ate quite a bit and I went home feeling content, not bloated. The atmosphere was young and casual. But I never felt out of place, because the server was right on the money all night long, so aces to Jill for her outstanding attention to detail. And everyone else was in their own element as it should be. This restaurant is why people move to the city.
(5)
Michelle B.
It was nice to "head South" for a Nightwood dinner. Though the location of the restaurant could mark the start of another restaurant row, for now it has an interesting "hole in the wall" feel - without being a hole at all with its somewhat upscale, minimalist decor. Overall my vegetarian dish was pretty good - though it was only one of two veggie options :( My cocktail was definitely worth 5 stars, but with my boyfriend's cocktail being too strong and only TWO vegetarian options I can't bring myself to give this place a 5 star yelp "woohoo."
(4)
Janet E.
We started off with the butterscotch bacon donut. WOW. OUTSTANDING! I wanted three more of them, but I didn't want to start off my Sunday morning being a fatty. I ordered the chicken and waffles and my cousin ordered the trout with fried egg on top. I didn't try the trout, but my cousin cleared off his plate within minutes. As for my chicken and waffles, it was fingerlickin' good! I don't know what batter they used, but it was so tasty and not greasy at all! The raspberry jam and the rice pudding tasted only okay to me. As dishes were being taken out from the kitchen, I was staring at all of them and wished I had ordered EVERYTHING! I need to come back and try more food!! Our server was Maria and she was SOOOOOOOO SWEET to us. Extremely friend, very helpful, and was constantly refilling our coffee or our water (even when she gave us the water bottle to refill our own water, she did it for us anyways!). The service here is exceptional! Everyone works as a team in refilling drinks and taking away plates. We had a plate and utensil change after we used them to attack the butterscotch donut. I was impressed! Parking in the area is pretty easy and free (for now...who knows when the parking boxes will be installed...hopefully never!)
(4)
Howard L.
Nightwood feels like about a 3.5. We had a holiday weekend family reunion outing here prompted by Michelin's recent Bib Gourmand rating for the place (good deals for under $40 per person), and daughter's fond recall of her fried chicken/waffles brunch outing here. Overall, they have some creative and organic servings, a vibrant environment, and a blend of hits and average entrees. First, you can't make the Bib Gourmand criterion (two courses, and wine or dessert for under $40 pre tax and tip) unless you order the cheaper $11 - $13 entrees (like pasta, or cheeseburger). Many entrees are in the $21 - $28 range. We found their appetizers and desserts to be excellent, and 3 out of 4 of our entrees to be average in taste and appeal - wife having garganelli pasta, daughter having a black trumpet mushroom sformato (like a souffle), and son having a blandish duck leg. I had a wood grilled trout, and that was an exception and excellent. It was also flawlessly deboned. Rabbit wasn't available on this night , and too bad! All entrees and other servings are on the smallish side for the price, but you're paying for fresh quality and taste here. Our appetizers were a nice veal sweetbread, and clams. Desserts were a lemon pudding cake, and a nice, very dense pot 'o creme with raspberry filling. I also personally enjoyed a bargain and nice $5 draft pint of Old Rasputin, a California brewed Russian Imperial Stout with 9% ABV, and that was probably a star right there. Street parking was easy and area was well lit and felt safe, as we weren't very familiar with the midway location between Chinatown and Pilsen. The restaurant's dining areas are kind of broken down into three distinct areas - the main area with 2 and 4 person tables up front and by the windows (where we were at), a long narrow strip of 4 person tables adjacent to the bar, and then a dining area by the open kitchen in the back of restaurant. The dining room was vibrant and it felt like we were in Lincoln Park or somewhere similar. The business is 2 years old. Service was friendly and very attentive. Overall, a recommended and interesting place to dine, but you have to personally find out what works best for you here.
(3)
Angela S.
Was here for brunch and man oh man... Craft cocktails with donut appetizers is the breakfast of champions.
(4)
Doreen H.
Had a great dinner last night. Was able to try 3 appetizers which were all great. I'm not very adventurous when it comes down to it but all 3 were different and delicious. My steak dinner.was cooked to perfection. My kudos to chef Shae!
(5)
Heather K.
Drink of the night: The Aviation - Yes, Please! Adorable servers, smiling water boys, an open kitchen with bar seats, a warm purple hue on the walls, a nice patio, and honey biscuits; I was really enamored. I had a pistachio ricotta pasta dish and the arugula salad. Not a ton of options if your a vegetarian but hey, we're used that. Here's my gripe - the chairs are not comfortable and I really do think Lula is surperior, thus 4 and not 5. A long time fan of Lula Cafe - Nightwood left me impressed and yelping for more.
Nightwood was a terrific experience. Exposed brick, hardwood floors, large (albeit drafty) windows and a nice feel. I went with 3 others on a Saturday night. We had 8pm reservations and we got seated immediately. I had the sweetbreads appetizer my first time with this dish, and liked it a lot. We had a good Willamette River blend red and the combination was outstanding. My main dish was the duck leg and it was absolutely perfect. The combination of a winter night, cozy restaurant, duck, red wine and good company could not have been better. A nice port with a brownie finished the evening. The only drawback was the draftiness. We sat in a corner in the front of the restaurant and had two large windows by us. It was cold, drafty, and a couple people in our party kept their coats on.
(4)
Nishan P.
My worst date ever! Soon after we were seated I realized I never wanted to see her again. What a waste of the romantic atmosphere. What a waste of the prime window seating. Too late to bolt I decided to make the most of dinner. Our server was full of praise for the pan seared trout. The dish arrived with a whole fish perched on a bed of risotto. The trout seemed to be gazing at me pityingly with one big globular fisheye. Mr. Trout: "Dude, your date sucks. I feel bad for you." Me: "Don't feel sorry for me, Mr. Trout. I am going to be eating you." MT: "Yeah, but I will be gone soon and you'll still be on this boring date." He was right. He was also delicious. The tangy risotto perfectly complemented the fish. Soon all that remained of my aquatic friend was a skeleton. At this point any normal person would have yelled for the check. But, I happen to be cursed with a sweet tooth. The butterscotch tart with its light creamy filling and a caramelized pear was almost worth extending the torture. My one gripe with Nightwood is the noise level in the restaurant. It is very difficult to hear the person sitting across the table from you. Had I been on a more interesting date I might have actually wanted to hear what she had to say.
(4)
Jen B.
After a year delay, I finally made it back to Nightwood, this time for brunch. Right off the bat, they impressed me with how accommodating they were to a large group. The Women Who Bike showed up about 25 strong and the servers and kitchen handled it reasonably well, breaking us up into smaller groups for ordering and keeping the water and coffee refilled regularly. I tried the two eggs, hashbrowns and toast with a side of veggie sausage. It was a LOT of food for one small person. The eggs and toast were standard (not sure how you can improve, though props for getting the eggs a nice 'n' runny over easy). Loved the veggie sausage and couldn't come close to finishing the three big slabs. The real knockout were the hashbrowns. They came in the form of three large tatertots, but, like, the BEST tatertots you've ever had. Crispy outside, mashed potato inside. Perfection. I am dying to know how they make these. My chai was also good, but nothing super special. Wish they had the option of soy milk and a little surprised they didn't, given the aesthetic. [Bad vegetarian aside: So I may have taken a nibble of the bacon donut. Holy wow. Super rich and yummy. Props to anyone who can tackle a whole one because I hit a sugar wall after one bite.] The only issue came up when I tried to pay early and leave. The server was more than happy to accommodate, but then added someone else's egg sandwich to my bill instead of the side of veggie saus. I didn't really have the time or inclination to ask her to fix it (and run the risk of looking like more than a pill than I already did with the leaving early business), so it was kind of a bummer but in the grand scheme it's no big deal. I'll be back, hopefully within the year this time!
(4)
Mike S.
Renovated restaurant, easy street parking, and spacious layout looked to be the makings for a great brunch. Butterscotch n bacon donut is awesome as our most of the dishes. However portion sizes are quite weak for the prices. Also was part of a party of 8 and service was less than stellar. Other smaller parties around us were served drinks and food well before us even though we were sat and ordered first. A one course brunch should not take 2 hours. Will not be back as there are too many good brunch places in the city with much better service.
(2)
Laura G.
I came here for dinner with a girlfriend on Friday night at around 6:30. We got seated right away without a reservation. Our waiter was very helpful and gave great descriptions about the food. He also let us taste a couple wines before deciding what we wanted. We started off the carrots which were outstanding. They were flavored with dill and trout, and they were awesome. Next, we got the rolled pasta with ricotta and pepperoni sauce. The sauce was really good, but this dish was probably our least favorite of the evening. We split the mushrooms with polenta and sturgeon for our entrees. We loved the vegetarian mushroom dish and it had a good combination of flavors and textures. The fish was good and nicely cooked as well. Although we were full, we ended on the chocolate cake which was delicious! I can't wait to come back here for brunch!
(4)
Mindy S.
ok Nightwood. You got me. Will be back for my craving of the butterscotch bacon donuts. Damn you.
(3)
Shelu B.
best brunch ever. pricey. geeky foodie crowd.
(4)
Matt M.
A haiku: For you if you like Slow cooked pork, Joy Division, and the Halsted bus
(4)
Eric W.
Very good meal, if you are looking for a truly great meal there are better options in Chicago
(3)
Joey T.
I was at Nightwood for the first time on Saturday night. I only make it down to Pilsen every once in a while, so I had been looking for an excuse to get over there for dinner. Finally, the opportunity arrived and 4 of us decided to take Nightwood in for the evening. Two of us arrived early for some pre-dinner drinks. The staff was very pleasant and showed us to the bar. The "outdoor" covered seating area looked awesome. I will definitely want to eat in that section at some point. I started out with the "Lucky Rabbit's Foot". It was a bourbon base with bitters, honey and grapefruit. Simple, but decent enough for a pregamer. Once the other 2 arrived, we were seated in the front section of the restaurant. I loved the atmosphere inside. It was lively, yet not so loud that you had to yell to compete with the ambiance. It was a perfect blend of fun and conversation. Our server was kind and helpful, and seemed to honestly care about whether we were having an enjoyable experience. He recommended a couple starters, including the cauliflower and the watermelon plate. We were all pleased with the choices. For our entrees, we all went with a different dish: 1) split roasted chicken; 2) duck leg; 3) summer vegetables and 4) salmon. Everyone really enjoyed their dish. I will definitely visit this place again and will recommend to friends who want to get away from the Randolph scene.
(4)
Jose L.
Asked for the burger and it took forever. The server blamed me for asking for well done and then it arrived bloody. Terrible experience.
(1)
Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)
Liz R.
One of the most phenomenal meals that I have had in a long while. I was in Chicago for a trade show and this restaurant was recommended to me by a local. I went with a friend from the Netherlands. We started off with an appetizer with a rolled piece of pasta stuffed with ricotta and on the outside some grilled chorizo or sausage and some heavenly sauce. For dinner, I got the duck which was perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside, served over lentils. Don't ask me how the lentils were cooked, but the flavor was bountiful. My friend ordered the rabbit and if I remember correctly, he almost licked the plate clean. For dessert, I got a small cake, that at first bite, resembled cornbread, but then evolved into a sweet bite. A plop of pumpkin ice cream with candid walnuts topped this piece of genius. The other dessert was a molten chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream. Needless to say, we couldn't help but devour every bite of our meals. Our server spent the time to help us make our choices and took great care of us, even taking the initiative to call us a cab since there weren't too many in the neighborhood. Truly, a meal to remember.
(5)
Colleen C.
Finally, I made it. Dinner at Nightwood to celebrate the dawn of December: 12/1/09. Ok, not really, just a random dinner spot... Date's review: "The lettuce is beautiful." (he's an expert in concise foliage appraisal). And, I concur. The lettuce is truly beautiful. Ordering a salad would be beneficial to overall meal appreciation and health. There are several to choose from...simple, yet satisfying. My review: Neighborhood: Love. East Pilsen is still somewhat untraveled (by the North side masses), and this cozy nook just north of Cermak (and Skylark!) on Halsted is a "blink and you'll miss it" sort of situation, which of course...is why I like it, and why I could get a pretty good table (corner/window) without a reservation on a random Tuesday night. Had it not been dipping below 40 degrees, the fireplace flickering the patio seating may have been an amiable option, but alas...winter has arrived and inside warmth was necessary. Quickly situated with menus (oh, handwritten? nice touch), water (still or sparkling, both complimentary) and an above average wine/beer/cocktail list...our server was both congenial and well-versed in what the restaurant offered and what might be good to try. Indeed, ma'am! Locally focused, sustainable menu has prices a little above average, but the quality and consistency of the food is evident, and much worth it. IN addition, the service and atmosphere is worth some dime all in itself... Glasses of: Zin + Pinot Noir in the correct glasses, at the correct temperature, from the correct vineyards. (I said we were celebrating winter!) Buttermilk biscuits with honey butter. Aforementioned Salad Whitefish with root vegetables for me: Excellent. Pasta with lamb confit for the salad spinner. I would most definitely go back...perfect for a date, or a group of friends (make a reservation). Excellent cocktail list (they were out of ginger syrup for the hot toddy), beer list is extensive and local, and of course...the wine left me feeling warm and happy, thus doing its job very well. Reading Tricia L's review...just realized they do brunch. OF course they do. They are from Lula! How did I overlook this? I will be back for brunching and the Sunday Morning cocktail with prosecco, fruit puree and bitters...mmmmm.
(4)
Brit D.
this review is based on brunch ONLY. soooooo good. If you are looking for a good brunch place, definitely check this out. They use only fresh organic ingredients here which makes it a bit more pricey then your average brunch spot, but well worth it. Last time we were here my boyfriend and I both got the bagel with trout spread, bacon, egg, and potatoes...sooooo good. I've also tried the oatmeal and butterscotch bacon donuts....YUM! The service here is also fantastic....very artsy waitstaff who have always been very attentive and helpful! oh and they also have an outdoor patio, too bad summer is almost over! :-(
(5)
ben w.
Beautiful restaurant, great service. Went for brunch, over priced and BLAND. I got the braised beef omelet. The omelet itself was tiny, the bread and potatoes took up most of the plate. Thirteen bucks for a tiny bland omelet. Yogurt and granola was also bad, the granola was good but the yogurt had the consistency of water. Literally water. Don't sell it as yogurt if it's not. Sell it as milk. This place is perfect if you like to feel better about your food if it's more expensive. Hopefully they take this criticism constructively and make some adjustments.
(2)
Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)
Melissa M.
Mostly fabulous brunch this morning. As the menu constantly changes, we asked for advice on what to order. The salmon scramble, biscuits with gravy, and butterscotch bacon doughnut were all fabulous. The coffee was excellent. The service was stellar. But, alas, the waitperson also recommended the sardines, which were so full of tiny bones that I spent over an hour trying to extract the edible parts and was mostly just frustrated and greasy by the end. Do. Not. Order. The. Sardines.
(4)
Anthony H.
A little on the pricey side, this new local hotspot nonetheless served up interesting choices for the meat-lovers in our party as well as the vegetarians. The diverse menu changes daily and the bar offered a great selection of interesting beers. I recommend the fish of the day and the Dogfish Head beer!
(4)
Steve M.
Nightwood absolutely killed brunch yesterday. Brunch was all, "oh hi, Nightwood." And Nightwood was like, "whutup biotch!" and then BLAM!!!!!!!!! We beat the crowds by 5 minutes. Score. I had a bloody mary that was so-so. Honestly, the mix was a bit mealy, with tomato bits floating about. The coffee tasted excellent, and did it's job effectively. On to the food... The table decided to split a bacon and caramel (!!!!!!!!!!) donut to start off the whole affair. When I first put a bit in my mouth, I was disappointed that the bacon wasn't standing out more. Then, just as I was voicing the thought, a deliciously smokey bacon aftertaste came across my mouth and finished the sweet caramel sensation. Damn, bacony caramely donut... you're tricky! I ordered a wood roasted Wisconsin trout with roasted potatoes, braised kale, olives, a fried egg and hot sauce. The fish was de-boned perfectly, and the entire dish was light and delicious. Other dishes included duck confit eggs benedict, a mutton and white bean pita sandwich w/ fried egg, and the real game changer: a bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese, pickled garden vegetables, lettuce, fried egg and bacon. At first I thought trout cream cheese sounded gross, but when I tried it, all the flavors came together deliciously. Salt, smoke and swine goodness from the bacon; the tangy, lightly fishy creaminess of their homemade cream cheese; the gooey from the egg yolks; the lettuce crunch -- all on the perfect bagel. All of the 3 dishes mentioned above came with hashbrown balls. That's right. Imagine a ball of hashbrown about the size of a cueball, with delicious golden, flakiness. Serve up w/ a side of ketchup, and we're in business. Food aside, the service was friendly and attentive. The space was really, really cool. Kind of lofty, but with a cozy feel. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can check out that side yard w/ fire place and chill-out area. I'll be back for sure. Perhaps for some dinner, and then cocktails at nearby Skylark..
(5)
John K.
Good food but not great. I have been there once. We tried 5 dishes. Nothing really stood out. If I lived in pilsen I would go back for a second try.
(4)
Ben C.
Great food - plain and simple. We go to sit at the kitchen counter which was a neat experience. If you have a party of 2 people I would definitely try and get the counter seating. Spinach salad with apples and goat cheese was very good. The fact that they carry bottles of Dogfish Head 90 Minute is another huge plus! I little higher price point than Lula cafe but I would say its worth it. The execution is a little cleaner, the staff more friendly and the space of the restaurant makes me much less claustrophobic.
(4)
Michelle B.
Best brunch I've had in a while! Was pleasantly surprised by the menu, service and food. Love the bagel sandwich and bottomless coffee...you just can't go wrong with the hot donuts either. Innovative all-around brunch, without the pretentious vibe. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Will V.
I've been looking forward to trying Nightwood since it opened and I heard great things about it from Scott M, who wrote the first review of Nightwood on Yelp. I finally went last night to meet Scott and his brother for dinner. The atmosphere is fantastic, it's obvious the owner put considerable planning into the restaurant (three years, according to Scott!). The dining room chairs in particular impressed me, they seem to be Eames-inspired, covered with leather and they are very comfortable. I hoped that, as is so infrequently the case, the owner put as much effort into the food as the eye candy. I had a Nightwood Old-Fashioned at the bar while I waited for Scott and David. The drink was mixed perfectly and speedily, with fresh ice and maraschino cherries that were obviously a cut or two above your typical bar cherries. The host (who I gathered is the owner) and the bartender were both very accommodating and friendly. My friends arrived and we sat down for dinner, and ordered a couple of appetizers, a creamy fresh mozzarella and fruit compote dish, almost like a bruschetta, and pork and fig ravioli. Both were as good as they were unusual. The ravioli was cooked perfectly. There were some tough entree choices on the menu, but I decided to order the cheeseburger. In retrospect it may have been a cop-out moment, but I don't regret it a bit. The burger was obviously made from very fresh, high quality beef, and cooked to perfection. There was definitely a smoky flavor, but it did not overwhelm any of the other flavors. The bun was a ciabatta-like roll. In short, it was probably one of the best burgers I've ever had, way better than the one I had at Bad Apple last week. And when you take away the novelty of the burgers at Kuma's, I believe the Nightwood burger blows Kuma's away. Of course, if you want a burger topped with pulled pork and bacon, you're going to have to go to Kuma's! But judged on the quality of the burger itself, I believe Nightwood has Kuma's beat. The fries were excellent as well, obviously hand-cut and crispy. Nightwood also has a nice beer list and an extensive wine selection. I had a Tripel Karmeliet and a nice Cabernet Sauvignon that complimented the burger well. Overall, I was incredibly impressed by the entire experience. I look forward to going back and being more adventurous with the menu (which changes daily, by the way). Nightwood is a Pilsen gem (and not the only one!), and well worth venturing out of Lakeview or Lincoln Park for a visit.
(5)
Amanda G.
Nightwood is a hidden gem of Chicago. It's not really hidden but it's definitely off the beaten path in Pilsen. It was well worth the 15 min drive from Wicker Park. My boyfriend and I had such a great dinner here and we will definitely be back for more Nightwood. I want to go back and try there brunch ASAP! We got two appetizers: the Michigan Char Roe an $18 appetizer that's worth every penny and Chicken Liver Pate which had such a nice plating & presentation. For our entrees, we ordered a pasta they had on special and the buttermilk crusted scallops. The scallops were perfectly cooked and were excellent. We ended our meal with a walnut tart with egg nog ice-cream. Service was excellent and I loved the ambiance. Next time we go back I want to sit by the kitchen. It's an open kitchen and you can watch the action!
(4)
Reuben H.
*WARNING: the content of this review makes mention of the butchering of animals, in particular- furry, fuzzy ones. If you are squeamish and/or have a soft spot in your heart for such cute cuddly animals, you may not appreciate this review.* Now, I have learned my lesson. Don't order rabbit at any restaurant unless my wife says up front that she knows, for a fact, that they do it the right way. You see, rabbit is quite difficult to cook (when done on the bone, as a whole or a half). For that reason, I have a hard time faulting Nightwood for their rabbit. It wasn't that it was totally bad since parts of it in fact were quite good. They seemed to pay particular attention to the skin of the rabbit. So much so that the skin flap that stays on the beast itself that is a part of the belly (but is split open in order to gut said beast) was folded over to the side during cooking to form this very nice, crisp bacon-like piece that was delicious. Did I just mention rabbit bacon? Did I just use the word "beast" to describe rabbit? The problem with it, like at so many other places where I have had rabbit before is that it was not cooked perfectly. Once again, rabbit is a very challenging meat to cook, but I guess I had high expectations for Nightwood thinking that they would never put something like it on their menu without being able to master it. The meat was not cooked down enough and at some parts was quite dry. Otherwise, the flavors were very well put together. Coupled with a delicious sauce, roasted brussels sprouts, red grapes and olives, this dish was well composed despite the not so perfect execution of cooking the rabbit half. Bunnies are supposed to be soft (fork tender), not tough! The rest of the meal was pretty nice. We also ordered ricotta gnocchi that was terrific- the highlight of the meal. The chicken liver pate had this incredibly strong flavor. It reminded me of liverwurst (usually made of pork liver). It wasn't that it was bad, just very strong and hard to take down as an appetizer. Just not something that I expected (the strength of the flavor that is). The pickled onions and cucumber was a good way to cut the rich flavor- but in the end the pate itself was a bit too over powering. For dessert we ordered the cookie assortment. These cookies were quite good, but to get four small cookies for $7, I felt a bit let down. Some other things that I really appreciate about Nightwood: - They have an extensive wine list, including quite a few nice selections by the glass. - Their menu changes daily which is usually a good sign of freshness and quality. - Their ingredients, in particular their animal proteins (meat- OK?) all came from well respected farms. - Interesting menu items that included a lot of variety. - For someone who doesn't always want to drink alcohol with his meal, offering a non-alcoholic cocktail for a very reasonable price was a welcome site (though tonight I ordered a nice syrah/granach from Washington state). I guess over all having experienced quite a few of these "new American" casual, yet stylish restaurants, Nightwood left some things to be desired. I hold this concept of food in high regards and when it doesn't come out near perfect (like I have had at Blue 13, Naha, and MK to name a few) I guess I leave a bit disappointed. That is not to say that this place should be ignored. I love the fact that they opened up this side of town- at basically the cross roads of Chinatown, Bridgeport, and Pilsen. The space itself is warm and inviting, and over all, the concept is a good one. Just remember this though. If you find yourself leaving Nightwood the way I did tonight- feeling a bit underwhelmed (then again can anyone ever be "whelmed"?)- walk due south on Halsted to Skylark and get yourself a pint of a good beer and some tater tots. Somehow that was the perfect "last course" to an otherwise almost forgettable meal.
(3)
Parris M.
Went on an early dinner trip with my boyfriend and his friend. They both ordered first, and ordered entrees. I, being apparently naïve, ordered pasta and expected a full sized plate, seeing as how it was the same price as an entree. It wasn't. I received approximately 15 pieces of pea sized gnocchi on a plate drenched in a butter salt sauce. It was practically cold. Politely, I told the waitress that it was way too under temp for my liking (or anyone's, really) and she apologized and brought back half of what was on my plate on a different warm plate. so now, I have a noticeably smaller amount of pasta left on my plate. While I'm watching my boyfriend and his friend enjoying their entrees, I'm enjoying each tiny morsel of salt. The waitress noticed my discontent, and offered me dessert on the house for not realizing I would want a full meal too. Which made me feel a little better. Until I saw the bill. When asked "still or sparkling water?" It should be implied that they're both the same price. Its not the same as asking "would you like a 7 dollar bottle of san pellegrino?" The appetizer I had was good, but I don't even remember what it was.
(2)
Milly P.
I live for brunch and Nightwood is definitely one of my favorite brunch places. I wouldn't call them a "standard" brunch place as you won't find an eggs + breakfast meat + starch combo deal. However, their dishes are delicious and a nice change in pace from standard brunch fare. Their dishes are seasonal so you may not always get what yo loved. My favorite used to be their fried chicken and waffles but I noticed it is not on the menu lately. They do keep their bacon donuts on the menu year-round, and I definitely recommend that! Their bagel sandwiches are always a good bet, as well as any sandwich with pork belly! The service is OK. I think the servers have too many tables and at times it feels like they are no where to be found. The vibe and wardrobe is very hipster-esque, so if that is your thing, you will love it!
(4)
Allison A.
Hot Damn! That's some damn good food! All I got to say.
(5)
Boon K.
The service was very attentive during our dinner and everything we had was pretty good. Except for the ribs. They were so tough that a knife couldn't help get the meat out. The favor was good but the preparation was terrible, they just threw it on the grill. Well, we mention it to the wait staff and they apologize and did not include it on our bill and offer to send out another but we decline and they comp us on dessert, which was very nice of them.
(4)
Angeli D.
BRUNCH: Had their housemade granola which is so good they should package and sell it. They serve Intelligentsia coffee in a Chemex (oh so good) which is enough for 2 people to share. House made sausages were small but tasty. Beautiful space with seating at the open kitchen in the back as well as a patio. Large windows. A harbinger of gentrification in a rundown-ish location.
(4)
Lisa L.
Yum! Expensive meal, but to be honest, it wasn't as pricey as I was expecting. We did it up with two apps, two entrees, three adult beverages, and one dessert, and got out of there (using a $10 gift cert) for under $100. To boot, we got to relax on their lovely, modern, outdoor patio; the rest of the indoor space was equally impressive, but it was too nice out to eat inside. The rundown I can vouch for the smelts, sardines, and trout - they were all phenomenal. Smelts were lightly breaded and fried, and served with a creme fraiche. The Sardines were smoked, and prepared with a delicious rosemary butter - there were veggies with this, but they didn't really add or detract from the dish. The sardines in the sauce were good enough to stand on their own. Now the trout - I can honestly say that this is the most tasty fish entree I can recall ever having. The fish has a smoky flavor, paired with a salad of mustard greens, beets, onions, and an almost salty dressing that is just perfect. I had a small bite of my husband's ratatouille, but not enough to really vouch for it. He seemed really pleased. He also had a blackberry and peach crumble that seemed to vaporize before I could have second thoughts about being too full to try some. Also of special note was the tamarind drink with vodka (it's usually a non-alc drink, but you can get it with spirits as well). Beer enthusiasts may be interested to know that they just got Old Rasputin on tap, and it's only $5 for a pint. I would absolutely come here again.
(3)
Kymberly J.
You really have to be in the mood for unusual combinations...for brunch anyway; I havent been here for dinner. Dont go in expecting to find traditional breakfast fare. I did see one ordinary thing on the menu, which I almost ordered. It was eggs, tots, and toast. I felt so boring even considering that I changed my mind. I had the English pea and ricotta eggs. A little salty but really good. Who knew peas with scrambled eggs would be good? Now YOU do! it came with their unique version of tots: a glob of shredded potatoes (like has browns) fried up as little balls. A work of art! It also came with toast that was thrown on the wood fire grill and served with a raspberry jam. A few things I would change: since my meal was one big protein and carb fest I would have loved to see a fruit plate on the menu. I always feel better ordering such items as I had when I can get in some healthful fruit. I would also get rid of the iced tea. It was possibly the worst fresh brewed iced tea I have ever had. The outdoor eating area is nice and cozy with a fire place in the center. Dont expect to sit and wathc the passersby because it is closed off from street view...hence the cozzyness!
(4)
Troy H.
Tater tots here are the truth. Went here for Sunday brunch with a friend, and really enjoyed it. The sausage is excellent, my eggs buttery and fluffy, and the tater tots. THE TOTS. Ordered an extra side of those afterwards. If you can, sit in the the counter/kitchen area. Watching people do what they like doing is a treat.
(5)
Daina B.
Nightwood is in a totally unassuming location on a random street corner in Pilsen. But when you walk in you would think that you were in the middle of Brooklyn (from the decor to the staff). I love that you can walk in without a reservation and sit by the kitchen and get your food served lickety split and watch the talented chefs do their thang. I love that the food is made from locally purchased and fresh food. The menu changes daily and the offerings are inventive. It's really a fantastic place when you think about it. Another thing that I love - the portion sizes. This ain't no cheese cake factory where you can order one thing and feed a family of four. Portions are perfect for one person - you won't feel like your stomach is about to explode if you have just. one. more. bite. So if you are looking for a new place to chow down, or want to take an out of towner to an 'off the beaten path' location then this is the place for you.
(5)
Cecilia G.
I was intrigued by the name, appearance and location of this place so I decided to use my a-la-card coupon and try it out. We went late on a weeknight and were seated right away next to the window. I liked the interior but it was way too dark for my taste.. maybe I just don't get the charm of eating in the dark, but I want to see what I'm eating! The streetlamp outside was basically our only light source. On to the food: great!! They have a changing menu that uses fresh, seasonal, local products. we tried a pasta dish (farfalle with olives, anchovies, chili) and the roasted duck with a great almond and prunes salad. both were flavorful and delicious. I just wish there was more - the pasta especially was a quite small portion. I love that you can choose still or sparkling water, which is not bottled but made from tap water with the soda maker. Complimentary biscuits and butter before the meal are also a nice touch. Dessert was good but not extraordinary. Overall a great meal, just a bit too pretentious (and pricey).
(3)
andrea m.
I recently went here on a first date, and while things did not work out with the gentleman I was with, I do plan on continuing my relationship with Nightwood. I had the hangar steak, and it was good. The portion size was just fine for me, but I am not a heavy eater. The bruschetta appetizer was really good, too. It was beautiful outside, so we sat on their patio. The space out there is really cute, and there is a fireplace in the middle of it. I am glad this restaurant is in the area!
(4)
Tara W.
Went to Nightwood with my fiance last week. We had the Carrots, smoked trout and dill. Amazing! Would never have thought that combo would work but it does. My fiance had the rabbit leg, she was in love. I had the Garlic Mushrooms which I found interesting to try on the menu and I was almost licking my plate after. Cocktails were seemed fresh and delicious. I want go back and try for Brunch I would strongly suggest going here!
(5)
Leslie S.
I've been to Nightwood twice now and here's what I can tell you: the food is fantastic, the service, eh, not so much. The first time we went to Nightwood was in September when the weather was still nice enough to sit outside (those were the days, huh?). The outdoor patio is small but pleasant - perhaps a little noisy so consider yourselves forewarned. The food was very well done - I particularly enjoyed the fried asparagus - but overshadowed by the amount of waiting we had to do to get some attention from our waiter. To give you an inkling of what I'm talking about, we waited 25 minutes for our cocktails and asked for them three times. We returned to Nightwood for Valentine's Day 2011. Like most restaurants, Nightwood offered a prix fixe, but also gave diners the option of selecting off a larger menu, which was greatly appreciated! I couldn't get enough of the Michigan smelts with creme fraiche - a wonderful combination. The spit-roasted half chicken was crispy and perfectly cooked. And the bread pudding with salted caramel sauce is definitely a winner (and I don't normally love bread pudding!). But, once again, we found ourselves wondering where our waitress was and feeling largely ignored. Four stars may be a bit generous for what I consider consistently lacking service, but the food at Nightwood is truly good, and deserving of the rating. Before you get too excited about the dinner offerings though, note that Nightwood changes its menu daily, depending on whatever it buys at the markets that morning (and almost everything on the menu is local and sustainable).
(4)
Robert D.
I've been here for both brunch and dinner. The dinner deserves a 5 and the brunch a 3. Pro's Dinner Atmosphere Dinner Service Dinner Menu Con's Brunch Sevice Brunch Menu For brunch, I prefer Nana or Waffles (both fairly close) Will definitely be back for dinner.
(4)
Lori C.
My husband and I have been wanting to try Nightwood for a while, so it was the restaurant I chose for my birthday dinner on 8/20. One of the appetizers (watermelon seared in a hot skillet topped with gorgonzola) was amazing, the other (with pulled mozzarela) was on the greasy side. We both ordered duck leg as the entree ... and both found it rather tough and unimpressive, yet the sauce of cherry tomatoes, grapes and blueberries was excellent. Dessert was their ice cream assortment, which was lovely. On the down side, when Nightwood booked our reservation, they specifically asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and my husband said it was for a birthday. But ... no acknowledgment of that what-so-ever that evening, no complimentary dessert, nada. It's not like I'm 4 years old and need a candle or anything, but really, Nightwood, why even ask? Just leads to a sense of the restaurant not having their customers feel special so they will return. Which we won't.
(2)
Andrew G.
Best brunch in Chicago, period. Menu changes every Sunday (brunch is only served on Sundays). The appetizer donut is a must. It changes everytime, but the bacon-one seems like a standard one. Very delicious. You can't go wrong with the menu. As a non-foodie, there are plenty of great options for me. I just had the eggs and salami. Sooo good.
(5)
Anika A.
Cozy spot, a nice change from our usual spots further up North. Started off on a disappointing note with the fried squid - over-fried, salty and too much breading and barely any squid. The only good part was the layer of cucumbers in yogurt under the squid. Our entrees definitely made up for the appetizer miss. I had the wood-grilled trout - cooked perfectly, so many flavors and loved the addition of almonds. Husband had the farm chicken breast, almost as good - more of a sweet taste w/ plums. We had the pumpkin pie for dessert - not your average pie - with a scoop of ice cream (cinnamon?), brown sugar and apple pieces on the side...yum! Excited to go again once their menu changes (which is supposedly every 6 weeks).
(4)
Mike D.
I'm going to say this: Nightwood is definitely a diamond in the rough. I moved to Pilsen from Wicker Park a few months ago, and I miss all of those elegant, fine dining establishments that seem to be on every corner in the 60622. I never knew a place as nice as Nightwood could exist in Pilsen, for obvious reasons. However, I was proved wrong when I ate here a few days ago on my birthday. Nightwood is nestled right on Halsted, a little north of Skylark and Cermak Rd. My boyfriend and I were greeted by a warm, inviting host when we walked in. The decor is contemporary, and the kitchen/food prep area is completely visible to guests. Our server was very knowledgable about Nightwood's cuisine, stating how its always fresh and only bought from local farming vendors. I ordered the roasted half chicken, which came with some kind of mint infused quinoa side which was orgasmic! The chicken tasted so fresh and was so tender, it melted in my mouth. My dish was also reasonably portioned; it was not small and scant like some fine dining restaurants are with their food. I felt full after I finished my plate, and that is pretty important to me. My boyfriend hinted that it was my birthday while I was in the bathroom, and our server brought us some delectable pastries for dessert....which were complimentary I might add. The only drawback I can say about Nightwood is the price of the cuisine. For a Pilsen restaurant, its pretty expensive. My plate was $25, but worth it. The menu changes daily, and I would say on average a person can expect to pay between $20-$35 per plate, excluding drinks. However, I understand why the dishes are on the expensive side. Nightwood goes to great lengths to ensure that the food is fresh and organic. In my opinion, this restaurant is worth the extra money.
(5)
Mary B.
Limited menu but the offerings are very good, and the service was strong. I appreciated that our waters were refilled regularly. Great ambiance as well.
went for restaurant week. had an awesome cocktail, dinner was just ok. the desserts were amazing. pretzels w/mustard caramel and lemon ice saved the trip. awesome service, but the menu left us wanting more. a dumpling, sausage, felt they could've been a bit more creative.
(3)
Maureen S.
You can't get food this good for this price in very many places. It's expensive, sure, but worth every damn penny. The appetizers are inventive and flavorful, the cocktails (though I haven't tried them yet) looked delicious and smart. I'm excited to come back for brunch sometime. I wish they had more vegetarian options, but I'm not complaining because the food there is excellent, fresh, and creative. I'm very impressed with the decor- it's beautiful and modern without being garish, while still maintaining comfort and functionality. The space was certainly designed with many factors in mind, which I appreciated. The kitchen is completely visible from the back- it's always refreshing when a restaurant has nothing to hide. They use lots of locally sourced produce and meat from the Butcher and Larder in Noble Square, so if that's your jam, you can be sure you're eating something local and quality for your dollar, too. I recommend the vanilla cake for desert- it sounds simple, but the brown butter ice cream it came with was absolutely delicious. The marinated turnips and carrots, as well as house made pickles were a favorite, also. Tucked away in Southeast Pilsen, it's more than worth the visit, though I wish it was just around the corner.
(5)
Liz W.
I had a semi-private event at Nightwood for my wedding reception. My (now) husband and I were looking for something that had somewhat of a wine cellar feel to it, and we were so impressed with what we found at Nightwood. We booked it sight unseen, food untasted. We didn't reserve the entire downstairs, we just asked - and Erin kindly agreed - to have it be private for the first couple of hours. We had a party of 12 people, so we had some preset appetizers, salads and my guests could choose between 4 entrees. Rarely do you have a party of 12 people in which each and every one of them raves of about their respective meals. Well, that happened. My grandmother is what you would call "finicky" and even she was pleased. I whole heartedly recommend Nightwood for dinner, private event or semi-private event. We had such a lovely time and Erin was so great as we were planning everything. Final note - the cake... I still think about that cake. We did the vanilla cake with the salted ganache filling and chocolate frosting with bits of toffee candy on top. Oh my goodness. I can't keep thinking about it or I'll want to go back. right. now.
(5)
Daniel K.
On a recent visit to Chicago we had dinner at this restaurant...after hearing all the praise and reading the YELP reviews I can only say that this was the WORST restaurant experience we have had in a long time Of the 4 dinners the only one that satisfied was my wife's Atlantic Char. I had a "bowl" of pasta (spaghetti), well for $16 IIRC there was not enough spaghetti to fill a large teacup...friends has a half chicken dish the came out undercooked and leaking pink juice, after sending it back for more "fire" it was still inedible, seems to me that for what we spent, the wine was good, this was an absolute DISASTER...UGH.
(1)
Kristin R.
I came here with the famed Filly G. of yelp the other night, and our mutual friend Frank, who has had the itch to try out some Mexican in Pilsen. Considering we could not settle on a Mexican place we all agreed on (namely Phil's aversion to one specific Mexi restaurant Frank wanted to try), we decided to give Nightwood a shot. Because I don't eat most meats, I checked out the menu beforehand to make sure there were at least a couple veggie options that I would consider, and there were. However, this restaurant is not very vegetarian-friendly as most of the entrees were straight up meat on a bone with only two pasta dish entrees, and one fish (I think). In any case, one of the pasta dishes was called "Potato Bugs". So get this, I am such a gullible moron I actually thought this restaurant served straight up big ass black potato bugs. I was actually looking forward to hearing our server explain this as I was so perplexed, yet intrigued. When I asked if there "really were potato bugs on the menu?" she snickered and said "oh, I forgot that we have an 'insect' on the menu. no, those would be the nickname for gnocci". So yeah, I felt like an ass. She was nice about it and maybe found my naivety a tad endearing. Who knows. So, on to the food... I ordered a licorice type pasta with some ricotta cheese and pistachio sauce concoction, which I enjoyed. And Frank's potato bugs were delish as well. I actually liked Frank's dish the best out of all of them. Phil's trout (?) I did not try; however, he claimed it was too fishy. We also were served some biscuits with honey butter, and I ordered a glass of pinot gris. This place is not cheap. My (moderate) portion of pasta cost $22! And my glass of wine $11.50 (I opted for the cheaper glass of white as the only other glass was $15). And I just felt like the food, and their limited selection, was not enough to justify anything above a 3-star rating. In fact, I was considering 2-star, but I did like my meal. I didn't love it, but I liked it. We skipped on dessert because we thought it would be fun to change it up and go elsewhere. Much to our chagrin, most dessert places are closed after 9 on Monday evenings.
(3)
Gary M.
OK, so maybe I am being a little more critical that usual because a meal for two people with a few drinks was $140... We came for restaurant week and the food just wasn't impressive. To start we had a salad and a crostini - hard to really mess that up and that course was fine. For entrees, we had pork loin and chicken. Both were not good. The pork loin consisted of thinly slice pieces of fat with a negligible amount of real meat attached. The chicken was flavored well but really was nothing to write home about and the portion was also severely lacking. Drinks were decent (although $12 for a cocktail) and the service was great (we only waited 10 mins for our table to free up and after we were seated the food came in a timely manner).
(2)
Mari Y.
Nightwood is not as impressive as it's set up to be. Food is just ok. Donuts are overpriced and the bacon maple was just not my scene. I liked the decor of the restaurant and the feel but the food was not that great. I had the cheeseburger, my bf had the biscuits and gravy and my friend had the tuna grinder. We all agreed that the food was meh. I said that I'd like to go back for dinner since everyone says it's good but my bf and friend both said no way, what's the point if the brunch was just meh and dinner would be twice the price? So....3 stars. It was fine. Eh.
(3)
Gina G.
Nightwood is a wonderful restaurant that does not get enough attention. The menu changes weekly and sometimes nightly because of the farm to table concept they use. Everything is local, which I love! I had never heard about this restaurant before a friend recommended it. My boyfriend and I had a wonderful experience with excellent food, outstanding service and a great atmosphere. I would definitely recommend the glazed carrot and the pork belly to start. The spaghetti with meat sauce is to die for!! It's probably the best in the city, if not one of th best. We ended with the cheeseburger, which was also great. We will be back to Nightwood for sure! I want to try their brunch as well.
(5)
Brent C.
Quick review- Food is hit or miss and way overpriced, cocktails sound better than they are, and the service is not the best. The room is beautiful and the patio looks amazing. My date and I randomly walked in with out a reservation on a Tuesday night. We were in the neighborhood and had heard good things about the place. The host asked if we had a reservation and acted like it was a slight imposition for her that we didn't have one. My first cocktail was the Tamarand Rickey with rum. I found it to be overly sweet and lacking in Tamarand flavor. After we ordered, biscuits and honey butter were brought to the table. The biscuits were not good- too tough and definitely made by a Yankee- you would be thrown out of the restaurant for serving those in the south. I started my meal with the fried Myer lemons- interesting and I am glad I tried them, but I found them to be a bit greasy and heavy.I did not like the sauce they were served with- it was basically mayo smeared artistically on the plate. For an entree I had the Wood roasted beef brisket which had its moments, but overall was dry and lacking in flavor. My date had the wood grilled Wisconsin trout with roast potatoes and ripe melon with prosciutto ham. The trout was large, well cooked and had a great smokey flavor. My date found the potatoes to be undercooked and salty- I agreed, but it did not bother me that much- mostly because the fish was so good. The Ripe melon and prosciutto was interesting, but underwhelming and I did not care for the texture or flavor of the melon. I would consider getting this dish in the unlikely event that I find myself at Nightwood again. I was to disappointed with my meal and drinks to order dessert, so we headed down the block to Skylark where we had a couple of great beers, played pinball, tipped well and left with a smile.
(2)
phil m.
WAY TOOO OVERPRICED!!!! I like Lula's and also overpriced. The food is good but really and great they support local farmers. The question is how are those farmers feeding the livestock or preventing bugs in the vegetation. It's pretty 'hip' to dine and support local farmers but yet do very little to name the farmers and their location. What is local btw? Anyhow, had a burger at the bar and was pleased. It was way overpriced and thought the staff are NOT from the neighborhood. Too many folk in here trying hard to be seen ....
(2)
Tony B.
Great beer list. Anything with Rocky's revenge is a winner. Cool atmosphere and service. I went with a large party of 9, and the staff did a great job handling the large party. we got the carrots with creme fraiche as an appetizer, which was tasty. i also got the ham and egg salad which had everything I like in this world: ham, eggs, sharp cheese, candied pecans. It was an outstanding start to dinner. for my entree, I got the roast chicken, which was their signature dish. it was just OK. it was served with some preserved tuna, which added an interesting twist. my issue with the dish wasn't with the flavor; rather, the chicken was cold. having been in the restaurant industry, I understand the difficulty the kitchen would have in plating a 9-top, but cold chicken is not acceptable. The menu was exciting and adventurous; I bet if I went with a smaller group, it would have been a better experience.
(3)
Rebecca M.
The bacon-butterscotch donuts are worth a 6 star rating alone. But everything else on the brunch menu I've tried has also been incredible. And both times I've been to nightwood the food has arrived quickly and service has been good (although you get the impression that cracking a smile is a punishable crime in this place). It's also hard to guess which of the 500 deadpan hipsters is a patron, bartender or waitstaff. I only wish they had a better or more obvious waiting area. Everyone just kinda crowds around the front/bar area with their asses in the faces of the poor patrons who end up seated at tables near the bar. Also, for what it's worth, I saw Rahm Emmanuel having brunch here. You can decide for yourself if that's a plus or minus.
(5)
Jessica L.
WOW-ZAH! What a meal I just experienced at this Pilsen gem. I was in the hood for Second Fridays where I was able to experience some truly fantastic art exhibits finishing off the evening with a fabulous meal here. The ambiance is so inviting yet chique at the same time. The lighting is dim and romantic but also suitable for a group. We were a party of five this evening and were promptly seated and poured water (choice of sparkling or still). It took awhile for the waitress to get to us, but we didn't mind as we were enjoying our conversation. When she did arrive, she was incredibly knowledgeable and was patient when we played 20 questions with her on the menu (we were really just curious about a lot of the food - she didn't miss a beat with her descriptions). The food was simply delicious. I was able to try the spicy jalepeno popper, the heirloom tomato, the spaghetti and the duck. Everything tasted BETTER than it sounded on the menu (which is how it should be if you ask me). The stand out, knock out punch of the night was the duck by a long shot. It may have been the best duck I have ever set my lips on. Brown sugar glaze, moist meat, crisp skin - I ate myself into a coma. I should have stopped there, but no, I needed dessert...and caffeine. So, I ordered a cappacino and the dark chocolate pudding with roasted marshmallow and graham crackers. The cappacino was nice and foamy but not quite as hot as I like (consider asking for it extra hot if you go that route). And the smores type dessert was tasty, but entirely too rich and sugary for my taste. I only made it three bites in before throwing in the towel. Overall, this was just a fantastic evening. The only reason I did not give five stars is because the service was noticeably slow at key times throughout the meal. I will be back here soon for a second try and see if it was an anomoly or just par for the course.
(4)
Erika G.
Yeeeeaahhh, delicious. I don't know if it was the fact that I was in Pilsen, and would have chewed off the ears of a rat I was so damn hungry (and there's really no other game in the 'hood), but I LOVED IT. Went to the Pilsen Art Walk, and frankly, our first stop (here) was the best thing about the evening. Eating a delicious dinner before we go see the trustafarian art students. Ah, yes. I was starved, so I went 12 year old boy on it and got the cheeseburger. MMmmmmm. And it was done properly, very adult. Mmm! My pals got the gnocchi and the pate appetizers - and they were both a good size to share. Pate and fig jam and gnocchi and chunks of bacon. Mmmmmm. Seriously, we couldn't stop yapping about how great everything was. I went back to the bathroom to send a sext 'cos the food WAS sexy and saw my sexy reason to come back. The Chef Bar/Table in back! Kitchen as theater! Mon dieu! Pilsen, as a neighborhood, sucks. There's nothing there. But, this is a reason to go here. Hang out at the Skylark next door while you call a cab to get the hell outta there after dinner, but GO!!
(4)
Michelle O.
I have visited Nightwood for dinner 3 times now and I have to say each time I walk away with the same feeling. Last night my friend and I shared the Polenta appetizer with Parmesan and it was very good. However, I think another layer of flavor would have been nice. It said it had spicy peppers in it but I was not tasting the pepper or the spice, in fact I was reaching for the table pepper to add it in. My main dish was the buttermilk fried scallops which were excellent. They had a very different deep fried outside crust and sat on a bed of beans and sauce. The sauce consistency was a little watered down and again lacking some flavor but overall a strong dish. My friend had the Spaghetti alla chitarra, broccoli raab and we both felt that it was extremely salty. It was also very oily and not in a good way were it makes a nice sauce, it was in a greasy way where it hurts your stomach and tastes like your eating only oil. It's the kind of dish where you take one bight and you're like Mmmm but then after the 2nd and the 3rd you're like Hmm... Overall, Nightwood is a cool environment where you can get creative food that needs some tweaking with seasoning and execution.
(3)
Jeff G.
went on a sat night with 3 others, 7:45 rezzie. pace of meal was not rushed, we took our time ordering appies and entrees. food was very good, kind of pricey. i like the whole local and sustainable, but not sure why they had trout from oregon and snapper (probably from the gulf) on the menu tasty, but not sure worth driving to from andersonville. if we were in the neighborhood, we'd go back again.
(4)
Aaron P.
I can't get enough of this place - I've been back several times for brunch, but have been wanting to go for dinner since day 1. The menu changes (I think) weekly, if not daily, and is hand written - too cool! At brunch, the bloody marys are to die for. Spicy and seasoned just right, using Tito's vodka. The doghnuts are almost always on the menu in some shape or form (different sauces or fillings) and are a must try. The hashbrowns are great too - formed into ping-pong sized balls and fried, served with a homemade/home-jazzed up ketchsup. I recommend a reservation for brunch, otherwise, you'll be toasted from the bloody marys while you wait at the bar! You must try this place!
(5)
Ryan B.
A vibrant place, with creative options, and good service. I can't believe I found this Pilsen gem on accident. T'was a roll of the die that paid off when it usually doesn't. I love the quality and how the menu changes daily - just look at the date printed on the bottom - with unique combinations of local and seasonal foods that only talented chefs can pull off. And yes, you can eat in the kitchen - well really darn close to it - which is fun. It's a bar with a kitchen instead of shelves alcohol. You can watch the cooks make each delicious dish and even see a rabbit twirling on a spit (not visible from the regular seating). Cool to me. I had the brunch for the first time last week. I had a tough time choosing from all of the tempting options. I ended up with eggs with hollandaise sauce. Very tasty. The made to order donuts were rich and exquisite - I had to try them but couldn't finish 'em. I had a pork chop and chicken on separate visits and was delighted. Portions are old-school-sized, which means you can eat everything in one sitting - not a complaint. Other reviewers complain that this place is expensive, but they might be better off at Red Lobster. If you think about the quality of the ingredients and the talent required to have a seasonal menu, how could it not be (look in the kitchen - from what I can tell there are no TGI Friday's manual-educated fry cooks). You must appreciate these things if you are going to go here. Anyway, I haven't had the salads, but they look very enticing. I might just try one on my next visit.
(4)
Stan W.
Both really, really good and not really that good all wrapped into one. It's a very charming place, good service, cool open kitchen where you can see all the action. The burger was perfect - one of the better burgers I've had anywhere, with solid fries. But you don't usually go to a place like this for a burger and fries. We got the raisin bread, which at $5 and smaller than most muffin's I've seen was a complete ripoff and should've been served to us for free. The salted bass pasta was just as described: SALTY. It also came with one rib floating in it that was pretty tough and chewy - not sure if that was on purpose. This dish was tiny too - I think there might've consisted of 6 noodles, 3 oysters, and 1 rib. So after seeing these dainty portions, I was already making plans to pick up a Happy Meal on the way home. When my ribs came, I was shocked. Was predicting a max of 4 bones and it was a full slab, with a hunk of cornbread and slaw. Unfortunately, the ribs were not good at all - salted beyond recognition and I could only choke down 3, leaving like 2/3 of the slab uneaten. Not only did the salt destroy them, but they weren't cooked well at all. The ribs were tough and dried out - not cooked low and slow. I've made far better ribs myself with my smoker. So I don't know what to make of this place. Seems fancypants, but serves things like overpriced burgers (very good) and ribs (terrible). This would've gotten 2 stars, but the mini baked alaska dessert we got was both interesting and very good. I'd rate the burger a 5, the dessert a 4, the ribs a 1, and the other courses a 2. All over the place.
(3)
Anne P.
I went and ate dinner the day after Nightwood's "soft" public opening--that is, not advertised, etc, but word gets around--and was very pleased with the experience. So happy to have another excellent local option. Since it's so new, of course there was the usual 20-servers-for-3-diners thing going on, but that's unsurprising, and the staff handled it with grace, balancing sweetly between attentive and too-attentive, but with a dash of humor added. It did get quite a bit busier before I left, I might add: I arrived quite early, at 5:30ish, right after work--places to be and all. Of course, that was the night before they got their liquor license, but they offered a BYOB option, which was nice. No more, though, or so I hear. From what my server told me (and what I've read), Nightwood's very focused on local, fresh ingredients, and that showed in my meal: "suckling pig and morel ravioli with spinach and green olives." Amazingly rich, and the olives and morels packed way more taste than your usual options. Same could be said for my strawberry sorbet with macerated berries. The berries, I might add, were way more strawberry than normal strawberries, and definitely more strawberry than the sorbet--I know sorbet's supposed to be light, but in the last few bites, I could hardly tell what flavor it was supposed to be. Perrrfectly cooked, too: a good al dente, so that you know your pasta's there, you know? That said, the meal was pretty subtle. If you're not paying attention, it could be lost on you. And the portions are definitely fine dining-sized (though not terribly fine dining-priced). I was hungry again by the end of the night, though that may also be due to me eating early in the evening. But my particular dishes aside--since they're going to rotate the menu regularly according to what's in season and fresh and available and all--it's a very, very pretty place. Low, soft-orange retro-esque chairs, medium-toned woods, hanging iron lamps, steel barstools, etc. The flowers here and there were also a great touch: I kept catching their scent and wondering if they'd perfumed the place. But no, just the lilies sitting right next to me, I finally realized. You can also eat right in front of the kitchen, which is totally open, so you can watch your meal being cooked. The patio also looks lovely, though it was too chilly on the day I went to attempt it. The one bit I found rather unsurprising but annoying (and may have only noticed due to having my leisure to see all the staff wandering about) is the makeup of the staff: was there a BMI cap during hiring or something? Every one of them that I saw was slim-to-teensy, it seemed. For that matter, there were three girls hanging out at the hostess stand, and not one of them topped 5'4", if I were to guess. Nor did I spot any non-whites, I might add. Not that any one physical appearance is a problem, just that that particular trend struck me as irking (and potentially discriminatory, frankly). But it was just one night: there may be other folks around and I just missed them. But for such a diverse neighborhood to have such a cookie-cutter staff is a little... odd. Absolutely nothing against the current staff, though: every single one of them was lovely to me--friendly, chatting and informative, but also willing to leave me alone when I was focused on my meal. The bartender even gave me a short tour, which was super-nice of her. So in short: love the vibe, love the decor, love the focus on fresh and local, love the food, love the current staff, but really wish they'd expand a little in that department.
I'm a fan of Cafe Lula so I'm not surprised at how much I really liked this place. I mean these guys have great attention to the look and feel. As a designer I appreciate that. Good, functional use of space and the exposed Kendall College or Food Network like kitchen is a nice touch on your way to the water closet. The waitstaff was uber friendly. They were very helpful in selecting the courses and beverages. Fresh and delicious, it has a little bit of everything for the omni, herb and carni taste. It's similar to something you would find in Portland, Or or the PNW in general. I definitely want to check it out in the summer. They have a nice lil area in front that needs exploration.
(5)
Lisa B.
Tasty food insanely over-priced. I felt like a sap paying the bill.
(2)
Megan C.
Generally good food and good service, but wasn't mind-blowingly amazing...just okay. I was underwhelmed. I have to say though that the desserts were the best part of the meal. Went here for the CRW 2012 dinner and essentially tried every dish on the menu (was with 2 other people so we just shared things)--most of their dishes appear on their regular menu as well: -Spinach salad with buttermilk dressing, artichokes, pecans and fried onions--I thought it was too much dressing and cheese, making it a bit on the heavy side -Crostini--I thought they put too much gorgonzola to the point of overpowering the garlicky bread (which was great) -Foie agnolotti--delicious but the foie was a bit on the salty side, I would've preferred that it would've been either less salty or balanced off with more of the balsamic reduction sauce -Soft-scrambled egg with Michigan char roe--pretty creamy and delicious with the toast, but if this is supposedly a similar value to the foie risotto, it may be a bit of a ripoff -Spit roasted pork loin with farro, capers, onion rings, sugar--I was expecting something a bit more substantial than thin slices of pork with some farro, but it was cooked well, smoky, and had lots of "delicious fat" as stated on the menu -Chicken with a side salad and radish--reminded me of a mashup of sweet-and-sour chicken and barbeque (it was slightly spicy); the chicken didn't seem to have much meat on it, and the sauce just reminded me of eating spicy sweet and sour dishes (ie in Chinese cuisine) -Semifreddo with brownie chunks--deliciously like eating clouds of light but oh-so-creamy ice cream; I wish the brownie chunks were chewy instead of hard though -Sourdough bread pudding with toffee and salted caramel--probably the best bread pudding I've had so far because it was not cloyingly sweet nor too heavy or soggy Overall: food was not bad--just in some cases overseasoned; given portion size and the regular prices (30+ for the entrees), I don't think I would go here...it's a little bit overrated for my taste.
(3)
Rusty S.
Great find in Pilsen neighborhood. unique menu, great fresh food and nice atmosphere.
(5)
Michael W.
Went here with a friend who used to live in Pilsen and swore by it. We grabbed dinner not too long ago and I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it was the best but the ambiance is great and it's a perfect date spot. The food was very good and the prices weren't too bad, but our waiter did some hovering which made it at times a little uncomfortable. I don't think he knew he was doing it but we're all adults here so ask your question and then beat it. Not saying that rudely because i've worked in the industry, but we've all had that person. After reading a number of the brunch reviews, I can't wait to go check it out. Thinking this weekend so stay tuned..
(4)
Michael B.
In a word, the brunch was ridiculous. So, so good. Had a cheese omelet with summer vegetables, and that, the toast, and potatoes (shredded and fried into the shape of little balls) were all perfect. Good coffee, which is unfortunately something that has to be noted. Friendly and attentive service. Really, the white russian donut (yes, get it, don't think twice, it's f***ing amazing) is worth four stars in itself. Can't really think of any reason not to give the place five stars other than I try to be sparing with those.
I have been wanting forever to check out Nightwood. I love places that use seasonal/ local ingredients! We made reservations for an early dinner at 5:30 on a Saturday night because we had tix for a show after. We didn't need the rezzies but ya never know. We were seated outside on the patio which is very cozy, loved it! Let me get the negative out of the way. Our waitress. She was aloof as aloof can be. She was sort of unwelcoming and it was hard to flag her down sometimes which I find annoying when I'm paying high prices. I don't mind paying high prices but if I do I have expectations of the service. Maybe this was just an off night for her. My hubby is not as much of a foodie as I am but he loved his spit fired chix. I tried it and it did have a fantastic smokey flavor, I have never tasted chicken quite like that. I had the salmon and it was good but I was wishing for hubbys chicken instead. Oh and I loved the pea tendrils.. who knew I'd love pea tendrils? I know there are some comments about the portions being too small here. What we ordered, we did not find that to be true. I felt the portions were just right. We opted out of dessert partly because I was ready to get away from our waitress. We went to Taylor street for italian ice instead. YUM! I would go back. I love that the menu changes constantly.
(3)
Zeke A.
I came to Nightwood for brunch this morning with a friend from high school and we had a great meal and a great time! The place was extremely busy and crowded as expected at 11:30am on a Sunday. That made the service a little slow, but we were in no rush so it was fine. However, our food came out so quickly so that was great! We both could not take our eyes of the goat cheese crepes and we did not go wrong with that selection! A little savory and a little sweet...a great balance! The portions were small, but the goat cheese is so rich and creamy that's it's just fine. We both had coffee and I had a mimosa and our entrees and it was a bit pricey. However, you pay what you get for and the quality, presentation, atmosphere, and welcoming staff all make it worth it! This was a special occasion as I hadn't seen my friend in 7 years I think...so when I have a new guest from out of town visiting. I'm definitely making reservations here again. (Yes they take brunch reservations -- Score!!) Thank you Nightwood!! Looking forward to my next visit!
(4)
Caitlin G.
Mama may have taught me not to talk with my mouth full, but Mama never ate the spit-roasted half chicken at Nightwood. How can one raised with even the best of manners not praise the heavens and the chef for this dish while shoveling it into her grateful mouth? As a special surprise on my birthday, I was treated to dinner at Nightwood. It was the perfect place to celebrate my birthday. Though we arrived early for our reservations, we were able to snag two spots at the bar where the gentleman ordered a whiskey straight and I ordered a Whiskey Daisy, a delicious concoction of Jim Bean Rye, mulberry syrup and lemon. We were promptly seated at a table by the window where my bulky coat was whisked away for comfort's sake. After deliberating over the menu, we ordered the Slagel Farm Spit-Roasted Chicken for him and the Roast Squab, Foie Gras, Parsnip, Pear, Pea Tendrils with Black Walnuts dish for her. Yep. I like my meals ridiculously succulent and fatty, thank you. We were given a delicious plate of bread, which appeared to melt in our mouths, while we waited, and sipped on wine. The atmosphere of the place was bustling, but not overwhelming or oppressive. We were cozy and comfortable and lost in our own conversation while we waited. Now, about the squab, I did not know what I was ordering, but this is the beauty of a place like Nightwood. You can go in pretty ignorant and end up with a dish that is different but delicious. Nightwood allows you to take chances where you might not at other establishments. The squab was exactly as it should be--bursting wtih flavor, featuring fatty and greasy skin and tender red meat that was somewhat tough to get to, given that the bird is so small. Would I have ordered squab if I had known that it was a baby pigeon? Probably not. Was it delicious? Yes. So there you have it. The little foie gras mixed with the dish were MIND. BLO. WING. Mind-blowing, people. The gentleman's half chicken was, as I mentioned above, unreal. Chicken has never tasted as savory as it was. It was rich with flavor, moist and absolutely decadent. The dude kept slipping more on my plate for me, which was sweet because it was so tasty and my squab was so tiny. We literally could not stop talking about how delicious this dish was. As it was my birthday, I ordered myself the chocolate pumpernickel bread pudding. It was also scrumptious. The chocolate melted in my mouth and made me weak at the knees. I cleaned the plate! Nightwood's not in my budget for visiting regularly, but I'm sticking it in my back pocket as a great spot for a special treat.
(5)
Rick C.
We stopped in late on a Thursday night and get seated immediately. My wife had been here before and she enjoyed it, so I was hoping for a similar experience. The place itself was cool, nice but casual. Our waitress let us know they were out of sweet breads, so we went with the soft shell crab with corn relish. Probably one of the better soft shell crabs that I've had. Nothing fancy, just a good quality crab done right. We had two appetizer sized pastas, the trofie which was delicious and the cavatelli with duck heart. I liked both. I think they really do their pastas well here. The duck heart had almost a livery taste. Good, but the trofie was better. For our entrees, my wife had the corn custard with a side salad and polenta croutons. The croutons were awesome. the custard was rich and tasty. Probably a bit overpriced for what you get, but good. I was in the mood for a burger so I gave theirs a shot. I enjoyed it. I've been using the burger at Owen and Engine as my comparison point recently and this one held up well. I believe it was on a ciabatta bun which was a nice touch. Again, not fancy but good quality beef cooked well. That would also probably sum up how I felt about the food here.
(4)
Amy L.
I like the concept and how the menu was presented in handwritten format.. food wise I get it that most things are organic but the prices don't really justify it for me. $4 for a cup of grapefruit juice that can from a plastic gallon jug.. that tasted like any other store bought grapefruit juice $7 for a bowl of oatmeal with dried cherries and milk.. steel cut oats yes and it was thick yes but its not that different from the ones I make at home from the cans. Nothing superb. maple bacon donut.. this was good and I think if I were to go back this would be the only thing I get. My friends tried the dish with the tater and tots and they liked it but again I didn't think it was worth it from the presentation to the portion, to the taste.
(3)
Melissa L.
My guidebook listed this restaurant as worthy of trying and I would have to agree - this is certainly a hidden gem, at least for us tourists. I'm not sure how many make it out to Pilsen but I felt like we were the only ones. My husband was lecturing me about choosing a restaurant in a potentially unsafe area of the city but it was worth it and we would later learn that the sketchy area was really quite a few blocks away from there. We went for brunch, and the peanut butter and jelly donut was soo good.. but how could it not be really? I got the breakfast bagel with egg, bacon and other good stuff. It was good yet a bit heavy.. The real standout was the rosti potato balls.. I've never had better. My hubby enjoyed the trout omellete. Will definately go back for dinner next time I'm in Chicago. Yet I'll probably take a cab there ;)
(4)
Ariel G.
Been for both brunch and dinner service and both are equally as delicious. The atmosphere was amazing, aside from the group of seven seated next to us who couldn't stop shouting-but that's no fault of the restaurant's, and our server Jill was very accommodating. I thoroughly enjoy that the menu changes from day to day, it gives the restaurant a unique "homey" quality.
(5)
Tera D.
I really really really liked this place! I went on a Saturday night to celebrate my bday with my husband. It was full but not crazy - a nice atmosphere for actually being able to talk to each other. We started with drinks at the bar before we were seated. Good drink list, and outrageously reasonable wine prices. As for food, the menu isn't huge, and it's set up in a pretty standard fashion - apps, pastas, entrees, desserts. We're so used to small plate menus these days that we decided to order 3 apps, 1 pasta and 1 entree and just split everything. All three apps were great - the pig ear and the caramelized carrots being the standouts. Our pasta was the farfalle with anchovies and other goodies. To be fair, the hubs would probably only give Nightwood 4 stars because he was very offended by the fact that the pasta had a ton of olives in the sauce and they weren't mentioned on the menu. He has a point, since olives are a strong flavor, but I happen to love them and thought the pasta was great. Our entree was the duck, which was to die for. It had this great garlicy rappini on the side, plus dates that were the perfect sweet pairing for the smokey, crispy duck. Yummmm. And best of all, our final bill was $150, which included 3 drinks, a bottle of champagne, and all the aforementioned delicious food! I'll be recommending this place often, and hopefully heading back soon!
(5)
Wiz M.
Came here a couple nights ago. I live close by and first time I've been there. Heard about the menu changes almost on a daily basis which is really cool. I also like restaurants that support local farms. It was a really good meal. Our waitress hooked me up with the last duck that wasn't on the menu. It was a spit roasted half duck. it was cook perfect. The portions are pretty big. My guest had the quail, it was ok, I wouldn't have that again. But the duck was to die for. Very good beer selection, mostly midwest brews. Everything is really fresh and you can tell. I heard from others that the brunch is really good, I will definitely come for that sometime soon.
(4)
Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I had been wanting to try here for ages and finally we did. It was GREAT! After we finally figured out which door to go in off the sidewalk, we were sat immediately, per our reservation. The staff was super friendly and made us feel welcomed. We started with the pork cheek and the scallops. The pork cheek wasn't what we expected and didn't quite sit well; it's not worth trying. The scallops were fairly good though. For entrees we had the wood-grilled whole trout and the pork shank. Both were amazing! The trout was huge and super flaky and buttery. It was one of my favorite fish dishes I've had out in awhile. The pork shank was super tender and melted in your mouth. Unfortunately, they were out of the dessert we were craving so we opted for a simple scoop of chocolate cake ice cream. It was rich and tasted a bit different than the usual chocolate, but we definitely want to go back for a more appealing dessert. We can't wait to go again and try a pasta; they looked pretty good as well!
(4)
Adrian J.
While most of the surrounding area can look a bit "disorganized" don't be dismayed. For those not in the area, this is a place worth the trip. They change their menu all the time but I highly suggest the fried lemons. For the entree I had the sturgeon which came with in a perfectly sized portion. I also got a chance to sample their fries and burger. The burger took on the scent on their wood grill. As for the drinks, I had the chance to sample their Virgina Wolf punch. A big fan of gin, it definitely hit the spot. The service was spot on. No complaints. They were totally willing to split up the check according to what the person ate (took a little longer) but it made it much easier when paying. Since we had a larger party, they seated us downstairs which was more intimate than upstairs. The upstairs was definitely more noisy but I wouldn't say unbearable by any means. I will definitely be recommending to all my s. loop friends.
(4)
Anne D.
I came here with a large group for brunch, and we were seated in the basement, which seemed to be a wine cellar. The basement had long tables with benches - not exactly the best for when you're wearing a dress and trying to gracefully swing your legs over the bench! The service was lacking - we were ignored by the waiters for a large amount of time and were met with confused looks when requesting simple things like hot sauce. We ended up being there for about 2.5 hours because the food service took so long. Good thing I was with good company! The food was quite good and the hot chocolate I got was adorable, but the portions were very small for the price. If I come back, I'll try the main dining room and hope for better service!
(3)
alex m.
BRUNCH Bacon butterscotch donut?! I don't even like butterscotch. Hot DAMN! Bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese bagon egg and slaw. YES. TOTS, yayy! BRUNCH HERE IS AMAZING. Why can't NYC have brunch like this? Simple understated perfection. And yummy. Housed under a great roof. can't wait to return for the burger which I hear rave reviews about.
(5)
John G.
The brunch menu is definitely limited to say the least. While, the burger I had was great, it's $3-$5 over priced. Our server was inattentive, leaving the table thirsty and hopeful to get a simple drink refill while the apparent manager touched my boyfriend twice while telling him where he could find the restroom.
(2)
Monique M.
I love dining in Chicago, and had high expectations for this spot based on the yelp reviews. True, the atmosphere/ambiance is great...with a very attractive, friendly crowd. And yes, service was quick and friendly...although our waiter was a tad awkward. I got the distinct impression he wasn't used to seeing ladies like us (non-anglo) in there that often. Anyhow, we asked the waiter about portion sizes...he should have been able to advise us a bit better just looking at our mid-sections! We ordered a salad and beef tenderloin to split and were disappointed by the microscopic portions...which added to two glasses of wine came to the tune of $100. I'm used to foo-foo sizing in better restaurants, but COME ON. The salad was delish, but the tenderloin was not-so-tender, and my jaws ached by the time we left. Sad, but true, we we forced to drive straight to a white castle and order a dozen sliders. Plus one star for a VERY cute ladies room, but I think I would just come for drinks next time.
(3)
Carol K.
Nightwood is the newest addition to this southern stretch of Halsted in Pilsen. Owned by the same people as Lula Cafe, they had been open for about a week when we stopped in for dinner. Nightwood is named after the 1936 novel written by Djuna Dumas. It's an interesting choice as I was wondering what the link to the book would be- and as it turns out--there is no link. Just the mystery of why they named it that. The interior is contemporary and bright. As our waiter said- they want it to be a "beaken of light" lighting their corner of Halsted. And the place is larger than it looks- with an outdoor patio, back seating area as well as a large room downstairs for private parties. We were seated right away at a perfect corner, window table (it was early) and since they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more- if you don't want to wait- I'd suggest you go early as when we were leaving the place was pretty full. Our server brought over a simple menu that changes daily- so the food that we enjoyed may not be be there if you go but I'm sure they will be replaced with equally delicious creations! We started with a couple of the appetizers- the ravioli in butter sauce and these interesting spears of asparagus coated with smoked trout and cream cheese, lightly breaded and deep fried. While the ravioli was good-the asparagus spears were amazing! What an interesting combination of flavors! For our entrees- I had the chicken and my friend had the pork loin. Both were extremely tasty. The chicken was a huge portion. The pork looked great- the only challenge was there was quite a bit of fat on it. Finally dessert. I love that you can order a plate of fresh, hot from the oven cookies in 4 flavors. The toffee one was my favorite- but the peanut butter one came in a close second. Service was good- they work in teams so different people were bringing out food out- but our server always checked in to make sure things were good. And free street parking is still available in this area which is always nice. The name Nightwood may remain a mystery- but the delicious food that they are serving shouldn't. It's a great addition to this neighborhood!
(4)
Kelly H.
Went here for dinner and sat in the back where the kitchen is open and you can watch the staff prepare everything! If you are a foodie like me you will love it! The seating around the kitchen is bar style and the staff will interact and answer any questions while cooking! SO COOL! The food was amazing, menu is always changing and only use fresh food from local farms! Must try!
(5)
Elizabeth S.
The talk is true. Having longed to try this place since it first opened, I was excitedly talking to various friends about my upcoming Friday night reservations. In response, everyone would tell me: I LOVE THAT PLACE. My curiosity and excitement only grew - and after my visit, my trust in these friends did too! Nightwood is a unique spot (worth the Pilsen trip) with dishes that parallel its character. Lamb+Octopus: uh, yeah! Enough said. Everything we had was great. Additionally, the staff was beyond generous (...we closed the place down, and they didn't seem to mind that we honestly had a hard time leaving our table). Thanks for making us feel so welcomed. I can't wait to return with more friends.
(5)
Char Y.
we came for the famed burger and it was HUGE! the burger is layered with crispy onion rings, lettuce, pickles and two patties. delicious.
(4)
mei s.
i was initially put off at first as i made reservations on opentable.com and i had specifically indicated in the notes, it's a special dinner, if you can seat us at a nice table, that would be appreciated. well, we showed up 15 minutes early and the dude sat us at a table against a wall adjacent to the bar. the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and he seats us against a wall next to the bar??? really? so, i immediately, asked, hey, can we get a window seat, especially since there were a few open too. sure, and he immediately moved us. don't you people read the notes on a reservation? you guys take the time to call people to confirm the reservation, you think you could read the notes too? good thing we moved, as the night progressed, there were asses that would have been rubbing against our heads while we were dining!!! despite the initial interaction, the rest of the night was fine. our server was excellent. very friendly and took the time to explain the terms to us. the meal was well-paced until it came to our entree, which actually was fine, bc we were full from the two appys and pasta dish. we ordered the warm raisin-nut bread with duck schmaltz, which is basically onions rendered in duck fat. i swear they flash-fried that piece of bread as it was glistening!! we also ordered the honey-roasted pears, bacon, spinach, podda (which is a hard goat cheese), sorrel and yeast. that was not a healthy salad by any means but it was damn tasty. and then we ordered the potato gnocchi with foie gras. that was awesome!!! it was a very small plate of pasta. i would have been peeved if that was my only dish. but i seriously, can't think of eating a big plate of it anyways though. for the entree, i ordered the fried scallops. there were three and they were finger-licking good. a bit salty, but good. hubby ordered the indiana duck. it was a lot of duck!! like a whole half of a duck. but i guess if you are going to charge $36 it better be half. btw, i ordered two tamarind rickeys, loved them. nice place, can cross off my list now.
(4)
chris g.
BRUNCH. This is not your routine breakfast to say the least. Throw normal out the window & think chef inspired inventive breakfast. Even the homemade doughnuts are delish. I had a Cuban sandwich type dish that was layered with all kinds of things from pork to pickled greens. There's also some seasoned pancakes in there with an egg on top. It may sound weird but boy did all those flavors play well together. I can't wait for my next play date here. Two people with two brunch entrees, a doughnut, two coffee's & tax was $41. not including tip & no alcohol drinks.
(4)
Taranika E.
Such a tiny place with a big menu... Definitely a first date kinda place.
(4)
Chad C.
Butterscotch bacon donut, bread pudding French toast. Both good, didn't blow me away.
(3)
Kathryn S.
My daughter made a reservation and they basically got the wrong night for us, so we didn't have a table when I got to the restaurant. I have to say that has thankfully never happened to me. I know people make mistakes, but their worst mistake was the manager didn't come over to me and apologize, or offer me a drink, or a free dessert. Nothing. He left it to the host to say, we'll find you a table soon. No one apologized. The menu gives the appearance of locavore, sustainable farms, organic, blah, blah, blah. The wait staff for our table couldn't tell me if the fish was farm raised or wild caught and had to check. She also could not tell me if the special, the duck, was organic. So, it's apparent the staff gets no heads up about the menu before opening. $35 for the duck? You would think they would know the menu. Quack, Quack. Impressed? Not in the least. Was the food good? The corn tortillas with the green garlic salsa was delicious. With the duck? Strange. The semi, under grilled vegetables were over powered by the very hot sliced pepper. Not that good. I won't be going back any time soon. However, if the manager had gone out of his way to apologize and to try to make amends, I would give it another try. I won't miss this place in the least. Like my daughter once asked me, "Mom, why is this dentist so expensive?", to which I replied, "if there's a problem, he'll know what to do; that's why he gets paid the big bucks." Clearly, this management didn't know what to do. it's a people business folks. Duh. Another mediocre experience that could have been great. Suck it up.
(2)
katy h.
The donut was simply the best. Fresh, melt-in-your mouth, maple sweetness with thick chunks of bacon. We sat at the kitchen counter on a Sunday morning, and watching the kitchen staff in action was terrific! Hot chocolate was dark and rich, if not that hot. Bloody Mary's were bland, and salami and cheese swizzle stick was not very flavorful either. That said, the French toast with a pastrami and ground mustard filling and Cuban sandwich both had good combinations of flavors and texture. The potato balls were crisp on the outside, and gooey on the inside. The host and hostess were very accommodating, and our waitress was efficient, if not friendly. We went with our 11 year old daughter, and she enjoyed her eggs and toast, and the kitchen view. We will return at night for dinner. FYI = 1 donut, 3 breakfasts, 1 hot cocoa, 2 Bloody Mary's = $74.00
(4)
Amanda C.
Meh. The hype around this place seems predicated on the notion that 30-something yuppie-hipsters who prefer to dine on Restaurant Row can come to a non-gentrified neighborhood in order to look 'cool' and ahead of the curve. Great concept (co-created menu with their farmers) but Nightwood hasn't quite mastered the execution. I came for dinner and was disappointed in the quality (and originality) of the goat cheese beet baguette and found the polenta to be under-seasoned with a texture that resembled morning oatmeal. Portion sizes are too large for my taste, while the vegetarian options were a little slim. The carrot soup was delicious, but lacked the complexity of the soup you would get at, say, Girl and the Goat. Too much bread, butter, oil and pasta throughout. A pleasant-enough experience if you adjust your expectations but I'm not jumping to go back.
(2)
Allyn S.
Went here for my birthday on Feb 5th - right after the blizzard of the century. It was absolutely worth the trip. We were a party of 13, and making the reservation was a wonderful experience. They gave us a table in the Wine Room downstairs (LOVELY) and suggested picking a couple of bottles of wine beforehand so that everyone could have a drink as they arrived. What a great idea for a larger party of people who traveled a decent distance with snow and crap still everywhere. It was great. The food was DELICIOUS. I had a burrata and prosciutto appetizer that was to die for and trout for dinner. So so good. Everything that everyone else had looked yummy, too. The service was attentive without being too in-your-face, and we had a great night. Thanks, Nightwood. I'll be back!
(5)
Phil F.
I would describe this place as chincy and in bed with people that just wanna be trendy.....I was really underwhelmed. Sad too, because I think that Lula is great. Or it was the last time I was there. Maybe its crappy too these days? We sat at the kitchen bar, which was exciting. Turned out to be more exciting sounding, it was a pretty chilled out kitchen, which is fine. The biscuits they gave us at first were meh....kinda dry and easy to forget. So was the sweetened up butter. I think what really turned me off was our first course, the burrata, an Italian mozzarella which has a silken creamy center which is to be savored as sweeter than the most profound nectar. BUT, the one they gave us was already cut open and we were given a 1/4 piece of the whole......for 15 BUCKS? EWW. On the menu it was described as being served with charred peppers, but we got ONE hidden in some greens. and we got a half of some ciabatta bread or something. I seriously felt robbed. My main course was overly chewy oricchiette with braised porcinis and pea pods. Good aside from the overly chewiness. And the portion definitely was chincy. Drinks were alright. But they might want to invest in some more inspired garnishes, since the drinks are not cheap. So I would not go back.
(2)
Alan M.
I'd have to agree with some of the reviews I've read, that have preceeded mine. Good, but nothing outstanding. Too far to drive (from the north shore) for just "good". There's plenty of good and great in between us.
(2)
Aaron K.
Oh Nightwood. Why did we wait so long to meet you? Soon I will not work close to you. You will no longer be within my supple grasp. You gave us so much and offered us even more. Why can I not reciprocate? Why o Why? Your freshness was refreshing. Your cocktails raised our cockles. I only hope we can rekindle the flame and have another night like tonight.
(4)
Kristen M.
Menu is quite small and limited, but food is tasty. Servers are pretty arrogant and "stuffy". We had a group of 6 and the server, who never once smiled, let alone earned her tip, added a TWENTY percent gratuity on our bill without any notification.
(2)
Chaz A.
If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad? This place is a paradox. How could such a cool enviornment and innovative concept and such talent produce such a dull and uninspired product? I don't know, but It must be the menu Changes daily thing. Maybe I came on an off night. Maybe I am too quick to judge. I don't know, but Nightwood tonight, did not satisfy. We waited an hour and 7 minutes for our entrees. Our waiter was unfriendly as hell. The food was goodish, but NOT good enough for a feature film wait from when we ordered. Chef Candace was very nice, but we were sitting at the counter and she was the only one who even acknowlaged our presence. A single tear, Nightwood. I want to return. But, alas, I was so dissapointed.
(2)
Leigh K.
I wanted my 500th review to be a good one! One of the most stellar meals my boo and I have eaten together yet. We went there for my 31st birthday in May and I had noted in Open Table that I was excited to try their duck dish. They went out of their way and called me to let me know they were switching the menu, but that they were going to have a duck for me. Stellar, I tell you. Our server was excellent and we went with his recommendations for a good number of our selections. It was such a special night out and I keep meaning to go back. 2011 New Year's Resolution: Go back to Nightwood a few times this year!
(5)
Jane T.
I actually came here late last summer and forgot to review til now. "I'll do it later" and now I'm months behind. Regardless of the time frame, I still remember what I had - pan seared duck on a bed of arugula and other vegetable-y goodness. It was amazing. I also had a piece of my friend's wood grilled whole trout, which was cooked perfectly and deboned as well! We sat right by the kitchen so we were able to see all the other culinary creations that left the open kitchen. I must say, their burger looked awesome. I'll probably try that my next visit, if they have it on the menu. The wait staff was also very pleasant. I loved that they didn't have any specific dress attire - it made the whole experience very comfortable.
(5)
Sarah M.
Holy crap on a cracker. This place brings it. Bacon butterscotch donut? Cynics might scoff at the sudden "ironic" hipster nature of bacon and that donuts are the new cupcakes but just shut up for a sec and eat this thing. Would have been five stars had I not ordered a bloody Mary which was just not good. So simple, but so wrong. Can I at least get a celery stalk or a skewer of olives? I guess I was just disappointed that the creativity of the food menu didn't carry over to the cocktail menu. But whatevs. I'm full and need a nap.
(4)
Suz M.
De-lic-ious. So good. Everything they brought was really tasty, including the amazing little biscuits they bring while you are waiting. The food is pricey. If you want a full meal you will pay a lot of money. My only problem with the food is that it is incredibly rich, which to most people isn't a problem but to someone who has a stomach problem... it can be. I'll go back here again for sure.
(5)
Graham L.
I thought I had my life in order. I have a halfway decent job, excellent friends and family, numerous and engaging hobbies... But then I came here for brunch where a beautiful woman brought me a butterscotch bacon donut and I realized that there are indeed higher levels of living out there. Damn.
(5)
Elyse C.
I managed to get a table without a reservation on the patio (which isnt really a patio but sort of an airy room with no ceiling, but really nice regardless) on a Friday night, sweet! Service waa fine, lacking in personality, but adequate. A lot of my comments have already been said...I had the duck confit and it was really good with a crunchy fennel salad and black beans, but expensive, i did clean my plate! My only recommendation: Im not a big wine person so I ordered the two brothers draft...I could get a six pack of the same beer at Whole Foods for a dollar more than the tulip I got at Nightwood. Kegs dont cost that much! Skip the drinks for one meal, or just get one glass of wine. My mom and I went to Skylark afterwards and her gin and tonic + my lagunitas were about the same as my beer at Nightwood.
(4)
Eli H.
Not worth it. Decent food, utterly horrible service. It took 45 minutes to bring out half of the appetizers followed by an over an hour wait for the entrees. I've worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and I've never experienced worse service. Absolutely not recommended. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Ellen H.
Just like Lula (live just across the Square), I would dash off to Nightwood in a heart beat for the brunch. It's larger, with an open floor plan and so bright compared to it's big sister - which has it's own ambiance. All the wood details, the design, and open kitchen really liven it up. We had reservations for a birthday brunch, and had no trouble adding attendees (ended up with 4, from the original 2). We did wait a few minutes, but the bartender was making drinks and we could peak around a little bit. Always tricky deciding what to order, but we were early for a change, so breakfast was the winner. Ever since a great breakfast at a little spot (King's Cafe) in Cali - I lust after quiche with a nice simple side salad. Upon discovering a lovely ham, aged cheddar and broccoli quiche on the menu with greens - my decision was easy. Drinks were tasty (our table sampled both coffee and bar drinks), donuts were divine, and for the most part, everything was stellar and we all traded tastes. Loved the fall components of the menu - tried the sweet potato frittata, the bagel sandwich (spied at the bar) while messy, was enjoyed by our tablemate. The only small issue - our companion ordered eggs over medium, and sent them back (too runny). When they arrived again, they were more towards over hard (at that point, she went with it); she works in food service, finds that many places can't quite hit over medium.
(4)
Sophia T.
I think the best part about the restaurant is the ambiance and the strive for experimenting with a changing menu. What I think bad is that the service is a little slow, which is okay sometimes if the food was great. The food however, was not that great for the price you pay. I would say it is mediocre, nothing too special, just fancy.
(2)
Jason M.
When I saw Nightwood on Check Please, I was excited. Then, I saw the address. 2119 N. Halsted. Ugh, no way. Not interested in being in the heart of Lincoln Park. But then...in one magic moment, I realized it was 2119 S. Halsted. Wonderful. While I live north and I generally don't like to treck all over the city, I was excited to hit up the Pilsen Arts District and see what Nightwood had to offer. To admit my own prejudices, had the address really been at Armitage and Sheffield, I probably would've declined. Nightwood was well worth the trip. It's a little cliche in its "alternativeness" but it's excellent. As an example, 100% of male bartenders were wearing cardigan sweaters. We had a couple cocktails. I found the cocktail list to be similar to a place like the Whistler. The pumpkin old fashioned was very good, but the tamarind syrup vodka was even better. While sweet, it was fresh tasting and just beautiful. As for food, the lamb shank and butternut squash casoncelli were both excellent and the burrata was a little different than usual, but also very good. In general, this isn't amazing in the way that Girl/Goat or Takashi or Davanti Enoteca or some other places are, but it's really good, affordable and a great spot to eat.
(4)
Natalia D.
The boyfriend and I had made an unexpected trip to Pilsen one Sunday morning and decided to stop in for brunch. Overall our experience was just OK. No real complaints, but nothing that blew us away either. The food was okay, typical Sunday morning brunch fare, although my boyfriend was a bit disappointed at the fact that there were no pancakes on the menu (he loves pancakes). We each started with their two choices of doughnuts, a maple glazed bacon and a concord grape and peanut butter. These were probably the best food choices we made. Both of the doughnuts were obviously fresh and surprisingly complex. And I mean c'mon, anything with bacon is gonna be good. For our entree I got the rabbit and corn flautas and the hubby got a burger. The portion sizes were definately on the smaller end and like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, they were just OK. Nothing spectacular, just as promised. The one complaint that my boyfriend had was that the choice of the bun for his burger seemed a little tough and everytime he took a bite, the bun would push the burger out and he's end up with a mouthful of bun, and a burger hanging over the side of his remaining bun. As for the service, again, it was just OK. Noone stepping on our toes, just a straight forward "What will you have?" Would I go back? Probably would not go out of my way to do so, but maybe the next time we're in Pilsen, we'll give this one another shot.
(3)
Elizabeth W.
I am very disappointed to report that I recently had a terrible experience here, considering how much I used to love this place (see my previous review). Our server (who was either vaguely British or feigning an accent) conspicuously ignored my hubs and me in favor of fawning over a table near us at which three older men were seated. For the entire first hour, she blatantly ignored our polite hand gestures and other verbal attempts to get her attention. We considered just walking out. I'm not sure if she believed the other table would tip her higher or if she was just abiding by her own twisted version of a Jim Crow system, but no matter -- her offensive treatment was enough to keep us away for a very, very long time. I'm giving 3 stars only because the food and drinks were still good. But as most people know, being treated rudely (worse, being completely ignored!) by one's server is enough to ruin any dining out experience, regardless of the quality of the food.
(3)
Jon A.
"I hear they reserve a special ring in Hell for those who waste good scotch," shoots scotch, "damn fine scotch, sir." Replace Scotch for my Time, and you'll know what happened at Nightwood. I watched all of Inglourious Basterds before I was served. Granted, I was in a party of 20? But that wait is the same equivalent of forcing a bum to watch this place make handmade noodles every day & serve them, without ever offering them. Now...jump-cut to when the food was served...and my Taratino violent tendencies left and I became a Technicolor dreamcoat of a food lover. The way the lettuce felt on my palate was the way Costanza feels when draped in velvet. The house made daily made noodles took me back to the adoration I had as a 9 year old for my Gram's noodles. The wood fired chicken left on the bone is exactly how I cook my chicken when I dream of being a hunter 'round a campfire. The food is more American Country than New American, which seemed good for the crowd (mostly young and detached from family dining). Wait, did you just pour my Saison without proper glass tilting, creating an uglier head on my beer than the mohawk you're donning? Wait, you just did it again? Oh, and for my tablemate, too? Okay, now I'm back to Mr. Orange madness and I'm threatening to cut off your ear. Thankfully, you just served me another plate of those noodles. Placated. My experience at this place was as disjointed as a non-linear Godard-ian plot. Tender drapes of country food. Jump-cut to: running around searching for a spoon that hasn't touched my dirty table. Now...if they would've offered me a fully poured Das Boot when I entered the subterranean dining room...maybe it wouldn't have felt like a roller coaster...because we all know a Das Boot maintains all homeostasis of joy.
(3)
Lady J.
I enjoyed Nightwood's brunch experience but I think it is a bit overpriced. I do appreciate that things are locally sourced but my friend had the quiche (asparagus and goat cheese) and it came with greens and vinaigrette and it was $14! It was not a giant piece (shallow like a tart) and no other garnish so we both felt that was pushing it. We split that butterscotch bacon donut and I would recommend trying that, it was obscene, in a good way. Wow. Yum. The coffee prices are $3 for drip, $4 for a latte and $5 for a mocha. Today the drip coffee tasted like diner coffee and the mugs are small. I think they are pushing it on that coffee price too. (just the drip). I found the staff friendly and attentive and everything did taste wonderful, eggs were done correctly and the surroundings were pleasant. We sat outside on this garden patio that is very modern with a fireplace in the middle because there was a 30-45 minute wait for seats inside. You get a cloth napkin and nice utensils as well. Chairs and benchs are comfy and it's not over crowded. I would definitely return but I would like them to consider rolling back some of those prices on the smaller plates! I think quiche and salad should be $10 or $11 tops, and add some fresh fruit and vegetables in the salad..... I plan on coming back soon to try the dinner as well....overall a positive experience.
(3)
Zo O.
This place makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Just a casual restaurant with really simple and warm decor. The type of place I'd like to return to because it's just lovely. Creative and fresh menu, but I won't lie, my food wasn't out of this world. It was okay to good. I do appreciate the local ingredients and creativity though. The food also took preeeeety long to come out. And the restaurant gets preeeeeeety loud. But I'm still a fan :) My rigatoni just tasted like grown mac & cheese, which can be excellent when executed well, but it was ... alright. My soup with olive oil poached egg was pretty hearty. and lastly, the mocha gelato(idk if the gelato is made in house???) was excellent. Prices aren't ridiculous and parking is ample!
(4)
Kim W.
i drank here. the vibe is nice. the cocktails were dope. cool of this place to exist in pilsen. the end.
(3)
Jeannine H.
I went here a few weeks ago for a birthday dinner with my family. I am wondering why it took me so long to come here. My family can be a rather finicky bunch about new restaurants they dont like new places or things and are very particular about what they consider "good" food as they are all pretty good cooks themselves. Well Nightwood did not disappoint! We started with the fried Smelt appetizer, good flavor, not at all greasy...we were fighting with each other for the last few. As for entrees I enjoyed my duck, the veal meatloaf and whitefish were excellent and the burger and fries were also very good. Desserts were incredible...all I can say is don't sleep on the plate of warm cookies and the buttermilk gelato! I also liked the decor and casual/chic/neighborhoody (is that a word) vibe. Definately plan to return
(4)
Julie A.
The location is a little strange, but the ambiance was very nice. I could have sat in there for hours, and next time I go, I'd like to try sitting at the bar that overlooks the kitchen. I especially liked the fireplace on the patio. Service was excellent. The server was attentive without drawing attention to himself. The courses were spaced well. We never felt rushed nor had to wait. Since the menu changes every day, I won't describe what I had except that it was fresh and delicious and both comforting and surprising. That said the proportions seemed a little small, but I arrived quite hungry, and I'm a fairly big eater. On the whole, nothing to complain about - just letting people know. I'm definitely going back soon.
(4)
Steven N.
A very popular brunch location in the Bridgeport area, and for good reasons. If you come here on the weekends, make sure you arrive early and be prepared to spend some time waiting. I believe they may take reservations as well. The food's taste is good but nothing memorable, however, the presentation / style is noteworthy. Request to sit at the bar right in front of the kitchen where you can watch the chefs cook right in front of you. Believe me, watching these guys cook together is an experience all by itself. There's even an outdoor seating area during the summer time.
(3)
Cris C.
We have never had anything less than a wonderful experience here. Service is great and food is always amazing. The atmosphere is perfect.
(5)
Michelle L.
I've been looking forward to dining at Nightwood for a while and finally got the opportunity... The restaurant reminded me of one in Napa, it was charming and cozy and they use seasonal ingredients from local sources, which I love. And while I liked our food, I definitely was not blown away. The app of the cornbread with pork belly was nothing special, between three of us we actually didn't even finish it. The salad we had was great, the goat cheese in it was creamy and delicious. My roast chicken was also delicious, but really there was nothing special about it - I felt like I could have made it at home. The best thing on our table was the gnocci, it was extremely light and airy, and absolutely delicious. My other friends pasta was actually way too dense and not very tasty, but really nothing could compare to the amazing gnocci. We got two deserts, the brownies with ice cream and then a plate of cookies...I can't believe I'm saying this but the cookies were so wonderful and I would get those over any of Nightwoods desserts next time. I know, what's so special about cookies? Every one was just perfect, especially a cold sugar cookie type that was doughy and amazing. I would go back to Nightwood, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)
Raymond W.
The food was great. The wait staff was excellent and friendly. A must try in my book.
(4)
Aurore L.
So, even without rabbit - I am still not impressed by Knight Wood. Yeah, don't ask, I like picturing the name like that for some silly reason...it's way better than the other thing I am regularly thinking of when I talk about this place...which involves morning. And wood. OK. I stop. I came in twice this week - once for brunch on Sunday, and once for dinner on Wednesday because I had forgotten my gloves there three days earlier. Regular habit of mine....but since they were brand new from Eee-ddie Bau-eeeerr (see review directly below this one for spelling explanation) I wanted them back. Bad. I still love the space, the lamp fixtures, the bricks, the wine wall.... Service is a bit formal and very reserved but efficient....so it's ok. Duck poutine....meh...greasy and quite strong. Sloppy looking (even though I'll admit that poutine doesn't make for the best presentation) Egg dish of mine was on the tiny side, but very tasty. My pants say thank you. Flank steak request medium rare and served RARE. Like almost raw. The meat had obviously not even been flipped over. Sad face. So yeah...even though it's probably the fine dining location closest to home I probably won't be back anytime soon. That's really too bad.
(3)
Nina G.
Still going here, still bringing friends, still 5 stars :) Glad the bagel sandwich & the bacon/maple donut is still on the menu!
(5)
Laura K.
A-OK is exactly how I would describe this place. Nice atmosphere (great enclosed patio), good service and good food. We ordered a lot of the menu, and it was definitely good but I didn't LOVE anything. Had we gone with more people, we probably would have liked it more. A lot of what we ordered we thought was good, but didn't want a whole plate of pig ears or shishito peppers...we had a few bites of each and were over it. If we lived closer, we might go again, but since we don't live close, we likely won't be back.
(3)
Gayle G.
I dream about the bacon donuts. I've only been to brunch at Nightwood and will not consider going for any other meal unless the bacon donut is available. I like to sit at the counter in the back and watch the kitchen do its business. Not great for a party of greater than three, so grab your two besties and get to brunch and watch the cooks do their thang. Tots. Who doesn't like tots? Nightwood's tots rocks! Homemade tots that are bigger than golfballs? Yum! Not long ago we three were at the counter enjoying our bacon donut (share one, otherwise, you'll have a heart attack) and admiring the white chocolate cranberry breakfast bread pudding that the chef was plating. We finished our donut (in three bites!) and were sipping our tasty bloodys when a huge plate of bread pudding arrived and I explained that there must be an error, we hadn't order it. The reply? "Oh, it's a gift from the chef." Nice! It was delicious! The chicken and waffles are the way to go for this non-egg eater. I strayed once and spent my entire meal coveting the chicken and waffles as the made their way out of the kitchen and into the mouths of other diners. Bonus? They take reservations for brunch!
(4)
L L.
Brunch, donuts, eggs, Brunch cocktails, love, love, love AMAZE Great service LOVE
(5)
Laurence K.
Came for a wine dinner had 3 courses 2 were good 1 not so. I need to come back and try the reg menu.
We got to our reservation at 8:30 and it was for 8:45. They were able to sit us early. Than ambiance is amazing. The place is beautiful. The service was great! It has high end food but definitely not high end attitude. We never had to really wait for anything. It was busy so you have to be understanding of that aspect. We were never rushed and never felt that we were being forced out to turn over the table. The food was outstanding. At first when we saw the menu we weren't excited but when we ordered the flavors of the dishes were very classic. They were not trying to do anything fancy or super different, just put a twist on a few things here and there. We had the beef carp. app., and the soup, it was amazing. I had the duck leg which was incredible and my fiance had the veal meatballs. I liked the duck better, he like the meatballs. For dessert we had the graham cracker crust/pumpkin tart. It was a great and a well thought out meal. The presentation was great. I had a drink, quite stiff but they had a great unique selection of beers. Overall what a great experience. Liked it even better than girl and the goat.
(4)
Rinko E.
Oh Nightwood. A hipster restaurant in the heart of hipster neighborhood aka Pilsen. I know everyone should love you. I like your wallpaper & lighting, but I think all hand-written menus and specifically identified ingredients (It's like, "Hello I am pork. I came from xxxx farm in Michigan")...you are just trying really hard... I don't really give a fuck about where pork came from and what his name is, as long as the food is cooked with love and it tastes delicious. But...oh well... I came to the Nightwood during the Restaurant Week this year. I ordered duck in pork stew. And it was not that impressive. Couldn't finish the whole thing so I took the rest home, but I was not interested in eating it again. So I gave it to my husband. But their Salty Caramel Ice Cream was good. Employees all looked flat and somewhat pissed. I think that was also a hipster requirement... like, "I am too cool and hip to be friendly to my customers" kind of attitude. Oh but there was some amusing thing at the bar. This young girl was so fucking drunk. She was talking loudly on her cell for the entire time, but she started fucking cursing. She was gently kicked out. Because it's not hip to yell profanity in a fucking hipster restaurant.
(2)
Padraic S.
Been talking about checking out Nightwood for about as long as I can remember. Finally made the trip down to Pilsen last night and had a relaxing evening with fresh farm-to-table dishes. Luckily, our relaxed evening was one of the nicer nights we've had in Chicago over the past month, so we decided to eat on their patio. Wood walls, high ceilings and big windows help build on the urban-hip interior feel of Nightwood, and I'm sure the outdoor fireplace and heat lamps are a hit in spring and fall. First and foremost, the specialty cocktails. We both ordered the Paris Wife, a fantastic combination of Mt. Gay Rum, amoro, lime, egg white and bitters. At $12 its not cheap, but it packs a punch with flavor and more. With dinner, craft beer favorites and a few rarities are offered as well. As far as the meal, we decided to split two appetizers and move on from there. Spicy fish broth with salmon, cilantro, avocado and mini carrots was surprisingly easy to share and appropriate for a summer night. The bread with garlic and sea salt butter is another can't miss. For my entree I ordered the hangar steak, cooked medium per the chef's suggestion. Great crust with a soft inside worked well. The real stars of this meal were the fired egg and the farro. Not sure I've ever had "farro" before, but whatever it is, I support it 100%. My fiance had the half chicken which was seasoned well and cooked well to keep it juicy. While I noticed some people have mentioned the price, and we did notice it when the bill came, we have to remember this is Chicago and that's the price of dining out at somewhere interesting. At least parking is free and easy along Halsted. Nightwood is worth the trip and the price.
(4)
Lauren V.
Finally got there for Sunday breakfast. While I'm not typically a sweet-eater, a friend told me we HAVE TO GET A DONUT. So, I got the bacon, caramel donut. The bacon was yummy, sweetened with caramel, but the actual donut wasn't great. The small donut holes that accompanied the plate were cinnamon sugar coated and were great! The quiche that morning was outstanding! Duck confit with squash bits. This was by far the best, and biggest (how do they get it so tall?) quiche piece I've ever had. Service was terrific; they seemed to have a lot of help on hand, and we are so looking forward to going back for dinner. Good value for the meal.
(4)
Jeannine T.
So the bf was pretending to be nice one day and decided to take me out for dinner. I have no clue why he decided on Nightwood, especially since he didn't provide much compliments about it during his previous visit. Nonetheless, I've never been here, and I always look forward to a new experience. Judging from my sister's review, the menu hasn't changed much since last summer. The duck and the wood grill trout was still on the list. Starter: Deep Fried Mortadella and Lamb Belly. I believe the lamb belly should never be served as an appetizer. The rough texture of the meat and high fat content made me feel as if though my artery was going to clog with each bite. It would have been better if it was pork belly instead. The Deep Fried Mortadella tasted like a fried ham and cheese ball. It was ok. Finally, here comes my steak... Wood grill round steak for one. As always, I requested for the meat to be cooked to medium. The steak is served already sliced, so immediately I noticed that the center was red. Medium usually means pink, right? Not a big deal. I flag the waitress down and asked that it gets slightly more cooked. Steak 1.1 is served. New steak? No. (I wasn't expecting one - not that much of a food snob.) Slightly more cooked? Yes. Perfect medium? No. Since the meat was cooked after it's been sliced, the texture has changed dramatically. It was tough, rough, and a battle to cut through even with a steak knife. The flavor was mediocre at best, but I ate away at the steak anyway because I just felt bad wasting food. I'm saddened. I've waited so long to try this place. My sister raved about it, and now I've departed with the haunting memory of that awful steak. On a good note: my bf had the burger which wasn't bad and the service there is pretty good. Above all, they are very generous with the alcohol for some of their house cocktails.
(2)
Roderick C.
Both times I've dined at Nightwood were this past May (first with a friend and then again with an uncle visiting from out of town), and both times, we chose to dine in the back space with bar-like seating, overlooking the open kitchen. This area felt somewhat secluded from the crowd in the main room and turned out to be a pretty cool location for dining--sometimes, it's satisfying to be able to see what goes into preparing your food. The chefs were friendly, seemed to want our feedback, and would even chat with us briefly when they were able to do so. Overall, the food I ordered was of good quality and solidly prepared and presented, but not quite to die for (except for what I heard about the spit-roasted duck); both times, the ambiance and service were excellent and on par with what one would expect from a hip, buzzworthy restaurant like this. Quality, local organic Midwestern American ingredients seemed to form the basis of the menu (I learned what a ramp was here), yet to me, the fare had enough of a fresh, unique twist to it to make it interesting. For example, my first time there, my entree was a nicely prepared wood-grilled fish (either lake bass or trout, can't remember). But what what WAS memorable to me about it, and what I enjoyed, was that it was served whole, complete with head, Asian style. Meanwhile my companion had the aforementioned spit-roasted duck and raved that it was among the best he's ever had. I had just had my birthday and got some nice, complimentary cookies for dessert as well. My second time at Nightwood, I started out with a refreshing goat cheese salad and ended up ordering the "Illinois pork belly." Also a unique offering from a so-called American restaurant. It was new to me, at least. As I was watching it being prepared, it looked an awful lot like a slab of bacon (after all, that's where bacon comes from), but at the end it had a smooth, lean taste and nice tenderness. Who would have thought? (I hardly ever eat pork, except for bacon). Pretty big portion, too. And bonus to the waitress with great ears who overheard us talking about my birthday, and gave me yet another dessert plate of cookies--I felt guilty getting treats from them twice for my birthday. Food, plus the wine, may have been overpriced, but considering the quality of what I had relative to other, similar places where I've dined, I can't say Nightwood was at all egregiously overpriced. I'd go back there again.
(4)
Jane T.
I've only been here for brunch, but everything I've tasted has been delicious. Their doughnuts are worth the hype (yeast raised with finger-licking toppings), and everything is just cooked and seasoned so well. I had some soft-scrambled eggs with squash, and it was really basic but so tasty. My brunchmates hadthe cheeseburger (which was supposedly out of this world), the fish hash, and the salmon rillettes. I've also been told by friends that dinner is just as good.
(5)
Jamie O.
Note: I ate here in September 2009 and the food may have improved since then. Nightwood is forgettable. Its prices are way too high for the amount of taste they serve. The watermelon salad appetizer was a familiar, trendy dish in restaurant world. It had corn, bacon and onion alongside of huge, one-inch watermelon chunks. The lack of balance with proportions made the salad into a mixture instead of a homogeneous blend. I had a pork chop for dinner which was slightly over cooked and chewy. Its sauce and accompanying salad left much to be desired. When I find a place who is overcharging for the quality of food they serve, I take off major points.
(1)
Elisa E.
It was 10:30. After nearly two hours of watching art students scamper around in togas and shout motherf***er (performance art based on Greek myths--say no more), we were tired and hungry. Sweet Zeus, the Nightwood was still serving, and a wee table next to a window had just opened! There is nothing quite as satisfying as cradling a glass of red Zinfadel while gazing out upon a rain-swept street. Our waitress was prompt and friendly. She was also quite apologetic when the wrong appetizer was sent to our table. She comp'd us, since we were confused/hungry enough to start eating it. Our pasta dishes were excellent; mine was ham-filled angliotti (long ravioli?) with white beans and fragrant aged parmesan. When our check arrived, we were surprised to see that we had dined so elegantly (including wine and after-dinner drinks) for a little over 80 bucks. Despite our good experience, I imagine that waits are the norm here. The server recommended dining early in the week and later seatings, all of which seemed common sense.
(5)
Carolyn H.
How to be bored to death by overly salted food and stupid foodie cliches such as a fried egg on a pizza. Seriously, how could the owners of Lula go so wrong? Did they bury themselves in Pilsen so that their mediocre choices wouldn't stand out? This place is a waste of time and waste of space in stomach. We really came to dinner with high hopes and nothing seemed interesting or even remotely remarkable. Can you say "resting on their laurels?" that is the whole story in a nutshell. If you end up in Pilsen, go to a taqueria. Much better and much cheaper.
(2)
Garvin C.
Had brunch here a couple weeks ago. My wife and I and ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, confit duck egg omelet, and pea tendtril egg scramble. Let me say the bacon butterscotch donut was truly delicious. It was a fresh donut with a butterscotch glaze that was topped with diced thick cut bacon. I'm not necessarily the biggest bacon fan, but this combination really worked. The confit duck omelet and the pea tendril egg scramble were good, but nothing special. However, the tater tots that come with those items were AWESOME! these tots are nothing like those ore-ida (nothing wrong with those) and are much better. They have a thicker very crunchy outside and a very soft and fluffy inside. It's something you really have to try there. I wish they gave more than just three per plate!! Oh, I also ordered a hot chocolate. The consistency was good, but the tempearture was actually very lukewarm, which was odd to me. So, this was a slight disappointment on an otherwise great meal. The inside is very spacious, had large windows and high ceilings. Overally a good vibe and nice place to have a meal with friends and family.
(4)
Dan C.
Enjoyed everything about dinner here. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and a competent server. Highly recommended.
(4)
Sean D.
As a decade long resident of the south loop, this is the restaurant that I've been waiting for. Sadly, I can't claim it as a neighborhood establishment, but Pilsen is close enough and far enough away from Gold Coast and Streeterville that my friends up "north" have never heard of it. We stopped in on a Friday night after the gallery walk on second Fridays. We had a reservation, but decided to wait for a table on the patio. It was well worth the wait. The patio has high wood paneled walls so that you don't realize that you are right on Halsted. The restaurant was having a rose festival and had close to 30 roses by the glass. What great way to start the meal! As everyone has already mentioned here, the ingredients are very fresh and they run out of dining options often. As it were, two of our top choices were already out by the time we sat. But no knock on the restaurant, we knew the deal going in and our fault for eating at 9pm on a Friday night. I've never raved so much about a salad, but holy crap! My salad was incredible. A simple green salad with homemade croutons and a vinaigrette. Sounds simple, right? Only if the ruffage is your regular boring kind. This salad was so incredibly flavorful and interesting, I just could not get enough! My date's Michigan pear salad was likewise delicious, but had nothing on the simple green salad. For entrees, we had the whitefish and the red pepper wide ribbon pasta. The whitefish was perfectly prepared with a side of mayo. I'm not a huge mayo fan, but it paired well with the light fish on a hot summer night. I was only able to grab a taste of the red pepper pasta before the plate across the table from me was licked clean. For weeks after that meal, my gf raved about her red pepper pasta and has had dreams of it since. We will definitely be returning.
(5)
Melody L.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here, from the time I walked in, to the time I walked out. I took my best friend out to dinner. We walked into a bustling restaurant. Tons of people everywhere. Once we checked in, we made our way to the bar. They had some great cocktails in the menu and I had my sites set on the Tamarind Rickey. Wow....went down two quickly, ended up having a couple the rest of the night. My bbf had a grapefruit one. She seemed to like it. We got to our table and we ordered a couple of dishes to start, the fried smelt (oh so tasty!! it brought me back to my childhood) and a pasta dish (it was very flavorful, the most flavorful pasta I had in some time). We both ordered fish, but I think I liked hers better than mine. I think I ordered the wrong thing...my bad! Dessert was great! The coconut cream tart/pie was great! The coffee was divine. I need to show up for brunch next time!
(4)
Ayako M.
Amazing brunch. Grilled pumpkin bread with maple butter...to.die.for! I had a biscuit and sausage gravy over kale dish and it was so rich and delicious! I'll admit, I ordered it specifically for the "cheddar biscuits" that were included....you had me at cheddar biscuit...and it was not disappointing, at all. Bloody Mary was funk-key! had a strange thin, yet chunky consistency, a strange dishwater taste and an overall weird look to it. On the bright side our server was super nice and took them away and replaced them with Mimosas...you can't go wrong with Mimosas! I will definitely make a trip here for dinner.
(4)
Tom S.
After reading all the reviews in Yelp I was really excited to go to Nightwood. After actually experiencing it I was kind if disappointed. Pros: 1. Ambiance. The look and feel of this place is pretty sweet. Trendy and sophisticated Nightwood is split into two floors with the downstairs being sort of dungeon-like. 2. Fresh food. The food is bought and prepared daily. 3. Staff. The staff is Friendly, nice, and helpful. Cons: 1. Food. The food just wasn't that good. The pasta dish I ordered was bland and didn't have much taste. I was extremely hungry and only ate half of the dish. Frankly, I just got bored of eating it. When my pasta dish costs $26, I expect it to taste pretty good. The appetizers we ordered were decent but significantly over priced ($10+). Also, we also showed up a little later in the night around 9 on a Saturday (all reservation time slots beforehand were taken) and couldn't order many of the dishes including any of the soups because they ran out of ingredients. Overall, I left this place dissatisfied. For two people our bill which included appetizers, entrees and no alcohol was ~ $100. For $100 there are much better places in the city to spend your money.
(2)
Mikki K.
Tried this place for the first time today. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't really good. Service was acceptable up until I saw the waitress making catty comments about the likelihood of our table tipping (some of your patrons can lip read, you might want to gripe away from their sight!) which dropped her tip from my standard 20% to barely 15%. It would have been less (my bigot tax can be steep), but I didn't want to screw the runners and bus boys. I ordered the french toast which was drowned in sauce & goat cheese. I liked both, but I couldn't actually taste the bread & it wound up with a weird texture. The bacon was delicious, & my husband's raspberry cinnamon roll was okay though it could have been bigger. I doubt we'll go back, but maybe dinner is better than brunch?
(2)
Kimberly L.
What a delightful surprise: a restaurant that fully lives up to its hype! I came here recently for dinner and it was just a perfect evening. We sat outside with no wait whatsoever. The patio was breezy and comfortable. Our server was helpful, friendly and efficient. And the food was delish! We shared the burrata appetizer--Italian cheese with grilled shisito peppers and a baguette. Yum! I ordered the wood-grilled Wisconsin trout with a mustard green salad. (Don't be afraid of the "whole fish" thing. The server graciously offered to have the chef serve it up "sans head." Why thank you!) It was so tasty that I'm still thinking about it, days later. Bonus that everything is local and sustainable! I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Rod O.
We had brunch here on a Sunday morning and the food was definitely good. We started with the donut with bacon and butterscotch which was really good. I had the cheeseburger which wasn't the best burger I have had but it was solid. My friend had the steak and eggs and liked it but thought it was kind of pricey for what he got. My wife had the salmon scramble which was good and my other friend has the bagel sandwich which was good. Overall good food only thing to complain was that service was somewhat slow.
(4)
Emily N.
Boo to this restaurant. Would never recommend it and would absolutely never return. Unfortunately I thought this restaurant had potential. From what I heard it is owned by the same friendly people that own Lula's in Logan Square. While the restaurant itself was warm and inviting, the staff inside was anything but. My husband and I met up with 2 of our friends at the restaurant and were unfortunately disappointed. It pretty much began when the waitress asked me if I wanted the "organic vodka" and couldn't explain what organic vodka was, when we legitimately didn't understand the idea of organic vodka. Then a "totally alternative" server kept hounding us with whether or not we preferred "still" or "sparkling" water... to the point where it actually broke up the flow of our conversation. We get it, you're hip, and fancy...but we'll still take the "still" water please. Our server had a MAJOR attitude problem, and when the bill of over 200 dollars came, she didn't even bother to stick around to say goodnight and bring our cards back. Then when we had a problem with the bill, we were forced to ask the hostess a question as our server was completely MIA, she was also BEYOND rude. I have to say with all the competition in this city, sometimes people don't realize if your food is just average maybe you should try to cover it up with at least having warm and friendly staff. Definitely wouldn't waste your time here.
(2)
Amy S.
Nightwood you made my taste buds dance and for that I thank you. But let me break it down. The good: the food. Ok, that's the fabulous. Everything we had was delicious. Menu changes and is handwritten daily. The chicken pate with homemade chips was delectable. The pesto dip with rustic bread mouthwatering. Spinach handmade pasta with bolognese, yes please! Wisconsin trout-done perfectly. The flavors were layered nicely and the dishes actually had complexity which is something I've found lacking lately. We had the warm cookies for dessert. They were tasty but could be skipped. The bad: Price points-seemingly somewhat random. Half chicken with cornbread $25? Rabbit with cabbage $30? It was a lovely meal so I was overall ok with the cost but found them just this side of high. The ugly: For us it was the service. Our waiter just could not read our table which I gots to tell ya, wasn't that hard. Having been industry generally when three women start off with a bottle of champagne and ask to keep the wine list they are probably going to relax AND order another bottle. Add three appetizers and them letting you know they are "going to keep ordering"-hmm, yeah, you probably shouldn't rush them. Plates were taken before we were asked if we were done, dishes were rushed, we had to ask a few times for our champagne to be brought back and poured (they were keeping it chilled at the bar), had to request dessert menu, etc, etc. It just unfortunately took away from an otherwise great dinner. Perhaps he was just off and it won't keep me from going again. But we all agreed we would have said something to the manager had he been available when we left. Worth it though. I'll go back.
(4)
Andrea B.
I knew this place would be fun as soon as I saw buttons with their logo instead of cheap matchbooks at the entrance. I was also giddy from having only 4 hours of sleep, being out on a Monday night, and being in Pilsen, a neighborhood I don't go to often, but which contains some of the most fascinating history in Chicago. Let's just say I was excited. The atmosphere of Nightwood is something I really liked. The decor is something like modern meets antique meets urban meets chic. Or something like that. I didn't like how voices travelled, which made it seem as if the large dinner party in the next room was actually right next to us, but no matter. I actually want to come back and try out their outdoor seating (or what looked like outdoor seating) because it looks very intimate and charming. What i liked best and almost wish that we got were the bar-stool like seats that looked over the kitchen, so one could see the chefs at work and see exactly how your food is being prepared. Lovely. It's too bad I missed out, but i was happy where i was nonetheless. I guess Nightwood is popular for making fresh, handwritten menus daily (perhaps weekly) using only what the local farms/grocers/what have you have in stock. Everything is fresh and organic, and very comforting. My boyfriend, our friend, and I wanted to try an array of dishes, so we ordered 4 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, and 2 entrees, all to share (in case you can't tell, we seem to eat a lot and enjoy doing so). In terms of appetizers, I wasn't fond of the deep fried smelts, but that's probably because I am not fond of fish. Moving on, I thought the fresh mozzarella with white beans and sardines was delicious; everything fit together perfectly and tasted lovely. The chicken liver pate with chips seemed like an odd combo, but in reality was amazing. The veal served over the grilled baguette was also really tasty...and I didn't know I liked veal! But here, it seemed like I have liked it all my life, I gobbled it up with no regrets. On to the pasta! We ordered the potato gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and sheep's milk cheese as well as the hand cut pasta with pine nuts, arugula pesto, and breadcrumbs. The gnocchi was very good in combination with the mushrooms and the vinaigrette- like sauce added a nice touch in terms of flavor. Now, i am a huge fan of gnocchi, so I was not disappointed, but the real winner was the hand cut pasta with pine nuts. The nuts added such a wonderful, crunchy and great burst of flavor to the pasta I just could not stop eating it. I could have totally ordered that as my entree and been entirely happy with it. Yum. The entrees included were the red wine beef stew and polenta tart with a poached egg on top. The polenta had a beautiful presentation to it, and the spinach salad it came with tasted heavenly...it was very simple, but the taste left you wondering how it could be possible to put so much flavor into something that uses very little ingredients. The poached egg was perfectly done. So good. The beef stew was hearty and rich and made you feel like you were sitting in a wood cabin in front of a fireplace watching the snow fall outside, it was that comforting and good. I didn't really care for the glazed carrots (they seemed hard and cut in big pieces that made the dish look awkward to me), but the beef....ohh the beef. I would go back just for that. By now I was sufficiently full and tired and ready for a long sleep, but we couldn't leave without dessert. I had the chocolate pudding which was dark and chocolatety and yummy and just plain good. My boyfriend and our friend got the sorbets and caramel bread pudding, respectively. I didn't try much of the bread pudding as i was too busy shoving pudding into my face, but i will say it was light and tasty and seemed to have a citrus like taste to it, but maybe that's just me. The sorbet I enjoyed most was the plum, very light and cleansing. YUM! I don't know why i had to go into so much detail about the food, as the menu will probably change in a few days time anyway. It doesn't matter. You need to know the goodness I had to know the goodness you will have. A gripe we had was that our server didn't seem to be all that engaged in what we were eating or trying to help us decide what to drink in the cocktail menu. Every time we declared how amazing something was, all he did was smile and nod and take our plates away. ah well, at least our dishes were coursed and paired together nicely, which made for a lovely, and very filling dinner!
(4)
Jen F.
Nightwood is my favorite neighborhood restaurant in Chicago. We eat here once a month or more. The food is always incredible - fresh, delicious, creative but not over-the-top. The trout tastes like it came out of a stream out back (I believe it is actually from Wisconsin most of the time). I love the handmade pastas as well - they usually lure me in while my husband has a beef, pork, or lamb dish that I can sample. They are doing interesting things at the bar too & have a great selection of wines. Brunch is great as well - I wake up on Sundays dreaming of the bacon butterscotch donut and the bagel sandwich. They also did a great job with a private Sunday brunch party for 30 people in the downstairs wine room. Great space, great food, great service, very flexible with coming up with menu options for the party. Everyone really enjoyed it. The vibe is a little hipster-ish, but the clientele is mixed. There are always older couples, groups of friends, and yuppie types along with the hipster crowd. It's a very friendly and relaxed place.
(5)
Esther Y.
First off, I get annoyed when people say the area is "sketchy." It's not. If you are remotely urban, then it's not sketchy, it's fine. Ugh. Glad I got that off my chest. Now, for the goodies. I loved this place. We were here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and they emailed us the menu for the night. I don't know if they do that for everyone, or if it was a request my friend made, but it was a nice touch. It gave us ample time to gchat about the menu, discuss our eating plan, and really get excited about the meal. We got there, and were greeted by at least 3 people. There were 9 of us, so we were seated downstairs, which is a nice space. The place is nice, it's chill, cozy, and just an easy place to be in. (I do want to go back so that I can enjoy the outdoor space-it looked like a nice place to hang out and have a couple of drinks.) We started with the pate, the fried mozzarella and the gnocchi. The pate was good! Even people that were scared to eat it enjoyed it. As for the friend mozzarella, I think the general concensus was that the greens that they served with it were better than the actual cheese...though who can pass up fried cheese? The gnocchi was delicious, but I am partial to homemade pasta. It is a little denser, but it's so good! For the entrees, we had some burgers (delish-the ciabatta bread was a little too thick but they came with really good condiments and the meat was nicely seasoned), the rigatoni with fried chicken mushroom (which are actually a particular kind of mushroom... and are not fried mushrooms, or fried chicken bits in the pasta with mushrooms), the spaghetti with an over easy egg and short ribs, and the whitefish. Everyone really enjoyed their meals....I think the rigatoni was a little dense, but that is the whole homemade pasta thing. We were all stuffed and didn't order dessert, but then they surprised us with a plate of their warm cookies and a candle for my friend! Yay! I love when people do this! I would definitely go here again, especially since their menu changes everyday...that is part of what makes it so exciting! The vibe is nice, the employees are attentive, relaxed and helpful, and the whole experience was great. This was the perfect place to go with a group of friends for a long, fun, enjoyable dinner...that is if your friends are fun and are cool enough to know the area isn't "sketchy." Good thing my friends are awesome!
(4)
Claudia C.
Great spot for a date. We split the duck egg/chorizo appetizer, squash casoncelli (ravioli), and pork belly, with the chocolate mousse for dessert. Everything was absolutely, out-of-this-world amazing. There is no denying that. The mixture of flavors (squash, prosciutto, arugula) in the casoncelli was perfect, in my opinion, and the pork belly positively melted in your mouth (just don't think of your arteries while you eat it). The atmosphere is great, and the wood-centric design of the place is charming and romantic. The staff is also great, from the bartenders to the hostess. Again, only removing a star because of the noise level of conversations (though the music selection was good) and because of the high price tag. Though, in the end, after that meal, one really can't feel too bad about paying $12 for appetizers and $25 for entrees.
(4)
Kate H.
Went to Nightwood for Sunday brunch with my parents. Food quality is much better than average brunch fare (and brunch is my absolute favorite meal), mostly because they use noticeably fresh and high quality ingredients. Their house specialty is a house-made donut, so the four of us shared the Bacon Butterscotch donut, which came with glazed bacon bits and three small cinnamon dusted donut holes. The donut was airy and cakey at the same time, and it was very very good. The other dishes were also similarly inventive: my mom and I shared a Wild Mushroom and Parmesan Scramble and an artichoke-specked foccacia topped with an over-easy egg. Again, their attention to choosing quality ingredients and careful preparation shone through, and each bite burst with flavor. I was even more impressed by the side of "tots," shoestring hash browns rolled into a ball and deep-fried--so good! All in all, it was a great meal. The downside is that one of my favorite things about brunch is walking out stuffed, but this was not the case, and I felt I left slightly hungry. Clearly, the money went towards quality and not quantity. Price: ~$15 per person for brunch
(4)
candace l.
I can only write about the brunch, and that is to say it was fantastic! First off, we walked in on a Sunday at noon and didn't wait for seating. The hostess asked if we had reservations, which we didn't, but it led me to believe that they accept them (for brunch this is almost unheard of, so kudos, Nightwood if that is indeed the case!), which is a plus if you're the plan ahead type (I am not). I later learned they have additional seating in the back, downstairs and an outside patio for summer. Whew, they can pack them in! Fortunately it didn't compromise the length of wait for our order. I was a little worried at first because there is not a lot of meatless options as the menu isn't extensive, and I was glad it wasn't an issue. I ordered the eggs benedict and it was excellent! My bf had the waffles with strawberry something or other, and he also really loved his. Street parking is plentiful (and free!) on Halsted if you're not in the area. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Sarah B.
I wanted to give them 4 stars based on a previous dining experience but unfortunately I had a very disappointing restaurant week meal there last Saturday. The menu was odd (baseball themed) but my boyfriend and I thought we would keep an open mind and ordered everything between us. Nothing was great and a couple of the dishes were straight out bad. My first course was grisly salmon sashimi, and my 2nd was a dumpling (good) in a cracker jack broth (bad - too sweet and lumpy). My boyfriend's 2nd course was mushroom "cinnamon" roll that was something you'd expect in the bread basket, not as a course. My trout was OK, nothing special, same with my boyfriend's (too salty) sausage. Dessert of lemon ice totally missed the mark for Feb. Service was good and wine was great but based on our (expensive) meal and the fact my boyfriend and I were both ill the next day I won't be going back any time soon.
(1)
Jocelyn h.
Love this place. 4 of us went during the week. had excellent service. i had the trout. which i was a bit scared of. but they removed the eye for me. and it was delish. we had blush wine, which we all snickered at when we opened the menu. but then considered ourselves trendsetters, bringing back the rose! the service was great and those honey biscuits are dangerous. not sure it was worth all of the hype. but good all the same.
(3)
John V.
interesting menu options, I don't know how often they really change, but if every night features something like duck, duck eggs and rabbit, I'm impressed. We went with a party of about eight, so we got a little bit of almost everything on the menu. We did manage to do some sharing, towards the end of the night and we got some baked goat cheese to share around the table, and it was excellent. The pasta dishes are small portions, the kind of portions you expect from a super-expensive restaurant, small and made to look even smaller by the huge plate it comes on. However, the more expensive entrees are kind of large portions... much larger than you'd expect. Everything I tried was very tasty. The standout of the night were the desserts. Very impressive and worth every penny.
(4)
Edward H.
Hung over from Saturday's partying or just plain ravenous for some tasty Sunday morning grub? The guys at Nightwood serves up THE best brunch in Pilsen hands down and is ranked amongst my favorite weekend bruncherias. There are hearty stews, delicious fish, savory biscuits'n'gravy, and of course the crown jewel that is their chicken'n'waffles! Their menu changes from day to day since they only nab the freshest goodies from the market. Although this is definitely a blessing, I consider it a double-edged sword as it makes the task of deciding on what to order is next to impossible. The solution? Take your friends... LOTS of them so you can rotate your plates (not unlike gastro-musical chairs). Pull up a seat at the counter in their open kitchen and watch the masters at work churning out savory goodies. They're easy going and a lot of fun to watch. Don't forget to save a bit of room for the fresh made to order donuts covered in chocolate icing and sprinkled with the crack that is bacon! (For those of you saying "WTH? Bacon and chocolate??? Utter madness!" - try it first, you'll thank me later)
(4)
Brad B.
On a whim I called yesterday afternoon to see if I could get a reservation for two at a decent time and was shocked to have the hostess say, "why yes, we've just had two cancellations - one at 19:30 and one at 20:00." Me: "Might I take the 8PM, then?" And we're off to the races. Who needs Bono and 71,000 of his closest friends over at Soldier Field, certainly not us! Pfftttt - to you, Bono, Edge, Larry-Bob, Jr and whomever that other guy is (is there another guy?) We arrived and ordered some of the interesting cocktails: a blueberry gimlet and a drink called The Louisiana Purchase - which was fun and yummy. We were directed to our table (this yelper is somewhat critical of the seats in his dining venue of choice) and these passed with flying colors. Baseball glove leather covered and totally awesome in every way. First course: roasted corn and jalapeño soup with creme fraiche - and rabbit raviolis in some sort of spicy broth. Both were highly enjoyable. **keep your damn menu throughout if your memory isn't so great** Second course: duck breast with a jumble of beans - and - whole roasted trout with BACON and some other stuff. At this point we cracked into the wine list with a Cotes du Rhone which was cheap, subtle and pretty damn good, especially for $34 bucks. The whole mess was great, totally lovely perfectly cooked and spot on. Third course: dark chocolate tart with raspberry goo, dusted with coco powder and finished with a dollop of creme anglaise. We rocked out of there around 11PM with smiles on our faces a bill for about $175 (20% tip inclusive) paid for and that perfect feeling of satiated but, not stuffed.... I think this place is great, I will definitely be back but, must find viable public transport options to get there / back without paying $50 for a cab ride so I can properly imbibe...or dupe a friend into dropping me off....either or.
(5)
Alexander B.
Flawlessly delicious. This brunch stop has climbed its way to the top of my list. Going early saved us the long waits this place is (rightfully) known for. I had both doughnuts, zucchini choco chip muffin, coffee, and the cheeseburger. I also tried the omelette. Amazing. Don't miss the pickled avocados in the bloodys.
(5)
rebecca g.
Returned for dinner and have reaffirmed my love for you, Nightwood! I honestly dreamed about the Spinach & Taleggio Garganelli. It was so divine, my friend & I were close to licking the plate. We weren't as enamored of the Butternut Squash Casoncelli with Prosciutto (small portion, a bit over-vinegared, and the pile of wild arugula made it a bit tricky to eat/ share), but the flavors were still good. We also split the Pork Belly with Maple Baked Beans, which have proven to me that it is possible to have good baked beans! (I was never a fan of the canned ones.) The pork was luscious and tender, although the meat was buried under quite a bit more fat than we might have preferred. Overall, an amazing meal...and worth every penny for the ingenuity, freshness, and local ingredients.
(4)
Stephen G.
So I finally got the chance to check out this cool Pilsen hot spot! I didn't get to experience the patio area. . yet but see myself drinking a PBR there frequently this summer. While it was tempting to sit and eat at the Kitchen bar I was more interested in conversation with my date so we chose a store front table cornered by glass. The place was a bit loud but a nice vibe and at 7:00 almost all the tables were occupied. The host was very polite and offered a few options in the way of seating, etc. I ordered the pork but found it to be a bit more work than I anticipated to eat. I was thinking the dish was going to be along the lines of pork tenderloin but turned out to be more like a pork chop. The pork was a bit tough for me. The presentation was very nice as the cut of pork sat a top black eyed peas. (yes for those kids out there, the peas were not named after the music group. ) She had the Polenta which was delicious to both our pallets. So all in all I would like to go again. Our server was very mellow and not overly helpful but it sort of fit the vibe of that space. The experience was very nice and the prices are towards the higher side. A great destination spot!
(4)
Robyn T.
9 pm on a Friday night. The restaurant is bustling and there's nary a seat in the house. Luckily I was able to squeeze in at the one available table on the patio because my party had 3 and not 2. Is this a first or what? I loved the whole layout of the restaurant with the dining room straddling the corner allowing for great window views onto the neighborhood, a wraparound counter overlooking the open kitchen, and the patio which though strikingly modern offered warmth with its deep woods and lighting. The cocktail menu is worth checking out for some fairly innovative options, and the wine menu was impressive as well. I had high expectations for the cuisine being a fan of Lula and for the most part the menu did not disappoint. With the focus on sustainability, the menu changes daily. By the time my group rolled around for dinner they were out of a few menu items I was hoping to try, but our friendly waitress did make some great recommendations. Ravioli with goat cheese and honey in a light pesto sauce was divine. The pasta was so fresh and just a little al dente. A gnocchi with tomatillo sauce was good but not as spectacular as the first appetizer. Still hungry for more we tried the chicken pate which was like velvet. Should I say that this liver was better than my Grandmother's? It was and was accompanied by sliced cucumbers and a garnish of dill, onion salad. Entree choices were tough. Everything sounded wonderful. What wouldn't I recommend? The burger. Our waitress said it's one of the best in the city, and if you're putting a burger on the menu at a place like this it better be good. My 2 dining companions ordered it and were underwhelmed. Apparently there was an overpowering cheese/mayonnaise on it they weren't wild about. I opted for the rabbit entree because its not something I'd make at home. The meat was tender and though I loved the originality of pairing brussel sprouts with olives and grapes, the olives were overpowering. Will I go back? Most definitely. I'm practically foaming at the mouth to sit at the kitchen at watch the goings on. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes with the menu as we move into fall and I'm sure they're bound to delight.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Riva L.
Attention Chicago: nightwood closes on Saturday. GO GO GO GO GO. I went here last night as a goodbye to my favorite restaurant. We got to sit on the beautiful patio, right next to the fireplace (which they unfortunately did not light!). The atmosphere was perfect - the restaurant was busy and loud because everyone's trying to get their last trip in, but the restaurant maintains an aura of peace/ happiness. The meal was so good, I legitimately shed a tear over the fact that I'll never get to eat at Nightwood again. We got: -Chicken liver mousse with strawberries, mint, snap peas, and Szechuan pepper - the mousse was so smooth and flavorful! It tasted like delicious silk. I wished they'd given us more amazing, toasty bread to go with it but instead we just opted to pack tons of mousse onto every slice and this was totally fine with me. The strawberries went so well with it. -spit-roasted, maple-glazed half chicken with cashew bread salad, chili oil, ham, and pea shoots - this was the part of the meal that brought on emotions. I usually don't get chicken dishes when I go out to eat, but I always get them at nightwood because they're so INSANELY good. The flavors, sweet and spicy, paired together perfectly, allowing for a rich, incredibly tasty dish. If you make it there in the next two days, I beg you to get this; eating it was an experience that I'm sad I'll never have again. -the nightwood cheeseburger - always said I was going to get it next time I went...so now was the time! It was very well-cooked and seasoned. I wish there had been more cheese and sauce because it did taste a little plain. All in all though, this was our least favorite dish of the meal and it was still very, very good. Nightwood, I'll miss you. Chicagoans, GO NOW.
(5)Ivy Z.
Yum. Came here for brunch and dinner and both hit the spot perfectly. The donuts were great - split one to start - and the entrees delicious. The polenta and soft scrambled eggs for brunch were absolutely tasty. However I would recommend coming for dinner. Atmosphere is romantic, candle lit, and rustic. The pork belly with red quinoa and cabbage was the best pork belly I've ever had - and pork belly is one of my favorite foods. I raved about it forever. A little steep on the price but well worth it for a special occasion. I found myself really enjoying the Pilsen neighborhood as well, so that's a plus.
(5)Brianna B.
The only reason I would come back is for the beautiful, open and relaxing space. The food itself (brunch) was extremely disappointing. I don't know why they are making their own bagels - mine was bread in the shape of a bagel, not an actual bagel (no bagel chew, and pretty lacking in flavor, which they tried to overcome with butter). I had really high hopes for the donut (a fruit one, not the bacon one), and it was only alright, and certainly not worth the $5 they are charging for it. The tots are terrible: unseasoned fried balls of nothing. Seriously, I had to dump salt on these, and that hardly helped. My partner had a scrambled egg dish that he said was pretty boring. My friend ordered bacon (extra crispy) and toast and didn't eat the bacon, and the server didn't ask if there was a problem with the bacon. The food was a huge surprise given how much I enjoy Lula.
(2)Jeffrey C.
Located at 21st and Halsted, Nightwood is kind of in the rapidly gentrifying Pilsen neighborhood, but not really. A little off the main drag nexus of 18th and Blue Island, Nightwood feels like its own little outpost away from it all. It still subscribes to the Chicago-patented "Trendy Casual American (New)" that defines the mid-price point deliciousness of the city. We went for a last-minute, no reservations brunch and were seated in the the very lovely courtyard. On a good day (like that day), the shining light and charming atmosphere already provides a scenic sereneness perfect with a cup of joe and a plate of eggs. The butterscotch donut with bacon crumble? It's all that Yelp says it is. I love me the maple bacon donuts of Chicago (get thee to Bridgeport Bakery), but I'm totally willing to pay the premium for Nightwood's concoction. That bad boy costs $5, but the superior bacon plus butterscotch plus sugared donut holes on the side are worth the willingness to pay. The brunch menu is scant and short, but chock full of good stuff. The bagel sandwich gets lots of love. Its description leads with a smoked trout cream cheese spread. Note, though, that the main meat of the sandwich is crispy bacon, and that the trout is infused in the spread. Regardless, it's a very good brunch option. The accompanying potato croquettes might be my favorite thing on the menu. I went with the polenta, which was solid, though the short rib was extremely rich for breakfast. The soft boiled egg was cooked perfectly. I almost got the fabled cheeseburger, and after seeing another table receive that order, I got that buyer's remorse thing. Alas. Our table also ordered the scrambled eggs (mostly for the baby, natch), which was solid as well. Nightwood definitely gets plus points on a good-weather day, as the patio setting is hard to beat. The food is good, and with a lot of similar competition in the city, the unique location becomes a key differentiator. Food-wise, there are other, similar places I just like better (think Dusek's nearby), but I won't dissuade you if you think Nightwood is amongst the best.
(4)Steve W.
Looking on yelp made me think this place was going to be really good and i was sold a dream. The menu was very small nothing majority of the pics I seen on yelp were not available ok fine I understand but I end up ordering a burger had to wait and ask for napkins ketchup and pepper. It's definitely over priced and horrible service definitely won't be back here
(1)Carolyn I.
I've been wanting to go here for awhile to try the burger. It did not disappoint! The meat was juicy and flavorful. It was a little messy and hard to eat since it was piled high. For drinks, I ordered a non alcoholic drink with soda and strawberries and it was very refreshing. I also tried the trout and butterscotch pudding. The crispy black rice on the trout added great texture. The dessert was a little too sweet for me, but still good. Overall, I had a great experience! The outdoor seating was lovely and our server was friendly.
(4)Belle L.
Brunch and Restaurant Week are better values for $$. Excellent food quality, original menu with a 5-star service. First Date Venue. The one and only worthy fine dining in Pilsen area. FIRST DATE VENUE -- best seat is by the kitchen. Quieter. In a moment of awkwardness, kitchen activities are a great ice breaker. Great food and service allows both of you to focus on each other. Uber a ride home, and the gal gets dropped off first with a second date set in place. * * * RESTAURANT WEEK MENU: PRETZEL BREAD -- a nice unique touch in a world where bread and butter doesn't drop by anymore unless asked or as additional cost. DRY AGED BEEF TARTARE -- tasty. I usually dread tartare as it is not my dish, but I ate it all with an extra garlic bread. SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA -- hearty for my taste. Perfect portion. My first black walnut pesto. PORK -- dryness of pork is offset by the flavorful 8 winter vegetables. APPLE BREAD PUDDING -- interesting combination with rosemary ice cream (a tad overpowering). Best eaten with a perfect bite. CLAUSTHALER -- a non-alcoholic drink. A nice addition to the beer and cider list. INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE ($3) -- bottomless cup. Colombian blend for Nightwood with a tinge of tang. 5-STAR SERVICE -- (1) change of utensils after each dish, (2) napkin is folded when one steps out, (3) free carbonated water, (4) consistent water refills, (5) well-informed staff.
(5)Sandy C.
Had an amazing dinner here for the last time last night. Everything we ordered was excellent and executed with perfection, from the appetizer to the desserts!! You can taste how fresh the ingredients used and how sophisticated the dishes are. Now that they are closing soon, I would highly recommend everyone to go one last time, or try for the very first time!! Worth the time and the $$.
(4)AJ W.
It's a very good restaurant...but the service...kinda lacking. But the food is outstanding! The bacon donut is amazing...but oy, I really hated the service. I never appreciate being treated like I'm not cool enough to eat your food...especially when it's BRUNCH.
(3)Karen N.
They do the whole farm to table thing very well. But my last dinner left a little to be desired. Spaghetti with clams-home made spaghetti but chopped clams, not fresh clams in shells. What's up with that? I was happy with the pasta texture and creative ramp butter sauce, but really wished the clams were fresh. Duck breast dish was very tender and tasty. Like, but not love.
(3)Lauren F.
I've had Nightwood on my to-do list for quite some time now, I just never made it a priority to get down to Pilsen and check it out. As soon as I saw their lunch prix fixe menu for Restaurant Week I knew this was the perfect time to check them out. Many restaurants have items on their Restaurant Week menus that aren't on their regular menus, so it's hard to know if you're actually getting a deal and you don't get to try the great dishes that everyone talks about. Nightwood, however, was offering their big fat Nightwood Cheeseburger, usually found for $16 on their regular menus, as part of their $22 3-course lunch menu during restaurant week. Not only is the cheeseburger one of their most popular dishes, for 3 courses it was a total steal! Those two juicy patties topped with 8-year cheddar, a crispy onion ring, crunchy pickles, mustard, and special sauce, served with a side of fries, made it a no-brainer. I added a glass of their Black Currant Fizz soda, the bright Beet Salad with winter citrus, and the tart Honey Goat Cheese Ice Cream to round out a DELICIOUS weekday lunch. Nightwood is normally only open for dinner and for weekend brunch, but added weekday lunch hours just for Restaurant Week. This burger is a fixture on their regular menus so you can swing by and give it a try any time!
(4)Liliana P.
So I'm sometimes late to the reviewing game and I am just starting to catch up from my trips, but I really wanted to leave a review because I JUST found out that this establishment has closed and I hope the Nightwood team reads this. This was by far one of my favorite places I visited while in Chicago. The space is so rustic, I could see myself venturing out here in the mornings for brunch. I really liked the chairs so much, I had to sneak a picture of one. This is also one of the first places that I have come across to have polenta on the menu so early in morning, and I loved every last savory bite! If it was socially acceptable, I probably would've licked the bowl... I scraped the bowl with my spoon for good measure though. This was really the perfect way to end my Chicago visit. Thank you, Nightwood team for giving me an unforgettable experience.
(5)Heather B.
Chicago Sunday= brunch It's a basic requirement anytime I visit, and my friend has been talking this place up is for ages. Her recommendation was spot on! Our group of three made a booking for 11, which I would definitely advise to avoid a long wait. The menu changes often, and features brunch classics like omelettes and French toast, but each with a modern and indulgent twist. Our French toast came with pear compote and a well paired cinnamon spiced creme anglaise- sweet tooth required for this dish! Other dishes are more contemporary, like my favourite dish of the day, confit duck and goats cheese crepes. Rich and juicy duck meat, delicate freshly made crepes and a perfectly runny egg to top it off! We also ordered the cavatelli, which although flavourful, for me was the least successful. Served with a rich tomato sauce and topped with an egg, which for my taste could have been a touch runnier, and the pasta was ever so slightly underdone, bordering on chewy in some places. Please note this is me being real picky!! Another house speciality are the donuts, labeled as starters on the menu. Freshly made in the open kitchen, our butterscotch glazed with bacon donut was light, sweet, and indulgent, a fantastically naughty treat to start our meal! The staff were brilliant, attentive and friendly, and you have to love the American style of endless coffee, intelligensia no less! Oh, and our grapefruit bellinis were fantastic.
(4)Angela P.
I was almost positive that my friend Courtney C was going to throw up right on Halsted Street after our indulgent meal at Nightwood - but in the very best, most complimentary way possible. The food at Nighwood is tasty, but that burger is enormous and really could be shared by two people. We made the mistake of having an appetizer and drinks two doors down at Del Toro. Don't make the same mistake we did - just don't. You're hungry? Trust me, you can wait. I made reservations a week or two in advance for a Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. When we arrived, there was only one other table occupied. By the time we left, there was a good crowd, but I would not say that reservations are mandatory on a weeknight. Service was fantastic. Our server was attentive and did a great job explaining some of the drinks to us. Try the cocktails! I had the "Fit and Working Again," with vodka, apple crisp, elderflower, and lemon. I love drinks with elderflower, and this one was fantastic. Courtney C had a drink with blackberry in it and spent a few minutes pondering how to make her own at home. The cocktails at Nightwood are fabulous - get one! We both started with the Sunchoke Clam Chowder, which is as good as soup is ever going to get. For $10, you get a large bowl of soup, but I would have been happy with a smaller portion. I mean, $10 for SOUP? It was very good though, and it was a $10 well spent. Nightwood also serves piping hot, complimentary pretzel bread and garlic butter. I shouldn't have eaten all of that bread... Then came the burger, which was more like a TOWER of food. The burger was cooked to my liking, and very good. I don't think it cracked my top 5 though. As I mentioned before, this burger is a total belly buster. We each ate about half of ours and took the rest home. The burger is also served with a massive portion of fries, which are also very good. If I had to do it again, perhaps brunch with some cocktails, or someone to share a burger with!
(4)Tina L.
I've added another favorite burger to my list! This burger has an amazing sauce and TWO patties. I think I can split it into 3 separate meals!!~ Our server was very friendly and informative. I had a lot of questions about the drink menu, and she pretty much went down the list and went into detail what each cocktail would taste like and what she liked about it. I love the personal and thoughtful explanations and it helped me pick a delicious cocktail!
(4)Amanda P.
NIGHTWOOD BRUNCH. Finally got around to checking this place out. Unbelievable. Had a reservation for 3 people @ 11AM so we were seated right away (a rare brunch occurrence in this city). Everything we ate was delicious. Lemon curd doughnut. Whaaaaat. I am a breakfast potato/hashbrown connoisseur and these were great. The three of us ordered three different and perfect meals. Blueberry compote french toast tasty stuff, soft scrambled egg deliciousness, and pork gnocchi something or another wonderment. Friendly and quick service. One of my favorite brunches I've ever had in the city. I was hesitant to write this review because I don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but this place deserves to be commended. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Charles Z.
I've been wanting to check out Nightwood since it opened, so I chose to have dinner here on my B-day this year. Service was great, our waitress was very nice and attentive. We didn't feel rushed at all, through our visit, which was nice. I had the Pork Belly w/ a side of Brussel Sprouts. Pork Belly was alright I guess, I mean I ate it but it wasn't fantastic or anything. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing, I was pretty bummed that the portion was so small. Only complaint was being seated right in front of the door. I made reservations for 2, a month in advance, figured maybe I'd be given a decent table at the least. Sucked because it was cold out that day so every time the door would open we got a strong cold breeze! If I make it back, it will be for brunch.
(3)Danny W.
I went to Nightwood when it opened and had not been back since. I think my first visit was sometime in the fall of 2008 because I recall listening to Vampire Weekend on the drive to the restaurant but I could be wrong. Anyhow, I finally back came to Nightwood two weeks ago to get the burger because I'm in a burger club with some friends. We call it Burgz with Friends (it's a play on words). The burger was delicious in a totally unmanageable way. I cut my burgers in half because I'm civilized like that. I don't not regret that decision (I couldn't envision eating any more than a half of this grass-fed-monster) but the mess -as others have noted - is real. Lost among this beef-analysis is the fries are really good also. Would happily return to eat again. It's an interesting trend that almost all contemporary-American/farm-to-table restaurants have a burger on their menu now. I'm all for giving the people what they want (I certainly have eaten my share of burgers at restaurants known for cuisine to which burgers aren't native i.e. Owen & Engine, Three Aces, etc) but part of me wonders if some of these chefs don't resent customers like myself i.e. the internet-reader-eaters that have come in specifically to try one menu item that is sort of an aberration amidst the rest of their menu. For example, Acadia is now known for their burger. This dude has a Michelin star and people write about them to talk about their burger. That's not cool, I think. Maybe it is. You know what? I'm not sure I care. I'm going back for the burger. I think I hate Nightwood.
(5)Mike R.
Coming from San Francisco, I would expect a lot from a restaurant and this one more than delivered. It was a cold and rainy and windy Chicago evening when we walked in to find a warm welcoming room. Being lined by nearly floor to ceiling windows I felt like we were part of the neighborhood. Our server, Sarah, was an absolute joy. Frankly, I find her to be a true restauranteur - she made wonderful suggestions and had really interesting and informative responses to our questions about the food, the restaurant, and the neighborhood. We ordered a series of appetizers including the chicken pate, the burrata, and asparagus. Each dish had a beautiful presentation, just the right amount of serving, and most importantly had wonderful flavors. For the main course I ordered the half chicken dish. It was wonderful he cooked with a sweet and spicy sauce on the plate. I have to say this is probably the best chicken dish I have had in many many years. I will certainly recommend this restaurant to all who will listen and will be back as well.
(5)Ashley C.
I finally got to check Nightwood off my list. It lived up to expectations - good service and good food. Their menu is very appetizing and it was hard to pick what to try. Thankfully my dining companions are into sharing so we were able to try a bunch of different plates. We were seated around the time of our reservation (reservations are recommended). Service was good. Our waitress was helpful in providing wine and food recommendations. She checked on us the right amount and no one batted an eye that we had a very long dinner. Even though our table had a mix of still and sparkling water, they got it right the entire night (and I got to avoid my "I-really-don't-like-sparkling-water" face). For appetizers, we split the potato risotto, the spinach and endive salad and the steak tartare. While I don't say it often, the salad was my favorite starter. It was fresh and the pecorino cheese was amazing. There was just enough of the tasty buttermilk-hemp seed dressing without it being overdressed. However, I would skip the potato risotto next time (with uni butter and black truffles). First, the risotto was undercooked and had too much of a bite to it. The other problem was I didn't get the uni taste from the uni butter and it was a small portion for $18. The entrees were tasty. We tried the trout, cod, winter squash, and pork belly. We also split the carrots and beets for sides which the table enjoyed. Everything was cooked perfectly and it is hard to pick a favorite. The winter squash dish was very flavorful. While I don't normally pass the meat dishes for vegetarian dishes, I just couldn't put it down which says a lot. Of the two fish dishes, I preferred the cod with the light lemon sauce. The fish was so tender and flakey it was falling off my fork. The pork belly and the trout were very good but I preferred the other two entrees. With good food and service, next up is to try their brunch.
(4)Kate J.
Three sister's polenta was amazing. I wish the portion was bigger because it was so good. I had a glass of champagne also $9, good deal. It was super cold and refreshing. You must order the bacon donut for a starter either to share with 2-4 people or your own if you're not into sharing the most amazing donut ever. I came here with two other people on Easter Sunday around 11:30am after mass and we were seated no problem without a reservation. Great service as well!
(5)Shuangshuang W.
The dishes were good but not anything outstanding. I wouldn't come back if not for special reasons. The 4stars was mostly for the surprise birthday sorbet.
(4)Angela Z.
The donuts are delicious, but brunch is just ok. Especially for the price, the crepes and the meat item (can't recall the name but had beans and meat and an egg with salad) weren't that great. Though the atmosphere is nice and the decor is awesome!
(4)Shauna M.
Definitely disappointed Nightwood is closing...it's been a standby for brunch and more recently dinner. Will miss those tots and daily menu changes. Brunch is heavy but always satisfying. Looking forward to what is next for chef and current location.
(4)Cat G.
Nightwood has been on my to-do list for.. well.... a long time. Suffice it to say that the only thing keeping me from going was that (I think) they used to not take OpenTable reservations, and I was like "I have to actually talk to a person to make reservations? nah son". The other day though, I noticed them showing up on OpenTable and made a reservation immediately. We came in on a Saturday night at 5:30pm and were seated quickly. The interior of the restaurant is super cozy and cool - lots of wood, industrial looking, pretty much right up my alley decor-wise. There were several other people dining so it was lively but the atmosphere was still relatively intimate - good place to bring your friends, parents, or a date (but probably a good idea to leave the under-12 set at home). We started off with the potato gnocchi appetizer, which was delicious and topped with sliced truffles (this was a kicker for me - the menu says truffles, and usually I anticipate ground truffles because that's what most places do - they actually give you whole slices! Hallelujah.) They also give you bread to start. Not sure if this changes with the menu, but ours was house-made pretzel bread with butter or spread of some sort. No idea what the spread actually was but it was buttery (yay) and also green (??). Delicious though, so I didn't actually really care what it was. I had the huckleberry smoked and glazed pork belly and my dining companion had the wood-grilled duck breast. The pork belly was amazing in texture and I loved that it didn't have huge hunks of fat on it - fat on pork belly is obviously essential, but sometimes there's just way too much of it. Not the case here. My one complaint was that it was a bit too salty, but I cleaned my plate so it couldn't have been too bad. The quinoa was surprisingly good too - I don't usually like quinoa, but it worked well on this dish. I also sampled the duck breast, which was tender and delicious as well. For dessert we ordered the honeycrisp apple bread pudding. One of my favorite dishes of the night probably - the bread pudding is more bread than pudding (if they hadn't called it that on the menu, I would never have guessed) but really tasty and came with a side of rosemary ice cream. Have you ever had rosemary ice cream? Me neither, and I'm a better person now for having tried it (just kidding, but it was really unexpectedly good). Overall a really nice experience - definitely worth a trip on a special occasion. I'm hoping to try their brunch the next time around!
(4)Amy H.
I went with my boyfriend and his brother to his celebrate his new job. I read the bacon doughnut was good. We ordered that and the other doughnut on the menu. Both were good and not overly sweet. The bacon doughnut had thick cut bacon on there and a salted caramel sauce. We each ordered a meal. I got French toast with sweet potatoes and maple whipped cream. The French toast was fluffy; it almost had a cake texture. My boyfriend got the cheeseburger. It was good. It was an amped up Big Mac. His tother got two eggs and sausage links. He said he liked it. The service was very good. Multiple waiters came and kept pouring us water. The food was good but it was pricey. Our total was $87 for the three of us. I was ok because this was for a special occasion. If you don't mind the price, then give the place a try. I recommend it.
(5)Vanessa H.
We have been trying to check this place out for a while because the hours are a bit strange. (Breakfast & brunch, close, open again for dinner). I live nearby and love checking out the trendy restaurants in Pilsen. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mexican restaurants, but I can eat some foie gras and steak too. The menu changes so while looking at pictures will make your mouth water, know it might not be available. The place is GORGEOUS. So much space, even the patio seating is enclosed. All of the breeze, none of the pollen, of outside seating. While it looks faaaancy, they were family friendly during brunch time when we went. Bathrooms were clean, always a plus when we try someplace new. Ok, now the food. Menu wasn't as crazy/weird as some other places I have gone. That's a good thing when dining with children. They were able to make a regular pancake with maple syrup for my 3 year old. My husband ordered the double burger (pictured) and I had the rolled omelet. We LOVED it. It was filling, but not like I need to take a nap filling. My omelet had ricotta and asparagus. The little brown balls are deep fried hash browns. Super tasty, and I like the crunchiness of them. Service was awesome, it was a Sunday so the full staff was out. My husband loved the burger, cooked medium. It was a little heavy on the mayo ( I don't like mayo) my hubby thought it was perfect. We ended it with a butterscotch glazed donut with bacon crumbles on top. YUMMMMM. Even my little one was eating bacon! Definitely recommend and would try again. Semi-pricey, but not much more than the other places we have gone that sell better quality food. ($50 for 2 adults one toddler). We are going to check out the dinner scene with just us grown ups.
(5)Allison J.
I've been twice for brunch and it was definitely one of the best brunchs I've had in Chicago! I'm not a big fan of sweets, but their donuts are a must have. Both entrees were delicious as well. No complaints! Great full bar too, which doesn't hurt. Their menu changes very frequently, so you'll get the chance to try new things everytime. I've already been twice and plan on trying dinner soon! Update: I've finally made it for dinner. The flavors were still unique and interesting. The burger and pork belly were delicious. I ordered a fish dish, which was good, but nothing I would come back for. Altogether it was a great dinner, but I do prefer the brunch! If give brunch 5 stars and dinner 4 stars.
(5)Susan S.
Excellent food and service !!!!! Lovely decor and fireplace outside seating. Try their pastas - on the appetizer section but perfect for a one person meal. Very fresh hamburger double stacked!
(3)Shan D.
I know it's had a Michelin rating, but I didn't think this place was deserving of it. The items we ordered were hit or miss. The duck was cooked to perfection. However, the long noodle dish was too salty. Everything else was not memorable. It's a nice, quiet restaurant with good service. Maybe I just showed up on one of their off days?
(3)Steve N.
Had one of the best brunches ever here!!!! Beautiful, well thought out food with fresh ingredients. Amazing!!!!
(5)Jesse C.
I was a little skeptical coming here for dinner since it seems like this place is really known for breakfast/brunch, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Made a reservation for 7pm on a Thursday. It was pretty empty when we arrived but by 8pm the place was packed. Our server was very sweet and made some nice recommendations for us. My friend and I shared several dishes: Mango and crispy pork belly salad with grilled watermelon: All the components of this dish meshed together really well. The pork belly added a nice salty/crunchy element, and the fruit was fresh and ripe. This was actually my first time having grilled watermelon and I loved it. The watermelon was sliced like sashimi with perfect grill marks on it. Apparently the grilling gives the watermelon a more meaty texture which was perfect in this salad. Highly recommended! Salmon with spaghetti squash: This may have been the juicest piece of salmon I have ever eaten! Another nicely balanced dish served with perfectly done spaghetti squash and some kind of green (don't remember what it was). So delicious, highly recommended if you're in the mood for fish! Cheeseburger with fries: This burger was outstanding, right up there with other gourmet burger places in LA like Father's Office and Standing Room. The cheddar and mustard went so well together, beef patties were a perfectly done medium, and the thick skin-on fries were the perfect complement. Highly recommended! Peach cake: Our server recommended this and we really enjoyed it. It was served a la mode and I think I remember a little ginger in there too. Recommended. Overall, this place far exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to return for brunch or dinner to try more items!
(5)Thomas C.
Third Visit to Nightwood, definitely the best. Fortunately this time we were seated down in the wine cellar, which was more intimate making conversation easier, and while we waited a long time for our meal, it was worth it. The burger, the drinks, the pork belly....all heavenly.
(4)Toni R.
Great ambiance, and the food was spectacular! We have tried the duck and the pork belly it was phenomenal. We're glad to have tried the pork belly before they change the menu. An absolute gem in Pilsen
(5)joshua b.
Love this place and go a couple times a month for Brunch on Sunday's. Food is always TOP notch. Unfortunately today we had a horrible service experience. Sarah was mean and practically nasty to us. Someone clearly peed in her Cheerios this morning. Food is amazing, the owner/MNgr guy is always there and super nice.
(4)Marti M.
BEST burger in Chicago. I love this place!
(5)Mary Ann C.
Third visit to Nightwood. We arrived last night without a reservation (none available on OpenTable) and were promptly seated in the wine room in the basement. Very nice! As with the upstairs, it is still conversation challenged. Our server was full of great tips and very helpful. Our food was extremely slow arriving. Maybe due to a busy Friday and the Art Walk taking place. Burger was nicely executed with delicious fries and a nice soft bun. Not the best in town but respectable. The pork belly was devine. Sinful. Amazing. Nice cocktail selection with interesting ingredients. Yummmmmm
(4)Kendra N.
So I've heard this is the best brunch spot in town but I guess it wasn't my favorite. We rolled in around 11am the day of the marathon and we had absolutely no trouble getting a table. I ordered a bloody mary which was good but not the best I've had. I also had the apple crepes - again good but not amazing. I think I was most disappointed by the menu options - none of the options really suited my palate. I like crepes but not really apple crepes and I'm not really an eggs, toast, and potatoes kind of gal - so nothing was on par with what I would choose to order. However, I still enjoyed my meal, just had to compromise on my ideal breakfast. My hubby had a burger and he said it was one of the better ones he's had recently. If you do like the things on their menu, you will likely enjoy your meal!
(4)Alexandra H.
Love their brunch. Like, amazing super delicious. Their tots will change the way you look at potatoes. Dinner is slightly over priced for what you get but pretty creative. Worth going not necessarily repeating regularly.
(4)Ellie D.
Really wanted to love this place, but I can only give it 2 stars because I almost choked on the fish. I ordered the trout. It was covered with almonds and fried black rice. The rice tasted burnt instead of crispy. The trout smelled fishy. One of my last bites had the fish tail in it. I almost choked and had to spit it out. My date had the burger and the bun was stale. The patties were dry. We also ordered side dishes: beets and Brussels sprouts. They were ok. We also got dessert which was ok as well. The servers also hovered too much, yet our plates stayed on the table for a long time after we were done eating. I had to stack the plates to remind the servers that we were done. Also if your table isn't by the window, you'll need your iphone flashlight to read the menu. We spent ~$100 and I was so bummed that I didn't get my moneys worth. Maybe it was an off night?
(2)Judy N.
Amazing!! You have to start with their doughnut! I had the maple glazed with bacon. And then had the polenta with pork belly and a side of toys. Everything was delicious!! Noise level was high on a Sunday afternoon, but the food made up for it.
(5)Gabriela B.
The burger, hanger steak and service were great. On a Thursday night, we were sat right away. The wait for the food was a little long, but worth the wait. Food was amazing!
(5)Tunaidi A.
Nightwood was a pleasant surprise. I'm always impressed with farm-to-table restaurants' decor. There's a main area, which looks pretty typical in terms of seating; a bar area, where the kitchen is open and you can see the chefs preparing your food; and an patio area, which is considered "outside", but you're surrounded with greenery, and temperature can be controlled. Brunch was amazing. Service was great. Food was better. Donuts... you can't have brunch here without the donuts. They are absolutely delicious. The burger is amazing. The pork belly sandwich is a win. The bagel sandwiches are great. Things on the menu change, but I can't imagine the quality and the tingle on your taste buds changing too much.
(4)Sarah G.
BACON BUTTERSCOTCH DONUT. You will be in my dreams forever. That chicory custard stuff donut also pretty phenomenal, but you had me at bacon, butterscotch and donut and you had me after each bite I took after that perfect donut of bliss. Really though, that donut will make me want to come back out to Pilsen for sure. Nightwood is a new restaurant in that are and it is super adorable inside in a hip trendy hipster sort of way, and they have an awesome looking enclosed patio with an outdoor fireplace too which I would love to come back and check out in action one day. We went for brunch and I got a special they were rotating of tiny bay shrimp and gravy and biscuits with a sunny side up egg on top and it was so tasty! The biscuit was nice and moist and easy to cut up with each bite of the shrimp and gravy, so I was a happy camper. Matt J. got the house made cavatelli pasta with their mini meatballs which he loved but I thought didn't pack quite as much flavor as I thought it would to be honest. Other group orders were the classic eggs and toast and tots and those tots were the fanciest tots I have ever seen! They looked like little pieces of art they were definitely the fanciest breakfast hashbrowns ever. The soft scrambled eggs with queso fresco and such also was a hit and my other friend ordered their oatmeal which our server claimed was "perfect" in consistency when she asked if it was chunkier or runnier oatmeal and it actually was pretty perfect too! We were glad we had a reservation, although it wasn't too crowded for Sunday brunch, but we were seated right away, I got my unlimited inteligensia coffee and next time maybe I'll splurge for that Chemex--$10 but I bet worth it?? Hmmmm
(4)Mark T.
A few years ago, a friend of mine had mentioned to me the details of the great dinner that she had here one night. Ever since then, Nightwood has been on my list of places to go, and Chicago Restaurant Week provided the perfect opportunity. The place looks pretty small from the outside. We got seated in the front room, which was pretty tight space wise. This could be a disadvantage for some places with the setup not being conducive to intimate conversation; I didn't get that feel at all here since the area wasn't loud and we could comfortably carry out a conversation while enjoying our meal. We had a few choices for our four course prix-fixe meal: I started off with the dry aged beef tartare, with rich duck yolk, parsley, winter pickles, and tallow roasted bread. Second, I had the sunchoke & clam bisque, with grilled sage, sweet leeks, & Pecorino Toscana. The main course consisted of the braised pork, with eight winter vegetables. (I didn't count, I trust the chef put exactly eight in there). The menu was capped with a plate of apple bread pudding with vanilla creme fraiche, pine nuts, house made cheese its (yum!) & rosemary ice cream. I was comfortably full after that meal; everything that I ate was a nice mixture of sweet, sour, and succulent. It also helped that we had a long walk back to the car afterwards to work the meal off. Service was great and I can tell that the chef had a great attention to detail with each plate. This is definitely a place worth coming back to.
(4)Kathleen C.
I am SO glad I visited Nightwood! I had a late weeknight reservation during restaurant week and couldn't be happier that I stayed up late to dine here. First of all, we lucked out and while we got stuck in a little traffic on the way (seriously Chicago?!?!), we found a spot on the street immediately when we arrived. The restaurant is so inviting - cosy, dimly lit and exposed brick and an open kitchen. I could have stayed for hours had it not been a work night. A nice thing about the restaurant week menu here is that it is a separate, special menu. The options were so delicious-sounding that it was hard to choose. Thankfully, there were 2 options from each of the four courses and 2 of us, so we each got to try the entire menu! First up, foie gras and pear. WOW! The beet salad was also good, but the pear was the best. Second course - oyster chowder. Yep, you read that right and darn it was delicious! The corned beef also wonderful and I don't even like corned beef very much! I had an amazing lemon scented ricotta ravioli with bolognese sauce and got a few bites of pork loin as well. Both - wonderful though I think I preferred the ravioli as it was light and really unique. Desserts - yum! Chocolate with the cutest caramel corn and an apple bread pudding. Both insanely good! The food, atmosphere, value, service - absolutely perfect.
(5)Caralyn O.
Nightwood is a romantic, delicious, gem that leaves me with a new favorite item every time I go. Their menu changes frequently, and everything is consistently fresh. The prices are reasonable enough that you can try as many of the inventive menu items as you'd like without breaking the bank (and I highly recommend doing so). I love their unique cocktails, and friendly service. I first came to Nightwood about a year ago, and we've been back three times to celebrate a few special occasions since. Every time, the staff has been attentive without hovering or making us feel rushed and the meals have been fantastic. I am so rarely a dessert person, but Nightwood has never disappointed. When in doubt, go for it. Just like everything else at this restaurant, the sweets are so worth the splurge. If you're not within walking distance, I've had difficulty finding cabs after dinner. Uber/Lyft/etc come in handy - or we may have just been unlucky. Doesn't matter much -- I'd walk to Pilsen and back again for my favorite restaurant in Chicago!
(5)Christopher V.
Service is always friendly, knowledgable and helpful.. Romantic spot, especially at night. I was a huge fan of the fire-grilled half chicken a few years ago. Unfortunately, this has been replace with a single breast or thigh, depending on the night, for the same price. I've sampled most of the menu and while all dishes are prepared well and ascetically pleasing, only the chicken is especially good. At $25 for a single piece of chicken, I can't say it's worth a special visit. Even the burger at $16 is just ok, can't compete with Au Cheval's. Moving forward, I'll probably only stop in for cocktails which is definitely what they do best.
(3)Melissa M.
Nightwood is just...wow-worthy. Never would you expect to find such artistry in food on this side of town, but man, is it worth the trip. Yes, you might want to sit near the window to make sure that your car doesn't get broken into while you eat, but you won't be sorry you came. From beginning to end, this was a foodie's dream dining experience. Our server was one of the most genuinely nice people I've ever encountered in food service. Her attention to detail, and genuine interest in what we wanted was incredible. Even if the food sucked, I'd probably still walk out of here happy because her demeanor was just that refreshing. The two of us had some of the best meals we'd had in ages. The boyfriend started with some of the fried pig ear, about which he could not stop gushing. Although not my thing in the least, his obsession was so palpable that I had to take a small bite. Still not my thing, but that really doesn't mean anything. People who are into eating any part of Babe would, I'm sure, love those. The real pleasure came with our wine, which was basically picked by our server after we explained what we liked and what we were in the mood to drink. She did an excellent job, and I truly appreciated her skill with that. As the menu evolves based on what's in season, you cannot go into Nightwood expecting standard dishes, nor can you go back expecting to have what you had last time. For creatures of habit, this may be a tough pill to swallow, but you have to appreciate the chef's talent. I had a roasted chicken that was simply perfect. That's all I can really say about our meal - it was simple, and perfect. I hope Nightwood continues to do well, but I also hope it doesn't get too busy, since I love the truly "under the radar" feel of this hidden gem in Pilsen.
(5)Sara B.
Because my husband is AWESOME a client gave him a certificate to eat here! What an AWESOME date night. Some patrons a little rude but the food, beverages and desserts were all amazing! Interesting location. Parking could be a challenge but it was fun!
(4)Andrew W.
Yeah this place was rocking awesome. Seedy area a little bit. And a lot of patrons who like to gawk. Friendly bar and wait staff, delicious beverages and food. Thanks MITS for the gift cert.
(4)Jessica P R.
This is one of the best meals I've ever had! I came in solo on a business trip. The hospitality was phenomenal from the start. They offered to seat me at the kitchen bar, and it was unbelievable to watch each dish being made. I'm a huge food nerd and watch a lot of food shows. Everything came to life at Nightwood. It was an experience and not just a meal. This probably hinges on being seated at the kitchen bar. Though the food was out of this world too. I had the burrata app and the vegetarian dish. Both were delicious. I wish I lived closer so I could go back again and again.
(5)Peter M.
I went to Nightwood on a Sunday, early afternoon. The place was full but the hostess was able to provide a table within a half hour. I found the brunch menu options rather limited. I was hoping to try the maple bacon donut and the other pastry appetizer but they were out of both. We did arrive later in the day so I can understand that they ran out. The meal was okay, nothing spectacular. Toast and tots were on the cold side. I might go back to try the dinner menu but I doubt I'd return for Sunday brunch.
(2)Annie S.
THE BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUT!!!!!!!!! BEST FOOD I HAD IN CHICAGO. It wasn't the deep dish pizza, portillo's, or whatever else Chicago is known for that stuck out... IT WAS THIS DONUT! SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even a big fan of bacon, but wow... I miss this donut. I came here with four other people for lunch on a Sunday. We made reservations, but ended up arriving almost an hour early. Fortunately, even though the restaurant looked busy, they got us seated pretty quickly. Yay for good service! I ordered the bagel sandwich... and it was aiiiitee and pretty difficult to eat. I tried to slice it into pieces, but it just got really messy... I wouldn't order it again. BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY ORDER 23904209349023490234 BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)Zach J.
Went here on Saturday evening. I was very impressed with the set up of this place, very nice decor and a pleasant setting. We chose to eat in the outdoor area; however, that did not last long due to two screaming babies that had parents that did not even try to hush them up, mainly because they were too busy talking very loudly and being drunk, so we moved indoors where it was quiter. I ordered the cheeseburger which is probably the cheapest thing on the menu; however, you get the largest portion of food. The burger is a double burger with 8 year old aged chedder cheese in melted form. They also top it with onion rings, lettuce and pickles. The pickles were so fresh they actually stood out in taste, especially blended with the amazing chedder sauce. The was absolutely delicious too. The beef was of top quality but in thin patty form. The great news is they put two patties on the burger, so you get double the burger goodness. The fries were really good, not home cut in appearance but the taste says otherwise. The wait staff is extremely attentative and do not leave you thirsty of sitting in filth. After your complementary bread with jam they wipe down your area, after your appetizer they wipe down your area, after your meal they wipe down your area, after your desert they wipe down your area. They also refill your water glass constantly as soon as someone, anyone, at your table gets half full. The desert I had was a chocolate tart with strawberys and ice cream filled into it. The ice cream on the side was amazing and fresh tasting. The tart was thick and rice, but not too rich. I will definately return here, and the burger was worth the $16 I paid.
(5)Caroline M.
Nightwood is stellar. I came here based on a recommendation from a friend who used to live in Chicago. And he did not steer me wrong! I have had both brunch and dinner at Nightwood and they are equally fabulous. Brunch was wonderful because, well quite honestly, I love brunch! Plus...those hash browns are addictive! How do they make cute little crunchy nests of potato!? Dinner is also fabulous. I dined here with a girlfriend and we had a solid girls night out. The cocktails deserve a review of their own--while they sound like your average fancy cocktails they will blow you away. We're talking rivaling Violet Hour(!!) Dinner involved seasonal ingredients, none of which I do not recall, due to imbibing a little too much :) What I am saying here is, if you rate Nightwood less than 5 stars you are an idiot.
(5)Alden V.
This is a phenomenal restaurant. Everything was top notch. Clam Chowder, house made pasta, dry aged tartar. mhMm! The burger was irresistible to me, and it came through big time. I look forward to going back for more of the entree items and sitting kitchen-side.
(5)Steve Z.
I am looking at these other reviews and I just can't believe what they are saying. I may have to re-try this place when it's not chef's week but I don't want to spend close to $200 for a meal that was, for lack of a better word, bad. I'll start with the pros of this place. Very nice atmosphere and the staff was amazing. I mean, I've been to a lot of restaurants and have friends who own restaurants and they Nightwood is definitely one of the best for service. Now the food. One think I can say about every single dish is salty. Very, very, very salty. I was constantly drinking water and this morning I woke up feeling awful after these courses. Also, it's almost like there are too many things going on in every dish. Like, just over thought and the flavors just didn't make sense. For the first course we had the burrata with white asparagus and dill and the spinach and endive salad. I'll sum it up. VERY SALTY. I actually didn't finish the burrata. it wasn't my thing to be honest. The salad was a highlight. The dressing was very good but it was salty. My partner said that she thought it was salty right away. Anyway, we moved on. Second course was the red wine braised lamb neck and borlotti beans and the pasta with a hazelnut sauce. The star here was the lamb neck. Just that though. The other flavors in the dish made no sense to me. The beans seemed dry and old and had no flavor. The sauce it was in was sort of bitter. Anyway, we ate around everything and only took the meat. Now the pasta. The sauce was good. We ate the majority. But the spaghetti used was grossly under cooked almost like it was sitting under a heat lamp for a while. The sauce was very good. But all in all it was very salty as well. The last course was the maitake mushroom and the hanger steak. The mushroom dish was so salty that I took one bite and could barely swallow it. And the mushroom was just not good. When we tried it, it was almost like when you have to respect your grandma's cooking even though it's bad. The flavors again made no sense to me. There was a lot going on that turned me off. The first hanger steak I received was cold so I sent it back for another and I got a hot steak that was cooked perfectly. But the cut I received the second time had a lot of gristle and again, it was overly salted. And the feta and chickpeas are a nice touch, but the feta just added to the salty flavor. I don't want to get into dessert because I saw cracker jacks on one plate and cheez-it bits on the other. And I just laughed. But the desert was good. Probably the star of the entire course. Honestly, when we left we could barely feel our tongue. Everything was over seasoned and for the prices you pay you'd expect more dishes that make sense. Then again, any place that charges $16 for a burger you might have to question. Is the food the star or is the chef just showing off? I've been to a lot of places around the world and this being in my home town in very low on the list. I usually don't go on yelp and post a review. This time I had to because the prices don't match up the quality and execution. What a let down.
(2)Melissa B.
Bacon Butterscotch donut. Do I really need to say more? My friend and I had brunch here on a Sunday. The drink menu is awesome. I kinda wished we didn't have to be somewhere right after here. I would of liked to try one of each. I stuck with the Bellini's and he had some sort of drink that was a beer with a shot of espresso and a shot of whiskey in it. We both loved our choices. We were in the mood to eat. We started with a bacon butterscotch donut and a blueberry lemon bar. I wanted to lick the plates! I could hardly contain myself. My mouth is watering thinking about how absolutely perfect the lemon bar was. After the sweet start to our meal we decided on lunch items. I had pasta in a cream sauce topped with bacon and a sunny side up egg. Just writing that makes me feel fat. It was worth every single calorie. He had a meatball sub and it looked delicious! It was pretty crowded but they accept reservations. Service was friendly. They didn't rush us at all. It's not what I like to spend on brunch weekly, but its not over priced either.
(5)Kasia L.
I've been wanting to have to dinner here for as long as I can remember and finally made a point of it to do it. Restaurant itself is really cool with the interior design and the open kitchen counter seating. Food was as fantastic as I'd always imagined it would be. The burrata appetizer is honestly so good that I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Burger-amazing, seriously. Cavatelli pasta, delicious. Side of marinated beets - who would think that this would be so incredibly yummy? And the dessert...I had the honey & goat cheese ice cream. What? It was so so so so so good. SO GOOD. I cannot wait to go again.
(5)Rebecca N.
I absolutely love it here! The menu changes daily and the food is very interesting. I would recommend going with people who have open minds. I preferred my brunch experience compared to dinner, but both we wonderful. The bagel sandwich is perfect! It is a very cool atmosphere and great service.
(5)Jennifer R.
My Roommate and I have been here a few times for dinner and brunch. We had brunch with two friends today and enjoyed a variety of item. We shared two donuts as starters today. As someone who isn't a big donut fan I have to say I love the Butterscotch Bacon Donut. The butterscotch glaze is plate licking good and the chunks of bacon make this a must try treat. We ordered the Pork Belly & Grits, the Cherry Pancake and the Bagel Sandwich. The Pork Belly and Bagel Sandwich were heavy savory items. While the Bagel Sandwich is almost impossible to eat without making a mess, its well worth the trouble. Great service and a helpful staff make this one of the best brunch spots in Chicago.
(4)Aeri B.
The food was delicious and the portions were satisfying. The rosemary ice cream was interesting but for some reason I couldn't stop eating it. I had the pork belly which were like burnt ends. Super tender. My friend had the 1/2 chicken. Huge! Really good as well. The space is nice and I can see it really coming alive on a nice summer evening. The seating is tight but that's the style they were going for. Not conducive for an intimate conversation. My server was perfect. Very attentive and knew the menu. Sweet girl. Would definitely come back here!
(4)Natalie C.
Came here last night for a dinner date - we were seated promptly (no reservations needed for a rainy Tuesday evening I suppose) - the host was very polite and friendly. Our waiter was also very friendly and attentive.. At first. As our meal progressed, we did notice a very long gap between when our dinner plates were cleared and when we got dessert menus. And between dessert menus (we ended up deciding against any sweets) to having him bring the check. He was really nice and helpful, just maybe got a little distracted towards the end of our meal. The person filling water however was completely on point - I never had less than half a glass full before he would swing by with a refill. The food was pretty good. We started with a tagliatelle with morels, a butter sauce, and some spring peas. Pasta was cooked well although there were not many mushrooms (from what I could see - maybe my dining mate vacuumed them into his mouth when I wasn't looking), and the spring peas were super fresh and delicious. We also had the crispy pig ear app - the flavor of the dish was wonderful, but as my date mentioned after a few minutes of rather loud chewing, it was kind of a jaw workout. The pig ears were somehow strangely chewy in places and super hard and "crunchy" in others. I was a little afraid of cracking a tooth. For my entree I had the striped bass with a prosciutto and frisée salad and a 45 minute egg. It was very tasty and cooked well, only set back was that my bass had a couple bones in it. My date had a sirloin with roasted spuds - his was cooked perfectly and tasted really good (whatever sauce was on his plate was sheer happiness). Overall I would return to the Nightwood to try some of their other menu items - they have a big focus on sourcing locally and sustainably which I really appreciate.
(3)Vincent R.
I didn't understand this place. The host sneered at the notion that we sit by the window. The Punch for Two was bourbon, champagne and currant (?). Undrinkable (though I drank it). Fresh oysters with a mayonnaise sauce? Hm. The farfalle with grilled squid was pretty good -- not remarkable -- but among the options, passable. The word "juvenile" just kept coming to mind. As an out-of-towner, it didn't represent Chicago's food scene well (I hope). I would strongly advise anyone with a decent palate to pass on this place.
(2)Bo Y.
Came here for brunch on weekends. shared bacon donuts. tried difference entrees. very good. loved their cocktails.
(4)Matt L.
I was honored to attend this small little event called Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. One of the featured chefs was Chef Jason Vincent. He was competing in the Grand Cochon against culinary chefs like Naomi Pomeroy, Michelle Bernstein, and Mark Forgone. Quoting Chef Jason Vincent after winning the Grand Cochon, "Naomi Pomeroy and Michelle f'ing Bernstein?" Yeah, you beat them. I had no idea who Jason Vincent was and he was the featured chef representing Chicago! Though after eating his bacon butterscotch doughnut and his version of a Spanish style pork and vegetable stew cocido, I could still taste it today. Fast forward to a few, finally having dinner at Nightwood, Chef Jason Vincent still has the magic. Had a 5 course tasting menu created by the man himself. The crispy pig ears, foie gras apple salad, and split roasted duck were the favorites. Keep in mind though the menu does change daily. The service was by far Michelin Star quality. The room was dark yet intimate. Nightwood is definitely date worthy. I would go back and recommend this place. Chef Jason Vincent, congrats the many accolades you have accumulated including the recent James Beard Award nomination. Well deserved. Food - 5 Décor - 5 Service - 5
(5)Brian P.
Brunch? We came for dinner and everything was fabulous. As we had a large group we were able to sample many dishes on the menu. Highlights for me included a local rib eye steak (with wild rice), seared trout, and pig ears. My friends duck leg was also superb. The only thing I didn't really like was the fois gras.... but thats just my personal taste. Service was very laid back.
(4)Fernando O.
This place is hidden gem on the south side. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, modern, lively, great ambience. The service was great! I came here for brunch. The food was great I had a trout and egg sandwich which at first I was reluctant to order but thank God I did. It was delicious. I have a sweet good so I ordered the donut dessert which was also delicious. The coffee is very good. The menu is never the same since everyday they buy fresh products. I have not been here for dinner but plan to do so very soon. A friend of mine told me the drinks are great.
(5)Marie B.
This has been on my list for awhile. I finally decided to go with a friend for brunch. Great addition to the neighborhood. The food was delicious and very flavorful. Living on the Northside (closer to Lula Cafe), I don't see myself coming back here often. Not that the food wasn't extraordinary, it's just inconvienient to get to. Definitely worth trying if you're close to the neighborhood, but I can see people putting it off because of the location.
(4)Amanda K.
While on our lollamoon (pre-honey moon post-wedding weekend at lollapalooza) our friend treated us to a romantic dinner at nightwood. WHAT A TREAT! The ambiance is amazing. This is a great place for a date, and the patio is so cool and green. The service was amazing. We ordered a variety of appetizers and had them in courses, split an entree, and then had dessert. Everything we had was amazing. We tried: the salad which was fresh and delicious, the mozarella and peaches which was SO yummy and different, the churchilini which had the best flavors, and the agnolotti- yum. For the entree we got the gnocchi and it was unlike and gnocchi i've ever had. (For the record, we never eat this much pasta, but everything was so good we couldn't help ourselves). For dessert we had the cherry pie, which was the perfect sweet, delicious, finish. To drink we got the punch for two, which is a fantastic cocktail and also a great deal! $22 and you get at least 1 1/2 drinks per person - not bad when the single drinks are like $12 each. GO HERE NOW!
(5)Deena H.
After my second dining experience here, I think it is fair to rate it. 1. Ambiance: There is a eat in front of kitchen experience where you sit at a counter with stools and totally worth it; you watch them make these amazing creations and dishes. There is also very Romantic sitting inside and there is a patio seating outside. I believe there is lower level room for groups but i have not seen it 2. Service: Fantastic, friendly, comfortable. They offer sparkling and still water. There is also a bar available as well as a wine list. There is literally a wall full of wine as part of their decor 3. FOOD: The menu changes but you will not find fresher, more succulent, and original dishes anywhere. We recently had the cucumber dish and it was spicy and refreshing at the same time. The DESSERTS are A MUST. YOU MUST try them. They have a cherry pie with a coffee dessert that is sweet and hits the spot. There are also cookies galore for the cookie monster in you. They also have sorbet. There are vegetarian options as well as plenty of different meat options. My husband recently had a sort of chicken dish and it was so juicy (i tried it of course). I gave the nightwood burger a shot and loved the onion ring included with it on the burger. 4. Bathroom: For the girls out there, the bathroom is adorable. I know that is weird but it literally is like this funky green color with an old style lock on the door. It is super clean, has a long mirror on the door you can check yourself in as well as mirror in front of sink. There is only one bathroom for women so if it is busy, you may need to wait but not that bad. There was one night my husband and I were actually able to meet Chef Che. He was friendly, down to earth, and we were just so pleased with our whole experience. YOU MUST try this place at least ONCE. I do not think you will be sad you did. Worth every penny.
(5)Jennifer Q.
So, my review is going to be kinda interesting here. I did not know this was "the" Nightwood. My coworkers and I wanted to have a drink after a work event down the street. The bar we had originally wanted to go to was super crowded so one of the girls poked her head in here and found they had this enclosed patio that was wide open. There were nearly 20 of us. The good news is the service was great. We felt like we had our own little private space and the drinks kept coming. However, the food -in my opinion - was just OK. The portions were super small and very expensive. We ordered a bunch of plates to share and I can't say anything was super memorable. In fairness, this was not a "normal" dining experience. That said, I would return to have a proper dinner in the very beautiful and chic dining room. But, truth me told, I did not really see the big deal based on what we ordered. I will have to give it another shot and focus my attention on the food.
(3)Sharon M.
My favorite brunch spot. When you start with bacon butterscotch doughnuts and a beermosa, it's hard to go wrong. And here you won't. Today i had white polenta, braised short rib, with a soft boiled egg on top. Every flavor complimented the one beside it. Sat in the back bar over looking the kitchen, was great fun watching the team do their work. Super friendly attentive staff. If you're looking for something more than simple eggs (but they do that too ) be sure to put this on your list.
(5)Ashley F.
I researched the best restaurants in Chicago an Nightwood kept coming up. We decided to try it an thank goodness we did! It was absolutely perfect from start to finish and our dinner was SO GOOD! I ordered the chicken and it was like a favor bomb, best chicken I've ever eaten! Even the sides were delicious. The server was kind, prompt, and helpful. The space is simple and chic while still having a casual feel. I hear their brunch is amazing as well. Definitely check this place out! We will be back for sure next time we're in town.
(5)sarah p.
Went to Nightwood with one of my best mates and couldn't have had a better time. Both food obsessed, we ate our way through at least 1/3 of the menu and probably 100% of the beverage list. It was just that kind of night (you know what I mean?) The service was attentive, informative and lovely. The atmosphere was warm, inviting and unpretentious. And most importantly, the bites were flavorful, approachable and downright delicious. The bang for the buck here is insane. I would expect the prices to be at least 25% higher than they are. It's a delicious meal that is literally a total steal, and a damn good time. Great place for date night, friend date night, foodie date night.
(5)Erin P.
Mocktail Report: Nightwood used to put their nonalcoholic options on the cocktail menu. However, I just checked the website and it appears that is no more. Too bad, I loved not having to ask for special options. I am sure they will still make you something wonderful, if you ask. I have had smashes, rickeys and more here and have loved them all!
(5)Mike W.
The food was great, the service was even better. I picked this place because I wanted to do something different and off the beaten path for my birthday (dinner), and I have to say I was really happy with it. Obviously you want to check the menu before you go and make sure you see something you like. Although we had quite a few dishes, and all of them were great. The plates are not that big so I wouldn't go if I was dead starving otherwise you might suck it all down and not actually taste anything.
(5)Thor T.
Went to Nightwood for brunch and loved it - starting with the fine cocktails (an earthy Bloody Mary was the favorite) and the rightly beloved donuts (two varieties were available). While the cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and the omelette with fingerling potatoes and and bacon jam were delicious, it was the smoked, steamed, and grilled pork belly sandwich with green garlic chili mayo, runny egg, and pea shoots (with a good dose of cilantro) that was my favorite, restoring my faith in the goodness of pork belly after some pretty mediocre versions at other Chicago restaurants. Another important brunch ingredient was very good: the coffee. The service: friendly, efficient, welcoming, lovely all around. A light atmosphere pervades the cozy room, we left happy.
(5)Richard W.
The service at this place is amazing! We loved the focaccia bread, and they only brought one for the table initially but were super quick to bring more when we requested it. The waiter joked we might get full before our main courses but the bread really is pretty small. The appetizer I got (agnolotti) was smaller than what I would have expected for the price but apparently someone comes in every day at 8am to hand make the pasta. The main course wood-grilled duck was tasty but also a little pricey. The restaurant is known for the wood-grilled dishes in particular.
(4)Keegan W.
Had their pre fixe for restaurant week; did not disappoint! Really enjoyed the whole experience. Highlights were the tartare, pasta dish I can't even describe, and the rosemary ice cream! If I had to nit pick, I felt like the drinks were over priced, but I'm starting to feel like that's the case throughout the city.
(4)DJ S.
We wanted to love this place. Father's Day brunch was our first try. The restaurant is really cute. The food was really yucky. Well not all of it. The donuts are amazing. Great starter! The deconstructed BLT has a substitute for the bacon that looks like chewed up cat food. It turned out our stomachs. Seriously induced gagging. No accommodation or apology was given. The frittata was served cold. Cold eggs are gross. The only dish our table liked was the cheddar biscuits and gravy. Oh well. Not coming back ever but there are so many other places in Chicago right? Not a huge loss.
(1)Eileen Z.
I'm often convinced I was meant to live my 20s in the 50s. Other times I get lost in 1994 hip-hop, convinced that that was its greatest year, and I unfortunately was born about a decade too late to truly live within its reign. It's also that time of year when I have those god awful thoughts of "why do I live in Chicago again?" and reevaluate my decision on holding off moving to the West Coast whenever the windchill is close to hovering around zero degrees here. Then I'll eat at a place like Nightwood and it'll remind me why none of the above was made for me. Gin and vermouth go together like the definitive chances of you running into people you know when you look like complete utter shit, and the "Hit the North" apéritif hit it home for me. I love how the menu changes (daily), how the menus are freaking handwritten (daily), and how I could probably teach a class to ignoramuses using Nightwood's walleye as example for "how to cook fish" and that I can pretty much live on snacking on the crispy pig ears or the artichoke jam (daily). 143 477.
(5)Kirsten H.
This place probably gets 5 stars for food and service and 2-3 stars for value in my book. As mentioned in other brunch reviews, we started with the donut (bacon butterscotch) and it was incredible. The main dishes were very tasty (though I thought that the one I got--ended up being a caprese-type salad thing was not really as I felt it was described on the menu). Despite being parched and chugging the tiny water glasses they give you, mine was rarely dry and the server was very friendly. We just thought that for basically some eggs, veggies and bread (we didn't leave hungry but were definitely not stuffed), it was kind of overpriced.
(4)Veronica C.
Great spot for a date night. It seemed like a hole in the wall from the outside but as soon as I walked in, it changed completely. It was beautiful! I ate a flavorful burger with fries. We also ate the trout! I also really enjoyed the pretzel bread. The dessert was delectable....the pastry chef put her heart into the presentation. :-) Very happy with the experience.
(5)MIke O.
Excellent meal. I had the spit roasted chicken and it was very tasty. Others in my party had the pork belly and the trout, both were excellent.
(5)Janet S.
The last stop on our Pilson night tour. close to the crib, we popped in at 10.45 and it was still packed, indoor/out door, we opted for two seats at the bar. We closed out our evening with the grilled octopus appetizer with mole. The portion was easily big enough for two without feeling cheated $16, the mole delicious but could have been less. Draft beer selected extremely limited whined Pablo, I on the other hand enjoyed my cocktail Problems faced when Travelling, a nifty concoction with Tequila, yellow chartreuse, campari, grapefruit and sea salt for $12. The desserts were tempting bud bed was a calling. The list of entrees ranged from $16-32. The handwritten menu is a bit of a scrawl and hard to read.
(4)Susan M.
Nightwood is definite must try restaurant. Dined there on 3/21/15. Had a reservation and was immediately seated on time with a warm welcome. Food was beyond amazing. 3 of us shared 3 appetizers : the barrata, the spaghetti ala chitarra and beef tartare. What great flavors in all and each was beyond an ample amount to share. For entree's : Duck Breast, Hanger Steak and Cheeseburger. Each one had such unique, fresh ingredients and were prepared perfect. I never saw a cheeseburger that was soo big and flavorful that sat so high off the plate. We also shared the brussel sprouts which was again beyond ample in size to share amongst the 3 of us. Everything was served hot and such a great presentation on the plate. Our Waiter was such a nice guy. He was helpful in making suggestions and checking on us throughout our dining experience to make sure we were enjoying. For drinks we had the High Hat (outstanding!) and the Mentaculus and Tito's and Cranberry Juice. We enjoyed cappuccino's after dinner. The food was so plentiful that we didn't have room for the desserts ...which all sounded and looked so yummy as it went by to other diners. We are all looking forward to returning again to try some other great dishes on the menu. Don't miss out trying this restaurant. Can't say thank you enough for the great dining experience. Kudo's to the Chef and bartender and our great waiter.
(5)Thomas D.
Went for a date with my girlfriend. Overall, A great spot. Cool vibe without being pretentious. Service was great and the food was solid. Wasn't too impressed by the burrata appetizer or the hanger steak entree but the clam chowder and the burger were fantastic. Get the punch to share..its great!
(4)Martha Z.
We were here on fathers day for brunch. It was a 9am rez so not very crowded yet. We started with the donuts which were very good- after the 20 minutes it took them to arrive at the table. The food problems came with our entrees. I got an omelette and my husband got the BLT. Both were extremely salty and barely edible. The service was also very slow and the side of bacon we ordered in the very beginning was forgotten. All in all, my excitement to come here faded quickly and we won't be back any time soon.
(2)Brenda A.
This is my thing -- local, fresh, innovative cuisine. Farm-to-table in a big city, I love it! In from out of town for one night, I was staying in the Pilsen neighborhood and lucked upon Nightwood. First of all, the house cocktails are unlike anything I've seen before (even compared to NY or Miami). The combinations of liquor and house-infused intoxicants create flavors that are delightfully difficult to decipher-- and delicious and refreshing! Complexity, a bit of tartness, and cube-shaped ice cubes (my personal fave). Starters and entreés are innovative, sometimes new twists on old (almost unrecognizable but in a good way) classics. For example, I chose to start with a salad made from a wedge of local lettuce, house-made green goddess dressing, and bacon croutons (it was more complex than that, but you get the idea... a new take on the "wedge" salad). The lettuce has true green flavor, the bacon bits were crunchy and chewy, and the other tidbits created additional complexity of flavor. A delightful touch is the house-made foccacia (lightest I've ever had) baked and served in an individual ramekin. Desserts are equally inventive. Because I was visiting the midwest, I selected the rhubarb pie. It was baked as an individual tartlet and accompanied by a swoosh of honey-flavored crema (guaranteed to make you swoon), and a chèvre and honey flavored ice cream. A twist on grandma's classic, but updated. Yum! Dining alone is always a gamble. It can be weird or a special treat. The service was excellent and the server was happy to take the time to explain the cocktails and suggest wines to accompany each course. Come here for deliciousness, gastronomic adventure, and top-notch service. I will return the next time I'm in Chicago.
(5)Jeff A.
Went as part of a large group - so under normal circumstances, my rating might be higher. Even with 12 of us (ugh), the food and service were spot-on
(3)Carmen D.
Great Food! The place is quaint, with outdoor seating in better weather. It's got a nice "home-y" feel to inside. The food was great and the waiter was very helpful with making a decision.
(4)Claudia M.
Nightwood was ok. I guess the best part really is the bacon butterscotch donuts. Incredibly good. The servers were super attentive and friendly. The food was very simple nothing fancy and nothing that was super tasty either. For brunch I had scrambled eggs, toast and potatoes and it came with three (yes, three) hush puppy like potatoes. The bloody mary was a bitter one. It was still a great time because I was with my buddies but not what I was expecting for all the hype this place gets. meh....ok
(3)Lauren B.
The food was incredible. I am not a big eater and kept attempting to eat more. The menu constantly changes and is always freshly made in front of your eyes. The staff was down to earth and welcoming. Hip and Peaceful ambience. I am so happy right now :)
(5)Alex M.
The staff seemed bougie and as if they didn't want to be there. Their draught wasn't working so I ordered a bottled beer. Let's say it wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. I have colder beers at home in my fridge. We weren't impressed with the staff or drinks, so left and ate elsewhere.
(2)Talia G.
Oh dearest Nightwood, cousin of my love, Lula Cafe, I heart you. My boyfriend took me here on Saturday night for my birthday dinner, and it was definitely an A+ all around. The menu has so many fantastic choices, the decor is nice, the food is outstanding, and the service was satisfactory enough. First off - wine: We ordered a bottle of the Old Soul Red from Mendocino, CA. The waitress didn't seem very knowledgable about the wine list, so I think she defaulted on what she knew and recommended this one. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit too fruity. This was my only gripe - if she didn't know the wines, she should have asked someone who did to recommend one based on our description. But moving on to the food. For appetizers we ordered: + The Brussels Sprouts with Fermented Sablefish - not my favorite version of brussels sprouts, but extremely tasty nonetheless. I would order it again. + Fried squid with Cucumber, Yogurt, and Chili Arbol - I love calamari and I love spicy things, so this was a hit for me. The presentation was nice with the yogurt dip on the bottom of the dish. For entrees: + Lake Superior Walleye - Omg this was absolutely amazing. The onion and corn on the bottom was unbelievably delicious and the fish was perfection. Love Love Love this dish. + Spaghetti alla Rock Shrimp, etc - Homemade al dente spaghetti with shrimp, beans, and other good things. Totally unique and surprisingly well-composed. I would never have thought of putting beans in spaghetti, but it worked! And finally, for dessert: + Mexican Chocolate Cremeux - insanely rich, insanely good. + Laura's Pumpkin Pie - I can't put into words how much I loved this dish. The chai ice cream was out of this world when paired with the pie. I'll be dreaming about this pie for a long time. I need to know how to make it!! Overall a very nice meal. At the back, there's a bar looking directly into the kitchen, which I thought was an awesome concept. Next time I'll try to sit there.
(5)Comensal A.
I'd been looking forward to trying Nightwood for some time based on reviews and feedback from friends. Unfortunately, my experience was not so good. Maybe it was the chef's night off? The menu was promising, with innovative combinations and seemingly good ingredients. However, some things didn't work so well -- and all were way over-salted. We started with a couple of small plates. Grilled octopus in a molé did not work for me -- the sauce was too gloppy, too picanté and too salty, overpowering the delicate octopus. Churchillini, an amusing handmade pasta aggregation, would have been pleasant but for the salt. Ditto a striped bass entrée; the delicate morels and other ingredients were overpowered by, you guessed it -- salt. A grilled sirloin steak with potatoes and romesco was pretty good, though a salty buttermilk dressing detracted. Dessert, a cherry pie & ice cream montage tagged "Special Agent Dale Cooper", was pleasant enough -- and it was not salty! So what's with all this salt? We were wondering if no one actually tasted things in the kitchen, or if they just salt everything with wild abandon (as has been the case with a couple of other seemingly conscientious farm-to-table restaurants around town). Whatever -- at these prices, I expect more care in seasoning. I'm in no hurry to return.
(2)Eduardo C.
Ordered the crispy pig ears to begin the meal. They were reminiscent of a pork rind flavor, only much crispier and flavor dense, although some pieces were a bit too hard. The applewood-grilled octopus with monteau sausage warm potato and kale salad habanero lemon oil was light, yet flavorful and refreshing. I thought the marinated Illinois tomatoes with warm chorizo vinaigrette and goat cheese would stand out more, but the chorizo fell short in seasoning and serving size. The Fussolli with Illinois lamb ragu pine nut anchovy whey was about what I expected based on the description, a nicely balanced savory entree. My friends also let me take a bite of their burger which was a little over the top, but still delicious. The wood grilled seagel farm chicken thigh, potato, honey, and yeast gnocchi in dried chili sauce, greek yogurt, mint was simply delicious. The gnocchi and dried chili sauce was masterfully put together, and was the reason I did not give Nightwood four stars, as I felt let down by some of the other orders.
(5)Noah G.
The cocktails were creative and well thought out. Appetizers hit or miss. Entrees were complex, well presented, and very flavorful. The desserts (especially the ice cream) particularly impressive. 4/5 So I usually hate it when I read a review based on service, but it is my day to be that guy. It was surprisingly lackluster and honestly bothersome, and I never usually notice that type of thing. Our table of four was presented with a flat, uninterested, and seemingly checked-out waitstaff. It interrupted the flow of conversation and dulled our sense of excitement over the wonderful food we were presented with. There were no recommendations or guidance,no enthusiasm over the dishes presented, and friendliness and warmth were definitely kept to a minimum. By the end of the meal, we were as over it as they were, and maybe that was the goal....
(3)Ciara G.
Dear Nightwood, Be still my brunch loving heart. This was the one CHI eatery that i was most excited about. Nightwood, you were everything I hoped, dreamed, and imagined you to be. Nothing disappointed. Service was flawless. The food, beyond fantastic. I'll be returning to CHI in the near future just for a meal here. Nightwood, you are my ad hoc of the mid-right coast.
(5)Natalie L.
The dinner menu here has completely changed since our visit back in April so I will forgo the play by play. I will say that we really enjoyed this meal. We sat on the line in the kitchen, which we like but I know it's not everyone's jam. We were told it would have been a 10-15 min wait for a table. We had a reservation, so if we wanted a table, we would have had to wait past our reservation time. Service was excellent throughout the meal and our server gave us excellent suggestions. Our only complaint was that the meal felt really hearty and "winter-y" for late spring. We enjoyed the duck more than the fish and the dessert did not blow us away. The pasta appetizer was great. We would definitely come back.
(4)Mike M.
I've never written a Yelp review before. I wish my first review were a positive one, but I was driven to create this account by a very disappointing dining experience at Nightwood. I had very high hopes for Nightwood. I tried to reserve a table for 2 for Valentine's Day with my girlfriend, but missed availability. So, I decided to reserve early for our anniversary one month later. I was expecting extremely fresh and tasty food from local suppliers. Maybe I hyped the restaurant too much in my mind from all the great reviews here, but it was by far my most disappointing dining experience in Chicago. The night started well. We were seated immediately upon arrival at a good table and were provided water and visited by our server within a few minutes. We ordered the crispy pig ears to start. They literally were brought to the table 1 minute after ordering them, were way too crunchy (almost to the point of hurting your teeth), were cold, and had obviously just been brushed with a sweet glaze. It was in no way fresh and seemed it had been sitting out for quite a while before being brought to our table. We looked passed the first appetizer and asked our server for a recommendation. He pointed us toward the veal shortrib casoncelli, which we ordered. About 5 minutes later the dish came out with 6 small pieces of stuffed pasta, each the size of a quarter on a huge white plate. The pasta was fresh, and the flavor was good, not great, but it seemed ridiculous to charge $18 for a plate with such small portions. I get that the pasta is handmade and used prime ingredients, but that breaks down to $3 per quarter-sized piece of pasta. If you're going to price dishes this way at least put it on an appropriate sized plate that complements the small portion, not exacerbates it. We were a bit turned off at this point, but still had high hopes for the main course. After asking our server for recommendations, I chose the top sirloin steak and my girlfriend chose the striped bass. As a side note, when I asked my server where the sirloin was sourced from, he didn't know. I asked if it was from Slagel Farms, and he said, "Oh yeah, that place I think." This wouldn't normally turn me off, but if you're featuring locally sourced protein dishes at those prices, please make sure servers are knowledgeable of the dishes. We then ordered a bottle of wine for the main course. When our server came back with the wine and poured, he spilled wine down the side of the bottle, on the label, on the side of my wine glass, and dripped wine onto the table. He didn't acknowledge any of this and didn't come back to wipe any of it up. If I hadn't noticed and had leaned forward on the table I would have stained my shirt. I waited for 10 minutes for it to be wiped down and then did it myself. After an appropriate amount of time the main dishes came out. They smelled and looked great. Upon looking closer at my steak, which I ordered rare-medium-rare, I could tell it was a bit overcooked to medium-medium-rare. No biggie. Then I took a bite and was completely overwhelmed by the saltiness of the dish. The steak was over-seasoned, not allowing me to taste the great piece of local meat I just ordered. Even worse, the farro beneath the steak was even saltier. I've never made faces at a nice dinner before, but I admit to contorting my face in reaction to the absurd levels of salt in this dish that ruined the taste of it all. I tried the steak just with the bacon jam, which was better, but overall it was a waste of $34. I implored my girlfriend to try her fish, hoping her main course was better than mine. I'm fine with my dish being bad on our anniversary, but not hers. The delicate striped bass was also a bit over cooked and over seasoned with salt. It wasn't as bad as the steak, but the salt overpowered the taste of the fish and threw the flavor profile of the dish out of balance. I know. I should have said something in the moment. Sent the dishes back. Grabbed the manager at that moment and said, can you make this right? But I didn't. I'm a bit shy, don't speak out at restaurants and didn't want to do so and mess up a nice anniversary dinner with my girlfriend. We did grab the manager on the way out. He listened to our concerns and said he wished I'd have said something during dinner service. He apologized, left our more than $200 bill on the table and walked away. I'm not looking for a discount, but the fact that nothing was done to make up for our bad experience was another turn off. I know I should have said something during dinner service and they probably would have fixed my dish. The bottom line is that I came here expecting what they advertise and was deeply disappointed. A restaurant critic won't send dishes back. They'll judge and review the restaurant based upon what was served and the overall experience. That's what I'm doing here. And if I were a critic, I'd have considerable hesitation recommending this restaurant to anyone.
(2)Michael B.
The place, the vibe, decor is all good, really nice as a matter of fact. The place has style while being authentic and comfortable. The people working there are intelligent, professional and fit in well with the overall feel of the place. Candles on each table, large windows, high ceilings make it casually and comfortably romantic in the evening. Decent wine list though I thought they could use more Italian wine selections. Oh and yes, the food was delicious, creative and interesting. We shared about 4-5 appetizers and they were great. The Burrata ravioili exploded with savory deliciousness, the shishito peppers with cherry tomatoes were spectacular and other appetizers, which change on a regular basis all delivered in spades So why only 3 stars...two reasons, the music was a little too loud for the hip yet romantic ambiance, which spoiled the mood as we couldn't talk or carry on a conversation without shouting or asking to repeat what we said. Easy fix! Mostly, I agree with Yvonne B that the price / value balance is not there. The portions were not large, were in the 15$ range for appetizers and despite everything else being great, I didn't feel I was getting a satisfying experience for the money. That said, there are so many other positives going for the place that I will be back at some point, but at those prices, I won't be a regular.
(3)Ellen F.
I love their sister restaurant, Lulu, but I think this place is overhyped. It's too overpriced, and I just felt like they did the weirdest combinations they could with whatever locally sourced meat is trendy without questioning whether or not it's actually tasty. Kind of maple bacon donuts. Yuck. Sorry hipsters and trend-obsessed foodies. That being said, I loved the inside!
(3)Phill C.
Bacon Butterscotch Donut... now this is why I love brunch! What other meal of the day can you find a sweet & porky creation like this? One order includes a single donut, served warm, glazed in a Butterscotch sauce and topped with crumbled crispy bacon. Plus you get some sugar donut holes to sop up whatever fell off your donut. Bacon donut heaven. I'm planning on trying both of their donuts next time. Oh yah, you can't forget the Bloody Mary's. That is mandatory for brunch. NWood's was refreshing, topped with a slice of fresh avocado. They were out of what I wanted, so ended up ordering a Bagel Sandwich, which filled me up quick. It had some smoked trout cream, bacon, cheese, slaw, and yolky egg, which made for a tasty sandwich. But I loved the Tots even more - golf ball size nuggets of crispy fried potato. Excellente. Their donuts are definitely bringing me back, plus their menu is always changing. They're so close to Chinatown, I might just have to drop by for some dessert after dim sum.
(4)Emily S.
We had a really excellent dinner here recently. Everything was really well-prepared and tasty. The service was very good. Our issue was that it was a bit on the expensive side as compared to similar restaurants (Longman & Eagle comes to mind). I thought the entrees were reasonably priced for a restaurant of its caliber (high teens to mid-twenties, but the appetizers were crazy expensive in comparison ($16-18). The veal tortellini (not actually tortellini - same concept but called something else) came 5 TINY filled pasta to an order and I think it was $18. I'd go back, but probably for brunch.
(3)Lisa D.
I felt like I was in Logan Square when I entered Nightwood, then I learned that it is affiliated with Lula Cafe and it all made sense. I love the atmosphere here and am happy it's come to the neighborhood. One odd thing I noticed both times I've gone is there's a strange odor when you enter. I thought the hostess had really strong B.O. the first time I went but I think it's actually from the open kitchen, maybe the pig ears? I'm not into pork. I preferred the brunch to the dinner. The menu is always changing but sorta similar; you must try whatever donut they have when you go. The three pasta appetizers we tried at dinner time all seemed pretty similar. I like that the portions are controlled and don't leave you feeling like you over ate. The service was really attentive and fast.
(4)William H.
Good experience. Complimentary biscuits and butter--it was okay. KFC's buttery biscuits are still the gold standard. Green City Market Gazpacho - was more like a chunky gazpacho salsa, with lots of macerated cubes of fresh vegetables. yum Simple summer vegetables and toasted goat cheese was delicious--my favorite was the goat cheese--it seemed more deep fried than toasted, but regardless oh so delicious (see picture). Everyone else enjoyed their entrees (half-chicken, fish) I could tell as we drove to this restaurant that is was one of those up and coming neighborhoods. I also wished we sat the the wine room/basement, especially on such a warm night.
(4)Katie B.
If you're sick of paying Randolph St. prices but still want a Randolph St. experience, then check out Nightwood. My first time to Nightwood was in January 2013. I've been three times since then & always look forward to my next visit. It is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. Delicious food. Spot on service. Never have to wait for a table when I arrive at my reservation time, which is saying something in Chicago these days. Very, very fair prices for what you're getting! This place won't disappoint. Check it out for yourself.
(4)Kimberlie T.
Pilsen Gem. I can't say enough about their food, ambiance and drinks. We had their burger (so fairly priced) and the duck. It was outstanding & tasty! Highly recommended!
(5)Sarah S.
Nightwood is fantastic! THIS IS WHAT LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD SHOULD BE. I would describe the ambiance of upscale hipster, but any patron-pretentiousness is completely justified: Their food is magical! We tried the Burrata Ravioli, but everything else we had is already off the menu (looks like they change it quite frequently). Either way, all of the food was amazing: totally balanced, and you never felt like it could use a little more or a little less of anything. I will be going back here for sure! The ambiance was nice, and it was surprisingly uncrowded, considering how amazing the food was. Our waiter was extremely helpful in calling us two cabs, as it's not the easiest place to catch one.
(5)Annie N.
Overpriced overhyped pretentious hipster service! To start, we shared the crispy pig ears which was more like candied pig ears: sweet and cold. It was fine, but a little too hard IMO. Pig ears already have a crunchiness to it, I really don't think you have to make it harder. To follow was the scramble eggs running yolk - which was blah. The brilliant presentation (the poached egg had a beautiful egg-white cover that made us wonder about the technique they used) did not make up for the lack of flavor and the disappointing portion. Ricotta cheese and egg yolk together just seem like a lot of fat for me, and this dish fell short. As main entree, we had the trout and a shrimp pasta which was supposed to have kale. Both plates came out cold, even thought we both had hot entrees. The pasta was not fully cooked. Portion was disappointing for the price. I debated whether to send mine back but our server never came by to check on us. Dessert was fine - perhaps the best part of the meal (we had the apple bread pudding). Service was horrible - our server, after taking our order and presenting our wine, went MIA for the rest of the night. The food runner (or perhaps another server) literally threw the dishes in front of our face and walked straight away without explaining anything. I didn't have a chance to catch her to tell her about the cold plate. When we asked her about some ingredients on the dessert, she had no clue and had to run back to the kitchen to check. I know it's not fine-dining by no mean but the items aren't cheap on the menu and if you're going to charge that much please educate your staff. Also, half of the staff here looks like they haven't showered for months and wear the PJs or grandpas' sweaters to work. Really, I get it, you're different and you're cool and you don't care but if I can smell the busser as he was pouring water it's a problem! Meh, really meh!
(2)Lorena A.
How have I missed out on such a fabulous place?! My husband and I had breakfast at Nightwood and we could not be happier. The interior of this restaurant is stunning and their attention to detail, impeccable. All staff were extremely pleasant, friendly, and attentive. The donuts are a must (and a fabulous touch on their part to bring this out with a birthday candle for my husband)! My husband ordered the gnocchi and I had the crepes...yum!! I feel that whatever you order, you can't go wrong. Thank you for such a great experience; we will definitely be back!
(5)Fygar F.
You want to love Nightwood, but you just don't feel welcome there. The staff seems distracted and indifferent. The food is creative and seasonal. The crispy pig ears are popular - I tried them as I've never had a pig ear before (and I won't again). The portions are quite small and everything seems very expensive for what you get. Draft beers cost as much as $14. Appetizers are just a few bites. Our check for 4 was $350 before tip.
(3)Mike S.
This is such a Gem in the Pilsen/South Loop neighborhood. They have great cocktails and a great ambiance as its one of a kind in this up and coming artsy neighborhood. Sit at the chefs bar area in the back for a up close view of the kitchen at work. Love the burger!!
(4)Sarah S.
I've passed Nightwood in Pilsen many times on my way into Chinatown and finally got the chance to try them a couple weeks ago. This hipster haven at brunch has some amazing choices to nosh on from 9am to 230pm on Sundays. Their bacon butterscotch donut for $5 may just be the best I've ever had! It was sticky & savory topped with chunks of bacon, completely on point in the flavor combination. This was the shining star of my meal. I'll probably skip the $9 Mimosa next time as it was nice and strong but not overly special. I had the two egg plate with tots and toast as my main entree. I don't usually eat toast served at breakfast places but I polished this off as the jam I spread on it with whole blueberries in it was phenomenal! Their tots are so unusual and accompany just about every main dish. Three deep fried little balls with unique crust on them...do NOT skip the tots! My friend and I added the side of bacon to share and I'd honestly probably skip that on my next visit as mine was very overcooked & way too crispy. Our bill was $63 with tax and tip for brunch for two including a bloody mary & a mimosa. A bit much but I think I have a better idea of what can be skipped & what can't be passed up for next time. I will go back to Nightwood for the donut and tots alone! Those two items are just marvelous!
(4)marcy s.
Such a great atmosphere. The menu changes often and is always interesting. John, the manager, is more than accommodating & friendly. Tonight we shRed the burata and beef tartar. Dinner we had a trout dish and a cod dish. Both were outstanding with wonderful, rich tastes. A great date night or couples dinner!
(5)Matthew A.
Returning to this place for dinner was a good idea. We were greeted quickly as soon as we arrived and seated right away. the menu was quick and easy a little hard to read with the handwritten font that's being used but that was not a major concern. I was impressed with their wines as we ordered a nice bottle of champagne. The place was filled but not too much for a Tuesday night. A couple of large parties which made the time we ordered to the time the food arrive a bit long. I would go back and try something a little less costly.
(3)John I.
Good, solid, food with excellent ingredients, prepared competently. I was with a vegetarian, and I didn't want to be offensive by trying the much-touted butterscotch bacon donut (more fool me). But the rolled omelette with goat cheese would have made Julia Child swoon, and the decadent "tots" (balled-up hash browns, deep fried to a perfectly-crispy outside and moist, chewy, spud-ifying inside) turned my tongue into a comfort-foodie erogenous zone. The blueberry jam on the delicious toast was another delight. Icing on the cake? Our server's cheerful face reminded me of Megan from Mad Men. I don't want to reduce her essence to good looks, because she was excellent in her job and fun to chat with, but it would have been hard for an average bloke not to have his heart warmed by her, beyond the excellent Intelligentsia coffee she was pouring. Sit at the counter by the kitchen in the back--a laid-back symphony of flavors being orchestrated.
(5)Rebecca O.
I went for brunch at Nightwood with a few friends today, and was very happy with the service and the food. Our server was friendly and the food came out fast, which was awesome because I was starving. The restaurant itself is beautiful and gets lots of light. I had the bacon and fig? or something doughnut, as well as the bagel sandwich. Everything tasted incredible. Reasons I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5: 1. I wish the tots had been more cooked on the inside. Plus, each plate only came with 3 tots, which was kind of lame. 2. This place is definitely on the higher end price-wise... I usually hope to spend no more than $15 tops per person on brunch. With the coffee, entree, tax, tip, etc. it was more like $20-25 per person, and that was without cocktails. Due to my paltry social work salary, I probably won't go back for a while.
(4)Sophia Y.
Pros: Great atmosphere, cool interior, extensive drinks list Cons: The food is TOO SALTY!, overpriced, the wait can be preeeetty long.
(3)Elizabeth C.
I was really looking forward to my first brunch Nightwood, but left feeling disappointed and a bit letdown. I have heard nothing but good things about their excellent brunch, which is why I rallied a group of other first-timers for brunch last weekend. (Always a risk to pick the restaurant when you've never been), but that's how confident I was that our experience would be amazing! First of all, they were very busy- I get it. It's not easy to provide impeccable service when the place is overflowing with eager brunchsters. But I DO expect someone to swing by the table earlier than 15 minutes after we've been seated. Unfortunately we had to flag down someone, who made it clear she was not our server, but would take our drink order (thanks?). However, she did end up being our server for the duration... The bloody mary was good- could have used more garnish, however, considering the price (cauliflower?) The doughnuts= amazing and worth it!!! Beyond that, our group was unimpressed with their food. My bagel sandwich was good, but it's hard to screw that up. No one in the group had rave reviews and (politely) said their entrees were 'fine!' I was surprised to find the lack of non-meat options on the menu. I realize as a pescatarian I am annoying, but a few items I asked if the bacon could be removed, and the server advised it was already 'mixed in' (um, pre made?) and therefore they could not accomodate. Which literally left me with the bagel sandwich or the yogurt as my options. Bottom line, the service was subpar, and the food was just 'OK'. I recommend keeping expectations low, and you might be pleasantly surprised!
(2)Nina G.
Still going here, still bringing friends, still 5 stars :) Glad the bagel sandwich & the bacon/maple donut is still on the menu!
(5)Laura K.
A-OK is exactly how I would describe this place. Nice atmosphere (great enclosed patio), good service and good food. We ordered a lot of the menu, and it was definitely good but I didn't LOVE anything. Had we gone with more people, we probably would have liked it more. A lot of what we ordered we thought was good, but didn't want a whole plate of pig ears or shishito peppers...we had a few bites of each and were over it. If we lived closer, we might go again, but since we don't live close, we likely won't be back.
(3)Jen C.
Weird food. In a good way. After making reservations and getting over here on a Friday night, we were seated early and also scored patio seats, which by the way, is nice for the summer. Our waiter was very friendly and provided us drinks (including wine in a decanter and a non-alcoholic soda, which was OK). The grilled octopus appetizer was very good and flavorful, and came with beans and sausage slices. The spaghetti entree that comes with a shrimp sauce and beans was odd but interesting, as I've never had a variety of beans as the sauce. The texture of the spaghetti was interesting as well--it was made square and a little tougher to the bite (think shriveled tofu), rather than the smooth usual bite you get. But, overall the cheapest item on the menu that was very tasty. The flank steak was also very tasty, and came over a bed of watercress, which made me feel awkward. With such a beautifully done meat, it was odd to pair it with such a raw, peppery spicy kind of green. Overall, the service was great; all of our entrees were delivered at the same time by multiple wait staff, and our silverware were cleared often and waters replenished. I wanted to love it as a unique Chicago restaurant, but I think its just food done really well (some done in their wood oven) set in a hipster environment, and not much more to it than that.
(4)Victor P.
I've eaten here the last 3 visits to Chicago and I'm never disappointed. Great service. Great Maple Bacon Donut. Fresh juice. Tasty egg dishes. Always fresh as they have a new menu everyday. Have only done brunch but I'm sure other meals would be fine too. Didn't have the Biscuits and Gravy but 2 of my sons had it and they said it was fantastic.
(5)ChingWa C.
I've been living in this neighborhood for 3.5 years and always wanted to try this place. During the spring time, they have outdoor seating and it looks super cute from the outside.The decor is very neat, intimate, and romantic. Came here for a friend's birthday on a Tuesday night. Although we didn't have a reservation, they were able to seat 7 of us very quickly. The cocktails selection is small but very delicious. I ordered their Fit and Working Again, it reminded me if the cocktail I had at Punch House down the street. It's citrusy and easy to drink. For those if you who love wine, they have a huge wine selection as well. Service is excellent. This place is like a hidden gem. Can't wait to come back for brunch next time =)
(5)Yvonne B.
When Daniel C sent me a text of Nightwood's menu and I saw bacon donuts.... Well. He had me at bacon. I was even more smitten when he told me that he made a reservation! I've never heard of a brunch place taking reservations. Well, except for Marion Street Cheese Market (and I adore them). I drove and found free street parking around the corner from the restaurant. The entrance is a bit strange. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. You go down a dark hallway. On the left it seems as if there might be something of an unused patio area. At the end of the hall is another door that goes into the bustling restaurant. It was about noon and it was really hopping! I couldn't be seated until Daniel arrived, but that was cool. Eventually I made my way to the bar. The bartender seemed really busy or something because it took him a while to acknowledge me and offer me a menu. I promptly ordered a Bloody Mary. It was served in a short glass and was pretty spicy. I felt as if the balance of Bloody Mary components assuredly tipped on the side of spice. I like spice, but I didn't like this Bloody Mary. We were seated at a two person table along the front window the moment Daniel arrived. It was comfortable and sunny. I found the atmosphere to be lively to distraction. Even though it wasn't insanely loud, I had a hard time focusing on our conversation. Daniel ordered both donuts right away. I tasted a bit of both of them and they were really delicious. The donuts were squishy (not cake donuts), glazed, and not overly sweet. I thought the custard filled one was entirely reminiscent of a bun from China Town. The bacon one was incredibly good. Both were phenomenal and the very best thing about Nightwood. They are not to be passed up! Daniel ordered the Nick Tahou Burrito. It was served with pasta on the inside and an egg on top. He liked it. I got the Fish cake and a side of bacon. The fish cake was like a hash brown where the potato shreds were mixed with fish pieces. Cooked kale was served on the side and there was a creamy tomato sauce on top of the fish cake. It was good. My bacon was served hard and burnt along the edges. It was good for dipping in my Bloody Mary but not for eating. The service really wasn't that great. I can't say that it was friendly. The host, bar tender, and server didn't smile or make any kind of small talk. They weren't rude, but they definitely could have been less utilitarian. The server had to be reminded about my bacon. The total of our brunch came to $60 ($69 if you include my Bloody Mary), which I think is overpriced for what we got. I've had far superior service and scrumptious food at a number of other places for about $55.
(2)Sandra M.
The service was great, and the food was just good. We had dinner here last night for our anniversary. Although I'm a meat and potatoes type, we came here out of convenience...close to home and the babysitters. The Yelp reviews were great too. Not much in the menu seemed very appetizing. We pretty much chose the most normal sounding apps--the pig meat stew and the squash. They were both pretty good. I didn't feel like trying rabbit, so I had the half chicken and my husband had the trout. They were good, but I dont think was worthy of the price. I have been here for breakfast and I remember it being much better. I think from now on, I'll stick to that.
(4)Jimmy S.
Went here on Saturday for my 1 year wedding anniversary. We had been here before about 4 years ago and wanted to go down memory lane, so we came back for this occasion. Our table was small there was a 4 person table to the left and to my right another 2 person table. Very close togther, i didnt feel like i was having dinner with my husband, instead 6 strangers. We got oysters and spagetti for starters, my husband and i split the spagetti and he eat all the oysters. So he liked them. Spaghetti was okay very small portion we got about 2 medium bites not worth $15. Dinner options were bad from the start. I had the trout which seemed okay but the waitress described something completely different. She said crispy skin and the skin was slimmy and it had this weird popcorn like crust that was disgusting. She came over about 30 seconds after we got our meal so i told here it was fine because i didnt even take a bit. It was pretty gross l moved all the skin and popcorn crust off and eat about 1/2 of the bare fish. The bus boy took my plate away, not asking if i was happy with the meal. Next time the waitress came over was to drop off the dessert menu. On the car ride home my stomach started hurting and i got diarrhea from the meal. Will not be coming back here.
(1)Stephanie S.
I've been meaning to come here for a while since it's only a few blocks from my house. We went late on a warm evening which was perfect for sitting on their baller patio. The spaghetti alla chitarra was good but not life-changing. The asparagus and egg starter was fabulous, and I'm going to try to replicate the dish at home for a simple but gourmet meal of my own. In general, the appetizers seemed more exciting than the entrees. Maybe next time we'll just munch on those. Hubs had the pork loin (with lots of delicious fat) that melted in your mouth. But he said the end pieces were tastiest - he left some of the middle parts uneaten. For dessert we had the marscapone "cheesecake" which was fab. The rhubarb ice cream that accompanied it was just tart enough to cut through the creaminess. Overall we were very satisfied with our meal. For the two of us it was $108, which we didn't think was that bad considering what we ordered (one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert, two cocktails) and the restaurant's notoriety. Attentive staff. Nice atmosphere. We will very likely be back!
(5)Liezl E.
After devouring their butterscotch bacon and other donut (I think custard and raspberries were involved), we opted to go for the simpler menu item of 2 eggs and toast with tots... and wow, I didn't know something so simple could be so delicious. It hit the spot right after the indulgent donuts, and I absolutely LOVED the "tots" which turned out to be shredded potato hash, rolled the size of golf balls, and fried, making them perfectly crunchy outside. If you're looking for a simple delicious brunch of eggs and toast, I'd highly recommend this place.
(5)Yanyao N.
Phenomenal food - be it dinner or brunch. In my opinion, Nightwood has one of the more unique menus in the city. They do sustainable farm-to-table so well. Things are always seasonal. Their menu is constantly changing. A few summers ago, they made the best gazpacho I have ever had - it was very untraditional though, a MOUND of super fresh, cut up vegetables and stone fruit, with a little bit of gazpacho soup. It was truly spectacular, and served with a chorizo grilled cheese. J, who is never shy about proclaiming his dislike of gazpacho, actually enjoyed this one. Brunch here has probably become my favorite in the city. Their donuts are SO light and airy, like a ring cloud of carbs, glazed in either bacon butterscotch, or whatever seasonal glaze/topping they put on the menu that week (subscribe to their newsletter - you'll be sent the Sunday brunch menus on Saturday, and will drool at every one of them. promise). The Bloody Mary is perfect and served with pickled brussel sprouts - what?! Even the gazpacho-hater liked it: "It's very good for a Bloody Mary." The bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese is also highly recommended. As are their tater tots, that from far away look like falafel, but are freakin' awesome. Very unique. The decor is modern, but comfortable. The service is friendly and warm. They have some really neat kitchen bar seating, where you can watch the cooks hard at work. In the summer time, dine on their patio. You'll probably see me there pretty often.
(5)Lauren G.
Nightwood is the farm-to-table organic restaurant of my dreams. Knowledgeable hipster servers - check Modern chairs, warm wood, big windows, cool vibes - check Small menu where every single item looks good - check Fantastically extensive wine list in budget range - check Inventive desserts with homemade cheez-its - check AND the FOOD. Started with Bucatini with mussels for the table. Pasta was perfect execution of "to the tooth" al dente. I enjoyed a grilled Wisconsin trout cooked to skin-on perfection with a fantastic spanish tortilla and kohlrabi and greens on the side. Mom got the Rhode Island striped bass with 45 minute egg... said it was the bomb. Dad opted for some kind of french meat stew and ate it all. Only thing we commented on was entirely TOO MUCH SALT. If the product is this good, why not let it shine? Plus, there's salt on the table for anyone that has completely burned out their taste buds. This is the only reason I would think of deducting half a star. Otherwise this place is the stars... am I dreaming?
(5)Chris H.
We didn't have a reservation but got seated within 10 minutes. While waiting we grabbed a few beer mosasa and beer bloody marys. Both sounded strange but were good. The bacon caramel donut was ridiculously good. Try it! The pork belly hoagie was awesome too. Overall, this was one of my favorite brunches in the city
(4)Bharat W.
This place is off the beaten path, south of most people's mental comfort geography, so if you have managed to convince yourself to arrive here you have already made one of the best eating decisions. Despite the somewhat abandoned gray neighborhood, when you step inside, Nightwood is a warm glow of classy interior that is reminiscent of the au courant hip foodie joints more found in NYC and SF. The lights are not too bright to offend your tired eyes from your late Saturday night excursions and their beermosas and jameson, espresso, porter combo will awaken your senses at the right pace to get you prepared for the experience. The staff was dressed in classy minimalist chic attire, a combo of wicker park hipsters and sophisticated librarians. The subtle classy aesthetics was a visual relief after a night of 15 hour St Patty's drinkathon. This place articulates what exceptional compared to average-good looks like. Skip bongo room and yolk and take a trip here instead to find out what I mean. We ordered the rolled omelet, roasted mushrooms, buttermilk ricotta, spinach walnut pesto which comes with fried hashbrown balls, and a duck hash with biscuit and gravy that will make you wish you would never get full of eating it. The omelet appears as a work of art, clean cut presentation with the side of the pesto. As you bite into it, the succulent mushrooms slowly release flavors while the ricotta pours a nice flavor over it. Their vanilla glazed donut with chocolate filling and pistachio crumbles is the best donut I have ever tasted. The flavors are so complex and the simplistic presentation is visually appealing and digestible whilst engaging your palette in its entirety during the entire course. I cannot wait to go back and makes me a proud Chicagoan to have this place in our city.
(5)Peace Y.
It's good, but maybe overhyped in my book. I've gone for brunch and dinner. Both times, nothing remarkable but food is solid I suppose. For brunch, had the burrito with pork belly, rice, and beans. Beans were al dente (meaning it could have cooked longer) and all of it was lacking salt. For dinner, I had fish which was actually cooked perfectly with crispy skin, but the whole dish was ok. Best - and probably only - outstanding item is the bacon butterscotch donut. That thing is amazeballs. I don't think I'll end up there again. I do like they change up the menu and I do like the dishes, but the food preparation itself is just okay.
(3)Stephen S.
Came here for brunch and I'm giving it 5 stars on the basis of the donut alone. I'm often disappointed by donuts because I think I have this childhood notion of donuts being amazing and they often aren't. The donut at Nightwood though, no disappointments, no regrets. We had the filled one with Greek yogurt custard. Everything about this donut was divine from the raspberry glaze and oat topping, and that greek yogurt custard, not overly sweet thanks to the Greek yogurt but sweet enough to be a bit indulgent. Perfection. I think almost every table had a donut brought over to it at some point, I don't think I've ever seen something quite like it at another restaurant. The savory brunch fare was exceptional as well. Creative, flavorful, and extremely well executed. I had the matzobrei with salmon that was satisfying even after a whole 8 days of matzah close just a few days before.
(5)Carl G.
Came here on a relatively sleepy weeknight, to dine with the lady. The bar seemed to be hopping, but there were plenty of tables available and we were seated promptly. Dark lighting, tight seating, and music loud enough to mute the surrounding conversations led to an intimate feel. Everything we tried was very good. After ordering the appetizer, the server brought out an individual focaccia bread - it was lightly salted and came with a cheese/oil dip. The bread was hot fresh and full of holes - really well done. We had the braised shortrib "ravioli", which was pretty small given the price - but was really flavorful, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. We split the Nightwood burger and the duck cassoulet for the main dishes. The duck was juicy, with a very tasting bark on the outside of the slices. Duck can be difficult to do well, but it was very well done in this case. The burger was like a Big Mac on steroids. Same type of ingredients, only well done, instead of McD style. The burger patties were a little overcooked, but they had good flavor, so can't fault them too much. The fries weren't quite as hot as would have been ideal, but they were well seasoned and clearly home made. The service was excellent. Maybe it's because there were few tables, but we never went without water, and were left alone an appropriate amount. No complaints, and only compliments there. Everything was on the upper end of the price scale, it was good, but the prices are pushing the envelope. Overall an intimate, well cooked meal - someplace to go for a date, or a quiet dinner. Expect to spend a little cash, but to be very pleased with the meal and the dining experience.
(4)Samantha H.
I had been wanting to go to Nightwood for so long and am so happy I finally got there! There were four of us which meant we could try quite a few things. We were sat at a table between the larger restaurant and the kitchen. Our server was very attentive and helped us choose wine. My only complaint is the wine list mark up is over 200% and many of the wines are not that great but we were able to find some winners. We decided to share a bunch of things and they were accommodating and brought things out as they were ready and cleared our plates once, as though it was a true tapas style place. They were also great when we ordered a second round of the pig tails. These pig tails were a religious experience. There was some habenero chili sauce on them that was amazing. We literally ordered another batch the second we started eating these. It was the hands down favorite. My personal second favorite was the walleye. It was amazingly moist and the skin crispy. Very yum! My husband's next favorite was the cavatelli. It was prepared perfectly al dente and extremely tasty. The chicken was very good as well and I typically don't order chicken because it can be so boring. The pork belly was, well pork belly. Yes it was good but nothing special. The foie gras was probably my least favorite because the way it's prepared is in a sort of ravioli. That sounded good but you really got no foie gras flavor and I'm a foie fan! I probably wouldn't get that again. The rabbit appetizer was great. It was probably the best rabbit I've ever had. They serve it in sort of a cabbage roll type of thing. Our server told us to go with that as opposed to the entree leg and I'm happy we did. Overall I was extremely happy with the food and service and cannot wait to return!
(5)Jenna S.
OH. EM. GEE. ONE THING: Maple Bacon Donuts. If you only get ONE thing at Nightwood, it needs to be those donuts. But, I recommend you do an entire brunch because this food blew my mind. First, I like this menu better than Lula. I'm not sure why it's so different, but Nightwood has way better selections. Second, the Bloodys are excellent. Get the one that's a mix of Bloody Mary and PBR... it's worth it and very tasty. I can have a few. Lox and Egg Bagel Sandwich? Divine. Seriously excellent. I've had it on two different ocassions and it was excellent both times. Crispy bagel, creamy insides and super tasty. Everyone else with me also loved their brunch choices, so I think Nightwood is a hit. Seriously, this brunch is some of the best I've had in the city. If you haven't been here, get yourself down to Pilsen now to eat some of those donuts. STAT.
(5)Stephanie L.
Sunday Bitches Brunch BOUT!!!!!! Nightwood has been on my radar for some time. Its interesting how I constantly overlook the same places. Alas, I trucked it down here to check out the HYPE~! I love that we got a booth. SCORE! Already an extra star. HAHAHA Service was lackluster. Our server seemed annoyed. Maybe it was that time of month or maybe she really wanted to be having a Sunday Bitches Brunch Bout. It was mediocre, but it was brunch so not the end of the world. The food. Well I have to say...the donuts were pretty darn good. The bacon was fantastic! The chocolate was subpar to it but was still really good. I had the rolled omelette. It was pretty good. Not anything that I would drive down for again. The little hashbrown things were good as well. The bread was toasted to perfection and the raspberry jam was delicious. Overall, it was decent. Some parts excellent, some parts mediocre. Nothing was terrible :) Super easy street parking, FYI
(4)John S.
Best brunch in the city with the possible exception of Nightwood's big sister, Lula's Cafe in Logan Sq. Please make your donuts to go! Whatever we can scarf down at brunch leaves us wanting more later. The seasonality of the innovative dinner menu is always delicious. You never know what your going to see on the menu, but you know it's going to be spectacular. Nightwood is the best restaurant in the city that you haven't been to yet.
(5)Karen M.
I had not yet heard of this place prior to my "wine advisor" selecting it for our monthly gathering. First off, they have a great wine list but do not frown upon you bringing your own for a small corkage fee. Secondly, the service is amazing. Never once did we feel rushed or hovered over. They let us take our time to enjoy the evening. The food was amazingly fresh and inventive. Their menu changes daily based on available ingredients so it is not worth telling you to try one dish over another. Just know this - whatever you order, it will be full of flavor and dance on your tongue with every bite. All around, this is a tremendous place to dine, relax and enjoy!
(5)Charlie C.
I am mad at myself for writing this review, I really don't want to... alas I push on, why you ask? Because the Nightwood is perfect as-is: underrated, and off the beaten path. But, I must share this Pilsen-based gem so you too can can go there and NOT be swarmed by want-to-be foodies seeking perfect piquancy per plate- which I can assure you you will get! I have been a number of times, I am not let down. The chef's table demonstrates culinary mastery and fun- the dining room is the perfect amount of dark, romantic/intimate, and mysterious all at the same time...and the outdoor seating area is al-fresco-fansastico! I would feel comfortable dining on their (easily top-5 in the city burger) while wearing jeans- or crunching on their crispy pig ears whilst donning my finest suit. Somehow, they pull 'that' off and I love it. I can order wine that is tasty and worth the price, I can mellow out in a very weird and questionable location and not judge it the second I am inside their walls. Nightwood has a lot going on, and is starting to gain traction and popularity. I am happy for them, but sad that I have to make reservations anytime that I go there now. But alas, I will be back many times... on a date, to take my mom out for a perfect adventure, to knock back a bottle of wine and stuff myself on their wonders - it works for any occasion... so enjoy it, but don't take my table!
(5)Simone M.
The food was ok. Nothing spectacular, but the tots, toast, and drinks were great. I had the omelet which was decent and the best part was the tots that came as a side. The donuts were also ok, we had the bacon maple glaze and the peep donut with vanilla custard. The flavors were less than impressive which was disappointing, but the mini donuts balls were delicious. All in all this place is good if you just want a light breakfast with coffee. I haven't had dinner here, but would like to try it sometime.
(3)Hk S.
I heard a lot of great things about this place and was truly excited to go. My best friends and I decided to go here for our Valentines day dinner and it was ok. One big plus is that the service was exceptional. They kept our water glasses full at all times. I almost thought I was at an Asian restaurant. :) My best friends both ordered the steak and I had the bucatini. The bucatini sauce was very flavorful, but the noodles wasn't as al dente as I like them to be. The sauce really made up for it and thus it was an overall enjoyable dish. My friends said there was a lot of fat in the steak. A big let down for them especially because the price tag made you expect something amazing. The best thing we had was dessert. We shared the marscapone cheesecake. The texture was soft and silky. It melted in your mouth. Definitely the highlight of the whole night. I'm glad I got to try Nightwood. It's a really cute place, but I'm not dying to come back. I may be a little bias because I'm not a huge fan of fine dining. I'm a girl who likes to eat and I feel I never get full when I go to a fine dining restaurant.
(3)John C.
Love this place,excellent food and service. will come back again soon.
(4)L. Danovia ..
Saw on TV that the burger at this place was one of the best. I went, tried it and it was okay. What I REALLY enjoyed was the calamari. One of the best appetizers I have ever had. Unfortunately its not on their current menu. They should bring it back, soon!
(3)Irene J.
This was on the top of my bucket list, for restaurants in Chicago, and it did not disappoint. Normally I know what I want immediately after a quick glance at the menu. initially, I decided on the rabbit's foot. At the last minute, I switched to the burger, per the waitresses telling me it was a staple item, along with the crispy pig ears. We had the 1) crispy pig ears, 2) the rabbit's leg and the 3) burger. All fantastic!!!! The burger was well crafted, the meat: flavorful, cooked to perfection, the bread: was fresh and brioche, finally: the sauce melded into one (cheese and only god knows). The fries were even delicious!! My boyfriend and I ate in silence. I had the Au Cheval burger two days later. I enjoyed this burger much more! I look forward to brunch.
(5)Ennis O.
Walked into Nightwood for Sunday brunch and immediately felt like I was back home in SF. Everything from the style, the people, to the seasonal, varied menu. Though if it was SF it would be far more pretentious and be about double the price lol. I'm not a huge donut fan especially when they are filled or topped with something - always taste too sickly sweet for me. BUT...I had it on good authority they were not to be missed so dove into the caramel cream donut with pecans. UH-mazing - and subtlely sweet (well as subtle as one can be with a caramel cream donut) Super tasty. Also had the red pepper scramble with rapini which was just right. And the tots? Crazy good and on my list of things to try at home. Recommend sitting at the kitchen counter which despite the bustling chefs actually feels more intimate then the front of house. Besides, an open kitchen view is basically foreplay so it's almost a must...
(4)Johnny R.
We got out with our favorite foodie couple and gave Nightwood a try. The restaurant is very nicely laid out. If I was selecting a place just based on how decorated and the vibe, Nightwood would be near the top... trendy, loud, and clearly popular. I like the Pig Ears appetizer, somewhere between crunchy bacon and pork rinds. Clever, and nicely flavored. I'm a salt person so I got pretty excited. I ordered the spit-roasted half chicken, which looked impressive as it was carried to my table. But to be honest, while it was moist, it was also very bland. I liked the fingerling potatoes. My wife had the scallops, and to be honest, she and our other friend who also got the scallops were not wowed. My friend got the lamb chop and was not blown away. The almond butter cake was excellent, we all fought over it. The bittersweet chocolate cake was well received and had it not competed with the almond cake it would have been even more popular. I will say that we four tend to like spicy interesting food, and the somewhat bland flavorings of the entrees were a little underwhelming. But don't go by just my review I would read a number of them. Ironically I had just eaten somewhere else a week ago and though the food was overly seasoned. There's just no pleasing some folks.
(3)Tiffany K.
I have been wanting to try this place for so long, and I finally got my chance this winter. Seriously, this was one of the top 5 dinners I have ever had in Chicago, hands-down. Came here for my boyfriend's birthday in December. We had reservation on a very rainy day, but it didn't stop us from going nuts and ordering half the things on the menu. Joshua (I think that was his name? Forgive me, it's been a couple of months) was the bomb dot com and recommended the best dinner dishes to us (the trout and the chicken). The entrees were fantastic and perfectly cooked. We also ordered the pigs ears, which were irresistible, and some delicious lemony tortellini for appetizers. We also ordered the donuts for dessert and shared many drinks, of which we most enjoyed the mixed drink made with Malort. Seriously. Malort. Joshua was so nice and helpful, he even gave us a bag of cookies to go. It was an awesome experience, and I would DEFINITELY come back!
(5)donna y.
The best part of my meal was the Almond Butter Cake. I have been craving it since my visit and will return even for just that! I had scallops for dinner. The dish was flavorful but it looked like a lot thrown on the plate and the scallops are also diced. I haven't craved the dish but it was good.
(4)Lizbeth T.
A lot has already been written about Nightwood, so I'm just going to focus on the highlights and low points of my recent dinner there. Great: cocktail and wine list. I couldn't pass up a chance to try the house-made tamarind syrup with Buffalo Trace bourbon, so that's what I ordered. Not as fussy as some of the other cocktails on the menu, but I typically prefer straightforward combinations, and this one hit the spot! Simple and just sweet enough. Also great: fried meyer lemon with aioli. Most memorable appetizer of the past few months. Good: our entrees. Trout was fresh, perfectly prepared and lovely, but just a bit boring. Same for the fried chicken. Very good, but too much of one thing on the plate. Amazing: the desserts! We had the goat cheesecake with fig and pistachio brittle, and the vanilla tapioca pudding with cherry marmalade and caramel corn. I can't say enough about either of these, so I will just stop now.
(4)Kyle F.
Imagine taking restaurants like Burger King and fazoli's, then make the portions smaller, increase the price, and finally add ingredients like kale and yogurt. If you can imagine such a place, you imagined nightwood. I really enjoyed the food here. The fried squid was like eating Burger King onion rings but if the onion rings were touched by the hand of god. If you like junky Americana kind of food, I.e. Pasta, meat, creamy sauces and fried foods, you'll like Nightwood. The only negative I'd add is the desert we ordered. It was the brioche donuts with ice cream. I don't remember what the flavor of ice cream was suppose to be but it tasted like I was sucking on a key while eating peanut butter. The waitress behaved very aloof, which was pretty off putting, but the guy refilling our water was really on his game. He was awesome.
(4)Stacey A.
I live in Ravenswood. It is a complete and utter pain in the ass to get from Ravenswood to Pilsen via public transportation. You have to take the brown line to the red line to the orange line and THEN, if you're going to Nightwood, you have to double back and walk north for however many blocks and pass a bunch of what look like abandoned factories so you walk with your keys in your hand just in case you need to stab someone. But your end goal in all this is Nightwood, which is an amazing personal reward for not being murdered for walking on Cermack or whatever murder-filled street it is at night. And in the event that you bring a friend with you, you get to try twice as much as you normally would, unless you're the sort of person who eats like, 4 plates of food at every meal and then I'm going to wonder about your metabolism and why you don't have a reality or whatever. Anyhow. In the event that you bring a friend, here's what you should order: -- The agnolotti with the GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS INSIDE. I cannot stress this enough. You should order at least one plate of this for every two people that go to Nightwood, in order to minimize sharing because you will not want to share because it's pasta with GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS IN IT. And you will bite into it and your eyes will become as giant and wide as saucers and you will shovel the remaining pasta into your face with the kind of reckless abandon usually reserved for afternoon quickies before the kids get home from school. -- The sturgeon with the lemon and the creme freche and the BACON BRAISED POTATOES. Don't get me wrong here, the sturgeon is the star of the show and there is nothing better than a big steaky fish that doesn't smell or taste "fishy". But oh lord, I want everything to be braised in bacon after having those potatoes. -- The half chicken with black beans, pickled onions, white sauce, and CORNBREAD CROUTONS. Don't judge me for getting this solely because of the fucking croutons, okay? Because that's pretty much 100% of the reason why I got it. And to Nightwood's credit, chicken is a really easy dish to fuck up or overdo or make boring or lame or whatever - and this was some GOOD chicken. Perfectly seasoned, super moist, and all the flavors went together perfectly, provided you got a magic cornbread crouton in your grill piece. I have no idea how dessert is here because I was too full to eat any. But in terms of dinner? Nightwood delivers. (Not like, they will deliver the food to your house, but in terms of "they will bring some seriously good food to you while you are in the restaurant.) Just don't get murdered on your way there.
(4)Beth T.
Everything we had for dinner was delicious, from the Pink Whippet (not-too-sweet vodka-based grapefruit cocktail), to the quark (delicious creamy cheese) plate to the scallop entree. The crispy pig's ears were a novelty, but we didn't need quite the large portion that we go and ended up leaving quite a few for, I hope, someone who appreciate it more. I will definitely go again.
(4)Bill T.
My GF and I visited nightwood two nights ago, and had some very high expectations, but unfortunately, none of the dishes lived up to their hypes, and it was overall very disappointing. The night started off well with the drinks at the bar; the bartenders were friendly, while the drinks weren't incredible, the draft beer was fresh and aromatic, and the mixed cocktail was tasty and refreshing. Having read many positive reviews about the smelt and sweetbread, we were not hesitant to order one of each as appetizers. We also ordered the wood grilled whole trout and the polenta as our entrees. Deep fried smelt: This was supposedly one of the best things Chicago had to offer, and I was deeply disappointed. Maybe, just maybe, for someone who has never had fresh seafood, this dish may be interesting, but overall, I found it to be extremely boring and uninspired. Also, my fish was under-seasoned, and I had to repeatedly add salt from the shaker. Sweetbread: The sweetbread was slightly better than the smelt, but I did not love it either. While the slightly spicy batter was an absolutely delight, its ratio to sweetbread ratio was way too low, perhaps it would have been a better dish had they flatter out the sweetbread for more surface area. The sweetbread was juicy and moist, but I think it would really go well with a sauce of some kind. Whole trout: I was really looking forward to the trout, but unfortunately, it was, by far, the worst dish of the night. Generally speaking, I love a runny egg on anything, but I found it really hard to eat raw yolk with fish, when combined, both the texture and the taste were completely off. The fish was cooked rather nicely, and I commend the restaurant for boning the fish, but again, it was missing a sauce! It's incredibly difficult to just eat plain grilled fish with olive oil. I honestly had trouble finishing this dish. Polenta: This was by far my favourite dish of the night. The ground polenta was cooked very nicely, and the mushroom really added essential flavour and textural contrast. Compared to the fish, this dish was really comforting, and I just wanted to keep on eating it. Dessert: fig cake with goat cheese I really liked the dessert, and it was somewhat of a saving grace for this restaurant (much like my Morimoto experience actually). The dessert was very well thoughtout, the warm fig cake went extremely well with the goat cheese topping, and it was as if I was eating cheese and crackers. Service: I feel bad for saying this, but I really did not enjoy the service. I felt that our waitress had a "holier-than-thou" attitude (this was my perception, to say the least). When I asked for recommendations, she suggested something that she has never tried simply because it "sounded really good". When we inquired about the lack of apple cake on the menu (it's in fact still stated on the website) and showed disappointment, she was extremely unapologetic and stated very matter-of-factly that it was just not there. Maybe it was a particularly bad night, but I will most likely never return.
(2)Angeli D.
BRUNCH: Had their housemade granola which is so good they should package and sell it. They serve Intelligentsia coffee in a Chemex (oh so good) which is enough for 2 people to share. House made sausages were small but tasty. Beautiful space with seating at the open kitchen in the back as well as a patio. Large windows. A harbinger of gentrification in a rundown-ish location.
(4)Jenny Z.
Just returned from a wonderful meal at Nightwood. As far as cocktails, I ordered exactly what I was craving (how often do you find exactly what you are craving on a menu?), if you are craving a fresh, citrusy, not to sweet cocktail on a summer day like I was then order the pink whippet! It was divine. For a starter my husband and I shared the crunchy spring vegetable salad with queso fresco and it was again, exactly what I was craving and what I hoped for! Dinner was the spagetti with procini, parmesan and butter....hands down the best homemade pasta I've ever tasted. I also tried the Lake Erie Walleye. I ordered it without bacon and I wonder if that's why it did not taste as impressive as the rest of the dishes. At $29, it should have been phenomenal but wasn't (that's why I only gave Nightwood 4 stars). For dessert we were stuffed so ordered the strawberry lime sorbet and strawberry ice cream....both were flavorful and delicious. The cute little vanilla cone was a nice touch. Our server was great and the patio dining was very nice as well. I don't think I'd come here too often because of the price but I plan on coming back at the end of the summer/early Fall to eat on the patio-hopefully near the fireplace. Overall, I couldn't have been happier with our meal...except for that walleye, if only it was a bit cheaper!
(4)Jennifer W.
We celebrated a friend's birthday party at Nightwood last night and everything was exceptional- the cocktails, the 6 different first courses I was able to share and sample, and my bacon entree was killer. The rabbit dishes especially stood out. I will happily return. Well worth every dining dollar.
(5)Tara W.
Went to Nightwood with my fiance last week. We had the Carrots, smoked trout and dill. Amazing! Would never have thought that combo would work but it does. My fiance had the rabbit leg, she was in love. I had the Garlic Mushrooms which I found interesting to try on the menu and I was almost licking my plate after. Cocktails were seemed fresh and delicious. I want go back and try for Brunch I would strongly suggest going here!
(5)Carolyn H.
How to be bored to death by overly salted food and stupid foodie cliches such as a fried egg on a pizza. Seriously, how could the owners of Lula go so wrong? Did they bury themselves in Pilsen so that their mediocre choices wouldn't stand out? This place is a waste of time and waste of space in stomach. We really came to dinner with high hopes and nothing seemed interesting or even remotely remarkable. Can you say "resting on their laurels?" that is the whole story in a nutshell. If you end up in Pilsen, go to a taqueria. Much better and much cheaper.
(2)Leslie S.
I've been to Nightwood twice now and here's what I can tell you: the food is fantastic, the service, eh, not so much. The first time we went to Nightwood was in September when the weather was still nice enough to sit outside (those were the days, huh?). The outdoor patio is small but pleasant - perhaps a little noisy so consider yourselves forewarned. The food was very well done - I particularly enjoyed the fried asparagus - but overshadowed by the amount of waiting we had to do to get some attention from our waiter. To give you an inkling of what I'm talking about, we waited 25 minutes for our cocktails and asked for them three times. We returned to Nightwood for Valentine's Day 2011. Like most restaurants, Nightwood offered a prix fixe, but also gave diners the option of selecting off a larger menu, which was greatly appreciated! I couldn't get enough of the Michigan smelts with creme fraiche - a wonderful combination. The spit-roasted half chicken was crispy and perfectly cooked. And the bread pudding with salted caramel sauce is definitely a winner (and I don't normally love bread pudding!). But, once again, we found ourselves wondering where our waitress was and feeling largely ignored. Four stars may be a bit generous for what I consider consistently lacking service, but the food at Nightwood is truly good, and deserving of the rating. Before you get too excited about the dinner offerings though, note that Nightwood changes its menu daily, depending on whatever it buys at the markets that morning (and almost everything on the menu is local and sustainable).
(4)Robert D.
I've been here for both brunch and dinner. The dinner deserves a 5 and the brunch a 3. Pro's Dinner Atmosphere Dinner Service Dinner Menu Con's Brunch Sevice Brunch Menu For brunch, I prefer Nana or Waffles (both fairly close) Will definitely be back for dinner.
(4)Lori C.
My husband and I have been wanting to try Nightwood for a while, so it was the restaurant I chose for my birthday dinner on 8/20. One of the appetizers (watermelon seared in a hot skillet topped with gorgonzola) was amazing, the other (with pulled mozzarela) was on the greasy side. We both ordered duck leg as the entree ... and both found it rather tough and unimpressive, yet the sauce of cherry tomatoes, grapes and blueberries was excellent. Dessert was their ice cream assortment, which was lovely. On the down side, when Nightwood booked our reservation, they specifically asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and my husband said it was for a birthday. But ... no acknowledgment of that what-so-ever that evening, no complimentary dessert, nada. It's not like I'm 4 years old and need a candle or anything, but really, Nightwood, why even ask? Just leads to a sense of the restaurant not having their customers feel special so they will return. Which we won't.
(2)Andrew G.
Best brunch in Chicago, period. Menu changes every Sunday (brunch is only served on Sundays). The appetizer donut is a must. It changes everytime, but the bacon-one seems like a standard one. Very delicious. You can't go wrong with the menu. As a non-foodie, there are plenty of great options for me. I just had the eggs and salami. Sooo good.
(5)Anika A.
Cozy spot, a nice change from our usual spots further up North. Started off on a disappointing note with the fried squid - over-fried, salty and too much breading and barely any squid. The only good part was the layer of cucumbers in yogurt under the squid. Our entrees definitely made up for the appetizer miss. I had the wood-grilled trout - cooked perfectly, so many flavors and loved the addition of almonds. Husband had the farm chicken breast, almost as good - more of a sweet taste w/ plums. We had the pumpkin pie for dessert - not your average pie - with a scoop of ice cream (cinnamon?), brown sugar and apple pieces on the side...yum! Excited to go again once their menu changes (which is supposedly every 6 weeks).
(4)Mike D.
I'm going to say this: Nightwood is definitely a diamond in the rough. I moved to Pilsen from Wicker Park a few months ago, and I miss all of those elegant, fine dining establishments that seem to be on every corner in the 60622. I never knew a place as nice as Nightwood could exist in Pilsen, for obvious reasons. However, I was proved wrong when I ate here a few days ago on my birthday. Nightwood is nestled right on Halsted, a little north of Skylark and Cermak Rd. My boyfriend and I were greeted by a warm, inviting host when we walked in. The decor is contemporary, and the kitchen/food prep area is completely visible to guests. Our server was very knowledgable about Nightwood's cuisine, stating how its always fresh and only bought from local farming vendors. I ordered the roasted half chicken, which came with some kind of mint infused quinoa side which was orgasmic! The chicken tasted so fresh and was so tender, it melted in my mouth. My dish was also reasonably portioned; it was not small and scant like some fine dining restaurants are with their food. I felt full after I finished my plate, and that is pretty important to me. My boyfriend hinted that it was my birthday while I was in the bathroom, and our server brought us some delectable pastries for dessert....which were complimentary I might add. The only drawback I can say about Nightwood is the price of the cuisine. For a Pilsen restaurant, its pretty expensive. My plate was $25, but worth it. The menu changes daily, and I would say on average a person can expect to pay between $20-$35 per plate, excluding drinks. However, I understand why the dishes are on the expensive side. Nightwood goes to great lengths to ensure that the food is fresh and organic. In my opinion, this restaurant is worth the extra money.
(5)Mary B.
Limited menu but the offerings are very good, and the service was strong. I appreciated that our waters were refilled regularly. Great ambiance as well.
(4)Ruben K.
One of the better restaurant in this part of town. Great décor and service. The cuisine is simple, highly imaginative, and vey well executed.
(4)John S.
Had a terrific dinner here. The decor is wonderful, the server was very friendly and helpful. If there were a couple of things I thought were really great, they were the brussels sprouts appetizer and the apple bread crumb with rosemary ice cream dessert. That dessert alone was worth the price of admission.
(5)Amanda R.
I visited Nightwood last Friday night with my husband, brother, and VERY PICKY parents. I must admit that I was extremely worried about my parents being able to find things on the small ever-changing menu that would appeal to them. My dad is allergic to most fish and my mom is mostly vegetarian (actually, she doesn't really eat much at all, but that's besides the point). I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful combinations of flavors and textures in the food at Nightwood. I shared the eggplant, summer squash, breadcrumbs, aioli, capers, and lemon oil app, and it was quite possibly one of the best appetizers I have ever had. Creamy, flavorful, rich, and just the perfect portion for sharing. Loved it. We also split the crispy pig ear at the table, which, after becoming obsessed with the pig ear dish at the Purple Pig, I was skeptical. Also very good, though. My entree was the spaghetti alla chitarra with five animal bolognese. To be honest, I think I was just intrigued by the idea of eating five animals in one dish. The dish was delicious. Just salty enough, just savory enough, perfect portion. Even my picky dad tried it and wished he had ordered it. My husband loved his NY Strip with the non-vegetable ratatouille. I like that the ratatouille was advertised by the server as having only meats in it, so that it wouldn't deter vegetable skeptics like my husband. My mom said she liked her spit-roasted Slagel farm half chicken with plums and quinoa, but she only ate about one bite, so who knows. Dad enjoyed his trout but, as expected, didn't like the accompaniment because it was too spicy. The shock came when my simple-meat-and-potatoes-loving-brother ordered the rabbit and loved it, despite his difficulties with figuring out how to get the meat off the bones (he's 21, which means his palate is fond of cheeseburgers, steak, burritos, and Natty Lite, so what did I expect?). Desserts included the blueberry crisp and peach bread pudding with ice cream and they were both some of the best desserts I have ever had, and I am a major dessert person. Conclusion: I would definitely go back, but would go without my parents next time.
(4)Arthur M.
Having eaten at lula cafe many times and being a big fan and signing up for the newsletter of both restaurants reminding me many times to give it a shot I finally went to nightwood for Sunday brunch. And I'm glad I did. The server asked our drink order and if we wanted donuts first thing and I'm glad she did. Having read and reread the handwritten sample menu's description of donuts for hours and days before the brunch that donut and a cup of coffee were exactly what I wanted. Later I would kick myself for not getting all three kinds because I saw the raspberry chocolate pudding donut and I can't stop picturing it, always just out of reach at the next table. My companion had a trout sandwich. The donut we had was bacon butterscotch, the cinnamon roll blueberry cream cheese, the bacon really good but I also got a side of bacon with my queso fresco cherry tomato scramble. The large open windows gave good light onto the leather and wood interior. The only problem was silverware unpolished and the butterfly leathrr chair accentuated my back fat.
(5)Johnny T.
So, here's my problem with my latest experience at Nightwood: nothing about it compared to my previous outing and I left feeling extremely insulted. This is a place I'd told friend, yelper and anyone who would listen, "you HAVE to come here. The menu options are so innovative. The flavor combinations will blow your mind!!" Etc. Etc. Imagine my surprise to find those innovative flavor combinations add up to: lettuce with oil, salty pasta and chicken. What in the who? Back up. A group of friends and I came to Nightwood for a tasting menu. We arrived at 8:30. We made our way downstairs to be seated. We were full of smiles and hope. There was a large group of us (about 20). For the majority of the meal, we had one server. Mistake, the first. Since we were being treated to a tasting menu, there was no need to ask us what we wanted to eat, etc. It was already laid out for us. The only thing we needed to be asked was what we wanted to drink. So, we looked at the wine menu, made our choice..and waited. And waited. And, waited. About a half hour in, we got our drink orders to our server. Mind you, this entire time we've had NOTHING in front of us, not even bread. Mistake, the second. "So, you're really excited about this place, right?" "DEFINITELY. Oh man. I ate here previously and it was beyond belief. You'll see." ... Nearly an HOUR later, we get our drinks. Why? "The bar was busy." Yes, that was the response I received. I wrote it down. I took notes on all of this. An hour. Until this point, we have had only glass after glass of water. It's 9:30. Lunch was a looong time ago. My patience is thin. "Can we have some bread and butter or something?" I asked. "Oh, something's coming out." Mistake, the third. Something's coming out? After an hour of waiting, *something* is coming out? I should hope so. Like a man in prison of Biblical times, I ate biscuits and wine. And I was not happy about it. AT TEN PM, we received our first course. Mistake, the fourth (I am going to stop here. There's going to be a lot of these). Yes, an hour and a half after arriving, we finally start to eat something. Have you ever been so hungry that you lost your appetite? That's the point I was nearing. But, it was 10 pm, I figured I should eat someth...what is this? I waited all this time for LETTUCE? Yes, I waited an hour and a half to eat lettuce. Evidently, it was being hydroponically grown out back, hence the wait. No. Not at all. You don't make people wait an hour and a half for lettuce and expect them to be happy about it. Boeuf a la Bourguinonne? Sure. Salad in a bag? No. Then, as if directed by Dale Earnhart Jr, every other course comes out at once at lightning fast speed and all together? Again, are you kidding? Have you heard of pace? Presentation? Why starve us only to serve everything at once? There's no room on the table for all the plates. Nothing is being explained or presented, just dropped off and left. That makes no sense. Whatever. At least I'll eat...what? What is this? Salty pasta? Fish with LEMON and PARSLEY? DRY CHICKEN??? What the h is this? THIS is innovation? THIS is culinary creativity? THIS took nearly (at this point ) TWO HOURS TO ARRIVE TO THE TABLE?? No. If you mean to tell me that this is the BEST EFFORT of a restaurant that boasts 'whipped prairie fruit farm goat cheese on buttered croutons with arugula, and a chili, garlic and cured sardine vinaigrette' and 'Gunthrop farm duck breast with hominy, roasted garlic, snap peas, and remoulade', I will call you a liar. Because you will be lying to me. And, you will be insulting me. To appease the hunger of our group, we received a couple of more plates of pasta with cheese. Does that come with unlimited soup and salad, too? I didn't know Olive Garden had a Pilsen outpost. Oops. My mistake. OG is much cheaper...in price. My brunch experience was a revelation. From tamarind drink to orange cardamom donut to multi-layered bagel, each bite was a surprise. This food was an insult. Waiting so long for this food was an insult. Having one disinterested (or overwhelmed) server was an insult. Everything about this experience told me that Nightwood was not interested in my business or the business of my friends. It told me that rather than giving me a representative dining experience, it would give me polenta WITHOUT the oyster mushroom vinaigrette, small salad and poached egg. The food, service and lack of attention told me not to come back. And, have no doubt, I won't. I work hard. At times, I work long long hours. My time (MY time) is SO precious to me. To have that commodity taken from me needlessly and without care is entirely unacceptable and unforgivable. TFD.
(1)Christina P.
Located just past Chinatown, Nightwood is a gorgeous space. I loved the romantic lighting, multiple levels and general ambiance. Our large group was led down to the basement level, where we had two large picnic table setups for our fixed menu. I thought it was charming that they had printed personalized menus welcoming us and letting us know what we'd be eating that night. We started off ordering drinks - I shared a bottle of wine and others got some specialty cocktails. It was about 45 minutes in from the time we walked into the restaurant to the time we received those drinks. The waitress explained that the bartender was swamped. The fact is the place was understaffed - our huge group and another large group downstairs was monitored only by one server for much of the night. At this point, members in our party started to get cranky. We're a very understanding bunch, but we've had a lot of good meals and great service in our lives and we know how many wonderful businesses there are out there to patronize. My friend next to me observed that as a former server, she thought it was strange that the server wouldn't introduce herself to the large group and explain how it was all going to work, and that we could go with her with questions. For the whole time we stared at the menu thinking that we had to choose one of the entrée options and found out much later that it would be family style and we'd be sharing it all. The items themselves sounded a bit underwhelming and I found myself longing to look at their regular menu, as I had heard good things about it in the past. We were offered a salad, trout, roasted chicken, polenta and vegetarian pasta , with rhubarb crisp for dessert. By the time we received some biscuits and butter to munch on, we were ravenous. We had waited about an hour by then, I think... far too long to receive bread. My favorite items included the salad, which was very simply dressed but featured some fluffy, buttery croutons that I thought were some of the best I'd ever had. I also enjoyed the side of beets, which came out very simply roasted, and the peas, which were buttery and lovely with some cheese on top. I found the trout much too salty and the polenta a bit boring and flavorless. The pasta I was looking forward to the most because I was so hungry and aching for carbs, and although the flavor was fine - spicy and garlicky - it was much too oily. Our hands were shiny after dishing the noodles onto our plates. I was impressed when they brought out large individual rhubarb crisps for dessert, but the top was much too hard and the filling too tangy and skimpy. I think that some places just may not be equipped to host large parties and I think that they could have reached a little more to create more of an ambitious menu. I found the fact that they stuck to trout and polenta didn't seem like a good value for us, knowing that they were not providing this meal for a very low price. While I thought more highly of the place than many of my dining companions, I agreed with their complaints and thought that fluffy croutons and some yummy beets were not enough to make up for the inattentive service.
(3)Andrea R.
Well you know when you find a piece of tree bark in your salad that the vegetables sure are fresh! Perhaps they were just trying to add a little flavor to the pretty bland salad they served us. Besides the wooden bland salad I found the service for our very large party to be very slllloooowwww (45 minutes just to get biscuits), the chicken to be so-so and the trout smelled awfully funny. Then again I'm pregnant and most things smell funny these days! However, there were a few good things to Yelp about: The polenta was quite tasty. I couldn't get enough of the super fresh egg noodles (seriously, I had about 7 helpings) and the rhubarb cobbler dessert hit the spot. I'm not sure I'd come back here with a large group since they couldn't see to handle it, I may return for the brunch I've been hearing so much about. Or perhaps for more of those noodles.
(3)Marcus H.
The atmosphere is nice and the pig ears are actually pretty good. The beer selection is pretty good as well. The rest of the dinner options are just o.k. I got the Wisconsin trout and T got the Spaghetti alla Chitarra.
(3)Erica A.
I regret not thanking every person in the restaurant individually for probably the best overall dinner experience I've ever had. Our waiter was easily the most accommodating, kindest, and most patient waiter in the city. He made our evening incredible. I hope we'll see him again next time! I really can't say enough positive things about the staff. Everybody was so friendly and so attentive. I'd give this place 10 stars for service alone! BUT that's not to say the food wasn't also out of this world. I had the potato anchovy appetizer, the trout as an entrée, and for dessert we shared two sorbets and one ice cream. The appetizer was so delicious, it was really salty and flavorful with just enough anchovy taste. The trout was perfectly prepared with crispy skin and cooked just right. The olives, mushrooms, and citrus fruit complimented it perfectly. It was the second best fish I've eaten in my life (the first is a dish hailing from my hometown and it was really truly incredible). I was sad to run into the tail because that meant my taste buds were bites away from saying goodbye to the fish from heaven. *tear* The sorbet was delicious and hit the spot! Light but still super flavorful. Also, I can't understand why anybody is saying anything negative about the décor. I love the way Nightwood looks and really appreciated the bear picture on the wall, well done decorators! Overall, a perfect night thanks to an amazing kitchen, wonderful staff, and a beautiful atmosphere. Thanks Nightwood, we'll be seeing you soon :)
(5)Austin F.
Really cool spot, excellent brunch/breakfast. Everything I had was delicious - the bacon donut, the raspberry oatmeal, the omlette etc. Pretty reasonable pricing too. Would recommend for brunch.
(4)Liren C.
Best dinning experience ever! I couldn't be more pleased by the service. All the servers were so polite, attentive and gracious. We had dinner there and the food was out of the world! The decor and ambiance were also very pleasant. Appetizer was a combination of lightly sauteed cauliflower, nectarines, sorrel and stracchion cheese (from Italy) on top of a big slice of Wisconsin bacon. The dish was a delightful little summer affair. For entree I ordered the spit roasted Illinois rabbit. The meat was succulent with a faint woody note, not at all gamey as rabbit sometimes can be. The sauce was a savory broth made of finely diced bacon bits, fennel, porcini and whole shishito peppers. My dinner mate had the strip steak cooked to medium well. I was really concern about that when he ordered but when I tried the steak it was perfection. To be able to get a steak to such tenderness at medium well is nothing short of a true testament to the chef's culinary skill! For dessert I picked blueberry crisp with strawberry ice cream which completely blew me away. I could even venture to say that it was the best dessert I've ever had. The strawberry ice cream was packed with flavor. The blueberry crisp was almost good enough to die for with fresh whole blue berries at the bottom. I can't wait to return for another phenomenal meal at Nightwood!
(5)Katie H.
I wish I could do a 3.5 star rating, but alas... Nightwood was good, but not great. We were seated on the patio, which had a great ambience but unfortunately very uncomfortable chairs. Nice wine and cocktail menu to start off. We had heard great things about the burger, so decided to share that for our entree and get 3 starters as well. The crispy pig ear was pretty delicious (salty and sweet, a little sticky but nicely done), and we enjoyed the melon salad (although as my hubby pointed out, anyone could cut up a good melon and top it with queso fresco - the trick is getting a good melon, which Nightwood definitely did). We also had the warm tomato salad with a baguette and were underwhelmed. The tomatoes were nice, the baguette was average, but the sauce, which was described as a yogurt dill sauce, actually tasted more like a Thai peanut sauce, which I did not love. I'm not sure if others have had the same experience, or maybe the chef just made a mistake on our dish? The burger was very good, and super filling, so we were too full to try their dessert menu. Overall, if you're new to Chicago I wouldn't send you to Nightwood as a first or second choice for dinner - but if you live in the neighborhood or want to soak up the last of the Chicago summer on a nice patio, I'd recommend giving it a try.
(3)Steven M.
Wonderful dining experience in what is still a work in progress neighborhood. We were seated at the bar and I had the punch. What I thought it was and what I got were two different worlds. The menu just had the name not a description of what you were getting. I did not complain as it looked like a White Russian and tasted like heaven. Had I known, I would have asked for a scoop of ice cream to go with it. Our table was at one of the huge windows in what is a quaint dining room. I started with the spinach salad and a glass of Lumos. Excellent wine, I should have gotten the bottle. The salad was amazing with its subdued flavors that would pop with flavor as you eating. The walleye came next with a glass of Lambet. Not too fond of that choice, but by that time I was very happy! The fish on the other hand was excellent. With a smear of mashed underfoot and the bean sauce on the side. I polished that plate in record time! The staff collects the plates, silverware and glasses between each course as well as wipe down the table. I went to the washroom and I saw the lineup of desserts and I had to try the espresso tart with Illinois figs. Now I have never had a fig in my life, because I didn't like they way they looked at me! But these were delicious and the tart was nice and light. I ate quite a bit and I went home feeling content, not bloated. The atmosphere was young and casual. But I never felt out of place, because the server was right on the money all night long, so aces to Jill for her outstanding attention to detail. And everyone else was in their own element as it should be. This restaurant is why people move to the city.
(5)Michelle B.
It was nice to "head South" for a Nightwood dinner. Though the location of the restaurant could mark the start of another restaurant row, for now it has an interesting "hole in the wall" feel - without being a hole at all with its somewhat upscale, minimalist decor. Overall my vegetarian dish was pretty good - though it was only one of two veggie options :( My cocktail was definitely worth 5 stars, but with my boyfriend's cocktail being too strong and only TWO vegetarian options I can't bring myself to give this place a 5 star yelp "woohoo."
(4)Janet E.
We started off with the butterscotch bacon donut. WOW. OUTSTANDING! I wanted three more of them, but I didn't want to start off my Sunday morning being a fatty. I ordered the chicken and waffles and my cousin ordered the trout with fried egg on top. I didn't try the trout, but my cousin cleared off his plate within minutes. As for my chicken and waffles, it was fingerlickin' good! I don't know what batter they used, but it was so tasty and not greasy at all! The raspberry jam and the rice pudding tasted only okay to me. As dishes were being taken out from the kitchen, I was staring at all of them and wished I had ordered EVERYTHING! I need to come back and try more food!! Our server was Maria and she was SOOOOOOOO SWEET to us. Extremely friend, very helpful, and was constantly refilling our coffee or our water (even when she gave us the water bottle to refill our own water, she did it for us anyways!). The service here is exceptional! Everyone works as a team in refilling drinks and taking away plates. We had a plate and utensil change after we used them to attack the butterscotch donut. I was impressed! Parking in the area is pretty easy and free (for now...who knows when the parking boxes will be installed...hopefully never!)
(4)Howard L.
Nightwood feels like about a 3.5. We had a holiday weekend family reunion outing here prompted by Michelin's recent Bib Gourmand rating for the place (good deals for under $40 per person), and daughter's fond recall of her fried chicken/waffles brunch outing here. Overall, they have some creative and organic servings, a vibrant environment, and a blend of hits and average entrees. First, you can't make the Bib Gourmand criterion (two courses, and wine or dessert for under $40 pre tax and tip) unless you order the cheaper $11 - $13 entrees (like pasta, or cheeseburger). Many entrees are in the $21 - $28 range. We found their appetizers and desserts to be excellent, and 3 out of 4 of our entrees to be average in taste and appeal - wife having garganelli pasta, daughter having a black trumpet mushroom sformato (like a souffle), and son having a blandish duck leg. I had a wood grilled trout, and that was an exception and excellent. It was also flawlessly deboned. Rabbit wasn't available on this night , and too bad! All entrees and other servings are on the smallish side for the price, but you're paying for fresh quality and taste here. Our appetizers were a nice veal sweetbread, and clams. Desserts were a lemon pudding cake, and a nice, very dense pot 'o creme with raspberry filling. I also personally enjoyed a bargain and nice $5 draft pint of Old Rasputin, a California brewed Russian Imperial Stout with 9% ABV, and that was probably a star right there. Street parking was easy and area was well lit and felt safe, as we weren't very familiar with the midway location between Chinatown and Pilsen. The restaurant's dining areas are kind of broken down into three distinct areas - the main area with 2 and 4 person tables up front and by the windows (where we were at), a long narrow strip of 4 person tables adjacent to the bar, and then a dining area by the open kitchen in the back of restaurant. The dining room was vibrant and it felt like we were in Lincoln Park or somewhere similar. The business is 2 years old. Service was friendly and very attentive. Overall, a recommended and interesting place to dine, but you have to personally find out what works best for you here.
(3)Angela S.
Was here for brunch and man oh man... Craft cocktails with donut appetizers is the breakfast of champions.
(4)Doreen H.
Had a great dinner last night. Was able to try 3 appetizers which were all great. I'm not very adventurous when it comes down to it but all 3 were different and delicious. My steak dinner.was cooked to perfection. My kudos to chef Shae!
(5)Moira M.
What an excellent restaurant! The food was delicious and the wine, which was recommended by the waiter, was surprisingly good - and a good value. Also must mention the atmosphere - so trendy with exposed brick, dark hardwood with great use of metal and glass.
(5)Joi B.
First, let's talk atmosphere. I'm a sucker for a rustic environs with soft candlelight and wood accents. Nightwood has that. Plus a very inviting patio. I sat in the basement which was very cozy. OK, I realize "basement" isn't very reflective of the vibe of the downstairs dining room. Reminds me of when I innocently said that my boyfriend was "getting us a room" for my birthday, which sounded very Motel 6 hourly rate, when it was actually a Hilton property. What can I say...I have a way with words. Second, let's talk menu. I immediately peruse any menu for vegetarian options (bonus if they are vegan). Nightwood has a respectable number of vegetarian options, several of them very unique. I'm sure they will leave off the sprinkle of cheese on salads and pastas if you ask them. They seemed rather accommodating. Third, let's talk salad. Oh, how I adore a good salad. I ordered the option with candied walnuts, arugula and sheep's milk cheese. The salad would have been perfect but for the cheese, which was too strong of a flavor and the nuts/greens didn't balance out the sharpness. I would certainly order a different salad upon my return or just ask them to leave off the cheese. Dressing was tangy and delicious. Fourth, let's talk entreés. I had the pasta with vegetables. Pasta is made in house daily, according to our waitress and let me tell you, I dove right into that bowl of delicate ribbons with just the right amount of oil. I especially appreciated the asparagus, though that won't necessarily always be the in season vegetable, obviously. As someone who loves her vegetables more than her starch, I would have appreciated twice or three times the amount of vegetables to pasta, but that's just me. I'd probably order something different on the next visit. and now...let's talk *polenta* Oh my heavens! The. Best. Polenta. I have ever EVER had in my entire Italian life! I've been to Tuscany people, Nightwood's polenta is the (corn meal) bomb! They mix it with stinging nettle of all things. Now, I'm pretty experienced with vegetables but I never even heard of putting this prickly vegetation into food! I am sold! I want to *bathe* in that effing polenta. WOW. Dessert is typically my least favorite (and often skipped) part of the meal. I had a rhubarb cobbler topped with creme fraiche which was delicious, but I wasn't inspired to eat more than 1/3 of it (which my "hips don't lie" certainly appreciate, I'm certain).
(4)Donald C.
Nightwood was a terrific experience. Exposed brick, hardwood floors, large (albeit drafty) windows and a nice feel. I went with 3 others on a Saturday night. We had 8pm reservations and we got seated immediately. I had the sweetbreads appetizer my first time with this dish, and liked it a lot. We had a good Willamette River blend red and the combination was outstanding. My main dish was the duck leg and it was absolutely perfect. The combination of a winter night, cozy restaurant, duck, red wine and good company could not have been better. A nice port with a brownie finished the evening. The only drawback was the draftiness. We sat in a corner in the front of the restaurant and had two large windows by us. It was cold, drafty, and a couple people in our party kept their coats on.
(4)Nishan P.
My worst date ever! Soon after we were seated I realized I never wanted to see her again. What a waste of the romantic atmosphere. What a waste of the prime window seating. Too late to bolt I decided to make the most of dinner. Our server was full of praise for the pan seared trout. The dish arrived with a whole fish perched on a bed of risotto. The trout seemed to be gazing at me pityingly with one big globular fisheye. Mr. Trout: "Dude, your date sucks. I feel bad for you." Me: "Don't feel sorry for me, Mr. Trout. I am going to be eating you." MT: "Yeah, but I will be gone soon and you'll still be on this boring date." He was right. He was also delicious. The tangy risotto perfectly complemented the fish. Soon all that remained of my aquatic friend was a skeleton. At this point any normal person would have yelled for the check. But, I happen to be cursed with a sweet tooth. The butterscotch tart with its light creamy filling and a caramelized pear was almost worth extending the torture. My one gripe with Nightwood is the noise level in the restaurant. It is very difficult to hear the person sitting across the table from you. Had I been on a more interesting date I might have actually wanted to hear what she had to say.
(4)Jen B.
After a year delay, I finally made it back to Nightwood, this time for brunch. Right off the bat, they impressed me with how accommodating they were to a large group. The Women Who Bike showed up about 25 strong and the servers and kitchen handled it reasonably well, breaking us up into smaller groups for ordering and keeping the water and coffee refilled regularly. I tried the two eggs, hashbrowns and toast with a side of veggie sausage. It was a LOT of food for one small person. The eggs and toast were standard (not sure how you can improve, though props for getting the eggs a nice 'n' runny over easy). Loved the veggie sausage and couldn't come close to finishing the three big slabs. The real knockout were the hashbrowns. They came in the form of three large tatertots, but, like, the BEST tatertots you've ever had. Crispy outside, mashed potato inside. Perfection. I am dying to know how they make these. My chai was also good, but nothing super special. Wish they had the option of soy milk and a little surprised they didn't, given the aesthetic. [Bad vegetarian aside: So I may have taken a nibble of the bacon donut. Holy wow. Super rich and yummy. Props to anyone who can tackle a whole one because I hit a sugar wall after one bite.] The only issue came up when I tried to pay early and leave. The server was more than happy to accommodate, but then added someone else's egg sandwich to my bill instead of the side of veggie saus. I didn't really have the time or inclination to ask her to fix it (and run the risk of looking like more than a pill than I already did with the leaving early business), so it was kind of a bummer but in the grand scheme it's no big deal. I'll be back, hopefully within the year this time!
(4)Mike S.
Renovated restaurant, easy street parking, and spacious layout looked to be the makings for a great brunch. Butterscotch n bacon donut is awesome as our most of the dishes. However portion sizes are quite weak for the prices. Also was part of a party of 8 and service was less than stellar. Other smaller parties around us were served drinks and food well before us even though we were sat and ordered first. A one course brunch should not take 2 hours. Will not be back as there are too many good brunch places in the city with much better service.
(2)Laura G.
I came here for dinner with a girlfriend on Friday night at around 6:30. We got seated right away without a reservation. Our waiter was very helpful and gave great descriptions about the food. He also let us taste a couple wines before deciding what we wanted. We started off the carrots which were outstanding. They were flavored with dill and trout, and they were awesome. Next, we got the rolled pasta with ricotta and pepperoni sauce. The sauce was really good, but this dish was probably our least favorite of the evening. We split the mushrooms with polenta and sturgeon for our entrees. We loved the vegetarian mushroom dish and it had a good combination of flavors and textures. The fish was good and nicely cooked as well. Although we were full, we ended on the chocolate cake which was delicious! I can't wait to come back here for brunch!
(4)Mindy S.
ok Nightwood. You got me. Will be back for my craving of the butterscotch bacon donuts. Damn you.
(3)Shelu B.
best brunch ever. pricey. geeky foodie crowd.
(4)Matt M.
A haiku: For you if you like Slow cooked pork, Joy Division, and the Halsted bus
(4)Eric W.
Very good meal, if you are looking for a truly great meal there are better options in Chicago
(3)Joey T.
I was at Nightwood for the first time on Saturday night. I only make it down to Pilsen every once in a while, so I had been looking for an excuse to get over there for dinner. Finally, the opportunity arrived and 4 of us decided to take Nightwood in for the evening. Two of us arrived early for some pre-dinner drinks. The staff was very pleasant and showed us to the bar. The "outdoor" covered seating area looked awesome. I will definitely want to eat in that section at some point. I started out with the "Lucky Rabbit's Foot". It was a bourbon base with bitters, honey and grapefruit. Simple, but decent enough for a pregamer. Once the other 2 arrived, we were seated in the front section of the restaurant. I loved the atmosphere inside. It was lively, yet not so loud that you had to yell to compete with the ambiance. It was a perfect blend of fun and conversation. Our server was kind and helpful, and seemed to honestly care about whether we were having an enjoyable experience. He recommended a couple starters, including the cauliflower and the watermelon plate. We were all pleased with the choices. For our entrees, we all went with a different dish: 1) split roasted chicken; 2) duck leg; 3) summer vegetables and 4) salmon. Everyone really enjoyed their dish. I will definitely visit this place again and will recommend to friends who want to get away from the Randolph scene.
(4)Jose L.
Asked for the burger and it took forever. The server blamed me for asking for well done and then it arrived bloody. Terrible experience.
(1)Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)Liz R.
One of the most phenomenal meals that I have had in a long while. I was in Chicago for a trade show and this restaurant was recommended to me by a local. I went with a friend from the Netherlands. We started off with an appetizer with a rolled piece of pasta stuffed with ricotta and on the outside some grilled chorizo or sausage and some heavenly sauce. For dinner, I got the duck which was perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside, served over lentils. Don't ask me how the lentils were cooked, but the flavor was bountiful. My friend ordered the rabbit and if I remember correctly, he almost licked the plate clean. For dessert, I got a small cake, that at first bite, resembled cornbread, but then evolved into a sweet bite. A plop of pumpkin ice cream with candid walnuts topped this piece of genius. The other dessert was a molten chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream. Needless to say, we couldn't help but devour every bite of our meals. Our server spent the time to help us make our choices and took great care of us, even taking the initiative to call us a cab since there weren't too many in the neighborhood. Truly, a meal to remember.
(5)Colleen C.
Finally, I made it. Dinner at Nightwood to celebrate the dawn of December: 12/1/09. Ok, not really, just a random dinner spot... Date's review: "The lettuce is beautiful." (he's an expert in concise foliage appraisal). And, I concur. The lettuce is truly beautiful. Ordering a salad would be beneficial to overall meal appreciation and health. There are several to choose from...simple, yet satisfying. My review: Neighborhood: Love. East Pilsen is still somewhat untraveled (by the North side masses), and this cozy nook just north of Cermak (and Skylark!) on Halsted is a "blink and you'll miss it" sort of situation, which of course...is why I like it, and why I could get a pretty good table (corner/window) without a reservation on a random Tuesday night. Had it not been dipping below 40 degrees, the fireplace flickering the patio seating may have been an amiable option, but alas...winter has arrived and inside warmth was necessary. Quickly situated with menus (oh, handwritten? nice touch), water (still or sparkling, both complimentary) and an above average wine/beer/cocktail list...our server was both congenial and well-versed in what the restaurant offered and what might be good to try. Indeed, ma'am! Locally focused, sustainable menu has prices a little above average, but the quality and consistency of the food is evident, and much worth it. IN addition, the service and atmosphere is worth some dime all in itself... Glasses of: Zin + Pinot Noir in the correct glasses, at the correct temperature, from the correct vineyards. (I said we were celebrating winter!) Buttermilk biscuits with honey butter. Aforementioned Salad Whitefish with root vegetables for me: Excellent. Pasta with lamb confit for the salad spinner. I would most definitely go back...perfect for a date, or a group of friends (make a reservation). Excellent cocktail list (they were out of ginger syrup for the hot toddy), beer list is extensive and local, and of course...the wine left me feeling warm and happy, thus doing its job very well. Reading Tricia L's review...just realized they do brunch. OF course they do. They are from Lula! How did I overlook this? I will be back for brunching and the Sunday Morning cocktail with prosecco, fruit puree and bitters...mmmmm.
(4)Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)Steve M.
Nightwood absolutely killed brunch yesterday. Brunch was all, "oh hi, Nightwood." And Nightwood was like, "whutup biotch!" and then BLAM!!!!!!!!! We beat the crowds by 5 minutes. Score. I had a bloody mary that was so-so. Honestly, the mix was a bit mealy, with tomato bits floating about. The coffee tasted excellent, and did it's job effectively. On to the food... The table decided to split a bacon and caramel (!!!!!!!!!!) donut to start off the whole affair. When I first put a bit in my mouth, I was disappointed that the bacon wasn't standing out more. Then, just as I was voicing the thought, a deliciously smokey bacon aftertaste came across my mouth and finished the sweet caramel sensation. Damn, bacony caramely donut... you're tricky! I ordered a wood roasted Wisconsin trout with roasted potatoes, braised kale, olives, a fried egg and hot sauce. The fish was de-boned perfectly, and the entire dish was light and delicious. Other dishes included duck confit eggs benedict, a mutton and white bean pita sandwich w/ fried egg, and the real game changer: a bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese, pickled garden vegetables, lettuce, fried egg and bacon. At first I thought trout cream cheese sounded gross, but when I tried it, all the flavors came together deliciously. Salt, smoke and swine goodness from the bacon; the tangy, lightly fishy creaminess of their homemade cream cheese; the gooey from the egg yolks; the lettuce crunch -- all on the perfect bagel. All of the 3 dishes mentioned above came with hashbrown balls. That's right. Imagine a ball of hashbrown about the size of a cueball, with delicious golden, flakiness. Serve up w/ a side of ketchup, and we're in business. Food aside, the service was friendly and attentive. The space was really, really cool. Kind of lofty, but with a cozy feel. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can check out that side yard w/ fire place and chill-out area. I'll be back for sure. Perhaps for some dinner, and then cocktails at nearby Skylark..
(5)John K.
Good food but not great. I have been there once. We tried 5 dishes. Nothing really stood out. If I lived in pilsen I would go back for a second try.
(4)Will V.
I've been looking forward to trying Nightwood since it opened and I heard great things about it from Scott M, who wrote the first review of Nightwood on Yelp. I finally went last night to meet Scott and his brother for dinner. The atmosphere is fantastic, it's obvious the owner put considerable planning into the restaurant (three years, according to Scott!). The dining room chairs in particular impressed me, they seem to be Eames-inspired, covered with leather and they are very comfortable. I hoped that, as is so infrequently the case, the owner put as much effort into the food as the eye candy. I had a Nightwood Old-Fashioned at the bar while I waited for Scott and David. The drink was mixed perfectly and speedily, with fresh ice and maraschino cherries that were obviously a cut or two above your typical bar cherries. The host (who I gathered is the owner) and the bartender were both very accommodating and friendly. My friends arrived and we sat down for dinner, and ordered a couple of appetizers, a creamy fresh mozzarella and fruit compote dish, almost like a bruschetta, and pork and fig ravioli. Both were as good as they were unusual. The ravioli was cooked perfectly. There were some tough entree choices on the menu, but I decided to order the cheeseburger. In retrospect it may have been a cop-out moment, but I don't regret it a bit. The burger was obviously made from very fresh, high quality beef, and cooked to perfection. There was definitely a smoky flavor, but it did not overwhelm any of the other flavors. The bun was a ciabatta-like roll. In short, it was probably one of the best burgers I've ever had, way better than the one I had at Bad Apple last week. And when you take away the novelty of the burgers at Kuma's, I believe the Nightwood burger blows Kuma's away. Of course, if you want a burger topped with pulled pork and bacon, you're going to have to go to Kuma's! But judged on the quality of the burger itself, I believe Nightwood has Kuma's beat. The fries were excellent as well, obviously hand-cut and crispy. Nightwood also has a nice beer list and an extensive wine selection. I had a Tripel Karmeliet and a nice Cabernet Sauvignon that complimented the burger well. Overall, I was incredibly impressed by the entire experience. I look forward to going back and being more adventurous with the menu (which changes daily, by the way). Nightwood is a Pilsen gem (and not the only one!), and well worth venturing out of Lakeview or Lincoln Park for a visit.
(5)Amanda G.
Nightwood is a hidden gem of Chicago. It's not really hidden but it's definitely off the beaten path in Pilsen. It was well worth the 15 min drive from Wicker Park. My boyfriend and I had such a great dinner here and we will definitely be back for more Nightwood. I want to go back and try there brunch ASAP! We got two appetizers: the Michigan Char Roe an $18 appetizer that's worth every penny and Chicken Liver Pate which had such a nice plating & presentation. For our entrees, we ordered a pasta they had on special and the buttermilk crusted scallops. The scallops were perfectly cooked and were excellent. We ended our meal with a walnut tart with egg nog ice-cream. Service was excellent and I loved the ambiance. Next time we go back I want to sit by the kitchen. It's an open kitchen and you can watch the action!
(4)Reuben H.
*WARNING: the content of this review makes mention of the butchering of animals, in particular- furry, fuzzy ones. If you are squeamish and/or have a soft spot in your heart for such cute cuddly animals, you may not appreciate this review.* Now, I have learned my lesson. Don't order rabbit at any restaurant unless my wife says up front that she knows, for a fact, that they do it the right way. You see, rabbit is quite difficult to cook (when done on the bone, as a whole or a half). For that reason, I have a hard time faulting Nightwood for their rabbit. It wasn't that it was totally bad since parts of it in fact were quite good. They seemed to pay particular attention to the skin of the rabbit. So much so that the skin flap that stays on the beast itself that is a part of the belly (but is split open in order to gut said beast) was folded over to the side during cooking to form this very nice, crisp bacon-like piece that was delicious. Did I just mention rabbit bacon? Did I just use the word "beast" to describe rabbit? The problem with it, like at so many other places where I have had rabbit before is that it was not cooked perfectly. Once again, rabbit is a very challenging meat to cook, but I guess I had high expectations for Nightwood thinking that they would never put something like it on their menu without being able to master it. The meat was not cooked down enough and at some parts was quite dry. Otherwise, the flavors were very well put together. Coupled with a delicious sauce, roasted brussels sprouts, red grapes and olives, this dish was well composed despite the not so perfect execution of cooking the rabbit half. Bunnies are supposed to be soft (fork tender), not tough! The rest of the meal was pretty nice. We also ordered ricotta gnocchi that was terrific- the highlight of the meal. The chicken liver pate had this incredibly strong flavor. It reminded me of liverwurst (usually made of pork liver). It wasn't that it was bad, just very strong and hard to take down as an appetizer. Just not something that I expected (the strength of the flavor that is). The pickled onions and cucumber was a good way to cut the rich flavor- but in the end the pate itself was a bit too over powering. For dessert we ordered the cookie assortment. These cookies were quite good, but to get four small cookies for $7, I felt a bit let down. Some other things that I really appreciate about Nightwood: - They have an extensive wine list, including quite a few nice selections by the glass. - Their menu changes daily which is usually a good sign of freshness and quality. - Their ingredients, in particular their animal proteins (meat- OK?) all came from well respected farms. - Interesting menu items that included a lot of variety. - For someone who doesn't always want to drink alcohol with his meal, offering a non-alcoholic cocktail for a very reasonable price was a welcome site (though tonight I ordered a nice syrah/granach from Washington state). I guess over all having experienced quite a few of these "new American" casual, yet stylish restaurants, Nightwood left some things to be desired. I hold this concept of food in high regards and when it doesn't come out near perfect (like I have had at Blue 13, Naha, and MK to name a few) I guess I leave a bit disappointed. That is not to say that this place should be ignored. I love the fact that they opened up this side of town- at basically the cross roads of Chinatown, Bridgeport, and Pilsen. The space itself is warm and inviting, and over all, the concept is a good one. Just remember this though. If you find yourself leaving Nightwood the way I did tonight- feeling a bit underwhelmed (then again can anyone ever be "whelmed"?)- walk due south on Halsted to Skylark and get yourself a pint of a good beer and some tater tots. Somehow that was the perfect "last course" to an otherwise almost forgettable meal.
(3)Parris M.
Went on an early dinner trip with my boyfriend and his friend. They both ordered first, and ordered entrees. I, being apparently naïve, ordered pasta and expected a full sized plate, seeing as how it was the same price as an entree. It wasn't. I received approximately 15 pieces of pea sized gnocchi on a plate drenched in a butter salt sauce. It was practically cold. Politely, I told the waitress that it was way too under temp for my liking (or anyone's, really) and she apologized and brought back half of what was on my plate on a different warm plate. so now, I have a noticeably smaller amount of pasta left on my plate. While I'm watching my boyfriend and his friend enjoying their entrees, I'm enjoying each tiny morsel of salt. The waitress noticed my discontent, and offered me dessert on the house for not realizing I would want a full meal too. Which made me feel a little better. Until I saw the bill. When asked "still or sparkling water?" It should be implied that they're both the same price. Its not the same as asking "would you like a 7 dollar bottle of san pellegrino?" The appetizer I had was good, but I don't even remember what it was.
(2)Milly P.
I live for brunch and Nightwood is definitely one of my favorite brunch places. I wouldn't call them a "standard" brunch place as you won't find an eggs + breakfast meat + starch combo deal. However, their dishes are delicious and a nice change in pace from standard brunch fare. Their dishes are seasonal so you may not always get what yo loved. My favorite used to be their fried chicken and waffles but I noticed it is not on the menu lately. They do keep their bacon donuts on the menu year-round, and I definitely recommend that! Their bagel sandwiches are always a good bet, as well as any sandwich with pork belly! The service is OK. I think the servers have too many tables and at times it feels like they are no where to be found. The vibe and wardrobe is very hipster-esque, so if that is your thing, you will love it!
(4)Allison A.
Hot Damn! That's some damn good food! All I got to say.
(5)Boon K.
The service was very attentive during our dinner and everything we had was pretty good. Except for the ribs. They were so tough that a knife couldn't help get the meat out. The favor was good but the preparation was terrible, they just threw it on the grill. Well, we mention it to the wait staff and they apologize and did not include it on our bill and offer to send out another but we decline and they comp us on dessert, which was very nice of them.
(4)Heather K.
Drink of the night: The Aviation - Yes, Please! Adorable servers, smiling water boys, an open kitchen with bar seats, a warm purple hue on the walls, a nice patio, and honey biscuits; I was really enamored. I had a pistachio ricotta pasta dish and the arugula salad. Not a ton of options if your a vegetarian but hey, we're used that. Here's my gripe - the chairs are not comfortable and I really do think Lula is surperior, thus 4 and not 5. A long time fan of Lula Cafe - Nightwood left me impressed and yelping for more.
(4)Lisa L.
Yum! Expensive meal, but to be honest, it wasn't as pricey as I was expecting. We did it up with two apps, two entrees, three adult beverages, and one dessert, and got out of there (using a $10 gift cert) for under $100. To boot, we got to relax on their lovely, modern, outdoor patio; the rest of the indoor space was equally impressive, but it was too nice out to eat inside. The rundown I can vouch for the smelts, sardines, and trout - they were all phenomenal. Smelts were lightly breaded and fried, and served with a creme fraiche. The Sardines were smoked, and prepared with a delicious rosemary butter - there were veggies with this, but they didn't really add or detract from the dish. The sardines in the sauce were good enough to stand on their own. Now the trout - I can honestly say that this is the most tasty fish entree I can recall ever having. The fish has a smoky flavor, paired with a salad of mustard greens, beets, onions, and an almost salty dressing that is just perfect. I had a small bite of my husband's ratatouille, but not enough to really vouch for it. He seemed really pleased. He also had a blackberry and peach crumble that seemed to vaporize before I could have second thoughts about being too full to try some. Also of special note was the tamarind drink with vodka (it's usually a non-alc drink, but you can get it with spirits as well). Beer enthusiasts may be interested to know that they just got Old Rasputin on tap, and it's only $5 for a pint. I would absolutely come here again.
(3)Kymberly J.
You really have to be in the mood for unusual combinations...for brunch anyway; I havent been here for dinner. Dont go in expecting to find traditional breakfast fare. I did see one ordinary thing on the menu, which I almost ordered. It was eggs, tots, and toast. I felt so boring even considering that I changed my mind. I had the English pea and ricotta eggs. A little salty but really good. Who knew peas with scrambled eggs would be good? Now YOU do! it came with their unique version of tots: a glob of shredded potatoes (like has browns) fried up as little balls. A work of art! It also came with toast that was thrown on the wood fire grill and served with a raspberry jam. A few things I would change: since my meal was one big protein and carb fest I would have loved to see a fruit plate on the menu. I always feel better ordering such items as I had when I can get in some healthful fruit. I would also get rid of the iced tea. It was possibly the worst fresh brewed iced tea I have ever had. The outdoor eating area is nice and cozy with a fire place in the center. Dont expect to sit and wathc the passersby because it is closed off from street view...hence the cozzyness!
(4)Troy H.
Tater tots here are the truth. Went here for Sunday brunch with a friend, and really enjoyed it. The sausage is excellent, my eggs buttery and fluffy, and the tater tots. THE TOTS. Ordered an extra side of those afterwards. If you can, sit in the the counter/kitchen area. Watching people do what they like doing is a treat.
(5)Daina B.
Nightwood is in a totally unassuming location on a random street corner in Pilsen. But when you walk in you would think that you were in the middle of Brooklyn (from the decor to the staff). I love that you can walk in without a reservation and sit by the kitchen and get your food served lickety split and watch the talented chefs do their thang. I love that the food is made from locally purchased and fresh food. The menu changes daily and the offerings are inventive. It's really a fantastic place when you think about it. Another thing that I love - the portion sizes. This ain't no cheese cake factory where you can order one thing and feed a family of four. Portions are perfect for one person - you won't feel like your stomach is about to explode if you have just. one. more. bite. So if you are looking for a new place to chow down, or want to take an out of towner to an 'off the beaten path' location then this is the place for you.
(5)Cecilia G.
I was intrigued by the name, appearance and location of this place so I decided to use my a-la-card coupon and try it out. We went late on a weeknight and were seated right away next to the window. I liked the interior but it was way too dark for my taste.. maybe I just don't get the charm of eating in the dark, but I want to see what I'm eating! The streetlamp outside was basically our only light source. On to the food: great!! They have a changing menu that uses fresh, seasonal, local products. we tried a pasta dish (farfalle with olives, anchovies, chili) and the roasted duck with a great almond and prunes salad. both were flavorful and delicious. I just wish there was more - the pasta especially was a quite small portion. I love that you can choose still or sparkling water, which is not bottled but made from tap water with the soda maker. Complimentary biscuits and butter before the meal are also a nice touch. Dessert was good but not extraordinary. Overall a great meal, just a bit too pretentious (and pricey).
(3)andrea m.
I recently went here on a first date, and while things did not work out with the gentleman I was with, I do plan on continuing my relationship with Nightwood. I had the hangar steak, and it was good. The portion size was just fine for me, but I am not a heavy eater. The bruschetta appetizer was really good, too. It was beautiful outside, so we sat on their patio. The space out there is really cute, and there is a fireplace in the middle of it. I am glad this restaurant is in the area!
(4)Ariel G.
Been for both brunch and dinner service and both are equally as delicious. The atmosphere was amazing, aside from the group of seven seated next to us who couldn't stop shouting-but that's no fault of the restaurant's, and our server Jill was very accommodating. I thoroughly enjoy that the menu changes from day to day, it gives the restaurant a unique "homey" quality.
(5)Carol K.
Nightwood is the newest addition to this southern stretch of Halsted in Pilsen. Owned by the same people as Lula Cafe, they had been open for about a week when we stopped in for dinner. Nightwood is named after the 1936 novel written by Djuna Dumas. It's an interesting choice as I was wondering what the link to the book would be- and as it turns out--there is no link. Just the mystery of why they named it that. The interior is contemporary and bright. As our waiter said- they want it to be a "beaken of light" lighting their corner of Halsted. And the place is larger than it looks- with an outdoor patio, back seating area as well as a large room downstairs for private parties. We were seated right away at a perfect corner, window table (it was early) and since they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more- if you don't want to wait- I'd suggest you go early as when we were leaving the place was pretty full. Our server brought over a simple menu that changes daily- so the food that we enjoyed may not be be there if you go but I'm sure they will be replaced with equally delicious creations! We started with a couple of the appetizers- the ravioli in butter sauce and these interesting spears of asparagus coated with smoked trout and cream cheese, lightly breaded and deep fried. While the ravioli was good-the asparagus spears were amazing! What an interesting combination of flavors! For our entrees- I had the chicken and my friend had the pork loin. Both were extremely tasty. The chicken was a huge portion. The pork looked great- the only challenge was there was quite a bit of fat on it. Finally dessert. I love that you can order a plate of fresh, hot from the oven cookies in 4 flavors. The toffee one was my favorite- but the peanut butter one came in a close second. Service was good- they work in teams so different people were bringing out food out- but our server always checked in to make sure things were good. And free street parking is still available in this area which is always nice. The name Nightwood may remain a mystery- but the delicious food that they are serving shouldn't. It's a great addition to this neighborhood!
(4)Kelly H.
Went here for dinner and sat in the back where the kitchen is open and you can watch the staff prepare everything! If you are a foodie like me you will love it! The seating around the kitchen is bar style and the staff will interact and answer any questions while cooking! SO COOL! The food was amazing, menu is always changing and only use fresh food from local farms! Must try!
(5)Elizabeth S.
The talk is true. Having longed to try this place since it first opened, I was excitedly talking to various friends about my upcoming Friday night reservations. In response, everyone would tell me: I LOVE THAT PLACE. My curiosity and excitement only grew - and after my visit, my trust in these friends did too! Nightwood is a unique spot (worth the Pilsen trip) with dishes that parallel its character. Lamb+Octopus: uh, yeah! Enough said. Everything we had was great. Additionally, the staff was beyond generous (...we closed the place down, and they didn't seem to mind that we honestly had a hard time leaving our table). Thanks for making us feel so welcomed. I can't wait to return with more friends.
(5)Char Y.
we came for the famed burger and it was HUGE! the burger is layered with crispy onion rings, lettuce, pickles and two patties. delicious.
(4)mei s.
i was initially put off at first as i made reservations on opentable.com and i had specifically indicated in the notes, it's a special dinner, if you can seat us at a nice table, that would be appreciated. well, we showed up 15 minutes early and the dude sat us at a table against a wall adjacent to the bar. the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and he seats us against a wall next to the bar??? really? so, i immediately, asked, hey, can we get a window seat, especially since there were a few open too. sure, and he immediately moved us. don't you people read the notes on a reservation? you guys take the time to call people to confirm the reservation, you think you could read the notes too? good thing we moved, as the night progressed, there were asses that would have been rubbing against our heads while we were dining!!! despite the initial interaction, the rest of the night was fine. our server was excellent. very friendly and took the time to explain the terms to us. the meal was well-paced until it came to our entree, which actually was fine, bc we were full from the two appys and pasta dish. we ordered the warm raisin-nut bread with duck schmaltz, which is basically onions rendered in duck fat. i swear they flash-fried that piece of bread as it was glistening!! we also ordered the honey-roasted pears, bacon, spinach, podda (which is a hard goat cheese), sorrel and yeast. that was not a healthy salad by any means but it was damn tasty. and then we ordered the potato gnocchi with foie gras. that was awesome!!! it was a very small plate of pasta. i would have been peeved if that was my only dish. but i seriously, can't think of eating a big plate of it anyways though. for the entree, i ordered the fried scallops. there were three and they were finger-licking good. a bit salty, but good. hubby ordered the indiana duck. it was a lot of duck!! like a whole half of a duck. but i guess if you are going to charge $36 it better be half. btw, i ordered two tamarind rickeys, loved them. nice place, can cross off my list now.
(4)chris g.
BRUNCH. This is not your routine breakfast to say the least. Throw normal out the window & think chef inspired inventive breakfast. Even the homemade doughnuts are delish. I had a Cuban sandwich type dish that was layered with all kinds of things from pork to pickled greens. There's also some seasoned pancakes in there with an egg on top. It may sound weird but boy did all those flavors play well together. I can't wait for my next play date here. Two people with two brunch entrees, a doughnut, two coffee's & tax was $41. not including tip & no alcohol drinks.
(4)Taranika E.
Such a tiny place with a big menu... Definitely a first date kinda place.
(4)Chad C.
Butterscotch bacon donut, bread pudding French toast. Both good, didn't blow me away.
(3)Kathryn S.
My daughter made a reservation and they basically got the wrong night for us, so we didn't have a table when I got to the restaurant. I have to say that has thankfully never happened to me. I know people make mistakes, but their worst mistake was the manager didn't come over to me and apologize, or offer me a drink, or a free dessert. Nothing. He left it to the host to say, we'll find you a table soon. No one apologized. The menu gives the appearance of locavore, sustainable farms, organic, blah, blah, blah. The wait staff for our table couldn't tell me if the fish was farm raised or wild caught and had to check. She also could not tell me if the special, the duck, was organic. So, it's apparent the staff gets no heads up about the menu before opening. $35 for the duck? You would think they would know the menu. Quack, Quack. Impressed? Not in the least. Was the food good? The corn tortillas with the green garlic salsa was delicious. With the duck? Strange. The semi, under grilled vegetables were over powered by the very hot sliced pepper. Not that good. I won't be going back any time soon. However, if the manager had gone out of his way to apologize and to try to make amends, I would give it another try. I won't miss this place in the least. Like my daughter once asked me, "Mom, why is this dentist so expensive?", to which I replied, "if there's a problem, he'll know what to do; that's why he gets paid the big bucks." Clearly, this management didn't know what to do. it's a people business folks. Duh. Another mediocre experience that could have been great. Suck it up.
(2)Peter H.
went for restaurant week. had an awesome cocktail, dinner was just ok. the desserts were amazing. pretzels w/mustard caramel and lemon ice saved the trip. awesome service, but the menu left us wanting more. a dumpling, sausage, felt they could've been a bit more creative.
(3)Maureen S.
You can't get food this good for this price in very many places. It's expensive, sure, but worth every damn penny. The appetizers are inventive and flavorful, the cocktails (though I haven't tried them yet) looked delicious and smart. I'm excited to come back for brunch sometime. I wish they had more vegetarian options, but I'm not complaining because the food there is excellent, fresh, and creative. I'm very impressed with the decor- it's beautiful and modern without being garish, while still maintaining comfort and functionality. The space was certainly designed with many factors in mind, which I appreciated. The kitchen is completely visible from the back- it's always refreshing when a restaurant has nothing to hide. They use lots of locally sourced produce and meat from the Butcher and Larder in Noble Square, so if that's your jam, you can be sure you're eating something local and quality for your dollar, too. I recommend the vanilla cake for desert- it sounds simple, but the brown butter ice cream it came with was absolutely delicious. The marinated turnips and carrots, as well as house made pickles were a favorite, also. Tucked away in Southeast Pilsen, it's more than worth the visit, though I wish it was just around the corner.
(5)Liz W.
I had a semi-private event at Nightwood for my wedding reception. My (now) husband and I were looking for something that had somewhat of a wine cellar feel to it, and we were so impressed with what we found at Nightwood. We booked it sight unseen, food untasted. We didn't reserve the entire downstairs, we just asked - and Erin kindly agreed - to have it be private for the first couple of hours. We had a party of 12 people, so we had some preset appetizers, salads and my guests could choose between 4 entrees. Rarely do you have a party of 12 people in which each and every one of them raves of about their respective meals. Well, that happened. My grandmother is what you would call "finicky" and even she was pleased. I whole heartedly recommend Nightwood for dinner, private event or semi-private event. We had such a lovely time and Erin was so great as we were planning everything. Final note - the cake... I still think about that cake. We did the vanilla cake with the salted ganache filling and chocolate frosting with bits of toffee candy on top. Oh my goodness. I can't keep thinking about it or I'll want to go back. right. now.
(5)Daniel K.
On a recent visit to Chicago we had dinner at this restaurant...after hearing all the praise and reading the YELP reviews I can only say that this was the WORST restaurant experience we have had in a long time Of the 4 dinners the only one that satisfied was my wife's Atlantic Char. I had a "bowl" of pasta (spaghetti), well for $16 IIRC there was not enough spaghetti to fill a large teacup...friends has a half chicken dish the came out undercooked and leaking pink juice, after sending it back for more "fire" it was still inedible, seems to me that for what we spent, the wine was good, this was an absolute DISASTER...UGH.
(1)Gina G.
Nightwood is a wonderful restaurant that does not get enough attention. The menu changes weekly and sometimes nightly because of the farm to table concept they use. Everything is local, which I love! I had never heard about this restaurant before a friend recommended it. My boyfriend and I had a wonderful experience with excellent food, outstanding service and a great atmosphere. I would definitely recommend the glazed carrot and the pork belly to start. The spaghetti with meat sauce is to die for!! It's probably the best in the city, if not one of th best. We ended with the cheeseburger, which was also great. We will be back to Nightwood for sure! I want to try their brunch as well.
(5)Dutch B.
I'd say the ratings got me in the door, but the food was super standard. Ya, the tots were good and a bonus, but not worth a revisit. i got the trout spread bagel. LAME-O The egg was a mess and was oozing all over my bagel, the spread was nasty.. drink prices for that area- highway robbery. service, the bus boy and server didn't want to give us new silverware after our overrated donuts for apps. strange experience.. i'd won't be back..
(2)Kristin R.
I came here with the famed Filly G. of yelp the other night, and our mutual friend Frank, who has had the itch to try out some Mexican in Pilsen. Considering we could not settle on a Mexican place we all agreed on (namely Phil's aversion to one specific Mexi restaurant Frank wanted to try), we decided to give Nightwood a shot. Because I don't eat most meats, I checked out the menu beforehand to make sure there were at least a couple veggie options that I would consider, and there were. However, this restaurant is not very vegetarian-friendly as most of the entrees were straight up meat on a bone with only two pasta dish entrees, and one fish (I think). In any case, one of the pasta dishes was called "Potato Bugs". So get this, I am such a gullible moron I actually thought this restaurant served straight up big ass black potato bugs. I was actually looking forward to hearing our server explain this as I was so perplexed, yet intrigued. When I asked if there "really were potato bugs on the menu?" she snickered and said "oh, I forgot that we have an 'insect' on the menu. no, those would be the nickname for gnocci". So yeah, I felt like an ass. She was nice about it and maybe found my naivety a tad endearing. Who knows. So, on to the food... I ordered a licorice type pasta with some ricotta cheese and pistachio sauce concoction, which I enjoyed. And Frank's potato bugs were delish as well. I actually liked Frank's dish the best out of all of them. Phil's trout (?) I did not try; however, he claimed it was too fishy. We also were served some biscuits with honey butter, and I ordered a glass of pinot gris. This place is not cheap. My (moderate) portion of pasta cost $22! And my glass of wine $11.50 (I opted for the cheaper glass of white as the only other glass was $15). And I just felt like the food, and their limited selection, was not enough to justify anything above a 3-star rating. In fact, I was considering 2-star, but I did like my meal. I didn't love it, but I liked it. We skipped on dessert because we thought it would be fun to change it up and go elsewhere. Much to our chagrin, most dessert places are closed after 9 on Monday evenings.
(3)Gary M.
OK, so maybe I am being a little more critical that usual because a meal for two people with a few drinks was $140... We came for restaurant week and the food just wasn't impressive. To start we had a salad and a crostini - hard to really mess that up and that course was fine. For entrees, we had pork loin and chicken. Both were not good. The pork loin consisted of thinly slice pieces of fat with a negligible amount of real meat attached. The chicken was flavored well but really was nothing to write home about and the portion was also severely lacking. Drinks were decent (although $12 for a cocktail) and the service was great (we only waited 10 mins for our table to free up and after we were seated the food came in a timely manner).
(2)Mari Y.
Nightwood is not as impressive as it's set up to be. Food is just ok. Donuts are overpriced and the bacon maple was just not my scene. I liked the decor of the restaurant and the feel but the food was not that great. I had the cheeseburger, my bf had the biscuits and gravy and my friend had the tuna grinder. We all agreed that the food was meh. I said that I'd like to go back for dinner since everyone says it's good but my bf and friend both said no way, what's the point if the brunch was just meh and dinner would be twice the price? So....3 stars. It was fine. Eh.
(3)Brent C.
Quick review- Food is hit or miss and way overpriced, cocktails sound better than they are, and the service is not the best. The room is beautiful and the patio looks amazing. My date and I randomly walked in with out a reservation on a Tuesday night. We were in the neighborhood and had heard good things about the place. The host asked if we had a reservation and acted like it was a slight imposition for her that we didn't have one. My first cocktail was the Tamarand Rickey with rum. I found it to be overly sweet and lacking in Tamarand flavor. After we ordered, biscuits and honey butter were brought to the table. The biscuits were not good- too tough and definitely made by a Yankee- you would be thrown out of the restaurant for serving those in the south. I started my meal with the fried Myer lemons- interesting and I am glad I tried them, but I found them to be a bit greasy and heavy.I did not like the sauce they were served with- it was basically mayo smeared artistically on the plate. For an entree I had the Wood roasted beef brisket which had its moments, but overall was dry and lacking in flavor. My date had the wood grilled Wisconsin trout with roast potatoes and ripe melon with prosciutto ham. The trout was large, well cooked and had a great smokey flavor. My date found the potatoes to be undercooked and salty- I agreed, but it did not bother me that much- mostly because the fish was so good. The Ripe melon and prosciutto was interesting, but underwhelming and I did not care for the texture or flavor of the melon. I would consider getting this dish in the unlikely event that I find myself at Nightwood again. I was to disappointed with my meal and drinks to order dessert, so we headed down the block to Skylark where we had a couple of great beers, played pinball, tipped well and left with a smile.
(2)phil m.
WAY TOOO OVERPRICED!!!! I like Lula's and also overpriced. The food is good but really and great they support local farmers. The question is how are those farmers feeding the livestock or preventing bugs in the vegetation. It's pretty 'hip' to dine and support local farmers but yet do very little to name the farmers and their location. What is local btw? Anyhow, had a burger at the bar and was pleased. It was way overpriced and thought the staff are NOT from the neighborhood. Too many folk in here trying hard to be seen ....
(2)Tony B.
Great beer list. Anything with Rocky's revenge is a winner. Cool atmosphere and service. I went with a large party of 9, and the staff did a great job handling the large party. we got the carrots with creme fraiche as an appetizer, which was tasty. i also got the ham and egg salad which had everything I like in this world: ham, eggs, sharp cheese, candied pecans. It was an outstanding start to dinner. for my entree, I got the roast chicken, which was their signature dish. it was just OK. it was served with some preserved tuna, which added an interesting twist. my issue with the dish wasn't with the flavor; rather, the chicken was cold. having been in the restaurant industry, I understand the difficulty the kitchen would have in plating a 9-top, but cold chicken is not acceptable. The menu was exciting and adventurous; I bet if I went with a smaller group, it would have been a better experience.
(3)Rebecca M.
The bacon-butterscotch donuts are worth a 6 star rating alone. But everything else on the brunch menu I've tried has also been incredible. And both times I've been to nightwood the food has arrived quickly and service has been good (although you get the impression that cracking a smile is a punishable crime in this place). It's also hard to guess which of the 500 deadpan hipsters is a patron, bartender or waitstaff. I only wish they had a better or more obvious waiting area. Everyone just kinda crowds around the front/bar area with their asses in the faces of the poor patrons who end up seated at tables near the bar. Also, for what it's worth, I saw Rahm Emmanuel having brunch here. You can decide for yourself if that's a plus or minus.
(5)Jessica L.
WOW-ZAH! What a meal I just experienced at this Pilsen gem. I was in the hood for Second Fridays where I was able to experience some truly fantastic art exhibits finishing off the evening with a fabulous meal here. The ambiance is so inviting yet chique at the same time. The lighting is dim and romantic but also suitable for a group. We were a party of five this evening and were promptly seated and poured water (choice of sparkling or still). It took awhile for the waitress to get to us, but we didn't mind as we were enjoying our conversation. When she did arrive, she was incredibly knowledgeable and was patient when we played 20 questions with her on the menu (we were really just curious about a lot of the food - she didn't miss a beat with her descriptions). The food was simply delicious. I was able to try the spicy jalepeno popper, the heirloom tomato, the spaghetti and the duck. Everything tasted BETTER than it sounded on the menu (which is how it should be if you ask me). The stand out, knock out punch of the night was the duck by a long shot. It may have been the best duck I have ever set my lips on. Brown sugar glaze, moist meat, crisp skin - I ate myself into a coma. I should have stopped there, but no, I needed dessert...and caffeine. So, I ordered a cappacino and the dark chocolate pudding with roasted marshmallow and graham crackers. The cappacino was nice and foamy but not quite as hot as I like (consider asking for it extra hot if you go that route). And the smores type dessert was tasty, but entirely too rich and sugary for my taste. I only made it three bites in before throwing in the towel. Overall, this was just a fantastic evening. The only reason I did not give five stars is because the service was noticeably slow at key times throughout the meal. I will be back here soon for a second try and see if it was an anomoly or just par for the course.
(4)Ayako M.
Amazing brunch. Grilled pumpkin bread with maple butter...to.die.for! I had a biscuit and sausage gravy over kale dish and it was so rich and delicious! I'll admit, I ordered it specifically for the "cheddar biscuits" that were included....you had me at cheddar biscuit...and it was not disappointing, at all. Bloody Mary was funk-key! had a strange thin, yet chunky consistency, a strange dishwater taste and an overall weird look to it. On the bright side our server was super nice and took them away and replaced them with Mimosas...you can't go wrong with Mimosas! I will definitely make a trip here for dinner.
(4)Erika G.
Yeeeeaahhh, delicious. I don't know if it was the fact that I was in Pilsen, and would have chewed off the ears of a rat I was so damn hungry (and there's really no other game in the 'hood), but I LOVED IT. Went to the Pilsen Art Walk, and frankly, our first stop (here) was the best thing about the evening. Eating a delicious dinner before we go see the trustafarian art students. Ah, yes. I was starved, so I went 12 year old boy on it and got the cheeseburger. MMmmmmm. And it was done properly, very adult. Mmm! My pals got the gnocchi and the pate appetizers - and they were both a good size to share. Pate and fig jam and gnocchi and chunks of bacon. Mmmmmm. Seriously, we couldn't stop yapping about how great everything was. I went back to the bathroom to send a sext 'cos the food WAS sexy and saw my sexy reason to come back. The Chef Bar/Table in back! Kitchen as theater! Mon dieu! Pilsen, as a neighborhood, sucks. There's nothing there. But, this is a reason to go here. Hang out at the Skylark next door while you call a cab to get the hell outta there after dinner, but GO!!
(4)Michelle O.
I have visited Nightwood for dinner 3 times now and I have to say each time I walk away with the same feeling. Last night my friend and I shared the Polenta appetizer with Parmesan and it was very good. However, I think another layer of flavor would have been nice. It said it had spicy peppers in it but I was not tasting the pepper or the spice, in fact I was reaching for the table pepper to add it in. My main dish was the buttermilk fried scallops which were excellent. They had a very different deep fried outside crust and sat on a bed of beans and sauce. The sauce consistency was a little watered down and again lacking some flavor but overall a strong dish. My friend had the Spaghetti alla chitarra, broccoli raab and we both felt that it was extremely salty. It was also very oily and not in a good way were it makes a nice sauce, it was in a greasy way where it hurts your stomach and tastes like your eating only oil. It's the kind of dish where you take one bight and you're like Mmmm but then after the 2nd and the 3rd you're like Hmm... Overall, Nightwood is a cool environment where you can get creative food that needs some tweaking with seasoning and execution.
(3)Jeff G.
went on a sat night with 3 others, 7:45 rezzie. pace of meal was not rushed, we took our time ordering appies and entrees. food was very good, kind of pricey. i like the whole local and sustainable, but not sure why they had trout from oregon and snapper (probably from the gulf) on the menu tasty, but not sure worth driving to from andersonville. if we were in the neighborhood, we'd go back again.
(4)Aaron P.
I can't get enough of this place - I've been back several times for brunch, but have been wanting to go for dinner since day 1. The menu changes (I think) weekly, if not daily, and is hand written - too cool! At brunch, the bloody marys are to die for. Spicy and seasoned just right, using Tito's vodka. The doghnuts are almost always on the menu in some shape or form (different sauces or fillings) and are a must try. The hashbrowns are great too - formed into ping-pong sized balls and fried, served with a homemade/home-jazzed up ketchsup. I recommend a reservation for brunch, otherwise, you'll be toasted from the bloody marys while you wait at the bar! You must try this place!
(5)Ryan B.
A vibrant place, with creative options, and good service. I can't believe I found this Pilsen gem on accident. T'was a roll of the die that paid off when it usually doesn't. I love the quality and how the menu changes daily - just look at the date printed on the bottom - with unique combinations of local and seasonal foods that only talented chefs can pull off. And yes, you can eat in the kitchen - well really darn close to it - which is fun. It's a bar with a kitchen instead of shelves alcohol. You can watch the cooks make each delicious dish and even see a rabbit twirling on a spit (not visible from the regular seating). Cool to me. I had the brunch for the first time last week. I had a tough time choosing from all of the tempting options. I ended up with eggs with hollandaise sauce. Very tasty. The made to order donuts were rich and exquisite - I had to try them but couldn't finish 'em. I had a pork chop and chicken on separate visits and was delighted. Portions are old-school-sized, which means you can eat everything in one sitting - not a complaint. Other reviewers complain that this place is expensive, but they might be better off at Red Lobster. If you think about the quality of the ingredients and the talent required to have a seasonal menu, how could it not be (look in the kitchen - from what I can tell there are no TGI Friday's manual-educated fry cooks). You must appreciate these things if you are going to go here. Anyway, I haven't had the salads, but they look very enticing. I might just try one on my next visit.
(4)Stan W.
Both really, really good and not really that good all wrapped into one. It's a very charming place, good service, cool open kitchen where you can see all the action. The burger was perfect - one of the better burgers I've had anywhere, with solid fries. But you don't usually go to a place like this for a burger and fries. We got the raisin bread, which at $5 and smaller than most muffin's I've seen was a complete ripoff and should've been served to us for free. The salted bass pasta was just as described: SALTY. It also came with one rib floating in it that was pretty tough and chewy - not sure if that was on purpose. This dish was tiny too - I think there might've consisted of 6 noodles, 3 oysters, and 1 rib. So after seeing these dainty portions, I was already making plans to pick up a Happy Meal on the way home. When my ribs came, I was shocked. Was predicting a max of 4 bones and it was a full slab, with a hunk of cornbread and slaw. Unfortunately, the ribs were not good at all - salted beyond recognition and I could only choke down 3, leaving like 2/3 of the slab uneaten. Not only did the salt destroy them, but they weren't cooked well at all. The ribs were tough and dried out - not cooked low and slow. I've made far better ribs myself with my smoker. So I don't know what to make of this place. Seems fancypants, but serves things like overpriced burgers (very good) and ribs (terrible). This would've gotten 2 stars, but the mini baked alaska dessert we got was both interesting and very good. I'd rate the burger a 5, the dessert a 4, the ribs a 1, and the other courses a 2. All over the place.
(3)Anne P.
I went and ate dinner the day after Nightwood's "soft" public opening--that is, not advertised, etc, but word gets around--and was very pleased with the experience. So happy to have another excellent local option. Since it's so new, of course there was the usual 20-servers-for-3-diners thing going on, but that's unsurprising, and the staff handled it with grace, balancing sweetly between attentive and too-attentive, but with a dash of humor added. It did get quite a bit busier before I left, I might add: I arrived quite early, at 5:30ish, right after work--places to be and all. Of course, that was the night before they got their liquor license, but they offered a BYOB option, which was nice. No more, though, or so I hear. From what my server told me (and what I've read), Nightwood's very focused on local, fresh ingredients, and that showed in my meal: "suckling pig and morel ravioli with spinach and green olives." Amazingly rich, and the olives and morels packed way more taste than your usual options. Same could be said for my strawberry sorbet with macerated berries. The berries, I might add, were way more strawberry than normal strawberries, and definitely more strawberry than the sorbet--I know sorbet's supposed to be light, but in the last few bites, I could hardly tell what flavor it was supposed to be. Perrrfectly cooked, too: a good al dente, so that you know your pasta's there, you know? That said, the meal was pretty subtle. If you're not paying attention, it could be lost on you. And the portions are definitely fine dining-sized (though not terribly fine dining-priced). I was hungry again by the end of the night, though that may also be due to me eating early in the evening. But my particular dishes aside--since they're going to rotate the menu regularly according to what's in season and fresh and available and all--it's a very, very pretty place. Low, soft-orange retro-esque chairs, medium-toned woods, hanging iron lamps, steel barstools, etc. The flowers here and there were also a great touch: I kept catching their scent and wondering if they'd perfumed the place. But no, just the lilies sitting right next to me, I finally realized. You can also eat right in front of the kitchen, which is totally open, so you can watch your meal being cooked. The patio also looks lovely, though it was too chilly on the day I went to attempt it. The one bit I found rather unsurprising but annoying (and may have only noticed due to having my leisure to see all the staff wandering about) is the makeup of the staff: was there a BMI cap during hiring or something? Every one of them that I saw was slim-to-teensy, it seemed. For that matter, there were three girls hanging out at the hostess stand, and not one of them topped 5'4", if I were to guess. Nor did I spot any non-whites, I might add. Not that any one physical appearance is a problem, just that that particular trend struck me as irking (and potentially discriminatory, frankly). But it was just one night: there may be other folks around and I just missed them. But for such a diverse neighborhood to have such a cookie-cutter staff is a little... odd. Absolutely nothing against the current staff, though: every single one of them was lovely to me--friendly, chatting and informative, but also willing to leave me alone when I was focused on my meal. The bartender even gave me a short tour, which was super-nice of her. So in short: love the vibe, love the decor, love the focus on fresh and local, love the food, love the current staff, but really wish they'd expand a little in that department.
(4)Pete V.
Nightwood, why did you have to go and mess up my 5 star review by completely failing me with bad service? I make it a point to overweight my Yelp rating on food and underweight on service, but I had to knock Nightwood for bad service, making us wait almost 40 min after our reservation time, and a shady tactic when they messed up our order. The good....we stopped in at noon for brunch with a reservation made on OpenTable. We were told it would be a wait, and fortunately got 2 seats at the bar. We ordered a couple of drinks and started off with the butterscotch bacon donut, which was amazing. The butterscotch syrup was a beatiful mild flavor and texture, and the doughnut was very light and fluffy, reminiscent of Krispy Kreme. The bacon was minced and loaded into the center. This was just an absolutely delightful dish. In fact, the party sitting next to us saw it (when it was mistakenly served to them) and ordered it even after having finished their brunch! My entree was the bagel sandwich. A very large dish with a wonderful light Rushing waters smoked cream cheese (the highlight). I was shocked by how tasty the slaw was, very unique and not overly creamy. The tots were not quite what I expected, as they were more like hash browns that had been breaded and deep fried. I was served three tots on my plate and finished two of them as they seemed almost too fried and heavy for my taste. The bad...first our wait even with a reservation was 40 min. To me that is simply unacceptable. Why have a reservation when you have to wait almost an hour anyway? We ended up just eating at the bar since we were hungry and didn't have three hours to spend for brunch. Second, our doughnut was served to the party next to us. Now, those girls should have said they hadn't ordered the doughnut, but we had to ask the bartender to get the doughnut for us. Third, and most annoying. They had served my wife the wrong order. When we notified our server of the issue, he politely took the order back to correct it. When her dish arrived, they had switched out the main entrée and left the tots and toast from her old dish, which had been served 15 min ago and both were completely cold. Seriously??? Is this how you run a restaurant? Especially when we are paying $16 and entrée? Cold toast? C'mon people. Overall the food was outstanding and I would return just for the doughnut, but the management at Nightwood needs to improve their reservation system and correct these service issues before I will be spending more hard earned coin here.
(3)Eugene C.
I'm a fan of Cafe Lula so I'm not surprised at how much I really liked this place. I mean these guys have great attention to the look and feel. As a designer I appreciate that. Good, functional use of space and the exposed Kendall College or Food Network like kitchen is a nice touch on your way to the water closet. The waitstaff was uber friendly. They were very helpful in selecting the courses and beverages. Fresh and delicious, it has a little bit of everything for the omni, herb and carni taste. It's similar to something you would find in Portland, Or or the PNW in general. I definitely want to check it out in the summer. They have a nice lil area in front that needs exploration.
(5)Lisa B.
Tasty food insanely over-priced. I felt like a sap paying the bill.
(2)Megan C.
Generally good food and good service, but wasn't mind-blowingly amazing...just okay. I was underwhelmed. I have to say though that the desserts were the best part of the meal. Went here for the CRW 2012 dinner and essentially tried every dish on the menu (was with 2 other people so we just shared things)--most of their dishes appear on their regular menu as well: -Spinach salad with buttermilk dressing, artichokes, pecans and fried onions--I thought it was too much dressing and cheese, making it a bit on the heavy side -Crostini--I thought they put too much gorgonzola to the point of overpowering the garlicky bread (which was great) -Foie agnolotti--delicious but the foie was a bit on the salty side, I would've preferred that it would've been either less salty or balanced off with more of the balsamic reduction sauce -Soft-scrambled egg with Michigan char roe--pretty creamy and delicious with the toast, but if this is supposedly a similar value to the foie risotto, it may be a bit of a ripoff -Spit roasted pork loin with farro, capers, onion rings, sugar--I was expecting something a bit more substantial than thin slices of pork with some farro, but it was cooked well, smoky, and had lots of "delicious fat" as stated on the menu -Chicken with a side salad and radish--reminded me of a mashup of sweet-and-sour chicken and barbeque (it was slightly spicy); the chicken didn't seem to have much meat on it, and the sauce just reminded me of eating spicy sweet and sour dishes (ie in Chinese cuisine) -Semifreddo with brownie chunks--deliciously like eating clouds of light but oh-so-creamy ice cream; I wish the brownie chunks were chewy instead of hard though -Sourdough bread pudding with toffee and salted caramel--probably the best bread pudding I've had so far because it was not cloyingly sweet nor too heavy or soggy Overall: food was not bad--just in some cases overseasoned; given portion size and the regular prices (30+ for the entrees), I don't think I would go here...it's a little bit overrated for my taste.
(3)Rusty S.
Great find in Pilsen neighborhood. unique menu, great fresh food and nice atmosphere.
(5)Michael W.
Went here with a friend who used to live in Pilsen and swore by it. We grabbed dinner not too long ago and I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it was the best but the ambiance is great and it's a perfect date spot. The food was very good and the prices weren't too bad, but our waiter did some hovering which made it at times a little uncomfortable. I don't think he knew he was doing it but we're all adults here so ask your question and then beat it. Not saying that rudely because i've worked in the industry, but we've all had that person. After reading a number of the brunch reviews, I can't wait to go check it out. Thinking this weekend so stay tuned..
(4)Michael B.
In a word, the brunch was ridiculous. So, so good. Had a cheese omelet with summer vegetables, and that, the toast, and potatoes (shredded and fried into the shape of little balls) were all perfect. Good coffee, which is unfortunately something that has to be noted. Friendly and attentive service. Really, the white russian donut (yes, get it, don't think twice, it's f***ing amazing) is worth four stars in itself. Can't really think of any reason not to give the place five stars other than I try to be sparing with those.
(4)Edward M.
Ohhh boy, Nightwood. It was awesome. [end short-form review] [begin long-winded review] I went for the first time on a Saturday night with a reservation. As soon as entering, we were instantly greeted by the friendly staff and promptly seated. The ambiance is perfect for a date or meal with good friends; dark and intimate, a kind of minimalistic-rustic (??? I just made that up) decor with a good-looking crowd of 20/30/40-somethings looking forward to a good night. For food, we ordered a lot because it's one of those menus where everything looks good (and because that's just how I roll [un]fortunately). The sweetbreads, sardines, and semolina trofie to start. The chicken and trout as entrées. The cheesecake with scoops of homemade chocolate and peanut butter ice cream for dessert. A bottle of malbec during the meal and an espresso to finish it off. Just like we expected, everything we ordered was at the least great. As an aside, I really do try to avoid ordering chicken at restaurants, but this is one of the rare places where it is completely understandable and worth it. Seriously, it's good to know that you can't go wrong at a place where you're paying a bit more than usual. Speaking of the price, we came out to about $100/person after tax and tip. A lot, I agree. But given the amount of food we ordered plus the bottle of wine, I bet you could have a really satisfying time for probably $50-60/person. In any case, I didn't mind paying given our experience and the special occasion. The service was good; quick and attentive. What I especially liked is that there is a "water guy" (couldn't think of a better term) who goes around and offers tap or sparkling water, which is made in-house (I never really understood sparkling water; doesn't it just make you full? But I guess cool to have the option). And they're poured from large glass bottles, not sweaty pitchers. Just a pet peeve of mine; glass seems cleaner... [end random OCD section] The only part I didn't like about my experience at Nightwood is that it is a pain to get to it. I can't fault them for it, just an inconvenience for most people I'm guessing. Anyhow, if you have a special occasion coming up (date, anniversary, bday, etc) and want somewhere special, I highly recommend!
(5)Sandy K.
I have been wanting forever to check out Nightwood. I love places that use seasonal/ local ingredients! We made reservations for an early dinner at 5:30 on a Saturday night because we had tix for a show after. We didn't need the rezzies but ya never know. We were seated outside on the patio which is very cozy, loved it! Let me get the negative out of the way. Our waitress. She was aloof as aloof can be. She was sort of unwelcoming and it was hard to flag her down sometimes which I find annoying when I'm paying high prices. I don't mind paying high prices but if I do I have expectations of the service. Maybe this was just an off night for her. My hubby is not as much of a foodie as I am but he loved his spit fired chix. I tried it and it did have a fantastic smokey flavor, I have never tasted chicken quite like that. I had the salmon and it was good but I was wishing for hubbys chicken instead. Oh and I loved the pea tendrils.. who knew I'd love pea tendrils? I know there are some comments about the portions being too small here. What we ordered, we did not find that to be true. I felt the portions were just right. We opted out of dessert partly because I was ready to get away from our waitress. We went to Taylor street for italian ice instead. YUM! I would go back. I love that the menu changes constantly.
(3)Zeke A.
I came to Nightwood for brunch this morning with a friend from high school and we had a great meal and a great time! The place was extremely busy and crowded as expected at 11:30am on a Sunday. That made the service a little slow, but we were in no rush so it was fine. However, our food came out so quickly so that was great! We both could not take our eyes of the goat cheese crepes and we did not go wrong with that selection! A little savory and a little sweet...a great balance! The portions were small, but the goat cheese is so rich and creamy that's it's just fine. We both had coffee and I had a mimosa and our entrees and it was a bit pricey. However, you pay what you get for and the quality, presentation, atmosphere, and welcoming staff all make it worth it! This was a special occasion as I hadn't seen my friend in 7 years I think...so when I have a new guest from out of town visiting. I'm definitely making reservations here again. (Yes they take brunch reservations -- Score!!) Thank you Nightwood!! Looking forward to my next visit!
(4)Caitlin G.
Mama may have taught me not to talk with my mouth full, but Mama never ate the spit-roasted half chicken at Nightwood. How can one raised with even the best of manners not praise the heavens and the chef for this dish while shoveling it into her grateful mouth? As a special surprise on my birthday, I was treated to dinner at Nightwood. It was the perfect place to celebrate my birthday. Though we arrived early for our reservations, we were able to snag two spots at the bar where the gentleman ordered a whiskey straight and I ordered a Whiskey Daisy, a delicious concoction of Jim Bean Rye, mulberry syrup and lemon. We were promptly seated at a table by the window where my bulky coat was whisked away for comfort's sake. After deliberating over the menu, we ordered the Slagel Farm Spit-Roasted Chicken for him and the Roast Squab, Foie Gras, Parsnip, Pear, Pea Tendrils with Black Walnuts dish for her. Yep. I like my meals ridiculously succulent and fatty, thank you. We were given a delicious plate of bread, which appeared to melt in our mouths, while we waited, and sipped on wine. The atmosphere of the place was bustling, but not overwhelming or oppressive. We were cozy and comfortable and lost in our own conversation while we waited. Now, about the squab, I did not know what I was ordering, but this is the beauty of a place like Nightwood. You can go in pretty ignorant and end up with a dish that is different but delicious. Nightwood allows you to take chances where you might not at other establishments. The squab was exactly as it should be--bursting wtih flavor, featuring fatty and greasy skin and tender red meat that was somewhat tough to get to, given that the bird is so small. Would I have ordered squab if I had known that it was a baby pigeon? Probably not. Was it delicious? Yes. So there you have it. The little foie gras mixed with the dish were MIND. BLO. WING. Mind-blowing, people. The gentleman's half chicken was, as I mentioned above, unreal. Chicken has never tasted as savory as it was. It was rich with flavor, moist and absolutely decadent. The dude kept slipping more on my plate for me, which was sweet because it was so tasty and my squab was so tiny. We literally could not stop talking about how delicious this dish was. As it was my birthday, I ordered myself the chocolate pumpernickel bread pudding. It was also scrumptious. The chocolate melted in my mouth and made me weak at the knees. I cleaned the plate! Nightwood's not in my budget for visiting regularly, but I'm sticking it in my back pocket as a great spot for a special treat.
(5)Rick C.
We stopped in late on a Thursday night and get seated immediately. My wife had been here before and she enjoyed it, so I was hoping for a similar experience. The place itself was cool, nice but casual. Our waitress let us know they were out of sweet breads, so we went with the soft shell crab with corn relish. Probably one of the better soft shell crabs that I've had. Nothing fancy, just a good quality crab done right. We had two appetizer sized pastas, the trofie which was delicious and the cavatelli with duck heart. I liked both. I think they really do their pastas well here. The duck heart had almost a livery taste. Good, but the trofie was better. For our entrees, my wife had the corn custard with a side salad and polenta croutons. The croutons were awesome. the custard was rich and tasty. Probably a bit overpriced for what you get, but good. I was in the mood for a burger so I gave theirs a shot. I enjoyed it. I've been using the burger at Owen and Engine as my comparison point recently and this one held up well. I believe it was on a ciabatta bun which was a nice touch. Again, not fancy but good quality beef cooked well. That would also probably sum up how I felt about the food here.
(4)Amy L.
I like the concept and how the menu was presented in handwritten format.. food wise I get it that most things are organic but the prices don't really justify it for me. $4 for a cup of grapefruit juice that can from a plastic gallon jug.. that tasted like any other store bought grapefruit juice $7 for a bowl of oatmeal with dried cherries and milk.. steel cut oats yes and it was thick yes but its not that different from the ones I make at home from the cans. Nothing superb. maple bacon donut.. this was good and I think if I were to go back this would be the only thing I get. My friends tried the dish with the tater and tots and they liked it but again I didn't think it was worth it from the presentation to the portion, to the taste.
(3)Melissa L.
My guidebook listed this restaurant as worthy of trying and I would have to agree - this is certainly a hidden gem, at least for us tourists. I'm not sure how many make it out to Pilsen but I felt like we were the only ones. My husband was lecturing me about choosing a restaurant in a potentially unsafe area of the city but it was worth it and we would later learn that the sketchy area was really quite a few blocks away from there. We went for brunch, and the peanut butter and jelly donut was soo good.. but how could it not be really? I got the breakfast bagel with egg, bacon and other good stuff. It was good yet a bit heavy.. The real standout was the rosti potato balls.. I've never had better. My hubby enjoyed the trout omellete. Will definately go back for dinner next time I'm in Chicago. Yet I'll probably take a cab there ;)
(4)Brit D.
this review is based on brunch ONLY. soooooo good. If you are looking for a good brunch place, definitely check this out. They use only fresh organic ingredients here which makes it a bit more pricey then your average brunch spot, but well worth it. Last time we were here my boyfriend and I both got the bagel with trout spread, bacon, egg, and potatoes...sooooo good. I've also tried the oatmeal and butterscotch bacon donuts....YUM! The service here is also fantastic....very artsy waitstaff who have always been very attentive and helpful! oh and they also have an outdoor patio, too bad summer is almost over! :-(
(5)Tera D.
I really really really liked this place! I went on a Saturday night to celebrate my bday with my husband. It was full but not crazy - a nice atmosphere for actually being able to talk to each other. We started with drinks at the bar before we were seated. Good drink list, and outrageously reasonable wine prices. As for food, the menu isn't huge, and it's set up in a pretty standard fashion - apps, pastas, entrees, desserts. We're so used to small plate menus these days that we decided to order 3 apps, 1 pasta and 1 entree and just split everything. All three apps were great - the pig ear and the caramelized carrots being the standouts. Our pasta was the farfalle with anchovies and other goodies. To be fair, the hubs would probably only give Nightwood 4 stars because he was very offended by the fact that the pasta had a ton of olives in the sauce and they weren't mentioned on the menu. He has a point, since olives are a strong flavor, but I happen to love them and thought the pasta was great. Our entree was the duck, which was to die for. It had this great garlicy rappini on the side, plus dates that were the perfect sweet pairing for the smokey, crispy duck. Yummmm. And best of all, our final bill was $150, which included 3 drinks, a bottle of champagne, and all the aforementioned delicious food! I'll be recommending this place often, and hopefully heading back soon!
(5)Wiz M.
Came here a couple nights ago. I live close by and first time I've been there. Heard about the menu changes almost on a daily basis which is really cool. I also like restaurants that support local farms. It was a really good meal. Our waitress hooked me up with the last duck that wasn't on the menu. It was a spit roasted half duck. it was cook perfect. The portions are pretty big. My guest had the quail, it was ok, I wouldn't have that again. But the duck was to die for. Very good beer selection, mostly midwest brews. Everything is really fresh and you can tell. I heard from others that the brunch is really good, I will definitely come for that sometime soon.
(4)Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I had been wanting to try here for ages and finally we did. It was GREAT! After we finally figured out which door to go in off the sidewalk, we were sat immediately, per our reservation. The staff was super friendly and made us feel welcomed. We started with the pork cheek and the scallops. The pork cheek wasn't what we expected and didn't quite sit well; it's not worth trying. The scallops were fairly good though. For entrees we had the wood-grilled whole trout and the pork shank. Both were amazing! The trout was huge and super flaky and buttery. It was one of my favorite fish dishes I've had out in awhile. The pork shank was super tender and melted in your mouth. Unfortunately, they were out of the dessert we were craving so we opted for a simple scoop of chocolate cake ice cream. It was rich and tasted a bit different than the usual chocolate, but we definitely want to go back for a more appealing dessert. We can't wait to go again and try a pasta; they looked pretty good as well!
(4)Adrian J.
While most of the surrounding area can look a bit "disorganized" don't be dismayed. For those not in the area, this is a place worth the trip. They change their menu all the time but I highly suggest the fried lemons. For the entree I had the sturgeon which came with in a perfectly sized portion. I also got a chance to sample their fries and burger. The burger took on the scent on their wood grill. As for the drinks, I had the chance to sample their Virgina Wolf punch. A big fan of gin, it definitely hit the spot. The service was spot on. No complaints. They were totally willing to split up the check according to what the person ate (took a little longer) but it made it much easier when paying. Since we had a larger party, they seated us downstairs which was more intimate than upstairs. The upstairs was definitely more noisy but I wouldn't say unbearable by any means. I will definitely be recommending to all my s. loop friends.
(4)Anne D.
I came here with a large group for brunch, and we were seated in the basement, which seemed to be a wine cellar. The basement had long tables with benches - not exactly the best for when you're wearing a dress and trying to gracefully swing your legs over the bench! The service was lacking - we were ignored by the waiters for a large amount of time and were met with confused looks when requesting simple things like hot sauce. We ended up being there for about 2.5 hours because the food service took so long. Good thing I was with good company! The food was quite good and the hot chocolate I got was adorable, but the portions were very small for the price. If I come back, I'll try the main dining room and hope for better service!
(3)alex m.
BRUNCH Bacon butterscotch donut?! I don't even like butterscotch. Hot DAMN! Bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese bagon egg and slaw. YES. TOTS, yayy! BRUNCH HERE IS AMAZING. Why can't NYC have brunch like this? Simple understated perfection. And yummy. Housed under a great roof. can't wait to return for the burger which I hear rave reviews about.
(5)John G.
The brunch menu is definitely limited to say the least. While, the burger I had was great, it's $3-$5 over priced. Our server was inattentive, leaving the table thirsty and hopeful to get a simple drink refill while the apparent manager touched my boyfriend twice while telling him where he could find the restroom.
(2)Monique M.
I love dining in Chicago, and had high expectations for this spot based on the yelp reviews. True, the atmosphere/ambiance is great...with a very attractive, friendly crowd. And yes, service was quick and friendly...although our waiter was a tad awkward. I got the distinct impression he wasn't used to seeing ladies like us (non-anglo) in there that often. Anyhow, we asked the waiter about portion sizes...he should have been able to advise us a bit better just looking at our mid-sections! We ordered a salad and beef tenderloin to split and were disappointed by the microscopic portions...which added to two glasses of wine came to the tune of $100. I'm used to foo-foo sizing in better restaurants, but COME ON. The salad was delish, but the tenderloin was not-so-tender, and my jaws ached by the time we left. Sad, but true, we we forced to drive straight to a white castle and order a dozen sliders. Plus one star for a VERY cute ladies room, but I think I would just come for drinks next time.
(3)katy h.
The donut was simply the best. Fresh, melt-in-your mouth, maple sweetness with thick chunks of bacon. We sat at the kitchen counter on a Sunday morning, and watching the kitchen staff in action was terrific! Hot chocolate was dark and rich, if not that hot. Bloody Mary's were bland, and salami and cheese swizzle stick was not very flavorful either. That said, the French toast with a pastrami and ground mustard filling and Cuban sandwich both had good combinations of flavors and texture. The potato balls were crisp on the outside, and gooey on the inside. The host and hostess were very accommodating, and our waitress was efficient, if not friendly. We went with our 11 year old daughter, and she enjoyed her eggs and toast, and the kitchen view. We will return at night for dinner. FYI = 1 donut, 3 breakfasts, 1 hot cocoa, 2 Bloody Mary's = $74.00
(4)Amanda C.
Meh. The hype around this place seems predicated on the notion that 30-something yuppie-hipsters who prefer to dine on Restaurant Row can come to a non-gentrified neighborhood in order to look 'cool' and ahead of the curve. Great concept (co-created menu with their farmers) but Nightwood hasn't quite mastered the execution. I came for dinner and was disappointed in the quality (and originality) of the goat cheese beet baguette and found the polenta to be under-seasoned with a texture that resembled morning oatmeal. Portion sizes are too large for my taste, while the vegetarian options were a little slim. The carrot soup was delicious, but lacked the complexity of the soup you would get at, say, Girl and the Goat. Too much bread, butter, oil and pasta throughout. A pleasant-enough experience if you adjust your expectations but I'm not jumping to go back.
(2)Luis C.
Love this place. If i had the money to spend, I would come here weekly. So, my wife and I saved this spot for special occasions. I love the fact that their menu tends to change in season. The staff is very friendly and the deserts are to die for. I've had friends rave to me about their brunch but i have not had it yet but plan to soon! !
(5)April W.
Really enjoyed brunch here. I had the cheeseburger and it is fair to say that it was one of my top 5 burgers I have had. I also enjoyed their beer mimiosa and really liked that it was something different. The service was a touch slow, but it was a Sunday and it was brunch so it was understandable. I never knew such a chic place with so much culinary talent existed on that strip of halsted.
(4)Michael C.
Great food, terrible service. We had a large group and were seated downstairs, which was awesome, but the service was slow. Slow enough to detract from the meal.
(4)Sao-Mai N.
What a hidden gem! Tucked away among dreary, abandoned looking buildings, juxtaposed next to the highway, Nightwood is a beacon of deliciousness. Highlights are the donuts and the tater tots among other things.
(4)Allyn S.
Went here for my birthday on Feb 5th - right after the blizzard of the century. It was absolutely worth the trip. We were a party of 13, and making the reservation was a wonderful experience. They gave us a table in the Wine Room downstairs (LOVELY) and suggested picking a couple of bottles of wine beforehand so that everyone could have a drink as they arrived. What a great idea for a larger party of people who traveled a decent distance with snow and crap still everywhere. It was great. The food was DELICIOUS. I had a burrata and prosciutto appetizer that was to die for and trout for dinner. So so good. Everything that everyone else had looked yummy, too. The service was attentive without being too in-your-face, and we had a great night. Thanks, Nightwood. I'll be back!
(5)Phil F.
I would describe this place as chincy and in bed with people that just wanna be trendy.....I was really underwhelmed. Sad too, because I think that Lula is great. Or it was the last time I was there. Maybe its crappy too these days? We sat at the kitchen bar, which was exciting. Turned out to be more exciting sounding, it was a pretty chilled out kitchen, which is fine. The biscuits they gave us at first were meh....kinda dry and easy to forget. So was the sweetened up butter. I think what really turned me off was our first course, the burrata, an Italian mozzarella which has a silken creamy center which is to be savored as sweeter than the most profound nectar. BUT, the one they gave us was already cut open and we were given a 1/4 piece of the whole......for 15 BUCKS? EWW. On the menu it was described as being served with charred peppers, but we got ONE hidden in some greens. and we got a half of some ciabatta bread or something. I seriously felt robbed. My main course was overly chewy oricchiette with braised porcinis and pea pods. Good aside from the overly chewiness. And the portion definitely was chincy. Drinks were alright. But they might want to invest in some more inspired garnishes, since the drinks are not cheap. So I would not go back.
(2)Alan M.
I'd have to agree with some of the reviews I've read, that have preceeded mine. Good, but nothing outstanding. Too far to drive (from the north shore) for just "good". There's plenty of good and great in between us.
(2)Aaron K.
Oh Nightwood. Why did we wait so long to meet you? Soon I will not work close to you. You will no longer be within my supple grasp. You gave us so much and offered us even more. Why can I not reciprocate? Why o Why? Your freshness was refreshing. Your cocktails raised our cockles. I only hope we can rekindle the flame and have another night like tonight.
(4)Kristen M.
Menu is quite small and limited, but food is tasty. Servers are pretty arrogant and "stuffy". We had a group of 6 and the server, who never once smiled, let alone earned her tip, added a TWENTY percent gratuity on our bill without any notification.
(2)Chaz A.
If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad? This place is a paradox. How could such a cool enviornment and innovative concept and such talent produce such a dull and uninspired product? I don't know, but It must be the menu Changes daily thing. Maybe I came on an off night. Maybe I am too quick to judge. I don't know, but Nightwood tonight, did not satisfy. We waited an hour and 7 minutes for our entrees. Our waiter was unfriendly as hell. The food was goodish, but NOT good enough for a feature film wait from when we ordered. Chef Candace was very nice, but we were sitting at the counter and she was the only one who even acknowlaged our presence. A single tear, Nightwood. I want to return. But, alas, I was so dissapointed.
(2)Leigh K.
I wanted my 500th review to be a good one! One of the most stellar meals my boo and I have eaten together yet. We went there for my 31st birthday in May and I had noted in Open Table that I was excited to try their duck dish. They went out of their way and called me to let me know they were switching the menu, but that they were going to have a duck for me. Stellar, I tell you. Our server was excellent and we went with his recommendations for a good number of our selections. It was such a special night out and I keep meaning to go back. 2011 New Year's Resolution: Go back to Nightwood a few times this year!
(5)Jane T.
I actually came here late last summer and forgot to review til now. "I'll do it later" and now I'm months behind. Regardless of the time frame, I still remember what I had - pan seared duck on a bed of arugula and other vegetable-y goodness. It was amazing. I also had a piece of my friend's wood grilled whole trout, which was cooked perfectly and deboned as well! We sat right by the kitchen so we were able to see all the other culinary creations that left the open kitchen. I must say, their burger looked awesome. I'll probably try that my next visit, if they have it on the menu. The wait staff was also very pleasant. I loved that they didn't have any specific dress attire - it made the whole experience very comfortable.
(5)Sarah M.
Holy crap on a cracker. This place brings it. Bacon butterscotch donut? Cynics might scoff at the sudden "ironic" hipster nature of bacon and that donuts are the new cupcakes but just shut up for a sec and eat this thing. Would have been five stars had I not ordered a bloody Mary which was just not good. So simple, but so wrong. Can I at least get a celery stalk or a skewer of olives? I guess I was just disappointed that the creativity of the food menu didn't carry over to the cocktail menu. But whatevs. I'm full and need a nap.
(4)Suz M.
De-lic-ious. So good. Everything they brought was really tasty, including the amazing little biscuits they bring while you are waiting. The food is pricey. If you want a full meal you will pay a lot of money. My only problem with the food is that it is incredibly rich, which to most people isn't a problem but to someone who has a stomach problem... it can be. I'll go back here again for sure.
(5)Graham L.
I thought I had my life in order. I have a halfway decent job, excellent friends and family, numerous and engaging hobbies... But then I came here for brunch where a beautiful woman brought me a butterscotch bacon donut and I realized that there are indeed higher levels of living out there. Damn.
(5)Elyse C.
I managed to get a table without a reservation on the patio (which isnt really a patio but sort of an airy room with no ceiling, but really nice regardless) on a Friday night, sweet! Service waa fine, lacking in personality, but adequate. A lot of my comments have already been said...I had the duck confit and it was really good with a crunchy fennel salad and black beans, but expensive, i did clean my plate! My only recommendation: Im not a big wine person so I ordered the two brothers draft...I could get a six pack of the same beer at Whole Foods for a dollar more than the tulip I got at Nightwood. Kegs dont cost that much! Skip the drinks for one meal, or just get one glass of wine. My mom and I went to Skylark afterwards and her gin and tonic + my lagunitas were about the same as my beer at Nightwood.
(4)Eli H.
Not worth it. Decent food, utterly horrible service. It took 45 minutes to bring out half of the appetizers followed by an over an hour wait for the entrees. I've worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and I've never experienced worse service. Absolutely not recommended. Don't waste your time.
(1)Ellen H.
Just like Lula (live just across the Square), I would dash off to Nightwood in a heart beat for the brunch. It's larger, with an open floor plan and so bright compared to it's big sister - which has it's own ambiance. All the wood details, the design, and open kitchen really liven it up. We had reservations for a birthday brunch, and had no trouble adding attendees (ended up with 4, from the original 2). We did wait a few minutes, but the bartender was making drinks and we could peak around a little bit. Always tricky deciding what to order, but we were early for a change, so breakfast was the winner. Ever since a great breakfast at a little spot (King's Cafe) in Cali - I lust after quiche with a nice simple side salad. Upon discovering a lovely ham, aged cheddar and broccoli quiche on the menu with greens - my decision was easy. Drinks were tasty (our table sampled both coffee and bar drinks), donuts were divine, and for the most part, everything was stellar and we all traded tastes. Loved the fall components of the menu - tried the sweet potato frittata, the bagel sandwich (spied at the bar) while messy, was enjoyed by our tablemate. The only small issue - our companion ordered eggs over medium, and sent them back (too runny). When they arrived again, they were more towards over hard (at that point, she went with it); she works in food service, finds that many places can't quite hit over medium.
(4)Sophia T.
I think the best part about the restaurant is the ambiance and the strive for experimenting with a changing menu. What I think bad is that the service is a little slow, which is okay sometimes if the food was great. The food however, was not that great for the price you pay. I would say it is mediocre, nothing too special, just fancy.
(2)Jason M.
When I saw Nightwood on Check Please, I was excited. Then, I saw the address. 2119 N. Halsted. Ugh, no way. Not interested in being in the heart of Lincoln Park. But then...in one magic moment, I realized it was 2119 S. Halsted. Wonderful. While I live north and I generally don't like to treck all over the city, I was excited to hit up the Pilsen Arts District and see what Nightwood had to offer. To admit my own prejudices, had the address really been at Armitage and Sheffield, I probably would've declined. Nightwood was well worth the trip. It's a little cliche in its "alternativeness" but it's excellent. As an example, 100% of male bartenders were wearing cardigan sweaters. We had a couple cocktails. I found the cocktail list to be similar to a place like the Whistler. The pumpkin old fashioned was very good, but the tamarind syrup vodka was even better. While sweet, it was fresh tasting and just beautiful. As for food, the lamb shank and butternut squash casoncelli were both excellent and the burrata was a little different than usual, but also very good. In general, this isn't amazing in the way that Girl/Goat or Takashi or Davanti Enoteca or some other places are, but it's really good, affordable and a great spot to eat.
(4)Natalia D.
The boyfriend and I had made an unexpected trip to Pilsen one Sunday morning and decided to stop in for brunch. Overall our experience was just OK. No real complaints, but nothing that blew us away either. The food was okay, typical Sunday morning brunch fare, although my boyfriend was a bit disappointed at the fact that there were no pancakes on the menu (he loves pancakes). We each started with their two choices of doughnuts, a maple glazed bacon and a concord grape and peanut butter. These were probably the best food choices we made. Both of the doughnuts were obviously fresh and surprisingly complex. And I mean c'mon, anything with bacon is gonna be good. For our entree I got the rabbit and corn flautas and the hubby got a burger. The portion sizes were definately on the smaller end and like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, they were just OK. Nothing spectacular, just as promised. The one complaint that my boyfriend had was that the choice of the bun for his burger seemed a little tough and everytime he took a bite, the bun would push the burger out and he's end up with a mouthful of bun, and a burger hanging over the side of his remaining bun. As for the service, again, it was just OK. Noone stepping on our toes, just a straight forward "What will you have?" Would I go back? Probably would not go out of my way to do so, but maybe the next time we're in Pilsen, we'll give this one another shot.
(3)Elizabeth W.
I am very disappointed to report that I recently had a terrible experience here, considering how much I used to love this place (see my previous review). Our server (who was either vaguely British or feigning an accent) conspicuously ignored my hubs and me in favor of fawning over a table near us at which three older men were seated. For the entire first hour, she blatantly ignored our polite hand gestures and other verbal attempts to get her attention. We considered just walking out. I'm not sure if she believed the other table would tip her higher or if she was just abiding by her own twisted version of a Jim Crow system, but no matter -- her offensive treatment was enough to keep us away for a very, very long time. I'm giving 3 stars only because the food and drinks were still good. But as most people know, being treated rudely (worse, being completely ignored!) by one's server is enough to ruin any dining out experience, regardless of the quality of the food.
(3)Jon A.
"I hear they reserve a special ring in Hell for those who waste good scotch," shoots scotch, "damn fine scotch, sir." Replace Scotch for my Time, and you'll know what happened at Nightwood. I watched all of Inglourious Basterds before I was served. Granted, I was in a party of 20? But that wait is the same equivalent of forcing a bum to watch this place make handmade noodles every day & serve them, without ever offering them. Now...jump-cut to when the food was served...and my Taratino violent tendencies left and I became a Technicolor dreamcoat of a food lover. The way the lettuce felt on my palate was the way Costanza feels when draped in velvet. The house made daily made noodles took me back to the adoration I had as a 9 year old for my Gram's noodles. The wood fired chicken left on the bone is exactly how I cook my chicken when I dream of being a hunter 'round a campfire. The food is more American Country than New American, which seemed good for the crowd (mostly young and detached from family dining). Wait, did you just pour my Saison without proper glass tilting, creating an uglier head on my beer than the mohawk you're donning? Wait, you just did it again? Oh, and for my tablemate, too? Okay, now I'm back to Mr. Orange madness and I'm threatening to cut off your ear. Thankfully, you just served me another plate of those noodles. Placated. My experience at this place was as disjointed as a non-linear Godard-ian plot. Tender drapes of country food. Jump-cut to: running around searching for a spoon that hasn't touched my dirty table. Now...if they would've offered me a fully poured Das Boot when I entered the subterranean dining room...maybe it wouldn't have felt like a roller coaster...because we all know a Das Boot maintains all homeostasis of joy.
(3)Lady J.
I enjoyed Nightwood's brunch experience but I think it is a bit overpriced. I do appreciate that things are locally sourced but my friend had the quiche (asparagus and goat cheese) and it came with greens and vinaigrette and it was $14! It was not a giant piece (shallow like a tart) and no other garnish so we both felt that was pushing it. We split that butterscotch bacon donut and I would recommend trying that, it was obscene, in a good way. Wow. Yum. The coffee prices are $3 for drip, $4 for a latte and $5 for a mocha. Today the drip coffee tasted like diner coffee and the mugs are small. I think they are pushing it on that coffee price too. (just the drip). I found the staff friendly and attentive and everything did taste wonderful, eggs were done correctly and the surroundings were pleasant. We sat outside on this garden patio that is very modern with a fireplace in the middle because there was a 30-45 minute wait for seats inside. You get a cloth napkin and nice utensils as well. Chairs and benchs are comfy and it's not over crowded. I would definitely return but I would like them to consider rolling back some of those prices on the smaller plates! I think quiche and salad should be $10 or $11 tops, and add some fresh fruit and vegetables in the salad..... I plan on coming back soon to try the dinner as well....overall a positive experience.
(3)Zo O.
This place makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Just a casual restaurant with really simple and warm decor. The type of place I'd like to return to because it's just lovely. Creative and fresh menu, but I won't lie, my food wasn't out of this world. It was okay to good. I do appreciate the local ingredients and creativity though. The food also took preeeeety long to come out. And the restaurant gets preeeeeeety loud. But I'm still a fan :) My rigatoni just tasted like grown mac & cheese, which can be excellent when executed well, but it was ... alright. My soup with olive oil poached egg was pretty hearty. and lastly, the mocha gelato(idk if the gelato is made in house???) was excellent. Prices aren't ridiculous and parking is ample!
(4)Kim W.
i drank here. the vibe is nice. the cocktails were dope. cool of this place to exist in pilsen. the end.
(3)Jeannine H.
I went here a few weeks ago for a birthday dinner with my family. I am wondering why it took me so long to come here. My family can be a rather finicky bunch about new restaurants they dont like new places or things and are very particular about what they consider "good" food as they are all pretty good cooks themselves. Well Nightwood did not disappoint! We started with the fried Smelt appetizer, good flavor, not at all greasy...we were fighting with each other for the last few. As for entrees I enjoyed my duck, the veal meatloaf and whitefish were excellent and the burger and fries were also very good. Desserts were incredible...all I can say is don't sleep on the plate of warm cookies and the buttermilk gelato! I also liked the decor and casual/chic/neighborhoody (is that a word) vibe. Definately plan to return
(4)Julie A.
The location is a little strange, but the ambiance was very nice. I could have sat in there for hours, and next time I go, I'd like to try sitting at the bar that overlooks the kitchen. I especially liked the fireplace on the patio. Service was excellent. The server was attentive without drawing attention to himself. The courses were spaced well. We never felt rushed nor had to wait. Since the menu changes every day, I won't describe what I had except that it was fresh and delicious and both comforting and surprising. That said the proportions seemed a little small, but I arrived quite hungry, and I'm a fairly big eater. On the whole, nothing to complain about - just letting people know. I'm definitely going back soon.
(4)Steven N.
A very popular brunch location in the Bridgeport area, and for good reasons. If you come here on the weekends, make sure you arrive early and be prepared to spend some time waiting. I believe they may take reservations as well. The food's taste is good but nothing memorable, however, the presentation / style is noteworthy. Request to sit at the bar right in front of the kitchen where you can watch the chefs cook right in front of you. Believe me, watching these guys cook together is an experience all by itself. There's even an outdoor seating area during the summer time.
(3)Cris C.
We have never had anything less than a wonderful experience here. Service is great and food is always amazing. The atmosphere is perfect.
(5)Michelle L.
I've been looking forward to dining at Nightwood for a while and finally got the opportunity... The restaurant reminded me of one in Napa, it was charming and cozy and they use seasonal ingredients from local sources, which I love. And while I liked our food, I definitely was not blown away. The app of the cornbread with pork belly was nothing special, between three of us we actually didn't even finish it. The salad we had was great, the goat cheese in it was creamy and delicious. My roast chicken was also delicious, but really there was nothing special about it - I felt like I could have made it at home. The best thing on our table was the gnocci, it was extremely light and airy, and absolutely delicious. My other friends pasta was actually way too dense and not very tasty, but really nothing could compare to the amazing gnocci. We got two deserts, the brownies with ice cream and then a plate of cookies...I can't believe I'm saying this but the cookies were so wonderful and I would get those over any of Nightwoods desserts next time. I know, what's so special about cookies? Every one was just perfect, especially a cold sugar cookie type that was doughy and amazing. I would go back to Nightwood, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)Raymond W.
The food was great. The wait staff was excellent and friendly. A must try in my book.
(4)Aurore L.
So, even without rabbit - I am still not impressed by Knight Wood. Yeah, don't ask, I like picturing the name like that for some silly reason...it's way better than the other thing I am regularly thinking of when I talk about this place...which involves morning. And wood. OK. I stop. I came in twice this week - once for brunch on Sunday, and once for dinner on Wednesday because I had forgotten my gloves there three days earlier. Regular habit of mine....but since they were brand new from Eee-ddie Bau-eeeerr (see review directly below this one for spelling explanation) I wanted them back. Bad. I still love the space, the lamp fixtures, the bricks, the wine wall.... Service is a bit formal and very reserved but efficient....so it's ok. Duck poutine....meh...greasy and quite strong. Sloppy looking (even though I'll admit that poutine doesn't make for the best presentation) Egg dish of mine was on the tiny side, but very tasty. My pants say thank you. Flank steak request medium rare and served RARE. Like almost raw. The meat had obviously not even been flipped over. Sad face. So yeah...even though it's probably the fine dining location closest to home I probably won't be back anytime soon. That's really too bad.
(3)Melissa B.
The donut of the day was butterscotch bacon and it was ridiculous! We started with that and bloody's. They were strong and soo fresh! Mt dining companion had the bagel sandwich with smoked trout, holly cow, so good! I had the pork with eggs and it was delicious as well. It was like a flavor explosion of classy pulled pork with seasonal greens, yum! Our waitress was super on it and the water service was awesome as well. We really liked brunch here and plan to return very soon for dinner. I love supporting places that do their part to source local, sustainable, seasonal food.
(4)Gayle G.
I dream about the bacon donuts. I've only been to brunch at Nightwood and will not consider going for any other meal unless the bacon donut is available. I like to sit at the counter in the back and watch the kitchen do its business. Not great for a party of greater than three, so grab your two besties and get to brunch and watch the cooks do their thang. Tots. Who doesn't like tots? Nightwood's tots rocks! Homemade tots that are bigger than golfballs? Yum! Not long ago we three were at the counter enjoying our bacon donut (share one, otherwise, you'll have a heart attack) and admiring the white chocolate cranberry breakfast bread pudding that the chef was plating. We finished our donut (in three bites!) and were sipping our tasty bloodys when a huge plate of bread pudding arrived and I explained that there must be an error, we hadn't order it. The reply? "Oh, it's a gift from the chef." Nice! It was delicious! The chicken and waffles are the way to go for this non-egg eater. I strayed once and spent my entire meal coveting the chicken and waffles as the made their way out of the kitchen and into the mouths of other diners. Bonus? They take reservations for brunch!
(4)L L.
Brunch, donuts, eggs, Brunch cocktails, love, love, love AMAZE Great service LOVE
(5)Laurence K.
Came for a wine dinner had 3 courses 2 were good 1 not so. I need to come back and try the reg menu.
(3)Amber M.
The space is incredible-- it feels like Lula's older sister, with a lovely play of modernism that leaves you wanting to linger. That being said, I do not think they have quite risen to the challenge they put before themselves of a regularly changing menu. Between the three of us that each selected an appetizer, entrée and dessert, I would say only the sweetbreads and foie gras ravioli were truly wonderful, most were just okay. A few of the items just fell flat, particularly the pork and beans. In short, ordering is a risk, though they were quite nice when I sent my drink back.
(3)K B.
Breakfast was spectacular.
(4)ungs s.
We got to our reservation at 8:30 and it was for 8:45. They were able to sit us early. Than ambiance is amazing. The place is beautiful. The service was great! It has high end food but definitely not high end attitude. We never had to really wait for anything. It was busy so you have to be understanding of that aspect. We were never rushed and never felt that we were being forced out to turn over the table. The food was outstanding. At first when we saw the menu we weren't excited but when we ordered the flavors of the dishes were very classic. They were not trying to do anything fancy or super different, just put a twist on a few things here and there. We had the beef carp. app., and the soup, it was amazing. I had the duck leg which was incredible and my fiance had the veal meatballs. I liked the duck better, he like the meatballs. For dessert we had the graham cracker crust/pumpkin tart. It was a great and a well thought out meal. The presentation was great. I had a drink, quite stiff but they had a great unique selection of beers. Overall what a great experience. Liked it even better than girl and the goat.
(4)Rinko E.
Oh Nightwood. A hipster restaurant in the heart of hipster neighborhood aka Pilsen. I know everyone should love you. I like your wallpaper & lighting, but I think all hand-written menus and specifically identified ingredients (It's like, "Hello I am pork. I came from xxxx farm in Michigan")...you are just trying really hard... I don't really give a fuck about where pork came from and what his name is, as long as the food is cooked with love and it tastes delicious. But...oh well... I came to the Nightwood during the Restaurant Week this year. I ordered duck in pork stew. And it was not that impressive. Couldn't finish the whole thing so I took the rest home, but I was not interested in eating it again. So I gave it to my husband. But their Salty Caramel Ice Cream was good. Employees all looked flat and somewhat pissed. I think that was also a hipster requirement... like, "I am too cool and hip to be friendly to my customers" kind of attitude. Oh but there was some amusing thing at the bar. This young girl was so fucking drunk. She was talking loudly on her cell for the entire time, but she started fucking cursing. She was gently kicked out. Because it's not hip to yell profanity in a fucking hipster restaurant.
(2)Padraic S.
Been talking about checking out Nightwood for about as long as I can remember. Finally made the trip down to Pilsen last night and had a relaxing evening with fresh farm-to-table dishes. Luckily, our relaxed evening was one of the nicer nights we've had in Chicago over the past month, so we decided to eat on their patio. Wood walls, high ceilings and big windows help build on the urban-hip interior feel of Nightwood, and I'm sure the outdoor fireplace and heat lamps are a hit in spring and fall. First and foremost, the specialty cocktails. We both ordered the Paris Wife, a fantastic combination of Mt. Gay Rum, amoro, lime, egg white and bitters. At $12 its not cheap, but it packs a punch with flavor and more. With dinner, craft beer favorites and a few rarities are offered as well. As far as the meal, we decided to split two appetizers and move on from there. Spicy fish broth with salmon, cilantro, avocado and mini carrots was surprisingly easy to share and appropriate for a summer night. The bread with garlic and sea salt butter is another can't miss. For my entree I ordered the hangar steak, cooked medium per the chef's suggestion. Great crust with a soft inside worked well. The real stars of this meal were the fired egg and the farro. Not sure I've ever had "farro" before, but whatever it is, I support it 100%. My fiance had the half chicken which was seasoned well and cooked well to keep it juicy. While I noticed some people have mentioned the price, and we did notice it when the bill came, we have to remember this is Chicago and that's the price of dining out at somewhere interesting. At least parking is free and easy along Halsted. Nightwood is worth the trip and the price.
(4)Susan H.
We finally had the opportunity (read: free babysitter) to go to Nightwood. When we arrived, they asked if we would like to be seated back at the kitchen counter, where it was cooler and we could watch the action. Since we're food geeks, we gladly accepted, and loved the chance to talk to Chef Jason and his excellent staff. Cocktails were great and the food exceeded our expectations. As we were asking questions and wondering if we should have ordered the crispy pig ear, the chef handed us a serving on the house. As a near-vegetarian, I have never gobbled down unusual pig parts with such abandon. Outstanding food, and great people. We can't wait to go back!
(5)Jeannine T.
So the bf was pretending to be nice one day and decided to take me out for dinner. I have no clue why he decided on Nightwood, especially since he didn't provide much compliments about it during his previous visit. Nonetheless, I've never been here, and I always look forward to a new experience. Judging from my sister's review, the menu hasn't changed much since last summer. The duck and the wood grill trout was still on the list. Starter: Deep Fried Mortadella and Lamb Belly. I believe the lamb belly should never be served as an appetizer. The rough texture of the meat and high fat content made me feel as if though my artery was going to clog with each bite. It would have been better if it was pork belly instead. The Deep Fried Mortadella tasted like a fried ham and cheese ball. It was ok. Finally, here comes my steak... Wood grill round steak for one. As always, I requested for the meat to be cooked to medium. The steak is served already sliced, so immediately I noticed that the center was red. Medium usually means pink, right? Not a big deal. I flag the waitress down and asked that it gets slightly more cooked. Steak 1.1 is served. New steak? No. (I wasn't expecting one - not that much of a food snob.) Slightly more cooked? Yes. Perfect medium? No. Since the meat was cooked after it's been sliced, the texture has changed dramatically. It was tough, rough, and a battle to cut through even with a steak knife. The flavor was mediocre at best, but I ate away at the steak anyway because I just felt bad wasting food. I'm saddened. I've waited so long to try this place. My sister raved about it, and now I've departed with the haunting memory of that awful steak. On a good note: my bf had the burger which wasn't bad and the service there is pretty good. Above all, they are very generous with the alcohol for some of their house cocktails.
(2)Nichole C.
Yum, just yum. Brunch was really lovely and I thought about it all day. Also, the crowd was damn good looking, if that matters.
(5)Elisa E.
It was 10:30. After nearly two hours of watching art students scamper around in togas and shout motherf***er (performance art based on Greek myths--say no more), we were tired and hungry. Sweet Zeus, the Nightwood was still serving, and a wee table next to a window had just opened! There is nothing quite as satisfying as cradling a glass of red Zinfadel while gazing out upon a rain-swept street. Our waitress was prompt and friendly. She was also quite apologetic when the wrong appetizer was sent to our table. She comp'd us, since we were confused/hungry enough to start eating it. Our pasta dishes were excellent; mine was ham-filled angliotti (long ravioli?) with white beans and fragrant aged parmesan. When our check arrived, we were surprised to see that we had dined so elegantly (including wine and after-dinner drinks) for a little over 80 bucks. Despite our good experience, I imagine that waits are the norm here. The server recommended dining early in the week and later seatings, all of which seemed common sense.
(5)Roderick C.
Both times I've dined at Nightwood were this past May (first with a friend and then again with an uncle visiting from out of town), and both times, we chose to dine in the back space with bar-like seating, overlooking the open kitchen. This area felt somewhat secluded from the crowd in the main room and turned out to be a pretty cool location for dining--sometimes, it's satisfying to be able to see what goes into preparing your food. The chefs were friendly, seemed to want our feedback, and would even chat with us briefly when they were able to do so. Overall, the food I ordered was of good quality and solidly prepared and presented, but not quite to die for (except for what I heard about the spit-roasted duck); both times, the ambiance and service were excellent and on par with what one would expect from a hip, buzzworthy restaurant like this. Quality, local organic Midwestern American ingredients seemed to form the basis of the menu (I learned what a ramp was here), yet to me, the fare had enough of a fresh, unique twist to it to make it interesting. For example, my first time there, my entree was a nicely prepared wood-grilled fish (either lake bass or trout, can't remember). But what what WAS memorable to me about it, and what I enjoyed, was that it was served whole, complete with head, Asian style. Meanwhile my companion had the aforementioned spit-roasted duck and raved that it was among the best he's ever had. I had just had my birthday and got some nice, complimentary cookies for dessert as well. My second time at Nightwood, I started out with a refreshing goat cheese salad and ended up ordering the "Illinois pork belly." Also a unique offering from a so-called American restaurant. It was new to me, at least. As I was watching it being prepared, it looked an awful lot like a slab of bacon (after all, that's where bacon comes from), but at the end it had a smooth, lean taste and nice tenderness. Who would have thought? (I hardly ever eat pork, except for bacon). Pretty big portion, too. And bonus to the waitress with great ears who overheard us talking about my birthday, and gave me yet another dessert plate of cookies--I felt guilty getting treats from them twice for my birthday. Food, plus the wine, may have been overpriced, but considering the quality of what I had relative to other, similar places where I've dined, I can't say Nightwood was at all egregiously overpriced. I'd go back there again.
(4)Jane T.
I've only been here for brunch, but everything I've tasted has been delicious. Their doughnuts are worth the hype (yeast raised with finger-licking toppings), and everything is just cooked and seasoned so well. I had some soft-scrambled eggs with squash, and it was really basic but so tasty. My brunchmates hadthe cheeseburger (which was supposedly out of this world), the fish hash, and the salmon rillettes. I've also been told by friends that dinner is just as good.
(5)Jamie O.
Note: I ate here in September 2009 and the food may have improved since then. Nightwood is forgettable. Its prices are way too high for the amount of taste they serve. The watermelon salad appetizer was a familiar, trendy dish in restaurant world. It had corn, bacon and onion alongside of huge, one-inch watermelon chunks. The lack of balance with proportions made the salad into a mixture instead of a homogeneous blend. I had a pork chop for dinner which was slightly over cooked and chewy. Its sauce and accompanying salad left much to be desired. When I find a place who is overcharging for the quality of food they serve, I take off major points.
(1)Garvin C.
Had brunch here a couple weeks ago. My wife and I and ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, confit duck egg omelet, and pea tendtril egg scramble. Let me say the bacon butterscotch donut was truly delicious. It was a fresh donut with a butterscotch glaze that was topped with diced thick cut bacon. I'm not necessarily the biggest bacon fan, but this combination really worked. The confit duck omelet and the pea tendril egg scramble were good, but nothing special. However, the tater tots that come with those items were AWESOME! these tots are nothing like those ore-ida (nothing wrong with those) and are much better. They have a thicker very crunchy outside and a very soft and fluffy inside. It's something you really have to try there. I wish they gave more than just three per plate!! Oh, I also ordered a hot chocolate. The consistency was good, but the tempearture was actually very lukewarm, which was odd to me. So, this was a slight disappointment on an otherwise great meal. The inside is very spacious, had large windows and high ceilings. Overally a good vibe and nice place to have a meal with friends and family.
(4)Dan C.
Enjoyed everything about dinner here. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and a competent server. Highly recommended.
(4)Sean D.
As a decade long resident of the south loop, this is the restaurant that I've been waiting for. Sadly, I can't claim it as a neighborhood establishment, but Pilsen is close enough and far enough away from Gold Coast and Streeterville that my friends up "north" have never heard of it. We stopped in on a Friday night after the gallery walk on second Fridays. We had a reservation, but decided to wait for a table on the patio. It was well worth the wait. The patio has high wood paneled walls so that you don't realize that you are right on Halsted. The restaurant was having a rose festival and had close to 30 roses by the glass. What great way to start the meal! As everyone has already mentioned here, the ingredients are very fresh and they run out of dining options often. As it were, two of our top choices were already out by the time we sat. But no knock on the restaurant, we knew the deal going in and our fault for eating at 9pm on a Friday night. I've never raved so much about a salad, but holy crap! My salad was incredible. A simple green salad with homemade croutons and a vinaigrette. Sounds simple, right? Only if the ruffage is your regular boring kind. This salad was so incredibly flavorful and interesting, I just could not get enough! My date's Michigan pear salad was likewise delicious, but had nothing on the simple green salad. For entrees, we had the whitefish and the red pepper wide ribbon pasta. The whitefish was perfectly prepared with a side of mayo. I'm not a huge mayo fan, but it paired well with the light fish on a hot summer night. I was only able to grab a taste of the red pepper pasta before the plate across the table from me was licked clean. For weeks after that meal, my gf raved about her red pepper pasta and has had dreams of it since. We will definitely be returning.
(5)Melody L.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here, from the time I walked in, to the time I walked out. I took my best friend out to dinner. We walked into a bustling restaurant. Tons of people everywhere. Once we checked in, we made our way to the bar. They had some great cocktails in the menu and I had my sites set on the Tamarind Rickey. Wow....went down two quickly, ended up having a couple the rest of the night. My bbf had a grapefruit one. She seemed to like it. We got to our table and we ordered a couple of dishes to start, the fried smelt (oh so tasty!! it brought me back to my childhood) and a pasta dish (it was very flavorful, the most flavorful pasta I had in some time). We both ordered fish, but I think I liked hers better than mine. I think I ordered the wrong thing...my bad! Dessert was great! The coconut cream tart/pie was great! The coffee was divine. I need to show up for brunch next time!
(4)Tom S.
After reading all the reviews in Yelp I was really excited to go to Nightwood. After actually experiencing it I was kind if disappointed. Pros: 1. Ambiance. The look and feel of this place is pretty sweet. Trendy and sophisticated Nightwood is split into two floors with the downstairs being sort of dungeon-like. 2. Fresh food. The food is bought and prepared daily. 3. Staff. The staff is Friendly, nice, and helpful. Cons: 1. Food. The food just wasn't that good. The pasta dish I ordered was bland and didn't have much taste. I was extremely hungry and only ate half of the dish. Frankly, I just got bored of eating it. When my pasta dish costs $26, I expect it to taste pretty good. The appetizers we ordered were decent but significantly over priced ($10+). Also, we also showed up a little later in the night around 9 on a Saturday (all reservation time slots beforehand were taken) and couldn't order many of the dishes including any of the soups because they ran out of ingredients. Overall, I left this place dissatisfied. For two people our bill which included appetizers, entrees and no alcohol was ~ $100. For $100 there are much better places in the city to spend your money.
(2)Mikki K.
Tried this place for the first time today. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't really good. Service was acceptable up until I saw the waitress making catty comments about the likelihood of our table tipping (some of your patrons can lip read, you might want to gripe away from their sight!) which dropped her tip from my standard 20% to barely 15%. It would have been less (my bigot tax can be steep), but I didn't want to screw the runners and bus boys. I ordered the french toast which was drowned in sauce & goat cheese. I liked both, but I couldn't actually taste the bread & it wound up with a weird texture. The bacon was delicious, & my husband's raspberry cinnamon roll was okay though it could have been bigger. I doubt we'll go back, but maybe dinner is better than brunch?
(2)Kimberly L.
What a delightful surprise: a restaurant that fully lives up to its hype! I came here recently for dinner and it was just a perfect evening. We sat outside with no wait whatsoever. The patio was breezy and comfortable. Our server was helpful, friendly and efficient. And the food was delish! We shared the burrata appetizer--Italian cheese with grilled shisito peppers and a baguette. Yum! I ordered the wood-grilled Wisconsin trout with a mustard green salad. (Don't be afraid of the "whole fish" thing. The server graciously offered to have the chef serve it up "sans head." Why thank you!) It was so tasty that I'm still thinking about it, days later. Bonus that everything is local and sustainable! I'll definitely be back!
(4)Rod O.
We had brunch here on a Sunday morning and the food was definitely good. We started with the donut with bacon and butterscotch which was really good. I had the cheeseburger which wasn't the best burger I have had but it was solid. My friend had the steak and eggs and liked it but thought it was kind of pricey for what he got. My wife had the salmon scramble which was good and my other friend has the bagel sandwich which was good. Overall good food only thing to complain was that service was somewhat slow.
(4)Emily N.
Boo to this restaurant. Would never recommend it and would absolutely never return. Unfortunately I thought this restaurant had potential. From what I heard it is owned by the same friendly people that own Lula's in Logan Square. While the restaurant itself was warm and inviting, the staff inside was anything but. My husband and I met up with 2 of our friends at the restaurant and were unfortunately disappointed. It pretty much began when the waitress asked me if I wanted the "organic vodka" and couldn't explain what organic vodka was, when we legitimately didn't understand the idea of organic vodka. Then a "totally alternative" server kept hounding us with whether or not we preferred "still" or "sparkling" water... to the point where it actually broke up the flow of our conversation. We get it, you're hip, and fancy...but we'll still take the "still" water please. Our server had a MAJOR attitude problem, and when the bill of over 200 dollars came, she didn't even bother to stick around to say goodnight and bring our cards back. Then when we had a problem with the bill, we were forced to ask the hostess a question as our server was completely MIA, she was also BEYOND rude. I have to say with all the competition in this city, sometimes people don't realize if your food is just average maybe you should try to cover it up with at least having warm and friendly staff. Definitely wouldn't waste your time here.
(2)Robot A.
First off...every time I walk into the bathroom at Nightwood, I immedietly think about taking a sledgehammer to my own bathroom and redoing it. My wife is lucky that I get the inspiration to do this before we order food so that the distraction of a good meal wipes the idea out of my head. Start with a bacon donut. Menu changes daily so there is nothing I want to tell you to get...just enjoy. Brunch is fantastic! May be on the little pricey side, but hey...I don't go out much now that I have a newborn so when I do, I like to enjoy. A welcomed (and well needed) place to eat in Pilsen.
(5)Amy S.
Nightwood you made my taste buds dance and for that I thank you. But let me break it down. The good: the food. Ok, that's the fabulous. Everything we had was delicious. Menu changes and is handwritten daily. The chicken pate with homemade chips was delectable. The pesto dip with rustic bread mouthwatering. Spinach handmade pasta with bolognese, yes please! Wisconsin trout-done perfectly. The flavors were layered nicely and the dishes actually had complexity which is something I've found lacking lately. We had the warm cookies for dessert. They were tasty but could be skipped. The bad: Price points-seemingly somewhat random. Half chicken with cornbread $25? Rabbit with cabbage $30? It was a lovely meal so I was overall ok with the cost but found them just this side of high. The ugly: For us it was the service. Our waiter just could not read our table which I gots to tell ya, wasn't that hard. Having been industry generally when three women start off with a bottle of champagne and ask to keep the wine list they are probably going to relax AND order another bottle. Add three appetizers and them letting you know they are "going to keep ordering"-hmm, yeah, you probably shouldn't rush them. Plates were taken before we were asked if we were done, dishes were rushed, we had to ask a few times for our champagne to be brought back and poured (they were keeping it chilled at the bar), had to request dessert menu, etc, etc. It just unfortunately took away from an otherwise great dinner. Perhaps he was just off and it won't keep me from going again. But we all agreed we would have said something to the manager had he been available when we left. Worth it though. I'll go back.
(4)Andrea B.
I knew this place would be fun as soon as I saw buttons with their logo instead of cheap matchbooks at the entrance. I was also giddy from having only 4 hours of sleep, being out on a Monday night, and being in Pilsen, a neighborhood I don't go to often, but which contains some of the most fascinating history in Chicago. Let's just say I was excited. The atmosphere of Nightwood is something I really liked. The decor is something like modern meets antique meets urban meets chic. Or something like that. I didn't like how voices travelled, which made it seem as if the large dinner party in the next room was actually right next to us, but no matter. I actually want to come back and try out their outdoor seating (or what looked like outdoor seating) because it looks very intimate and charming. What i liked best and almost wish that we got were the bar-stool like seats that looked over the kitchen, so one could see the chefs at work and see exactly how your food is being prepared. Lovely. It's too bad I missed out, but i was happy where i was nonetheless. I guess Nightwood is popular for making fresh, handwritten menus daily (perhaps weekly) using only what the local farms/grocers/what have you have in stock. Everything is fresh and organic, and very comforting. My boyfriend, our friend, and I wanted to try an array of dishes, so we ordered 4 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, and 2 entrees, all to share (in case you can't tell, we seem to eat a lot and enjoy doing so). In terms of appetizers, I wasn't fond of the deep fried smelts, but that's probably because I am not fond of fish. Moving on, I thought the fresh mozzarella with white beans and sardines was delicious; everything fit together perfectly and tasted lovely. The chicken liver pate with chips seemed like an odd combo, but in reality was amazing. The veal served over the grilled baguette was also really tasty...and I didn't know I liked veal! But here, it seemed like I have liked it all my life, I gobbled it up with no regrets. On to the pasta! We ordered the potato gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and sheep's milk cheese as well as the hand cut pasta with pine nuts, arugula pesto, and breadcrumbs. The gnocchi was very good in combination with the mushrooms and the vinaigrette- like sauce added a nice touch in terms of flavor. Now, i am a huge fan of gnocchi, so I was not disappointed, but the real winner was the hand cut pasta with pine nuts. The nuts added such a wonderful, crunchy and great burst of flavor to the pasta I just could not stop eating it. I could have totally ordered that as my entree and been entirely happy with it. Yum. The entrees included were the red wine beef stew and polenta tart with a poached egg on top. The polenta had a beautiful presentation to it, and the spinach salad it came with tasted heavenly...it was very simple, but the taste left you wondering how it could be possible to put so much flavor into something that uses very little ingredients. The poached egg was perfectly done. So good. The beef stew was hearty and rich and made you feel like you were sitting in a wood cabin in front of a fireplace watching the snow fall outside, it was that comforting and good. I didn't really care for the glazed carrots (they seemed hard and cut in big pieces that made the dish look awkward to me), but the beef....ohh the beef. I would go back just for that. By now I was sufficiently full and tired and ready for a long sleep, but we couldn't leave without dessert. I had the chocolate pudding which was dark and chocolatety and yummy and just plain good. My boyfriend and our friend got the sorbets and caramel bread pudding, respectively. I didn't try much of the bread pudding as i was too busy shoving pudding into my face, but i will say it was light and tasty and seemed to have a citrus like taste to it, but maybe that's just me. The sorbet I enjoyed most was the plum, very light and cleansing. YUM! I don't know why i had to go into so much detail about the food, as the menu will probably change in a few days time anyway. It doesn't matter. You need to know the goodness I had to know the goodness you will have. A gripe we had was that our server didn't seem to be all that engaged in what we were eating or trying to help us decide what to drink in the cocktail menu. Every time we declared how amazing something was, all he did was smile and nod and take our plates away. ah well, at least our dishes were coursed and paired together nicely, which made for a lovely, and very filling dinner!
(4)Jen F.
Nightwood is my favorite neighborhood restaurant in Chicago. We eat here once a month or more. The food is always incredible - fresh, delicious, creative but not over-the-top. The trout tastes like it came out of a stream out back (I believe it is actually from Wisconsin most of the time). I love the handmade pastas as well - they usually lure me in while my husband has a beef, pork, or lamb dish that I can sample. They are doing interesting things at the bar too & have a great selection of wines. Brunch is great as well - I wake up on Sundays dreaming of the bacon butterscotch donut and the bagel sandwich. They also did a great job with a private Sunday brunch party for 30 people in the downstairs wine room. Great space, great food, great service, very flexible with coming up with menu options for the party. Everyone really enjoyed it. The vibe is a little hipster-ish, but the clientele is mixed. There are always older couples, groups of friends, and yuppie types along with the hipster crowd. It's a very friendly and relaxed place.
(5)Esther Y.
First off, I get annoyed when people say the area is "sketchy." It's not. If you are remotely urban, then it's not sketchy, it's fine. Ugh. Glad I got that off my chest. Now, for the goodies. I loved this place. We were here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and they emailed us the menu for the night. I don't know if they do that for everyone, or if it was a request my friend made, but it was a nice touch. It gave us ample time to gchat about the menu, discuss our eating plan, and really get excited about the meal. We got there, and were greeted by at least 3 people. There were 9 of us, so we were seated downstairs, which is a nice space. The place is nice, it's chill, cozy, and just an easy place to be in. (I do want to go back so that I can enjoy the outdoor space-it looked like a nice place to hang out and have a couple of drinks.) We started with the pate, the fried mozzarella and the gnocchi. The pate was good! Even people that were scared to eat it enjoyed it. As for the friend mozzarella, I think the general concensus was that the greens that they served with it were better than the actual cheese...though who can pass up fried cheese? The gnocchi was delicious, but I am partial to homemade pasta. It is a little denser, but it's so good! For the entrees, we had some burgers (delish-the ciabatta bread was a little too thick but they came with really good condiments and the meat was nicely seasoned), the rigatoni with fried chicken mushroom (which are actually a particular kind of mushroom... and are not fried mushrooms, or fried chicken bits in the pasta with mushrooms), the spaghetti with an over easy egg and short ribs, and the whitefish. Everyone really enjoyed their meals....I think the rigatoni was a little dense, but that is the whole homemade pasta thing. We were all stuffed and didn't order dessert, but then they surprised us with a plate of their warm cookies and a candle for my friend! Yay! I love when people do this! I would definitely go here again, especially since their menu changes everyday...that is part of what makes it so exciting! The vibe is nice, the employees are attentive, relaxed and helpful, and the whole experience was great. This was the perfect place to go with a group of friends for a long, fun, enjoyable dinner...that is if your friends are fun and are cool enough to know the area isn't "sketchy." Good thing my friends are awesome!
(4)Claudia C.
Great spot for a date. We split the duck egg/chorizo appetizer, squash casoncelli (ravioli), and pork belly, with the chocolate mousse for dessert. Everything was absolutely, out-of-this-world amazing. There is no denying that. The mixture of flavors (squash, prosciutto, arugula) in the casoncelli was perfect, in my opinion, and the pork belly positively melted in your mouth (just don't think of your arteries while you eat it). The atmosphere is great, and the wood-centric design of the place is charming and romantic. The staff is also great, from the bartenders to the hostess. Again, only removing a star because of the noise level of conversations (though the music selection was good) and because of the high price tag. Though, in the end, after that meal, one really can't feel too bad about paying $12 for appetizers and $25 for entrees.
(4)Kate H.
Went to Nightwood for Sunday brunch with my parents. Food quality is much better than average brunch fare (and brunch is my absolute favorite meal), mostly because they use noticeably fresh and high quality ingredients. Their house specialty is a house-made donut, so the four of us shared the Bacon Butterscotch donut, which came with glazed bacon bits and three small cinnamon dusted donut holes. The donut was airy and cakey at the same time, and it was very very good. The other dishes were also similarly inventive: my mom and I shared a Wild Mushroom and Parmesan Scramble and an artichoke-specked foccacia topped with an over-easy egg. Again, their attention to choosing quality ingredients and careful preparation shone through, and each bite burst with flavor. I was even more impressed by the side of "tots," shoestring hash browns rolled into a ball and deep-fried--so good! All in all, it was a great meal. The downside is that one of my favorite things about brunch is walking out stuffed, but this was not the case, and I felt I left slightly hungry. Clearly, the money went towards quality and not quantity. Price: ~$15 per person for brunch
(4)candace l.
I can only write about the brunch, and that is to say it was fantastic! First off, we walked in on a Sunday at noon and didn't wait for seating. The hostess asked if we had reservations, which we didn't, but it led me to believe that they accept them (for brunch this is almost unheard of, so kudos, Nightwood if that is indeed the case!), which is a plus if you're the plan ahead type (I am not). I later learned they have additional seating in the back, downstairs and an outside patio for summer. Whew, they can pack them in! Fortunately it didn't compromise the length of wait for our order. I was a little worried at first because there is not a lot of meatless options as the menu isn't extensive, and I was glad it wasn't an issue. I ordered the eggs benedict and it was excellent! My bf had the waffles with strawberry something or other, and he also really loved his. Street parking is plentiful (and free!) on Halsted if you're not in the area. I will definitely be back.
(5)Sarah B.
I wanted to give them 4 stars based on a previous dining experience but unfortunately I had a very disappointing restaurant week meal there last Saturday. The menu was odd (baseball themed) but my boyfriend and I thought we would keep an open mind and ordered everything between us. Nothing was great and a couple of the dishes were straight out bad. My first course was grisly salmon sashimi, and my 2nd was a dumpling (good) in a cracker jack broth (bad - too sweet and lumpy). My boyfriend's 2nd course was mushroom "cinnamon" roll that was something you'd expect in the bread basket, not as a course. My trout was OK, nothing special, same with my boyfriend's (too salty) sausage. Dessert of lemon ice totally missed the mark for Feb. Service was good and wine was great but based on our (expensive) meal and the fact my boyfriend and I were both ill the next day I won't be going back any time soon.
(1)Jocelyn h.
Love this place. 4 of us went during the week. had excellent service. i had the trout. which i was a bit scared of. but they removed the eye for me. and it was delish. we had blush wine, which we all snickered at when we opened the menu. but then considered ourselves trendsetters, bringing back the rose! the service was great and those honey biscuits are dangerous. not sure it was worth all of the hype. but good all the same.
(3)John V.
interesting menu options, I don't know how often they really change, but if every night features something like duck, duck eggs and rabbit, I'm impressed. We went with a party of about eight, so we got a little bit of almost everything on the menu. We did manage to do some sharing, towards the end of the night and we got some baked goat cheese to share around the table, and it was excellent. The pasta dishes are small portions, the kind of portions you expect from a super-expensive restaurant, small and made to look even smaller by the huge plate it comes on. However, the more expensive entrees are kind of large portions... much larger than you'd expect. Everything I tried was very tasty. The standout of the night were the desserts. Very impressive and worth every penny.
(4)Edward H.
Hung over from Saturday's partying or just plain ravenous for some tasty Sunday morning grub? The guys at Nightwood serves up THE best brunch in Pilsen hands down and is ranked amongst my favorite weekend bruncherias. There are hearty stews, delicious fish, savory biscuits'n'gravy, and of course the crown jewel that is their chicken'n'waffles! Their menu changes from day to day since they only nab the freshest goodies from the market. Although this is definitely a blessing, I consider it a double-edged sword as it makes the task of deciding on what to order is next to impossible. The solution? Take your friends... LOTS of them so you can rotate your plates (not unlike gastro-musical chairs). Pull up a seat at the counter in their open kitchen and watch the masters at work churning out savory goodies. They're easy going and a lot of fun to watch. Don't forget to save a bit of room for the fresh made to order donuts covered in chocolate icing and sprinkled with the crack that is bacon! (For those of you saying "WTH? Bacon and chocolate??? Utter madness!" - try it first, you'll thank me later)
(4)Anthony H.
A little on the pricey side, this new local hotspot nonetheless served up interesting choices for the meat-lovers in our party as well as the vegetarians. The diverse menu changes daily and the bar offered a great selection of interesting beers. I recommend the fish of the day and the Dogfish Head beer!
(4)Ben C.
Great food - plain and simple. We go to sit at the kitchen counter which was a neat experience. If you have a party of 2 people I would definitely try and get the counter seating. Spinach salad with apples and goat cheese was very good. The fact that they carry bottles of Dogfish Head 90 Minute is another huge plus! I little higher price point than Lula cafe but I would say its worth it. The execution is a little cleaner, the staff more friendly and the space of the restaurant makes me much less claustrophobic.
(4)Michelle B.
Best brunch I've had in a while! Was pleasantly surprised by the menu, service and food. Love the bagel sandwich and bottomless coffee...you just can't go wrong with the hot donuts either. Innovative all-around brunch, without the pretentious vibe. We will definitely be back.
(5)Brad B.
On a whim I called yesterday afternoon to see if I could get a reservation for two at a decent time and was shocked to have the hostess say, "why yes, we've just had two cancellations - one at 19:30 and one at 20:00." Me: "Might I take the 8PM, then?" And we're off to the races. Who needs Bono and 71,000 of his closest friends over at Soldier Field, certainly not us! Pfftttt - to you, Bono, Edge, Larry-Bob, Jr and whomever that other guy is (is there another guy?) We arrived and ordered some of the interesting cocktails: a blueberry gimlet and a drink called The Louisiana Purchase - which was fun and yummy. We were directed to our table (this yelper is somewhat critical of the seats in his dining venue of choice) and these passed with flying colors. Baseball glove leather covered and totally awesome in every way. First course: roasted corn and jalapeño soup with creme fraiche - and rabbit raviolis in some sort of spicy broth. Both were highly enjoyable. **keep your damn menu throughout if your memory isn't so great** Second course: duck breast with a jumble of beans - and - whole roasted trout with BACON and some other stuff. At this point we cracked into the wine list with a Cotes du Rhone which was cheap, subtle and pretty damn good, especially for $34 bucks. The whole mess was great, totally lovely perfectly cooked and spot on. Third course: dark chocolate tart with raspberry goo, dusted with coco powder and finished with a dollop of creme anglaise. We rocked out of there around 11PM with smiles on our faces a bill for about $175 (20% tip inclusive) paid for and that perfect feeling of satiated but, not stuffed.... I think this place is great, I will definitely be back but, must find viable public transport options to get there / back without paying $50 for a cab ride so I can properly imbibe...or dupe a friend into dropping me off....either or.
(5)Alexander B.
Flawlessly delicious. This brunch stop has climbed its way to the top of my list. Going early saved us the long waits this place is (rightfully) known for. I had both doughnuts, zucchini choco chip muffin, coffee, and the cheeseburger. I also tried the omelette. Amazing. Don't miss the pickled avocados in the bloodys.
(5)rebecca g.
Returned for dinner and have reaffirmed my love for you, Nightwood! I honestly dreamed about the Spinach & Taleggio Garganelli. It was so divine, my friend & I were close to licking the plate. We weren't as enamored of the Butternut Squash Casoncelli with Prosciutto (small portion, a bit over-vinegared, and the pile of wild arugula made it a bit tricky to eat/ share), but the flavors were still good. We also split the Pork Belly with Maple Baked Beans, which have proven to me that it is possible to have good baked beans! (I was never a fan of the canned ones.) The pork was luscious and tender, although the meat was buried under quite a bit more fat than we might have preferred. Overall, an amazing meal...and worth every penny for the ingenuity, freshness, and local ingredients.
(4)Stephen G.
So I finally got the chance to check out this cool Pilsen hot spot! I didn't get to experience the patio area. . yet but see myself drinking a PBR there frequently this summer. While it was tempting to sit and eat at the Kitchen bar I was more interested in conversation with my date so we chose a store front table cornered by glass. The place was a bit loud but a nice vibe and at 7:00 almost all the tables were occupied. The host was very polite and offered a few options in the way of seating, etc. I ordered the pork but found it to be a bit more work than I anticipated to eat. I was thinking the dish was going to be along the lines of pork tenderloin but turned out to be more like a pork chop. The pork was a bit tough for me. The presentation was very nice as the cut of pork sat a top black eyed peas. (yes for those kids out there, the peas were not named after the music group. ) She had the Polenta which was delicious to both our pallets. So all in all I would like to go again. Our server was very mellow and not overly helpful but it sort of fit the vibe of that space. The experience was very nice and the prices are towards the higher side. A great destination spot!
(4)Robyn T.
9 pm on a Friday night. The restaurant is bustling and there's nary a seat in the house. Luckily I was able to squeeze in at the one available table on the patio because my party had 3 and not 2. Is this a first or what? I loved the whole layout of the restaurant with the dining room straddling the corner allowing for great window views onto the neighborhood, a wraparound counter overlooking the open kitchen, and the patio which though strikingly modern offered warmth with its deep woods and lighting. The cocktail menu is worth checking out for some fairly innovative options, and the wine menu was impressive as well. I had high expectations for the cuisine being a fan of Lula and for the most part the menu did not disappoint. With the focus on sustainability, the menu changes daily. By the time my group rolled around for dinner they were out of a few menu items I was hoping to try, but our friendly waitress did make some great recommendations. Ravioli with goat cheese and honey in a light pesto sauce was divine. The pasta was so fresh and just a little al dente. A gnocchi with tomatillo sauce was good but not as spectacular as the first appetizer. Still hungry for more we tried the chicken pate which was like velvet. Should I say that this liver was better than my Grandmother's? It was and was accompanied by sliced cucumbers and a garnish of dill, onion salad. Entree choices were tough. Everything sounded wonderful. What wouldn't I recommend? The burger. Our waitress said it's one of the best in the city, and if you're putting a burger on the menu at a place like this it better be good. My 2 dining companions ordered it and were underwhelmed. Apparently there was an overpowering cheese/mayonnaise on it they weren't wild about. I opted for the rabbit entree because its not something I'd make at home. The meat was tender and though I loved the originality of pairing brussel sprouts with olives and grapes, the olives were overpowering. Will I go back? Most definitely. I'm practically foaming at the mouth to sit at the kitchen at watch the goings on. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes with the menu as we move into fall and I'm sure they're bound to delight.
(4)Hope K.
Initially we wanted to finally try out Lula Cafe, but they didn't take reservations. We were on a tight schedule due to catching the big Bear's game against New England, so we decided to try out it's sister restaurant since we were able to make a reservation on a short notice. This is how it all went down: Host - He was nice and friendly and made us feel welcome and offered to take our coats... I decided to keep my coat on for a bit because it was so cold out and I didn't feel warm even after being seated. We waited for a while before anyone attended to us. Someone finally brought us water and left. Obviously, he wasn't our server. We wondered who our server was... then a lady came over asking if we'd like to get started with something to drink. I actually asked her if she was our server... and she was. We asked to move to a warmer part of the restaurant, away from the main entrance where it was super cold due to the extremely cold weather outside. We were seated near the open kitchen in the back of the restaurant. I immediately felt warmer and I was able to take off my coat. Then we waited some more... I guess since we were moved to a different section of the restaurant, the lady server wasn't serving us any longer... FINALLY, our new server had come to our table. He asked us if we wanted something to drink. I told him that we wanted to have something to drink but we were also ready order. We started with the chestnut cream stuffed donut with chocolate glaze and marshmallow. It sounded better than it actually tasted. We split the donut in half, but unfortunately, my half of the donut barely had any filling. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of the chestnut flavor in the filling. The chocolate glaze was over powering and didn't seem like that special. It was warm and crispy but not worth $4. For our entrees, we ordered the spinach goat cheese quiche and the malted waffle with chicken wings. To my surprise, our entrees came out pretty fast. The quiche was really good and just perfect in flavor and texture but I would have liked it to be a bit warmer. The malted waffle was really crispy and so were the chicken wings. To my surprise, the salted caramel sauce went well with the chicken wings. Overall, the food was great! We would definitely come back for the food. Service was just ok, since we had to constantly track down our server to get the refill on the coffee and the ginger ale. I would have given it a 3.5 stars, if I could have. I would definitely recommend the restaurant for the food, but don't go there if you are in a rush!
(3)Andy M.
I went to Nightwood with my girlfriend before heading out to the Pilsen art walk on Friday. It was the first time I'd been here and I had been wanting to try it ever since we moved to Pilsen. We had a table near the front of the restaurant, which was drafty and crammed in a little too tight. I understand that a lot of popular upscale restaurants with younger clientele tend to do this (like Avec), but if I'm going to make reservations, then I'd appreciate at least a little bit of space. That aside, the wine list was good (but I don't know much about wine, so that doesn't matter to me much) and the service was good as well. Our waitress was attentive, but not overbearing. I appreciated that. My main complaint is that my entree, which was essentially a french onion soup with lamb, just wasn't very good. Some of the lamb was burned to the point of being inedible, which was extremely disappointing, especially since it was one of the more expensive dishes at $27. Our dessert was excellent, but it didn't save this place for me. I don't think I'd ever suggest going here again.
(3)Shalin D.
Best place for a man date! A friend and I were looking for some serious food after Second Friday in Pilsen. We love Lula Cafe so we decided we'd go to its sister restaurant in the neighborhood: Nightwood. It did not disappoint! Ambience: You can't help but notice the various seating options. Private tables. Outdoor seating on an enclosed patio. A bar overlooking the action in the kitchen. A private dining room. And a full bar. All of those options exist at Nightwood. As such, it's perfect for a multitude of occasions. It's perfect for a man date but also romantic dates. I've also been here for a birthday party and it worked well for large groups. Just beware: if you come without reservations, you will wait a while before you're seated. Food: Farm fresh ingredients. A constantly changing menu. And an unparalleled dedication to excellent food preparation. It's all there. I'm not surprised since Lula Cafe functions in pretty much the same way. The only difference is that the portions at Nightwood are much larger. We ordered sweetbreads as an appetizer. Succulent and tasty! I ordered a pork chop (huge and juicy) and my friend ordered the modified BLT (huge and tasty). Since I'm a glutton, I finished my chop. But, my friend had a hard time getting the last bite of his BLT in his mouth. But, we savored each bite. After a 20 minute hiatus, I ordered tea and the house cookies. I'm glad I decided to go all the way. The cookies were chewy and delicious on the inside. Between the two of us, we managed to polish them off. The best part? On a man date you can both sit in the car on the ride home and unbuckle your belt... without judgment. That's a testament to how much we loved Nightwood. (N.B. The only reason this place does not get five stars is the fact that my reservation on another occasion was botched. But, that's a minor point compared to how great the food here is.)
(4)caroline k.
My first time in the Pilsen area, and a surprisingly good find. Group of 4 of us went on a Saturday evening to a busy house on a cold night. Lengthy 'hand-written' menu includes a variety of new-American and Italian style appetizers, pastas, and entrees from primarly local providers. Here's what we had: - escarole and chopped vegetable salad in buttermilk dressing: a bit too creamy, mediocre - burrata crostini with spiced honey and pears: surprisingly rich and sweet, could have used a touch of salt to balance the honey - sweet potato ravioli: 3 square raviolis for $12, what gives? - whitefish poached in bacon broth: I am always hesitant of fish in liquid, but the bacon really made this dish - beef stew in farro: more like a thick chilli bow, not exactly what I had expected - wood-grilled cheeseburger: Pretty good, with a good dab of dijon to add a kick Good date spot, will definitely be back.
(4)Allie J.
Great food. Great ambiance. Good service. I'm looking forward to our next trip back.
(4)Tia S.
I went to Nightwood for brunch with friends after hearing about it for months. We made reservations, and when we arrived there we let the hostess know we were there. She said it would be a few minutes. So we waited outside (there was really no other place to wait), and waited... and waited... Had she forgotten about us? We had no clue, so we went back in and the woman said "Oh! Your table is ready!" as if we were supposed to guess that. Uh, okay. So we sit down, and one of my friends tries to order chai tea. They're out of almost all of their teas, and chai tea isn't on the menu. However, a chai latte is on the menu. So my friend asks if they have chai tea - he specifies TEA, not a latte - our waitress thinks about it for a moment and tells us she can make something like that. Great. A few minutes later she comes out with a cup full of warm chai concentrate and water. Um, what?! That is NOT chai tea. There are also no free refills on this weird chai concoction, which is problematic for my friend who drinks five cups of tea with most meals. So my friend lets the waitress know that he asked for chai tea, and that's not what he received. The waitress looks at us for a minute as if my friend had made a mistake in ordering his drink and was now inconveniencing her with trivialities. Yeah no. That's not how that works. After a few seconds of looking like she's trying to hide the fact that she hates us, the waitress takes the drink back to the kitchen. Not off to a good start. We ordered the doughnuts as an appetizer, which were absolutely delicious (the strawberry/custard ones). Our meals came a little while later, and the food was alright. Good, even, if a little boring. Maybe that's my fault for not ordering some weird meat I've never heard of. Oh well, I can settle for good food. At least the hash brown balls were awesome (yes, they come in little fried balls). So we get our check and head out. Definitely a bit pricey for such small portions, but it's local/free-range/organic/award winning... I get it. Overall, not a terrible experience, but I was expecting more. Nightwood does have great decor though, I'll give them that. I do plan on going back for dinner sometime, and maybe then I'll be able to give them a better review.
(3)Amy D.
I'm glad this gets to be my 200th review. I heart you Nightwood. I have been there four time now and I loved each time, I do have to say though, some more than others. The menu changes daily which is a good and bad thing, b/c I love the Banh mi but it's not there anymore! :( But you def. get variety. I take my clients out there for celebatory dinners (I'm a Realtor) and they're always really impressed with this hidden gem. Drinks are great, but a tad expensive. Food price range is pretty good, sometimes can get pricey but no different than similar restaurants, and the decor is amazing. Great service! I'm really happy a great restaurant came to the area!
(5)Keith T.
Decent food and drinks. The polenta was well done, same for the brussel sprouts. This is what prompted me to leave a review and the 3 stars: very odd vibe from the staff/management. The night I went, it Felt like they are snickering and talking smack about every table.... I am willing to give another chance though.
(3)Thomas L.
Ever get that feeling that the people around you are on a higher intellectual level? I got that vibe here for some reason and it was very strange. The location was odd; I guess it works that you can pull the "up and coming neighborhood" thing for a bit longer. Food had clean flavors and noteworthy philosophy.
(3)maurice s.
This place is awesome. They have an open kitchen in the back, the centerpiece of which is a large rotisserie smoker. This is where the magic happens. We had smoked chicken and smoked pork. Both were excellent. The chicken came with a side of caramelized brussels sprouts. The pork appeared to be smoked as a bone-in roast, then sliced into chops and finished on the grill. It came with a nice side salad. For appetizers, we had tomato soup and gnocchi with goat and goat cheese. The portion sizes are ample and a good value. The only mediocre aspect of the meal was desert, so pass on that. NOTE: The entrance is on the left through the patio. The building was designed with a corner entrance, which makes sense given the location. For some reason, they walled in the corner entrance, so folks who approach the building at the apparent entrance point have to turn around and walk back to the actual entrance. Remarkably, I saw at least 20 people make this turn during the 1.5 hours I spent at the restaurant, so it's a fairly substantial design flaw that probably should be addressed with signage.
(5)Alli Y.
We went to Nightwood for brunch around 10am on a weekend morning. They take reservations so we were seated very quickly and the ambience of the downstairs was lovely. The food was exactly what I would have expected for a trendy brunch place - well presented on crisp white plates and described impeccably in the menu, but fairly normal tasting. Not bad by any means, but also not "wow" inducing. We had two different appetizers (a bacon donut and a lemony-donut) both of which were excellent. The main courses (bread pudding and quiche) were simply okay. Our experience was also colored by the fact that the waitress basically ignored us for 2 hours, and when we brought that up with her, she was less than receptive.
(3)Carly B.
Expectations: Fresh, innovative menu; (possibly pretentious) hipster staff; quiet and not too terribly busy - especially since it was 8:45 on a Tuesday. Experience: Fresh, innovative menu - so fresh, in fact, that they handwrite it daily; UNpretentious, accommodating hipster staff; a 45-minute wait for a table for two - yep, even on a Tuesday night! Since I ate at Nightwood three days ago, something more seasonal may have bumped the gazpacho and ratatouille off the menu. So, sorry to tease you with a meal you probably won't be able to order -- but these were some of the freshest, most flavorful things I've tasted in recent memory. It's the kind of stuff you can feel good about ingesting. My dining partner felt the same; he cleaned his plate - a pasta dish with sausage - before I even thought to swipe a bite. Dessert was a plate of four assorted warm cookies, which were good but forgettable. I believe the dessert menu is fixed, so I would go a different route next time. Every staff member I interacted with was patient and helpful. The hostess, who had to deal with me three times since we snagged an open bar spot in lieu of waiting 45 minutes for a table, actually smiled, used my name, and thanked us on the way out. The bartender, who ended up doubling as our server, patiently explained each drink on the cocktail menu, made just enough conversation with us, and was an all-around likable dude. And that 45-minute wait on a Tuesday at 8:45? I asked the bartender and the only reason he could think of was that since Lula Café (which has the same owners) is closed Tuesdays, the regular crowd commutes from Logan Square to Pilsen to dine at Nightwood. I'm skeptical. I think the word has gotten out and Nightwood is getting the love they deserve every night of the week.
(5)Sarah W.
My brother and I came here as my farewell to life in Pilsen, and it was overall, a delicious experience. The decor was modern and bright, and it was fancier than I expected, based off the casual (but nice) feel of Lula. As others have attested, the service was excellent. Our server was helpful and gave good suggestions, without being intrusive. He recommended a good beer for my brother, and gave me some background on the one I chose as well. Later during the meal, he came to check up on how everything was and seemed to truly be passionate about the food and making sure we had a nice experience. I thought the menu options seemed great- I couldn't decide what to get, because they all seemed delicious. They had just redone them, so it sounds like they probably make a lot of seasonal items or go with what's fresh. My brother went for trout, which came out whole, served with greens on the side, which he said was good. I ordered a trout BLT. Yes, a trout BLT. It was delicious! It was served on thick soft bread with bacon, lettuce, tomato, a trout fillet, and barbeque sauce (!) with a sunny side egg (!!) placed on top of the sandwich. It was SO good. It's making me hungry again writing about it.. Served on the side was a small side salad with a tart and light vinaigrette. Great experience, though a little pricey, but I will definitely be back for special occasions.
(5)Kristi K.
Quite simply, the most satisfying meal I've ever eaten. I took the afternoon to traverse to Pilsen. I walked around, checked out a few places, and then decided, while I was here, to check out Nightwood. I walked in, and it's just beautiful. Warm, inviting. Simple. I love it. I am seated immediately, brought water and a menu. Menus change daily, so they're nicely handwritten. Nice touch! My server comes over, and asks if I have any questions. I start my typical...what do you recommend routine. Ok...if the menu changes as often as they say (I'm sure they repeat items, but still...) he would have to be on his game. Effortless. I settled on a cheese starter that was somewhat like a combination of Brie and Mozzarella. It was served with a fennel sauce and toast points. I told him to surprise me on drink--beer, wine or cocktail. He got excited. I love it when a server loves their job, knows the food AND can pair a drink with it. Class act. He chose a beer which was amazing. Ephemere. It's a Canadian lager with an apple base (but no means a cider) and coriander. I couldn't taste the coriander until I got a bite of the fennel in the starter, and took a swig. Perfectly paired. Next, I had chicken with a white bean and bread salad. It was exquisite. The bean salad was as good with the chicken. The chicken was seasoned well, yet not over seasoned. Once again, he brought me a perfectly paired glass of white wine. A french blend...I don't remember the name. Desert was a glass of desert red (almost a port, but not quite) and a chocolate and hazelnut custard. Again, perfect. Overall, no complaints. Was it cheap? No. Have I spent that much at "the best restaurants in the city". Yes. Was I nearly as happy when I left said restaurants? Absolutely not. I loved it. I had high expectations, as I love Lula, and I thought there would be no way Nightwood could be different enough yet maintain the quality. It exceeded my expectations. Much better service. No attitude. Actually...they had pleasure in what they were doing. Everyone from the hostess, to the server to the gentleman who brought out my entree. If I could give it 10 stars, I would.
(5)Pete D.
Pleasantly surprised here. The inside of the place is really nicely decorated. The menu... I don't think my taste buds are fancy so this menu was a bit concerning at first. Lots of liver meats, beef fat, tuna sauces on chickens, whale turds (okay maybe not). But honestly we just asked the waitress what was good and dove right into it. The food was really great! You read it on the menu and think it will be so exotic that it won't taste good, but truly, the food was really amazing and unique. And the dessert! Try the pretzel bread pudding for some yummy but different type comfort food. I actually can believe that all of their desserts are amazing. Great service here too. Give it a go if you're in the area or looking for a different type of dinner, stray away from your boring italian places!!
(4)Sue S.
Absolutely worth the drive to this out of the way location. Be sure to make a reservation though since it's not huge and very popular. Hip, comfortable atmosphere with great service and excellent food. It's loud, but tables are spaced apart so you won't have any trouble hearing others at your table. Menu changes with seasonal offerings. Our party thoroughly enjoyed two appetizers: the smelt and asparagus. The waiter helped us select our entrees: the trout, a pasta dish, and duck. Each was cooked perfectly and delicious. We had the plate of cookies and strawberry shortcake sundae for dessert. Very nice selection of wine. Would definitely return.
(4)Erin R.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. A donut with bacon in the middle, covered with a delightful glaze, washed down with a nice cup of coffee. We went to brunch at Nightwood this morning, dragging along our cranky 19 month old to this great restaurant in the Pilsen nabe. At first I wasn't too sure how kid-friendly the place was but within seconds of being seated, our waitress offered up many options for kids, which aren't relegated to a separate menu. Shortly after we sat down there was a parade of fashionably dressed youngsters, hitting the fancy food on the early side of a Sunday morning. Like I said, we split the bacon donut. Good lord that was evil. Evil in the best way ever, basically. After our hearts recovered from the indulgence (we split one donut between three people and it was plenty), we ordered our breakfasts. The service was great. The "tots" are not to be missed. I had an apple omelet with blue cheese. Oh man it was good. My husband had some spicy eggplant thing and our friend had a frittata. Frittata is just a fun word to say, admit it (and hard to spell). The baby had a waffle and some fruit but was really more interested in trying to snag our cups of coffee. I will most definitely be back. It is so nice to know that there are standout dining options on the south side and those of us who live south don't always have to trek to the north side for excellent food.
(4)Gina R.
fantastic food. it's nice to know it's always "good" meat (locally farmed, etc), even if you pay a little more for it. brunch is always 100%. dinner can sometimes be spotty, though they do change out items every day, so I can't blame them. I do feel like I didn't put enough time in planning my outfit when I see the service staff, however. so damn hip. whatever; they have bacon butterscotch donuts. nuff said.
(5)Lali j.
I finally found a place that is worthy of saying, " I think I died and went to heaven"! I went here with 6 other ladies, and we decided to really go to town on the menu. This was over a month ago, while on my yearly Chicago vacation, so I'm sure the menu is completely retooled by now. However... Jesus Christ almighty the Trout BLT on Brioche bread with a Fried egg (everything is better with a fried egg) rocked my F'ing world. I'm sure that someone sold their soul to the devil to achieve the level of scrumdiddlyumptious achieved in the lamb pate with with fried got cheese appetizer. The burger: BEST EVER. Ditto on the fries. I dream of the day when a restaurant with this type of atmosphere and generously loving expressions for all things fine and delicious grace the desert that I call home.
(5)Rachel H.
I love getting invited to a party where everyone lives on the South side. It makes the chances of the location being in my 'hood that much better. We started out with some cocktails on the patio, and I would love nothing more than to spend an evening out there just chatting and sipping berry mojitos. I'm glad it wasn't oppressively hot and we were able to enjoy the evening. Our large party was seated downstairs which felt like a very stylish cave and we lovely ladies pretended that our long wooden table was the setting for a medieval feast. We definitely had a feast. I was pleased with all the wines we tried (and there was a lot of wine) as well as the previously mentioned berry mojito, but let's get down to brass tacks... though I didn't order an appetizer, I snuck a bite of the bread pudding with ham, and wished I'd ordered five of them. The lightly dressed salad I stole from someone else was also very good, if a bit too simple. I ordered the cheeseburger which tasted like a cow had wandered into a forest fire. I mean this in the best of ways. The meat was very distinct in its wood grilled flavor. I also loved that the waitress assumed I wanted medium rare. Of course I did. Sadly the pickle wasn't my favorite, but nobody's perfect, I suppose. Other people ordered the trout which they loved, the risotto, and the trout BLT which intrigued me. They were able to accommodate our vegan pal and made her a special pasta which looked tasty. I finished up the meal with a scoop of lemon balm sorbet which was refreshing and hit the bottomless spot of my current lemon cravings. I swear, what is wrong with me? I would lick a lemon right now. I will be back to Nightwood (or Morning Wood as a friend's companion calls it) as soon as I have some more $$$. It's definitely on my list for special occasion spots, especially for larger groups.
(4)Melissa P.
I love this place. I went here for my birthday this year and had a great experience. The two big highlights were the burrata appetizer and the duck confit I got. Both were amazing. Although, neither were as good as the trout I had here when I had dinner with a friend after it first opened. The only downside was that our waiter recommended a less than amazing wine to us. Still, I'll be back here I'm sure. I can't wait to try it after a visit to Skylark one of these days.
(5)Molly F.
After all these years, my brain has finally decided to connect the atrocious factory farming system with my palette and consciousness when consuming meat. Hence, the search for a restaurant that buys direct from farmers--Nightwood fit the bill. From accommodating us at the bar when we arrived too early to be seated and then all the way through dinner, Nightwood was on the ball. First off, they offered me a water choice--sparkling vs. still--which always makes me giggle and sparks an internal monologue of "Haha, they don't know I'm not this classy!" But, it set the right tone and it subconsciously set my mind to consider this restaurant seriously. Also, they didn't futz with ice in water glasses--again, a deliberate choice that sets a tone. The food was excellent (smelt appetizer, asparagus with goat cheese appetizer, and hand-ground, farm raised burgers), the buzz in the restaurant was comfy, the service was top notch, and the bartender gave us a great wine recommendation. My dinner compadre and I were on a burger hunt, and we were way satisfied with this place, but I will be more adventurous upon my return--their menu was stacked with seasonal greatness! Not until the end of my dining experience did I realize the OPEN FRAKKING KITCHEN in the back! I can't wait to go back so I can watch my food being cooked! Any establishment that allows the restaurant experience to be demystified is a-ok by me. Nightwood, I'll be back, and I'll be bringing more people with me next time.
(4)Carine M.
Love Nightwood. Farm totable seasonal delicious food with great drinks. Um, what more could I want? I went once for the May edition of supper club, and again last night. Last might we sat at the bar, had great food (all recos from our awesome bartender Joe-who also pretty much made our night because of his hilarity in discussing Inception, the movie we had just come from). We had the smelts, sam's summer salad, stinging nettles risotto, rigatoni with line caught albacore, and the whole trout. They sent out an order of green beans with house cured bacon that my husband thought was amazing, but I'm off meat now:(
(5)Brian I.
I've always enjoyed Nightwood a tremendous amount. On a recent trip for brunch, I made a comparison between Nightwood and a comparably priced breakfast restaurant (that shall remain nameless for this review). Nightwood provides an amazing value for very high quality execution and service. The space is inviting for both a brunch and dinner atmosphere (depending on the time of day). So, I highly recommend heading down to Pilsen and making the effort to enjoy a meal at Nightwood.
(4)Tiffany A.
We checked this place out for brunch based on a friend's recommendation! It did not disappoint. Cons: We went on a Sunday morning and it as quite busy so the service was not great - it took ages to just get our drinks and for someone to stop by to take our order (and it sounds like other Yelpers had a similar experience - so that's a bummer). Pros: The menu includes a good selection of brunch dishes, the mimosas were tasty and the food was great! Do not miss ordering Enoch's doughnuts when you go. You MUST try the bacon butterscotch. They come to the table hot and they are to die for! We ordered a few as apps for the table and we were practically licking the plate clean!
(4)Krishna A.
I came here on a Tuesday night with 3 friends and I was pleasantly surprised to see it pretty packed - a good sign of things to come. Ambiance/decor: A wonderfully located recessed bar is the center of the room. The huge windows on the facade of the restaurant really open up the space. The juxtaposition of traditional woodworking and the interesting light fixtures gives off a cool mix of rustic and nouveau. There is an outdoor seating area with a gas firepit which is probably really cool in the summer. Drinks: An amazing wine list. My buddy and his wife picked up a 2009 Enamore - a Malbec blend from Renacer. A great choice! I of course had to peruse the beer list, which was quite extensive, and had a surprising selection of quality microbrews. Food: The menu changes every day, and all the ingredients are from local farms. We ordered the ramps with ricotta cheese and mint, and smelts with aioli for appetizers. Oh ramp - where have you been all my life? It's as if spinach and garlic had a delicious love-child. The ricotta cheese was the highlight of the dish - perfectly paired with mint, we licked the plate clean. The smelts were kind of on the fishy side, and we were not all that impressed. For entrees, we split the roasted half-chicken, the Wisconsin trout and the duck leg (all 3 of which are on the menu every day). We also had the vermicelli with clams. I'm so glad chicken is making it's way back to menus since it was my favorite dish. It was so tender - I'd put it somewhere between a baby's bottom and an earlobe. It was served with soft cornbread cubes and dates which were really great when you ate everything together. The trout was delic as well - served with black beans, charred tomato and cilantro. It had a very smokey taste (which went great with our wine). I am not a huge fan of duck leg, but my 3 comrades really enjoyed it. It is served with asparagus and roasted fennel, both of which carry strong flavors and add to the boldness of the duck. The vermicelli was OK - nothing to write home to yelp about. For dessert we had the 3 warm cookies which paired awesomely with the gelatto (mint, dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla). The bourbon vanilla was insane - I highly recommend it. All in all, a great place. Great service - the staff really understands the menu every day and make great recommendations. Absolutely no pretension. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Lindsay D.
Without feeling the need to write a novel-- ahem-- Nightwood was fabulous! Sitting at the kitchen counter, I got to watch the cooks at work. While I find this interesting, everyone else should appreciate that as my group peered over the counter and looked intrigued, the cooks were even more enthusiastic about their work and their product. Love that! While not everything was perfect, each dish was executed with care and excitement. No need to tell you what we ate, because it will change. Just know that you will eat seasonally, locally, and deliciously (shoot, not a word, but totally accurate). And the servers want you to be happy, and worked hard to make sure that we were. Quality for the Cost: 9 Service: 9
(5)Mark L.
Amazing Brunch and great people watching !! nightwoodrestaurant.com/…
(5)A S.
HUGE disappointment. This place was not good at all. The food was average at best and it was way expensive for what it was. Ugh. I wouldnt even go back to give it another try. .
(1)Scott M.
Wow. The restaurant owners were kind enough to treat area businesses and ourselves (we run South Halsted Gallery down the street and to the North) to a decadent dinner on the house prior to opening. Please don't count my review tainted as such... I feel incredibly lucky to welcome such a quality restaurant (and owner/chef with a vision) in what I might be biased on as a gem of an artistic community, for a long time now. Now on to the review... the wait staff was ridiculously attentive but not to the point of annoying. Homemade sparkling water was served (I normally drink Lake Michigan's finest) was off the charts refreshing and clean. I have to say what really shines through with every dish albeit appetizer or main course is the ingredients. I had a spinach salad with morels, potatoes, hard-cooked egg, Parmesan and aged balsamic. I cannot recall ever tasting spinach like this... that normal chalky-like texture and taste was nowhere to be found. Fresh and crunchy with no odd aftertaste. My wife had deep fried Mississippi prawns with dill butter... not off the charts great but still very tasty and perfectly cooked. For the main course, I had wood grilled trout with lentils, hamhock and pea tendrils. Wow. The trout tasted like someone just pulled it out of a lake (a clean one that is). Super fresh. A bit rare for my taste but nonetheless I have to respect the fresh quality of fish served up. My wife had handcut parsley noodles with braised short ribs and cream. It was super rich and tasted homemade to the core. The only tweak I would make, but honestly hard to say after just one visit and likely the first time doors were open to the dining public, is the dishes are prepared almost too delicately. The food is seasoned in such a way to keep the freshness of the ingredients pure but I could see getting a bit more bold with the preparation or seasoning. Besides that, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND and plan on recommending to anyone who comes out for Second Fridays or otherwise.
(4)Lissette M.
Just had brunch there today, and prior to that i had dinner, i have to say this place is great, good food great presentation, superb customer service. They do have great vegetarian meals but i recommend going in early, they do run out of some ingredients towards the end of the night.
(4)Grace S.
My husband and I ate dinner at Nightwood last Tuesday night. We sat on the patio and enjoyed a bottle of reasonably priced wine. We enjoyed the complementary bread and nice outdoor seating. For our appetizers we had the spring salad with raw ramps and raw asparagus. It was tasty, but intense. Definitely healthy, but not comfort food. We also tried the cold asparagus soup, which was simple and had a nice pickled asparagus. For entrees, we ate the two fishes of the day--whole trout and fried whitefish. The whitefish was much better than the trout, but both were fresh and flavorful. Dessert was 2 different kinds of gelatos (dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla) plus rhubarb sorbet. Very good on a hot night! Our server was attentive and courteous. We have no complaints about the restaurant and would go back for more healthy, delicious local seasonal food. We only wish it was open for lunch.
(5)Kristen F.
Had dinner there on a Saturday night. Got there around 7 and there was only a 20 minute wait. There was no one on the patio, which makes me wonder if it is in use yet. The first thing I noticed is that this place is really beautiful, and everyone there was way way way more dressy than they are at Lula. The menu changes almost every day, so the menu they had on Time Out Chicago was already changed, but there seemed to be some regulars such as the hamburger, the chicken pate, and the half chicken. First - they have an amazing wine selection and I am so excited to have a place down the street from me with so much wine! Too bad I am moving soon. My best friend and I got the cured trout belly and the deep fried asparagus appetizer to start. The cured trout belly was overly salted and the pasta was undercooked. For 11 dollars it was NOT worth it. The deep fried asparagus was AMAZING. I mean.. I would eat that every single damn day. Blue cheese was rolled up inside of the asparagus and then it is deep fried. The flavors were perfect together. We then got the Lamb with white cornmeal and the pork belly with roasted potatoes. Everything was amazing. It was all seasoned perfectly and presented beautifully. The flavors were so delicate and soft. My mouth was in heaven. For desert we got the Rhubarb crisp for two with a homemade ice cream, I think, either way that was fantastic. Of course, all the people who work here are part time models. The servers wear dresses or jackets and all look like they just walked off the pages of some low end society magazine. I got over that really quick though, once the food hit my mouth. Except for that trout belly and the undercooked pasta. This place is pretty sweet. Oh and our Bill? 111.00. Just keep THAT in mind also.
(4)Francesca L.
What a gem in Pilsen! Nightwood has fresh and delicious food. The decor is warm and romantic yet casual. We started off with the smelt and they were very tasty. I had the whitefish with fresh vegetables as my entree. The fish was cooked perfectly, a little salty, but the white wine helped wash it down. The vegtables were amazing ... a mix of all fresh and different veggies. You will not be disappointed if you like to try new things. The menu is great because it changes daily and contains information as to where the produce and meat are purchased... what a plus! This was my first time dining at Nightwood and I was with a large group. I agree with others that commented about the service when sitting in a large group. We were at a long table in the basement level ... no problem! However, the service seemed somewhat slow ... not horrible. Can't wait to go back with my husband!
(4)Alima H.
Nightwood feels like one of those old friends that is consistently good to you. It has a wonderful intimate interior that is especially welcoming on cold days. Food is excellent and the chefs are top-notch. Service is friendly. I've often felt that Nightwood is one of those restaurants that strives to build relationships with its patrons. They're doing a good job.
(4)The Host W.
$$$ is right; this place is expensive. I wouldn't care if I was rich but I'm not. Appetizers, my girlfriend and I went for the pig ears and veal sweetbreads. I don't think I've ever had veal or sweetbreads of any kind but we were feeling adventurous. Pig ears, nice but cold and very thin strips, nothing like we thought and just very average in general. It would have tasted better without the sweetness. I was a little hesitant to try the sweetbreads but they were actually very good. Eating them felt incredibly decadent but whatever, this was only one night. Entrees, she got a rabbit leg meal and I got the cheeseburger with fries. I know getting a cheeseburger at a restaurant like this is stupid and I completely agree but my logic was that if I ordered something cheaper, then we could get another appetizer (veal sweetbreads). Rabbit leg, very nice and it didn't have a gamey taste at all. Cheeseburger, you could get a better burger for cheaper at a place like Five Guy's. I wish I had ordered something else. I give a two star rating because even with the fancy food and atmosphere, I still thought the prices were too high. If money wasn't a concern for me (or if we split the bill but this was a special night), then this place would be three or higher. In the end though, my girlfriend was happy and that made me happy. Is that cheesy? Shut up!
(2)Jean C.
We decided to drive to Nightwood around 5pm on a Saturday. During the Puerto Rican Parade. After an hour and fifteen minutes later, we finally arrived. While in the car, we were all grumbling that the food better be worth the headache of just getting there. The entrance is some what hidden. The beautiful patio is to the left and then the entrance is a side door. This was evident to the numerous people we saw walk by the entrance and go around the building while we sat at our corner window table. But, I digress. That is not going to be the focal point of this review. The food. We were not disappointed. Our dinner party consisted of my parents, husband and myself and when we get together, we eat well. We started out with appetizers: chicken livers, beet salad, and two walleye on a bed of greens. My chicken livers were perfect. I love the irony creamy taste and everyone agreed. I normally don't like to share my meal with people. I admit it, I'm selfish. I like to eat MY ordered meal. But, it was too good to not share! Dinner was as follows: whole Wisconsin trout with bacon, wood grilled cheeseburger, and two orders of duck. The food was divine. I ordered the trout which was a touch too salty for my taste, but the English peas and bacon added a nice balance of flavors. Everyone enjoyed their meals as evident to the cleaned plates. The ambiance, the service and the food made Nightwood a great experience for us all. The open kitchen has a bar along one side so you may sit and watch the food being prepared. I would love to sit there and watch the magic happen. The brunch menu looks equally tasty as the dinner menu. This is a place to have an intimate dinner or a small dinner party. It is top notch and you won't leave disappointed.
(4)Vivian Y.
Our server Alex probably saved our experience at this restaurant. Our waitress barely acknowledged our existence and by the time our entrees were served, we were 1 hour 15 mins into waiting. Our waitress was busy doing something else up front including checking on her faux hawk. The restaurant is very nice - unique decor including a light fixture inside a giant birdcage above the stair case. Be forewarned that this is a very noisy restaurant. There is really cool bar seating at the back overlooking the kitchen which looks like it could be a very fun experience! None of the food blew me away except maybe the polenta dish served with pancetta. The combination of flavors were unique and exciting. The sopresatta and mozzeralla cheese was good and simple. We shared two bottles of low priced wine, two appetizers, 4 entrees, two desserts and two scotches for the gentlemen. For Pilsen (and I'm a Pilsen resident), I thought the place was a little overpriced. They could withstand a 20% price reduction! Everything else was ok but I walked out hungry and $60 poorer. I had the grilled trout served whole. While it did have a nice smokey flavor, it lacked any basic seasonings. I did like that it was boneless yet entact. My friend Chris ordered the pork loin and we both agreed that the texture of the pork was really strange. It was almost rubbery and the flavors from the rub had not penetrated the meat at all leaving the dish rather unsatisfying. Michelle had the pate and corned beef sandwich which really was quite delicious if you love pate. Warning: you have to LOVE pate to enjoy this. I mean, love it enough to be rolling around in it because it is so strong in flavor and so rich from the fat and the buttered exterior of the sandwich! Bonus points for being unique. James ordered the half chicken which was probably the star of the night in terms of entrees. The portion was very very generous and the chicken was pull-off-the-bone tender. Dessert: save room for the almond tart. I'm a caramel lover and this was SOOOO good. The pana cotta was good too but I was seeking something a little sweeter. Again, service - we were not impressed. it took us a total of 2.5 hours to finish our dinner. Luckily we weren't in a rush to go anywhere. I will come back again because i want to see Pilsen emerge into a diversified community and hopefully my next experience will be better!
(3)Cindy D.
Just had dinner with my sister and I love this place. It's very very trendy and hip! The food was interesting flavors. 1. Got a french wine, forgot the name but it was $25. Not great, but the waitress placed in a decanter and got better overtime. 2. Veal bologense - YUMMY! Just got a half order, it seemed small at first, but it was plenty since it's so rich. very very good 3. Trout - It was def. different. Initially very smokey, but got over it with diminishing returns. Don't think i would get again 4. Choc cake with toffee gelato - great!!! fluffy and gelato was delish Overall dinner was $80 total, so pretty good deal for higher end food. Also, menu changes, so everything I'm reviewing will probably not be there for you! Sorry!
(4)Bess R.
Stopped by for a late dinner (10ish) and drinks on a Friday night, and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. We sat inside, but the outside tables looked pretty nice and intimate. Started with a few drinks at the bar - great selection of wine, beer and interesting cocktails. For food, we started with an appetizer of goat cheese on croutons with a sardine vinaigrette and a side of greens. Really interesting taste - we liked it! I had one of the pasta dishes for my entree, and it was outstanding. They make all the pasta in-house, and I would definitely recommend it. Friends had the burger and the polenta. They both enjoyed their dishes. All veggies were SO fresh and delicious. Cool spot, nice ambiance, good service and interesting food. I'll be back.
(4)Frances C.
Ok, so I'm from Logan Square. I'm a huge, huge fan of Lula. It's walking distance from where I live and I've been in Logan Square for 6 years now. I hate leaving the neighborhood but considered going to Nightwood because it's the owners of my beloved Lula. I was not disappointed. They went above and beyond the restoration of the space. It's interior is simply beautiful - wood, exposed brick, leather chairs (all in clean modern lines of course), and yet, totally family friendly and amazing service by the staff. The owner recognized me and my family and thanked us for coming all the way down from Logan Square! How awesome is that?! The food - one word: exquisite. We started with a butterscotch bacon donut. Melt in your mouth and the candied bacon... well, I'm big smoked pork fan... so... My husband had the poutine with duck confit, Brunkow cheese curds and whatever they did to those fries, despite the gravy and cheese held their crispness throughout the meal! I had chicken and waffles. Tender, tender chicken and the waffles were light as air. It was topped with sweet figs and a creme anglaise. It was a foodgasm. My little girl had a blast looking around and making googly eyes at the other baby a table over. The space is big enough that you have several places to sit -front, back, bar, and kitchen bar where you can watch the chefs in action while a whole wall of wines in beautiful wine holders call to you! (Yes, even in the morning.) I'm so glad this restaurant is in Pilsen. Yes, it's a way to go for a great meal, but it's right off the highway and the neighborhood is definitely buzzing with activity. It's worth the trip! I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)Noopur L.
I've had brunch here twice and one thing was consistent both times .... the doughnuts. Yum yum yum!!! I always make sure to work out the morning of so that I can splurge on the decadent chocolate goodness. I've never had fried chicken and waffles before and decided to try them out and I was wonderfully surprised! The stone fruit compote adds a great touch and evens out the flavors of the dish. The $6 eggs any style is a STEAL and with the hashbrowns/toast consists of plenty of food for one person. Nightwood has a great setting and I love any restaurant that doesn't have a TV. I wish I had a car so I can drive here more often. Two thumbs up!
(5)Clausewitz V.
Dear Nightwood, Full house. Cozy seat overlooking the kitchen. An assortment of characters. Never a dull moment. The drinks were solid. So was my dessert. Server came off as being chill when we sat and ordered. But as soon as we were settled, she seriously, had no table side manner. Was having a conversation, which she made it her duty to continuously interrupt. Great that she took pride in the cocktail department. Knowledgeable. Probably applied for the bartender position, but had to settle for floor. But drinks either never came or came late. And if I gotta stop what I'm doing, which is eating my $8 sorbet and partaking in a private conversation, so that you can pop in and recite the ingredients and history behind my Le Maudit Français, then we'll just have to conclude that you're just a little miss know it all. Take it down a few notches and I'm sure we'll get along perfectly fine. Ta ta for now, Fog of War
(3)Tim H.
I won't be back to Nightwood and I think I am being quite generous with my two star rating. Service was lacking and i had one of the most disgusting dishes I have ever eaten in a restaurant here with no attempt by the servers to give me a different dish. I had a side of vegetarian sausage here that was pretty good. My dining companions had dishes that they said were ok to good. I tried the french toast and it was pretty good. The problems: The rabbit rillette sandwich I had came as a recommendation from the server. It tasted pretty bland and was just a mass of greasy and creamy mushiness on a sandwich. The server messed up the charging on my bill. Not sure how difficult it is to process a bill correctly on two credit cards, but they failed to do it correctly here.
(2)Ruth B.
Cocktails truly original and delish. Food outrageously good and creative, service attentive. My only complaint was with the front of the house, when I make a reservation a month in advance I expect a comfortable in a good location soon after the reservation time. Instead I was offered after a 15 minute wait a table with very uncomfortable chairs near the kitchen. We sourced out a different table and the meal was outstanding. Too bad the welcome wasn't quite up to the same level at the food.
(3)Edie J.
So delicious!! This morning my friend and I did the Big Lebowski brunch. White russian donut?? hell yea! There were other funny menu items as well. The service was good, coffee was plentiful, we were not rushed and didn't wait for anything. Great start to the day, will be returning!!
(4)A S.
Really enjoyed this place. Ambience, menu, food quality, wine list, wait staff. We had the fried lemon app and the spicy melon app -- both delicious. The trout was perfect and the fresh tomatoes and greens complimented it wonderfully. I can't stop thinking about it! Oh and the women's bathroom is one of the best appointed and clean bathrooms I've seen in a restaurant in a while. Thanks Nightwood!
(5)Shelley A. D.
This place is beautiful, great location, clear on its mission. However the portions are way too big; there are not enough vegetarian; fish; poultry options; no kids' menu; no Sunday dinner offering. Cannot wait until they diversify!
(4)Eva V.
We did brunch. Ambiance is beautiful, food is just ok - one dimensional and weirdly small portions for the price on some of the dishes. Husband had Monte Cristo type sandwich; this was fine from a serving size perspective, but overpowered by the maple syrup it was coated in to the point where he could only manage to eat half. He took it home to give the second half a chance; managed to finish another quarter of a sandwich there before finally tossing it. I had some kind of Asian-inspired rice/scrambled egg dish, which was fine, but nothing mind-blowing - it was better than something I could have put together myself, but not anywhere near the kind of consistently awesome flavor combinations you experience at the Publican, for example (the Publican continues to be my gold standard for what brunch *can* be like). My portion size was super small; about half a cup of egg/rice mixture. Thankfully there were enough toast and tater tots to round the dish out, but for $13 per plate, I expected more (as in, more food). I was also put off by the fact that the beef rib tips that were supposed to be a part of the meal basically consisted of two millimeter thick slivers of meat hidden amongst the eggs. Why bother naming it if it's not going to be a substantial component of the dish? We had the server recommended bacon/butterscotch donut, and I was underwhelmed. I love myself a good, fresh, gourmet donut (Dazed and Confused, DoRite, etc.); this one was just too one-dimensionally sweet, so hard to enjoy after more than one bite. Frankly, there are just better places in Chicago to have really intriguing, innovative brunches at for the same price point to bother with Nightwood.
(3)Shanti N.
Having passed by here on a bitterly cold Art Walk last month, I decided to check out Nightwood last Friday, an unseasonably warm evening, to celebrate the coming of spring. I am glad that I took advantage when I did, as I am typing this and looking out at a wintry mix (rain/sleet). Mainly in mind of a drink, I decided to have a seat at the bar. I must have timed it right, as it was not nearly as hopping when I came in (around 7 pm) as it became later on. I went with a glass of the Wilamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It was a very smooth pour and the classic, crisp finish made me realize what I'd been missing all of these hibernating months with my default to Yellowtail Chardonnay. Later on, a couple came into the bar and sat down nearby. From the way the chef greeted them, I could tell that they were regulars here, so I decided to check out what they were ordering. I thought that I had gotten the same pasta dish as what they had ordered, but I ended up with the house-made pasta with a sauce that included veal. I was pleased that the portion was small, and not gut-busting, allowing me to savor the nuances of this decadent dish. The bread provided with dipping sauce was an inspired touch, as the bread appeared to have been baked in a mid-size ramekin and the cheese-based dipping sauce provided with it served as an excellent amuse bouche (though on a less precious scale) to whet my appetite for the main course. I plan on returning, next time to sample the cocktail offerings and the dessert side of the menu.
(3)Justin B.
About the only surprise that occurred on my visit last Friday night? How quiet it was inside the restaurant. We made a reservation but we could have strolled right in at 7:30 PM; this seems surprising and speaks volumes to how good the food is in Chicago that this place wasn't jammed. The food is fantastic. You'll fight to not request additional warm bread; the cocktails are quite good (the Pink Whippet and the Dark Star were two of the three I put to bed...sassy), the farfalle was tasty, and the Nightwood Cheeseburger is surprisingly good for a burger at a semi-fancy restaurant. I tasted my wife's salmon entree and that was also very good...the outside was crispy, but not crunchy, just right. Dessert was a minor misstep, as the descriptions for the Chocolate Bombe and the Soft Pretzel Bread Pudding were written better than they tasted. Good, just not as amazing as "dark chocolate, caramel vanilla bean, chocolate-covered pretzel ice cream" sounds! The crowd got larger as 8 turned to 9 PM, so it got lively later, and when we left around 10:30 it was closing time. I got the sense that this is a great place to take your parents and because the neighborhood has the look of "transitioning" (a popular term where I was back in DC), you'll get that jewel-in-the-nile feel when you walk back to your parked car two blocks away. This is also reflected in the incredible mix of people inside; people of all races, faiths, ages and interests seem to eat at Nightwood, so it's got a decent people-watching quotient too. Good stuff!
(4)Erika H.
Service was okay, not real complaints, but nothing that wowed me either. I ordered the bagel sandwich and perhaps I would have been able to enjoy it had the bagel not been so hard! Did they toast the bagel and let it sit there for hours? It was so ridiculously hard to bite into it!
(3)Anthony G.
This place just feels nice when you're looking for fancy but chill. I like the tasteful low key decor so your mind just sinks into the food. The stuff they create here is my kind of flavor - often times clean with spikes of interesting bits of flavor to keep your mind awake.
(5)Jason H.
We LOVE Nightwood. The drinks are amazing, the food is amazing, the service is amazing, the room is amazing. Amazing.
(4)Becky Z.
The location is great for bridgeporter~~~ The food was awesome. We had an 8 people party on Friday night and we almost ordered every entree. The duck leg was great, but they could add more sauce in it. The lake trout was juicy and fresh. The pork belly, omg, so good. The burger, extremely big portion! Great thing is every thing is local farm raised. It tastes fresh. The service was also fantastic. The parking is very easy. Free parking spot every where. It is not a noisy dining place. And we really liked it.
(5)Robert G.
Dang this place was great! We went here during Restaurant Week 2013. Really wish I knew about the adjacent seating next to the open kitchen before I was seated in the dining room! It reminded me of sitting at a sushi bar, which I prefer. We enjoyed the 4-course prix fixe menu ($44.) I really, really liked the "sausage, peppers, onions." My most memorable moment of the evening was when the patrons seating next to us ordered, the gentleman wanted to order the sausage without green peppers. Dude?! The green peppers are in the "bath" the sausages are cooked in! The poor waitress had to attempt to elegantly explain they were in the recipe. Thanks Choose Chicago and Nightwood Restaurant for this experience!
(5)Jonah E.
I went during restaurant week with a friend and together we were able to try everything on their restaurant week menu. A couple of things to note: - The waiters and waittresses were very responsive as my water glass never reached empty - The meals came out like rapid fire. Within minutes of finished one course, they would come out with the next - I came in with high expectations and they were all met or exceeded. - Ravioli Bolognese was probably my favorite dish, but the apple bread pudding is a close 2nd - noise level was on the louder end of moderate. - was a little on the expensive side at $44 per person, but overall it was worth it
(5)natalie b.
This was amazing! We had a little of everything. Buttered Beans, oysters, tartar, brussels sprouts, beets, carrots and everything was GREAT! I recommend coming with friends and sharing so you can get a bite of everything. Homemade chicken and dumplings was exactly want I needed on that snowy night. The smell when you walked in the door was enough to know it was going to be great!
(4)Dustin T.
Delicious brunch! Food is unique and gourmet. Drinks are also very good. Service could be a little better but overall a great place to check out!
(5)Cristina T.
Food was amazing, service was very friendly. Went for my birthday dinner & loved the romantic atmosphere. Had the fried meyer lemons & bone marrow gnocchi to start. Had the 1/2 chicken as my entree and the portion was enormous. It was cooked to perfection and served with walnuts, pecans and a delicious raisin/walnut bread. Got the plate of warm cookies for dessert & was not disappointed. The gooey butter cookie is to die for. Will definitely be back!
(5)Linda B.
Very fresh and flavorful, cool interior, great patio, and attentive service. But the problem at Nightwood is an erroneous assumption that sophisticated and fresh = tiny portions. My corn custard tasted very good, but it was exactly 1 inch by 1 inch, came with five chard leaves and two (2) polenta croutons. It was kind of funny watching people's faces when their entrees showed up--so minimal for the price. And one teeny tiny biscuit per person? Please. Bring more or make them just a bit larger. I suppose Nightwood is worth checking out if you're having a $$$ evening, but I suggest ordering fish or meat and an appetizer.
(2)Edwin W.
4 beers, 1 app, and 2 burgers. I don't know about you, but I usually don't have to spend $100 for a meal like that. The beers were craft beers so I'm not going to complain about the price. The app was literally a plate of sliced cucumbers laid delicately on a plate drizzled with olive oil and topped with chopped peppers, radish, onions and jalapenos. Worst salad EVER! We came here for the burgers as we have seen it listed on many Top Burgers in Chicago lists. When we ordered the burgers with the server, we were not asked how we wanted them cooked, so I asked how they are prepared. The server said they are usually cooked Medium. I had a hunch this would be a mistake as I recalled reading on the menu that the burger consisted of two patties which usually meant 2 patties that equated to a burger somewhere in between a 1/4 lb. to 1/2 lb. burger. Knowing that the patties would be thin, it meant that the burgers would likely be over cooked especially at medium. That was EXACTLY what we were served. Overcooked patties, in between a focaccia type bun that did not help the burger. The burger was under seasoned and the only redeeming feature of this burger was the onion ring that almost got lost with soaked bun. Usually when you are paying $15 for a burger, you would expect better quality burger. Outside of the food (that we ordered), this place appears to be a trendy restaurant as it was nearly packed (both outside seating and inside dining) on a Wednesday evening. The server mentioned that the menu changes daily depending on what ingredients the kitchen wants to use. The service was impeccable as everyone was friendly was the host to the people clearing our table. I won't say I'm ruling this place out as it has great outdoor patio seating and the menu suggests that they use fresh ingredients. I strongly recommend not trying the burger as you can definitely go somewhere else for a tastier burger with less damage to your wallet.
(2)Arash R.
Well its a mixed bag , some dishes are really good and some are just average . great baby octopus and duck , average deserts and Fish . all in all not a bad place but for the price you can find a better place .
(3)Julia S.
Excellent farm-to-table restaurant. The combinations of ingredients were wonderful and unique. We had two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert, all of which were amazing! The atmosphere and decor are also excellent.
(5)Edith R.
I want to give a great review, really I do. But I agree with a lot of other approved and non-approved reviews: The food is hit or miss and service is the same. Prices are unreasonable for a hit or miss experience. I have walked past this restaurant many times, because it's only 4 blocks from my house and I've avoided it due to mixed reviews regarding quality of service and food taste and price. However, my gf recommended it as a good place for brunch. So off I went. Some parts were good, some parts not so great. I sat at the bar to wait for my party to arrive before getting seated, and the bartender hardly acknowledged me...let alone barely talked to me. She was very personable to the guy next to me. She spent a good while telling him about her favorite food. When she finally took my drink order, she looked less than thrilled to even to assist me. I ordered the Americano drink, which I cannot find on the online menu right now. I am all for trying new cocktails and learning about them, but this thing was badly bitter, and I like bitter stuff. It took a lot of diluting, lemon juice and swirling for it to grow on me. If any of you cocktail connoisseurs can educate me about that drink, please send me a message so I'm not so biased. Otherwise, I do not recommend that drink. And just before my party arrived, the bartender didn't say a word to me. She just gave me the bill in a glass and walked away. total: $8.85 for a bitter, crappy drink and crappy service. Ok, I admit I was dressed in yoga pants and a yoga hoodie; but really, shouldn't they treat us all the same? Do I need to tell you I'm dressed like that because I just ran 8 miles only an hour before i got to your snobby counter and my body is sore? Thank god I had cash and just begrudgingly threw in a $10 bill. I really should have just left her $0.15 as a tip, considering how indifferent she was to me. I WILL be back to find her and remind her how she treated me. I do, after all walk past that place weekly from my nearby home to grab myself 2 delicious craft beers at skylark--for the same price as that drink. Upon getting seated, service was far better. The girl in the glasses was very, very attentive and pleasant. I ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, which is THE BEST donut in the world. I will go back to order that for takeout. Delicious, absolutely, positively delicious. If you've ever had the bacon long john from Glazed and Infused (and you know it's fab), this is even better. It is well worth the price. I also ordered the den-fjord: listed as a rye flour crepe Swedish meatballs smoked salmon, braised kale, glazed cippolinis (unreadable handwritten item), sunnyside egg. The dish looked absolutely scrumptious, but I'm really not sure what happened there. First, it was really salty; but to be fair, I don't like a lot of salt in my food in general. My friend likes her food salty so that just depends on your palate. However, the saltiness didn't really do much for the overall flavor. With all those ingredients, I expected more flavor. Flavor from the kale, maybe a tad more flavor from the salmon. I'm not sure. I wouldn't have minded paying the $14 for that dish if the overall taste was more than just meh. To close out our meal, we caved and ordered bloody Marys...we really like our bloody Marys. So when they came in at a more than bitter taste, we were really disappointed. The garnish was really tasty, i believe it was a sliver of ginger (very good), but i don't remember what the second garnish was, it was salmon colored and crunch--that was it. I reiterate that service at the table was great, despite the crowd at 12p-ish. I'm all for giving places a second try but $20+ dollars for 2 bad drinks is outright insane. I will return for the donut as takeout but I really hope some of those folks, or that bartender chick treats all patrons better and the same across the board. After all, Pilsen is my home and I support my local businesses. I don't demand high services, but I do notice snobby service when I'm being a friendly customer and you do not reciprocate the gesture. I won't say I won't ever be back, but I will think twice next time.
(2)Shannon B.
I don't write 5-star reviews for many places unless you wow me with your service which this place does, your food is amazing and savory which at this place it is. Boyfriend and I both ordered the same dish it was the homemade Gnocchi I can't tell you how pillowy and amazing it was. Beyond flavor! The service was a bit slow this day, so the waitress showed up at the end of the meal with a tasting tray of deserts two mini pies and a custard. She definitely made up for the wait because all the deserts were amazing. Its always good with staff and a restaurant can read the mood and where they fell flat and make up for it without the customer even asking. Put this on your must try list in Chicago! You'll be glad you did.
(5)Sean H.
went with a friend on a thu. really nice ambience, not too dark, never got overly loud. a nice relief from the november cold. friendly wait service. came at 7:15, there's no wait though we had a reservation. was packed around 8 or so. two entrees + dessert + appetizer came out to about 44 a person (37 w/out tip). you get some free bread (like, a teeny tiny little loaf) at the beginning and then some teeny tiny cookies at the end. we ordered this salad made of peppers and this meat sauce for an appetizer. it was a nice appetizer. i think $14. entrees were this fish with some mushroom and something else i wasn't sure about, but it was good. it was pretty expensive though ($28) and def. not something that I think would be filling for an average sized person. however there's a cheap (relatively) hamburger that is also good for $15 - it's technically a double cheeseburger + fries. that combo plus appetizer etc. was really filling. then we got this bread pudding thing for $10, which was super small, but the flavors were really nice. didn't order alcohol but that will probably run you $10-$15 a person if you get one drink . i'd like to try the brunch later.
(5)Nanette F.
I guess I don't get it. I went there because I had so many friends rave about the place, but I don't see the big deal. The service would have been better,but the hipster server had the worst BO that I have encountered in a restaurant. I mean, it was down right abusive. I ordered one of their specialty bourbon cocktails which tasted like a cross between salmon and bitters. I had a pasta dish which was okay, however my husband's burger was wonderful. So, to wrap it up. take nose plugs and order the burger.
(2)Raytus C.
Wow - Nightwood - how your star has fallen! We started with some fried squid and a mackerel appetizer. The squid were tiny ringlets that were so fried, it was really just salty batter that was left. The mackerel was the size of my thumb for $18. That's just not fair. We'll normally order the half chicken as a reliable standby - but it was replaced on tonight's menu with a chicken thigh for $26. As we discussed the menu, I noted the thigh was singular. Thinking it wasn't possible, we ordered the chicken and indeed - it was one thigh for $26 - the cheapest cut of chicken. No joke. The thigh was okay, but the greens it was served on where so salty, they were inedible. I had the burger and it was also incredibly salty. I don't mind smaller portions - but a chicken thigh would be overprices at $16 as an appetizer - what this entree really was - let alone $26. Nightwood - one more visit like this and we are done.
(2)Yuki H.
Came in for dinner to see what the hype was all about. I really enjoyed the pasta and the desserts where phenomenal.
(5)Roger W.
This place was really nice. The food was really OK. I've heard brunch is awesome and want to come back and give this place a better review.
(3)Moe f.
I was skeptical to schlep that far south from our north side fortress but it was totally worth it. Started with some nice pumpkin soup and beet/goat cheese salad. The wife had the duck with risotto that was pretty good. The winner of the night was the squab. I could have eaten 2 of those delicious little birds. The dessert menu didn't really do it for me so we opted out. I'll be back.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Went out on a Monday evening to celebrate a friend's birthday at Nightwood. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that they were offering half-off bottles of wine that evening (good for us considering they ONLY sell their wine by the bottle, never by the glass!) Their limited menu was inventive & fun; I noticed many local ingredients listed. As a vegetarian, I had only one entrée option, which was disappointing... I would have preferred to have a choice on my meal. More vegetarian options would be an idea. The atmosphere is that of fine dining, but also very casual. Their wait staff all wear street clothes; however the wine was presented & served properly & the presentation of their food gave the feel of fine dining. Their wait staff keep your water glasses full at all times; and I noticed right away that they serve filtered water; not a hint of Chicago tap water! Since it was my friend's birthday we were celebrating, we asked that they not sing a song or do any of that funny-business to attract attention, which they kindly granted to us. They did, however, surprise my friend by embellishing her dessert with a candle & "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate on the plate. Very cute.
(3)Critic L.
The food and service was great. I would have given 4 stars if the portions weren't so small. I had the $25 single roast chicken thigh and my husband ordered the $32 duck breast while we shared a side. They should've served two thighs or half a chicken cuz we both walked out still feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Ordered glasses of wine and it wasn't even a full pour like you would get at any ordinary restaurant in river north either....Quality and flavors were excellent but overpriced for the neighborhood and lack of portion. I'm sticking to their brunch only!
(3)Carolyn L.
OK so I went here after the Shamrock Shuffle because dammit I earned it! And the first thing I had to get my hands on was the Nightella doughnut, stuffed with, you guessed it, nutella. It was rich and divine. I also snagged some bites of my parents' butterscotch doughnut with bacon on top. I almost jumped over the counter to grab the jar of bacon soaking in maple syrup. It was just...so...amazing. The salty bacon really complimented the sweet butterscotch. Every bite melted in my mouth. For the rest of the meal, we enjoyed some great bacon and sausage from The Butcher and Larder. Both had a great taste and were very enjoyable. My mother ordered the bread pudding french toast and for sure I helped her out on the last few bites. It had a lemon curd sauce served and raspberry couliswith it. The light flavors all came together really well, and the entire dish was just rich and delicious. My father had the breakfast sandwich on a bagle. Again, I stole a few bites and even ate the rest for breakfast the next morning. The sauce was just the right amount of savory, nothing overpowering. I loved Nightwood. And I would love to go back and try everything else on their brunch menu over time. It was definitely a hard decision to choose just one thing off the menu!!!
(5)Michal F.
The patio ambiance puts you in the middle of a lush garden. It's a great setup for a meal full of fresh vegetables. I got the breakfast burrito which i thought was excellent. It had a fresh taste with a mediterranean feel. The lamb in it was juicy. It also contained hummus, rice yogurt, feta, mint and a vegetable with thick stems that I've never seen before. The downside was hydration. It was incredibly hot on the day we went so we wanted alot of water. Each time it was served to us in a small glass that we'd finish in a minute then have to wait 20 minutes to flag down a waiter for a re-fill. Near the end of the meal we got a pitcher but this was after five refilled glasses that just would not sate our thirst.
(4)Kate C.
We came here for our anniversary and loved it. The food was amazing and the service was perfect and friendly. I want to go back to try the brunch! :)
(5)Chase M.
Good food from a farm-to-table menu. Flexible with eating preferences (paleo, vegetarian diets.) Fantastic drinks.
(5)Jennifer T.
I like Lula Cafe (sister restaurant to Nightwood) so I had high hopes for my first visit here. Unfortunately the service was inattentive and 3 (out of 4 that we ordered) dishes were below average. Sadly, I will not return. Dish that was pretty good: Nightwood burger Dishes that were not: Ravioli, Grilled Octopus, Fried Rice. All three were overpowered by salt and vinegar, Service was disappointing. We had empty water glasses for the first 10 minutes after being seated at our table. Our waitress passed us many times without even glancing our way. As for the setting - do avoid the north part of the bar. There was a sulfur or sewage scent that definitely took away from the ambiance of the rest of the restaurant.
(2)Jay K.
Nightwood is definitely worth checking out. I'm a huge fan of the upscale farm to table genre of restaurants and decided to give this a try. When we got there, I was happy I made a reservation (even despite a 9pm one) because the place was packed. My initial impression was that the place has a nice ambience (although I prefer the indoors than outdoor patio). The drinks and service was very good. I ordered the fish entree and it was good as well. Overall, the portion sizes are just right. If you end up going for the full experience with drinks to desserts, the bill will run up. Why not 5 stars? My only critique is that my entree (and I tried one of my friend's entree) was somewhat bland. The appetizers were spot on but the entree seemed somewhat lacking.
(4)Brandon T.
Came here today for the b-day brunch. Turned out, for the most part, excellent! Ended up having a few mimosa's, the bacon butterscotch donut, granola, and the hamburger. The butterscoth bacon donut was incredible. So ridiculously sweet & savory, I would recommend spliting it if you are going to eat anything else. The granola was disappointing. Not nearly enough yogurt, but it did tasted nice by itself just didn't really want a dry bowl of cereal if you know what I mean. The hamburger was great. The bread, contrary to others opinions, I thought to be perfect for how juicy the burger was. It made the entire sandwich manageable with the sauce and juiciness of the meat. Of course the mimosa's were also good, yet a bit pricey. Note: If you end up going here, DRIVE! Public transportation here is a pain, and cabs are non-existent. It started storming today half way through our lunch. Ended up waiting 45 minutes after the restaurant was nice enough to call two cab companies for us.
(4)Laurence B.
Dined here August 1 2013. This place is amazing. Sat in the patio (open air) area on a beautiful night. The food is amazing. The most stunning dish was the shisito peppers (appetizer). Very carefully selected wine list. You can't lose. All the wines are well-chosen and reasonably priced. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. Drive your own car, or assume you may have to wait for a cab for the return trip.
(5)Tricia D.
Props to Nightwood for earning a Bib Gourmand award for 2011! This late breaking news was even more incentive to return to this fine Pilsen establishment after my blissful brunch here circa one year ago. And knowing what I know now, I would only return for brunch. The dinner offerings had - hm, what's the word I'm looking for? - muted flavors to me. The mushroom sformato (like a savory custard), handmade pasta, and duck risotto were all tasty, but lacked that extra kick of culinary flavors to bring it to the next level. I left wanting more, and the same goes for the lemon pudding cake and vanilla pot de creme desserts we tried. The clam appetizer was a winner and the highlight for me. I was hoping to be more blown away, but I was simply not. Like the cocktail list and open kitchen though. Bring your semi-outdoor voice because the noise level gets energetic in here. +100 on Opentable.
(3)Bryan W.
Worth the trip!! So much has already been said about this wonderful spot so I will keep it brief, just go. This place is perfect for brunch or dinner and has to be experienced.
(5)Andrew S.
Just like its older sister Lula this place does not disappoint. Love the Lu but want sleeker decor? Try Nightwood. I feel here is urban and polished, the menu changes seasonally and pulls from local farms and seasonal produce. You can get the very basic and lovely burger or branch out to small plates and unique entrees. To me, perhaps the dishes are a bit more pared down than Lula. Sorry to keep comparing but the similarities are undeniable. One of the two best restaurants in the city, in my opinion.
(5)Cyn C.
Ooh-dah-lolly, ooh-dah-lolly, golly what a day!!! It was my last weekend as a resident of Chicago and I had some serious decisions to make: try new (to me) restaurants or go to my tried-and-true spots one last time? I tend to lean toward the conservative, so I'm surprised I tried this new place instead of going to my beloved brunch spot (which isn't so far away from this one). The three of us shared the two special donuts (the maple bourbon bacon one and the lemon verbena creme filled donut), each of which came with a side of donut holes. How can you not be charmed by a place that serves its donuts with a side of donuts? Then, in typical family style, we all shared the following: 1) wood-grilled goat cheese stuffed french toast with blackberry jam. (mmm. was good. not as good as the place in Bridgeport, but still delicious). 2) eggplant and lamb casserole with... can't remember. but the eggplant was deliciously done. 3) bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, cole slaw (made with vinagrette or very light on the mayo), maple thick cut bacon pieces and a runny over easy egg. This breakfast sandwich was delicious, but could be made better with a better grade bagel. Now, the bagel wasn't BAD, it just wasn't top notch. But those tots were more than enough to make up for an "ok" bagel. Tips: 1) make reservations. 2) come a bit early to drive around and find free! street parking 3) wear your stretchies 4) don't order the bagel sandwich if you're on a first date. it's a messy monstrosity.
(4)Adoley J.
Yum yum good food! Came here with a group of friends for some Sunday brunch and post Saturday night chat session. I mean why else do brunch, am I right. As soon as we arrived we ordered some donuts for the table. They were amazing with just the right amount of sweetness. I ordered the crab salad which was really good. It was baked crab with lettuce and cheese and came with focaccia bread. All in all a good meal. My only complaint comes because of our waiter. I understand we all have our off days, but he was short with us and kept rolling his eyes. At the end of the meal, he went behind the bar to make drinks and left us hanging. So while the meal was good the service could have been better.
(3)Mare G.
Loved the decor and seats. Ordered the burger and wish I had tried something more adventurous. The apple bread pudding with rosemary ice cream made the meal complete!
(4)Charlene B.
One of our top five favorite restaurants in Chicago. Recommend it for dinner AND brunch. Also recommend nabbing a seat at the chef's counter in the back. Makes for great theater. But, truly, any seat in the house is a lucky seat -- the food is that consistently standout, the interior design + comfort that consistently good. We love bringing people here who have never been and watching as they are blown away as course after course arrives. Nightwood nails the intersection of inventive, seasonal dishes, warm + hip vibe, and staff friendliness. Their ever-changing menu is incentive to go again and again.
(5)Pascal M.
"Old McDonald had a farm" but he sure as hell didn't feed his family this kinda' food! I'm diggin' Nightwood. Cool part of town and easy to find a spot near by. The interior dining area is simple, yet refined, and the ceilings and windows really make you feel like you've got a lot of space. PLUS! There's some chairs in the back if you want to watch the kitchen work it's magic. I'm sure theyyy luhhhhhhve that... Perhaps if you are a regular or know them personally you could watch them work without holding back. The pirate ship like atmosphere is what I tend to love about kitchens, hopefully they wouldn't hold back for fussy dining crowds. Who knows, maybe you could even get some innovative creations tossed your way from time to time. Their cocktails compliment the fresh cuisine. Plenty of ingenuity with their wide array of spirits, liqueurs, and extras can be found in their well crafted drinks. The food is about as fresh as your gonna get. Some dishes are raw and simple so you can get the best out of certain ingredients, while other entrees clearly have an expressive attention to detail and skill. It mus be great to be a local so you can come in here frequently and try the always changing menu. Although it must stink to have something you loved, gone the next week. BUT THAT'S HOW THEY GETCHA! Their dessert. "GREAT SCOTT!" They could open a small pastry or dessert shop based entirely on the expertise of sweets they got goin' on. The night we went, they very well served us the best bread pudding I've ever had in my life. Quite simply. Their cuisine blew us away, from beginning to end. I can't wait to go back from season to season and try some of their other menus. Nightwood is a restaurant where superheroes would go to eat.
(5)Kurt F.
Incredible experience at Nightwood! Sat at the bar just off the kitchen and had a very cool experience watching the chefs work their magic. I HIGHLY recommend the crispy pig ears and rabbit cabbage roll...both were exceptional! Bay scallops with beef tendon, mushroom and quail egg in bacon broth was on point as well! If you are a dessert person I would highly recommend the apple bread pudding with the rosemary ice cream. Overall, great dinning experience.
(5)Evan B.
Great spot. The service and décor is top notch. Drinks at the bar were varied - I tasted several, and they were each unique. I must say, the cocktail list compares to that of the "hotter" cocktail spots in town (Billy Sunday, Violet Hour, etc) but I don't think they were made with the same level of dedication. My drink was a bit heavy on the bitters. The service was excellent. We arrived for an 8:15 reservation and could not be seated until 9:00. The maitre'd kept us informed and apologized. We understood the difficulties, but they were nice enough to offer us a few WONDERFUL appetizers on the house. Which brings me to the appetizers. These were the star of the dinner. They were each unique in taste, profile and presentation. The pig ears and the peppers were each great, but their menu changes daily. The server was very helpful and knowledgable about the dishes. As others have said, entrées were a little on the bland side. Not horrible, but not as daring as the appetizers. If I were here again, I'd order a main dish (or two) to split among the group, but go all out on the appetizers. The desserts were perfect. Nice wine and limited but decent beer list. Definitely a spot Chicagoans should check out.
(4)Caitlin B.
I went here as part of large party for my bff's law school graduation. We arrived first and had a mimosa and bloody mary at the bar. When the rest of our party was a bit late, they were not only accommodating, but the hostess came over to us and let us know! We sat downstairs, which was quieter than upstairs and very reasonable given that we were such a large party. There was one other large party seated downstairs. We all shared the butterscotch bacon doughnuts to begin, and these were amazing: definitely the highlight of the meal! I ate oatmeal, which was delicious. Most people at the table ordered the eggs and toast combo, and they all seemed please with it. I'd love to see some non egg-centric dishes, but the food was good, and I'd definitely return. My mimosas were good, and the bf's bloody marys were "amazing, and very well-spiced". Prices were in line with the quality- it's not IHOP, people!
(4)Christie B.
When we first got there, they seated our party in the basement and we were the only ones down there and it felt weird. I have never asked to have my table moved before, so I was a little nervous as to what to say. My friend just asked our server if we could be seated upstairs and she checked, came back down and reseated us upstairs. I don't know why they didn't just do that in the first place. Besides that, the food was really good. I think it was a little overpriced, but maybe I am just judging it because it was in Pilsen. I really liked the pasta salad appetizer and my friend said their cheeseburger was one of the best in Chicago. Overall, I liked it and would recommend to anyone finding themself in this neighborhood.
(4)Rachel W.
I really wanted to love Nightwood, but was only marginally impressed w/the food unfortunately, and it just didn't have a relaxed feel to it, which didn't' fit the decor and ambiance of the place. I dined at Perennial a few nights later and while both are based on seasonal and local ingredients, I felt that Perennial far surpassed in terms of flavors and creativity. But, I would go back for a cocktail if i was down in Pilsen and could sit at the bar instead.
(3)Saneel R.
Pilsen. It's so hot right now. Ok, but seriously, Nightwood is absolutely worth the trek south. A completely local menu that is accompanied by brilliant dessert pastries and wine. Try the short rib ravioli, the burrata (like a raw, creamy mozzerella you spread on toast), and their hand made pastas with anything. Also, request the kitchen table (more like a bar) and the staff back there will chat you up if you engage them first. Just please don't wear sunglasses inside.
(4)Anne M.
The goods: browned butter pizzetta with burata, pistachio, anchovy and parsley, an outstanding mushroom appetizer with savory cornmeal and fabulously spot-on homemade rigatoni with browned butter panko crumbs, chicken, broccoli in a roasted garlic cream sauce. The food has definitely got the Lula quality/creativity. The decor is very nice and homey (fantastic old church fixtures?). The bad? We forgot that they take reservations and had to wait an hour and a half in a very, very loud front room. I don't know if sound bounces around the rest of the house, but in front near the windows it's deafening. The bar seating overlooking the kitchen looks awesome - that's my seat next time.
(4)Michael U.
Another donut stop on this visit would prove somewhat impromptu...somewhat in that we had planned to enjoy brunch at Nightwood but given the ever changing nature of the menu, long lines, and pleasant weather they had already sold out of nearly half of the choices when we arrived at 1pm and the other half was simply not the sort of items I go out for breakfast for...aside from the oft raved fresh made donuts...and with my brunch buddy running a bit late en route for our new destination, Publican, I decided to see how the fried-to-order carbs stacked up to the other five stops on the trip; a choice that entailed me taking a seat amongst the hipsters at the bar while I waited patiently to be greeted by one of the unvaryingly busy bartenders. With the steady stream of beer, fresh squeezed juices, and elaborate mixed drinks finally letting up long enough for the bar staff to catch their breath I was greeted perhaps five minutes after sitting down and explaining that I just wanted two doughnuts to go the bartender almost looked relieved that I didn't want anything to drink and telling me it would be "about ten minutes - it has been crazy busy this morning" he offered me a coffee while I waited - an offer I accepted but was not charged for and a very nice gesture considering the quality of the brew, a smooth locally roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe - a nicety very much unexpected given the attitude of service at sister restaurant Lula Café. With donuts in hand and bill paid after one cup of coffee and fifteen minutes at the bar I emerged from Nightwood into the sunny Chicago weather and opting to indulge while the donuts were still warm I started with the $4 Bacon Butterscotch option, a choice I'd heard much about and all things being equal a good option with a nice yeasty rise and ample coating with sweet butterscotch plus smoky bacon but in my opinion a bit too oily - a problem not suffered by the delicious cinnamon sugar doughnut holes included with the order. Moving next to an even more pricey option, the $5 seasonal "Shamrock shake" option, my fourth St. Patrick's Day Special of the trip and the most pricey doughnut I've ever purchased; in a word it was awesome and in two words, really awesome. Appearing first to be a round yeast donut with copious frosting closer inspection actually revealed it to be a filled doughnut, the interior a light Bailey's and Peppermint cream, while the topping was actually an amalgam of melted dark Ghirardelli chocolate and Andes mints. Served warm and with a trio of doughnut holes I'd be hard pressed to decide if it was better or worse than the holiday special at Doughnut Vault as they were quite different, but in my opinion in trumped the one at Do-Rite though admittedly at twice the cost and certainly makes me curious as to how the rest of the brunch menu stacks up; something that will require investigation on a later date at an earlier time.
(3)Joanne W.
I've heard chattering here and there about NIghtwood and had always wanted to check it out. So, I was absolutely thrilled to get an invitation to brunch. A group of us met late Sunday morning and were seated downstairs. Yes, there is a downstairs that is used for larger parties. It was bustling on the main floor so we were appreciative of the quieter atmosphere. The brunch menu seems to change weekly but there is at least one item that is always on the menu from what I understand: bacon butterscotch doughnuts. And they are freakin delicious. Nightwood does a good job with the savory sweet trend that you can find at virtually any place that sells sweets. The doughnut is done with a butterscotch glaze, piled high with bits of cubed fried bacony goodness and served with sugared doughnut holes. OMIGOSH. I died. Nightwood is also serving the best tots in all of Chicago. You heard me right. THE BEST. I'm not normally a tot person. Up until this brunch, Hot Doug's held this title. Sorry Doug but Nightwood has you beat. I got three hefty perfectly golden balls of freshly grated tots. They are ridiculous. Accompanying my tots were a soft scramble of eggs with celeriac cream, anchovy, gruyere, parsley & truffle oil. It was cooked perfectly, wonderful smokiness. The homemade blueberry compote that arrived along side my toast was also delicious. As if this wasn't enough, Nightwood cures their own bacon. Don't think twice about this. Get it. Fresh juice and Intelligentsia coffee rounded out this seemingly perfect brunch. I cannot wait to return to Nightwood and might even check out the dinner menu if I can tear myself way from those tots.
(5)Jen D.
I've now been to Nightwood twice for brunch and recently went for dinner. Dinner did not disappoint either. I am continually impressed by their use of vegetables - the abundance of locally grown veggies and the creative use. I ordered a trout dish that came with a little pot of some magical veggie and chorizo concoction. The fish was flavorfully perfect and the side was out of this world. I've not had anything here that was bad. Service was outstanding as before. Atmosphere has energy without being too loud. RUN, don't walk to Nightwood. Can't wait to go back. I just wish it wasn't in Pilsen (I live at the other end of the earth - Wrigleyville).
(5)Emily B.
Is it worth making the trek to Pilsen? Yes, but just once. Most kitchen tables are reserved for the elite - those willing to spend a little extra to sit closer to the magic. At Nightwood, it's first-come, first-served for front-row seats to the all the action. Foodies, rejoice. Because all pastas are made in-house, we went with their spaghetti dish. Served with veal meatballs, all in all not bad. My dining partner sprung for the cheeseburger and I was jealous. Although the consensus was: it had nothing on Acadia or Au Cheval. For dessert? The soft pretzel bread pudding, which was nothing short of heavenly. In sum, it was a custard cup of sweet, salty, soft, crunchy warm gooey goodness topped with a ball of vanilla ice cream with flecks of chocolate covered pretzels. Service is very, very, very far from being humble, warm, and friendly and is the main reason this place will hover around the "just okay" mark for me.
(3)Agnes L.
A bright, airy and covered patio area with tons of plants and a menu font type mimicking scrawled handwriting help to create a laid-back yet hip atmosphere. And with a unique brunch menu that has seasonal ingredients, I was enticed from the get-go. We had bacon-butterscotch and berry creme fraiche donuts has appetizers to split among four people. I'm not a big sweet tooth so the bacon-butterscotch with its sweet/savory combo of flavor was more to my liking. I had ordered the bagel sandwich, which I ended up eating as if it was an eggs Benedict (with a fork and knife) because it was served open-faced and packed with tons of slaw. I was disappointed to see that the smoked trout was not a separate component in the sandwich but was instead infused into the cream cheese spread. The thick bagel seemed to overtake the entire dish, so it would have been better to have a thinner piece of bread like sliced foccacia. The "tots" on the side were intriguing because the image mimicked little wicker basket balls that I've seen used as decor in bowls on coffee tables because they were shoestring potatoes rolled up and baked/fried. Our group agreed that traditional tots or breakfast hash is more flavorful and satisfying. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which I liked much more because of all the unique ingredients and how much more it was balanced in flavor and texture. The hummus, rice, yogurt, mint and feta mixed in with the braised beef rolled up into a tortilla, alongside a chickpea, cucumber and greens salad gave a fresh Mediterranean vibe. Also, our server informed us that this item would not be on the menu for too much longer, so we felt obligated to try it.
(4)Zeb M.
Best brunch of my life. Coffee, eggs, hashbrowns that come to you in the shape of fritters, toast, veggie sausage, and a couple of free pastries on the house. Just believe me on this one.
(5)Eric M.
Quietly positioned in a gentrifying near South-Side neighborhood, this attractive place effectively finds the sweet spot between understatement and flair, which, in this day and age, is a goal of so many restaurants that it almost seems like conscious, pretentious irony. Not so with Nightwood. The popular Sunday brunch offers donuts--yes, donuts, not brioche or beignets or even macaroons. Just tasty donuts. (Granted, these donuts may be filled with mint-cilantro and cost $7 a pop, but nobody's trying to deny this isn't quintessential Chicagoyuppie dining. It is.) That said, the spin on modern comfort food here is nicely seasoned and smartly blended between the sweet and the savory. The three of us were all happy with our meals, if the portions were a tad small for the prices. An early-ish (1015a) brunch should still leave you satisfied enough to make it through to dinner--not ready for a real lunch just two hours later. However, the meal was good enough that I would have been willing to give it a go at Nightwood again at 12:30p, if my credit card weren't still so sore!
(4)Denise A.
Real food, nothing processed everything made on site or locally. Decor is lovely and the wait is never over the top long. In the summer the outdoor seating is amazing, with a modern fireplace in the center to add to the coziness. I never know what to expect when I order, the menu description is so simple but the servers are usually good at filling in the blanks. Breads are a common part of the menu and salads are usually light.
(4)Jason V.
Visited Nightwood for a mid-February Sunday brunch. We snagged a reservation earlier in the morning and waited only a couple of minutes for our table to clear. The restaurant was packed, which made the six hangers for coats in the middle of winter a little ridiculous. Our table of four was seated near the front door in stylish but relatively uncomfortable chairs. The table split one of the Bacon Butterscotch doughnuts and one of the Raspberry Jelly doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze and Candied Coco Nibs. While the doughnuts tasted decent, they are not worth the menu prices of $4 and $5 respectively. Hell, the Bacon Butterscotch doughnut is simply a regular doughnut covered in butterscotch sauce and pieces of bacon--no infusion, twist, or anything that seemed particularly innovative. The Duck Confit and Pig Skin Stew with Scrambled Eggs and Tortilla Chips was substantially better. An odd combination to be sure, but the duck and pig skin make for an extremely hearty pairing. The rest of the plate is practically an afterthought (or perhaps a last-minute attempt to characterize this as a brunch dish), but the eggs and salsa were pretty good while the tortilla chips (think more along the lines of what you'd get in a tortilla soup at Houlihan's) were probably unnecessary. Overall, I was pretty pleased with Nightwood, and the restaurant should get extra credit for changing the menu frequently to keep things fresh and keep the diners on their toes. Of brunch spots I've visited in Chicago, though, Nightwood falls behind The Gage and Jam (at least at the old location).
(3)Colleen S.
Not sure why this place got rave reviews from Chicago Magazine. I ordered the Duck which was very good - meat fell off the bone - but the portion size was skimpy. A small side of roasted asparagus swimming in olive oil sat beside it. There was so much oil it really ruined the asparagus. To me this is not a good value for $30 [Should have gone to the Tuesday night 3 course special at La Sardine for $30 - could have had the oxtail to start, a hanger steak and a souffle.] Meanwhile, it seemed my water glass was refreshed after nearly every sip- a pet peeve of mine. I don't need that many interruptions at the table. My friend and I split 2 desserts - banana bread pudding and cherry pie. These were very good, but since we sat outside the ice cream melted quite quickly. Our server was cordial but not extremely helpful or tolerant of the fact that we needed time to decide on our orders. The open kitchen is entertaining and the outdoor seating area is nice.
(2)Scott H.
Went with friends and loved this place. First time in a while that I can remember being really excited by a menu. Great local produce on the menu, and a huge variety of options means that nobody leaves disappointed. Will be back here for sure - and that's a rare thing for me to say.
(5)Double L.
We had high hopes for this place from the reviews we read and the experience we had at Lula but sadly Nightwood didn't do much but disappoint on almost every level. We arrived on a Friday evening and asked to sit outside on the covered patio. The tables along the north wall are a bit strange in that the booth seat, i.e. 4x4 rail road ties, sits about 2 inches higher than the chairs on the opposite side of the table. That was a bit strange so we asked to move, hostess said no but more on her later. Once our server arrived, she more than graciously moved us to a different spot even though it wasn't in her section. Now we both are sitting on rail road ties, awesome, but at least we are eye to eye. At $20+ an entrée a seat cushion would be nice. As expected they have a fairly comprehensive and reasonably priced wine menu, they also have a good variety of craft beers and cocktails. We had a bottle of wine and Gin cocktail. I saved my cocktail because we are working on striping the paint off some concrete pillars in our loft and I thought it might work for that. According to their website and our server the menu changes regularly and turns over about 20% or so on a daily basis. We both really enjoy that idea, however, that creates a limited amount of options on the menu which we normally don't mind but in this case we had difficulty choosing appetizers and entrees that didn't contain the same or similar ingredients. That was particularly an issue for the protein portion of the dishes. We ordered a variety of appetizers which all sounded interesting on the menu but for the most part fell short although full of potential. The White Cucumber and Pickled Trout Salad was by far the best dish we tasted all night. It was light, had excellent flavor and we really enjoyed the different take on a more traditional herring salad. The Rock Fruit Salad which had the freshest fruit we have had in a while was totally ruined by what essentially was a ranch dressing. The menu described a ricotta something or other but for all intensive purposes it looked and tasted like ranch, a good ranch but ranch all the same. The Rabbit Tortellini in a Spicy Broth really shouldn't even be served and I don't know how that made it on the menu. The rabbit had excellent flavor, however, the tortellini was tough even by the most ardent al dente standards and the broth was neither spicy nor had any flavor at all. The first course intentions were excellent but the execution fell well short of tasty. It was around this point in the meal that every time someone came into the restaurant to ask how long the wait was the hostess would pause, blatantly stare at us and then give her answer as if we were the reason other people weren't being seated. I've worked in restaurants plenty enough to know you have to be aware of where people are at in meal but there are tactful ways of doing that. Doing so every two minutes and when someone has half a bottle of wine left and hasn't received their entrees is probably a bit premature. Now lets talk about those entrees. There were some interesting choices last Friday but we ended up going with the White Cheddar Fondue Burger and the Smoked Trout BLT. The burger was cooked just as ordered medium rare, the white cheddar was awesome but for some reason the kitchen puts yellow mustard on it and a lot of it. Sort of a buzzkill for sure and something I will never understand, at a minimum that should be listed in the description on the menu because we would have ordered it on the side. The BLT was an interesting concept for sure but again the execution really fell short. The only smoked flavor I tasted was from the bacon which really needed to be cooked longer, there is nothing worse than uncrispy bacon on a BLT. The trout was essentially a trout salad, heavy on the mayo, which I wasn't expecting at all. It was extremely rich and tasty for a bite or two but a little over the top as a meal. Aside from the uncrispy bacon and Mayo O.D. it was interesting. The sunnyside up egg on top was a nice touch and countered the richness of the trout salad. For dessert we ended up with the Homemade Frozen Yogurt which was awesome and a blueberry something which was good but extremely overpriced at $10. It tasted like Betty Crocker blueberry muffin mix, which I like, and was topped with a cheese cake style cream. Tasty but has nothing on the desserts we have had a Lula. It is hard to say if we will ever be back but at this point I would have to say no. If we did, I think I would definitely sit in the kitchen seats so I can see what everything looks like before I order it considering the description on the menu didn't really translate into flavorful dishes on the table as we expected. Nightwood, might need a Cialis or something
(2)Bryant S.
not sure what all the hype is about. i went for brunch on a sunday because everyone was talking about it. i mean, it was ok...my wife liked her hamburger and the corned beef hash i ordered was ok. but to drive all the way to pilsen? it should be better...
(3)Toyo K.
Cool place located south of downtown Chicago. The service and atmosphere were great and I could tell this was a hip place. Place was packed on a Monday night which is always a good sign. In the back there's an open kitchen with bar seating so if you want you can sit and eat and watch the cooks do their thing. The inside can get very noisy - so noisy that you may not be able to hear everyone at your table (we had a table of 5). They also have outdoor seating so that may be a better option. I heard the menu changes daily at this place. For appetizers we ordered a bruschetta plate and a vegetable plate. Both were excellent and the presentation were creative. I ordered the cheeseburger on focaccia bread for an entree and I was really looking forward to a delicious, juicy burger. I was a bit disappointed in a couple of things: 1. My burger tasted dry 2. The focaccia bread did not work with the burger. It was too tough making it hard to bite through and did not soak up any of the burger's juices 3. The cheese (I believe it was goat) was overpowering Everyone else seemed to really enjoy their meals. Although my burger fell short, I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a fun and enjoyable dining experience.
(4)Graham D.
A lot has been written about Nightwood that tells you how creative and unique they are, so I'll spare you the repetition, save that I most wholeheartedly agree they are amazingly crafty with their menu choices. I think the overarching signature of this place is its dedication to local and sustainable food sources. As has been noted, the menu changes, because their food sources change as the seasons do. (It's what we all used to do before cheap airfreight!) The night we were there, spring lamb on lentils was on the menu as was flattened salmon. We paired this a pleasant Sauvignon Blanc at a very modest price. In fact their wine list is comfortably approachable; not a whole bunch of listings with astronomical numbers which always makes me feel small and inadequate. Portions are generous without being threatening to your waistline and it's worth checking the dessert menu, because more creativity abounds here. The street parking can be a bit of hassle, but this restaurant bears your checking it out. They've been there for better than 4 years, so they are clearly doing something very right!
(4)Heather M.
I've been dying to try Nightwood, and I finally got my chance during restaurant week. First of all, bonus points to them for creating a restaurant week menu and not just giving you a choice of their standard fare. From cocktails to dessert, everything was fabulous. I won't elaborate on the details of the entrees, as that menu has ended, but I will say that they turn out some creative, delicious preparations of high quality ingredients. The service could not have been more attentive and friendly. I think it's one of the best examples of the Chicago style of food right now: high-end riffs on comfort food, using excellent technique and the best ingredients. This is a great place to take out of town-ers to show them what the food scene here is all about. Enjoy!
(5)Edgar V.
A "foodie" friend of mine in Chicago referred me to this restaurant. Overall it was great. I had the appetizer salad (good but too much onion) and the sirloin steak for dinner. The steak was good, but Nightwood is not a steakhouse. This is definitely a hipster haven - from the servers to the clients. I felt like I had been transported to Seattle (think Local 360). My only complaint is that although my table was ready, I was told that it would be 15 minutes and they asked that I wait in the bar. They clearly had a strategy tin place to sell drinks before seating customers by pretending that there is a wait. That's kinda rude and deceitful. I'd go back...maybe....Chicago has so many options for great food.
(4)Chris G.
It was close to 7pm on a nearly-perfect Chicago summer Friday night. I was on my sofa and had enjoyed a nap. It was also my friend's bday... but took me nearly 2 hours to force him to abandon a laid back evening and hurry up the street to Nightwood, arriving around 9pm. The restaurant was packed as expected but we spotted an open patio table, then rushed to the desk to ask how deep the waiting list was. Though we saw several people standing nearby, the kind gentlemen asked if we had reservations (no) and said oh wait, let me see.. I only have a patio opening, will that do? It all felt a bit Disney-esque to me possibly because I still had cobwebs from my nap, but more so because how rare is it to saunter up to a popular spot on one of the busiest nights and get prime seating somewhere other than next to their boiler room? We sat down, the sun was setting and the breeze felt pleasantly tropical. The smells of nearby patrons' orders crossed us and we had a good feeling about what was to come. After receiving a mediocre bite-sized square, buttery pastry with a side of fresh butter, we looked forward to the hand cut pasta with basil, cauliflower and almonds. The dish was offered with an herbed butter sauce and the noodles were tight and firm. It paired well with the bottle of chilled '07 Methven Vineyards Pinot Gris from Oregon's Willamette Valley, which was perfectly smooth and crisp. Birthday boy ordered the very delicate and succulent Superior Whitefish with Three Sisters hominy and Cilantro and I pressed for the Confit of Gunthorp Farm duck leg with summer squash and oyster mushrooms. I bit into the butt of the whitefish and it was quite gamey, seemingly soaked in a room-temp Durian fruit (which isn't a turnoff personally). But Bday boy offered bits of the middle and it was a quite different, adult Tilapia treat, still with slight gamey overtones that brought out the floral notes in our Pinot Gris. Anyone familiar with birds like duck, ostrich and quail realize that it's quite easy to overcook. We were impressed that they served a leg that was well-seasoned and tender, despite the challenge. The accompanying summer squash and mushrooms did not upstage the main act. Here's a confession. The couple next to us ordered a few dishes and had a bowl of golden fries parked in the middle of their table. The smell was so sensual that we flagged our very attentive server down and asked how quickly could she get a bowl of them over to us. She chuckled and said it could come out with our entrees. I'm a fat guy and've had many different kinds of french fries, but if one had to DIE and go to french fry heaven, THEY WOULD SERVE THESE FRIES. The were impossibly crisp (cooked in a little duck fat??) on the outside but took on a fluffy, Yukon Gold potato richness inside. We were joined for dessert by our neighbor and friend who's expecting any day now. After a bit of debate, we settled on Nightwood's chocolate raspberry tart, almond toffee gelato and a cherry turnover. Though the cherry turnover was light and tangy, the tart was surprisingly airy, crisp and offered subtle, high-end chocolate and fresh raspberry flavors. It looked heavy but was quite the opposite. Bday boy decided to slather the gelato over the tart and took it to a new pleasurable level. After crashing their party, uninvited on possibly the busiest night of the week, one would hesitate to be most critical. But I can honestly share, I felt the cuisine at Nightwood was better than what was served at Charlie Trotter's. And our meal last night was just less-than-half of his $450 bill AND included two bottles of the Pinot Gris. We plan to become regulars. :) --- UPDATE: So it was Easter weekend and after 8pm on a gorgeous Saturday night. Me and birthday boy were over on Taylor Street trying to get into a popular Italian Eatery by Stax Cafe and I'd learnt that he hadn't made a reservation as we walked through the door. 2.5 hour wait we were told. We contemplated hitting up Bevi Amo across the street, Chez Joel nearby or going north to Cotes du Rhone but decided against that since we wanted to finish the night at Simone's Bar in Pilsen. Chez Joel couldn't seat us for another 1.5 hours and Nightwood said about 1 hour also. We drove around and contemplated other places but it was packed all around. I said screw it, let's park by Nightwood and just walk in and see how it goes. So we decided to just order a bottle and stand at the bar until something opened up. A french Cab Franc. Was tasty. We nibbled on puffy fried lemon slices and ordered salmon rillettes apps, both mouth watering. We finished up at a table, ordering the quite flavorful, crispy, spit-roasted India duck entree with foie gras (so buttery good!) and the spit-roasted chicken with Michigan ramps, lemon, garlic, mint. The chunky goat cheesecake with toasted pecans, rosemary honey and crunchy crust was sinful enough to send us to hell many times over. Good times. :)
(4)Angelina K.
Bacon butterscotch donuts for brunch ! Amazing . So good and addicting . Great restaurant . Awesome cocktails .
(5)Melanie V.
Pilsen, Pilsen, Pilsen. Believe me, as a life-long Chicagoan, I would have never step foot in Pilsen ever. It's reputation has definitely preceeded itself for me. But, thanks to the recent facelift up and down Halsted, Nightwood finally gave me a reason to stop in. And I'm super happy I did. Here's a rundown: Setting: 10am, Sunday, brunch Crowd: A lovely bunch, with such diverse backgrounds. Common ground? Love of new restaurants and intriguing food dishes. Menu: Omg, amazing. All of it. You do not understand how long it took me to decide on what I actually wanted to order. Everything sounded soooo yum. The adorable part was the handwritten menus. *sigh* Atmosphere: Airy, sunny, semi-private, incredibly friendly staff. Perfection on a Sunday morning. But, seriously? Can we talk about the food? The chocolate + bacon donuts were heavenly. Like, DD will never, ever compare to this.. In fact, if I didn't eat so much of it, I probably would have been able to finish my actual meal. As a treat, the staff brought out this peanut butter and jelly donut that they're thinking of offering. Genius. Crispy pb&j. As my meal, I ordered the cheesy polenta (that came with bacon, HOME MADE tater tots and a soft boiled egg). That entire dish was freakin' awesome. I wanted to finish all of it, but only could attack less than a quarter. As my dining companions kept repeating, we all needed to be rolled out of the restaurant. Seriously. In a wheel barrel. I haven't gushed about a brunch like this...probably ever. Nightwood is pure genius. Lookin' forward to stopping in again. And again....
(5)J C.
My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary. Service was excellent. Food was legendary. Wine pairing was accurate. They even gave us an anniversary goat milk ice cream finale. Very rich and delicious.
(5)Daniel C.
BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! saw Anne Burrell here a few weeks ago so it's Food Network Chef approved!
(5)Brett F.
Haven't you heard?? Long, diatribe reviews are so out for the Fall. Get with the program, Hemingway, this season it's all about clear, concise gushfests... especially if we're talking about my new paramour, Nightwood!! Easily one of my new favorite restaurants in 2009 and here's why: 1. Love the location; off the beaten path in Pilsen it enlightens one to a new neighborhood with a ton of culture and fun things to see. Plus it's easy to do without a reservation (though one shouldn't to be safe) if you're feeling adventurous and up for a little road trip. 2. Great menu that revolves nightly. Never the same show twice, folks! Only the freshest, lushest and most decadent ingredients are here on display... if you can catch it, I highly recommend the pappardelle with braised rabbit and swiss chard as well as the spit-roast pork loin with creme fraiche and white anchovy. Holy Bazookas! That pork loin was enough to feed a small army and in the best of culinary style. We drooled, we tore into it, we conquered!! It was absolutely a meal for the record books. 3. Fabulous patio dining. While the weather still permits, I can't stress it enough.. it's absolutely luxurious! No haphazard street side folding chairs here. Nah.. the patio is stylish, sumptuous and the consummate setting for a romantic evening spent fawning over velvety chilled sweet corn gazpacho (with serrano chiles!) and the most fabulous 'Michigan' salad with sweet nectarines, salty mustard greens and creamy, smooth ricotta. 4. An equally matched beautiful interior. The folks of Lula Cafe has one-upped them hipselves at Nightwood. It's gorge! Especially love the open air kitchen with marble seat-and-eat bar... watch the chefs at work, or just wink at 'em as you pass by. Lots of eye candy among this staff! 5. Overall an extremely impressive experience that I can't wait to head back for. Nightwood... indeed, a night that gave me wood. What an apt moniker!
(5)James C.
This restaurant provided me with one of the best meals I have had in Chicago. First, we started with fried oysters on a remoulade and crackers. The oysters had just enough crunch, which played well off the texture of the remoulade. We then had a dungeness crab salad and roasted carrots. It had a sharp flavor that worked well with the Burgundy. The next course was a ricotta ravioli and honey. I never thought these flavors would go well with a red wine, but the pairing was fantastic. The ravioli were cooked perfect. The next course was a sturgeon. Again, we paired it with a red wine that perfectly complimented the dish. The mushroom accompanying the sturgeon made the red wine appropriate. It added body to an otherwise light dish. The main course was a flank steak accompanied by an apple chutney. The textures in the dish were amazing, balancing hard and soft. The ranch on the side gave it the right sharpness to pair with our Syrah. The service was perfect, atmosphere perfect, food perfect. I will be back.
(5)Genni O.
Talk about the most over-priced, over-rated, restaurant to come around in recent memory. The owner and his merry band o' emo losers came to pilsen to take advantage of cheap real estate - not to embrace the community, but to rape it. You WILL leave hungry and most likely, be secretly upset that you got taken by their scam.
(1)Ryan D.
Food and drinks were excellent, a must try.
(5)Jose V.
Came here for brunch with friends, due to a recommendation. As a start, had to order their famous bacon glazed donuts, they were good, but you will get over them fast! :-) As far as the meal, I went for their ciabatta, topped with eggs and sun-dried tomatoes and a side of arugula salad. The bread was warm, crispy and had nice oregano aroma to it, you could tell it was freshly baked! They could maybe have more choices in their menu, my recommendation is to unless you're totally allergic or really hate an ingredient, to stick to their menu and enjoy the dish as is, and you will have a great experience! They also take reservations on a Sunday, which is a plus, offer good service and have good, quality food! Totally worth a visit!
(4)Merrill O.
Bacon Butterscotch donuts. Yum, right?? You would think after having that for a starter, brunch would go downhill from there, but surprisingly, Nightwood managed to top that with our entrees. The highlight of the meal was actually the soft-scrambled eggs, with spicy squash and sheep's milk feta cheese. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. They also did a nice rolled omelet with Bolognese sauce. The Bolognese sauce was quite good, except I thought it needed a bit more kick to it for the omelet to work well. I also loved the way they did the hashbrowns...served fried in balls like hushpuppies...quite fun! My only complaint about Nightwood is that fact that it's not conveniently accessible from my neighborhood...otherwise, I'm sure I'd be there quite often!! 4.5 stars!!
(4)Rebecca D.
Excellent! Highlights were the golden frills salad, the pig ears, and the chicken. Fantastic service for our party of 11.
(5)Jennifer L.
What a great restaurant! I sure miss living walking distance from here. Love the vibe when you walk in...the decor is a mix of rustic/natural with modern classic touches. The bathroom for example is SO cute, in my opinion... apart from the black toilet... can't get over that.. First off we were here with a large party of, so some of us came early and had a drink at the bar. I thought the drinks that I tasted were not spectacular.....in my opinion. We were kinda wondering where a party of 9 would sit because the dining room is pretty small... then they took us downstairs... What a cozy cool wine cellar-ish dining area in the basement! great for a big group! We started with some appetizers of pig ears (SOOoooo delicious!!) which were in a sweet/salty glaze and were awesomely crispy. I could eat these all day. We shared the sweetbreads and prawns were were also really tasty. For the main course I got the rabbit which was cooked perfectly with this great sausage ragu sauce.. soooo delicious!! Someone in my party got the burger... he was pretty dissapointed as they did not ask him how he wanted it cooked and he got it back medium well.....big no no i think For dessert the soft pretzel bread pudding was to die for with that hint of salt from the pretzel and great texture. It came with some of the best pistachio ice cream I have ever had. What a great meal and great atmosphere!
(4)Allison E.
So as I sit here and catch up on my yelp reviews, I realize that I am a lot more yelp productive when I am dating and Nightwood just happened to be the starting point for a good one.....if ya know what I mean. Apparently amazing food, cocktails, and a long walk on the beach really is the perfect combination. Cliche? Maybe. OH! and it was summer too, which meant fireworks of off Navy Pier. This date is beginning to sound like a stupid Nicolas Sparks novel, ug. Back to Nightwood. My dinner was amazing. I had the duck. My date had the burger and you may be judging him for ordering a burger in a nice restaurant, but it was a damn good burger. He also had some sort of ginger cocktail that he remembered from a previous dining experience, but was no longer on the menu. The awesome folks at Nightwood happily made him one anyway. How cool is that! Lovely night, good food.
(4)Chicago C.
We visited Nightwood for a delicious Sunday Brunch... and you should too! We walked in to the Pilsen farm-to-table restaurant for a late brunch and were shocked to find there wasn't a wait. We were immediately seated in the front room, which was beautifully lit from the sun shining in from large street-facing windows. Almost every table was full. The service was great; very friendly and happily recommended menu-favorites. What we ordered: --Traditional Bloody Mary-- This is a bloody mary we look forward to ordering again! It was a great way to start off the meal; it accurately reflects the feel of the restaurant: fresh, quality ingredients. The tomato juice in the drink tasted as if it had just been juiced. We especially loved that it was garnished with pickled brussel sprouts. Very unique and something we haven't seen in Chicago before! Amazing and one of our new favorites. --Rolled Omelet w Roasted Apples and Sunchokes, Smokey Blue Cheese, and Tarragon-- This omelet was light and packed with flavor. The egg was cooked perfectly, the blue cheese wasn't overpowering, and the roasted apples and sunchokes offered an unexpected twist to the dish. Wonderful omelet to try! --Bagel Sandwich Smoked Trout Cream Cheese, Slaw, Bacon, and Fried Egg Served Over Easy-- One of the (if not the...) best breakfast sandwiches in Chicago. Hands down. This sandwich blew us away. Each ingredient has a unique and vibrant flavor that it adds to the dish. It's important to get a little bit of everything into each bite. Served with amazing bite-sized crispy hashbrown balls that left us wanting more... This is a breakfast sandwich that will be on our minds for quite some time. --Coffe Custard Donut w Chocolate Glaze-- A truly delicious, decadent donut. The coffee custard filling oozed out with every bite... leaving us wanting more. In addition to Brunch, we strongly recommend visiting Nightwood for dinner! This was our second time dining at the Pilsen restaurant. On our first visit, we sat outside on their beautiful patio and enjoyed a delicious dinner, with many ingredients coming from the garden in the back of the restaurant.
(5)Hyzel P.
I live within walking distance from Nightwood, which is great, as this has become a go-to dinner spot. Since their menu is always changing, it becomes difficult to recommended dishes. Who knows, in one month it may not even be there! Here are some must try items, if they ever pop back up on the list : 1. Sauteed carrots with sour scream and dill, on top of mackerel (I think it was mackerel) 2. Scallops with a creamy butter sauce 3. Garlic braised oyster mushrooms (DELISH) 4. Long noodle (Ask them not too make it too tangy, it tends to take over) 5. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake (perfect couple of salt and sweet) I LOVE savory dishes, so these HIT THE SPOT. They don't make you so full that you're falling over, but enough to talk about the dishes after. There is a lot of hype to this restaurant, yes, but I don't think you should come in with that mindset. Be open to the change in menu and try it out :) The staff is super friendly, and the bartender makes wonderful drinks. Before your meal is served, they place focaccia with a nice date sauce. I'm generally not for carbs, but this is one that I cannot picking at. For the summer, request sitting at the "patio". Who doesn't enjoy a nice breeze with good food?!
(4)Lidia L.
We shall see how this restaurant plays out. So far, the person who I spoke with on the phone was a bit of a downer. I just called to make reservations for my anniversary dinner (ANNIVERSARY DINNER! shouldn't you be happier?)and the lady on the other line was not friendly at all. It sounded like all she wanted to do was hang up on me. She wasn't enthusiastic or nice. She sounded disinterested in having my patronage It didn't even sound like she wanted to take my reservation! So far this place is not on my best side. I'll let you know if I make it through dinner or if I'll have to walk out because of the service.
(2)Kristine M.
I had a pretty nice experience at Nightwood. My friends and I came here during the winter and the atmosphere inside the restaurant is really warm, soothing, and very hipster . In addition, as you walk to the bathroom near the back of the restaurant you get a good view of the kitchen. I think I saw some people sitting at the bar so if you like seeing your food being made definitely sit at the kitchen bar. It was really cool how the food was locally sourced and the food was pretty decent. However, it did feel like the portions were really small for the amount of price you were paying. The free bread that the restaurants gives their customers before the entrees/appetizers.. IS AMAZING!!! My friends and I asked for more even after we finished eating our entree. Overall, it's a light atmosphere but formal enough. A great place for a first date!! *wink *wink
(4)Katie V.
I have had two stellar meals here. The menu changes a lot, so whatever I rave about is probably gone by now....suffice it to say that the dishes are inventive and complex, if you will, but also delicious. Sometimes high-concept food gets lost in the concept, but every bite of every dish I've had here has been memorable. If there is an app with foie, get it. I've had two different ones and both were stellar. The prize-winning pork tastes as good as the name implies. The seafood entrees are also great -- I've had trout and scallops. Save room for dessert -- I had blueberry pancake ice cream there once and I still think about it. It's in a weird neighborhood, but well worth the schlep to Pilsen.
(5)Ellen C.
Ok, so I'm writing a review because I was SOOO disappointed in this place. Before I begin, I will say I like the idea that they buy fresh ingredients so their menu changes according to what they can get....but: 1. The food was just ok. Not good, not great, and certainly not amazing. We got -the hanger steak (this was the best of the dishes. It was good.) -the veal (the "soup" had an interesting blend of spices, and the veal itself was a little bland) -the radish appetizer.....omg. WHAT WAS THAT? It was literally plain radish. -the soft shell crab appetizer (this was good, too. The sauce was a little thick and heavy) -OH. The biscuits and honey butter was AMAZING, however. Get full off those if you can! 2. The portions were TINY. Now I realize that a lot of snazzy restaurants love to leave you starving at the end of the meal....and this is no exception. I was mildly satisfied with my dish, but the guys with us (who got the steak) were not even close to full. 3. With that said, this place was WAY expensive. The steak was $26, the veal $24, the radish $6, and the crab $12. With everything that we ordered and split evenly, it was $38 a person!! (The total check was $235 O_o) To not be full...that's a lot to me. 4. THEY CHARGED US 20% TIP. We had a group of 6, which ok, most places automatically add tip. That's fine. But if you do, they need to tell you somewhere, and I never, ever, ever, ever have been charged TWENTY PERCENT. 5. And what pissed me off more? THEY DIDN'T GIVE US OUR CHANGE. What kind of business does that?! I realize it was only like $4....but after over-charging us, and then extra-charging us tip, they keep our change? SHADY. SO SHADY. 6. Decent parking in the area. 7. Service was good.
(1)Maria C.
At Nightwood for brunch! Food good but surprised that it took 38 minutes to get food while others around us got fast service. :( with no explanation when I asked about why it took so long. Sad. Will have to find another place for brunch, didn't feel welcome.
(1)Erin N.
Every course of this meal, from the cocktails to dessert and the port that went with it, was delicious. For a livelier restaurant experience, sit in the back by the open kitchen and ask the chef his favorites. My date and I had such a great time indulging the server suggestions and watching the preparation right in front of us. The front of the restaurant is more darkly lit and romantic in nature-- a setting for intimate conversation with dates/family/friends. Lastly, the staff is kind and gracious--no pretention present, so feel free to relax and enjoy the meal.
(5)Brooke B.
Thank goodness this place is in my neighborhood, where I can walk there to round up my appetite and walk home to burn those heavenly calories away. I prefer this place much better for brunch rather than dinner. And for brunch, I've never been disappointed. Great service, strong coffee and creative dishes...the menu always changes. Typically though, they'll have some sort of quiche, some sort of bagel sandwich and always organic ingredients. I've only been there once where I struggled at finding SOMETHING on the menu. It's not huge, but there's typically something for everyone, between sweet and savory. And, for heaven's sake...don't pass up that bacon doughnut. I'm not a huge fan of bacon or doughnuts for that matter, but for some reason, that dough melts in your mouth and leaves you smiling. Actually, every single doughnut I've tried here has left me dipping the last piece and wanting more. Wish it was open for brunch every day and not just Sunday!!
(4)Mahsa T.
When you treat your customers poorly, those customers are going to get on Yelp and tell all their friends that you like to treat your customers badly. Well, I'm telling my friends that they should definitely not spend a dime of their money supporting this establishment because they have let their popularity go to their heads. And with their giant inflated heads, they can't possibly quote an accurate wait, provide good customer service, or have the decency to make it up to you when they've royally screwed up. I have NEVER ever waited for a table for this long. I got a table at Hot Doug's faster. Yes, it was our fault for not having reservations on a Saturday night but this was not planned. The other restaurant we were originally going to go to didn't take reservations and had a two and a half hour wait, so we decided to go to Nightwood instead--big mistake. I called ahead and put our name down. We were quoted an hour for a table for four. We ended up waiting almost TWO whole hours for a table!!! We kept checking in with the host and hostess who kept saying a table is just about to get up--except one hour went by and no one got up. There's nothing around here within walking distance of the restaurant so it's a destination spot and people like to linger at their table for hours!!! So you would think that the manager of a well-known restaurant would: A) recognize that it's wrong to go over your quote by a whole hour (you should know by now what the Saturday night flow is at your restaurant). B) Come over and apologize and take immediate steps to remedy the situation (like for example, let us order food at the bar). C) Comp a portion of the meal. What did the manager do? NOTHING. In fact when he got word that I was irritated and annoyed, he avoided us. So all of this would have been water under the bridge if the following didn't happen. A table finally opened up. It had two seats on it but was definitely large enough to seat four people. The hostess walks right past me and seats a couple that just walked in through the door. At this point I became IRATE!!! I went up to her and asked why we were not seated at that table and her response was that she didn't think we'd be comfortable at that table and would want to wait for another larger table. REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Do you think it's comfortable sitting on a metal bar stool for TWO hours, holding your winter jacket in your lap, starving, watching everyone else around you eat?????? Are you kidding me?!?!?! Twenty minutes later, we were finally seated at a drafty table by the door. Our waitress provided sub-par service. Even after all of this I was excited to try the food, but even the food was a huge let down. Pork belly--I've had better at XOCO. Lamb shank--not even really a lamb shank, more like tiny pieces of lamb served in a small patty. You want awesome lamb shank, go to Noon O Kabab. Polenta with mushrooms--you want better polenta, go to Enoteca Roma. Burrata--should just be called bread in tomato sauce with side of cheese. Food was uninspired, lacking originality and taste. Overpriced for the tiny portions. There was nothing at all worth coming here for. The two stars I've given are for the two genuinely nice bartenders at the bar who were the only ones who cared about us. They provided excellent service, chatted with us, and made an effort to ease our pain. The manager and hostess should be fired and the bartenders should run this place.
(2)Brady H.
Tremendously good, just in a very sketchy looking part of town. Warm cozy room, friendly wait staff - perhaps a bit too informal, but competent enough. Food was perfectly prepared - I was impressed that my trout had been deboned so cleanly. We tried three starters, four entrees, and three desserts (including 3 gelatos and 1 sorbet). The menu changes daily so this might not help anyone, but the marinated mozerella was delicious, the pate was good but overpowered by the potato chips (so ask for some bread), and the lobster risotto was not so lobsertry and even if the lobster reference was for the mushrooms it still wasn't that lobstery. For the entrees - two people tried the duck dish - really delicious. My friend raved about the roasted chicken and my trout with almonds was perfectly executed. The desserts were also good - soul satisfying bread pudding, chocolatly ganache tart, and four scoops with caramel being the best. Thumbs up except for the location! No gimmicks, just well executed American comfort dishes.
(5)Taylor E.
The location is a little bit out of the way - indeed, upon making the trip up here from Hyde Park my friends and didn't quite figure out the most efficient way to get here on the CTA and as a result ended up crossing through some fairly scary parts of town at night on foot, although the area around the restaurant itself is totally fine. The food, however, is totally worth it - FRESH, interesting, and delicious. The menu seems to vary, but I had the caramelized carrot salad w/ garlic aioli and pate and nut-stuffed pasta that no longer seems to be on the menu but was very flavorful. Friends had the smelts appetizer with lemon and crème fraîche, whole-roasted wisconsin trout, a lamb with a cranberry reduction dish, and a fried hominy/goat cheese dish - all delicious. Dessert was equally good - we all shared a coffee fudge cake, a sweet ricotta with dried berries, and, in what was surprisingly the highlight a brown sugar cake, wonderful in its homey simplicity. The atmosphere is wonderful - definitely suitable for a date or a nice family celebration but not stuffy in the slightest - and their wine/liquor selection is absolutely fantastic.
(5)Mike E.
Food is good, but not worth the price. For the amount of money spent I would expect a little larger portions and a couple more selections on the menu.
(2)Daniel P.
Best. Brunch. Ever. Go for the Butterscotch Bacon Donut, stay for the Chicken and Waffles.
(4)Bottomless B.
- food: creative and delicious - atmosphere: vintage, hipster - staff: friendly / accommodating - price: as expected for the quality additional info: - order the glazed carrots
(4)Chuck M.
Stumbled upon this, going to breakfast in Pilsen and Hashbrowns was overpacked. Delicious cuisine, but not a cheap place to go and the brunch menu is a bit limited. But everything was gourmet level. I will return to try dinner there because the dinner menu looks fantastic. The atmosphere is a genteel nouveau rustic, and very pleasant. Street parking was actually fairly easy. Find by the address--I don't think they even have a sign with their name on it.
(4)Anna P.
I wish the star-rating system on yelp didn't exist, or, at least a more comphrehensive one did--because I would give this place 5 stars for service, 3 stars for food, 4 stars for ambiance, and 2 stars for the politics of the situation. That equals about a 3.5, so I'll give them the benefit of my doubt with a 4. Remarkably, the host staff, bar staff and serving staff were all extremely friendly and approachable. At a fashionable place such as this, one could expect much less genuine kindness than was delivered. On the service alone, I would return. We started with the green garlic soup and a simple salad of mixed local lettuces. The soup was a good size, extremely creamy, a little tangy, super garlicky. MMM. The salad was, alas, just a salad. I got the "porcini & mozarella panino" with olives and some other stuff. Rich and extremely buttery. I love olives so this was the right choice for me. The heavy sandwich was relieved by a side salad of mixed greens; it was quite like my appetizer, so I wish someone had told me the mains were served with salad. But whatevs. Like Lula, any bread that might find its way into your dish is going to be DELICIOUS BREAD! The only disappointment was my dining companion's tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta. (SHUDDER! I hate nettles. Why must nettles, and not, say, pomegranates, be native to this clime?) But the nettles weren't the problem; it was the size of this little tart. It was about 3, optimistically 4 inches across. TINY!!!! Who do they think they are, serving us silver dollars worth of food, and calling it dinner? But i'm over it. The crust was delicious on this little tart--fresh and buttery, flaky but not crumbly...The same goes for the strawberry tart I enjoyed for dessert. For now, there is not a fancy cocktails list, though I saw well dressed young ladies around me sipping rhubarb-colored concoctions. I had 2 glasses of wine--the latter, which was recommended to me by my charming and humble server, was a Californian pinot noir (I think it was called Laetitia). I normally am not one to rave over such light bodied wines, but wow! It was super. And super fruity. I had previously thought that Simone's was really the straw that broke the camel's back for gentrification in Pilsen. But I spoke too soon--Nightwood added an extra load on the broken back of the previously mentioned camel. But as it is so far east, I see the future of the area morphing from "east Pilsen" to "East Pilsen," meaning, the southernly environs of Halsted are truly becoming a different neighborhood than the more westernly, Latino areas of Pilsen. This is both good and bad, as it lets the fashion folk have their lofts and eat their nightwood too, while the western parts of the area can maintain their cultural identity. For now.
(4)Mollie O.
I went to Nightwood on a cold winter night and had a fantastic winter dinner. We started with the chicken liver pate and goat cheese, beet and avocado salad. The goat cheese salad while terrific was really more of a beet salad, and I felt lucky because I liked beets while my dining companion wasn't too thrilled. As for the entrees, we had the trout and the gnocci with sausage. Both were excellent. The trout was served on the bone with cabbage, slaw and roasted potato. The gnocci was pillowy and made by hand while the sausage made the dish spicy but not spicy. For dessert try the bread pudding. I haven't been here for brunch, but, I can tell you tasting the bread pudding makes me think the french toast and/or pancakes at Nightwood must be by default, delicious.
(4)Jodi W.
I think I would dine here often if I lived close. We got one of the best seats in the house - near the windows, tucked in the corner. Had champagne to kick it off right, then just enjoyed dish after lovely sustainably organic farm-to-table dish of deliciously and perfected cooked/roasted/smoked foods. Service was very good. Our server had many tables, and she floated quickly and efficiently to each one of them. One of our dishes came out a little slow (we didn't really notice), and she promptly took it off the bill, apologized and brought me a comp'ed glass of wine (totally unnecessary but nice). Our taxi driver got lost - no idea where we were headed, so bring your iphone with you if you don't know the area. Also, make sure the hostess calls a cab when you are done - not much going on down in this part of town (yet, but it's coming...)
(5)Nicole M.
Our bosses took us there for our employee dinner.. i think there was like 15 or so of us.. cocktails- Amazing! wine- Amazing! food--we ordered pretty much everything and it was all delicious service-outstanding overall- had a great night, everyone agreed!!!
(5)Daniel S.
I've been to paradise, but have I ever really been to me? Okay, so that quote has nothing to do with this review. Nightwood rocked my world just as elder sibling Lula did. What I enjoy about this place- and Lula too- is the attention to detail. Detail that foodies are sure to find reassuring. The seasonal menu is comprised of many local offerings, and they pair very well with the wine offerings. The preparation is exact without being fastidious or over bearing. The same with the service and the surrounding. It is enjoyable and slick without being pretentious. And like Lula they employ some tres sexy cooks. I dined here last week with two friends and we made our own sampling menu. Starting with two salads- one of which was poblano peppers and bacon, another starter of duck confit raviolis and rabbit entre. All were carefully executed and presented. The server too was more than willing to make thoughtful suggestions on the menu and wine pairings. In short I cannot wait to return!
(4)Chris S.
Warm, homemade butterscotch-bacon doughnuts. Bacon is on everything these days, but I finally found where it truly belongs - on my doughnut. Holy cow. I was in for brunch on Mothers Day and cannot wait for a reason to go back. Do I really need a reason? Everything was too good, from the trio of doughnuts, to the eggs benedict; from the whole trout to the bloody marys, and lest I forget the service, it certainly gets the "too good" label as well. The food is locally sourced so the menu changes regularly, but every time I have looked at it online I have been left trying to decide what looks best between about 5 different items. It's all so good. The space changes as you walk through the restaurant. The front by the bar is light and open, and as you move to the back it gets more cozy and intimate, and they have an outdoor area which looked like it would make for a fun evening lingering over dinner and drinks. Oh look - I think I found my reason to go back!
(4)Ria C.
Bustling and trendy on a cool Sunday afternoon. The service was attentive and the clientelle was top notch. We started off with a cinnamon roll and were offered 2 complimentary donuts-cinnamon holes and a caramel donut topped with caramalized bacon-yes BACON! This is seriously one of the best sweets I have ever tried-umami explosion in my mouth for sure. All of this was brought to us because we waited more than 10 minutes for our food, which was not long at all considering the crowd. I opted for the fried chicken and waffles-the chicken was crispy and juicy inside and the spices were just right. The lemon cream complimented both the chicken and the waffles quite well; however, my compaints would be that the portion size lacked (4 small chicken wings, no drummies) and the waffles were already sweetened and a bit too sugary. I was on a fried chicken hunt, and should have gone to Stanleys for complete Satisfaction. The bubs daringly chose the special of the day: Sardines topped with bacon and 2 fried eggs. For a man who used to hate sardines (changed his mind after our trip to southeast asia and hong kong as dried fish is a staple in every breakfast) he gulped his meal like a cool cat-meow.... I had a bite of my friend Emily's scalloped potatoes and wow that was tasty. I would return for dinner.
(4)A F.
I am not pleased to say that I (we) had a very unpleasant first experience at Nightwood last night. I was so looking forward to Nightwood and therein lies some of the depth of my disappointment. The six of us arrived to find a very attractive dining room and bar with exposed brick and nicely spaced tables. Everyone appeared content in their conversation, food and drink. I felt warmly welcomed by an inviting atmosphere. But oh no, this was not to be our ambiance...we were escorted to our table in the basement cellar, a windowless dungeon with exposed brick bouncing the high spirited conversations around to an aggregated decibel level that obviated any attempt at less-than-shouting talk. I have never been in so loud avrestaurant in my life, and I've eaten in many places that test my aural tolerances. But we are family so shouting is not entirely foreign to us. The menu was an especially toothsome read and we all found easy choices. The presentation matched the menu and compelled us to dig in. We all took our first bites and came up with a sad realization that the kitchen took a heavy hand with salt. And we are not salt-sensitive folks. We will return to try the main floor dining area and enjoy real conversations and hopefully a better salinity experience.
(2)Lauren V.
Finally got there for Sunday breakfast. While I'm not typically a sweet-eater, a friend told me we HAVE TO GET A DONUT. So, I got the bacon, caramel donut. The bacon was yummy, sweetened with caramel, but the actual donut wasn't great. The small donut holes that accompanied the plate were cinnamon sugar coated and were great! The quiche that morning was outstanding! Duck confit with squash bits. This was by far the best, and biggest (how do they get it so tall?) quiche piece I've ever had. Service was terrific; they seemed to have a lot of help on hand, and we are so looking forward to going back for dinner. Good value for the meal.
(4)Perla T.
Lately, I've been a bit more harsh with my Yelp reviews. So...... I am not sure if this is a case where Nightwood should be getting one more star. My friend and I, who both live in the area, decided to come here and try it out, since it is a new restaurant in Pilsen. Pilsen, obviously has a ton of great mexican restaurants, but when something different opens up, I am especially intent on trying it. I went there, during it's "official" opening week. The decor is pretty and modern. It blends in well with the art galleries that line up Halsted. As you walk in, to the left, there is an outdoor patio which seems like a perfect place for a date. I walked in and was immediately greeted by a small cluster of pretty people. They all seemed so enthusiastic. I guess it was that first week excitement and jitters. My friend wasn't there so I sat and waited for him to arrive. In the time I waited, I had three people approach me and ask me if I wanted water (either sparkling or from a glass bottle) which I thought was kind of cool. They also brought me a wine list and it had a nice selection. The only bad part is that the prices were either really low or really high and it made no sense based on the brands. My friend arrived, we ordered a bottle of wine. The menus are pretty - a work of art on their own. They look like someone handwrote them in that perfect penmanship you only see in commercials or movies. Our waiter told us that the menu changes every day. So that's kind of nice about it too. I ordered a field greens salad and the garlic soup, which was nice. My friend ordered the (freshly, handmade) pasta. We were full after dinner, so we didn't order dessert. We did sneek a peek at the menu and I would have ordered anything on there, it all sounded delicious. So, I would say it was a good restaurant. I think the only reason why this place doesn't get one more star is because, I feel it is yet another restaurant on the map that will soon blend in to all the other one name restaurants in Chicago. (It has become really annoying that restaurants now feel the need to only have one word in their name. That trend is played out in my book.) I think I was also slightly disappointed with it, because I am not sure it lived up to the hype. For so long, we heard about the new "Lula" restaurant that was opening in Pilsen. I think if it hadn't been overhyped, my expectations wouldn't have been so high. BUT, because it is in Pilsen, I do appreciate it. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would. I will definitely come here again, but not before I have made the rounds on a few other places. I would bring an out of town guest here if we wanted to go somewhere with good food but wanted to stay in the area. Best thing about it though is that it is right by the Skylark. When it comes to restaurants, I don't mind paying whatever for a great meal. Yet, given the close proximity, if I had to choose, I would go to the Skylark over Nightwood, and feel I got equally great food and drinks at half the price.
(3)Yumiko F.
Dark atmosphere but hear people laugh and talk. Very interesting design in a back of the room where you could see the chef preparing food and you could sit and watch while you eat. My wonderful friend took me there and we got seated by the door so it was actually not that present area to seat but food was excellent. I was super hungry but it was too much to have all appetizer and Entree. Their scone ( instead of bread, they were serving scone) was very small and wish there were 2 of them but it was really good. I would go back but will make a reservation for less wait.
(4)Kerri M.
A girlfriend and I went to Nightwood before hitting the galleries along Halsted. She'd been there once on a date, and this was my first time. Coming into the restaurant, the front of the house definitely screams for an intimate date night setting; my friend and i, having no reservations, were told that we could sit at the kitchen bar. this was WONDERFUL! we were sat at the along a bar that allowed us to watch all the goings-ons of the kitchen. also, this afforded us the opportunity to talk with the head chef, who was very kind and offered to answer any questions we had. As a vegetarian, I, of course, had questions. He explained that every dish is made to order, but some have prepped stock, etc. made from animal broth. he pointed out the dishes i could choose from. i know that some have made comments regarding service and portions. the menu clearly states what are entrees and what are not. the pasta dishes are smaller and are priced reasonably to reflect that. also, the service was great. we had a very knowledgeable server who was friendly and outgoing. the food? well, first we split an excellent whipped goat cheese with beets, avacado and a cilantro vinagrette. because we both told the head chef we weren't fans of cilantro, it was made to order with very light cilantro and placed on the side for us. i had the buttersquash pasta, with arugula. delicious! normally, this would include proscuitto, but mine was made without. the squash was a lovely puree that tasted fresh--not creamy, not heavy. we split bread pudding for dessert. the winter menu was perfect--warm, seasonal flavors. i highly recommend a reservation for date night or sitting in the back at the kitchen bar with a friend!
(4)Beatrize N.
I love Lula so I knew I would love this place and from everything I had read about it, it did not disappoint. They were still working out the bugs a bit but in a few months I'm sure it will be much better. I had a tiny problem with the hostess because I had read on citysearch that they did not take reservations and I had also read that on their website but when we got to the place they asked if we had any...so I told them what I had read and why I didn't make any and they said they had just changed that and it had been updated on the web but since I just had seen it a couple of hours ago..I was like ok whatever, can we get a table and it was early and it was honestly fairly empty...what's the big deal, right? As the meal was progressing she suddenly interpreted us to tell me that I was wrong as she just checked the website and handed me a little Nightwood business card to check it out. Wow, that was a little aggressive.. I didn't care for the attitude and it was unnecessary at that point. Luckily the good food and super nice server put me back in the mood. So we get seated and the server was just lovely and explained everything and was super nice all evening and all her suggestions were awesome. The tomatoes in the salad were so amazing and the Trout BLT was mouthwatering. My friend had the pasta with this yummy lemony sauce. We had great drinks and the deserts where to die for! The cherries in one of the desserts were heavenly. It will become one of my favorites and I'm sure each time things will get better and better!
(4)chris c.
Still my favorite brunch spot in the city. Their ability to take ordinary brunch and make it something special is not to be missed. I just wish they would bring back the Oaxacan chocolate donut which is my favorite.
(4)Jebadiah S.
Yea, I'll never go back here. Why do you people go to this place??? To see and be seen? That's the only pathetic shallow reason I can think of. I've had it up to here with hipsters and I'm done with them and their stupid ignorance, they don't know how to do anything, especially manage and be a server in restaurants. I'm a normal Chicago person, I want you to take my order, not rip me off, and shut up. No one is special because they eat organic, they are simply eating normal, natural human food. This place has such an elitist vibe to me it really turns me off. You know why you never, ever need to go here? Because you can easily stop by a farmers market and get the same exact same ingredients they use and make yourself the same food! For waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy cheaper and MUCH larger portions and no added BS. This entire place is a scam, a rip off, I cannot believe I payed so much money for such tiny portions for food I could have made myself. The food was good, but it is literally not biologically possible for the food to be worth what they charge here. I hate hipsters, I hate them with a passion.
(1)Hollywood G.
Hopped in a Zip Car - as this neighborhood is a bit of a trek away - and popped in for brunch over the weekend. After seeing Nightwood on Chicago's Best show, I knew I had to go and sample the Bacon Butterscotch Donut. The donut did not disappoint. Neither did the rustic vintage chic decor/ambiance. My husband loved his cocktail, an Ol Rasputin w a shot of jameson and a shot of espresso. He's still telling people about it. Overall I felt like the menu looked interesting. We had a taco omlette and a benedict with pork and corn. On the benedict one of the muffins was impossible to cut through, even with a steak knife. The food was good, but it didn't blow our minds. The service was great and we were sat immediately (we did have a reservation). I would possibly go back again for brunch, I would try here again for dinner - that is next time I feel like trekking down to Pilsen.
(3)Joe A.
Not another posh brunch spot, opening with an endless wait, punctuated by a snooty wait staff, ending with a shocking bill. The bill was not small, but the first two presumptions couldn't be further from the truth. Unlike any other brunch spot I can think of, Nightwood allows not just reservations but online reservations. I came with a party of 7, including two small children. We were led downstairs, to the dark stuffy dungeon I thought. Surprisingly, it was bright and cheerful, with cute storm lights, wainscotting, and polished benches, the perfect setting for restless kids. The whole staff went out of their way to be friendly and were remarkable tolerant of the wee ones. Before coming in, I had given the menu a look and being a vegetarian was a bit put off by the meatiness. However the brunch menu had fabulous cornmeal ligonberry pancakes, and my mom seemed pleased with her homemade grannola. It weren't cheap for sure. About $20/person. But overall, the experience was worth it. I'd go back, for sure.
(4)Sunil D.
I had a really pleasurable experience at brunch yesterday. It was jam packed when we showed up and had to wait for a table to open up....and wait and wait...The manager (owner?) came up to us several times to keep us updated on wait times and told us people kept lingering despite having their bills on the table. Finally she recommended/gave us the option to grab bar seating in the back, I was reluctant at first but my hunger won out. I am glad I did, the bar at the back gives you a first hand view of the open kitchen. It was almost hypnotic watching the four chefs churn out plate after plate of beautiful food. The one downside was that I was so consumed by what was going on in the kitchen that I was not the most conversant brunch date (I blamed it on a rough Saturday night out though...). Before we even ordered the manager brought over a round of free drinks and apologized for the wait and then after we ordered one of the chefs gave us a free bacon glazed donut (yes, you read correctly...and trust me, this isn't of these kitschy "lets put bacon on everything" deals....it was a mind blowing (read: best ever) donut). It's the little things like this that help ease the unavoidable and often frustrating long wait times on the Chicago brunch scene. The food was spectacular (beyond the donut), I had the Ram and Eggs. It was hearty, yet sophisticated and complex, but still had a rustic and simple feel to it. Everything was well balanced, my egg was cooked perfectly and topped with anchovies, pistachio and a touch of some type of herb/olive oil dressing. This was all draped over a bratwurst sized sausage (which I'm not sure what was in it, but it was lean, tasty and perfectly cooked) in-between a nice crusty bread roll. I really loved the menu, it was a departure from standard brunch fare, but it wasn't different just for the sake of being "inventive" or "avant-guarde." The interesting combinations seemed to work very well (but to be honest, I didn't know what a lot of the ingredients on the menu were), while still giving you a different take on your old favorites but not stray so far that they are unrecognizable. The food was stellar, the service was great, I really liked the impression that all the employees felt like they had a vested interest in our meal/experience. Two of the chefs came over separately and asked about our meal, not just how it was but how specific components were. Overall a great time, although quite popular and busy, management did a great job balancing this out. A lesson that should be taken note of from their fellow competitors. Prices were also very reasonable (everything was well under $20), despite using top notched ingredients (everything seemed to be locallly sourced, but I am not 100% on this).
(5)Zeen A.
Ok...so being a fan of Lula's, I was curious to check out the new spot in my old hood...(moved out of Pilsen years ago and don't make it back often)...The wait was lengthy, but i gave us a quick chance to hit up Skylark for a few...when we returned an hour later we were still a few minutes from being sat so the owner bought us our first round of drinks! (super nice guy) I ordered an Old Fashioned and I've gotta say it was probably the best one I've had in the city... The food was solid, but there wasn't anything that was mind blowing...every dish just did a good job of doin' its job...I'd definitely go back for a round two...
(4)Anthony S.
Celebrated a friend's birthday here, I don't live too far from it (The South Loop), so was pretty convenient for me to get to by car. I would describe the neighborhood as artsy/hipsterish/ethnic with a fresh dash of yuppie, make of that what you will. When we arrived our table hadn't been setup up yet, so we went to the bar. My friend and I ordered this excellent German beer, I believe it was called something Adele Weiss (will have to double check on the exact name). After about a short wait at the bar, we were seated. Really dig the seats and this place, very cool looking and comfortable. For the appetizers we had the Agnolotti with sardines and this cheese that was out of this world, it was like mozzarella with creme injected into the middle of it. For my entree, I was a bit disappointed. I ordered the pork, after the waiter told me it was the last one left. Now I really like cured pork and ham and other pork like this, but usually when I order a pork roast, it's always almost too fatty, and sure enough here it was also. Even the center, which was surrounded by a gelatin-like layer of fat, seemed a bit fatty. Maybe it is just be me though, since everyone else seemed to like it. Despite not liking the texture, the flavor was very good, tasted a bit like a honey-baked ham, the sauce and the cabbage that were surrounding it were also very good, I just didn't care for the texture. For dessert had the chocolate pudding with this sort of whipped cherry flavored topping with pieces of chocolate in it. The pudding itself was very thick and chocolately, highly recommend this if you like pudding and it's on the menu when you visit. The menu at this place changes everyday, which I personally think is a very good thing, so there's many things to try here. Looking forward to going back so I can try a different entree.
(4)Richard N.
4.5 Stars for brunch. Stellar menu. There's something for brunch traditionalists and the more adventurous set as well. I had a goat leg and eggplant omelet with pickled peppers, fresh parsley and aioli with homemade tater totts and toast. The utter jam. Also had a butterscotch bacon doughnut - off the hook. My mom had oatmeal with fresh blueberries and my dad had a fritatta with creme fraich, dill, and cucumber. They were slammed but the service was attentive and considerate. The only detraction was the coffee, which was a little weak for my taste. Next time I'm in Chicago on a Sunday, I'll be there.
(5)graham h.
Gonna try not to be too verbose here. Nightwood was absolutely superb. Genuinely kind service. The most gorgeous dining room I've ever seen. A peaceful and comfortable patio. Clean, tasty food with impeccable ingredients. Just go - drink wine, and get dessert, especially blackberries and cream.
(5)Italo C.
If this place can bring luxury sedans and fur coats to Pilsen-- they are doing something so right its unhuman.
(5)Scott M.
We ate here last Sat night with friends. I had heard (and read here some mixed reviews), but it was a great meal from start to finish. Cocktails were good and the wine list was impressive...many off-the-beaten-path selections and a very wide range of prices. There were a ton of bottles from $30-$50, which was nice. Shared the foie gras appetizer with my wife, which was delicious. One of our friends had the gazpacho--her only minor complaint was that it was a bit too spicy, but I liked it. Some reviews here have been disappointed with the portion sizes for the price, and I couldn't disagree more. I had the whole-roasted snapper (seasoned and cooked perfectly), which was huge, as was everyone's meal. And for most entrees being in the mid $20s, it was a fair value. Desserts and service were good (and parking was free!). We'll definitely recommend this to friends...
(4)Daani C.
We are new to Chicago and haven't discovered restaurants we really love yet. After several friends and neighbors raved, we tried this place for dinner. it had charm and ambience and all that, but snobby food snob from NY I may be, the food just wasn't that great. We had a hard time choosing because nothing really jumped off the menu. The stand-out in the end, by far, was the fried meyer lemon and pickle appetizer. Really yummy, creative and beautiful. My husband was surprised - he thought I was ordering it to satisfy my weird pregnancy penchant for sour stuff, but he loved it too. We also had the burrata with lamb debri, which was ok but not actually delicious. The quality of the burrata was not top notch, I've had way better. The biscuits are tasty though, perfect biscuit-y texture. I ordered the duck. It had good smoky/sweet flavor, but the meat was just tough. It's often risky to order duck for that reason, but I went for it anyway. The duck itself was under-seasoned, but the veggies it came with were way over-seasoned. The lima beans were good, but they threw the chard in raw which didn't really work. Husband had the skirt steak with black beans. Again unevenly seasoned, but the steak was better cooked than the duck. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. The crisp itself was rich and better than the entrees, but the salted caramel ice cream was really really really salty. I think there was an extra sprinkling of fleur de sel on top of the whole thing, which was total overkill. I guess the main problem overall with this meal was inconsistent seasoning. Service was friendly but spotty at times, like at one point one guy took away my clean utensils, then someone else served my food and I had no mis en place and had to ask. I had half a glass of sparkling water and the waiter filled it back up with still water without asking. Stuff like that, probably poor communication between the front and back servers. We just didn't love the food enough to want to come back, we thought maybe we should have tried their homemade pasta dishes but I make my own homemade pasta often so we rarely order it out. Still looking for our go-to Friday night spot!
(3)t. o.
We have friends who live by Lula, have taken us there, and rave about it. I was completely underwhelmed. I feel pretty much the same about their new joint, Nightwood. The place looks amazing! Best design I've seen in ages. And the service is great. I love the idea of both these restaurants, but the menu and food are just not that inspired. I had pasta, and it was home-made. I know good hand-made pasta, but this is what you'd end up doing if you tried at home for the first time. It was heavy, gummy, too chewy, and sat in my gut like, well, a big pile of wheat flour. I had trouble finding something to order, because the plate combinations just didn't seem that appealing - a number of us agreed on this point (we were a large party.) Prices weren't too bad, but then, the food just "wasn't too bad" as well. Others had the trout - we found the nearly raw egg with fish thing verging on gross. Seasoning was erratic, some things under-salted, others over. Food seemed to tend toward heavy, rich dishes and flavors, with heavy-handed preparation and plating, and I just really wanted to find more chances throughout the meal to "lighten up." I get what they are going for - unpretentious slo-cal cuisine - but it needs work. I need to go back to really give it a proper chance. I love the idea of Nightwood! I want to like it. But I was underwhelmed.
(2)J T.
Food: Deep-fried Michigan smelts w/creme fraiche; chicken liver pate - both good. Veal sugo - a bit on the salty side, otherwise would've been a good dish. Service: Attentive and friendly.
(3)Maggie F.
My first visit to Nightwood was a little disappointing - an especially fatty cut of pork belly, some undercooked peas, and an unpleasant scent hanging mysteriously in the air of the spotless dining area left my date and I underwhelmed by Lula's baby sister. But our second meal at Nightwood more than made up for our mediocre first impression. Local, ethically produced, überfresh ingredients are combined expertly and served amply. I loved the perfectly al dente rigatoni with lamb meatballs, tomato, currants, pine nuts, garlic and arugula. Deep fried mozzarella with tart cherries and greens competed with fresh zucchini and golden tomatoes. Dessert: the apricot-glazed bread pudding with amaretto gelato couldn't be beat. Look for great cocktails, a menu that changes daily, and some of the best and most knowledgeable servers in town. The decor is minimalist and yet robust, with a beautifully done covered patio.
(5)Laura D.
I have had two very bad experiences at Nightwood. The first time, not only was the food blah, but the kitchen forgot to plate a few key ingredients on an appetizer we ordered and we only noticed when the table next to ours had the same thing. When I mentioned it to our server, he mumbled a, "uhh, sorry" and did nothing. Then he charged us for the dish! When we complained, he offered to take one of the desserts off our bill.... it was just super weird. I decided to give the restaurant another chance. My second trip there, we ordered the sardine appetizer based on a recommendation. It was so disgusting that after one bite, we asked them to remove it from the table because of the smell. My entree was a solid C, and my boyfriend found 2 hairs in his gnocchi. I'm not sure what is going on in the kitchen or with the service there. I am frankly shocked they have made it this long...
(1)Agnes F.
I am a fan of Nightwood, 3 of us went there for dinner and had a very good time started off with some cocktails, i had the hot toddy (it was godsend in this frigid weather), my friends had martini and hot and Balmy for appetizers we shared an argula salad and the wild mushroom risotto the salad was fresh and tart which was perfect against the much richer mushroom risotto the risotto was tasty but maybe a tiney bit salty for my taste i had the roasted chicken for entree and absolutely loved it! the chicken was wonderfully smoky and moist, hands down the best roasted chicken i ever had my friend had the duck leg and i got a bite, hmm, yummy as well dessert we shared the chocolate cake, moist and light wine choices were good, service was friendly the only thing was what happened to the beautiful biscuits they used to give us before the meal starts? we didn't get them this time (i forgot to ask) and i totally miss that all in all, a good restaurant that i will not hesitate to go back
(5)Kate S.
3 stars = vegetarians (like me) 4-5 stars = those who eat meat My friend had a chicken dish and adored it--she said she could taste the woody-cooked flavor. However, there were ZERO entrees that were veggie. Our server was lovely and said they could make any of them w/o meat, but really now? Not ONE veggie entree? That said, there were plenty of veggie apps, so I got two of those instead. The squash dish I ordered was supposed to have a yogurt-mint sauce. It had the yogurt, but I couldn't taste the mint, which was disappointing. 5-star atmosphere though, the inside is rather big but feels small, and the outside patio is well-structured and lumber-ly modern looking. Bonus: They have Lula's delicious sangria.
(3)Tim S.
This will be quick but this place knocked my socks off. Drinks, meals, dessert that we ordered for dinner last night were wonderful. Our server was attentive but allowed us to enjoy our dining experience. And the manager even gave me and my friend change for the bus and travel directions (and the number for a cab), since cabs don't usually frequent that area. It was a bit of a jont from our downtown hotel, but well worth it. The nights prior we ate at the Publican and the night prior to that Spiaggia and Nightwood was both orders of magnitude less expensive and more tasty. My *only* slight amount of dissatisfaction with Nightwood was the cold breeze every time the door opened.
(5)ben w.
Beautiful restaurant, great service. Went for brunch, over priced and BLAND. I got the braised beef omelet. The omelet itself was tiny, the bread and potatoes took up most of the plate. Thirteen bucks for a tiny bland omelet. Yogurt and granola was also bad, the granola was good but the yogurt had the consistency of water. Literally water. Don't sell it as yogurt if it's not. Sell it as milk. This place is perfect if you like to feel better about your food if it's more expensive. Hopefully they take this criticism constructively and make some adjustments.
(2)Eric F.
Went to NIghtwood on a Monday night. The meal was just 'ok', To summarize, the place had decent flavors and was worth the price but did not impress. Some things were really excellent, and others were not. I really enjoyed the 'off the beaten path' location and cozy atmosphere. But the service was a bit slower than what I would have expected on a Monday night. The Pork appetizer was absolutely excellent, with very good flavor profiles. Bread came out cold and stale. The Fois Gras Pasta was pretty good, but I was not impressed with the flavor; had expected more from a homemade pasta that contained fois gras. The spit roasted chicken was nothing special. I've had better at KFC and Jewel! It really did not taste any different than what I have had elsewhere. We wanted to get the pork but they were out. Maybe we just had a bad pick. I really wanted to love this place, but it just wasnt that great. I am currently unsure if I will be back to try this place again.
(3)Sarah F.
Amazing atomsphere and lovely location in Pilsen! Truly a top notch, in-the-know crowd, and great service at Nightwood! I went for V-day brunch, and started w/ the the homemade donuts (coffee chicory and also bacon butterscotch) which were TO-DIE-FOR! The other brunch items we ordered left something to be desired, I think. Small portions and kind of odd combinations. Although I wasn't in love with my strada (fig and pork belly) and my boyfriend wasn't in love with his clam chowder egg dish, I am DEFINITELY willing to give this place the benefit of the doubt. I can't wait to try dinner here! They allegedly have a better burger than Kuma's corner, and the rest of the menu looks so fabulous as well!
(3)Andrew M.
Loved it! Everything was perfect - the ambiance, decor, vibrant bar scene, artfully created fresh cocktails, inventive and tasty cuisine - exactly what I look for in a great restaurant. The menu changes daily, so you can always try something new. I had pheasant - it was delightful. I can't wait until the weather warms up and the outside fireplace starts up. Best part was getting the bill - 2 people with 3 courses and a bottle of wine came in under $150.
(4)Sally M.
Went for restaurant week and felt underwhelmed. After tax and tip, my meal cost $60. I would have paid $30 MAX for the meal that I ate. The portions were tiny and the food tasted bland--nothing special, and certainly nothing worth $60. Their entrees looked more promising, though, so maybe worth trying regularly.
(1)Monica S.
Actual rating is 3 1/2 stars. Nightwood was highly recommended by friends and thought this might be a good place to celebrate my husband's birthday. Going in with high expectations, it was disappointing that the overall experience was just a tad above average. The food was tasty but the prices for some of their dishes were too expensive. Because they use locally grown seasonal vegetables and their menu changes daily, that is a plus and we will try this place again but without preconceived expectations.
(3)Ryan P.
I am still obsessed! How do other restaurants lose their magic after a few months, but Nightwood is still as delicious and special as the first time I came? Idk, but I looove it. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. And I am still thinking about that delicious meyer lemon dish, it was so amazing!
(5)Sophia A.
Went here for my brother's 20th birthday. This is the brother that loves a good meal but will make a scene wherever he goes. (He once loudly sang peanut butter jelly time in the middle of Spiaggia.) Since it was a party of 12, you'd think they'd send us to the basement. However, they were really accommodating and gave us a large table near the kitchen. They might have regretted that move once they saw my suburbanite parents whip out the camcorder and camera that has a lighting storm of flashes and endlessly take photos against the mirror and towards the kitchen staff and servers. Or when my brother decided to randomly make gorilla or dog noises. (Huge mea culpa, Nightwood!) But they were really nice and at least showed some good humor about it. Phew. But my oh my, LOVED the food. Love how the menu changes. (Also love whoever's handwriting that is. The "g"s are cute.) Love the cocktails and their extensive use of Koval's products. And I really love it when a restaurant puts sardines in the spotlight and prepares it in a way that can convert sardine-haters into lovers of the fish underdog. The gnocchi & gruyere app was ordered again once the sibling realized how awesome it was. The entrees need no explanation. You can't go wrong. I guess only thing i was meh about were the desserts. They were good, but I guess since everything else was so incredible - they ended just being an afterthought for us. Definitely returning to try the brunch!
(4)Kate L.
Love at first bite: Fresh doughnuts with a butterscotch bacon glaze, accompanied by mini donut holes, lightly tossed in cinnamon and sugar. My first taste, of my first (and as of yet only) visit to Nightwood, and it was one of those tastes that you just want to keep going and going in your mouth. I've said it before, I'm a sucker for donuts. Correction: I'm a sucker for FRESH donuts. I don't generally bother with donuts unless they're fresh, it just seems like a waste of time, taste and calories otherwise. This was not just a fresh donut, though, this was the BEST fresh donut I've had in recent memory. I will be back for the donuts alone, however, the entree I had was amazingly tasty as well; a somewhat unusual, though not that different of a take on eggs benedict. Fresh english muffins topped with spicy cabbage, perfectly poached eggs with the yolks still runny and hollandaise drizzled on top. There was also a strangely large amount of fresh frissee lettuce on top, just under the hollandaise, obscuring most of the other elements on the plate. I suppose I should have been thankful for a little fresh, uncooked green addition to my brunch, which is somewhat of a rarity, and I think it would have been a good idea perhaps, if only the amount had been a bit smaller, and the leaves themselves had been cut down into more manageably-edible sized pieces. Overall, it was still really good eggs benedict In addition to the eggs benedict part of the eggs benedict, you also get "tots", which are like a tater tot but 20 times better, or a round, extra crispy mini latke ball. Rejoice: now you can order tater tots as part of your breakfast without regret. One last thing I must mention which was absolutely wonderful is that on a Sunday, at around 12:30, my friend and I were able to sit down for brunch in Chicago without waiting. With such good food on offer, and a lovely seating area too, I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with this picture, but me and my hunger happily accepted not having to wait. Another last, last thing: I had planned another trip to Nightwood for brunch on Saturday the week after my first visit, but sadly learned that they only have brunch on Sunday. Devastating.
(5)First L.
We always wondered why there were so many dandily-dressed folks meandering around South Halsted late at night...and finally found out for ourselves. We started with the salted butter, flaky pastry-like biscuits and cocktails, the Four Under Par (vodka, sweat tea, lime) and gin concoction that was strong but not otherwise memorable. We followed the cocktails with some Provencal Rose wine, bread, and foie gras (just coming back from France made this even more delectable). The grilled foie gras was quite well done with fresh Michigan cherries and birch syrup. For our mains, we had the cavatelli with chantarelles and an incredible ratatouille. As with the appetizers, they were incredible. The portions seemed small for Chicago, but were actually very filling. Dessert had to wait until next time, although MANY fantastic looking pastries were delivered to tables all around us. It was a bit loud and the service - although good - was pretty affected. It also seemed that horn-rimmed glasses (think Buddy Holly or Elvis Costello) are part of the mandatory uniform for both guests and waitstaff alike. Outdoor seating enviable on a cooler night. More later after we try the brunch.
(4)Paulius N.
butterscotch bacon donut fantasy delight quiet orgasm One tremendous Sunday brunch. The bacon butterscotch donut was a mind blower. And frankly, I'm not a big fan of this bacon fad, but this was insanely great. Sturgeon chowder; awesome. Homemade tots; priceless. A kitchen in full view; major props. Bravo. Carry on.
(5)Lauren C.
Best Manhattan in the city! The food was so good. The service was fun, chill and clever. We can't wait to go back and sit at the kitchen bar. We had the spit roasted chicken. I have to say I still like Popeye's in Lake Geneva, BUT it was really good. The Blueberry dessert was so good. SO good.
(4)Ray d.
Just had sunday brunch this past weekend with a large group. The food was amazing! My personal favorite was the bacon covered doughnuts (I know, I know...). However, the service seemed a bit lacking. I suspect this is just growing pains that any new restaurant has, but a number of things went wrong. Half our table had food for almost 10 minutes before the last person's dish came out. Had to ask for cream for our coffee, and the food took far too time (hence the complimentary bacon doughnuts). Overall, it was a great time. And I'm willing to chalk up the service issues to it being new, but it really needs to be addressed...
(4)P P.
I am actually rating this place 4.5 stars. I went there this past weekend with a friend. I had the Spaghetti alla Chitarra and my friend had the trout which actually really looked more like a salmon. We both loved our food. The ambiance inside is great. Nice and dim with a contemporary urban feel to it. They do have a small outdoor seating area which is where we chose to sit since it was a nice evening. I actually can't wait to go back. I didn't give it 5 stars only because of our waiter. He was constantly coming by to ask how we were doing, if we wanted anything else, etc... it was a bit excessive which made it hard to hold a long conversation without interruption.
(4)Swati B.
Came here on a sunday around 11am for brunch, we had a party of 10 and had reservations, we arrived on time but it took a few minutes to actually get seated...and then about 30 minutes for someone to actually acknowledge us downstairs, and then another 30 minutes for someone to take an order..did I mention I came with 3 pregnant women who were fiending for food??? My friend asked for the jalepeno biscuits first thing with her coffee...and another friend ordered an OJ...those items never made it to the table..needless to say, they were not happy. Sure it was extremely crowded..to the point where while you were waiting to be seated you either were going to elbow someone you didn't know..or be in the way of a server..it was just ridiculous! The menu definitely has a very random mix of items, things you likely would never imagine going together...I actually got the scrambled eggs with pea shoots, radishes and cream cheese with tater tots..it sounds...interesting i know..but actually it was DAMN good...now there aren't many vegetarian options here...and if you are vegan you can probably have some toast and jelly..but honestly not a vegan friendly place...a few girls had the goat cheese quiche which they raved about (and it was really tasty!), and the french toast that they had for the day was really amazing as well. They have a great list of morning cocktails...most girls loved their mimosas...the girls that had their bloody mary's thought it needed a lot more salt, as in like 3 more tablespoons but had a lot of spice... I hear that they change their menu weekly and that they have different variety, but I don't know if I would come back on a Sunday..maybe I'd have to come a little earlier in the day..the food was good no doubt but the service and crowd kind of make me want to stay away...
(3)Tazeen C.
Awesome, unpretentious brunch spot --anywhere that serves tater tots gets bonus points in my book.
(4)Cupcake C.
I wanted to LOVE this place. The atmosphere was good but it is no Avec. It was o.k. The salad was good. We had a chicken dish and a burger.
(2)Katie G.
Yum. yum. yum. Everything about this place was fantastic! My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, and we both LOVED it. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the food....oh the food. The menu changes daily, and I can't wait to go back. Everything looked wonderful....I'll go back starving next time, so I can indulge a bit more! He had handmade pasta with jalapenos, some kind of creamy sauce, etc. He all but licked his plate. I had the whitefish with cauliflower, pumpkin seeds, olives....YUM. It was very light and very fresh. The drink list is very extensive (cocktails, craft beers, wine), albeit a bit pricey for the area. The only reason I gave this place a 4 out of 5 is because our waiter started to forget about us towards the end of our meal. Besides that, they've nailed just about every element: Ambiance: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Noise Level: 5 stars Service: 4 stars People Watching: 5 stars
(4)Dave P.
Visited again, this time for Sunday morning brunch (a.k.a. Morningwood....ha ha ha I crack myself up sometimes.) Overall, a very pleasant experience. Menu is split between more basic and affordable options (granola, oatmeal, eggs, donuts, etc.) and more creative and expensive options. I had.... Intelligensia Coffee brewed to perfection Bloody Mary that was fresh tasting a spiced well...but almost unsalted. Chicken (wings) and Waffles....delicious but could have used a thigh for $14. Butterscotch and Bacon Donut...no review necessary. Others with me had... Bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, pickled winter veg, and "tots".....this was the best thing I ate. Mutton Omelet...very tasty but not exceptional. Rhubarb and cardamom crepes....again very tasty but not exceptional. Would certainly return...plus if you sign up for emails you can have the brunch menu emailed to you Saturday night so you can decide whether or not to get your ass out of bed Sunday morning.
(4)kelly a.
Positives: love the decor, good ambiance, farm fresh ingredients, extensive wine list, daily menu, DELICIOUS buccantini, crunchy ramps, cool cocktail creations, close to Skylark. Negatives: terribly inattentive waiter, tough veal, the $9 plate of lettuce I had for an appetizer, bathroom was out of toilet paper.
(3)Anisha A.
Nightwood shouldn't be confused with It's Always Sunny's NightMan, but should absolutely be chanted in the same singsong tune. Being fans of Lula, we made the trek to Pilsen to check it out. The scene did not disappoint, the food kinda did. Would recommend going here if you're a sucker for fun dining chairs or if your commute is under 7 minutes. Otherwise opt for Lula instead. Started with the short rib tortellini and beet salad, both respectable. For mains, had the goat. The waiter reveled in letting us know that the goat was, in fact, a kid goat. So we stamped our tickets to hell, eating the animal equivalent of a fetus. But it was sweet and interesting- bottomed with brioche and topped with an egg. Besides that, the trout was so-so and the pasta was slightly hardened and dry. For dessert, had the ganache tart with expresso ice cream. Almost lost a tooth biting into it.
(3)Evan R.
I am just not impressed with this place. I live in the neighborhood and I don't feel that the food presented at Nightwood is worth the money that is being put on the menu. I have been here a few times for brunch, which I would recommend the Bacon Butterscotch donut, but you can get as good of a brunch down the street at Nana on Halsted for WAY less money. For dinner, this place is very overrated and I REALLY wanted to like this place after loving Lula Cafe for so long. The food is ok (everyone does a burger well these days)but it does not justify the prices. The menu is small but not very well thought out. Salmon appetizer with a salad for $15! The plate had like three bites of salmon. Come on dudes! The wine by the glass is too expensive too. Come on, it's Pilsen! Make the menu realistic. I don't feel that many local people eat here. It is for the people that look at NIghtwood as a destination dining experience. It definitely is not and it is not going to be somewhere where I go to or recommend again.
(2)Lara E.
we went on a friday night. 2 people. no reservation. and were seated within 10 minutes. = nice. why 3 stars? - great ambiance and style. - a clueless waitress. when i ask a waitress about a particular dish, i expect more than her reading the menu to me. i say how's the burrata? she says "oh, it's good. it's served with honey and pears." well guess what? i could have determined that by reading the menu! a truly well trained staff would give you additional details about the preparation, the flavor, the ingredients (local/not?, etc), its popularity, etc. etc. sadly to say, she was nice but had peas for brains and having worked in food service before, i am not easy on these cute but totally clueless, deer-in-headlights waitresses working at nice, new american restaurants. on the food: good not spectacular. sweet potato ravioli = 3 small squares for 12 bucks. insanely great flavor. served with fried sage. just wish there was more.... burrata crostini = needed heat? something pickled? some acid?just anything to contrast the creaminess. sardines = lentils were excellent, but sardines were a leeeeetle too fishy. i mean really fishy. pecan pie = good portion. get a scoop of ice cream. yelpers that give nightwood 5 stars are almost always talking about brunch. i don't see very many 5 star dinner reviews. consistency is key nightwood!
(3)Tom A.
We're in the camp of Lula fans who drove past Lula, trekked out of Logan Square into the unknowns of the Pilsen area to visit Nightwood -- and, given the online menus, I most certainly would not have ventured here without my extensive background at Lula. Skeptical, we let curiosity get the better of us. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed. I had high hopes and expectations, went out of my way and had my very nice friend treat me to a pricy meal which was rather lackluster. Vegetarian options are highly limited. 3 apps and one main course (two if you take them up on the spaghetti and meatballs hold the meatballs/pay for the meatballs anyway), so we got them all. Gnocchi app was quite excellent and is the only thing that could constitute a standout. Beet salad was ok; it had these huge deep fired croutons, which didn't add much. Pizza was ok. I'd like it more for a couple dollars less. Main course pasta dish was unforgivably salty. Borderline inedible. For the cost ($22!) i would expect more. It was mostly pasta and salt. Food cost must be in the 10% range on this item. I had some serious belly aches after the meal, which I am attributing to the not-particularly-cooked onions in this dish. No side vegetables available. Wine selection is rather large, mostly midlevel bottles with a few by the glass. We did well with a ~$35 bottle. Beer selection is decent. However, my 90 Min IPA came about 15-20 degrees below recommended serving temperature (50-55F). Although by now I know almost no restaurant can handle serving beer even remotely correctly, it does bother me every time. It's like getting a good red wine served to you in a mug at 34F. Non-iced filtered water (still or with gas) appreciated. Gelato by the scoop (@$2 each) is a nice little end to the meal. I do appreciate the availability of a smaller dessert, although 'full' desserts are also available. Staff: attentive, hip. Decor: dark, grey. Sort of cave-like. open kitchen.
(2)constance p.
Always incredible! One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago
(5)Joshua R.
Attention Nightwood owners/managers. If someone asked me what my favorite restaurant in Chicago was about 6 months ago, I would have said Nightwood. Don't get me wrong -- I love the vibe, love the quality of the food, love your servers. BUT, I've gone recently twice for special occasions and I think you're a victim of your own success. Each night you were out of like half the menu which was disappointing. The service and wait times have gotten borderline bad. The noise had become deafening. It's been hot as hell in the restaurant. Bottom line -- it's becoming not very pleasant!!?? Guys...WTF? Maybe you need to stop taking walk ins, I'm not sure. It's just too busy, too crowded, too hot, the service is starting to suck, and half your menu items on any given night are gone by 8PM!! Make some imporvements and you'll get 5 stars from me once more.
(2)lesley h.
Loved this place for a great dinner with friends---we all enjoyed every one of our appetizers, entrees and desserts. Lovely setting, great service, will be back!
(5)Jo Jo B.
Excellent! All of our dishes tasted fantastic, they definitely catered to my food allergies as well. This place can be quite noisy though, so prepare yourself for that. Other than that everything was great. It's definitely worth the trip.
(5)K B.
Went back for brunch again with a group. This time I was disappointed. I would downgrade the entire brunch menu to a 3, but as long as you order what they do well you'll leave very happily. I had the griddle cakes topped beans and egg - it wasn't good. Someone at my table had the salad with I think rabbit or some other meat, and they were also disappointed. However, the bagel sandwich (this time with Trout), the hashbrowns, and the donuts are still killer. So get that if you for sure want a delicious meal. Otherwise I'm giving no guarantees.
(3)Brad C.
Went to Nightwood for my birthday dinner the other week, now I don't venture to the south side that often but Nightwood had been calling my name for awhile. I made a reservation but there were plenty of tables open around 7 pm on a week night. My fiancé and I were asked if we wanted to sit at the kitchen bar but ended up going with a normal table instead. The idea of the kitchen bar seemed like a really neat concept, it's always fun to see your food getting prepared. With a quick look over the drink menu we both decided to go with one of the craft cocktails, they had an ok beer selection but nothing really jumped out at us. I ordered the pumpkin old fashion which was pretty great. Never thought about using a pumpkin bitter to create a seasonal cocktail. For dinner we ended up sharing a handful of small plates. Everything on the menu sounded pretty good and we both wanted to try as much as we could. A couple highlights were the Poached Farm Egg and the Butternut Squash pasta. Since it was a birthday dinner I couldn't pass up the chance to try a few things off the dessert menu. My favorite was the Lemon Curd but the fiancé loved the Chocolate Pumpernickel Bread Spoon. Overall everything we had was good but I guess I'm kind of getting tired of all the "New" American cuisine spots I've been going to lately. I'd go back again but after seeing some of the brunch options I really wish I would have done that instead of dinner. When I make it back to Nightwood it's likely I'll be going for brunch.
(4)Cole L.
I went here last tuesday, and upon looking at the menu I knew I was in for a good experience. This restaurant deals in authenticity that so many haut-cuisine wannabe Chicago restaurants sadly imitate. Our waiter was outstanding, we made conversation with him about the restaurant, its philosophy, and history. As for the food. On the day I was there, I had a mushroom soup which was ok to good. The taste was rich and creamy, yet the texture was watery for its intensity. My entree though, proved that there is some hope in this city. It was a sandwich with porter mustard (Old Rasputin Imperial Porter I was told, which is one of my favorites), pulled pork loin, and a fried egg. Fried egg seems cliche these days, but let me just say, in the same fashion as I said to our waiter, "Despite your daily menu changes, serving this pork any other way would be a war crime." It was absolutely stellar. The restaurant's ambiance, seats surround in the kitchen, and very cool looking outside area in the summer make it a winner. Shitty location, but I don't mind trekking to enjoy it.
(4)Samuel M.
Wood Grilled Foie Gras - superbly smoky, a memorably unique twist on the classic seared style. Whole roasted striped bass with peas and bacon - the ends of the fish were ever-so-slightly slightly overdone, but otherwise perfect; the accompaniment truly elevated the fish. Buttermilk pot de creme - I'd have liked the buttermilk flavor to be more prevalent, but the dish was otherwise well-executed; the berries and pleasantly crumbly cornmeal cookies contributed to a harmonious dessert. Nightwood Manhattan - buffalo trace is almost too good to embellish, but the vermouth and bitters truly took it to the next level. Decor and ambiance were like the food - simple and understated, but truly pleasant. The one knock on the place was that the portions were a little small for the price, but I didn't mind, as the quality was superb.
(4)Amanda Z.
One of the best brunch spots EVER. Definitely the best donut of my LIFE - that deserves the 5 stars, no question. Freshly fried Boston cream pie donut at Nightwood = best breakfast treat of all time. After this sensational bite, we wanted to be gluttonous and order the bacon butterscotch donut as well, but we were too full after our yummy breakfasts to have another donut. Next time for sure. My fiance had the fish tacos which were served deconstructed in a bowl w/all the ingredients and you make the taco yourself. He enjoyed it immensely, but I tried it and was not too impressed (however, I was NOT in the fish taco mood and I didn't like the hominy beans in it). I wanted some lighter fare even though the bagel fried egg sandwich looked sooooo freakin good. So I went with the whipped goat cheese with prosciutto and pears on a baguette...it was so decadent and I've never had anything like that. There were GOBS of goat cheese left over so the chef that made it quickly got me another piece of the wonderful bread to sop up all the goodness (we were sitting at the kitchen counter, which was really neat to see all the chefs in action and how quickly they put out all the food!). We also had the tots as a side, and boy were they delicious and different! Fried ball of hash browns, not a solid tot like you would expect...oh it was so wonderful. Service was a little slow but it didn't matter since we were entertained with watching the kitchen, but had we not been sitting there, it may have been a problem. I can't wait to go back to Nightwood for another amazing brunch (and for the bacon donut!!) and for dinner as well.
(5)Jodi R.
Nightwood is deserving of its Michelin rating. Amazing brunch. Menu changes daily. They use fresh & local ingredients. Space is cool , inviting & comfy. Chocolate eclairs may be one of the best things I've eaten all year: homemade pastry with custard the likes of which I have never tasted. Please give me a vat of the chocolate topping. Hubby said the cheeseburger was one of the best he has ever eaten. Rolled omelet featured lentils & herbs. Portion was a bit small but every bite was perfect. Enjoyed the tator tots which are like a hush puppy made of potatoes . Hot chocolate is homemade , no package stuff here. Even though we live on the other side of town, Nightwood will now be in our rotation. Server was very friendly and helpful. Street parking not so much fun. Crowd is quite diverse.
(5)David T.
Had dinner here tonight, and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. The dishes are all very seasonal and organic, so I would anticipate that the menu changes regularly. According to our gracious dinner host who is also friends with the owners, this is owned by the same couple that owns Lula Cafe in our 'hood, Logan Square. That being said, we had high expectations, and quite honestly those expectations were exceeded. We started out splitting some appetizers for the table which included onion rings with some kind of tasty cream sauce, and chicken liver pate. I also had a watermelon-tomato-mozzarella-bacon salad while my wife ordered a nectarine salad. We also had a very satisfying heirloom tomato and mozzarella soup. For my entree, I ordered the wood-grilled whole trout (which was excellent) and also sampled the spaghetti with lobster as well as the steak. Everything was very flavorful and well-prepared. I didn't have a chance to review the wine list as our host selected the wines, but we had an excellent Zin from Mendocino County, a crisp Gruner Veltliner from Austria, and a delicate sparkling Rose from France. Judging from the quality of the wines we enjoyed, I would assume that the rest of the wine list was also of equal caliber. For dessert, we split a chocolate gelato as well as a salted butterscotch gelato, and also had a sampling of a super-rich chocolate cake. Again, the quality of the desserts was on par with the rest of our meal. As for service, our waiter was very friendly and very attentive and seemed to have a very good grasp of the menu. We are definitely returning, and will likely try to get a seat by the kitchen.
(4)Jims L.
Forgot I ate here, Yelp is telling me I did. Had brunch. It was decent. Will try dinner next time.
(3)Mallory G.
Came here for brunch on Easter Sunday - 5 stars for the bacon butterscotch donut. The bacon is extra bacon-y, perhaps it's bacon-infused bacon and combined with the butterscotch, this could be one of my favorite foods in Chicago. However, donuts do not a brunch make. I had the rabbit omelette and my dad had the ramchillada. He loved the ramchillada, probably because it was huge, I thought it was good but nothing to write home about. My rabbit omelette was just ok - wished I had tried the smoked trout bagel sandwich. The donuts live up to the hype...everything else, meh. Went to Longman & Eagle the day before for brunch (it was a good brunch weekend!) and I was far more impressed. My favorite part of the restaurant was probably the aesthetic, unfortunately for Nightwood, this isn't a design review.
(3)Beer H.
My wife works down the street, and we have been wanting to try Nightwood for some time. We made a reservation for 8:30. We were about 15 minutes early. The hostess said that we would be seated at our reservation time. Little did I know there were multiple groups of people with reservations waiting to be seated. At about 8:45 we started talking to the group standing by us, and they had a reservation for 8:00. I told them I would have been long gone if I were you! They said that they probably would have ,but they gave them free champaign. A few minutes later they were seated. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and offered us free champaign. Not being "champaign people" we declined, and told her that if we were not seated before 9:00 we were going to have to leave. We were finally seated at 8:59. If it was a Friday or a Saturday I would understand this, but it is a Thursday. I understand that is isn't the burbs, and sometimes you have to wait a little longer to eat at the new-hot spots. However, if you are having problems seating people on around their reservation time you should stop taking them. The have a good beer and wine list, but that is what I would expect from a restaurant like this. They sever brought out some bread with goat cheese and rhubarb preserves. It was good, and I tend not too like goat cheese. I had the the confit duck leg with turnip greens salad. The duck leg cam with most of the meat missing from the duck leg. I tried to rationalize it by saying, maybe it is some fancy way to plate it. Also, the duck wasn't that great. The turnip green salad was awesome! There wasn't much to it, it was bitter, sweet, and salty all at the same time! Very interesting! My wife had the pollenate tart with olive oil poached egg. It was ok, it was differnent. She liked it, but it wasn't for me. Sorry, I didn't think the food was that great. And telling us we would be seated at our reservation time when they knew that we wouldn't be seated for a long time pissed me off. Both of those things shouldn't happen from a place with a reputation like this. I'm not going back!
(2)Annie R.
Food not as good as I hoped but the experience was super.
(4)Becca S.
I went for brunch and just loved it. We had a reservation and still had to wait a bit, but got a seat at the bar and had a Bloody Mary made with PBR instead of vodka. UM, yum! Everything on the menu looked amazing. My friend and I split the butterscotch and bacon donut (could have just had that for my brunch) and we each got the soft shell crab hoagie I think it was called. It was good but really big and we almost could have split it. I know this sounds contradictory, but the crab was a little too fishy. I think I might have been happier with something else, but my meal was good enough to keep me coming back. Plus, thanks Pilsen for having loads of free street parking.
(3)Suzanne K.
Nightwood has been the perfect gem in Pilsen. It's so dangerously close to where we live, that I would go there often, if I could! What I love most is that the menu changes based on what foods/ingredients are in season. My husband and I have been there for dinner and brunch, both very good. You can find dishes that satisfy every palate, from fresh cut pastas to even one of the tastiest burgers. Brunch offers tasty doughnuts of the day, chicken and waffles and an amazing cup of coffee. They have a wonderful wine, beer and cocktail list to complement your food as well.
(5)Matt J.
Pretty good food but in my opinion, didn't live up to the hype. Based on the reviews and the lines outside we've been wanting to come here for some time. We called and got in early on Saturday night. Once we found the door (hint: it's on the North side and you have to walk through the patio), we were quickly seated in the "window corner". For appetizers we had the duck ravioli and fried green tomatoes. Both were excellent. As an appetizer, I got the "vietnamese sandwich" (pate, shredded meatballs, veggies on a french roll). A very good sandwich, but ultimately more bar food than an entree in a fine dining restaurant. My girlfriend got the trout and she enjoyed it, but it wasn't life-changing. We finished up with the warm apple cake and sorbet/gelato combo. The apple cake was EXCELLENT. The best dish of the meal. The sorbet and gelato's were just OK. The vanilla bean gelato just tasted like vanilla ice cream. All in all a good meal, but didn't live up to the hype. That said, I'm not sure that the restaurant itself has made it out to be anything more than what it is. Therefore, the 4th star. I'd go back, but it's not at the top of the list.
(4)Amanda S.
Went again on a Monday night and found out they have 1/2 price bottles of wine, so I'm adding a star! Now all they have to do is offer the bacon donuts for dessert and it will be perfection :)
(5)Russ S.
it's pretty good. The whole place was full of those types.. you know what I'm talking about.. semi-fat, middle aged managers from the burbs. But hey, rich people, nah mean.
(4)Elizabeth T.
I wanted this place to rock my world. But I guess that's like going into the movie you've been hearing excited utterances about for months--you can only be disappointed. I love the space here. I love the location. I love the design. I love the concept. But the food? Meh. I get that the simple presentation and preparation are the style here but there was just no punch to anything I ate. I have no doubt it is high quality food, but my pork was just boring, my date's trout lacked any real flavor much less punch and he disliked that the skin had not been crisped. I like the minimalist presentation. But I kept waiting for the one dish that would make my mouth just curl in delight. And, surprisingly, I didn't get that pretty much the whole night, save for the bread pudding desert. Disappointing? Yes. Expensive? Yes. But we'll be back, have no doubt. I'm giving it a month or two to work out the kinks. I'm hopeful!
(3)Courtland H.
This place has one of the best brunch's in Chicago. A little off the beaten path, but not hard to get to at all, everything was top notch. Not a huge menu, but what they did have was excellent. The bacon donuts, delicious, the eggs very creamy and good, the hash brown tater tots were the size of tumbleweed from an old western. They were definitely the highlight of the meal. Service was quick and attentive, and the coffee was great. Most places have watered down diner coffee, these guys had the good stuff and were not stingy about it. When we walked in the lady asked if we have reservations, never thought you could make brunch reservations but i guess people do. I myself cannot predict how i will feel on a Sunday morning, and what hour past noon i will getup. Recap - awesome, definitely check it out. outdoor patio looked like it would be nice in the summer, not so much with 6 inches of snow o the ground
(5)Alee B.
Came in a larger group, celebrating a birthday, and our crew included a vegetarian. I'll get my one negative comment out of the way first: there was only 1 entree (and no pasta) for the vegetarian. She was a little bummed, but she ordered the veg option (stuffed peppers) and absolutely loved it. Moving on... So we ordered several apps. The fried lemons were heavenly. The grilled (but cold) octopus was a stretch for some of the more conservative eaters in our group, but it went over well. The burratta was rich and smooth, it just needed more than 4 pieces of toast for a bigger party! For entrees, we had a veal pasta with ravioli which was fantastic. Lemony ricotta filling and succulent veal, all around great. We also ordered the tuna spaghetti. I wanted to try it, but the person that ordered it loved it so much, he refused to share! We also had a whole roasted fish at the table. Only complaint with that was there were a few pin bones, which made the eater a little nervous. The last in our crew ordered the cheeseburger (which we didn't understand being at a place with such great food!), but she said it was one of the best she'd had in a while, so mission accomplished. We finished the night with a plate of cookies, some cinnamon and vanilla ice creams, and blueberry cake. While the rest of the food was great, the desserts were easily the best part of the night. And I can't go without mentioning the coffee. I usually base my return to a restaurant based on their coffee and Nightwood doesn't miss. It was clearly fresh, smooth, and had great balance. I had to peek at the bar to check what they were using and of course, the bartender told me it was a blend, specially made for them! It just means I'll have to come in for the coffee more often. Have heard great things about brunch, so that may be my next trip in...
(4)Nathan K.
I came with a friend on Friday night and we were both very impressed - it was well worth the trip from the north side. The ambiance is warm, sophisticated and modern without being cold contemporary. The service was equally warm, staff greeted and served us with genuine warmth and grace. And the meal was fantastic, although I was a little underwhelmed with the pretzels and chocolate dessert (but then again, it was as described so my fault for ordering). I'll be back soon. Northsiders who rarely leave their red line corridor shouldn't fear a trek; the restaurant is right on the 8 bus and about a 10 minute walk from the Halsted orange line.
(5)Simone L.
You will never be disappointed by anything you have here. Everything is prepared perfectly from the best ingredients. The atmosphere is hip but relaxed.
(5)Dennis J.
Even if the only positive part of my experience was the bacon and butterscotch donuts, it would still get all 5 stars. They're THAT good! I had been to their sister restaurant (Lula's Cafe) before and loved it and was happy to have a similarly excellent meal here. We also came back for dinner a few weeks later and it was also great. Surprisingly good cocktails!
(5)R R.
It is the first day of Restaurant week and my boyfriend and I decided to try Nightwood in Pilsen. I have driven by some many times that I needed to see what it was all about and it had some nice write ups in Time Out magazine. We got there on time for our reservation and the place was packed. Once we were seated, I immediately read the prix fixe menu for restaurant week and there were NO vegetarian options! You had a choice of chicken or pork as your main course. I was so shocked and disappointed that it immediately colored my opinion of the restaurant. It touts that it is local, organic and sustainable. Usually that also means Vegetarian friendly. So I was not able to participate in the "restaurant week experience" and my boyfriend was able to enjoy a 4 course $44 menu. So I reluctantly went to their usual menu and choose the fried Meyer lemon and Mizuna salad ($9) and Pumpkin ravioli ($14) as my main course. The only other vegetarian option was Hominy, Chickpea and beet creation for $16. It did not sound appetizing. I received the salad and it had 5 fried thin lemon slices and a small (I mean tiny -would fit in a table spoon) heap of Mizuna greens. It was tasty and who knew fried meyer lemon was yummy, but it was so small that I finished in 3 bites. My boyfriend's first course of lemon cheese bread with mixed greens was HUGE compared to serving and just as tasty. So I of course had salad envy. He got his second course of fish roe /egg mix on toast. I was not a fan but the meat eating boyfriend liked it. Then the mains came. Surprisingly the pasta was very good and the presentation was very modern, but again it was tiny in portion. I had 3 average size ravioli on my plate with a smear of sauce on the side. I really wish they would increase the portion of what little vegetarian friendly food they have. My boyfriend got a nice size piece of chicken with turnips. We finished the night with dessert and finally that is when everything felt right. He had bread pudding, which was great and I had a trio of ice cream (red velvet, vanilla and blood orange sorbet). We had a spoon war over the ice cream. So in conclusion, the meal was "ok" but still teetering on "lack luster" for the experience and price ($128 with tax and tip). I do not think I will be revisiting Nightwood for any future meals until they become more veggie friendly. PS: Nightwood, we veggie folks like gourmand experiences as well; and if Joel Robuchon can provide a stellar vegetarian experience, so can you! Note: Street Parking is hard on Friday night. You may need to park south of Cermak on Halsted and walk back up to the restaurant. Watch yourself! Chitown Veg Gal
(2)Rett L.
Went back. Perfectly as awesome as the first time. CHRIST I love when this happens. The kicker is that I was suffering from the type of sinus infection that ends wars. But with a reservation and my significant other having a rare night off, I said "screw my nasal misery, we are going to Pilsen." So we did, armed with an actual box of tissues and my near deafness due to congestion. There is NO way our waitress did not take into account my disgusting state of doom. If I had been serving myself, I would have surely taken a step back and downed a shot of hand sanitizer. Our waitress, rather, recommended a zesty drink to clear my sinuses, did not cringe when I surely yelled at her about the duck heart pasta and where the bathroom was, and immediately brought out some delicious biscuits about which I bellowed I had enjoyed so much in a previous visit. Once again, our order was coursed with timeliness, our drinks were refreshed without question, and the food... well. the FOOD, This is what it is - I feel like I am on vacation at this restaurant. The only other place you feel so comfortable and spoiled is staying with your Great Aunt Sue in Vancouver. The aunt with the wine cellar in the basement and the farm handed down generation after generation and her own special recipe for whipped butter and, of course, Puffs plus Lotion in the rehabbed victorian bathroom. You know. That aunt.
(5)Sara G.
I sometimes wish I had a bottomless stomach and elastic waist jeans. I came here on Sunday for the B Words: Brunch and Binge. Its very dangerous in a good way because you can get chicken and waffles and donuts and booze all under one roof. What a combo. It gets better: its affordable. I'm not sure how this is possible but I wish I lived next door to Nightwood, or maybe not. If I lived next door I'd need bigger pants.
(5)Debra R.
a new favorite. i want to LIVE at nightwood. adorable outdoor seating, cozy indoor seating, bar overlooking the kitchen and adorable private dining space downstairs. i went with my man on thanksgiving eve on my way outta town. we didn't have a reservation and they asked if we wanted to sit in the restaurant or at the bar overlooking the kitchen. the bar sounded interesting so we took her up on it. what a great choice - so neat to watch the chefs at work!! we kept a hold of a menu so to figure out what each dish was as we saw it being prepared. our waiter was adorable. i wanted to put the fellow freckled in my pocket. he was very attentive and patient with us even when i asked him to explain almost everything on the menu. i finally decided on a nice glass of red wine to go with my beet salad and trophie pasta. next up was the rolls. we could have eaten these rolls all night. they are those delicious kind that are flakey and you can peel off the layers. my favorite!! all in all - great place, terrific service, amazing food - did i mention that it is all from local sustainable sources?! my only advice is they should obtain a list from the baker for the ingredients in the dessert items as we had asked for something with no nuts due to allergy but couldn't get a definite answer as the baker was not around. i can't wait to go back for brunch now that i have experienced an amazing dinner!
(5)Zenia R.
is slowly becoming my favorite weekend breakfast/brunch spot. the food is always super fresh. the donuts are absolutely delicious and i love the changing menu. their take on hashbrowns is a fantastic, crispy potato ball of goodness. i've enjoyed every meal there and look forward to my next visit. reservations highly recommended.
(5)Joyce H.
Was recently there with my husband on the 1/2 off wine Monday night which is a really great value. The wine menu is huge and varies in pricing. We had a delicious italian red. I wanted to try several things on the menu since they all looked so interesting. We tried the fried meyer lemon chips with aioli. Super delicious. We were feeling a little adventurous and tried the veal sweetbreads. We did know what they were and although they were very tasty, we both had a hard time finishing it, knowing what we were eating. It was just a mental thing. We're glad we tried them but probably won't order them again. Let's see, we also had the pasta with pistachios and ricotta butter. I really enjoyed this dish. It was very flavorful, yet simple ingredients. I would get it again for sure. We then split a burger and my husband really enjoyed it. I love burgers but for some reason just wasn't into it. I can't really explain it. Delicious fries alongside. Really nice server and host staff. A friendly place with an interesting menu if you're looking to try that sort of thing.
(3)Kristin J.
Awesome! Only two small complaints: 1) Host was a little snooty about our 25 minute tardiness, and while we were waiting (understandable, since we were later), the bar was super crowded so we awkwardly hovered between the packed bar and some poor couple's table, despite several tables being unoccupied at that time. 2) Pasta plates were a bit small, but so rich and delicious that I didn't really mind (and the waitress had warned us they were "smaller entrees"). Everything else, great: 1) Honey butter and biscuits brought over after we ordered were unexpected in this kind of restaurant but delicious (if a wee bit salty). 2) Drinks were tasty and not too strong. I had the pink whippet, she had some sort of concord grape concoction that did not bring to mind the slightly tart and overly sweet artificial taste of most grape beverages. 3) Starter of beets, avocado in some sort of lime-cilantro marinade, and whipped goat cheese was fantastic. The three separate little piles of flavor complemented each other very well and also worked well together on the accompanying bread. 4) Pasta dishes (I got farfalle with mornay, crab and pea shoots, my dinner partner had rigatoni bolognese) were both flawless. Right amount of sauce, pasta was cooked perfectly al dente (just the right amount of chewiness) and tasted super-fresh, and the cook was not stingy on the other components (crab/ pea shoots/ meat). 5) Buttermilk panna cotta with citrusy shortbread wafer, honey citrus salad and sweet citrus syrup was the perfect, balanced end to our meal. Not too sweet, just tart enough, and the panna cotta was small but didn't overwhelm with its creaminess. 6) Waitress and bus boy were both super attentive and out water was constantly refilled.
(4)Rick F.
Nice environment, great food, parking available. A bit picier than I would have liked, but still ok. Good selection of beers. Just what this neighborhood needed.
(4)Elisse B.
The bartenders's have an impressive amount of sex appeal...also the food was phenomenal.
(5)Richard F.
One of my favorite spots in the spring/summertime. Nice date spot. Menu changes from time to time which is pretty cool because you don't get stuck on going to a place for one particular dish. They encourage you to try other dishes. Want to try brunch on a sunday though...
(5)Anne H.
The food is extraordinary. Truly. We sat overlooking the kitchen and one could see the dedication and care that the chefs were putting into each and every dish. It was fascinating to observe. But what I really want to talk about is the service. Every single person we encountered at this restaurant was amazing. From the hostess to the bartender to the server...everyone went above and beyond the call of duty to make our visit enjoyable. We were pretty late for our reservation and they did not send us away. Our food came promptly and we were asked frequently if everything was ok? The bartenders were superb. One doesn't always get offered a glass of water with your cocktail. I know this may seem small but it was an amazing gesture in a crowded bar on a Saturday night. I know I am running out of adjectives here but I just have to mention the bartender again. We were having lots of trouble getting a cab in the rain and seeing our distress he helped by calling one and offering us a glass of wine while we waited. His concern truly touched me. Thank you everyone at Nightwood.
(5)Dina I.
Only a few minutes south of my condo, so I've been here quite a few times. The only bad experience I had was when we arrived for a late meal on a weekend, and they were out of pretty much everything on their menu. Other than that, dependable meals every time. They had an impressive rose wine list this past summer!
(4)Joe S.
Really delicious and very good. Nice and highly enjoyable. Pleasing aromas. Great seating and top shelf drinks. Wine has a nice bouquet. Neat menu.
(4)Brie Y.
I came here for dinner on a Saturday during restaurant week. Sad to say I was not impressed with the food, they are trying really hard but it just missed the mark. The best thing was my second course which was a foie gras stuffed ravioli. The meyer lemon garlic bread was too strong came with a side of greens. The salad was good, nothing to write home about. The third courses were OK I think I lucked out with the chicken, even though the sauce didn't have too many layers and once again it came with a side of greens. Dessert was the best, I tried both dishes for restaurant week, the sourdough pudding and the "brownies ice cream" to dumb it down, both were better than the main courses. Also tried the red velvet and chocolate ice cream, very tasty and I am not even a big sweet person. Over all take the $44 which turned into $77 a person with a bottle of wine tax and tip. Much better places where the $33 menu is amazing. This is off the list, sorry to say, I will not be back anytime soon.
(2)Karen O.
Great brunch spot - well worth the drive to Pilsen. Agree with other posters that the beer & bacon donuts are a highlight... the bagel sandwich was exactly as messy and delicious as it should be. Check out the kitchen table - awesome view of the proceedings.
(4)annie r.
so this sunday, i visited nightwood for the second time for brunch. once again, the experience was fabulous. i didn't realize it, but the menu changes (i'm not sure how often, but last time i was there was about a month ago, nothing was the same) and the food ordered by all parties on all occasions was delicious. this past time: my brunch date and i split a very tasty maple and bacon donut, sometimes i'm not such a huge fan of bacon mixed with sweet, but this one was definitely a good combination. for my meal, i had the tomato and parmesan polenta with stewed beef and baguette toast. he had the brussel sprout scramble with tots. yum yum yum. plus, good coffee, nice waiter and no wait for a table. time before: i dont remember what my friend had and really, i dont care, because i had the most unbelievable chicken (fried chicken like no other) and waffles (crunchy AND fluffy, mindboggling) that i've ever experienced, with a habenero/peach/apple compote. gaggity gaggity. i was kind of hoping it would be on the menu again, but no such luck. its good for me because otherwise, i would never try anything else. mm mm mm definitely will be back. also, decor is fabulous. and so much more comfortable than lula.
(5)Adam S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Great scene, great food, just go.
(5)Celine S.
A friend referred me to Nightwood after raving about the quality and unique taste. There's no doubt, the ambiance is very nice in a sort of unpretentious way. We decided to be seated outside on the covered patio. I would recommend dining outside to those who would like the fresh air minus the direct sunlight exposure. DRINKS: We ordered about four drinks, each of them very unique and what I'd call "grown up drinks''. They were good, complex, and stiff with just enough flavor to make them smooth palatable-certainly worth the the twelve bucks. We also had their Moscato Diasti, which was delicious! Even for myself, one who isn't a huge fan of sweet white wine. FOOD: I ordered the lamb and my partner ordered the pasta. We also had the smelt for as an appetizer. There's no doubt the food quality was impeccable. Don't let the small portions deter you. Although, I'm a fan of large dishes, I'm also aware that when food is of high quality and richness, it doesn't take as much to to feel satiated. The smelt was our favorite dish of all. It's breaded, lightly salted and had very little oil. The lamb was served with polenta. Although it was supposed to have squid, there was only one small piece in the whole plate. I enjoyed the texture of the meat, however the flavor wasn't for me. It reminded me of salty bbq. I enjoy salty sweet flavors, but not with my lamb. I tried the pasta with ricotta cheese and again they seemed have gotten carried away with the salt a bit. It' didn't really taste like like a pasta dish to me. Again, the quality, service and ambiance was super. I think those who are huge fans of traditional ultra gourmet style American cuisine will appreciate this place. It just wasn't for me.
(3)Hannah B.
Hurrah for Nightwood! I've always loved the Lula, and so I've been excited to try Nightwood, especially as it is a quick trip from downtown, making it a good option for an after-work dinner. DH and I arrived around 7:00 on a recent week night. There was no wait for the outdoor patio, so we took advantage of that. I would warn you that some of the patio chairs have backs, and some are more of the tree-stump stool variety. We had the latter, and DH's back hurt by the end of dinner. Other than that, we were very pleased with the patio, which is covered by a roof that has clever skylights to let in some light, but not to overwhelm you with intense summer sun. (Also means that you could eat out there in a light rain too.) (The interior of the restaurant also looked very cool, but we didn't spend any time inside.) The place was really filling up by about 8:00, even on a weekday, so go early because they don't take reservations! (And, if I may be allowed to digress for a moment: why not?? If you want to service walk-ins as well, limit the number of reservations you take, but please, please permit me to make a reservation!) The dining experience itself was top-notch. Our server - apparently Vivian Y's maligned "faux hawk"- sporting server - was attentive in an unobtrusive way. All other aspects of service, including the wait time for food, etc., was well-executed. No complaints there. The food was a glory of simplicity and fresh ingredients. I hesitated to tell you too much because by the time you go, the menu will have changed. (I experienced great disappointment at having missed the fried asparagus described by others in prior reviews.) But I will say that the fried fresh mozzarella with bacon and apricot -- bacon works with nearly everything! -- was a particular highlight, as was DH's spaghetti with bolognese. As I said before, all the preparations were fairly simple. The flavors are straightforward -- no competition between discordant elements in your mouth -- and so you could really taste what the food was supposed to taste like. Quite refreshing! For dessert, we opted for the cookie plate. I wished that we could have eaten a whole bunch of the almond cookies, which are so much better fresh from the oven! The drinks were also quite good. I sampled one of the house cocktails, which was made with fresh juice and went down smoothly. DH is an avowed hop-head, and he approved of the beer list, particularly the prices on some microbrews that are pricier elsewhere. Yes, it was somewhat pricier than Lula, but worth it. We will be back!
(4)maggie t.
Seriously fantastic. My friend and I ordered three appetizers and two mains and each was perfect. Great, if only a few, vegetarian options. Undoubtedly the best Chicago dining experience I've had in two years.
(5)Aaron J.
The trout and smelts are tasty, as is the butter lettuce with bacon. My veal didn't have a whole lot of edible meat but I liked the flavor. The danger is that you might leave a little hungry if you're a big guy. We chose more alcohol instead of dessert so I can't comment there. The decor is pleasantly modern and service was attentive without being annoying. I'm sure I'll go back, before 7PM to avoid the crowd.
(4)Andrew S.
nightwood came highly recommended. the service, food and cocktails met expectations. craft specialty cocktails were delicious-sucker for anything with chartreuse. ravioli was incredibly rich. burger and fries surpassed any burger in the same price point. intimate, upscale ambiance yet casual. will definitely return.
(5)Temple H.
This is my 1st restaurant review. My dining experience @ Nightwood was so 'strong' that I felt that I had to write a review, and write it as soon as I returned from this dining experience. Let's start w/ the positive: The restaurant itself is quite lovely - very old school chicago (exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, tray/tin ceiling): hip but not pretentious, great light (from gorgeous fixtures and great huge windows in the front room where we were sitting), good looking bar, loved the music (80s/90s 'Pretty in Pink'), The whole environment was friendly and welcoming, really liked the crowd (all ages, but didn't see any kids - it was a school night). Our party didn't arrive 'til nearly 40 min after our reservation time (crazy rush hour traffic); but not worries - the staff was wonderful, understanding, we had drinks in the walled terrace til everyone arrived and our table was waiting. Now for the not-so-good: the food. The appetizers were fussy and not that tasty. W/ the exception of the Rabbit Pate (yumm!). The entrees, spec. the cheeseburger, and chicken were abysmal. The chicken was undercooked/veggies burned, the cheeseburger was a soggy mess on a stale huge bun that was as hard as a rock, the fries - tasteless mush. Wine by the glass was actually a glass filled 1/4 full - for $13! And I don't get the wine list at all - very little that was actually interesting (way too trendy). Dessert was equally dissapointing - tasteless glop (the torte), a tiny scoop of ice cream. The rasberry/lemon tart was just okay. For some reason, even though Chi-town is having an unusually cool August, the air conditioner was on full frigid blow AND they had fans blowing. At every table most people ate w/ their coats on (I'm not exaggerating), my husband was kind enough to run to the car for a blanket for my legs - and I had long pants on. At the end our party of 6 spent more than $100 each. Yep $600+ not inc. the mandatory 20% tip. For the 1st time ever, I left a restaurant hungry. We had to stop at a drive thru on the way home. Nearly every review I've read @ Nightwood has been positive. I don't know what went wrong: an off night, the stars were misaligned? All I know is that I hope the restaurant uses every cent we paid b/c we will never return.
(1)Kristina C.
I recently came here for brunch. Butterscotch bacon donut - orgasmic. Bloody mary - tasty. Eggs Benedict - to die for.
(4)Cory R.
Went to dinner Tuesday night with 4 other people. Service and hospitality were excellent. They were very friendly and accommodating. They also didn't rush us through dinner, which is always a great sign of a nice place. Highlights of the night were the fried smelt and heirloom tomato appys. The duck breast and ratatouille were both amazing and highly recommended. The ratatouille had an almost Moroccan flair to it. Entres are around $20, so mid priced but very worth it. Try the duck!
(4)Colin K.
I have to update about a dish I had last night at Nightwood: Hand-cut noodles with grilled beef short rib, white anchovy, olives, and spicy peppers. The anchovy overpowered everything! Don't get me wrong, I love white anchovies in Caesar salads. But this was too much; I couldn't even taste the beef. It was kinda like the Food Network show where they start with random ingredients and have to create something out of it. Despite that, the noodles were amazing with the kind of texture you only get from homemade noodles. This place remains one of my favorites in the city.
(5)Alana H.
As a big fan of Lula Cafe, I was excited to hear that the culinary masters behind this fine establishment had opened a new restaurant. I arrived early to find ample free street parking (21st and Halsted) and a charming exterior with an impressive back patio. Entering through the patio gave me almost a feeling of going into someone's home through their back porch. I was greeted by the hostess who kindly suggested I wait at the bar for the rest of my party. Every cocktail on the menu was enticing but, being a Bourbon girl, I settled on the Bear Paw which was complex, flavorful, and ever so tasty with hints of allspice, maple, and citrus. Only complaint is that they issued a sales tax on the drinks (Is it just me or is that atypical?). Once my dad arrived, we were seated at a great two-top by the window. Every item on the menu, which changes constantly depending on local and seasonal availabilty, made my mouth water. I split an appetizer, pasta, and main course. Everything was flavorful, unique and absolutely delicous but the main cource was most impressive to me. It was lamb and octopus pieces interspersed on a skewer with an apricot barbeque sauce and a smattering of some sort of delicious grits type thing. Awesome twist on surf 'n turf and delectable! Dessert was a butterscotch creme pudding-type thing with shortbread dipping cookies and fresh, tasty coffee complete with brown sugar cubes and fresh creme. Beer list was also impressive and my father and I left full, contented, buzzed and completely satisfied. I will definitely be back and would heartily recomment Nightwood.
(5)David S.
I've heard and read a lot about this place but I can't say I was that impressed. It's actually nice on the inside considering its location. I was expecting more from the food though. I had the chicken which came with some really bitter and off tasting broccoli rabe. I thought the rabe and the chicken were a tad undercooked. My dining companion liked the brussels sprouts appetizer and his pasta was good, but I thought the portion was pretty skimpy.
(2)Jennifer N.
I eventually went back at summer's beginning for Sunday Brunch. I was happier with Brunch than my dinner experience. I went with a friend and she ordered the donuts. I had quiche which was very nice, and it came with a small salad. I want to go back to try their recent selection of donuts (minus bacon!). I liked sitting outside for Brunch, compared to the basement for dinner. I'm glad I went back because I really do want to like this place.
(4)Sarah W.
Loved it. I live nearby so we were ecstatic to find this place. I have been there for brunch twice and really liked it but think dinner is even better. I've had pork, pasta, chicken, etc. Obviously we keep going back because the food is delicious.
(5)Anna G.
We went to the first wine dinner of a series of 4. There was 3 communal tables downstairs and each table had their own wine maker to talk to! You cannot beat that. Our winemaker from Greece was fun and full of information which made the night special. The food was really delicious and actually amazing. I docked it one star because they started late and their was no bread or carbs for the reception of champagne which made it for a tipsy evening. Well, we were headed there anyway but maybe we got there a little too fast!
(4)Kristin S.
Nightwood was phenomenal! I absolutely loved it. We got seated right away. The atmosphere was casual, but a bit loud (particularly the loud gentleman to our left!). I had the chicken wings and waffles. This was out of this world. I am from Atlanta and grew up there. I have to say this was the best fried chicken I have ever had. The seasoning in the batter was outstanding. I asked and it was a great combo of salt, pepper, onion powder, ginger, paprika, and garlic. WOWOWOWOW. The waffle was just as good. It was served with an orange marmalade type deal with toasted cashews on top. Yum. Under the waffle was a vanilla sauce of sorts. It was sooo good. No syrup required. The combo was excellent and more than just savory and sweet. The spices of the fried chicken melded with the tangy and vanilla bean of the waffle/sauce. They have outdone themselves with this combo. I hardly ever give a 5 star, but this is worthy. The coffee (Intelligensia) was not brewed as rich as I would have liked, but I am a snob or rather, I am picky. My husband had the burger and he loved it, the fries were perfect, long, crispy with the skins left on. The service was excellent. The owner came and graciously spoke with us. I so recommend this place and will be back again and again.
(5)Nicholas W.
Fresh ingredients + cool design + and brilliant cooking
(5)bonnie b.
I feel like many of the other reviews capture the essence so I'll just write a short note here. Having lived in Logan Square for several years I have always loved Lula's Cafe. Now that I'm in Pilsen a lot I also love Nightwood. Great space, great design, helpful staff and an interesting menu that changes frequently. As for some of the complaints about portion size, I thought it was perfect. Some of the dishes are so rich I couldn't imagine eating a larger amount of them.
(4)Jessica G.
okay.... i really think i need to give this place another shot, i really want to like it. I had the spaghetti bolognese... parsley and peas all up it in... it was really just okay.. REALLY not worth the i think 18 or 20$ i had that and a drink and my bill was 32$.....which is fine, if the food is amazing or really good. not so nightwood, but i will try again to give it a fair chance!
(2)Valerie G.
I left hungry and broke. I went with my fiancé on a weekday night and we were in the mood for some Italian food. I wasn't expecting a bottomless plate of spaghetti, but I was expecting to leave satisfied. First they bring us out two tiny pieces of bread, each about the size of a ring box. Good, but definitely not enough. Then we ordered the sweetbread and it was okay. I'm not a foodie and I honestly thought sweetbread was some kind of bread that is sweet. No...it's an organ of some sort. That's my fault for not asking, but it was okay anyway. We each ordered a pasta dish and when it arrived, it was on a plate that reminded me of the amount I serve my two-year-old niece. Yes, the pasta is hand made and very good, but I left with a bad taste in my mouth anyway. A taste of being ripped off. I'm definitely willing to spend a lot on a good dinner, but in this case, it's just not worth it. If you're looking for a good food experience outside of the loop and in the Bridgeport area, go to Nana's instead.
(2)Allie B.
I had the pleasure of dining at Nightwood last night, which I think was their first "official" open night, although they've apparently been serving meals for about a week now. My husband and I have been waiting for this place to open forever, as we're huge fans of Lula. When we first arrived, we were greeted happily, and escorted directly to a lovely table that was about halfway between the bar and the kitchen. The space itself is gorgeous, the bar is beautiful, and they have really lovely seating along the windows, and at a counter that faces the open kitchen. Opposite the kitchen there is shelving, which holds logs, which I presume was for the wood grill they are using in the kitchen. I saw one guy stop to positively inhale the scent of one of the pieces of wood, which I found strange, but worth noting. Anyway. The service was fantastic -- very attentive, but not annoying or overbearing at all. Very much in line with the service you'll get at Lula, in that our server was very knowledgeable and willing to share his opinions and recommendations, but wasn't suffocating in doing so, as I find to be a problem with a lot of other restaurants. They have a rotating menu, and we had a really difficult time trying to decide what to order. My husband ordered two appetizers -- the garlic soup, and the lamb meatballs with noodles. The soup portion was large, and the meatballs were a typical appetizer size, and came with three meatballs and a bed of noodles and sauce beneath. My husband said they were both very delicious. I ordered the morel and short ribs with garlic bread appetizer, which was fantastic, and for my entree I had the asparagus and potato tart with hollandaise, which came with a side salad, and honestly is one of the best things I have eaten in recent memory. My husband, who isn't really a "tart" kind of guy, couldn't stop raving about how good it was either. I opted out of dessert, as I was too full at this point, but my husband ordered the tangerine panna cotta,w hich looked beautiful, and which he said was delicious. It came in a ramekin with tangerine pieces on top, as well as a bit of rind. A word to the wise -- Nightwood doesn't currently have their liquor license, although they are expecting to have it by next week. So, BYOB, my friends. There is a liquor store just next door, so you can stop in there on your way in. Or, if you're someone like me who didn't know that, the staff of the restaurant might be inclined to gift you with a courtesy beer or two during your meal. Overall, great meal, great space, great vibe, really wonderful service. I can't wait to go back! They also have a nice outdoor space, which I can imagine will be wonderful to visit over the summer.
(5)Rose G.
I hate to give a Lula production such a bad review, but I had a horrible experience at Nightwood. I was really looking forward to trying Nightwood, because I tend to really enjoy my meals at Lula. While the place is aesthetically pleasing-- beautiful interior design--the service was really unusually bad and my boyfriend, who will eat almost anything- couldn't choke down his fish. It was downright nasty. When I walked in on time for my reservation, the host was talking to a co-worker for five or six minutes before they even looked up at me. They were incredibly snotty and rude. My boyfriend and I ordered two different fish dishes-- I had trout with lentils, and it was nearly inedible. His fish was so bad that he left his plate mostly full, even though he was hungry. We would have considered sending it back (which is something neither of us ever do!) but the server didn't come back to ask how the food was. Overall, a really awful meal priced nearly $80. Skip it.
(1)Heidi O.
I'm glad that I can update this because I was pretty bummed my last time here. So a friend wanted to check this place out. Time has passed, seasons have changed, and I'm happy to report, this place continues to better itself. I was seriously surprised at how much the service improved from my last visit. Everyone was attentive and made sure beverages were full, things were to our liking, etc. and this time there wasn't any attitude with it. The serving seemed to be much more of a communal effort this time, and because we went after a storm, there wasn't a wait and they weren't rushing people. The outdoor seating is cute and in the future I wouldn't mind sitting outside. I still don't think there is anything particularly special about the donuts, and it's difficult to comment on the menu because it changes frequently and I don't want to get any body's hopes up only to have them shattered at a later date. But the food again proved to be solid. They could cut back on the salt a bit, especially with the tots, but even the coffee had improved flavor this time. I secretly wish they had a few more staple breakfast items to build from but things are really evening out now with this place. Who knows, someday maybe I'll give this place 5 stars. On a bizarre note, I find the bathroom to be quite lovely.
(4)john m.
I was told that Nightwood was too expensive for what it was, NOT TRUE. I had a great dining experience and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great contemporary American meal. I also suggest arriving early so you can hang out at the bar and enjoy a cocktail or two before dinner, they're great (on par with the Whistler) and they pour them stiff. For dinner we got a few appetizers to share and we each had something that was Spit-fire roasted which was excellent! The menu changes daily so it's hard to make specific recommendations, but I suggest getting down there as soon as you can, this is a great addition to the Lula family!
(5)Hagene L.
I've been here twice now and it's been great both times. I got the hand cut pasta, each time prepared differently but both were delicious. The food is fresh and the menu is unique.The atmosphere is great with good music and decor.
(4)Erin M.
MMM the food was out of this world great. I had the rabbit for an appetizer and the duck for my entree... I cleaned my plate it was so good. Also, what was cool was that we sat back by the kitchen. So it was cool to see our food being made as well as everyone elses!!
(5)Colt E.
We came to Nightwood for their weekend brunch menu, something I've heard many good things about. I therefore have no idea how their dinner menu is. I can tell you though, that we were all very pleased with the brunch. The donuts were fresh and tasty. The food was all done well, tasty, and each had it's unique points of interest (5 of us shared 5 dishes). If you're expecting the kind of brunch that borders on dessert food (ie waffles stuffed with cream cheese and covered in a chocolate sauce), don't come here. Where else can you get chicken and waffles and blueberry ginger ale though? To top it off the place has great friendly service, and it's HUGE, so our party of five barely had to wait for a table. Most brunch places have an hour wait, so that was a huge plus. This might be a new go-to brunch spot for me.
(4)Jennifer P.
Utter Disappointment. Being a huge fan of Lula I was stupidly excited to try out Nightwood...only to be let down. Let's start with the decor. The patio seating looks like a outdoor japanese business savvy cafeteria. Inside...is fully lined with wood!-No way. The place does have a gorgeous bar though. I have mixed feelings about the ambiance of this place. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday about a month ago and we were both originally very excited as I stated earlier. We got there on a warm day and after 5 minutes he had to hand me his suit jacket because it was freezing inside. I understand that they want to keep it cool on these hot days, but really? make me cover up my adorable new dress with an over sized coat, really? This all makes me very bitter, but I digress... The beer selection is pretty good. Can never go wrong with anything by Two Brothers and Great Lakes. Instead of bread we got TWO (as in one per person) biscuits. They were dry and lacking every element that a biscuit should have. Plus, they were the size of quarters. Yeah, sounds satisfying? I got the chicken, which is also on Lula's menu and it was great. The boyfriend got some sort of pasta dish that I can hardly remember because it didn't stand out in the slightest. Prices seemed average, but I honestly didn't feel as though I was getting my money's worth. Service was very mediocre. I understand it's an opening of a new restaurant, but our waitress seemed really clueless and showed up at the table at all the wrong times. Overall, I probably won't go back here. I wish I could have given this place a positive review, but it doesn't deserve one in my opinion. Go to Lula instead!
(2)Allison B.
Went here on a romantic date and it was completely wonderful. Perfectly designed space with great bathrooms (loved the black sink and toilet). Our waiter was amazing and completely attentive. Our dinners were mouthwatering, I had the half of chicken and my date had the steak. The dessert of rhubarb cake ale mode was hard to stop eating. I would go here again in a minute.
(5)Kristen H.
Came here on a Friday night with 2 lady friends with no reservation. The hostess said it'd be about an hour wait and she was right. The 3 of us decided to order family style and share everything. As an appetizer we had the whipped chicken liver with crispy sunchokes. The presentation of the plate was beautiful resembling that of a wreath. The liver was quite flavorful, light and tasty. The sunchokes, onion and fried chicken skin were a great addition. For dinner we ordered a pasta dish that had be added to the menu that night that included short ribs and round flat pasta along with the buttermilk-fried scallops. The pasta had good flavor combinations and the scallops were prepared differently than usual, but melted in your mouth as scallops should. Overall the meal I enjoyed Nightwood - it's a place you visit once a season to try all the fresh ingredients. The service was great and the atmosphere was pleasant - love the open kitchen towards the back of the restaurant that has seats at the counter for viewing. I'm interested in trying Nightwood again for brunch.
(4)Michael B.
good food, somewhat overpriced for brunch items, staff very hipsterish, which is fine, but we could have done without the snobby attitude toward non-hipsters.
(2)jim m.
My wife and I decided it should really be more like 3-1/2 stars, and we'll explain why. First, there is definitely a shortage of "real" restaurants south of Randolph street on the Halsted St. strip, so Nightwood deserves accolades just for being in the area, joining Amelia's on 46th as a "valid" dining destination. They also have a liquor license, which is semi-miraculous around here, and their wine selection is fairly reasonable. We got the Reader dining update e-mail which informed us Nightwood was open, though not taking reservations, or as we found, even phone calls, so we decided to take a chance and just show up. We were able to be seated right away, joining another couple of friends who just happened to be going there at the same time. The place is certainly beautiful, with a carefully and lovingly designed interior, and a nice outdoor drinks area. Indoors got pretty noisy at the height of busyness. We had the green onion and morel soup, a blended soup, very tasty, and the deep-fried asparagus with an aioli dip, satisfying the fried stuff craving. For entrees we did the trout, which came with swiss chard and a very light buerre blanc, and the half chicken, very plump, which came with white beans and a sort of bread dumpling. These items had a pleasant wood smoke taste and were exquisitely prepared, if not particularly exciting. Probably what was most noticeable was that the plates were almost entirely main dish, with their sides being minimal to almost nonexistent. This made them sort of one-note affairs, crying out for a little more garnish and balance. It would be nice to be able to add vegetable and starch sides if desired. Also, the flavors, as somebody else noted, were pretty mild and delicate, a stylistic choice, we assume. For dessert we had the almond tart with chocolate sorbet and the tangerine panna cotta. The panna cotta was supposed to have saffron in it but the tangerine certainly predominated. Service was great, and one of the owners, Jason, came by to chat with us. Overall we had a pleasant time but feel the flavors and plate content need a little more push to propel this place into a favorite.
(4)paul z.
TO be honest, I can't believe I'm writing this. But my experience here was horrible. For starters, our waiter was obviously new to nightwood, as well as new to being a waiter. He was nervous and overwhelmed. But, that's not his fault. But at one point in the evening I had to point out to him that my gin and tonic was ready and sitting at the wait station. I wouldn't have said anything but I noticed my drinking sitting at the wait station for 10 mins! For starters my date and I split a appetizer which was a beet salad, w/ goat cheese and a balsamic dressing I think. VERY good. The only reason I'm giving this place a star! :) Off the chain and fantastic with every beet. For dinner, we both had a pasta dish. Bad idea I guess. My date had a pasta and sausage dish which just didn't have any flavor, but was by far better then my dish. I had a rigatoni with walnut, olives and shit ton of olive oil (something else was in there as well but I can't remember). The pasta itself couldn't have been made fresh because it was very under cooked and I wouldn't even dare call it al dente. After hearing a few good reviews from people who went, I thought it couldn't miss. IT missed and then some. Save your money and go down the street to Simone's or get some taters at Skylark....
(1)Cecelia M.
We had reservations for 3 and, as other diners have experienced, we still had to wait for 30 minutes at the bar. The place gets one star deducted for that. As for the food, it was, like the food at Lula, weirdly overwrought. I have been to Lula numerous times and I always leave with a vague feeling of discontent. At Nightwood, my reaction is a bit stronger. The appetizers were very good - chicken livers, green beans and fried smelts. The flavor combinations in these dishes worked very well. I had trout with hominy and black beans for my main course, The hominy and black beans were wonderful. My first bite of the trout had a little bone in it and was just overpoweringly salty and smoky. Also, the shredded onion on the creme freche was so strongly flavored. Together with the trout, it was just too much. I did not finish my entree. The trout dish could have been a fantastic dish. Great in concept, poor execution. I may try this place again sometime.
(3)Isabella M.
Just went here for Sunday Brunch! Started off with a bloody mary, extra spicy, extra delicious. $8! holy cow, but good. I only realized this place had the same owners as Lula in Logan Square when the check came, but it makes perfect sense! Two great brunchin' spots! I think it might have ended up being cheaper than Lula, for two people with drinks it was only $48. More of a special occasion brunch, but worth the treat! Then I ordered the eggs benedict, and it is my new favorite eggs benedict of the city. (yes it's better than the eggs royale at feast!!!!) My boyfriend had a simple eggs and hash browns with toast and a side of soy sausage. Delicious soy sausage, and they had delicious jam. It was also one of the better deals ($6). The hash browns are adorable, they're little crispy balls and they are also very delicious! Afterwards he got a coffee, I got a latte, both good. The service was great, and very attentive, especially since we are sort of late brunchers (we walked in there at 2:00).
(5)Lisa C.
I hoped for so much more and was let down. We sat at the bar and waited while staring at an unoccupied table, then it took 15 minutes for one of the random people to take our drink order. Then the waitress tried to sit us before we got our drinks from the bar and looked flustered and confused as to whether or not we could just have our drinks brought to the table. Their daily menu sounds like a good idea, but if you don't like Pork (which was the key ingredient on the day we went), there was nothing else to choose from. My vegetarian friend had the option of a salad, which they were out of, along with 5 other dishes listed on the menu. My pasta was cold except in the middle, and I paid $9 for 3 fried asparagus. And then $15 for 3 ravioli. Overall, I don't think I would intentionally go back. Overpriced food, not much variety, poor infusion of daily ingredients, confused service. At least the owners are changing the menu more than every 3 years unlike their other restaurant Lula.
(2)Dina L.
Had the two egg omelet and bf had the duck confit stew for brunch along with the maple bacon donut. Everything was delicious. Better than several restaurants serving brunch in River North and worth the short drive.
(4)Sven K.
Three of us went to Nightwood and it was a mixed bag. We really enjoyed the setting (casual, modern - maybe a bit loud) and the service was great (especially recommended wine)! We had three different appetizers: fried asparagus with trout and cream cheese (awesome), a simple mixed salad (very good) and the highly recommended fatback (thin slices of pork fat) on crostini (disappointing - very few slices with little flavor). Two of us had the smoked pork rib roast - a huge chunk of meat that came with lentils. While my friend enjoyed his, I thought that the meat lacked in flavor and was on the dry side. The lentils were great. The third entree was oricchiette with breaded pork cutlets and beets; the pork was very average, pasta and beets were good. Pricing was adequate to high - portion size was fine.
(3)Jenna H.
Nightwood is a little out of the way, but definitely worth venturing over to Pilsen for. It's a gorgeous restaurant, I went in for brunch and it was bustling but not ridiculously crowded. Our service was friendly and extremely efficient, all of our food came out very quickly and our coffee and water stayed full. We had the coffee cake (with house made nutella!), the bacon, the biscuits and gravy and the salmon scramble - everything was excellent, unique, and very fresh. Nightwood is definitley a noteworthy stop - I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)Erin S.
great brunch spot!!! we started out with the donuts which most reviews rave about....we tried all 3 on the menu and all were delicious!!! there are some really unique dishes on the menu. this is just your typical pancake, eggs brunch spot. all 3 people at our table raved about the coffee too. the decor and ambiance really add something special to the already good food. and the staff is super nice and friendly too. parking is really easy-no parking meters! i would definitely check out this place again for dinner or bring back out of town visitors to this cool brunch spot!! also, this place scored "not good for kids' which i would agree for dinner but for brunch our baby seemed very welcome amoung our fellow diners!
(4)Six B.
love the local greens and local meats they are using! i had a dish last night, though and it was over-salted (i've had this problem with lula too (same owners))....please, lay off the salt! the local green salad with fiddleheads and radishes was great (though a bit sweet, which was weird), the pork meatballs were delish, but the polenta underneath and sauce (puttanesca?) were oversalted. the drinks are amazing! i'll go back and ask for less salt! best pasta i have ever had. best drinks. best deserts.
(5)shell h.
Third time visiting Nightwood last night, had the usual fried Myer lemons and a delicious salad and ordered the roasted branzino, it was delicious. I was a little bummed out that there was no local fish on the menu and so my boyfriend ordered the spit-roasted chicken and it was also delicious. My favorite thing came at the end of the meal with the amazing blueberry warm pie accompanied with some A-MAZING lavender icecream.
(4)K P.
Amazing new restaurant by the Lula team. The food is incredible - it represents some of the best new cuisine without being too trendy. Even staples like the roasted chicken are outstanding. I recommend getting a seat at the kitchen counter if you can swing it.
(5)Karen L.
Apparently this is the new place to go and I have been wanting to try it for some time now. It is a little out of the way, being all the way in Pilsen, but boy am I glad we went there! You walk into the restaurant through this cute outdoor patio... I will have to go back when it is nice weather again (ugh, probably another 9 months!) and enjoy that lovely space. I walked in and immediately loved the decor with the exposed brick walls and the exquisite ceilings. Very cute and nicely decorated, but not in a pretentious or trendy way. (I didn't feel out of place in my Friday casual work clothes.) It is definitely more upscale than Lula but still the similar comfortable feeling. We got there right after work and it was not that busy at all - maybe half of all the tables were full. They tried to put us at the bar at first saying all the tables were reserved. We were a bit upset as we just called about 1 hour before and they said that walking in wouldn't be a problem as they never reserve out all their tables... plus it was only 6:30 so it was still early. So we ended up getting a table which was really good b/c I don't think I would have enjoyed the dinner quite as much at the bar. Instead of regular bread, they brought out these honey biscuits which were quite tasty! For an appetizer, we started with a butternut squash ravioli with egg yolk. It was good, a little interesting on the flavors, but still good. It reminded us of the stuff they would make on Top Chef. It was one (bigger than average size) ravioli which I thought was kind of skimpy since it was almost $10! For my entree I ordered the grilled duck. OMG! SOOOO good... the duck was tender and juicy and perfectly seasoned! I also liked how they had the skin on (not everyone would like that), since that is my favorite! The salad on the side with corn and apples was just okay but really, the duck made my night! It was delicious! My boyfriend wasn't super hungry so he just ordered the goat cheese gnocchi. That was good in flavor but nothing as impressive as the duck. He usually does not like duck but also thought my entree was excellent! I will have to say that the menu is pretty limited. There are probably about 10 entree choices and I would only eat about 3-4 of them. And really, only the duck one stood out to me as looking really good. But I bet the menu changes pretty frequently so hopefully when I go back there will be some other dishes available. (Although I may just want to go back for the duck.) All the ingredients were really fresh and I think since it is Lula's same owners it is probably all organic. The service was good, as well. I also got a small dessert... one scoop of the blueberry-pear sorbet, which was the perfect amount to end the night with. I am not a huge dessert person and usually nothing really appeals to me. As far as the cocktail menu, nothing jumped out at me too much but I opted for an apple cider cocktail which was just okay. I pretty much enjoyed Nightwood for the Duck Entree and the atmosphere. I would recommend making the trek out there and checking it out!
(4)Sharon P.
I had been to Nightwood before for dinner and it was pretty great, although the portions are small. Brunch was terrible. But the service was very good- constant supply of fresh coffee, and quick, friendly service. The food I got was actually so gross I spit out a bite in my napkin, and then sent it back for the malted waffles, which were nothing special- toaster waffles (burnt on the edges) with chocolate sauce on top. Size: about 1.5 actual toaster waffles. Lame. So my original order was the venison omlette with creme fraiche. The "omlette" was like one millimeter thick, and just looked sad and flopped over. The craime fraiche was the exact same color as the omelette (lite yellow), and looked like a watery cheese sauce. The venison inside was kind of pulled, but also with lots of big chunks of pure gelatinous fat. The overall effect: slimy upon slimy upon slimy (and visually off-putting) was so gross I couldn't chew or swallow my bite of it. I have not spit my food out at a restaurant in a long time. My dining companion had some scrambled egg dish that he said was just OK. Also, the hash browns look like hairy balls. As in testicles. Finally, the server promptly brough me a new dish, and seemed genuinely interested in why I sent the dish back, and I explained nicely. I would not go back here.
(2)Peter G.
the dinner was okay it started raining and it was difficult to get a seat relocation. The server wasn't attentative at all and slightly awkward. I almost gave my tip to the hostess who paid much more attention. She was great, but other then that the service was poor. The food was decent, but the desert was more impressive. The main dishes took a very long time to come out. I do admit though I thoroughly enjoyed the kitchen. I had the chicken. It was decent, quite affordable, but was a little bland in presentation and taste. The menus were just shy of illegible, in a poor attempt at trendyness.
(3)tracey t.
Brunch was a dream at Nightwood. Our table enjoyed the burger, croquettes, the bagel sandwich and eggs benedict (quite possibly the most perfect combo of sweet and salty). That tater tot/hash browns were definitely a hit as well. My bloody mary hit the spot minimizing any lingering hangover from the shenanigans the night before. The staff was polite and helpful and the restaurant itself is warm and inviting. A definite must visit!
(5)Sorabh K.
Great food and great drinks in an enjoyable atmosphere. This hidden gem in pilsen can get a little pricey but is worth the dough especially since they use such high quality ingredients. I definitely recommend this place and look forward to dining here again!
(4)Meg E.
dang. this place is gooood. bacon butterscotch donuts?! what more can a fat kid ask for. the trout scramble and shrimp griddle cakes were both unique and delicious. dinner aint too shabby either. service could have been a bit better...but the food made up for it. great place to take out of towners for brunch because the line isnt around the corner.
(4)Drew F.
It took me a while to write this review, I went to Nightwood becasue I want to support the resturants and bars where I live. I went on a Friday night and the place was jumping with people who dont live in the area. You can tell by the look on there face when you see them walk past the big windows looking lost, the menu is not deep enough. It had 10 entrees and just about 90% of the items where over $20, the appetizers prices where crazy! Decor was nice the server we had was awesome we didnt feel like we where being rushed, we stayed until then end with 1 bottle of wine left to finish. Nightwood is great for our neighborhood, I think they need to work on the menu price's so all of pilsen can enjoy them.
(5)Beth O.
Could have been an off night, but tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta tart was disappointingly dry. I am fiercely picky about crust, since my family (mom, Grandma, me) make some of the best, lightest and flakiest tarts and pies in the country. Although my date enjoyed his fresh and well-seasoned pork as though Pavlov had rung his bell, my tart seemed to have spent days hanging out on a hot plate or been reheated from the first bake. What salvaged our meal were the expectedly delightful bookends of arugula salads and rhubarb crisp. Have to say Lula has never disappointed, and little sister needs to practice more to get up to Lula's level.
(3)Nancy S.
None of the people in my 5-person group will return. Small, poorly displayed food. One of our $20 pasta dishes (consisting of broad noodles, broccoli, chilis & some goat cheese) had exactly 6 noodles. The $30 pork roast was unedible. The appetizers were so disappointing that one person in our 5 person group decided not not even order a main course. I decided to play it safe & order the hamburger. It was so over-done that I had trouble swallowing it. The bun was enormous & the burger was like a tiny hockey puck. One of the appetizers, and both pasta dishes were just slapped onto plates...spread out everywhere. The fava beans were just literally dumped onto a big white plate. Completely unappetizing. We left & went somewhere else because we were hungry & annoyed. I do have to say that our waitress was nice. And, upstairs, the ambiance seemed cool. But, even though we had reservations, we were seated in the musty basement. And, yes, it smelled musty. There was just one other table of people in the dungeon while we were there. They were elderly people.
(1)Morgan O.
Disappointing with a capital "D". I was so excited to sample this highly recommended restaurant, but every dish I ordered tasted like pickles. I thought that the homemade ice cream for desert would make up for a flavor-lacking meal, however, I was AGAIN unbelievably mistaken. I wish I would have known because $100 for a crappy meal is a real bummer. Bottom line: Great space and environment. Awful food. And by awful, I mean almost inedible.
(1)Julie F.
Came here for brunch with the fam. With a table of 6 we were seated in the "wine cellar" commonly known as a basement. This suited us fine though as the dim light complimented our slight hangovers nicely. We were also seated in a booth against the wall with real chairs as opposed to the backless benches supplying most of the room - another big plus. Watching the 80 year old grandmother try to slide and sit comfortable on a bench at the table next to us was enough for me to wonder again when people will come to their good senses and join me in a backless bench boycott. Anyhow, we all tried a different brunch special and all were rich, and delicious. I especially liked the short rib Benedict. One thing you absolutely MUST try are the butterscotch and bacon donuts. They are amazing. In fact, as good as are meals were, I would have been just as happy with a cup of coffee and a couple of those donuts! The only small (very small) complaint would be the toast that was all burnt, like black around the edges burnt but, everything else was great! Oh, and our server was knowledgeable, kind, and relaxed - exactly what you want on a Sunday morning.
(4)Colleen S.
The food was awesome. The interior/decor was awesome. The service was...eh. They tried to seat us at a table in the "alley" between the two rooms. No ambience whatsoever. They begrudgingly moved us. The server we got was disinterested and lacked any sort of personality or charisma. We didn't feel rushed, which I appreciate, but we did at times feel neglected. The short rib and potato pierogi were outstanding. And this comes from someone who's family makes their own peirogi by hand each year for the holidays. If they are on the app menu, order them for sure. Also terrific was the spaghetti and meatballs. It had a totally American spin and the homemade pasta was perfect. The spinach/garlic/pear salad was salty. The halibut was decent. This place would be 5 stars if the host and the server could have dropped the 'tude.
(4)Chris H.
We were happy to find this place a short walk from the new apartment. My dad was in from out of town, and we took him here for dinner, having never been. We all had a great time, starting with a drink at the bar, and continuing back to the kitchen bar where the three of us (this area seats maybe 6 or 7 at most) were able to watch them work while we ate. We were skeptical at first to sit back there, but it was great. I don't remember everything we had exactly, but I do recall my wife had the pan seared trout which she loved. My dad was really impressed with the rigatoni w/ veal bolognese, and since we were sitting by the kitchen he could even thank the man who made it! We had a great time and were all well fed. I'm not sure what the complainers on here had a problem about, we all thought it was great and will be back.
(4)Noah L.
OVERRATED.. By far the worst dining experience I've had in a long time. It started with a bitter, poorly mixed cocktail from the cocktail menu, followed by a so-so appetizer. Then came our "pasta" dish which we clearly ordered as an entree, however, the waiter failed to inform us was literally the size of 3 nickels and was really not so much a pasta dish as it was another appetizer, a clear indication of the lacking attention we received from our waiter. But it got even worse with the other entree, a tough, gamy and foul smelling veal dish. Service was lackadaisical and uninterested. Not what you would expect for what they charge.
(1)Ali P.
I dined here for the third time over the weekend and left feeling disappointed. We started the evening by sharing the tomato and burrata appetizer which was delicious! I have only had cheese this creamy once or twice in my life. We also shared the raviolini bolognese and a potato gnocchi with sweet corn, butter and bacon - both delicious as well. The pasta was homemade, light, but extremely flavoful! If my evening would have ended here, I would give five stars. For an entree we shared the grilled short ribs. I should have expected them to be different than what I am used to as they were grilled, not braised but decided to give it a shot. The short ribs were EXTREMELY fatty, tough, and had no flavor. Probably one my least favorite dishes I've had in a long time. Overall, I like Nightwood - great ambiance, good food, nice people. I have had delicous meals there before, but this time was let down. I will give it another shot but will probably stick to an appetizer or pasta dish the next time I go.
(3)Genevieve P.
This was probably the best restaurant meal I've ever had and that's saying a lot. I've eaten in some of the top spots in Chicago, not to mention, Paris, NY, etc. What was so remarkable about my experience is that EVERY dish NAILED it! We might have been lucky and just ordered the best Nightwood has to offer but that's why I say it was the best experience. Even at Charlie Trotters or Avec or other great places, one dish will just be so so... a little lacking in flavor... a little dull. Not so with the dishes we had at Nightwood. We ordered 2 appetizers, 1 pasta and 1 entree and ALL knocked it out of the park. Would go there again in a heartbeat. Our meal for two with 1 dessert and drink was ~ $60. Not too bad for the wonderful experience.
(5)Lois A.
I fell hard for nightwood. The food is just fantastic. Recently I had french toast stuffed with apples, ham and cheese and it was incredible. The eggs benedict is also excellent and who can resist the extremely fun way the tots are prepared? This place gets packed for good reason. I love the open kitchen in the back where you can sit diner style and watch the chefs work. Service is great. I felt horrible for the waitress we had a couple of weeks ago. Seated next to us was a couple with their two children and they kept sending their burgers back to be cooked more. I saw the burgers and they were cooked perfectly. I'd noticed the couple when we first sat down next to them because they were seated next to the door and a cold blast of air came in every time it opened - I'd thought it strange they had seated their very young kids closest to the door instead of sitting there themselves...nice. Anyway, the waitress was more than polite and kept a smile while dealing with them for over an hour, all the while dealing with a packed house. Coffee is great and parking is easy.
(4)Aaron G.
for the price, it should be all hits and no misses. but there are misses
(3)johnny s.
Had brunch here over the summer - Sat outside - service/food/seating was top notch - great stuff - not inexpensive but the best stuff is never is....
(5)Steven M.
This place is too hip for its own good! The decor is cool, with chairs that look like they have come from someone's rec room from the early 80s. The waiter was a late 20s obnoxious, condescending hipster who told us that the burger was "gourmet" and that our cautiousness about its description on the menu was unnecessary. My friend is a burger purist so her cautiousness was apropos. When asked about tomatoes for the burger, we were told they are out of season...cut the crap, you're just out of them...tomatoes are in season year round in this country...keep some damned tomatoes in house bee-yotches! Then, there was no Splenda for the iced tea, and the omelets with root vegetables and paneer cheese was NOT good. In fact, it was odd. The root vegetables were undercooked and just way too big...dice those roots and really roast them next time. They were just bad. The paneer cheese was peculiar and did not remotely resemble paneer cheese I had ever eaten. I also felt remarkably queasy an hour later...it was just way too rich for my taste. Surprisingly, this place is owned by the same folks who run Lula Cafe which I love...meh, this place just underwhelms me.
(2)Lisa M.
*Loved* this place. We had high expectations and they were met. The food was thoughtful, well-prepared, extremely fresh and local. We had the burger (which might be the best in the city), the spit roasted pork loin chop (which was perfectly cooked--slightly pink, not dry at all, perfectly seasoned), and two appetizers--the agnolotti pasta with foie gras filling and the sweet corn and garlic soup. Both were great. We even got a taste of the rabbit tortellini in jalepeno broth, which might have been my favorite dish of the night. It was all really so yummy, and so worth it, considering just average restaurants are charging the same prices for food that is not nearly as thoughtful or well-prepared. Oh, I almost forgot--dessert was great too--we had 2 scoops of house made ice cream (a salted butterscotch gelato and a rasberry sorbet). The rasberry really captured the essence of fresh rasberries and wasn't too sweet. The salted butterscotch was great too. We also had the rice pudding with Michigan peach compote, which was lovely (and rich!). The kitchen staff were so friendly and helpful. Loved their attitude. We will definitely be back!!
(5)L N.
Extremely enjoyable dinner here last Friday. The staff is warm and welcoming. The room is cozy and buzzy but you can easily converse with your dinner mate. Our server was charming and efficient. They offer still and sparking water at the table which is nice, and no ice, which I prefer so that made me happy. My friend and I shared the chicken liver pate appetizer. You get sort of a big shmear of it on a plate with seed-y mustard, cornichon, and sliced baguette. More bread was provided promptly upon our request. The pate was creamy and fresh; nicely cut with the vinegary side things. For dinner my friend had ribbon pasta with duck and broccoli. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the long ribbons were very pretty on the plate. The duck was tender and just enough to provide some heft to the dish without being too filling or overwhelming. I had smoked trout on a bed of sweet corn with bacon (bits). Probably the better of the two dishes. The dish does not look super impressive -- its a whole trout with the skin on a bed corn basically -- however, incredibly delicious! Mildly smoky, tender and juicy trout which pulled away easily from the skin with no bones. The corn had been cut from the cob and was bright, sweet and a perfect compliment to the fish. Bacon punctuated the smoky theme. Oh, and the bottle of wine we wanted was out so they upgraded us to something better at no extra charge. Nice. We shared chocolate pudding for desert which was more like a dense cake. Not bad but I would probably order a different desert next time. And I hope to have many next times!
(4)Jo W.
Everything was good -- and I NEVER say that. From the burrata to the rabbit pasta to the pork loin. And don't forget the warm cookies. Service also stellar. Wish these folks had something closer to the north :). As a heads up, it is pricey but you're paying for fresh stuff. Love it.
(5)kristin t.
When this place opened up just a few blocks from home I could not wait to try it. We headed out with another couple on Saturday to try this place and I could not have been more surprised by the atmosphere or happy with my food. The ambiance was amazing, the decor spot on, the service friendly and attentive and the food was amazing. We had the escarole and chopped vegi salad which had the perfect mix of flavor and texture, the burrata crostini which was to die for, sweet potato ravioli, the poached whitefish and the whole trout were also wonderful and the hand-cut noodles with rabbit loin was impressive. Our cocktails were fabulous and personally I could have stayed until they kicked me out. Without a doubt we will be returning here over and over.
(4)Lisa W.
Clean, spare, fresh, beautiful. Gorgeous people, gorgeous food. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
(5)Julie N.
Great space, great service but not great food. Starters were perfect: homemade bresaola, short rib ravioli, tomato soup. Mains were way, way off. Duck confit was very good, but surrounded with cold chunks of cucumber (why???). Pork tenderloin was incredibly fatty and undercooked, inedible. Cheesburger was just fine. STAY AWAY until they get the kitchen tuned up.
(2)Mary M.
..just "the best restaurant in Chicago" right now!!,,if you are looking for wholesome, fresh locally grown products..the wood burning grill and the pairing are just out of this world! and the desserts..the pie to die for...complimenti!!
(5)jo d.
One word of caution: the drinks may take a while, and although they are great (Chipolte Margarita!= phenomenal) the proportion of strength to $ is not equal, so stick to beer or the wine list. I needed to get the bad part out of the way so it does not sway your decision as much as the good that follows below. I make no claim to being a foodie, but I love good, interesting food. I love experimenting in the kitchen and can appreciate the effort it takes to put out inspired quality plates. We have been to Nightwood a number of times and have loved it each and every time! Our first experience was a brunch. I was VERY excited about the bacon donuts (REALLY BACON ....ON DONUTS!!!???), as well as the Poutine with Duck confit, duck gravy and poached egg. Can life get any better? Since the brunch we have been to Nightwood more than a handful of times. Many people have issue with the size of the portions, but I think they are just right. I think in the US we have come to accept overeating and massive plates as getting your money's worth. Not true or right. Nightwood practices a quality over quantity approach to food. It is evident in each bite. I am a little one, and at other restaurants I typically can split an appetizer and finish 1/2 the entree, then feel like crap for overeating yet upset for not being able to try one of the awesome looking deserts. But at Nightwood the freshness and lightness of each of the meals is a refreshing change. At the end of each course, you are left a little depressed that there is no more to eat because it was so good, but if you choose the correct next course according to your tastes you are not upset for too long. AND THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR A LITTLE DESSERT! I love feeling satisfied... not full to the point of splitting at the seams. Every dish that I have had or have tasted from other people at the table was amazing. Eat bite is a perfect bite. Overall highly recommended! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we have.
(5)Harold J.
Being an pilen/bridgeport/chinatownian , I am pleased to have a restaurant in my neighborhood I can go to that will impress out of town guests. In this case, it was my girlfriend and her friend from Philadelphia. The staff was very helpful and attentive. The plates were of ample size. The wine selection is extensive and impressive. As the night went on, I can see that there are a lot of restaurant fans in the community because it was packed on a Wednesday night with no specials or gimmicks of any sort. Just great food, ambiance(FYI, if you're a smoker you will love the faux fireplace outside for you to warm yourself as you puff away), and service. Looking forward to a brunch there on a sunny June afternoon. But, I'm sure I'll be there beforehand.
(4)Grace C.
This place was recommended by a friend. The hostesses were not helpful at all I think they forgot to put us on the list. the wait staff were fantastic - they got us a seat at the chefs table. we had the goat cheese gnocchi as appetizer, trout and duck, then sorbet and pecan tart. The savory food was excellent . My husband rated the duck as 9/10. My trout was good too 7/10. The desserts were a bit of a disappointment after the dinner . Sorbet was ok and tart was good but standard.
(4)cindy g.
I am and I am not a fan. Originally we ate at Nightwood 8-10 weeks ago and had amazing food and memorable service. I took the time to mention it to the owner when we were eating at his other restaurant last week. I was looking forward to going to Nightwood to celebrate our husbands' birthdays. We made our reservation for last night weeks ago and when I confirmed yesterday I thought that I made it clear we wanted to be in the front room. We arrived to a packed restaurant. When we were seated it was near the kitchen- with the wait staff going back and forth, and back and forth. It was NOT where I had anticipated our celebration- it was unappealing and the back and forth was driving us crazy. I left the table to speak with our waitress and the owner's wife overheard us talking and graciously changed our table although I would have preferred that it had been done initially when I said something instead of essentially being ignored. Our meal was delicious although with a few negative comments- they were already our of one appetizer and one main and served the skimpiest smelts appetizer. We were told that it was because they had only received a limited amount that day and coupled it with beets. (I think there were 6 smelts on our plate and my husband had been so looking forward to them since our last visit- he had been told by our waitress then that they were always on the menu. Desserts were underwhelming. I think a first class restaurant plans well for its clientele and doesn't run out of ITEMS. I bring up this point over and over- if you have had an outstanding meal on one occasion, do you try and repeat it or move on to the other myriad of restaurants in Chicagoland?
(4)Elisabeth A.
I have eaten dinner at Nightwood 3 times, and while the overall experience has always been pleasant, I have one major complaint. The knives they give you to cut meat are TOTALLY INADEQUATE! Here's the deal. Nightwood serves family farm-raised, organic beet-and-arugula-fed, designer-shod, psychologically, ecologically, physiologically and emotionally well-balanced meat that was sensitively slaughtered, like, this morning. This meat is expensive and flavorful, but because it is so fresh it has a weird, tough, kinda rubbery texture. It doesn't fall off the bone. You gotta saw that sh*t if you want to consume it. This is where the knives come in. They have these super fancy white enameled French knives that cost an arm and a leg at Williams and Sonoma, but despite their beauty they suck suck suck. So you're there, attacking your meat, hacking away at it like some kind of deranged serial killer, because the g-damn unserrated knives are too busy being tres cute to actually cut anything. Nightwood deserves more than one star, because the atmosphere is very nice and much of their food (I'm thinking of the trout, and all the fabulous veggie sides) is wonderful. But they need new knives and they need to figure out how to cook their chicken so that the meat falls off the bones like it's supposed to. If KFC can do it, so can they!!
(1)Rachel P.
I was very excited to dine at Nightwood and feel it was a nice, but not a great experience. We were seated on the patio which was beautiful. It has heat lamps going to take the edge off of the fall chill. Our drinks were good, not great. For the price I expected a little more. They were much more basic tasting then described on the drink menu. The appetizer we had was great; creamy cheese, delicious cherry tomatoes and bread, really well balanced and tasty. My friend got gnocchi with short rib which was good, and I had a burger. The burger was good...but here is my biggest complaint-this chef clearly has firm beliefs on how his food "should" be cooked despite the guests' order. Before my meal was delivered, two diners next to us received their burgers, one promptly sent hers back for being too under cooked and the other left much on her plate. I over heard her later explaining she didn't know how raw it was until she took a few bites. Now I do not like my meat cooked to extremes, just a nice pink medium for me, which is how I ordered. My burger was better described as rare; very rare. Why bother asking diners how they want their food cooked if the chef will not honor it and simply cooks the food to his or her own liking? Not the best dining experience I have had recently. The flavors were good, however, i would have loved to enjoy the burger even more with it being cooked properly, as in how it was ordered.
(3)Brian M.
We went here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and were promptly seated in the basement. Unfortunately we didn't get menus and water until 15 minutes later. After sitting for 20 minutes we ordered the bacon donuts, two burgers and eggs and toast for our kids. 45 minutes into the meal, we had received nothing except one cup of coffee and my wife's cream never made it to the table. We cancelled the doughnut starter and waited for our burgers instead. They were both pretty good but not worth $13. The fries were actually some of the worst I have had in a while and my daughter wouldn't even eat them. The eggs and toast were pretty standard. Needless to say, we wont be going back here for brunch again, but the space was cool and we would give it a second chance for dinner. They don't seem to have a handle on the brunch biz and the food is only marginal so its certainly not worth the trek from Lincoln park. Very disappointing considering how exceptional Lula has always been for breakfast.
(2)LB F.
BRUNCH review: Wow -- cool place. Pretty decor (dark wood bar, pressed tin ceiling, wrought iron fixtures, a nice enclosed outdoor patio/courtyard); friendly service (hosts and servers are patient with questions, conversational and welcoming / Maria was awesome!); and a wonderful restaurant philosophy (mostly local ingredients and a frequently-changing menu). This is the epitome of haute junk food... from plastic fork to silver fork... aka several doughnuts made to order, a pop tart with fresh cream cheese frosting, buttermilk friend chicken and waffles (with fruit compote and vanilla sauce, no less), and crispy, salty tater tots the size of golf balls. With a menu dominated by heavy food, this resto is not for the faint of heart (or those with heart problems -- think melted butter glistening on just about everything except the coffee), but the price is right and the food and drinks are yummy. At least it's different. If you're looking for a very filling meal in a lovely little spot, make the trek to Pilsen.
(4)Melissa M.
Mostly fabulous brunch this morning. As the menu constantly changes, we asked for advice on what to order. The salmon scramble, biscuits with gravy, and butterscotch bacon doughnut were all fabulous. The coffee was excellent. The service was stellar. But, alas, the waitperson also recommended the sardines, which were so full of tiny bones that I spent over an hour trying to extract the edible parts and was mostly just frustrated and greasy by the end. Do. Not. Order. The. Sardines.
(4)Chris S.
The food was very good, but not outstanding. I loved the ambiance, especially the chairs. Great place to impress a North-side lady with on a date.
(4)Van D.
Have been to Nightwood for both dinner and Sunday brunch. Food was excellent each time. I am also a big fan of their sister restaurant Lula Cafe so its inevitable that I (and probably many others) want to compare the two. Nightwood has less choices and probably a bit pricier but food quality is excellent. Liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Expect it to be jam packed like Lula Cafe very soon
(5)todd s.
Second time here for brunch and had the house made doughnuts again-fabulous. Tried the burger this time and was definitely impressed. The bun tasted fresh made and was sturdy enough to hold the large juicy burger. It was cooked perfectly but could have had a bit more seasoning in the meat. And do not pass up the house made tater tots. Will return.
(4)P P.
I am actually rating this place 4.5 stars. I went there this past weekend with a friend. I had the Spaghetti alla Chitarra and my friend had the trout which actually really looked more like a salmon. We both loved our food. The ambiance inside is great. Nice and dim with a contemporary urban feel to it. They do have a small outdoor seating area which is where we chose to sit since it was a nice evening. I actually can't wait to go back. I didn't give it 5 stars only because of our waiter. He was constantly coming by to ask how we were doing, if we wanted anything else, etc... it was a bit excessive which made it hard to hold a long conversation without interruption.
(4)Sao-Mai N.
What a hidden gem! Tucked away among dreary, abandoned looking buildings, juxtaposed next to the highway, Nightwood is a beacon of deliciousness. Highlights are the donuts and the tater tots among other things.
(4)Moe f.
I was skeptical to schlep that far south from our north side fortress but it was totally worth it. Started with some nice pumpkin soup and beet/goat cheese salad. The wife had the duck with risotto that was pretty good. The winner of the night was the squab. I could have eaten 2 of those delicious little birds. The dessert menu didn't really do it for me so we opted out. I'll be back.
(4)Italo C.
If this place can bring luxury sedans and fur coats to Pilsen-- they are doing something so right its unhuman.
(5)Tina L.
I've added another favorite burger to my list! This burger has an amazing sauce and TWO patties. I think I can split it into 3 separate meals!!~ Our server was very friendly and informative. I had a lot of questions about the drink menu, and she pretty much went down the list and went into detail what each cocktail would taste like and what she liked about it. I love the personal and thoughtful explanations and it helped me pick a delicious cocktail!
(4)Riva L.
Attention Chicago: nightwood closes on Saturday. GO GO GO GO GO. I went here last night as a goodbye to my favorite restaurant. We got to sit on the beautiful patio, right next to the fireplace (which they unfortunately did not light!). The atmosphere was perfect - the restaurant was busy and loud because everyone's trying to get their last trip in, but the restaurant maintains an aura of peace/ happiness. The meal was so good, I legitimately shed a tear over the fact that I'll never get to eat at Nightwood again. We got: -Chicken liver mousse with strawberries, mint, snap peas, and Szechuan pepper - the mousse was so smooth and flavorful! It tasted like delicious silk. I wished they'd given us more amazing, toasty bread to go with it but instead we just opted to pack tons of mousse onto every slice and this was totally fine with me. The strawberries went so well with it. -spit-roasted, maple-glazed half chicken with cashew bread salad, chili oil, ham, and pea shoots - this was the part of the meal that brought on emotions. I usually don't get chicken dishes when I go out to eat, but I always get them at nightwood because they're so INSANELY good. The flavors, sweet and spicy, paired together perfectly, allowing for a rich, incredibly tasty dish. If you make it there in the next two days, I beg you to get this; eating it was an experience that I'm sad I'll never have again. -the nightwood cheeseburger - always said I was going to get it next time I went...so now was the time! It was very well-cooked and seasoned. I wish there had been more cheese and sauce because it did taste a little plain. All in all though, this was our least favorite dish of the meal and it was still very, very good. Nightwood, I'll miss you. Chicagoans, GO NOW.
(5)Ivy Z.
Yum. Came here for brunch and dinner and both hit the spot perfectly. The donuts were great - split one to start - and the entrees delicious. The polenta and soft scrambled eggs for brunch were absolutely tasty. However I would recommend coming for dinner. Atmosphere is romantic, candle lit, and rustic. The pork belly with red quinoa and cabbage was the best pork belly I've ever had - and pork belly is one of my favorite foods. I raved about it forever. A little steep on the price but well worth it for a special occasion. I found myself really enjoying the Pilsen neighborhood as well, so that's a plus.
(5)Brianna B.
The only reason I would come back is for the beautiful, open and relaxing space. The food itself (brunch) was extremely disappointing. I don't know why they are making their own bagels - mine was bread in the shape of a bagel, not an actual bagel (no bagel chew, and pretty lacking in flavor, which they tried to overcome with butter). I had really high hopes for the donut (a fruit one, not the bacon one), and it was only alright, and certainly not worth the $5 they are charging for it. The tots are terrible: unseasoned fried balls of nothing. Seriously, I had to dump salt on these, and that hardly helped. My partner had a scrambled egg dish that he said was pretty boring. My friend ordered bacon (extra crispy) and toast and didn't eat the bacon, and the server didn't ask if there was a problem with the bacon. The food was a huge surprise given how much I enjoy Lula.
(2)Jeffrey C.
Located at 21st and Halsted, Nightwood is kind of in the rapidly gentrifying Pilsen neighborhood, but not really. A little off the main drag nexus of 18th and Blue Island, Nightwood feels like its own little outpost away from it all. It still subscribes to the Chicago-patented "Trendy Casual American (New)" that defines the mid-price point deliciousness of the city. We went for a last-minute, no reservations brunch and were seated in the the very lovely courtyard. On a good day (like that day), the shining light and charming atmosphere already provides a scenic sereneness perfect with a cup of joe and a plate of eggs. The butterscotch donut with bacon crumble? It's all that Yelp says it is. I love me the maple bacon donuts of Chicago (get thee to Bridgeport Bakery), but I'm totally willing to pay the premium for Nightwood's concoction. That bad boy costs $5, but the superior bacon plus butterscotch plus sugared donut holes on the side are worth the willingness to pay. The brunch menu is scant and short, but chock full of good stuff. The bagel sandwich gets lots of love. Its description leads with a smoked trout cream cheese spread. Note, though, that the main meat of the sandwich is crispy bacon, and that the trout is infused in the spread. Regardless, it's a very good brunch option. The accompanying potato croquettes might be my favorite thing on the menu. I went with the polenta, which was solid, though the short rib was extremely rich for breakfast. The soft boiled egg was cooked perfectly. I almost got the fabled cheeseburger, and after seeing another table receive that order, I got that buyer's remorse thing. Alas. Our table also ordered the scrambled eggs (mostly for the baby, natch), which was solid as well. Nightwood definitely gets plus points on a good-weather day, as the patio setting is hard to beat. The food is good, and with a lot of similar competition in the city, the unique location becomes a key differentiator. Food-wise, there are other, similar places I just like better (think Dusek's nearby), but I won't dissuade you if you think Nightwood is amongst the best.
(4)Steve W.
Looking on yelp made me think this place was going to be really good and i was sold a dream. The menu was very small nothing majority of the pics I seen on yelp were not available ok fine I understand but I end up ordering a burger had to wait and ask for napkins ketchup and pepper. It's definitely over priced and horrible service definitely won't be back here
(1)Carolyn I.
I've been wanting to go here for awhile to try the burger. It did not disappoint! The meat was juicy and flavorful. It was a little messy and hard to eat since it was piled high. For drinks, I ordered a non alcoholic drink with soda and strawberries and it was very refreshing. I also tried the trout and butterscotch pudding. The crispy black rice on the trout added great texture. The dessert was a little too sweet for me, but still good. Overall, I had a great experience! The outdoor seating was lovely and our server was friendly.
(4)Belle L.
Brunch and Restaurant Week are better values for $$. Excellent food quality, original menu with a 5-star service. First Date Venue. The one and only worthy fine dining in Pilsen area. FIRST DATE VENUE -- best seat is by the kitchen. Quieter. In a moment of awkwardness, kitchen activities are a great ice breaker. Great food and service allows both of you to focus on each other. Uber a ride home, and the gal gets dropped off first with a second date set in place. * * * RESTAURANT WEEK MENU: PRETZEL BREAD -- a nice unique touch in a world where bread and butter doesn't drop by anymore unless asked or as additional cost. DRY AGED BEEF TARTARE -- tasty. I usually dread tartare as it is not my dish, but I ate it all with an extra garlic bread. SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA -- hearty for my taste. Perfect portion. My first black walnut pesto. PORK -- dryness of pork is offset by the flavorful 8 winter vegetables. APPLE BREAD PUDDING -- interesting combination with rosemary ice cream (a tad overpowering). Best eaten with a perfect bite. CLAUSTHALER -- a non-alcoholic drink. A nice addition to the beer and cider list. INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE ($3) -- bottomless cup. Colombian blend for Nightwood with a tinge of tang. 5-STAR SERVICE -- (1) change of utensils after each dish, (2) napkin is folded when one steps out, (3) free carbonated water, (4) consistent water refills, (5) well-informed staff.
(5)Lauren F.
I've had Nightwood on my to-do list for quite some time now, I just never made it a priority to get down to Pilsen and check it out. As soon as I saw their lunch prix fixe menu for Restaurant Week I knew this was the perfect time to check them out. Many restaurants have items on their Restaurant Week menus that aren't on their regular menus, so it's hard to know if you're actually getting a deal and you don't get to try the great dishes that everyone talks about. Nightwood, however, was offering their big fat Nightwood Cheeseburger, usually found for $16 on their regular menus, as part of their $22 3-course lunch menu during restaurant week. Not only is the cheeseburger one of their most popular dishes, for 3 courses it was a total steal! Those two juicy patties topped with 8-year cheddar, a crispy onion ring, crunchy pickles, mustard, and special sauce, served with a side of fries, made it a no-brainer. I added a glass of their Black Currant Fizz soda, the bright Beet Salad with winter citrus, and the tart Honey Goat Cheese Ice Cream to round out a DELICIOUS weekday lunch. Nightwood is normally only open for dinner and for weekend brunch, but added weekday lunch hours just for Restaurant Week. This burger is a fixture on their regular menus so you can swing by and give it a try any time!
(4)Liliana P.
So I'm sometimes late to the reviewing game and I am just starting to catch up from my trips, but I really wanted to leave a review because I JUST found out that this establishment has closed and I hope the Nightwood team reads this. This was by far one of my favorite places I visited while in Chicago. The space is so rustic, I could see myself venturing out here in the mornings for brunch. I really liked the chairs so much, I had to sneak a picture of one. This is also one of the first places that I have come across to have polenta on the menu so early in morning, and I loved every last savory bite! If it was socially acceptable, I probably would've licked the bowl... I scraped the bowl with my spoon for good measure though. This was really the perfect way to end my Chicago visit. Thank you, Nightwood team for giving me an unforgettable experience.
(5)Heather B.
Chicago Sunday= brunch It's a basic requirement anytime I visit, and my friend has been talking this place up is for ages. Her recommendation was spot on! Our group of three made a booking for 11, which I would definitely advise to avoid a long wait. The menu changes often, and features brunch classics like omelettes and French toast, but each with a modern and indulgent twist. Our French toast came with pear compote and a well paired cinnamon spiced creme anglaise- sweet tooth required for this dish! Other dishes are more contemporary, like my favourite dish of the day, confit duck and goats cheese crepes. Rich and juicy duck meat, delicate freshly made crepes and a perfectly runny egg to top it off! We also ordered the cavatelli, which although flavourful, for me was the least successful. Served with a rich tomato sauce and topped with an egg, which for my taste could have been a touch runnier, and the pasta was ever so slightly underdone, bordering on chewy in some places. Please note this is me being real picky!! Another house speciality are the donuts, labeled as starters on the menu. Freshly made in the open kitchen, our butterscotch glazed with bacon donut was light, sweet, and indulgent, a fantastically naughty treat to start our meal! The staff were brilliant, attentive and friendly, and you have to love the American style of endless coffee, intelligensia no less! Oh, and our grapefruit bellinis were fantastic.
(4)Angela P.
I was almost positive that my friend Courtney C was going to throw up right on Halsted Street after our indulgent meal at Nightwood - but in the very best, most complimentary way possible. The food at Nighwood is tasty, but that burger is enormous and really could be shared by two people. We made the mistake of having an appetizer and drinks two doors down at Del Toro. Don't make the same mistake we did - just don't. You're hungry? Trust me, you can wait. I made reservations a week or two in advance for a Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. When we arrived, there was only one other table occupied. By the time we left, there was a good crowd, but I would not say that reservations are mandatory on a weeknight. Service was fantastic. Our server was attentive and did a great job explaining some of the drinks to us. Try the cocktails! I had the "Fit and Working Again," with vodka, apple crisp, elderflower, and lemon. I love drinks with elderflower, and this one was fantastic. Courtney C had a drink with blackberry in it and spent a few minutes pondering how to make her own at home. The cocktails at Nightwood are fabulous - get one! We both started with the Sunchoke Clam Chowder, which is as good as soup is ever going to get. For $10, you get a large bowl of soup, but I would have been happy with a smaller portion. I mean, $10 for SOUP? It was very good though, and it was a $10 well spent. Nightwood also serves piping hot, complimentary pretzel bread and garlic butter. I shouldn't have eaten all of that bread... Then came the burger, which was more like a TOWER of food. The burger was cooked to my liking, and very good. I don't think it cracked my top 5 though. As I mentioned before, this burger is a total belly buster. We each ate about half of ours and took the rest home. The burger is also served with a massive portion of fries, which are also very good. If I had to do it again, perhaps brunch with some cocktails, or someone to share a burger with!
(4)Amanda P.
NIGHTWOOD BRUNCH. Finally got around to checking this place out. Unbelievable. Had a reservation for 3 people @ 11AM so we were seated right away (a rare brunch occurrence in this city). Everything we ate was delicious. Lemon curd doughnut. Whaaaaat. I am a breakfast potato/hashbrown connoisseur and these were great. The three of us ordered three different and perfect meals. Blueberry compote french toast tasty stuff, soft scrambled egg deliciousness, and pork gnocchi something or another wonderment. Friendly and quick service. One of my favorite brunches I've ever had in the city. I was hesitant to write this review because I don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but this place deserves to be commended. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Charles Z.
I've been wanting to check out Nightwood since it opened, so I chose to have dinner here on my B-day this year. Service was great, our waitress was very nice and attentive. We didn't feel rushed at all, through our visit, which was nice. I had the Pork Belly w/ a side of Brussel Sprouts. Pork Belly was alright I guess, I mean I ate it but it wasn't fantastic or anything. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing, I was pretty bummed that the portion was so small. Only complaint was being seated right in front of the door. I made reservations for 2, a month in advance, figured maybe I'd be given a decent table at the least. Sucked because it was cold out that day so every time the door would open we got a strong cold breeze! If I make it back, it will be for brunch.
(3)Danny W.
I went to Nightwood when it opened and had not been back since. I think my first visit was sometime in the fall of 2008 because I recall listening to Vampire Weekend on the drive to the restaurant but I could be wrong. Anyhow, I finally back came to Nightwood two weeks ago to get the burger because I'm in a burger club with some friends. We call it Burgz with Friends (it's a play on words). The burger was delicious in a totally unmanageable way. I cut my burgers in half because I'm civilized like that. I don't not regret that decision (I couldn't envision eating any more than a half of this grass-fed-monster) but the mess -as others have noted - is real. Lost among this beef-analysis is the fries are really good also. Would happily return to eat again. It's an interesting trend that almost all contemporary-American/farm-to-table restaurants have a burger on their menu now. I'm all for giving the people what they want (I certainly have eaten my share of burgers at restaurants known for cuisine to which burgers aren't native i.e. Owen & Engine, Three Aces, etc) but part of me wonders if some of these chefs don't resent customers like myself i.e. the internet-reader-eaters that have come in specifically to try one menu item that is sort of an aberration amidst the rest of their menu. For example, Acadia is now known for their burger. This dude has a Michelin star and people write about them to talk about their burger. That's not cool, I think. Maybe it is. You know what? I'm not sure I care. I'm going back for the burger. I think I hate Nightwood.
(5)Mike R.
Coming from San Francisco, I would expect a lot from a restaurant and this one more than delivered. It was a cold and rainy and windy Chicago evening when we walked in to find a warm welcoming room. Being lined by nearly floor to ceiling windows I felt like we were part of the neighborhood. Our server, Sarah, was an absolute joy. Frankly, I find her to be a true restauranteur - she made wonderful suggestions and had really interesting and informative responses to our questions about the food, the restaurant, and the neighborhood. We ordered a series of appetizers including the chicken pate, the burrata, and asparagus. Each dish had a beautiful presentation, just the right amount of serving, and most importantly had wonderful flavors. For the main course I ordered the half chicken dish. It was wonderful he cooked with a sweet and spicy sauce on the plate. I have to say this is probably the best chicken dish I have had in many many years. I will certainly recommend this restaurant to all who will listen and will be back as well.
(5)Sandy C.
Had an amazing dinner here for the last time last night. Everything we ordered was excellent and executed with perfection, from the appetizer to the desserts!! You can taste how fresh the ingredients used and how sophisticated the dishes are. Now that they are closing soon, I would highly recommend everyone to go one last time, or try for the very first time!! Worth the time and the $$.
(4)Ashley C.
I finally got to check Nightwood off my list. It lived up to expectations - good service and good food. Their menu is very appetizing and it was hard to pick what to try. Thankfully my dining companions are into sharing so we were able to try a bunch of different plates. We were seated around the time of our reservation (reservations are recommended). Service was good. Our waitress was helpful in providing wine and food recommendations. She checked on us the right amount and no one batted an eye that we had a very long dinner. Even though our table had a mix of still and sparkling water, they got it right the entire night (and I got to avoid my "I-really-don't-like-sparkling-water" face). For appetizers, we split the potato risotto, the spinach and endive salad and the steak tartare. While I don't say it often, the salad was my favorite starter. It was fresh and the pecorino cheese was amazing. There was just enough of the tasty buttermilk-hemp seed dressing without it being overdressed. However, I would skip the potato risotto next time (with uni butter and black truffles). First, the risotto was undercooked and had too much of a bite to it. The other problem was I didn't get the uni taste from the uni butter and it was a small portion for $18. The entrees were tasty. We tried the trout, cod, winter squash, and pork belly. We also split the carrots and beets for sides which the table enjoyed. Everything was cooked perfectly and it is hard to pick a favorite. The winter squash dish was very flavorful. While I don't normally pass the meat dishes for vegetarian dishes, I just couldn't put it down which says a lot. Of the two fish dishes, I preferred the cod with the light lemon sauce. The fish was so tender and flakey it was falling off my fork. The pork belly and the trout were very good but I preferred the other two entrees. With good food and service, next up is to try their brunch.
(4)Kate J.
Three sister's polenta was amazing. I wish the portion was bigger because it was so good. I had a glass of champagne also $9, good deal. It was super cold and refreshing. You must order the bacon donut for a starter either to share with 2-4 people or your own if you're not into sharing the most amazing donut ever. I came here with two other people on Easter Sunday around 11:30am after mass and we were seated no problem without a reservation. Great service as well!
(5)Cat G.
Nightwood has been on my to-do list for.. well.... a long time. Suffice it to say that the only thing keeping me from going was that (I think) they used to not take OpenTable reservations, and I was like "I have to actually talk to a person to make reservations? nah son". The other day though, I noticed them showing up on OpenTable and made a reservation immediately. We came in on a Saturday night at 5:30pm and were seated quickly. The interior of the restaurant is super cozy and cool - lots of wood, industrial looking, pretty much right up my alley decor-wise. There were several other people dining so it was lively but the atmosphere was still relatively intimate - good place to bring your friends, parents, or a date (but probably a good idea to leave the under-12 set at home). We started off with the potato gnocchi appetizer, which was delicious and topped with sliced truffles (this was a kicker for me - the menu says truffles, and usually I anticipate ground truffles because that's what most places do - they actually give you whole slices! Hallelujah.) They also give you bread to start. Not sure if this changes with the menu, but ours was house-made pretzel bread with butter or spread of some sort. No idea what the spread actually was but it was buttery (yay) and also green (??). Delicious though, so I didn't actually really care what it was. I had the huckleberry smoked and glazed pork belly and my dining companion had the wood-grilled duck breast. The pork belly was amazing in texture and I loved that it didn't have huge hunks of fat on it - fat on pork belly is obviously essential, but sometimes there's just way too much of it. Not the case here. My one complaint was that it was a bit too salty, but I cleaned my plate so it couldn't have been too bad. The quinoa was surprisingly good too - I don't usually like quinoa, but it worked well on this dish. I also sampled the duck breast, which was tender and delicious as well. For dessert we ordered the honeycrisp apple bread pudding. One of my favorite dishes of the night probably - the bread pudding is more bread than pudding (if they hadn't called it that on the menu, I would never have guessed) but really tasty and came with a side of rosemary ice cream. Have you ever had rosemary ice cream? Me neither, and I'm a better person now for having tried it (just kidding, but it was really unexpectedly good). Overall a really nice experience - definitely worth a trip on a special occasion. I'm hoping to try their brunch the next time around!
(4)Amy H.
I went with my boyfriend and his brother to his celebrate his new job. I read the bacon doughnut was good. We ordered that and the other doughnut on the menu. Both were good and not overly sweet. The bacon doughnut had thick cut bacon on there and a salted caramel sauce. We each ordered a meal. I got French toast with sweet potatoes and maple whipped cream. The French toast was fluffy; it almost had a cake texture. My boyfriend got the cheeseburger. It was good. It was an amped up Big Mac. His tother got two eggs and sausage links. He said he liked it. The service was very good. Multiple waiters came and kept pouring us water. The food was good but it was pricey. Our total was $87 for the three of us. I was ok because this was for a special occasion. If you don't mind the price, then give the place a try. I recommend it.
(5)Vanessa H.
We have been trying to check this place out for a while because the hours are a bit strange. (Breakfast & brunch, close, open again for dinner). I live nearby and love checking out the trendy restaurants in Pilsen. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mexican restaurants, but I can eat some foie gras and steak too. The menu changes so while looking at pictures will make your mouth water, know it might not be available. The place is GORGEOUS. So much space, even the patio seating is enclosed. All of the breeze, none of the pollen, of outside seating. While it looks faaaancy, they were family friendly during brunch time when we went. Bathrooms were clean, always a plus when we try someplace new. Ok, now the food. Menu wasn't as crazy/weird as some other places I have gone. That's a good thing when dining with children. They were able to make a regular pancake with maple syrup for my 3 year old. My husband ordered the double burger (pictured) and I had the rolled omelet. We LOVED it. It was filling, but not like I need to take a nap filling. My omelet had ricotta and asparagus. The little brown balls are deep fried hash browns. Super tasty, and I like the crunchiness of them. Service was awesome, it was a Sunday so the full staff was out. My husband loved the burger, cooked medium. It was a little heavy on the mayo ( I don't like mayo) my hubby thought it was perfect. We ended it with a butterscotch glazed donut with bacon crumbles on top. YUMMMMM. Even my little one was eating bacon! Definitely recommend and would try again. Semi-pricey, but not much more than the other places we have gone that sell better quality food. ($50 for 2 adults one toddler). We are going to check out the dinner scene with just us grown ups.
(5)Allison J.
I've been twice for brunch and it was definitely one of the best brunchs I've had in Chicago! I'm not a big fan of sweets, but their donuts are a must have. Both entrees were delicious as well. No complaints! Great full bar too, which doesn't hurt. Their menu changes very frequently, so you'll get the chance to try new things everytime. I've already been twice and plan on trying dinner soon! Update: I've finally made it for dinner. The flavors were still unique and interesting. The burger and pork belly were delicious. I ordered a fish dish, which was good, but nothing I would come back for. Altogether it was a great dinner, but I do prefer the brunch! If give brunch 5 stars and dinner 4 stars.
(5)Susan S.
Excellent food and service !!!!! Lovely decor and fireplace outside seating. Try their pastas - on the appetizer section but perfect for a one person meal. Very fresh hamburger double stacked!
(3)Shan D.
I know it's had a Michelin rating, but I didn't think this place was deserving of it. The items we ordered were hit or miss. The duck was cooked to perfection. However, the long noodle dish was too salty. Everything else was not memorable. It's a nice, quiet restaurant with good service. Maybe I just showed up on one of their off days?
(3)Steve N.
Had one of the best brunches ever here!!!! Beautiful, well thought out food with fresh ingredients. Amazing!!!!
(5)Jesse C.
I was a little skeptical coming here for dinner since it seems like this place is really known for breakfast/brunch, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Made a reservation for 7pm on a Thursday. It was pretty empty when we arrived but by 8pm the place was packed. Our server was very sweet and made some nice recommendations for us. My friend and I shared several dishes: Mango and crispy pork belly salad with grilled watermelon: All the components of this dish meshed together really well. The pork belly added a nice salty/crunchy element, and the fruit was fresh and ripe. This was actually my first time having grilled watermelon and I loved it. The watermelon was sliced like sashimi with perfect grill marks on it. Apparently the grilling gives the watermelon a more meaty texture which was perfect in this salad. Highly recommended! Salmon with spaghetti squash: This may have been the juicest piece of salmon I have ever eaten! Another nicely balanced dish served with perfectly done spaghetti squash and some kind of green (don't remember what it was). So delicious, highly recommended if you're in the mood for fish! Cheeseburger with fries: This burger was outstanding, right up there with other gourmet burger places in LA like Father's Office and Standing Room. The cheddar and mustard went so well together, beef patties were a perfectly done medium, and the thick skin-on fries were the perfect complement. Highly recommended! Peach cake: Our server recommended this and we really enjoyed it. It was served a la mode and I think I remember a little ginger in there too. Recommended. Overall, this place far exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to return for brunch or dinner to try more items!
(5)Thomas C.
Third Visit to Nightwood, definitely the best. Fortunately this time we were seated down in the wine cellar, which was more intimate making conversation easier, and while we waited a long time for our meal, it was worth it. The burger, the drinks, the pork belly....all heavenly.
(4)Toni R.
Great ambiance, and the food was spectacular! We have tried the duck and the pork belly it was phenomenal. We're glad to have tried the pork belly before they change the menu. An absolute gem in Pilsen
(5)joshua b.
Love this place and go a couple times a month for Brunch on Sunday's. Food is always TOP notch. Unfortunately today we had a horrible service experience. Sarah was mean and practically nasty to us. Someone clearly peed in her Cheerios this morning. Food is amazing, the owner/MNgr guy is always there and super nice.
(4)Marti M.
BEST burger in Chicago. I love this place!
(5)Mary Ann C.
Third visit to Nightwood. We arrived last night without a reservation (none available on OpenTable) and were promptly seated in the wine room in the basement. Very nice! As with the upstairs, it is still conversation challenged. Our server was full of great tips and very helpful. Our food was extremely slow arriving. Maybe due to a busy Friday and the Art Walk taking place. Burger was nicely executed with delicious fries and a nice soft bun. Not the best in town but respectable. The pork belly was devine. Sinful. Amazing. Nice cocktail selection with interesting ingredients. Yummmmmm
(4)Kendra N.
So I've heard this is the best brunch spot in town but I guess it wasn't my favorite. We rolled in around 11am the day of the marathon and we had absolutely no trouble getting a table. I ordered a bloody mary which was good but not the best I've had. I also had the apple crepes - again good but not amazing. I think I was most disappointed by the menu options - none of the options really suited my palate. I like crepes but not really apple crepes and I'm not really an eggs, toast, and potatoes kind of gal - so nothing was on par with what I would choose to order. However, I still enjoyed my meal, just had to compromise on my ideal breakfast. My hubby had a burger and he said it was one of the better ones he's had recently. If you do like the things on their menu, you will likely enjoy your meal!
(4)Alexandra H.
Love their brunch. Like, amazing super delicious. Their tots will change the way you look at potatoes. Dinner is slightly over priced for what you get but pretty creative. Worth going not necessarily repeating regularly.
(4)Ellie D.
Really wanted to love this place, but I can only give it 2 stars because I almost choked on the fish. I ordered the trout. It was covered with almonds and fried black rice. The rice tasted burnt instead of crispy. The trout smelled fishy. One of my last bites had the fish tail in it. I almost choked and had to spit it out. My date had the burger and the bun was stale. The patties were dry. We also ordered side dishes: beets and Brussels sprouts. They were ok. We also got dessert which was ok as well. The servers also hovered too much, yet our plates stayed on the table for a long time after we were done eating. I had to stack the plates to remind the servers that we were done. Also if your table isn't by the window, you'll need your iphone flashlight to read the menu. We spent ~$100 and I was so bummed that I didn't get my moneys worth. Maybe it was an off night?
(2)Judy N.
Amazing!! You have to start with their doughnut! I had the maple glazed with bacon. And then had the polenta with pork belly and a side of toys. Everything was delicious!! Noise level was high on a Sunday afternoon, but the food made up for it.
(5)Gabriela B.
The burger, hanger steak and service were great. On a Thursday night, we were sat right away. The wait for the food was a little long, but worth the wait. Food was amazing!
(5)Sarah G.
BACON BUTTERSCOTCH DONUT. You will be in my dreams forever. That chicory custard stuff donut also pretty phenomenal, but you had me at bacon, butterscotch and donut and you had me after each bite I took after that perfect donut of bliss. Really though, that donut will make me want to come back out to Pilsen for sure. Nightwood is a new restaurant in that are and it is super adorable inside in a hip trendy hipster sort of way, and they have an awesome looking enclosed patio with an outdoor fireplace too which I would love to come back and check out in action one day. We went for brunch and I got a special they were rotating of tiny bay shrimp and gravy and biscuits with a sunny side up egg on top and it was so tasty! The biscuit was nice and moist and easy to cut up with each bite of the shrimp and gravy, so I was a happy camper. Matt J. got the house made cavatelli pasta with their mini meatballs which he loved but I thought didn't pack quite as much flavor as I thought it would to be honest. Other group orders were the classic eggs and toast and tots and those tots were the fanciest tots I have ever seen! They looked like little pieces of art they were definitely the fanciest breakfast hashbrowns ever. The soft scrambled eggs with queso fresco and such also was a hit and my other friend ordered their oatmeal which our server claimed was "perfect" in consistency when she asked if it was chunkier or runnier oatmeal and it actually was pretty perfect too! We were glad we had a reservation, although it wasn't too crowded for Sunday brunch, but we were seated right away, I got my unlimited inteligensia coffee and next time maybe I'll splurge for that Chemex--$10 but I bet worth it?? Hmmmm
(4)Mark T.
A few years ago, a friend of mine had mentioned to me the details of the great dinner that she had here one night. Ever since then, Nightwood has been on my list of places to go, and Chicago Restaurant Week provided the perfect opportunity. The place looks pretty small from the outside. We got seated in the front room, which was pretty tight space wise. This could be a disadvantage for some places with the setup not being conducive to intimate conversation; I didn't get that feel at all here since the area wasn't loud and we could comfortably carry out a conversation while enjoying our meal. We had a few choices for our four course prix-fixe meal: I started off with the dry aged beef tartare, with rich duck yolk, parsley, winter pickles, and tallow roasted bread. Second, I had the sunchoke & clam bisque, with grilled sage, sweet leeks, & Pecorino Toscana. The main course consisted of the braised pork, with eight winter vegetables. (I didn't count, I trust the chef put exactly eight in there). The menu was capped with a plate of apple bread pudding with vanilla creme fraiche, pine nuts, house made cheese its (yum!) & rosemary ice cream. I was comfortably full after that meal; everything that I ate was a nice mixture of sweet, sour, and succulent. It also helped that we had a long walk back to the car afterwards to work the meal off. Service was great and I can tell that the chef had a great attention to detail with each plate. This is definitely a place worth coming back to.
(4)Kathleen C.
I am SO glad I visited Nightwood! I had a late weeknight reservation during restaurant week and couldn't be happier that I stayed up late to dine here. First of all, we lucked out and while we got stuck in a little traffic on the way (seriously Chicago?!?!), we found a spot on the street immediately when we arrived. The restaurant is so inviting - cosy, dimly lit and exposed brick and an open kitchen. I could have stayed for hours had it not been a work night. A nice thing about the restaurant week menu here is that it is a separate, special menu. The options were so delicious-sounding that it was hard to choose. Thankfully, there were 2 options from each of the four courses and 2 of us, so we each got to try the entire menu! First up, foie gras and pear. WOW! The beet salad was also good, but the pear was the best. Second course - oyster chowder. Yep, you read that right and darn it was delicious! The corned beef also wonderful and I don't even like corned beef very much! I had an amazing lemon scented ricotta ravioli with bolognese sauce and got a few bites of pork loin as well. Both - wonderful though I think I preferred the ravioli as it was light and really unique. Desserts - yum! Chocolate with the cutest caramel corn and an apple bread pudding. Both insanely good! The food, atmosphere, value, service - absolutely perfect.
(5)Caralyn O.
Nightwood is a romantic, delicious, gem that leaves me with a new favorite item every time I go. Their menu changes frequently, and everything is consistently fresh. The prices are reasonable enough that you can try as many of the inventive menu items as you'd like without breaking the bank (and I highly recommend doing so). I love their unique cocktails, and friendly service. I first came to Nightwood about a year ago, and we've been back three times to celebrate a few special occasions since. Every time, the staff has been attentive without hovering or making us feel rushed and the meals have been fantastic. I am so rarely a dessert person, but Nightwood has never disappointed. When in doubt, go for it. Just like everything else at this restaurant, the sweets are so worth the splurge. If you're not within walking distance, I've had difficulty finding cabs after dinner. Uber/Lyft/etc come in handy - or we may have just been unlucky. Doesn't matter much -- I'd walk to Pilsen and back again for my favorite restaurant in Chicago!
(5)Rebecca N.
I absolutely love it here! The menu changes daily and the food is very interesting. I would recommend going with people who have open minds. I preferred my brunch experience compared to dinner, but both we wonderful. The bagel sandwich is perfect! It is a very cool atmosphere and great service.
(5)Jennifer R.
My Roommate and I have been here a few times for dinner and brunch. We had brunch with two friends today and enjoyed a variety of item. We shared two donuts as starters today. As someone who isn't a big donut fan I have to say I love the Butterscotch Bacon Donut. The butterscotch glaze is plate licking good and the chunks of bacon make this a must try treat. We ordered the Pork Belly & Grits, the Cherry Pancake and the Bagel Sandwich. The Pork Belly and Bagel Sandwich were heavy savory items. While the Bagel Sandwich is almost impossible to eat without making a mess, its well worth the trouble. Great service and a helpful staff make this one of the best brunch spots in Chicago.
(4)Melissa M.
Nightwood is just...wow-worthy. Never would you expect to find such artistry in food on this side of town, but man, is it worth the trip. Yes, you might want to sit near the window to make sure that your car doesn't get broken into while you eat, but you won't be sorry you came. From beginning to end, this was a foodie's dream dining experience. Our server was one of the most genuinely nice people I've ever encountered in food service. Her attention to detail, and genuine interest in what we wanted was incredible. Even if the food sucked, I'd probably still walk out of here happy because her demeanor was just that refreshing. The two of us had some of the best meals we'd had in ages. The boyfriend started with some of the fried pig ear, about which he could not stop gushing. Although not my thing in the least, his obsession was so palpable that I had to take a small bite. Still not my thing, but that really doesn't mean anything. People who are into eating any part of Babe would, I'm sure, love those. The real pleasure came with our wine, which was basically picked by our server after we explained what we liked and what we were in the mood to drink. She did an excellent job, and I truly appreciated her skill with that. As the menu evolves based on what's in season, you cannot go into Nightwood expecting standard dishes, nor can you go back expecting to have what you had last time. For creatures of habit, this may be a tough pill to swallow, but you have to appreciate the chef's talent. I had a roasted chicken that was simply perfect. That's all I can really say about our meal - it was simple, and perfect. I hope Nightwood continues to do well, but I also hope it doesn't get too busy, since I love the truly "under the radar" feel of this hidden gem in Pilsen.
(5)Sara B.
Because my husband is AWESOME a client gave him a certificate to eat here! What an AWESOME date night. Some patrons a little rude but the food, beverages and desserts were all amazing! Interesting location. Parking could be a challenge but it was fun!
(4)Andrew W.
Yeah this place was rocking awesome. Seedy area a little bit. And a lot of patrons who like to gawk. Friendly bar and wait staff, delicious beverages and food. Thanks MITS for the gift cert.
(4)Jessica P R.
This is one of the best meals I've ever had! I came in solo on a business trip. The hospitality was phenomenal from the start. They offered to seat me at the kitchen bar, and it was unbelievable to watch each dish being made. I'm a huge food nerd and watch a lot of food shows. Everything came to life at Nightwood. It was an experience and not just a meal. This probably hinges on being seated at the kitchen bar. Though the food was out of this world too. I had the burrata app and the vegetarian dish. Both were delicious. I wish I lived closer so I could go back again and again.
(5)Peter M.
I went to Nightwood on a Sunday, early afternoon. The place was full but the hostess was able to provide a table within a half hour. I found the brunch menu options rather limited. I was hoping to try the maple bacon donut and the other pastry appetizer but they were out of both. We did arrive later in the day so I can understand that they ran out. The meal was okay, nothing spectacular. Toast and tots were on the cold side. I might go back to try the dinner menu but I doubt I'd return for Sunday brunch.
(2)Annie S.
THE BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUT!!!!!!!!! BEST FOOD I HAD IN CHICAGO. It wasn't the deep dish pizza, portillo's, or whatever else Chicago is known for that stuck out... IT WAS THIS DONUT! SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even a big fan of bacon, but wow... I miss this donut. I came here with four other people for lunch on a Sunday. We made reservations, but ended up arriving almost an hour early. Fortunately, even though the restaurant looked busy, they got us seated pretty quickly. Yay for good service! I ordered the bagel sandwich... and it was aiiiitee and pretty difficult to eat. I tried to slice it into pieces, but it just got really messy... I wouldn't order it again. BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY ORDER 23904209349023490234 BUTTERSCOTCH BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)Zach J.
Went here on Saturday evening. I was very impressed with the set up of this place, very nice decor and a pleasant setting. We chose to eat in the outdoor area; however, that did not last long due to two screaming babies that had parents that did not even try to hush them up, mainly because they were too busy talking very loudly and being drunk, so we moved indoors where it was quiter. I ordered the cheeseburger which is probably the cheapest thing on the menu; however, you get the largest portion of food. The burger is a double burger with 8 year old aged chedder cheese in melted form. They also top it with onion rings, lettuce and pickles. The pickles were so fresh they actually stood out in taste, especially blended with the amazing chedder sauce. The was absolutely delicious too. The beef was of top quality but in thin patty form. The great news is they put two patties on the burger, so you get double the burger goodness. The fries were really good, not home cut in appearance but the taste says otherwise. The wait staff is extremely attentative and do not leave you thirsty of sitting in filth. After your complementary bread with jam they wipe down your area, after your appetizer they wipe down your area, after your meal they wipe down your area, after your desert they wipe down your area. They also refill your water glass constantly as soon as someone, anyone, at your table gets half full. The desert I had was a chocolate tart with strawberys and ice cream filled into it. The ice cream on the side was amazing and fresh tasting. The tart was thick and rice, but not too rich. I will definately return here, and the burger was worth the $16 I paid.
(5)Caroline M.
Nightwood is stellar. I came here based on a recommendation from a friend who used to live in Chicago. And he did not steer me wrong! I have had both brunch and dinner at Nightwood and they are equally fabulous. Brunch was wonderful because, well quite honestly, I love brunch! Plus...those hash browns are addictive! How do they make cute little crunchy nests of potato!? Dinner is also fabulous. I dined here with a girlfriend and we had a solid girls night out. The cocktails deserve a review of their own--while they sound like your average fancy cocktails they will blow you away. We're talking rivaling Violet Hour(!!) Dinner involved seasonal ingredients, none of which I do not recall, due to imbibing a little too much :) What I am saying here is, if you rate Nightwood less than 5 stars you are an idiot.
(5)Alden V.
This is a phenomenal restaurant. Everything was top notch. Clam Chowder, house made pasta, dry aged tartar. mhMm! The burger was irresistible to me, and it came through big time. I look forward to going back for more of the entree items and sitting kitchen-side.
(5)Tunaidi A.
Nightwood was a pleasant surprise. I'm always impressed with farm-to-table restaurants' decor. There's a main area, which looks pretty typical in terms of seating; a bar area, where the kitchen is open and you can see the chefs preparing your food; and an patio area, which is considered "outside", but you're surrounded with greenery, and temperature can be controlled. Brunch was amazing. Service was great. Food was better. Donuts... you can't have brunch here without the donuts. They are absolutely delicious. The burger is amazing. The pork belly sandwich is a win. The bagel sandwiches are great. Things on the menu change, but I can't imagine the quality and the tingle on your taste buds changing too much.
(4)AJ W.
It's a very good restaurant...but the service...kinda lacking. But the food is outstanding! The bacon donut is amazing...but oy, I really hated the service. I never appreciate being treated like I'm not cool enough to eat your food...especially when it's BRUNCH.
(3)Karen N.
They do the whole farm to table thing very well. But my last dinner left a little to be desired. Spaghetti with clams-home made spaghetti but chopped clams, not fresh clams in shells. What's up with that? I was happy with the pasta texture and creative ramp butter sauce, but really wished the clams were fresh. Duck breast dish was very tender and tasty. Like, but not love.
(3)Shuangshuang W.
The dishes were good but not anything outstanding. I wouldn't come back if not for special reasons. The 4stars was mostly for the surprise birthday sorbet.
(4)Melissa B.
Bacon Butterscotch donut. Do I really need to say more? My friend and I had brunch here on a Sunday. The drink menu is awesome. I kinda wished we didn't have to be somewhere right after here. I would of liked to try one of each. I stuck with the Bellini's and he had some sort of drink that was a beer with a shot of espresso and a shot of whiskey in it. We both loved our choices. We were in the mood to eat. We started with a bacon butterscotch donut and a blueberry lemon bar. I wanted to lick the plates! I could hardly contain myself. My mouth is watering thinking about how absolutely perfect the lemon bar was. After the sweet start to our meal we decided on lunch items. I had pasta in a cream sauce topped with bacon and a sunny side up egg. Just writing that makes me feel fat. It was worth every single calorie. He had a meatball sub and it looked delicious! It was pretty crowded but they accept reservations. Service was friendly. They didn't rush us at all. It's not what I like to spend on brunch weekly, but its not over priced either.
(5)Kasia L.
I've been wanting to have to dinner here for as long as I can remember and finally made a point of it to do it. Restaurant itself is really cool with the interior design and the open kitchen counter seating. Food was as fantastic as I'd always imagined it would be. The burrata appetizer is honestly so good that I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Burger-amazing, seriously. Cavatelli pasta, delicious. Side of marinated beets - who would think that this would be so incredibly yummy? And the dessert...I had the honey & goat cheese ice cream. What? It was so so so so so good. SO GOOD. I cannot wait to go again.
(5)Steve Z.
I am looking at these other reviews and I just can't believe what they are saying. I may have to re-try this place when it's not chef's week but I don't want to spend close to $200 for a meal that was, for lack of a better word, bad. I'll start with the pros of this place. Very nice atmosphere and the staff was amazing. I mean, I've been to a lot of restaurants and have friends who own restaurants and they Nightwood is definitely one of the best for service. Now the food. One think I can say about every single dish is salty. Very, very, very salty. I was constantly drinking water and this morning I woke up feeling awful after these courses. Also, it's almost like there are too many things going on in every dish. Like, just over thought and the flavors just didn't make sense. For the first course we had the burrata with white asparagus and dill and the spinach and endive salad. I'll sum it up. VERY SALTY. I actually didn't finish the burrata. it wasn't my thing to be honest. The salad was a highlight. The dressing was very good but it was salty. My partner said that she thought it was salty right away. Anyway, we moved on. Second course was the red wine braised lamb neck and borlotti beans and the pasta with a hazelnut sauce. The star here was the lamb neck. Just that though. The other flavors in the dish made no sense to me. The beans seemed dry and old and had no flavor. The sauce it was in was sort of bitter. Anyway, we ate around everything and only took the meat. Now the pasta. The sauce was good. We ate the majority. But the spaghetti used was grossly under cooked almost like it was sitting under a heat lamp for a while. The sauce was very good. But all in all it was very salty as well. The last course was the maitake mushroom and the hanger steak. The mushroom dish was so salty that I took one bite and could barely swallow it. And the mushroom was just not good. When we tried it, it was almost like when you have to respect your grandma's cooking even though it's bad. The flavors again made no sense to me. There was a lot going on that turned me off. The first hanger steak I received was cold so I sent it back for another and I got a hot steak that was cooked perfectly. But the cut I received the second time had a lot of gristle and again, it was overly salted. And the feta and chickpeas are a nice touch, but the feta just added to the salty flavor. I don't want to get into dessert because I saw cracker jacks on one plate and cheez-it bits on the other. And I just laughed. But the desert was good. Probably the star of the entire course. Honestly, when we left we could barely feel our tongue. Everything was over seasoned and for the prices you pay you'd expect more dishes that make sense. Then again, any place that charges $16 for a burger you might have to question. Is the food the star or is the chef just showing off? I've been to a lot of places around the world and this being in my home town in very low on the list. I usually don't go on yelp and post a review. This time I had to because the prices don't match up the quality and execution. What a let down.
(2)Aeri B.
The food was delicious and the portions were satisfying. The rosemary ice cream was interesting but for some reason I couldn't stop eating it. I had the pork belly which were like burnt ends. Super tender. My friend had the 1/2 chicken. Huge! Really good as well. The space is nice and I can see it really coming alive on a nice summer evening. The seating is tight but that's the style they were going for. Not conducive for an intimate conversation. My server was perfect. Very attentive and knew the menu. Sweet girl. Would definitely come back here!
(4)Natalie C.
Came here last night for a dinner date - we were seated promptly (no reservations needed for a rainy Tuesday evening I suppose) - the host was very polite and friendly. Our waiter was also very friendly and attentive.. At first. As our meal progressed, we did notice a very long gap between when our dinner plates were cleared and when we got dessert menus. And between dessert menus (we ended up deciding against any sweets) to having him bring the check. He was really nice and helpful, just maybe got a little distracted towards the end of our meal. The person filling water however was completely on point - I never had less than half a glass full before he would swing by with a refill. The food was pretty good. We started with a tagliatelle with morels, a butter sauce, and some spring peas. Pasta was cooked well although there were not many mushrooms (from what I could see - maybe my dining mate vacuumed them into his mouth when I wasn't looking), and the spring peas were super fresh and delicious. We also had the crispy pig ear app - the flavor of the dish was wonderful, but as my date mentioned after a few minutes of rather loud chewing, it was kind of a jaw workout. The pig ears were somehow strangely chewy in places and super hard and "crunchy" in others. I was a little afraid of cracking a tooth. For my entree I had the striped bass with a prosciutto and frisée salad and a 45 minute egg. It was very tasty and cooked well, only set back was that my bass had a couple bones in it. My date had a sirloin with roasted spuds - his was cooked perfectly and tasted really good (whatever sauce was on his plate was sheer happiness). Overall I would return to the Nightwood to try some of their other menu items - they have a big focus on sourcing locally and sustainably which I really appreciate.
(3)Vincent R.
I didn't understand this place. The host sneered at the notion that we sit by the window. The Punch for Two was bourbon, champagne and currant (?). Undrinkable (though I drank it). Fresh oysters with a mayonnaise sauce? Hm. The farfalle with grilled squid was pretty good -- not remarkable -- but among the options, passable. The word "juvenile" just kept coming to mind. As an out-of-towner, it didn't represent Chicago's food scene well (I hope). I would strongly advise anyone with a decent palate to pass on this place.
(2)Bo Y.
Came here for brunch on weekends. shared bacon donuts. tried difference entrees. very good. loved their cocktails.
(4)Brian P.
Brunch? We came for dinner and everything was fabulous. As we had a large group we were able to sample many dishes on the menu. Highlights for me included a local rib eye steak (with wild rice), seared trout, and pig ears. My friends duck leg was also superb. The only thing I didn't really like was the fois gras.... but thats just my personal taste. Service was very laid back.
(4)Fernando O.
This place is hidden gem on the south side. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, modern, lively, great ambience. The service was great! I came here for brunch. The food was great I had a trout and egg sandwich which at first I was reluctant to order but thank God I did. It was delicious. I have a sweet good so I ordered the donut dessert which was also delicious. The coffee is very good. The menu is never the same since everyday they buy fresh products. I have not been here for dinner but plan to do so very soon. A friend of mine told me the drinks are great.
(5)Deena H.
After my second dining experience here, I think it is fair to rate it. 1. Ambiance: There is a eat in front of kitchen experience where you sit at a counter with stools and totally worth it; you watch them make these amazing creations and dishes. There is also very Romantic sitting inside and there is a patio seating outside. I believe there is lower level room for groups but i have not seen it 2. Service: Fantastic, friendly, comfortable. They offer sparkling and still water. There is also a bar available as well as a wine list. There is literally a wall full of wine as part of their decor 3. FOOD: The menu changes but you will not find fresher, more succulent, and original dishes anywhere. We recently had the cucumber dish and it was spicy and refreshing at the same time. The DESSERTS are A MUST. YOU MUST try them. They have a cherry pie with a coffee dessert that is sweet and hits the spot. There are also cookies galore for the cookie monster in you. They also have sorbet. There are vegetarian options as well as plenty of different meat options. My husband recently had a sort of chicken dish and it was so juicy (i tried it of course). I gave the nightwood burger a shot and loved the onion ring included with it on the burger. 4. Bathroom: For the girls out there, the bathroom is adorable. I know that is weird but it literally is like this funky green color with an old style lock on the door. It is super clean, has a long mirror on the door you can check yourself in as well as mirror in front of sink. There is only one bathroom for women so if it is busy, you may need to wait but not that bad. There was one night my husband and I were actually able to meet Chef Che. He was friendly, down to earth, and we were just so pleased with our whole experience. YOU MUST try this place at least ONCE. I do not think you will be sad you did. Worth every penny.
(5)Sharon M.
My favorite brunch spot. When you start with bacon butterscotch doughnuts and a beermosa, it's hard to go wrong. And here you won't. Today i had white polenta, braised short rib, with a soft boiled egg on top. Every flavor complimented the one beside it. Sat in the back bar over looking the kitchen, was great fun watching the team do their work. Super friendly attentive staff. If you're looking for something more than simple eggs (but they do that too ) be sure to put this on your list.
(5)Erin P.
Mocktail Report: Nightwood used to put their nonalcoholic options on the cocktail menu. However, I just checked the website and it appears that is no more. Too bad, I loved not having to ask for special options. I am sure they will still make you something wonderful, if you ask. I have had smashes, rickeys and more here and have loved them all!
(5)Thor T.
Went to Nightwood for brunch and loved it - starting with the fine cocktails (an earthy Bloody Mary was the favorite) and the rightly beloved donuts (two varieties were available). While the cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and the omelette with fingerling potatoes and and bacon jam were delicious, it was the smoked, steamed, and grilled pork belly sandwich with green garlic chili mayo, runny egg, and pea shoots (with a good dose of cilantro) that was my favorite, restoring my faith in the goodness of pork belly after some pretty mediocre versions at other Chicago restaurants. Another important brunch ingredient was very good: the coffee. The service: friendly, efficient, welcoming, lovely all around. A light atmosphere pervades the cozy room, we left happy.
(5)Angela Z.
The donuts are delicious, but brunch is just ok. Especially for the price, the crepes and the meat item (can't recall the name but had beans and meat and an egg with salad) weren't that great. Though the atmosphere is nice and the decor is awesome!
(4)Shauna M.
Definitely disappointed Nightwood is closing...it's been a standby for brunch and more recently dinner. Will miss those tots and daily menu changes. Brunch is heavy but always satisfying. Looking forward to what is next for chef and current location.
(4)Christopher V.
Service is always friendly, knowledgable and helpful.. Romantic spot, especially at night. I was a huge fan of the fire-grilled half chicken a few years ago. Unfortunately, this has been replace with a single breast or thigh, depending on the night, for the same price. I've sampled most of the menu and while all dishes are prepared well and ascetically pleasing, only the chicken is especially good. At $25 for a single piece of chicken, I can't say it's worth a special visit. Even the burger at $16 is just ok, can't compete with Au Cheval's. Moving forward, I'll probably only stop in for cocktails which is definitely what they do best.
(3)Richard W.
The service at this place is amazing! We loved the focaccia bread, and they only brought one for the table initially but were super quick to bring more when we requested it. The waiter joked we might get full before our main courses but the bread really is pretty small. The appetizer I got (agnolotti) was smaller than what I would have expected for the price but apparently someone comes in every day at 8am to hand make the pasta. The main course wood-grilled duck was tasty but also a little pricey. The restaurant is known for the wood-grilled dishes in particular.
(4)Keegan W.
Had their pre fixe for restaurant week; did not disappoint! Really enjoyed the whole experience. Highlights were the tartare, pasta dish I can't even describe, and the rosemary ice cream! If I had to nit pick, I felt like the drinks were over priced, but I'm starting to feel like that's the case throughout the city.
(4)Eileen Z.
I'm often convinced I was meant to live my 20s in the 50s. Other times I get lost in 1994 hip-hop, convinced that that was its greatest year, and I unfortunately was born about a decade too late to truly live within its reign. It's also that time of year when I have those god awful thoughts of "why do I live in Chicago again?" and reevaluate my decision on holding off moving to the West Coast whenever the windchill is close to hovering around zero degrees here. Then I'll eat at a place like Nightwood and it'll remind me why none of the above was made for me. Gin and vermouth go together like the definitive chances of you running into people you know when you look like complete utter shit, and the "Hit the North" apéritif hit it home for me. I love how the menu changes (daily), how the menus are freaking handwritten (daily), and how I could probably teach a class to ignoramuses using Nightwood's walleye as example for "how to cook fish" and that I can pretty much live on snacking on the crispy pig ears or the artichoke jam (daily). 143 477.
(5)Kirsten H.
This place probably gets 5 stars for food and service and 2-3 stars for value in my book. As mentioned in other brunch reviews, we started with the donut (bacon butterscotch) and it was incredible. The main dishes were very tasty (though I thought that the one I got--ended up being a caprese-type salad thing was not really as I felt it was described on the menu). Despite being parched and chugging the tiny water glasses they give you, mine was rarely dry and the server was very friendly. We just thought that for basically some eggs, veggies and bread (we didn't leave hungry but were definitely not stuffed), it was kind of overpriced.
(4)Veronica C.
Great spot for a date night. It seemed like a hole in the wall from the outside but as soon as I walked in, it changed completely. It was beautiful! I ate a flavorful burger with fries. We also ate the trout! I also really enjoyed the pretzel bread. The dessert was delectable....the pastry chef put her heart into the presentation. :-) Very happy with the experience.
(5)MIke O.
Excellent meal. I had the spit roasted chicken and it was very tasty. Others in my party had the pork belly and the trout, both were excellent.
(5)Janet S.
The last stop on our Pilson night tour. close to the crib, we popped in at 10.45 and it was still packed, indoor/out door, we opted for two seats at the bar. We closed out our evening with the grilled octopus appetizer with mole. The portion was easily big enough for two without feeling cheated $16, the mole delicious but could have been less. Draft beer selected extremely limited whined Pablo, I on the other hand enjoyed my cocktail Problems faced when Travelling, a nifty concoction with Tequila, yellow chartreuse, campari, grapefruit and sea salt for $12. The desserts were tempting bud bed was a calling. The list of entrees ranged from $16-32. The handwritten menu is a bit of a scrawl and hard to read.
(4)Susan M.
Nightwood is definite must try restaurant. Dined there on 3/21/15. Had a reservation and was immediately seated on time with a warm welcome. Food was beyond amazing. 3 of us shared 3 appetizers : the barrata, the spaghetti ala chitarra and beef tartare. What great flavors in all and each was beyond an ample amount to share. For entree's : Duck Breast, Hanger Steak and Cheeseburger. Each one had such unique, fresh ingredients and were prepared perfect. I never saw a cheeseburger that was soo big and flavorful that sat so high off the plate. We also shared the brussel sprouts which was again beyond ample in size to share amongst the 3 of us. Everything was served hot and such a great presentation on the plate. Our Waiter was such a nice guy. He was helpful in making suggestions and checking on us throughout our dining experience to make sure we were enjoying. For drinks we had the High Hat (outstanding!) and the Mentaculus and Tito's and Cranberry Juice. We enjoyed cappuccino's after dinner. The food was so plentiful that we didn't have room for the desserts ...which all sounded and looked so yummy as it went by to other diners. We are all looking forward to returning again to try some other great dishes on the menu. Don't miss out trying this restaurant. Can't say thank you enough for the great dining experience. Kudo's to the Chef and bartender and our great waiter.
(5)Thomas D.
Went for a date with my girlfriend. Overall, A great spot. Cool vibe without being pretentious. Service was great and the food was solid. Wasn't too impressed by the burrata appetizer or the hanger steak entree but the clam chowder and the burger were fantastic. Get the punch to share..its great!
(4)Martha Z.
We were here on fathers day for brunch. It was a 9am rez so not very crowded yet. We started with the donuts which were very good- after the 20 minutes it took them to arrive at the table. The food problems came with our entrees. I got an omelette and my husband got the BLT. Both were extremely salty and barely edible. The service was also very slow and the side of bacon we ordered in the very beginning was forgotten. All in all, my excitement to come here faded quickly and we won't be back any time soon.
(2)Lauren B.
The food was incredible. I am not a big eater and kept attempting to eat more. The menu constantly changes and is always freshly made in front of your eyes. The staff was down to earth and welcoming. Hip and Peaceful ambience. I am so happy right now :)
(5)Kimberlie T.
Pilsen Gem. I can't say enough about their food, ambiance and drinks. We had their burger (so fairly priced) and the duck. It was outstanding & tasty! Highly recommended!
(5)Brenda A.
This is my thing -- local, fresh, innovative cuisine. Farm-to-table in a big city, I love it! In from out of town for one night, I was staying in the Pilsen neighborhood and lucked upon Nightwood. First of all, the house cocktails are unlike anything I've seen before (even compared to NY or Miami). The combinations of liquor and house-infused intoxicants create flavors that are delightfully difficult to decipher-- and delicious and refreshing! Complexity, a bit of tartness, and cube-shaped ice cubes (my personal fave). Starters and entreés are innovative, sometimes new twists on old (almost unrecognizable but in a good way) classics. For example, I chose to start with a salad made from a wedge of local lettuce, house-made green goddess dressing, and bacon croutons (it was more complex than that, but you get the idea... a new take on the "wedge" salad). The lettuce has true green flavor, the bacon bits were crunchy and chewy, and the other tidbits created additional complexity of flavor. A delightful touch is the house-made foccacia (lightest I've ever had) baked and served in an individual ramekin. Desserts are equally inventive. Because I was visiting the midwest, I selected the rhubarb pie. It was baked as an individual tartlet and accompanied by a swoosh of honey-flavored crema (guaranteed to make you swoon), and a chèvre and honey flavored ice cream. A twist on grandma's classic, but updated. Yum! Dining alone is always a gamble. It can be weird or a special treat. The service was excellent and the server was happy to take the time to explain the cocktails and suggest wines to accompany each course. Come here for deliciousness, gastronomic adventure, and top-notch service. I will return the next time I'm in Chicago.
(5)Jeff A.
Went as part of a large group - so under normal circumstances, my rating might be higher. Even with 12 of us (ugh), the food and service were spot-on
(3)Carmen D.
Great Food! The place is quaint, with outdoor seating in better weather. It's got a nice "home-y" feel to inside. The food was great and the waiter was very helpful with making a decision.
(4)Claudia M.
Nightwood was ok. I guess the best part really is the bacon butterscotch donuts. Incredibly good. The servers were super attentive and friendly. The food was very simple nothing fancy and nothing that was super tasty either. For brunch I had scrambled eggs, toast and potatoes and it came with three (yes, three) hush puppy like potatoes. The bloody mary was a bitter one. It was still a great time because I was with my buddies but not what I was expecting for all the hype this place gets. meh....ok
(3)Talia G.
Oh dearest Nightwood, cousin of my love, Lula Cafe, I heart you. My boyfriend took me here on Saturday night for my birthday dinner, and it was definitely an A+ all around. The menu has so many fantastic choices, the decor is nice, the food is outstanding, and the service was satisfactory enough. First off - wine: We ordered a bottle of the Old Soul Red from Mendocino, CA. The waitress didn't seem very knowledgable about the wine list, so I think she defaulted on what she knew and recommended this one. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit too fruity. This was my only gripe - if she didn't know the wines, she should have asked someone who did to recommend one based on our description. But moving on to the food. For appetizers we ordered: + The Brussels Sprouts with Fermented Sablefish - not my favorite version of brussels sprouts, but extremely tasty nonetheless. I would order it again. + Fried squid with Cucumber, Yogurt, and Chili Arbol - I love calamari and I love spicy things, so this was a hit for me. The presentation was nice with the yogurt dip on the bottom of the dish. For entrees: + Lake Superior Walleye - Omg this was absolutely amazing. The onion and corn on the bottom was unbelievably delicious and the fish was perfection. Love Love Love this dish. + Spaghetti alla Rock Shrimp, etc - Homemade al dente spaghetti with shrimp, beans, and other good things. Totally unique and surprisingly well-composed. I would never have thought of putting beans in spaghetti, but it worked! And finally, for dessert: + Mexican Chocolate Cremeux - insanely rich, insanely good. + Laura's Pumpkin Pie - I can't put into words how much I loved this dish. The chai ice cream was out of this world when paired with the pie. I'll be dreaming about this pie for a long time. I need to know how to make it!! Overall a very nice meal. At the back, there's a bar looking directly into the kitchen, which I thought was an awesome concept. Next time I'll try to sit there.
(5)Comensal A.
I'd been looking forward to trying Nightwood for some time based on reviews and feedback from friends. Unfortunately, my experience was not so good. Maybe it was the chef's night off? The menu was promising, with innovative combinations and seemingly good ingredients. However, some things didn't work so well -- and all were way over-salted. We started with a couple of small plates. Grilled octopus in a molé did not work for me -- the sauce was too gloppy, too picanté and too salty, overpowering the delicate octopus. Churchillini, an amusing handmade pasta aggregation, would have been pleasant but for the salt. Ditto a striped bass entrée; the delicate morels and other ingredients were overpowered by, you guessed it -- salt. A grilled sirloin steak with potatoes and romesco was pretty good, though a salty buttermilk dressing detracted. Dessert, a cherry pie & ice cream montage tagged "Special Agent Dale Cooper", was pleasant enough -- and it was not salty! So what's with all this salt? We were wondering if no one actually tasted things in the kitchen, or if they just salt everything with wild abandon (as has been the case with a couple of other seemingly conscientious farm-to-table restaurants around town). Whatever -- at these prices, I expect more care in seasoning. I'm in no hurry to return.
(2)Eduardo C.
Ordered the crispy pig ears to begin the meal. They were reminiscent of a pork rind flavor, only much crispier and flavor dense, although some pieces were a bit too hard. The applewood-grilled octopus with monteau sausage warm potato and kale salad habanero lemon oil was light, yet flavorful and refreshing. I thought the marinated Illinois tomatoes with warm chorizo vinaigrette and goat cheese would stand out more, but the chorizo fell short in seasoning and serving size. The Fussolli with Illinois lamb ragu pine nut anchovy whey was about what I expected based on the description, a nicely balanced savory entree. My friends also let me take a bite of their burger which was a little over the top, but still delicious. The wood grilled seagel farm chicken thigh, potato, honey, and yeast gnocchi in dried chili sauce, greek yogurt, mint was simply delicious. The gnocchi and dried chili sauce was masterfully put together, and was the reason I did not give Nightwood four stars, as I felt let down by some of the other orders.
(5)Noah G.
The cocktails were creative and well thought out. Appetizers hit or miss. Entrees were complex, well presented, and very flavorful. The desserts (especially the ice cream) particularly impressive. 4/5 So I usually hate it when I read a review based on service, but it is my day to be that guy. It was surprisingly lackluster and honestly bothersome, and I never usually notice that type of thing. Our table of four was presented with a flat, uninterested, and seemingly checked-out waitstaff. It interrupted the flow of conversation and dulled our sense of excitement over the wonderful food we were presented with. There were no recommendations or guidance,no enthusiasm over the dishes presented, and friendliness and warmth were definitely kept to a minimum. By the end of the meal, we were as over it as they were, and maybe that was the goal....
(3)Ciara G.
Dear Nightwood, Be still my brunch loving heart. This was the one CHI eatery that i was most excited about. Nightwood, you were everything I hoped, dreamed, and imagined you to be. Nothing disappointed. Service was flawless. The food, beyond fantastic. I'll be returning to CHI in the near future just for a meal here. Nightwood, you are my ad hoc of the mid-right coast.
(5)Natalie L.
The dinner menu here has completely changed since our visit back in April so I will forgo the play by play. I will say that we really enjoyed this meal. We sat on the line in the kitchen, which we like but I know it's not everyone's jam. We were told it would have been a 10-15 min wait for a table. We had a reservation, so if we wanted a table, we would have had to wait past our reservation time. Service was excellent throughout the meal and our server gave us excellent suggestions. Our only complaint was that the meal felt really hearty and "winter-y" for late spring. We enjoyed the duck more than the fish and the dessert did not blow us away. The pasta appetizer was great. We would definitely come back.
(4)Mike M.
I've never written a Yelp review before. I wish my first review were a positive one, but I was driven to create this account by a very disappointing dining experience at Nightwood. I had very high hopes for Nightwood. I tried to reserve a table for 2 for Valentine's Day with my girlfriend, but missed availability. So, I decided to reserve early for our anniversary one month later. I was expecting extremely fresh and tasty food from local suppliers. Maybe I hyped the restaurant too much in my mind from all the great reviews here, but it was by far my most disappointing dining experience in Chicago. The night started well. We were seated immediately upon arrival at a good table and were provided water and visited by our server within a few minutes. We ordered the crispy pig ears to start. They literally were brought to the table 1 minute after ordering them, were way too crunchy (almost to the point of hurting your teeth), were cold, and had obviously just been brushed with a sweet glaze. It was in no way fresh and seemed it had been sitting out for quite a while before being brought to our table. We looked passed the first appetizer and asked our server for a recommendation. He pointed us toward the veal shortrib casoncelli, which we ordered. About 5 minutes later the dish came out with 6 small pieces of stuffed pasta, each the size of a quarter on a huge white plate. The pasta was fresh, and the flavor was good, not great, but it seemed ridiculous to charge $18 for a plate with such small portions. I get that the pasta is handmade and used prime ingredients, but that breaks down to $3 per quarter-sized piece of pasta. If you're going to price dishes this way at least put it on an appropriate sized plate that complements the small portion, not exacerbates it. We were a bit turned off at this point, but still had high hopes for the main course. After asking our server for recommendations, I chose the top sirloin steak and my girlfriend chose the striped bass. As a side note, when I asked my server where the sirloin was sourced from, he didn't know. I asked if it was from Slagel Farms, and he said, "Oh yeah, that place I think." This wouldn't normally turn me off, but if you're featuring locally sourced protein dishes at those prices, please make sure servers are knowledgeable of the dishes. We then ordered a bottle of wine for the main course. When our server came back with the wine and poured, he spilled wine down the side of the bottle, on the label, on the side of my wine glass, and dripped wine onto the table. He didn't acknowledge any of this and didn't come back to wipe any of it up. If I hadn't noticed and had leaned forward on the table I would have stained my shirt. I waited for 10 minutes for it to be wiped down and then did it myself. After an appropriate amount of time the main dishes came out. They smelled and looked great. Upon looking closer at my steak, which I ordered rare-medium-rare, I could tell it was a bit overcooked to medium-medium-rare. No biggie. Then I took a bite and was completely overwhelmed by the saltiness of the dish. The steak was over-seasoned, not allowing me to taste the great piece of local meat I just ordered. Even worse, the farro beneath the steak was even saltier. I've never made faces at a nice dinner before, but I admit to contorting my face in reaction to the absurd levels of salt in this dish that ruined the taste of it all. I tried the steak just with the bacon jam, which was better, but overall it was a waste of $34. I implored my girlfriend to try her fish, hoping her main course was better than mine. I'm fine with my dish being bad on our anniversary, but not hers. The delicate striped bass was also a bit over cooked and over seasoned with salt. It wasn't as bad as the steak, but the salt overpowered the taste of the fish and threw the flavor profile of the dish out of balance. I know. I should have said something in the moment. Sent the dishes back. Grabbed the manager at that moment and said, can you make this right? But I didn't. I'm a bit shy, don't speak out at restaurants and didn't want to do so and mess up a nice anniversary dinner with my girlfriend. We did grab the manager on the way out. He listened to our concerns and said he wished I'd have said something during dinner service. He apologized, left our more than $200 bill on the table and walked away. I'm not looking for a discount, but the fact that nothing was done to make up for our bad experience was another turn off. I know I should have said something during dinner service and they probably would have fixed my dish. The bottom line is that I came here expecting what they advertise and was deeply disappointed. A restaurant critic won't send dishes back. They'll judge and review the restaurant based upon what was served and the overall experience. That's what I'm doing here. And if I were a critic, I'd have considerable hesitation recommending this restaurant to anyone.
(2)Michael B.
The place, the vibe, decor is all good, really nice as a matter of fact. The place has style while being authentic and comfortable. The people working there are intelligent, professional and fit in well with the overall feel of the place. Candles on each table, large windows, high ceilings make it casually and comfortably romantic in the evening. Decent wine list though I thought they could use more Italian wine selections. Oh and yes, the food was delicious, creative and interesting. We shared about 4-5 appetizers and they were great. The Burrata ravioili exploded with savory deliciousness, the shishito peppers with cherry tomatoes were spectacular and other appetizers, which change on a regular basis all delivered in spades So why only 3 stars...two reasons, the music was a little too loud for the hip yet romantic ambiance, which spoiled the mood as we couldn't talk or carry on a conversation without shouting or asking to repeat what we said. Easy fix! Mostly, I agree with Yvonne B that the price / value balance is not there. The portions were not large, were in the 15$ range for appetizers and despite everything else being great, I didn't feel I was getting a satisfying experience for the money. That said, there are so many other positives going for the place that I will be back at some point, but at those prices, I won't be a regular.
(3)Ellen F.
I love their sister restaurant, Lulu, but I think this place is overhyped. It's too overpriced, and I just felt like they did the weirdest combinations they could with whatever locally sourced meat is trendy without questioning whether or not it's actually tasty. Kind of maple bacon donuts. Yuck. Sorry hipsters and trend-obsessed foodies. That being said, I loved the inside!
(3)Phill C.
Bacon Butterscotch Donut... now this is why I love brunch! What other meal of the day can you find a sweet & porky creation like this? One order includes a single donut, served warm, glazed in a Butterscotch sauce and topped with crumbled crispy bacon. Plus you get some sugar donut holes to sop up whatever fell off your donut. Bacon donut heaven. I'm planning on trying both of their donuts next time. Oh yah, you can't forget the Bloody Mary's. That is mandatory for brunch. NWood's was refreshing, topped with a slice of fresh avocado. They were out of what I wanted, so ended up ordering a Bagel Sandwich, which filled me up quick. It had some smoked trout cream, bacon, cheese, slaw, and yolky egg, which made for a tasty sandwich. But I loved the Tots even more - golf ball size nuggets of crispy fried potato. Excellente. Their donuts are definitely bringing me back, plus their menu is always changing. They're so close to Chinatown, I might just have to drop by for some dessert after dim sum.
(4)Emily S.
We had a really excellent dinner here recently. Everything was really well-prepared and tasty. The service was very good. Our issue was that it was a bit on the expensive side as compared to similar restaurants (Longman & Eagle comes to mind). I thought the entrees were reasonably priced for a restaurant of its caliber (high teens to mid-twenties, but the appetizers were crazy expensive in comparison ($16-18). The veal tortellini (not actually tortellini - same concept but called something else) came 5 TINY filled pasta to an order and I think it was $18. I'd go back, but probably for brunch.
(3)Lisa D.
I felt like I was in Logan Square when I entered Nightwood, then I learned that it is affiliated with Lula Cafe and it all made sense. I love the atmosphere here and am happy it's come to the neighborhood. One odd thing I noticed both times I've gone is there's a strange odor when you enter. I thought the hostess had really strong B.O. the first time I went but I think it's actually from the open kitchen, maybe the pig ears? I'm not into pork. I preferred the brunch to the dinner. The menu is always changing but sorta similar; you must try whatever donut they have when you go. The three pasta appetizers we tried at dinner time all seemed pretty similar. I like that the portions are controlled and don't leave you feeling like you over ate. The service was really attentive and fast.
(4)William H.
Good experience. Complimentary biscuits and butter--it was okay. KFC's buttery biscuits are still the gold standard. Green City Market Gazpacho - was more like a chunky gazpacho salsa, with lots of macerated cubes of fresh vegetables. yum Simple summer vegetables and toasted goat cheese was delicious--my favorite was the goat cheese--it seemed more deep fried than toasted, but regardless oh so delicious (see picture). Everyone else enjoyed their entrees (half-chicken, fish) I could tell as we drove to this restaurant that is was one of those up and coming neighborhoods. I also wished we sat the the wine room/basement, especially on such a warm night.
(4)Katie B.
If you're sick of paying Randolph St. prices but still want a Randolph St. experience, then check out Nightwood. My first time to Nightwood was in January 2013. I've been three times since then & always look forward to my next visit. It is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. Delicious food. Spot on service. Never have to wait for a table when I arrive at my reservation time, which is saying something in Chicago these days. Very, very fair prices for what you're getting! This place won't disappoint. Check it out for yourself.
(4)Annie N.
Overpriced overhyped pretentious hipster service! To start, we shared the crispy pig ears which was more like candied pig ears: sweet and cold. It was fine, but a little too hard IMO. Pig ears already have a crunchiness to it, I really don't think you have to make it harder. To follow was the scramble eggs running yolk - which was blah. The brilliant presentation (the poached egg had a beautiful egg-white cover that made us wonder about the technique they used) did not make up for the lack of flavor and the disappointing portion. Ricotta cheese and egg yolk together just seem like a lot of fat for me, and this dish fell short. As main entree, we had the trout and a shrimp pasta which was supposed to have kale. Both plates came out cold, even thought we both had hot entrees. The pasta was not fully cooked. Portion was disappointing for the price. I debated whether to send mine back but our server never came by to check on us. Dessert was fine - perhaps the best part of the meal (we had the apple bread pudding). Service was horrible - our server, after taking our order and presenting our wine, went MIA for the rest of the night. The food runner (or perhaps another server) literally threw the dishes in front of our face and walked straight away without explaining anything. I didn't have a chance to catch her to tell her about the cold plate. When we asked her about some ingredients on the dessert, she had no clue and had to run back to the kitchen to check. I know it's not fine-dining by no mean but the items aren't cheap on the menu and if you're going to charge that much please educate your staff. Also, half of the staff here looks like they haven't showered for months and wear the PJs or grandpas' sweaters to work. Really, I get it, you're different and you're cool and you don't care but if I can smell the busser as he was pouring water it's a problem! Meh, really meh!
(2)Lorena A.
How have I missed out on such a fabulous place?! My husband and I had breakfast at Nightwood and we could not be happier. The interior of this restaurant is stunning and their attention to detail, impeccable. All staff were extremely pleasant, friendly, and attentive. The donuts are a must (and a fabulous touch on their part to bring this out with a birthday candle for my husband)! My husband ordered the gnocchi and I had the crepes...yum!! I feel that whatever you order, you can't go wrong. Thank you for such a great experience; we will definitely be back!
(5)Fygar F.
You want to love Nightwood, but you just don't feel welcome there. The staff seems distracted and indifferent. The food is creative and seasonal. The crispy pig ears are popular - I tried them as I've never had a pig ear before (and I won't again). The portions are quite small and everything seems very expensive for what you get. Draft beers cost as much as $14. Appetizers are just a few bites. Our check for 4 was $350 before tip.
(3)Mike S.
This is such a Gem in the Pilsen/South Loop neighborhood. They have great cocktails and a great ambiance as its one of a kind in this up and coming artsy neighborhood. Sit at the chefs bar area in the back for a up close view of the kitchen at work. Love the burger!!
(4)Sarah S.
Nightwood is fantastic! THIS IS WHAT LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD SHOULD BE. I would describe the ambiance of upscale hipster, but any patron-pretentiousness is completely justified: Their food is magical! We tried the Burrata Ravioli, but everything else we had is already off the menu (looks like they change it quite frequently). Either way, all of the food was amazing: totally balanced, and you never felt like it could use a little more or a little less of anything. I will be going back here for sure! The ambiance was nice, and it was surprisingly uncrowded, considering how amazing the food was. Our waiter was extremely helpful in calling us two cabs, as it's not the easiest place to catch one.
(5)Jen C.
Weird food. In a good way. After making reservations and getting over here on a Friday night, we were seated early and also scored patio seats, which by the way, is nice for the summer. Our waiter was very friendly and provided us drinks (including wine in a decanter and a non-alcoholic soda, which was OK). The grilled octopus appetizer was very good and flavorful, and came with beans and sausage slices. The spaghetti entree that comes with a shrimp sauce and beans was odd but interesting, as I've never had a variety of beans as the sauce. The texture of the spaghetti was interesting as well--it was made square and a little tougher to the bite (think shriveled tofu), rather than the smooth usual bite you get. But, overall the cheapest item on the menu that was very tasty. The flank steak was also very tasty, and came over a bed of watercress, which made me feel awkward. With such a beautifully done meat, it was odd to pair it with such a raw, peppery spicy kind of green. Overall, the service was great; all of our entrees were delivered at the same time by multiple wait staff, and our silverware were cleared often and waters replenished. I wanted to love it as a unique Chicago restaurant, but I think its just food done really well (some done in their wood oven) set in a hipster environment, and not much more to it than that.
(4)Victor P.
I've eaten here the last 3 visits to Chicago and I'm never disappointed. Great service. Great Maple Bacon Donut. Fresh juice. Tasty egg dishes. Always fresh as they have a new menu everyday. Have only done brunch but I'm sure other meals would be fine too. Didn't have the Biscuits and Gravy but 2 of my sons had it and they said it was fantastic.
(5)ChingWa C.
I've been living in this neighborhood for 3.5 years and always wanted to try this place. During the spring time, they have outdoor seating and it looks super cute from the outside.The decor is very neat, intimate, and romantic. Came here for a friend's birthday on a Tuesday night. Although we didn't have a reservation, they were able to seat 7 of us very quickly. The cocktails selection is small but very delicious. I ordered their Fit and Working Again, it reminded me if the cocktail I had at Punch House down the street. It's citrusy and easy to drink. For those if you who love wine, they have a huge wine selection as well. Service is excellent. This place is like a hidden gem. Can't wait to come back for brunch next time =)
(5)Yvonne B.
When Daniel C sent me a text of Nightwood's menu and I saw bacon donuts.... Well. He had me at bacon. I was even more smitten when he told me that he made a reservation! I've never heard of a brunch place taking reservations. Well, except for Marion Street Cheese Market (and I adore them). I drove and found free street parking around the corner from the restaurant. The entrance is a bit strange. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. You go down a dark hallway. On the left it seems as if there might be something of an unused patio area. At the end of the hall is another door that goes into the bustling restaurant. It was about noon and it was really hopping! I couldn't be seated until Daniel arrived, but that was cool. Eventually I made my way to the bar. The bartender seemed really busy or something because it took him a while to acknowledge me and offer me a menu. I promptly ordered a Bloody Mary. It was served in a short glass and was pretty spicy. I felt as if the balance of Bloody Mary components assuredly tipped on the side of spice. I like spice, but I didn't like this Bloody Mary. We were seated at a two person table along the front window the moment Daniel arrived. It was comfortable and sunny. I found the atmosphere to be lively to distraction. Even though it wasn't insanely loud, I had a hard time focusing on our conversation. Daniel ordered both donuts right away. I tasted a bit of both of them and they were really delicious. The donuts were squishy (not cake donuts), glazed, and not overly sweet. I thought the custard filled one was entirely reminiscent of a bun from China Town. The bacon one was incredibly good. Both were phenomenal and the very best thing about Nightwood. They are not to be passed up! Daniel ordered the Nick Tahou Burrito. It was served with pasta on the inside and an egg on top. He liked it. I got the Fish cake and a side of bacon. The fish cake was like a hash brown where the potato shreds were mixed with fish pieces. Cooked kale was served on the side and there was a creamy tomato sauce on top of the fish cake. It was good. My bacon was served hard and burnt along the edges. It was good for dipping in my Bloody Mary but not for eating. The service really wasn't that great. I can't say that it was friendly. The host, bar tender, and server didn't smile or make any kind of small talk. They weren't rude, but they definitely could have been less utilitarian. The server had to be reminded about my bacon. The total of our brunch came to $60 ($69 if you include my Bloody Mary), which I think is overpriced for what we got. I've had far superior service and scrumptious food at a number of other places for about $55.
(2)Sandra M.
The service was great, and the food was just good. We had dinner here last night for our anniversary. Although I'm a meat and potatoes type, we came here out of convenience...close to home and the babysitters. The Yelp reviews were great too. Not much in the menu seemed very appetizing. We pretty much chose the most normal sounding apps--the pig meat stew and the squash. They were both pretty good. I didn't feel like trying rabbit, so I had the half chicken and my husband had the trout. They were good, but I dont think was worthy of the price. I have been here for breakfast and I remember it being much better. I think from now on, I'll stick to that.
(4)Jimmy S.
Went here on Saturday for my 1 year wedding anniversary. We had been here before about 4 years ago and wanted to go down memory lane, so we came back for this occasion. Our table was small there was a 4 person table to the left and to my right another 2 person table. Very close togther, i didnt feel like i was having dinner with my husband, instead 6 strangers. We got oysters and spagetti for starters, my husband and i split the spagetti and he eat all the oysters. So he liked them. Spaghetti was okay very small portion we got about 2 medium bites not worth $15. Dinner options were bad from the start. I had the trout which seemed okay but the waitress described something completely different. She said crispy skin and the skin was slimmy and it had this weird popcorn like crust that was disgusting. She came over about 30 seconds after we got our meal so i told here it was fine because i didnt even take a bit. It was pretty gross l moved all the skin and popcorn crust off and eat about 1/2 of the bare fish. The bus boy took my plate away, not asking if i was happy with the meal. Next time the waitress came over was to drop off the dessert menu. On the car ride home my stomach started hurting and i got diarrhea from the meal. Will not be coming back here.
(1)Stephanie S.
I've been meaning to come here for a while since it's only a few blocks from my house. We went late on a warm evening which was perfect for sitting on their baller patio. The spaghetti alla chitarra was good but not life-changing. The asparagus and egg starter was fabulous, and I'm going to try to replicate the dish at home for a simple but gourmet meal of my own. In general, the appetizers seemed more exciting than the entrees. Maybe next time we'll just munch on those. Hubs had the pork loin (with lots of delicious fat) that melted in your mouth. But he said the end pieces were tastiest - he left some of the middle parts uneaten. For dessert we had the marscapone "cheesecake" which was fab. The rhubarb ice cream that accompanied it was just tart enough to cut through the creaminess. Overall we were very satisfied with our meal. For the two of us it was $108, which we didn't think was that bad considering what we ordered (one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert, two cocktails) and the restaurant's notoriety. Attentive staff. Nice atmosphere. We will very likely be back!
(5)Dina L.
Had the two egg omelet and bf had the duck confit stew for brunch along with the maple bacon donut. Everything was delicious. Better than several restaurants serving brunch in River North and worth the short drive.
(4)Aaron J.
The trout and smelts are tasty, as is the butter lettuce with bacon. My veal didn't have a whole lot of edible meat but I liked the flavor. The danger is that you might leave a little hungry if you're a big guy. We chose more alcohol instead of dessert so I can't comment there. The decor is pleasantly modern and service was attentive without being annoying. I'm sure I'll go back, before 7PM to avoid the crowd.
(4)Andrew S.
nightwood came highly recommended. the service, food and cocktails met expectations. craft specialty cocktails were delicious-sucker for anything with chartreuse. ravioli was incredibly rich. burger and fries surpassed any burger in the same price point. intimate, upscale ambiance yet casual. will definitely return.
(5)Saneel R.
Pilsen. It's so hot right now. Ok, but seriously, Nightwood is absolutely worth the trek south. A completely local menu that is accompanied by brilliant dessert pastries and wine. Try the short rib ravioli, the burrata (like a raw, creamy mozzerella you spread on toast), and their hand made pastas with anything. Also, request the kitchen table (more like a bar) and the staff back there will chat you up if you engage them first. Just please don't wear sunglasses inside.
(4)Anne M.
The goods: browned butter pizzetta with burata, pistachio, anchovy and parsley, an outstanding mushroom appetizer with savory cornmeal and fabulously spot-on homemade rigatoni with browned butter panko crumbs, chicken, broccoli in a roasted garlic cream sauce. The food has definitely got the Lula quality/creativity. The decor is very nice and homey (fantastic old church fixtures?). The bad? We forgot that they take reservations and had to wait an hour and a half in a very, very loud front room. I don't know if sound bounces around the rest of the house, but in front near the windows it's deafening. The bar seating overlooking the kitchen looks awesome - that's my seat next time.
(4)Sven K.
Three of us went to Nightwood and it was a mixed bag. We really enjoyed the setting (casual, modern - maybe a bit loud) and the service was great (especially recommended wine)! We had three different appetizers: fried asparagus with trout and cream cheese (awesome), a simple mixed salad (very good) and the highly recommended fatback (thin slices of pork fat) on crostini (disappointing - very few slices with little flavor). Two of us had the smoked pork rib roast - a huge chunk of meat that came with lentils. While my friend enjoyed his, I thought that the meat lacked in flavor and was on the dry side. The lentils were great. The third entree was oricchiette with breaded pork cutlets and beets; the pork was very average, pasta and beets were good. Pricing was adequate to high - portion size was fine.
(3)Jenna H.
Nightwood is a little out of the way, but definitely worth venturing over to Pilsen for. It's a gorgeous restaurant, I went in for brunch and it was bustling but not ridiculously crowded. Our service was friendly and extremely efficient, all of our food came out very quickly and our coffee and water stayed full. We had the coffee cake (with house made nutella!), the bacon, the biscuits and gravy and the salmon scramble - everything was excellent, unique, and very fresh. Nightwood is definitley a noteworthy stop - I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)Erin S.
great brunch spot!!! we started out with the donuts which most reviews rave about....we tried all 3 on the menu and all were delicious!!! there are some really unique dishes on the menu. this is just your typical pancake, eggs brunch spot. all 3 people at our table raved about the coffee too. the decor and ambiance really add something special to the already good food. and the staff is super nice and friendly too. parking is really easy-no parking meters! i would definitely check out this place again for dinner or bring back out of town visitors to this cool brunch spot!! also, this place scored "not good for kids' which i would agree for dinner but for brunch our baby seemed very welcome amoung our fellow diners!
(4)Six B.
love the local greens and local meats they are using! i had a dish last night, though and it was over-salted (i've had this problem with lula too (same owners))....please, lay off the salt! the local green salad with fiddleheads and radishes was great (though a bit sweet, which was weird), the pork meatballs were delish, but the polenta underneath and sauce (puttanesca?) were oversalted. the drinks are amazing! i'll go back and ask for less salt! best pasta i have ever had. best drinks. best deserts.
(5)Sorabh K.
Great food and great drinks in an enjoyable atmosphere. This hidden gem in pilsen can get a little pricey but is worth the dough especially since they use such high quality ingredients. I definitely recommend this place and look forward to dining here again!
(4)Meg E.
dang. this place is gooood. bacon butterscotch donuts?! what more can a fat kid ask for. the trout scramble and shrimp griddle cakes were both unique and delicious. dinner aint too shabby either. service could have been a bit better...but the food made up for it. great place to take out of towners for brunch because the line isnt around the corner.
(4)Karen L.
Apparently this is the new place to go and I have been wanting to try it for some time now. It is a little out of the way, being all the way in Pilsen, but boy am I glad we went there! You walk into the restaurant through this cute outdoor patio... I will have to go back when it is nice weather again (ugh, probably another 9 months!) and enjoy that lovely space. I walked in and immediately loved the decor with the exposed brick walls and the exquisite ceilings. Very cute and nicely decorated, but not in a pretentious or trendy way. (I didn't feel out of place in my Friday casual work clothes.) It is definitely more upscale than Lula but still the similar comfortable feeling. We got there right after work and it was not that busy at all - maybe half of all the tables were full. They tried to put us at the bar at first saying all the tables were reserved. We were a bit upset as we just called about 1 hour before and they said that walking in wouldn't be a problem as they never reserve out all their tables... plus it was only 6:30 so it was still early. So we ended up getting a table which was really good b/c I don't think I would have enjoyed the dinner quite as much at the bar. Instead of regular bread, they brought out these honey biscuits which were quite tasty! For an appetizer, we started with a butternut squash ravioli with egg yolk. It was good, a little interesting on the flavors, but still good. It reminded us of the stuff they would make on Top Chef. It was one (bigger than average size) ravioli which I thought was kind of skimpy since it was almost $10! For my entree I ordered the grilled duck. OMG! SOOOO good... the duck was tender and juicy and perfectly seasoned! I also liked how they had the skin on (not everyone would like that), since that is my favorite! The salad on the side with corn and apples was just okay but really, the duck made my night! It was delicious! My boyfriend wasn't super hungry so he just ordered the goat cheese gnocchi. That was good in flavor but nothing as impressive as the duck. He usually does not like duck but also thought my entree was excellent! I will have to say that the menu is pretty limited. There are probably about 10 entree choices and I would only eat about 3-4 of them. And really, only the duck one stood out to me as looking really good. But I bet the menu changes pretty frequently so hopefully when I go back there will be some other dishes available. (Although I may just want to go back for the duck.) All the ingredients were really fresh and I think since it is Lula's same owners it is probably all organic. The service was good, as well. I also got a small dessert... one scoop of the blueberry-pear sorbet, which was the perfect amount to end the night with. I am not a huge dessert person and usually nothing really appeals to me. As far as the cocktail menu, nothing jumped out at me too much but I opted for an apple cider cocktail which was just okay. I pretty much enjoyed Nightwood for the Duck Entree and the atmosphere. I would recommend making the trek out there and checking it out!
(4)Ray d.
Just had sunday brunch this past weekend with a large group. The food was amazing! My personal favorite was the bacon covered doughnuts (I know, I know...). However, the service seemed a bit lacking. I suspect this is just growing pains that any new restaurant has, but a number of things went wrong. Half our table had food for almost 10 minutes before the last person's dish came out. Had to ask for cream for our coffee, and the food took far too time (hence the complimentary bacon doughnuts). Overall, it was a great time. And I'm willing to chalk up the service issues to it being new, but it really needs to be addressed...
(4)Sharon P.
I had been to Nightwood before for dinner and it was pretty great, although the portions are small. Brunch was terrible. But the service was very good- constant supply of fresh coffee, and quick, friendly service. The food I got was actually so gross I spit out a bite in my napkin, and then sent it back for the malted waffles, which were nothing special- toaster waffles (burnt on the edges) with chocolate sauce on top. Size: about 1.5 actual toaster waffles. Lame. So my original order was the venison omlette with creme fraiche. The "omlette" was like one millimeter thick, and just looked sad and flopped over. The craime fraiche was the exact same color as the omelette (lite yellow), and looked like a watery cheese sauce. The venison inside was kind of pulled, but also with lots of big chunks of pure gelatinous fat. The overall effect: slimy upon slimy upon slimy (and visually off-putting) was so gross I couldn't chew or swallow my bite of it. I have not spit my food out at a restaurant in a long time. My dining companion had some scrambled egg dish that he said was just OK. Also, the hash browns look like hairy balls. As in testicles. Finally, the server promptly brough me a new dish, and seemed genuinely interested in why I sent the dish back, and I explained nicely. I would not go back here.
(2)Peter G.
the dinner was okay it started raining and it was difficult to get a seat relocation. The server wasn't attentative at all and slightly awkward. I almost gave my tip to the hostess who paid much more attention. She was great, but other then that the service was poor. The food was decent, but the desert was more impressive. The main dishes took a very long time to come out. I do admit though I thoroughly enjoyed the kitchen. I had the chicken. It was decent, quite affordable, but was a little bland in presentation and taste. The menus were just shy of illegible, in a poor attempt at trendyness.
(3)tracey t.
Brunch was a dream at Nightwood. Our table enjoyed the burger, croquettes, the bagel sandwich and eggs benedict (quite possibly the most perfect combo of sweet and salty). That tater tot/hash browns were definitely a hit as well. My bloody mary hit the spot minimizing any lingering hangover from the shenanigans the night before. The staff was polite and helpful and the restaurant itself is warm and inviting. A definite must visit!
(5)Julie F.
Came here for brunch with the fam. With a table of 6 we were seated in the "wine cellar" commonly known as a basement. This suited us fine though as the dim light complimented our slight hangovers nicely. We were also seated in a booth against the wall with real chairs as opposed to the backless benches supplying most of the room - another big plus. Watching the 80 year old grandmother try to slide and sit comfortable on a bench at the table next to us was enough for me to wonder again when people will come to their good senses and join me in a backless bench boycott. Anyhow, we all tried a different brunch special and all were rich, and delicious. I especially liked the short rib Benedict. One thing you absolutely MUST try are the butterscotch and bacon donuts. They are amazing. In fact, as good as are meals were, I would have been just as happy with a cup of coffee and a couple of those donuts! The only small (very small) complaint would be the toast that was all burnt, like black around the edges burnt but, everything else was great! Oh, and our server was knowledgeable, kind, and relaxed - exactly what you want on a Sunday morning.
(4)Colleen S.
The food was awesome. The interior/decor was awesome. The service was...eh. They tried to seat us at a table in the "alley" between the two rooms. No ambience whatsoever. They begrudgingly moved us. The server we got was disinterested and lacked any sort of personality or charisma. We didn't feel rushed, which I appreciate, but we did at times feel neglected. The short rib and potato pierogi were outstanding. And this comes from someone who's family makes their own peirogi by hand each year for the holidays. If they are on the app menu, order them for sure. Also terrific was the spaghetti and meatballs. It had a totally American spin and the homemade pasta was perfect. The spinach/garlic/pear salad was salty. The halibut was decent. This place would be 5 stars if the host and the server could have dropped the 'tude.
(4)Chris H.
We were happy to find this place a short walk from the new apartment. My dad was in from out of town, and we took him here for dinner, having never been. We all had a great time, starting with a drink at the bar, and continuing back to the kitchen bar where the three of us (this area seats maybe 6 or 7 at most) were able to watch them work while we ate. We were skeptical at first to sit back there, but it was great. I don't remember everything we had exactly, but I do recall my wife had the pan seared trout which she loved. My dad was really impressed with the rigatoni w/ veal bolognese, and since we were sitting by the kitchen he could even thank the man who made it! We had a great time and were all well fed. I'm not sure what the complainers on here had a problem about, we all thought it was great and will be back.
(4)Noah L.
OVERRATED.. By far the worst dining experience I've had in a long time. It started with a bitter, poorly mixed cocktail from the cocktail menu, followed by a so-so appetizer. Then came our "pasta" dish which we clearly ordered as an entree, however, the waiter failed to inform us was literally the size of 3 nickels and was really not so much a pasta dish as it was another appetizer, a clear indication of the lacking attention we received from our waiter. But it got even worse with the other entree, a tough, gamy and foul smelling veal dish. Service was lackadaisical and uninterested. Not what you would expect for what they charge.
(1)shell h.
Third time visiting Nightwood last night, had the usual fried Myer lemons and a delicious salad and ordered the roasted branzino, it was delicious. I was a little bummed out that there was no local fish on the menu and so my boyfriend ordered the spit-roasted chicken and it was also delicious. My favorite thing came at the end of the meal with the amazing blueberry warm pie accompanied with some A-MAZING lavender icecream.
(4)K P.
Amazing new restaurant by the Lula team. The food is incredible - it represents some of the best new cuisine without being too trendy. Even staples like the roasted chicken are outstanding. I recommend getting a seat at the kitchen counter if you can swing it.
(5)Ali P.
I dined here for the third time over the weekend and left feeling disappointed. We started the evening by sharing the tomato and burrata appetizer which was delicious! I have only had cheese this creamy once or twice in my life. We also shared the raviolini bolognese and a potato gnocchi with sweet corn, butter and bacon - both delicious as well. The pasta was homemade, light, but extremely flavoful! If my evening would have ended here, I would give five stars. For an entree we shared the grilled short ribs. I should have expected them to be different than what I am used to as they were grilled, not braised but decided to give it a shot. The short ribs were EXTREMELY fatty, tough, and had no flavor. Probably one my least favorite dishes I've had in a long time. Overall, I like Nightwood - great ambiance, good food, nice people. I have had delicous meals there before, but this time was let down. I will give it another shot but will probably stick to an appetizer or pasta dish the next time I go.
(3)Genevieve P.
This was probably the best restaurant meal I've ever had and that's saying a lot. I've eaten in some of the top spots in Chicago, not to mention, Paris, NY, etc. What was so remarkable about my experience is that EVERY dish NAILED it! We might have been lucky and just ordered the best Nightwood has to offer but that's why I say it was the best experience. Even at Charlie Trotters or Avec or other great places, one dish will just be so so... a little lacking in flavor... a little dull. Not so with the dishes we had at Nightwood. We ordered 2 appetizers, 1 pasta and 1 entree and ALL knocked it out of the park. Would go there again in a heartbeat. Our meal for two with 1 dessert and drink was ~ $60. Not too bad for the wonderful experience.
(5)Lois A.
I fell hard for nightwood. The food is just fantastic. Recently I had french toast stuffed with apples, ham and cheese and it was incredible. The eggs benedict is also excellent and who can resist the extremely fun way the tots are prepared? This place gets packed for good reason. I love the open kitchen in the back where you can sit diner style and watch the chefs work. Service is great. I felt horrible for the waitress we had a couple of weeks ago. Seated next to us was a couple with their two children and they kept sending their burgers back to be cooked more. I saw the burgers and they were cooked perfectly. I'd noticed the couple when we first sat down next to them because they were seated next to the door and a cold blast of air came in every time it opened - I'd thought it strange they had seated their very young kids closest to the door instead of sitting there themselves...nice. Anyway, the waitress was more than polite and kept a smile while dealing with them for over an hour, all the while dealing with a packed house. Coffee is great and parking is easy.
(4)Aaron G.
for the price, it should be all hits and no misses. but there are misses
(3)johnny s.
Had brunch here over the summer - Sat outside - service/food/seating was top notch - great stuff - not inexpensive but the best stuff is never is....
(5)Liezl E.
After devouring their butterscotch bacon and other donut (I think custard and raspberries were involved), we opted to go for the simpler menu item of 2 eggs and toast with tots... and wow, I didn't know something so simple could be so delicious. It hit the spot right after the indulgent donuts, and I absolutely LOVED the "tots" which turned out to be shredded potato hash, rolled the size of golf balls, and fried, making them perfectly crunchy outside. If you're looking for a simple delicious brunch of eggs and toast, I'd highly recommend this place.
(5)Yanyao N.
Phenomenal food - be it dinner or brunch. In my opinion, Nightwood has one of the more unique menus in the city. They do sustainable farm-to-table so well. Things are always seasonal. Their menu is constantly changing. A few summers ago, they made the best gazpacho I have ever had - it was very untraditional though, a MOUND of super fresh, cut up vegetables and stone fruit, with a little bit of gazpacho soup. It was truly spectacular, and served with a chorizo grilled cheese. J, who is never shy about proclaiming his dislike of gazpacho, actually enjoyed this one. Brunch here has probably become my favorite in the city. Their donuts are SO light and airy, like a ring cloud of carbs, glazed in either bacon butterscotch, or whatever seasonal glaze/topping they put on the menu that week (subscribe to their newsletter - you'll be sent the Sunday brunch menus on Saturday, and will drool at every one of them. promise). The Bloody Mary is perfect and served with pickled brussel sprouts - what?! Even the gazpacho-hater liked it: "It's very good for a Bloody Mary." The bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese is also highly recommended. As are their tater tots, that from far away look like falafel, but are freakin' awesome. Very unique. The decor is modern, but comfortable. The service is friendly and warm. They have some really neat kitchen bar seating, where you can watch the cooks hard at work. In the summer time, dine on their patio. You'll probably see me there pretty often.
(5)Lauren G.
Nightwood is the farm-to-table organic restaurant of my dreams. Knowledgeable hipster servers - check Modern chairs, warm wood, big windows, cool vibes - check Small menu where every single item looks good - check Fantastically extensive wine list in budget range - check Inventive desserts with homemade cheez-its - check AND the FOOD. Started with Bucatini with mussels for the table. Pasta was perfect execution of "to the tooth" al dente. I enjoyed a grilled Wisconsin trout cooked to skin-on perfection with a fantastic spanish tortilla and kohlrabi and greens on the side. Mom got the Rhode Island striped bass with 45 minute egg... said it was the bomb. Dad opted for some kind of french meat stew and ate it all. Only thing we commented on was entirely TOO MUCH SALT. If the product is this good, why not let it shine? Plus, there's salt on the table for anyone that has completely burned out their taste buds. This is the only reason I would think of deducting half a star. Otherwise this place is the stars... am I dreaming?
(5)DJ S.
We wanted to love this place. Father's Day brunch was our first try. The restaurant is really cute. The food was really yucky. Well not all of it. The donuts are amazing. Great starter! The deconstructed BLT has a substitute for the bacon that looks like chewed up cat food. It turned out our stomachs. Seriously induced gagging. No accommodation or apology was given. The frittata was served cold. Cold eggs are gross. The only dish our table liked was the cheddar biscuits and gravy. Oh well. Not coming back ever but there are so many other places in Chicago right? Not a huge loss.
(1)Bharat W.
This place is off the beaten path, south of most people's mental comfort geography, so if you have managed to convince yourself to arrive here you have already made one of the best eating decisions. Despite the somewhat abandoned gray neighborhood, when you step inside, Nightwood is a warm glow of classy interior that is reminiscent of the au courant hip foodie joints more found in NYC and SF. The lights are not too bright to offend your tired eyes from your late Saturday night excursions and their beermosas and jameson, espresso, porter combo will awaken your senses at the right pace to get you prepared for the experience. The staff was dressed in classy minimalist chic attire, a combo of wicker park hipsters and sophisticated librarians. The subtle classy aesthetics was a visual relief after a night of 15 hour St Patty's drinkathon. This place articulates what exceptional compared to average-good looks like. Skip bongo room and yolk and take a trip here instead to find out what I mean. We ordered the rolled omelet, roasted mushrooms, buttermilk ricotta, spinach walnut pesto which comes with fried hashbrown balls, and a duck hash with biscuit and gravy that will make you wish you would never get full of eating it. The omelet appears as a work of art, clean cut presentation with the side of the pesto. As you bite into it, the succulent mushrooms slowly release flavors while the ricotta pours a nice flavor over it. Their vanilla glazed donut with chocolate filling and pistachio crumbles is the best donut I have ever tasted. The flavors are so complex and the simplistic presentation is visually appealing and digestible whilst engaging your palette in its entirety during the entire course. I cannot wait to go back and makes me a proud Chicagoan to have this place in our city.
(5)Peace Y.
It's good, but maybe overhyped in my book. I've gone for brunch and dinner. Both times, nothing remarkable but food is solid I suppose. For brunch, had the burrito with pork belly, rice, and beans. Beans were al dente (meaning it could have cooked longer) and all of it was lacking salt. For dinner, I had fish which was actually cooked perfectly with crispy skin, but the whole dish was ok. Best - and probably only - outstanding item is the bacon butterscotch donut. That thing is amazeballs. I don't think I'll end up there again. I do like they change up the menu and I do like the dishes, but the food preparation itself is just okay.
(3)Stephen S.
Came here for brunch and I'm giving it 5 stars on the basis of the donut alone. I'm often disappointed by donuts because I think I have this childhood notion of donuts being amazing and they often aren't. The donut at Nightwood though, no disappointments, no regrets. We had the filled one with Greek yogurt custard. Everything about this donut was divine from the raspberry glaze and oat topping, and that greek yogurt custard, not overly sweet thanks to the Greek yogurt but sweet enough to be a bit indulgent. Perfection. I think almost every table had a donut brought over to it at some point, I don't think I've ever seen something quite like it at another restaurant. The savory brunch fare was exceptional as well. Creative, flavorful, and extremely well executed. I had the matzobrei with salmon that was satisfying even after a whole 8 days of matzah close just a few days before.
(5)Matt L.
I was honored to attend this small little event called Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. One of the featured chefs was Chef Jason Vincent. He was competing in the Grand Cochon against culinary chefs like Naomi Pomeroy, Michelle Bernstein, and Mark Forgone. Quoting Chef Jason Vincent after winning the Grand Cochon, "Naomi Pomeroy and Michelle f'ing Bernstein?" Yeah, you beat them. I had no idea who Jason Vincent was and he was the featured chef representing Chicago! Though after eating his bacon butterscotch doughnut and his version of a Spanish style pork and vegetable stew cocido, I could still taste it today. Fast forward to a few, finally having dinner at Nightwood, Chef Jason Vincent still has the magic. Had a 5 course tasting menu created by the man himself. The crispy pig ears, foie gras apple salad, and split roasted duck were the favorites. Keep in mind though the menu does change daily. The service was by far Michelin Star quality. The room was dark yet intimate. Nightwood is definitely date worthy. I would go back and recommend this place. Chef Jason Vincent, congrats the many accolades you have accumulated including the recent James Beard Award nomination. Well deserved. Food - 5 Décor - 5 Service - 5
(5)Marie B.
This has been on my list for awhile. I finally decided to go with a friend for brunch. Great addition to the neighborhood. The food was delicious and very flavorful. Living on the Northside (closer to Lula Cafe), I don't see myself coming back here often. Not that the food wasn't extraordinary, it's just inconvienient to get to. Definitely worth trying if you're close to the neighborhood, but I can see people putting it off because of the location.
(4)Amanda K.
While on our lollamoon (pre-honey moon post-wedding weekend at lollapalooza) our friend treated us to a romantic dinner at nightwood. WHAT A TREAT! The ambiance is amazing. This is a great place for a date, and the patio is so cool and green. The service was amazing. We ordered a variety of appetizers and had them in courses, split an entree, and then had dessert. Everything we had was amazing. We tried: the salad which was fresh and delicious, the mozarella and peaches which was SO yummy and different, the churchilini which had the best flavors, and the agnolotti- yum. For the entree we got the gnocchi and it was unlike and gnocchi i've ever had. (For the record, we never eat this much pasta, but everything was so good we couldn't help ourselves). For dessert we had the cherry pie, which was the perfect sweet, delicious, finish. To drink we got the punch for two, which is a fantastic cocktail and also a great deal! $22 and you get at least 1 1/2 drinks per person - not bad when the single drinks are like $12 each. GO HERE NOW!
(5)Brian I.
I've always enjoyed Nightwood a tremendous amount. On a recent trip for brunch, I made a comparison between Nightwood and a comparably priced breakfast restaurant (that shall remain nameless for this review). Nightwood provides an amazing value for very high quality execution and service. The space is inviting for both a brunch and dinner atmosphere (depending on the time of day). So, I highly recommend heading down to Pilsen and making the effort to enjoy a meal at Nightwood.
(4)Jennifer Q.
So, my review is going to be kinda interesting here. I did not know this was "the" Nightwood. My coworkers and I wanted to have a drink after a work event down the street. The bar we had originally wanted to go to was super crowded so one of the girls poked her head in here and found they had this enclosed patio that was wide open. There were nearly 20 of us. The good news is the service was great. We felt like we had our own little private space and the drinks kept coming. However, the food -in my opinion - was just OK. The portions were super small and very expensive. We ordered a bunch of plates to share and I can't say anything was super memorable. In fairness, this was not a "normal" dining experience. That said, I would return to have a proper dinner in the very beautiful and chic dining room. But, truth me told, I did not really see the big deal based on what we ordered. I will have to give it another shot and focus my attention on the food.
(3)Ashley F.
I researched the best restaurants in Chicago an Nightwood kept coming up. We decided to try it an thank goodness we did! It was absolutely perfect from start to finish and our dinner was SO GOOD! I ordered the chicken and it was like a favor bomb, best chicken I've ever eaten! Even the sides were delicious. The server was kind, prompt, and helpful. The space is simple and chic while still having a casual feel. I hear their brunch is amazing as well. Definitely check this place out! We will be back for sure next time we're in town.
(5)sarah p.
Went to Nightwood with one of my best mates and couldn't have had a better time. Both food obsessed, we ate our way through at least 1/3 of the menu and probably 100% of the beverage list. It was just that kind of night (you know what I mean?) The service was attentive, informative and lovely. The atmosphere was warm, inviting and unpretentious. And most importantly, the bites were flavorful, approachable and downright delicious. The bang for the buck here is insane. I would expect the prices to be at least 25% higher than they are. It's a delicious meal that is literally a total steal, and a damn good time. Great place for date night, friend date night, foodie date night.
(5)Mike W.
The food was great, the service was even better. I picked this place because I wanted to do something different and off the beaten path for my birthday (dinner), and I have to say I was really happy with it. Obviously you want to check the menu before you go and make sure you see something you like. Although we had quite a few dishes, and all of them were great. The plates are not that big so I wouldn't go if I was dead starving otherwise you might suck it all down and not actually taste anything.
(5)Karen M.
I had not yet heard of this place prior to my "wine advisor" selecting it for our monthly gathering. First off, they have a great wine list but do not frown upon you bringing your own for a small corkage fee. Secondly, the service is amazing. Never once did we feel rushed or hovered over. They let us take our time to enjoy the evening. The food was amazingly fresh and inventive. Their menu changes daily based on available ingredients so it is not worth telling you to try one dish over another. Just know this - whatever you order, it will be full of flavor and dance on your tongue with every bite. All around, this is a tremendous place to dine, relax and enjoy!
(5)Carl G.
Came here on a relatively sleepy weeknight, to dine with the lady. The bar seemed to be hopping, but there were plenty of tables available and we were seated promptly. Dark lighting, tight seating, and music loud enough to mute the surrounding conversations led to an intimate feel. Everything we tried was very good. After ordering the appetizer, the server brought out an individual focaccia bread - it was lightly salted and came with a cheese/oil dip. The bread was hot fresh and full of holes - really well done. We had the braised shortrib "ravioli", which was pretty small given the price - but was really flavorful, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. We split the Nightwood burger and the duck cassoulet for the main dishes. The duck was juicy, with a very tasting bark on the outside of the slices. Duck can be difficult to do well, but it was very well done in this case. The burger was like a Big Mac on steroids. Same type of ingredients, only well done, instead of McD style. The burger patties were a little overcooked, but they had good flavor, so can't fault them too much. The fries weren't quite as hot as would have been ideal, but they were well seasoned and clearly home made. The service was excellent. Maybe it's because there were few tables, but we never went without water, and were left alone an appropriate amount. No complaints, and only compliments there. Everything was on the upper end of the price scale, it was good, but the prices are pushing the envelope. Overall an intimate, well cooked meal - someplace to go for a date, or a quiet dinner. Expect to spend a little cash, but to be very pleased with the meal and the dining experience.
(4)Samantha H.
I had been wanting to go to Nightwood for so long and am so happy I finally got there! There were four of us which meant we could try quite a few things. We were sat at a table between the larger restaurant and the kitchen. Our server was very attentive and helped us choose wine. My only complaint is the wine list mark up is over 200% and many of the wines are not that great but we were able to find some winners. We decided to share a bunch of things and they were accommodating and brought things out as they were ready and cleared our plates once, as though it was a true tapas style place. They were also great when we ordered a second round of the pig tails. These pig tails were a religious experience. There was some habenero chili sauce on them that was amazing. We literally ordered another batch the second we started eating these. It was the hands down favorite. My personal second favorite was the walleye. It was amazingly moist and the skin crispy. Very yum! My husband's next favorite was the cavatelli. It was prepared perfectly al dente and extremely tasty. The chicken was very good as well and I typically don't order chicken because it can be so boring. The pork belly was, well pork belly. Yes it was good but nothing special. The foie gras was probably my least favorite because the way it's prepared is in a sort of ravioli. That sounded good but you really got no foie gras flavor and I'm a foie fan! I probably wouldn't get that again. The rabbit appetizer was great. It was probably the best rabbit I've ever had. They serve it in sort of a cabbage roll type of thing. Our server told us to go with that as opposed to the entree leg and I'm happy we did. Overall I was extremely happy with the food and service and cannot wait to return!
(5)Jenna S.
OH. EM. GEE. ONE THING: Maple Bacon Donuts. If you only get ONE thing at Nightwood, it needs to be those donuts. But, I recommend you do an entire brunch because this food blew my mind. First, I like this menu better than Lula. I'm not sure why it's so different, but Nightwood has way better selections. Second, the Bloodys are excellent. Get the one that's a mix of Bloody Mary and PBR... it's worth it and very tasty. I can have a few. Lox and Egg Bagel Sandwich? Divine. Seriously excellent. I've had it on two different ocassions and it was excellent both times. Crispy bagel, creamy insides and super tasty. Everyone else with me also loved their brunch choices, so I think Nightwood is a hit. Seriously, this brunch is some of the best I've had in the city. If you haven't been here, get yourself down to Pilsen now to eat some of those donuts. STAT.
(5)Stephanie L.
Sunday Bitches Brunch BOUT!!!!!! Nightwood has been on my radar for some time. Its interesting how I constantly overlook the same places. Alas, I trucked it down here to check out the HYPE~! I love that we got a booth. SCORE! Already an extra star. HAHAHA Service was lackluster. Our server seemed annoyed. Maybe it was that time of month or maybe she really wanted to be having a Sunday Bitches Brunch Bout. It was mediocre, but it was brunch so not the end of the world. The food. Well I have to say...the donuts were pretty darn good. The bacon was fantastic! The chocolate was subpar to it but was still really good. I had the rolled omelette. It was pretty good. Not anything that I would drive down for again. The little hashbrown things were good as well. The bread was toasted to perfection and the raspberry jam was delicious. Overall, it was decent. Some parts excellent, some parts mediocre. Nothing was terrible :) Super easy street parking, FYI
(4)John S.
Best brunch in the city with the possible exception of Nightwood's big sister, Lula's Cafe in Logan Sq. Please make your donuts to go! Whatever we can scarf down at brunch leaves us wanting more later. The seasonality of the innovative dinner menu is always delicious. You never know what your going to see on the menu, but you know it's going to be spectacular. Nightwood is the best restaurant in the city that you haven't been to yet.
(5)Charlie C.
I am mad at myself for writing this review, I really don't want to... alas I push on, why you ask? Because the Nightwood is perfect as-is: underrated, and off the beaten path. But, I must share this Pilsen-based gem so you too can can go there and NOT be swarmed by want-to-be foodies seeking perfect piquancy per plate- which I can assure you you will get! I have been a number of times, I am not let down. The chef's table demonstrates culinary mastery and fun- the dining room is the perfect amount of dark, romantic/intimate, and mysterious all at the same time...and the outdoor seating area is al-fresco-fansastico! I would feel comfortable dining on their (easily top-5 in the city burger) while wearing jeans- or crunching on their crispy pig ears whilst donning my finest suit. Somehow, they pull 'that' off and I love it. I can order wine that is tasty and worth the price, I can mellow out in a very weird and questionable location and not judge it the second I am inside their walls. Nightwood has a lot going on, and is starting to gain traction and popularity. I am happy for them, but sad that I have to make reservations anytime that I go there now. But alas, I will be back many times... on a date, to take my mom out for a perfect adventure, to knock back a bottle of wine and stuff myself on their wonders - it works for any occasion... so enjoy it, but don't take my table!
(5)Simone M.
The food was ok. Nothing spectacular, but the tots, toast, and drinks were great. I had the omelet which was decent and the best part was the tots that came as a side. The donuts were also ok, we had the bacon maple glaze and the peep donut with vanilla custard. The flavors were less than impressive which was disappointing, but the mini donuts balls were delicious. All in all this place is good if you just want a light breakfast with coffee. I haven't had dinner here, but would like to try it sometime.
(3)Hk S.
I heard a lot of great things about this place and was truly excited to go. My best friends and I decided to go here for our Valentines day dinner and it was ok. One big plus is that the service was exceptional. They kept our water glasses full at all times. I almost thought I was at an Asian restaurant. :) My best friends both ordered the steak and I had the bucatini. The bucatini sauce was very flavorful, but the noodles wasn't as al dente as I like them to be. The sauce really made up for it and thus it was an overall enjoyable dish. My friends said there was a lot of fat in the steak. A big let down for them especially because the price tag made you expect something amazing. The best thing we had was dessert. We shared the marscapone cheesecake. The texture was soft and silky. It melted in your mouth. Definitely the highlight of the whole night. I'm glad I got to try Nightwood. It's a really cute place, but I'm not dying to come back. I may be a little bias because I'm not a huge fan of fine dining. I'm a girl who likes to eat and I feel I never get full when I go to a fine dining restaurant.
(3)John C.
Love this place,excellent food and service. will come back again soon.
(4)L. Danovia ..
Saw on TV that the burger at this place was one of the best. I went, tried it and it was okay. What I REALLY enjoyed was the calamari. One of the best appetizers I have ever had. Unfortunately its not on their current menu. They should bring it back, soon!
(3)Clausewitz V.
Dear Nightwood, Full house. Cozy seat overlooking the kitchen. An assortment of characters. Never a dull moment. The drinks were solid. So was my dessert. Server came off as being chill when we sat and ordered. But as soon as we were settled, she seriously, had no table side manner. Was having a conversation, which she made it her duty to continuously interrupt. Great that she took pride in the cocktail department. Knowledgeable. Probably applied for the bartender position, but had to settle for floor. But drinks either never came or came late. And if I gotta stop what I'm doing, which is eating my $8 sorbet and partaking in a private conversation, so that you can pop in and recite the ingredients and history behind my Le Maudit Français, then we'll just have to conclude that you're just a little miss know it all. Take it down a few notches and I'm sure we'll get along perfectly fine. Ta ta for now, Fog of War
(3)Tim H.
I won't be back to Nightwood and I think I am being quite generous with my two star rating. Service was lacking and i had one of the most disgusting dishes I have ever eaten in a restaurant here with no attempt by the servers to give me a different dish. I had a side of vegetarian sausage here that was pretty good. My dining companions had dishes that they said were ok to good. I tried the french toast and it was pretty good. The problems: The rabbit rillette sandwich I had came as a recommendation from the server. It tasted pretty bland and was just a mass of greasy and creamy mushiness on a sandwich. The server messed up the charging on my bill. Not sure how difficult it is to process a bill correctly on two credit cards, but they failed to do it correctly here.
(2)Ruth B.
Cocktails truly original and delish. Food outrageously good and creative, service attentive. My only complaint was with the front of the house, when I make a reservation a month in advance I expect a comfortable in a good location soon after the reservation time. Instead I was offered after a 15 minute wait a table with very uncomfortable chairs near the kitchen. We sourced out a different table and the meal was outstanding. Too bad the welcome wasn't quite up to the same level at the food.
(3)Alima H.
Nightwood feels like one of those old friends that is consistently good to you. It has a wonderful intimate interior that is especially welcoming on cold days. Food is excellent and the chefs are top-notch. Service is friendly. I've often felt that Nightwood is one of those restaurants that strives to build relationships with its patrons. They're doing a good job.
(4)Genni O.
Talk about the most over-priced, over-rated, restaurant to come around in recent memory. The owner and his merry band o' emo losers came to pilsen to take advantage of cheap real estate - not to embrace the community, but to rape it. You WILL leave hungry and most likely, be secretly upset that you got taken by their scam.
(1)Ryan D.
Food and drinks were excellent, a must try.
(5)Eva V.
We did brunch. Ambiance is beautiful, food is just ok - one dimensional and weirdly small portions for the price on some of the dishes. Husband had Monte Cristo type sandwich; this was fine from a serving size perspective, but overpowered by the maple syrup it was coated in to the point where he could only manage to eat half. He took it home to give the second half a chance; managed to finish another quarter of a sandwich there before finally tossing it. I had some kind of Asian-inspired rice/scrambled egg dish, which was fine, but nothing mind-blowing - it was better than something I could have put together myself, but not anywhere near the kind of consistently awesome flavor combinations you experience at the Publican, for example (the Publican continues to be my gold standard for what brunch *can* be like). My portion size was super small; about half a cup of egg/rice mixture. Thankfully there were enough toast and tater tots to round the dish out, but for $13 per plate, I expected more (as in, more food). I was also put off by the fact that the beef rib tips that were supposed to be a part of the meal basically consisted of two millimeter thick slivers of meat hidden amongst the eggs. Why bother naming it if it's not going to be a substantial component of the dish? We had the server recommended bacon/butterscotch donut, and I was underwhelmed. I love myself a good, fresh, gourmet donut (Dazed and Confused, DoRite, etc.); this one was just too one-dimensionally sweet, so hard to enjoy after more than one bite. Frankly, there are just better places in Chicago to have really intriguing, innovative brunches at for the same price point to bother with Nightwood.
(3)Shanti N.
Having passed by here on a bitterly cold Art Walk last month, I decided to check out Nightwood last Friday, an unseasonably warm evening, to celebrate the coming of spring. I am glad that I took advantage when I did, as I am typing this and looking out at a wintry mix (rain/sleet). Mainly in mind of a drink, I decided to have a seat at the bar. I must have timed it right, as it was not nearly as hopping when I came in (around 7 pm) as it became later on. I went with a glass of the Wilamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It was a very smooth pour and the classic, crisp finish made me realize what I'd been missing all of these hibernating months with my default to Yellowtail Chardonnay. Later on, a couple came into the bar and sat down nearby. From the way the chef greeted them, I could tell that they were regulars here, so I decided to check out what they were ordering. I thought that I had gotten the same pasta dish as what they had ordered, but I ended up with the house-made pasta with a sauce that included veal. I was pleased that the portion was small, and not gut-busting, allowing me to savor the nuances of this decadent dish. The bread provided with dipping sauce was an inspired touch, as the bread appeared to have been baked in a mid-size ramekin and the cheese-based dipping sauce provided with it served as an excellent amuse bouche (though on a less precious scale) to whet my appetite for the main course. I plan on returning, next time to sample the cocktail offerings and the dessert side of the menu.
(3)Justin B.
About the only surprise that occurred on my visit last Friday night? How quiet it was inside the restaurant. We made a reservation but we could have strolled right in at 7:30 PM; this seems surprising and speaks volumes to how good the food is in Chicago that this place wasn't jammed. The food is fantastic. You'll fight to not request additional warm bread; the cocktails are quite good (the Pink Whippet and the Dark Star were two of the three I put to bed...sassy), the farfalle was tasty, and the Nightwood Cheeseburger is surprisingly good for a burger at a semi-fancy restaurant. I tasted my wife's salmon entree and that was also very good...the outside was crispy, but not crunchy, just right. Dessert was a minor misstep, as the descriptions for the Chocolate Bombe and the Soft Pretzel Bread Pudding were written better than they tasted. Good, just not as amazing as "dark chocolate, caramel vanilla bean, chocolate-covered pretzel ice cream" sounds! The crowd got larger as 8 turned to 9 PM, so it got lively later, and when we left around 10:30 it was closing time. I got the sense that this is a great place to take your parents and because the neighborhood has the look of "transitioning" (a popular term where I was back in DC), you'll get that jewel-in-the-nile feel when you walk back to your parked car two blocks away. This is also reflected in the incredible mix of people inside; people of all races, faiths, ages and interests seem to eat at Nightwood, so it's got a decent people-watching quotient too. Good stuff!
(4)Erika H.
Service was okay, not real complaints, but nothing that wowed me either. I ordered the bagel sandwich and perhaps I would have been able to enjoy it had the bagel not been so hard! Did they toast the bagel and let it sit there for hours? It was so ridiculously hard to bite into it!
(3)Anthony G.
This place just feels nice when you're looking for fancy but chill. I like the tasteful low key decor so your mind just sinks into the food. The stuff they create here is my kind of flavor - often times clean with spikes of interesting bits of flavor to keep your mind awake.
(5)Jason H.
We LOVE Nightwood. The drinks are amazing, the food is amazing, the service is amazing, the room is amazing. Amazing.
(4)Becky Z.
The location is great for bridgeporter~~~ The food was awesome. We had an 8 people party on Friday night and we almost ordered every entree. The duck leg was great, but they could add more sauce in it. The lake trout was juicy and fresh. The pork belly, omg, so good. The burger, extremely big portion! Great thing is every thing is local farm raised. It tastes fresh. The service was also fantastic. The parking is very easy. Free parking spot every where. It is not a noisy dining place. And we really liked it.
(5)Robert G.
Dang this place was great! We went here during Restaurant Week 2013. Really wish I knew about the adjacent seating next to the open kitchen before I was seated in the dining room! It reminded me of sitting at a sushi bar, which I prefer. We enjoyed the 4-course prix fixe menu ($44.) I really, really liked the "sausage, peppers, onions." My most memorable moment of the evening was when the patrons seating next to us ordered, the gentleman wanted to order the sausage without green peppers. Dude?! The green peppers are in the "bath" the sausages are cooked in! The poor waitress had to attempt to elegantly explain they were in the recipe. Thanks Choose Chicago and Nightwood Restaurant for this experience!
(5)Jonah E.
I went during restaurant week with a friend and together we were able to try everything on their restaurant week menu. A couple of things to note: - The waiters and waittresses were very responsive as my water glass never reached empty - The meals came out like rapid fire. Within minutes of finished one course, they would come out with the next - I came in with high expectations and they were all met or exceeded. - Ravioli Bolognese was probably my favorite dish, but the apple bread pudding is a close 2nd - noise level was on the louder end of moderate. - was a little on the expensive side at $44 per person, but overall it was worth it
(5)natalie b.
This was amazing! We had a little of everything. Buttered Beans, oysters, tartar, brussels sprouts, beets, carrots and everything was GREAT! I recommend coming with friends and sharing so you can get a bite of everything. Homemade chicken and dumplings was exactly want I needed on that snowy night. The smell when you walked in the door was enough to know it was going to be great!
(4)Dustin T.
Delicious brunch! Food is unique and gourmet. Drinks are also very good. Service could be a little better but overall a great place to check out!
(5)Edwin W.
4 beers, 1 app, and 2 burgers. I don't know about you, but I usually don't have to spend $100 for a meal like that. The beers were craft beers so I'm not going to complain about the price. The app was literally a plate of sliced cucumbers laid delicately on a plate drizzled with olive oil and topped with chopped peppers, radish, onions and jalapenos. Worst salad EVER! We came here for the burgers as we have seen it listed on many Top Burgers in Chicago lists. When we ordered the burgers with the server, we were not asked how we wanted them cooked, so I asked how they are prepared. The server said they are usually cooked Medium. I had a hunch this would be a mistake as I recalled reading on the menu that the burger consisted of two patties which usually meant 2 patties that equated to a burger somewhere in between a 1/4 lb. to 1/2 lb. burger. Knowing that the patties would be thin, it meant that the burgers would likely be over cooked especially at medium. That was EXACTLY what we were served. Overcooked patties, in between a focaccia type bun that did not help the burger. The burger was under seasoned and the only redeeming feature of this burger was the onion ring that almost got lost with soaked bun. Usually when you are paying $15 for a burger, you would expect better quality burger. Outside of the food (that we ordered), this place appears to be a trendy restaurant as it was nearly packed (both outside seating and inside dining) on a Wednesday evening. The server mentioned that the menu changes daily depending on what ingredients the kitchen wants to use. The service was impeccable as everyone was friendly was the host to the people clearing our table. I won't say I'm ruling this place out as it has great outdoor patio seating and the menu suggests that they use fresh ingredients. I strongly recommend not trying the burger as you can definitely go somewhere else for a tastier burger with less damage to your wallet.
(2)Arash R.
Well its a mixed bag , some dishes are really good and some are just average . great baby octopus and duck , average deserts and Fish . all in all not a bad place but for the price you can find a better place .
(3)Julia S.
Excellent farm-to-table restaurant. The combinations of ingredients were wonderful and unique. We had two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert, all of which were amazing! The atmosphere and decor are also excellent.
(5)Edith R.
I want to give a great review, really I do. But I agree with a lot of other approved and non-approved reviews: The food is hit or miss and service is the same. Prices are unreasonable for a hit or miss experience. I have walked past this restaurant many times, because it's only 4 blocks from my house and I've avoided it due to mixed reviews regarding quality of service and food taste and price. However, my gf recommended it as a good place for brunch. So off I went. Some parts were good, some parts not so great. I sat at the bar to wait for my party to arrive before getting seated, and the bartender hardly acknowledged me...let alone barely talked to me. She was very personable to the guy next to me. She spent a good while telling him about her favorite food. When she finally took my drink order, she looked less than thrilled to even to assist me. I ordered the Americano drink, which I cannot find on the online menu right now. I am all for trying new cocktails and learning about them, but this thing was badly bitter, and I like bitter stuff. It took a lot of diluting, lemon juice and swirling for it to grow on me. If any of you cocktail connoisseurs can educate me about that drink, please send me a message so I'm not so biased. Otherwise, I do not recommend that drink. And just before my party arrived, the bartender didn't say a word to me. She just gave me the bill in a glass and walked away. total: $8.85 for a bitter, crappy drink and crappy service. Ok, I admit I was dressed in yoga pants and a yoga hoodie; but really, shouldn't they treat us all the same? Do I need to tell you I'm dressed like that because I just ran 8 miles only an hour before i got to your snobby counter and my body is sore? Thank god I had cash and just begrudgingly threw in a $10 bill. I really should have just left her $0.15 as a tip, considering how indifferent she was to me. I WILL be back to find her and remind her how she treated me. I do, after all walk past that place weekly from my nearby home to grab myself 2 delicious craft beers at skylark--for the same price as that drink. Upon getting seated, service was far better. The girl in the glasses was very, very attentive and pleasant. I ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, which is THE BEST donut in the world. I will go back to order that for takeout. Delicious, absolutely, positively delicious. If you've ever had the bacon long john from Glazed and Infused (and you know it's fab), this is even better. It is well worth the price. I also ordered the den-fjord: listed as a rye flour crepe Swedish meatballs smoked salmon, braised kale, glazed cippolinis (unreadable handwritten item), sunnyside egg. The dish looked absolutely scrumptious, but I'm really not sure what happened there. First, it was really salty; but to be fair, I don't like a lot of salt in my food in general. My friend likes her food salty so that just depends on your palate. However, the saltiness didn't really do much for the overall flavor. With all those ingredients, I expected more flavor. Flavor from the kale, maybe a tad more flavor from the salmon. I'm not sure. I wouldn't have minded paying the $14 for that dish if the overall taste was more than just meh. To close out our meal, we caved and ordered bloody Marys...we really like our bloody Marys. So when they came in at a more than bitter taste, we were really disappointed. The garnish was really tasty, i believe it was a sliver of ginger (very good), but i don't remember what the second garnish was, it was salmon colored and crunch--that was it. I reiterate that service at the table was great, despite the crowd at 12p-ish. I'm all for giving places a second try but $20+ dollars for 2 bad drinks is outright insane. I will return for the donut as takeout but I really hope some of those folks, or that bartender chick treats all patrons better and the same across the board. After all, Pilsen is my home and I support my local businesses. I don't demand high services, but I do notice snobby service when I'm being a friendly customer and you do not reciprocate the gesture. I won't say I won't ever be back, but I will think twice next time.
(2)Shannon B.
I don't write 5-star reviews for many places unless you wow me with your service which this place does, your food is amazing and savory which at this place it is. Boyfriend and I both ordered the same dish it was the homemade Gnocchi I can't tell you how pillowy and amazing it was. Beyond flavor! The service was a bit slow this day, so the waitress showed up at the end of the meal with a tasting tray of deserts two mini pies and a custard. She definitely made up for the wait because all the deserts were amazing. Its always good with staff and a restaurant can read the mood and where they fell flat and make up for it without the customer even asking. Put this on your must try list in Chicago! You'll be glad you did.
(5)Sean H.
went with a friend on a thu. really nice ambience, not too dark, never got overly loud. a nice relief from the november cold. friendly wait service. came at 7:15, there's no wait though we had a reservation. was packed around 8 or so. two entrees + dessert + appetizer came out to about 44 a person (37 w/out tip). you get some free bread (like, a teeny tiny little loaf) at the beginning and then some teeny tiny cookies at the end. we ordered this salad made of peppers and this meat sauce for an appetizer. it was a nice appetizer. i think $14. entrees were this fish with some mushroom and something else i wasn't sure about, but it was good. it was pretty expensive though ($28) and def. not something that I think would be filling for an average sized person. however there's a cheap (relatively) hamburger that is also good for $15 - it's technically a double cheeseburger + fries. that combo plus appetizer etc. was really filling. then we got this bread pudding thing for $10, which was super small, but the flavors were really nice. didn't order alcohol but that will probably run you $10-$15 a person if you get one drink . i'd like to try the brunch later.
(5)Nanette F.
I guess I don't get it. I went there because I had so many friends rave about the place, but I don't see the big deal. The service would have been better,but the hipster server had the worst BO that I have encountered in a restaurant. I mean, it was down right abusive. I ordered one of their specialty bourbon cocktails which tasted like a cross between salmon and bitters. I had a pasta dish which was okay, however my husband's burger was wonderful. So, to wrap it up. take nose plugs and order the burger.
(2)Raytus C.
Wow - Nightwood - how your star has fallen! We started with some fried squid and a mackerel appetizer. The squid were tiny ringlets that were so fried, it was really just salty batter that was left. The mackerel was the size of my thumb for $18. That's just not fair. We'll normally order the half chicken as a reliable standby - but it was replaced on tonight's menu with a chicken thigh for $26. As we discussed the menu, I noted the thigh was singular. Thinking it wasn't possible, we ordered the chicken and indeed - it was one thigh for $26 - the cheapest cut of chicken. No joke. The thigh was okay, but the greens it was served on where so salty, they were inedible. I had the burger and it was also incredibly salty. I don't mind smaller portions - but a chicken thigh would be overprices at $16 as an appetizer - what this entree really was - let alone $26. Nightwood - one more visit like this and we are done.
(2)Yuki H.
Came in for dinner to see what the hype was all about. I really enjoyed the pasta and the desserts where phenomenal.
(5)Chris S.
The food was very good, but not outstanding. I loved the ambiance, especially the chairs. Great place to impress a North-side lady with on a date.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Went out on a Monday evening to celebrate a friend's birthday at Nightwood. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that they were offering half-off bottles of wine that evening (good for us considering they ONLY sell their wine by the bottle, never by the glass!) Their limited menu was inventive & fun; I noticed many local ingredients listed. As a vegetarian, I had only one entrée option, which was disappointing... I would have preferred to have a choice on my meal. More vegetarian options would be an idea. The atmosphere is that of fine dining, but also very casual. Their wait staff all wear street clothes; however the wine was presented & served properly & the presentation of their food gave the feel of fine dining. Their wait staff keep your water glasses full at all times; and I noticed right away that they serve filtered water; not a hint of Chicago tap water! Since it was my friend's birthday we were celebrating, we asked that they not sing a song or do any of that funny-business to attract attention, which they kindly granted to us. They did, however, surprise my friend by embellishing her dessert with a candle & "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate on the plate. Very cute.
(3)Critic L.
The food and service was great. I would have given 4 stars if the portions weren't so small. I had the $25 single roast chicken thigh and my husband ordered the $32 duck breast while we shared a side. They should've served two thighs or half a chicken cuz we both walked out still feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Ordered glasses of wine and it wasn't even a full pour like you would get at any ordinary restaurant in river north either....Quality and flavors were excellent but overpriced for the neighborhood and lack of portion. I'm sticking to their brunch only!
(3)Carolyn L.
OK so I went here after the Shamrock Shuffle because dammit I earned it! And the first thing I had to get my hands on was the Nightella doughnut, stuffed with, you guessed it, nutella. It was rich and divine. I also snagged some bites of my parents' butterscotch doughnut with bacon on top. I almost jumped over the counter to grab the jar of bacon soaking in maple syrup. It was just...so...amazing. The salty bacon really complimented the sweet butterscotch. Every bite melted in my mouth. For the rest of the meal, we enjoyed some great bacon and sausage from The Butcher and Larder. Both had a great taste and were very enjoyable. My mother ordered the bread pudding french toast and for sure I helped her out on the last few bites. It had a lemon curd sauce served and raspberry couliswith it. The light flavors all came together really well, and the entire dish was just rich and delicious. My father had the breakfast sandwich on a bagle. Again, I stole a few bites and even ate the rest for breakfast the next morning. The sauce was just the right amount of savory, nothing overpowering. I loved Nightwood. And I would love to go back and try everything else on their brunch menu over time. It was definitely a hard decision to choose just one thing off the menu!!!
(5)Michal F.
The patio ambiance puts you in the middle of a lush garden. It's a great setup for a meal full of fresh vegetables. I got the breakfast burrito which i thought was excellent. It had a fresh taste with a mediterranean feel. The lamb in it was juicy. It also contained hummus, rice yogurt, feta, mint and a vegetable with thick stems that I've never seen before. The downside was hydration. It was incredibly hot on the day we went so we wanted alot of water. Each time it was served to us in a small glass that we'd finish in a minute then have to wait 20 minutes to flag down a waiter for a re-fill. Near the end of the meal we got a pitcher but this was after five refilled glasses that just would not sate our thirst.
(4)Kate C.
We came here for our anniversary and loved it. The food was amazing and the service was perfect and friendly. I want to go back to try the brunch! :)
(5)Chase M.
Good food from a farm-to-table menu. Flexible with eating preferences (paleo, vegetarian diets.) Fantastic drinks.
(5)Jennifer T.
I like Lula Cafe (sister restaurant to Nightwood) so I had high hopes for my first visit here. Unfortunately the service was inattentive and 3 (out of 4 that we ordered) dishes were below average. Sadly, I will not return. Dish that was pretty good: Nightwood burger Dishes that were not: Ravioli, Grilled Octopus, Fried Rice. All three were overpowered by salt and vinegar, Service was disappointing. We had empty water glasses for the first 10 minutes after being seated at our table. Our waitress passed us many times without even glancing our way. As for the setting - do avoid the north part of the bar. There was a sulfur or sewage scent that definitely took away from the ambiance of the rest of the restaurant.
(2)Jay K.
Nightwood is definitely worth checking out. I'm a huge fan of the upscale farm to table genre of restaurants and decided to give this a try. When we got there, I was happy I made a reservation (even despite a 9pm one) because the place was packed. My initial impression was that the place has a nice ambience (although I prefer the indoors than outdoor patio). The drinks and service was very good. I ordered the fish entree and it was good as well. Overall, the portion sizes are just right. If you end up going for the full experience with drinks to desserts, the bill will run up. Why not 5 stars? My only critique is that my entree (and I tried one of my friend's entree) was somewhat bland. The appetizers were spot on but the entree seemed somewhat lacking.
(4)David S.
I've heard and read a lot about this place but I can't say I was that impressed. It's actually nice on the inside considering its location. I was expecting more from the food though. I had the chicken which came with some really bitter and off tasting broccoli rabe. I thought the rabe and the chicken were a tad undercooked. My dining companion liked the brussels sprouts appetizer and his pasta was good, but I thought the portion was pretty skimpy.
(2)Brandon T.
Came here today for the b-day brunch. Turned out, for the most part, excellent! Ended up having a few mimosa's, the bacon butterscotch donut, granola, and the hamburger. The butterscoth bacon donut was incredible. So ridiculously sweet & savory, I would recommend spliting it if you are going to eat anything else. The granola was disappointing. Not nearly enough yogurt, but it did tasted nice by itself just didn't really want a dry bowl of cereal if you know what I mean. The hamburger was great. The bread, contrary to others opinions, I thought to be perfect for how juicy the burger was. It made the entire sandwich manageable with the sauce and juiciness of the meat. Of course the mimosa's were also good, yet a bit pricey. Note: If you end up going here, DRIVE! Public transportation here is a pain, and cabs are non-existent. It started storming today half way through our lunch. Ended up waiting 45 minutes after the restaurant was nice enough to call two cab companies for us.
(4)Laurence B.
Dined here August 1 2013. This place is amazing. Sat in the patio (open air) area on a beautiful night. The food is amazing. The most stunning dish was the shisito peppers (appetizer). Very carefully selected wine list. You can't lose. All the wines are well-chosen and reasonably priced. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. Drive your own car, or assume you may have to wait for a cab for the return trip.
(5)Tricia D.
Props to Nightwood for earning a Bib Gourmand award for 2011! This late breaking news was even more incentive to return to this fine Pilsen establishment after my blissful brunch here circa one year ago. And knowing what I know now, I would only return for brunch. The dinner offerings had - hm, what's the word I'm looking for? - muted flavors to me. The mushroom sformato (like a savory custard), handmade pasta, and duck risotto were all tasty, but lacked that extra kick of culinary flavors to bring it to the next level. I left wanting more, and the same goes for the lemon pudding cake and vanilla pot de creme desserts we tried. The clam appetizer was a winner and the highlight for me. I was hoping to be more blown away, but I was simply not. Like the cocktail list and open kitchen though. Bring your semi-outdoor voice because the noise level gets energetic in here. +100 on Opentable.
(3)Bryan W.
Worth the trip!! So much has already been said about this wonderful spot so I will keep it brief, just go. This place is perfect for brunch or dinner and has to be experienced.
(5)Jennifer N.
I eventually went back at summer's beginning for Sunday Brunch. I was happier with Brunch than my dinner experience. I went with a friend and she ordered the donuts. I had quiche which was very nice, and it came with a small salad. I want to go back to try their recent selection of donuts (minus bacon!). I liked sitting outside for Brunch, compared to the basement for dinner. I'm glad I went back because I really do want to like this place.
(4)Cyn C.
Ooh-dah-lolly, ooh-dah-lolly, golly what a day!!! It was my last weekend as a resident of Chicago and I had some serious decisions to make: try new (to me) restaurants or go to my tried-and-true spots one last time? I tend to lean toward the conservative, so I'm surprised I tried this new place instead of going to my beloved brunch spot (which isn't so far away from this one). The three of us shared the two special donuts (the maple bourbon bacon one and the lemon verbena creme filled donut), each of which came with a side of donut holes. How can you not be charmed by a place that serves its donuts with a side of donuts? Then, in typical family style, we all shared the following: 1) wood-grilled goat cheese stuffed french toast with blackberry jam. (mmm. was good. not as good as the place in Bridgeport, but still delicious). 2) eggplant and lamb casserole with... can't remember. but the eggplant was deliciously done. 3) bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, cole slaw (made with vinagrette or very light on the mayo), maple thick cut bacon pieces and a runny over easy egg. This breakfast sandwich was delicious, but could be made better with a better grade bagel. Now, the bagel wasn't BAD, it just wasn't top notch. But those tots were more than enough to make up for an "ok" bagel. Tips: 1) make reservations. 2) come a bit early to drive around and find free! street parking 3) wear your stretchies 4) don't order the bagel sandwich if you're on a first date. it's a messy monstrosity.
(4)Adoley J.
Yum yum good food! Came here with a group of friends for some Sunday brunch and post Saturday night chat session. I mean why else do brunch, am I right. As soon as we arrived we ordered some donuts for the table. They were amazing with just the right amount of sweetness. I ordered the crab salad which was really good. It was baked crab with lettuce and cheese and came with focaccia bread. All in all a good meal. My only complaint comes because of our waiter. I understand we all have our off days, but he was short with us and kept rolling his eyes. At the end of the meal, he went behind the bar to make drinks and left us hanging. So while the meal was good the service could have been better.
(3)Mare G.
Loved the decor and seats. Ordered the burger and wish I had tried something more adventurous. The apple bread pudding with rosemary ice cream made the meal complete!
(4)Charlene B.
One of our top five favorite restaurants in Chicago. Recommend it for dinner AND brunch. Also recommend nabbing a seat at the chef's counter in the back. Makes for great theater. But, truly, any seat in the house is a lucky seat -- the food is that consistently standout, the interior design + comfort that consistently good. We love bringing people here who have never been and watching as they are blown away as course after course arrives. Nightwood nails the intersection of inventive, seasonal dishes, warm + hip vibe, and staff friendliness. Their ever-changing menu is incentive to go again and again.
(5)Pascal M.
"Old McDonald had a farm" but he sure as hell didn't feed his family this kinda' food! I'm diggin' Nightwood. Cool part of town and easy to find a spot near by. The interior dining area is simple, yet refined, and the ceilings and windows really make you feel like you've got a lot of space. PLUS! There's some chairs in the back if you want to watch the kitchen work it's magic. I'm sure theyyy luhhhhhhve that... Perhaps if you are a regular or know them personally you could watch them work without holding back. The pirate ship like atmosphere is what I tend to love about kitchens, hopefully they wouldn't hold back for fussy dining crowds. Who knows, maybe you could even get some innovative creations tossed your way from time to time. Their cocktails compliment the fresh cuisine. Plenty of ingenuity with their wide array of spirits, liqueurs, and extras can be found in their well crafted drinks. The food is about as fresh as your gonna get. Some dishes are raw and simple so you can get the best out of certain ingredients, while other entrees clearly have an expressive attention to detail and skill. It mus be great to be a local so you can come in here frequently and try the always changing menu. Although it must stink to have something you loved, gone the next week. BUT THAT'S HOW THEY GETCHA! Their dessert. "GREAT SCOTT!" They could open a small pastry or dessert shop based entirely on the expertise of sweets they got goin' on. The night we went, they very well served us the best bread pudding I've ever had in my life. Quite simply. Their cuisine blew us away, from beginning to end. I can't wait to go back from season to season and try some of their other menus. Nightwood is a restaurant where superheroes would go to eat.
(5)Kurt F.
Incredible experience at Nightwood! Sat at the bar just off the kitchen and had a very cool experience watching the chefs work their magic. I HIGHLY recommend the crispy pig ears and rabbit cabbage roll...both were exceptional! Bay scallops with beef tendon, mushroom and quail egg in bacon broth was on point as well! If you are a dessert person I would highly recommend the apple bread pudding with the rosemary ice cream. Overall, great dinning experience.
(5)Evan B.
Great spot. The service and décor is top notch. Drinks at the bar were varied - I tasted several, and they were each unique. I must say, the cocktail list compares to that of the "hotter" cocktail spots in town (Billy Sunday, Violet Hour, etc) but I don't think they were made with the same level of dedication. My drink was a bit heavy on the bitters. The service was excellent. We arrived for an 8:15 reservation and could not be seated until 9:00. The maitre'd kept us informed and apologized. We understood the difficulties, but they were nice enough to offer us a few WONDERFUL appetizers on the house. Which brings me to the appetizers. These were the star of the dinner. They were each unique in taste, profile and presentation. The pig ears and the peppers were each great, but their menu changes daily. The server was very helpful and knowledgable about the dishes. As others have said, entrées were a little on the bland side. Not horrible, but not as daring as the appetizers. If I were here again, I'd order a main dish (or two) to split among the group, but go all out on the appetizers. The desserts were perfect. Nice wine and limited but decent beer list. Definitely a spot Chicagoans should check out.
(4)Caitlin B.
I went here as part of large party for my bff's law school graduation. We arrived first and had a mimosa and bloody mary at the bar. When the rest of our party was a bit late, they were not only accommodating, but the hostess came over to us and let us know! We sat downstairs, which was quieter than upstairs and very reasonable given that we were such a large party. There was one other large party seated downstairs. We all shared the butterscotch bacon doughnuts to begin, and these were amazing: definitely the highlight of the meal! I ate oatmeal, which was delicious. Most people at the table ordered the eggs and toast combo, and they all seemed please with it. I'd love to see some non egg-centric dishes, but the food was good, and I'd definitely return. My mimosas were good, and the bf's bloody marys were "amazing, and very well-spiced". Prices were in line with the quality- it's not IHOP, people!
(4)Christie B.
When we first got there, they seated our party in the basement and we were the only ones down there and it felt weird. I have never asked to have my table moved before, so I was a little nervous as to what to say. My friend just asked our server if we could be seated upstairs and she checked, came back down and reseated us upstairs. I don't know why they didn't just do that in the first place. Besides that, the food was really good. I think it was a little overpriced, but maybe I am just judging it because it was in Pilsen. I really liked the pasta salad appetizer and my friend said their cheeseburger was one of the best in Chicago. Overall, I liked it and would recommend to anyone finding themself in this neighborhood.
(4)Rachel W.
I really wanted to love Nightwood, but was only marginally impressed w/the food unfortunately, and it just didn't have a relaxed feel to it, which didn't' fit the decor and ambiance of the place. I dined at Perennial a few nights later and while both are based on seasonal and local ingredients, I felt that Perennial far surpassed in terms of flavors and creativity. But, I would go back for a cocktail if i was down in Pilsen and could sit at the bar instead.
(3)Melissa B.
The donut of the day was butterscotch bacon and it was ridiculous! We started with that and bloody's. They were strong and soo fresh! Mt dining companion had the bagel sandwich with smoked trout, holly cow, so good! I had the pork with eggs and it was delicious as well. It was like a flavor explosion of classy pulled pork with seasonal greens, yum! Our waitress was super on it and the water service was awesome as well. We really liked brunch here and plan to return very soon for dinner. I love supporting places that do their part to source local, sustainable, seasonal food.
(4)Nichole C.
Yum, just yum. Brunch was really lovely and I thought about it all day. Also, the crowd was damn good looking, if that matters.
(5)Michael U.
Another donut stop on this visit would prove somewhat impromptu...somewhat in that we had planned to enjoy brunch at Nightwood but given the ever changing nature of the menu, long lines, and pleasant weather they had already sold out of nearly half of the choices when we arrived at 1pm and the other half was simply not the sort of items I go out for breakfast for...aside from the oft raved fresh made donuts...and with my brunch buddy running a bit late en route for our new destination, Publican, I decided to see how the fried-to-order carbs stacked up to the other five stops on the trip; a choice that entailed me taking a seat amongst the hipsters at the bar while I waited patiently to be greeted by one of the unvaryingly busy bartenders. With the steady stream of beer, fresh squeezed juices, and elaborate mixed drinks finally letting up long enough for the bar staff to catch their breath I was greeted perhaps five minutes after sitting down and explaining that I just wanted two doughnuts to go the bartender almost looked relieved that I didn't want anything to drink and telling me it would be "about ten minutes - it has been crazy busy this morning" he offered me a coffee while I waited - an offer I accepted but was not charged for and a very nice gesture considering the quality of the brew, a smooth locally roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe - a nicety very much unexpected given the attitude of service at sister restaurant Lula Café. With donuts in hand and bill paid after one cup of coffee and fifteen minutes at the bar I emerged from Nightwood into the sunny Chicago weather and opting to indulge while the donuts were still warm I started with the $4 Bacon Butterscotch option, a choice I'd heard much about and all things being equal a good option with a nice yeasty rise and ample coating with sweet butterscotch plus smoky bacon but in my opinion a bit too oily - a problem not suffered by the delicious cinnamon sugar doughnut holes included with the order. Moving next to an even more pricey option, the $5 seasonal "Shamrock shake" option, my fourth St. Patrick's Day Special of the trip and the most pricey doughnut I've ever purchased; in a word it was awesome and in two words, really awesome. Appearing first to be a round yeast donut with copious frosting closer inspection actually revealed it to be a filled doughnut, the interior a light Bailey's and Peppermint cream, while the topping was actually an amalgam of melted dark Ghirardelli chocolate and Andes mints. Served warm and with a trio of doughnut holes I'd be hard pressed to decide if it was better or worse than the holiday special at Doughnut Vault as they were quite different, but in my opinion in trumped the one at Do-Rite though admittedly at twice the cost and certainly makes me curious as to how the rest of the brunch menu stacks up; something that will require investigation on a later date at an earlier time.
(3)Joanne W.
I've heard chattering here and there about NIghtwood and had always wanted to check it out. So, I was absolutely thrilled to get an invitation to brunch. A group of us met late Sunday morning and were seated downstairs. Yes, there is a downstairs that is used for larger parties. It was bustling on the main floor so we were appreciative of the quieter atmosphere. The brunch menu seems to change weekly but there is at least one item that is always on the menu from what I understand: bacon butterscotch doughnuts. And they are freakin delicious. Nightwood does a good job with the savory sweet trend that you can find at virtually any place that sells sweets. The doughnut is done with a butterscotch glaze, piled high with bits of cubed fried bacony goodness and served with sugared doughnut holes. OMIGOSH. I died. Nightwood is also serving the best tots in all of Chicago. You heard me right. THE BEST. I'm not normally a tot person. Up until this brunch, Hot Doug's held this title. Sorry Doug but Nightwood has you beat. I got three hefty perfectly golden balls of freshly grated tots. They are ridiculous. Accompanying my tots were a soft scramble of eggs with celeriac cream, anchovy, gruyere, parsley & truffle oil. It was cooked perfectly, wonderful smokiness. The homemade blueberry compote that arrived along side my toast was also delicious. As if this wasn't enough, Nightwood cures their own bacon. Don't think twice about this. Get it. Fresh juice and Intelligentsia coffee rounded out this seemingly perfect brunch. I cannot wait to return to Nightwood and might even check out the dinner menu if I can tear myself way from those tots.
(5)Jen D.
I've now been to Nightwood twice for brunch and recently went for dinner. Dinner did not disappoint either. I am continually impressed by their use of vegetables - the abundance of locally grown veggies and the creative use. I ordered a trout dish that came with a little pot of some magical veggie and chorizo concoction. The fish was flavorfully perfect and the side was out of this world. I've not had anything here that was bad. Service was outstanding as before. Atmosphere has energy without being too loud. RUN, don't walk to Nightwood. Can't wait to go back. I just wish it wasn't in Pilsen (I live at the other end of the earth - Wrigleyville).
(5)Emily B.
Is it worth making the trek to Pilsen? Yes, but just once. Most kitchen tables are reserved for the elite - those willing to spend a little extra to sit closer to the magic. At Nightwood, it's first-come, first-served for front-row seats to the all the action. Foodies, rejoice. Because all pastas are made in-house, we went with their spaghetti dish. Served with veal meatballs, all in all not bad. My dining partner sprung for the cheeseburger and I was jealous. Although the consensus was: it had nothing on Acadia or Au Cheval. For dessert? The soft pretzel bread pudding, which was nothing short of heavenly. In sum, it was a custard cup of sweet, salty, soft, crunchy warm gooey goodness topped with a ball of vanilla ice cream with flecks of chocolate covered pretzels. Service is very, very, very far from being humble, warm, and friendly and is the main reason this place will hover around the "just okay" mark for me.
(3)Agnes L.
A bright, airy and covered patio area with tons of plants and a menu font type mimicking scrawled handwriting help to create a laid-back yet hip atmosphere. And with a unique brunch menu that has seasonal ingredients, I was enticed from the get-go. We had bacon-butterscotch and berry creme fraiche donuts has appetizers to split among four people. I'm not a big sweet tooth so the bacon-butterscotch with its sweet/savory combo of flavor was more to my liking. I had ordered the bagel sandwich, which I ended up eating as if it was an eggs Benedict (with a fork and knife) because it was served open-faced and packed with tons of slaw. I was disappointed to see that the smoked trout was not a separate component in the sandwich but was instead infused into the cream cheese spread. The thick bagel seemed to overtake the entire dish, so it would have been better to have a thinner piece of bread like sliced foccacia. The "tots" on the side were intriguing because the image mimicked little wicker basket balls that I've seen used as decor in bowls on coffee tables because they were shoestring potatoes rolled up and baked/fried. Our group agreed that traditional tots or breakfast hash is more flavorful and satisfying. My husband had the breakfast burrito, which I liked much more because of all the unique ingredients and how much more it was balanced in flavor and texture. The hummus, rice, yogurt, mint and feta mixed in with the braised beef rolled up into a tortilla, alongside a chickpea, cucumber and greens salad gave a fresh Mediterranean vibe. Also, our server informed us that this item would not be on the menu for too much longer, so we felt obligated to try it.
(4)Zeb M.
Best brunch of my life. Coffee, eggs, hashbrowns that come to you in the shape of fritters, toast, veggie sausage, and a couple of free pastries on the house. Just believe me on this one.
(5)Eric M.
Quietly positioned in a gentrifying near South-Side neighborhood, this attractive place effectively finds the sweet spot between understatement and flair, which, in this day and age, is a goal of so many restaurants that it almost seems like conscious, pretentious irony. Not so with Nightwood. The popular Sunday brunch offers donuts--yes, donuts, not brioche or beignets or even macaroons. Just tasty donuts. (Granted, these donuts may be filled with mint-cilantro and cost $7 a pop, but nobody's trying to deny this isn't quintessential Chicagoyuppie dining. It is.) That said, the spin on modern comfort food here is nicely seasoned and smartly blended between the sweet and the savory. The three of us were all happy with our meals, if the portions were a tad small for the prices. An early-ish (1015a) brunch should still leave you satisfied enough to make it through to dinner--not ready for a real lunch just two hours later. However, the meal was good enough that I would have been willing to give it a go at Nightwood again at 12:30p, if my credit card weren't still so sore!
(4)Denise A.
Real food, nothing processed everything made on site or locally. Decor is lovely and the wait is never over the top long. In the summer the outdoor seating is amazing, with a modern fireplace in the center to add to the coziness. I never know what to expect when I order, the menu description is so simple but the servers are usually good at filling in the blanks. Breads are a common part of the menu and salads are usually light.
(4)Jason V.
Visited Nightwood for a mid-February Sunday brunch. We snagged a reservation earlier in the morning and waited only a couple of minutes for our table to clear. The restaurant was packed, which made the six hangers for coats in the middle of winter a little ridiculous. Our table of four was seated near the front door in stylish but relatively uncomfortable chairs. The table split one of the Bacon Butterscotch doughnuts and one of the Raspberry Jelly doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze and Candied Coco Nibs. While the doughnuts tasted decent, they are not worth the menu prices of $4 and $5 respectively. Hell, the Bacon Butterscotch doughnut is simply a regular doughnut covered in butterscotch sauce and pieces of bacon--no infusion, twist, or anything that seemed particularly innovative. The Duck Confit and Pig Skin Stew with Scrambled Eggs and Tortilla Chips was substantially better. An odd combination to be sure, but the duck and pig skin make for an extremely hearty pairing. The rest of the plate is practically an afterthought (or perhaps a last-minute attempt to characterize this as a brunch dish), but the eggs and salsa were pretty good while the tortilla chips (think more along the lines of what you'd get in a tortilla soup at Houlihan's) were probably unnecessary. Overall, I was pretty pleased with Nightwood, and the restaurant should get extra credit for changing the menu frequently to keep things fresh and keep the diners on their toes. Of brunch spots I've visited in Chicago, though, Nightwood falls behind The Gage and Jam (at least at the old location).
(3)Colleen S.
Not sure why this place got rave reviews from Chicago Magazine. I ordered the Duck which was very good - meat fell off the bone - but the portion size was skimpy. A small side of roasted asparagus swimming in olive oil sat beside it. There was so much oil it really ruined the asparagus. To me this is not a good value for $30 [Should have gone to the Tuesday night 3 course special at La Sardine for $30 - could have had the oxtail to start, a hanger steak and a souffle.] Meanwhile, it seemed my water glass was refreshed after nearly every sip- a pet peeve of mine. I don't need that many interruptions at the table. My friend and I split 2 desserts - banana bread pudding and cherry pie. These were very good, but since we sat outside the ice cream melted quite quickly. Our server was cordial but not extremely helpful or tolerant of the fact that we needed time to decide on our orders. The open kitchen is entertaining and the outdoor seating area is nice.
(2)Gina R.
fantastic food. it's nice to know it's always "good" meat (locally farmed, etc), even if you pay a little more for it. brunch is always 100%. dinner can sometimes be spotty, though they do change out items every day, so I can't blame them. I do feel like I didn't put enough time in planning my outfit when I see the service staff, however. so damn hip. whatever; they have bacon butterscotch donuts. nuff said.
(5)Edie J.
So delicious!! This morning my friend and I did the Big Lebowski brunch. White russian donut?? hell yea! There were other funny menu items as well. The service was good, coffee was plentiful, we were not rushed and didn't wait for anything. Great start to the day, will be returning!!
(4)Toyo K.
Cool place located south of downtown Chicago. The service and atmosphere were great and I could tell this was a hip place. Place was packed on a Monday night which is always a good sign. In the back there's an open kitchen with bar seating so if you want you can sit and eat and watch the cooks do their thing. The inside can get very noisy - so noisy that you may not be able to hear everyone at your table (we had a table of 5). They also have outdoor seating so that may be a better option. I heard the menu changes daily at this place. For appetizers we ordered a bruschetta plate and a vegetable plate. Both were excellent and the presentation were creative. I ordered the cheeseburger on focaccia bread for an entree and I was really looking forward to a delicious, juicy burger. I was a bit disappointed in a couple of things: 1. My burger tasted dry 2. The focaccia bread did not work with the burger. It was too tough making it hard to bite through and did not soak up any of the burger's juices 3. The cheese (I believe it was goat) was overpowering Everyone else seemed to really enjoy their meals. Although my burger fell short, I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a fun and enjoyable dining experience.
(4)Graham D.
A lot has been written about Nightwood that tells you how creative and unique they are, so I'll spare you the repetition, save that I most wholeheartedly agree they are amazingly crafty with their menu choices. I think the overarching signature of this place is its dedication to local and sustainable food sources. As has been noted, the menu changes, because their food sources change as the seasons do. (It's what we all used to do before cheap airfreight!) The night we were there, spring lamb on lentils was on the menu as was flattened salmon. We paired this a pleasant Sauvignon Blanc at a very modest price. In fact their wine list is comfortably approachable; not a whole bunch of listings with astronomical numbers which always makes me feel small and inadequate. Portions are generous without being threatening to your waistline and it's worth checking the dessert menu, because more creativity abounds here. The street parking can be a bit of hassle, but this restaurant bears your checking it out. They've been there for better than 4 years, so they are clearly doing something very right!
(4)Heather M.
I've been dying to try Nightwood, and I finally got my chance during restaurant week. First of all, bonus points to them for creating a restaurant week menu and not just giving you a choice of their standard fare. From cocktails to dessert, everything was fabulous. I won't elaborate on the details of the entrees, as that menu has ended, but I will say that they turn out some creative, delicious preparations of high quality ingredients. The service could not have been more attentive and friendly. I think it's one of the best examples of the Chicago style of food right now: high-end riffs on comfort food, using excellent technique and the best ingredients. This is a great place to take out of town-ers to show them what the food scene here is all about. Enjoy!
(5)Edgar V.
A "foodie" friend of mine in Chicago referred me to this restaurant. Overall it was great. I had the appetizer salad (good but too much onion) and the sirloin steak for dinner. The steak was good, but Nightwood is not a steakhouse. This is definitely a hipster haven - from the servers to the clients. I felt like I had been transported to Seattle (think Local 360). My only complaint is that although my table was ready, I was told that it would be 15 minutes and they asked that I wait in the bar. They clearly had a strategy tin place to sell drinks before seating customers by pretending that there is a wait. That's kinda rude and deceitful. I'd go back...maybe....Chicago has so many options for great food.
(4)Chris G.
It was close to 7pm on a nearly-perfect Chicago summer Friday night. I was on my sofa and had enjoyed a nap. It was also my friend's bday... but took me nearly 2 hours to force him to abandon a laid back evening and hurry up the street to Nightwood, arriving around 9pm. The restaurant was packed as expected but we spotted an open patio table, then rushed to the desk to ask how deep the waiting list was. Though we saw several people standing nearby, the kind gentlemen asked if we had reservations (no) and said oh wait, let me see.. I only have a patio opening, will that do? It all felt a bit Disney-esque to me possibly because I still had cobwebs from my nap, but more so because how rare is it to saunter up to a popular spot on one of the busiest nights and get prime seating somewhere other than next to their boiler room? We sat down, the sun was setting and the breeze felt pleasantly tropical. The smells of nearby patrons' orders crossed us and we had a good feeling about what was to come. After receiving a mediocre bite-sized square, buttery pastry with a side of fresh butter, we looked forward to the hand cut pasta with basil, cauliflower and almonds. The dish was offered with an herbed butter sauce and the noodles were tight and firm. It paired well with the bottle of chilled '07 Methven Vineyards Pinot Gris from Oregon's Willamette Valley, which was perfectly smooth and crisp. Birthday boy ordered the very delicate and succulent Superior Whitefish with Three Sisters hominy and Cilantro and I pressed for the Confit of Gunthorp Farm duck leg with summer squash and oyster mushrooms. I bit into the butt of the whitefish and it was quite gamey, seemingly soaked in a room-temp Durian fruit (which isn't a turnoff personally). But Bday boy offered bits of the middle and it was a quite different, adult Tilapia treat, still with slight gamey overtones that brought out the floral notes in our Pinot Gris. Anyone familiar with birds like duck, ostrich and quail realize that it's quite easy to overcook. We were impressed that they served a leg that was well-seasoned and tender, despite the challenge. The accompanying summer squash and mushrooms did not upstage the main act. Here's a confession. The couple next to us ordered a few dishes and had a bowl of golden fries parked in the middle of their table. The smell was so sensual that we flagged our very attentive server down and asked how quickly could she get a bowl of them over to us. She chuckled and said it could come out with our entrees. I'm a fat guy and've had many different kinds of french fries, but if one had to DIE and go to french fry heaven, THEY WOULD SERVE THESE FRIES. The were impossibly crisp (cooked in a little duck fat??) on the outside but took on a fluffy, Yukon Gold potato richness inside. We were joined for dessert by our neighbor and friend who's expecting any day now. After a bit of debate, we settled on Nightwood's chocolate raspberry tart, almond toffee gelato and a cherry turnover. Though the cherry turnover was light and tangy, the tart was surprisingly airy, crisp and offered subtle, high-end chocolate and fresh raspberry flavors. It looked heavy but was quite the opposite. Bday boy decided to slather the gelato over the tart and took it to a new pleasurable level. After crashing their party, uninvited on possibly the busiest night of the week, one would hesitate to be most critical. But I can honestly share, I felt the cuisine at Nightwood was better than what was served at Charlie Trotter's. And our meal last night was just less-than-half of his $450 bill AND included two bottles of the Pinot Gris. We plan to become regulars. :) --- UPDATE: So it was Easter weekend and after 8pm on a gorgeous Saturday night. Me and birthday boy were over on Taylor Street trying to get into a popular Italian Eatery by Stax Cafe and I'd learnt that he hadn't made a reservation as we walked through the door. 2.5 hour wait we were told. We contemplated hitting up Bevi Amo across the street, Chez Joel nearby or going north to Cotes du Rhone but decided against that since we wanted to finish the night at Simone's Bar in Pilsen. Chez Joel couldn't seat us for another 1.5 hours and Nightwood said about 1 hour also. We drove around and contemplated other places but it was packed all around. I said screw it, let's park by Nightwood and just walk in and see how it goes. So we decided to just order a bottle and stand at the bar until something opened up. A french Cab Franc. Was tasty. We nibbled on puffy fried lemon slices and ordered salmon rillettes apps, both mouth watering. We finished up at a table, ordering the quite flavorful, crispy, spit-roasted India duck entree with foie gras (so buttery good!) and the spit-roasted chicken with Michigan ramps, lemon, garlic, mint. The chunky goat cheesecake with toasted pecans, rosemary honey and crunchy crust was sinful enough to send us to hell many times over. Good times. :)
(4)Angelina K.
Bacon butterscotch donuts for brunch ! Amazing . So good and addicting . Great restaurant . Awesome cocktails .
(5)Melanie V.
Pilsen, Pilsen, Pilsen. Believe me, as a life-long Chicagoan, I would have never step foot in Pilsen ever. It's reputation has definitely preceeded itself for me. But, thanks to the recent facelift up and down Halsted, Nightwood finally gave me a reason to stop in. And I'm super happy I did. Here's a rundown: Setting: 10am, Sunday, brunch Crowd: A lovely bunch, with such diverse backgrounds. Common ground? Love of new restaurants and intriguing food dishes. Menu: Omg, amazing. All of it. You do not understand how long it took me to decide on what I actually wanted to order. Everything sounded soooo yum. The adorable part was the handwritten menus. *sigh* Atmosphere: Airy, sunny, semi-private, incredibly friendly staff. Perfection on a Sunday morning. But, seriously? Can we talk about the food? The chocolate + bacon donuts were heavenly. Like, DD will never, ever compare to this.. In fact, if I didn't eat so much of it, I probably would have been able to finish my actual meal. As a treat, the staff brought out this peanut butter and jelly donut that they're thinking of offering. Genius. Crispy pb&j. As my meal, I ordered the cheesy polenta (that came with bacon, HOME MADE tater tots and a soft boiled egg). That entire dish was freakin' awesome. I wanted to finish all of it, but only could attack less than a quarter. As my dining companions kept repeating, we all needed to be rolled out of the restaurant. Seriously. In a wheel barrel. I haven't gushed about a brunch like this...probably ever. Nightwood is pure genius. Lookin' forward to stopping in again. And again....
(5)J C.
My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary. Service was excellent. Food was legendary. Wine pairing was accurate. They even gave us an anniversary goat milk ice cream finale. Very rich and delicious.
(5)Daniel C.
BACON DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! saw Anne Burrell here a few weeks ago so it's Food Network Chef approved!
(5)Brett F.
Haven't you heard?? Long, diatribe reviews are so out for the Fall. Get with the program, Hemingway, this season it's all about clear, concise gushfests... especially if we're talking about my new paramour, Nightwood!! Easily one of my new favorite restaurants in 2009 and here's why: 1. Love the location; off the beaten path in Pilsen it enlightens one to a new neighborhood with a ton of culture and fun things to see. Plus it's easy to do without a reservation (though one shouldn't to be safe) if you're feeling adventurous and up for a little road trip. 2. Great menu that revolves nightly. Never the same show twice, folks! Only the freshest, lushest and most decadent ingredients are here on display... if you can catch it, I highly recommend the pappardelle with braised rabbit and swiss chard as well as the spit-roast pork loin with creme fraiche and white anchovy. Holy Bazookas! That pork loin was enough to feed a small army and in the best of culinary style. We drooled, we tore into it, we conquered!! It was absolutely a meal for the record books. 3. Fabulous patio dining. While the weather still permits, I can't stress it enough.. it's absolutely luxurious! No haphazard street side folding chairs here. Nah.. the patio is stylish, sumptuous and the consummate setting for a romantic evening spent fawning over velvety chilled sweet corn gazpacho (with serrano chiles!) and the most fabulous 'Michigan' salad with sweet nectarines, salty mustard greens and creamy, smooth ricotta. 4. An equally matched beautiful interior. The folks of Lula Cafe has one-upped them hipselves at Nightwood. It's gorge! Especially love the open air kitchen with marble seat-and-eat bar... watch the chefs at work, or just wink at 'em as you pass by. Lots of eye candy among this staff! 5. Overall an extremely impressive experience that I can't wait to head back for. Nightwood... indeed, a night that gave me wood. What an apt moniker!
(5)James C.
This restaurant provided me with one of the best meals I have had in Chicago. First, we started with fried oysters on a remoulade and crackers. The oysters had just enough crunch, which played well off the texture of the remoulade. We then had a dungeness crab salad and roasted carrots. It had a sharp flavor that worked well with the Burgundy. The next course was a ricotta ravioli and honey. I never thought these flavors would go well with a red wine, but the pairing was fantastic. The ravioli were cooked perfect. The next course was a sturgeon. Again, we paired it with a red wine that perfectly complimented the dish. The mushroom accompanying the sturgeon made the red wine appropriate. It added body to an otherwise light dish. The main course was a flank steak accompanied by an apple chutney. The textures in the dish were amazing, balancing hard and soft. The ranch on the side gave it the right sharpness to pair with our Syrah. The service was perfect, atmosphere perfect, food perfect. I will be back.
(5)Tim S.
This will be quick but this place knocked my socks off. Drinks, meals, dessert that we ordered for dinner last night were wonderful. Our server was attentive but allowed us to enjoy our dining experience. And the manager even gave me and my friend change for the bus and travel directions (and the number for a cab), since cabs don't usually frequent that area. It was a bit of a jont from our downtown hotel, but well worth it. The nights prior we ate at the Publican and the night prior to that Spiaggia and Nightwood was both orders of magnitude less expensive and more tasty. My *only* slight amount of dissatisfaction with Nightwood was the cold breeze every time the door opened.
(5)Jose V.
Came here for brunch with friends, due to a recommendation. As a start, had to order their famous bacon glazed donuts, they were good, but you will get over them fast! :-) As far as the meal, I went for their ciabatta, topped with eggs and sun-dried tomatoes and a side of arugula salad. The bread was warm, crispy and had nice oregano aroma to it, you could tell it was freshly baked! They could maybe have more choices in their menu, my recommendation is to unless you're totally allergic or really hate an ingredient, to stick to their menu and enjoy the dish as is, and you will have a great experience! They also take reservations on a Sunday, which is a plus, offer good service and have good, quality food! Totally worth a visit!
(4)Merrill O.
Bacon Butterscotch donuts. Yum, right?? You would think after having that for a starter, brunch would go downhill from there, but surprisingly, Nightwood managed to top that with our entrees. The highlight of the meal was actually the soft-scrambled eggs, with spicy squash and sheep's milk feta cheese. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. They also did a nice rolled omelet with Bolognese sauce. The Bolognese sauce was quite good, except I thought it needed a bit more kick to it for the omelet to work well. I also loved the way they did the hashbrowns...served fried in balls like hushpuppies...quite fun! My only complaint about Nightwood is that fact that it's not conveniently accessible from my neighborhood...otherwise, I'm sure I'd be there quite often!! 4.5 stars!!
(4)Rebecca D.
Excellent! Highlights were the golden frills salad, the pig ears, and the chicken. Fantastic service for our party of 11.
(5)Jennifer L.
What a great restaurant! I sure miss living walking distance from here. Love the vibe when you walk in...the decor is a mix of rustic/natural with modern classic touches. The bathroom for example is SO cute, in my opinion... apart from the black toilet... can't get over that.. First off we were here with a large party of, so some of us came early and had a drink at the bar. I thought the drinks that I tasted were not spectacular.....in my opinion. We were kinda wondering where a party of 9 would sit because the dining room is pretty small... then they took us downstairs... What a cozy cool wine cellar-ish dining area in the basement! great for a big group! We started with some appetizers of pig ears (SOOoooo delicious!!) which were in a sweet/salty glaze and were awesomely crispy. I could eat these all day. We shared the sweetbreads and prawns were were also really tasty. For the main course I got the rabbit which was cooked perfectly with this great sausage ragu sauce.. soooo delicious!! Someone in my party got the burger... he was pretty dissapointed as they did not ask him how he wanted it cooked and he got it back medium well.....big no no i think For dessert the soft pretzel bread pudding was to die for with that hint of salt from the pretzel and great texture. It came with some of the best pistachio ice cream I have ever had. What a great meal and great atmosphere!
(4)Allison E.
So as I sit here and catch up on my yelp reviews, I realize that I am a lot more yelp productive when I am dating and Nightwood just happened to be the starting point for a good one.....if ya know what I mean. Apparently amazing food, cocktails, and a long walk on the beach really is the perfect combination. Cliche? Maybe. OH! and it was summer too, which meant fireworks of off Navy Pier. This date is beginning to sound like a stupid Nicolas Sparks novel, ug. Back to Nightwood. My dinner was amazing. I had the duck. My date had the burger and you may be judging him for ordering a burger in a nice restaurant, but it was a damn good burger. He also had some sort of ginger cocktail that he remembered from a previous dining experience, but was no longer on the menu. The awesome folks at Nightwood happily made him one anyway. How cool is that! Lovely night, good food.
(4)Chicago C.
We visited Nightwood for a delicious Sunday Brunch... and you should too! We walked in to the Pilsen farm-to-table restaurant for a late brunch and were shocked to find there wasn't a wait. We were immediately seated in the front room, which was beautifully lit from the sun shining in from large street-facing windows. Almost every table was full. The service was great; very friendly and happily recommended menu-favorites. What we ordered: --Traditional Bloody Mary-- This is a bloody mary we look forward to ordering again! It was a great way to start off the meal; it accurately reflects the feel of the restaurant: fresh, quality ingredients. The tomato juice in the drink tasted as if it had just been juiced. We especially loved that it was garnished with pickled brussel sprouts. Very unique and something we haven't seen in Chicago before! Amazing and one of our new favorites. --Rolled Omelet w Roasted Apples and Sunchokes, Smokey Blue Cheese, and Tarragon-- This omelet was light and packed with flavor. The egg was cooked perfectly, the blue cheese wasn't overpowering, and the roasted apples and sunchokes offered an unexpected twist to the dish. Wonderful omelet to try! --Bagel Sandwich Smoked Trout Cream Cheese, Slaw, Bacon, and Fried Egg Served Over Easy-- One of the (if not the...) best breakfast sandwiches in Chicago. Hands down. This sandwich blew us away. Each ingredient has a unique and vibrant flavor that it adds to the dish. It's important to get a little bit of everything into each bite. Served with amazing bite-sized crispy hashbrown balls that left us wanting more... This is a breakfast sandwich that will be on our minds for quite some time. --Coffe Custard Donut w Chocolate Glaze-- A truly delicious, decadent donut. The coffee custard filling oozed out with every bite... leaving us wanting more. In addition to Brunch, we strongly recommend visiting Nightwood for dinner! This was our second time dining at the Pilsen restaurant. On our first visit, we sat outside on their beautiful patio and enjoyed a delicious dinner, with many ingredients coming from the garden in the back of the restaurant.
(5)Hyzel P.
I live within walking distance from Nightwood, which is great, as this has become a go-to dinner spot. Since their menu is always changing, it becomes difficult to recommended dishes. Who knows, in one month it may not even be there! Here are some must try items, if they ever pop back up on the list : 1. Sauteed carrots with sour scream and dill, on top of mackerel (I think it was mackerel) 2. Scallops with a creamy butter sauce 3. Garlic braised oyster mushrooms (DELISH) 4. Long noodle (Ask them not too make it too tangy, it tends to take over) 5. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake (perfect couple of salt and sweet) I LOVE savory dishes, so these HIT THE SPOT. They don't make you so full that you're falling over, but enough to talk about the dishes after. There is a lot of hype to this restaurant, yes, but I don't think you should come in with that mindset. Be open to the change in menu and try it out :) The staff is super friendly, and the bartender makes wonderful drinks. Before your meal is served, they place focaccia with a nice date sauce. I'm generally not for carbs, but this is one that I cannot picking at. For the summer, request sitting at the "patio". Who doesn't enjoy a nice breeze with good food?!
(4)Lidia L.
We shall see how this restaurant plays out. So far, the person who I spoke with on the phone was a bit of a downer. I just called to make reservations for my anniversary dinner (ANNIVERSARY DINNER! shouldn't you be happier?)and the lady on the other line was not friendly at all. It sounded like all she wanted to do was hang up on me. She wasn't enthusiastic or nice. She sounded disinterested in having my patronage It didn't even sound like she wanted to take my reservation! So far this place is not on my best side. I'll let you know if I make it through dinner or if I'll have to walk out because of the service.
(2)Kristine M.
I had a pretty nice experience at Nightwood. My friends and I came here during the winter and the atmosphere inside the restaurant is really warm, soothing, and very hipster . In addition, as you walk to the bathroom near the back of the restaurant you get a good view of the kitchen. I think I saw some people sitting at the bar so if you like seeing your food being made definitely sit at the kitchen bar. It was really cool how the food was locally sourced and the food was pretty decent. However, it did feel like the portions were really small for the amount of price you were paying. The free bread that the restaurants gives their customers before the entrees/appetizers.. IS AMAZING!!! My friends and I asked for more even after we finished eating our entree. Overall, it's a light atmosphere but formal enough. A great place for a first date!! *wink *wink
(4)Katie V.
I have had two stellar meals here. The menu changes a lot, so whatever I rave about is probably gone by now....suffice it to say that the dishes are inventive and complex, if you will, but also delicious. Sometimes high-concept food gets lost in the concept, but every bite of every dish I've had here has been memorable. If there is an app with foie, get it. I've had two different ones and both were stellar. The prize-winning pork tastes as good as the name implies. The seafood entrees are also great -- I've had trout and scallops. Save room for dessert -- I had blueberry pancake ice cream there once and I still think about it. It's in a weird neighborhood, but well worth the schlep to Pilsen.
(5)Ellen C.
Ok, so I'm writing a review because I was SOOO disappointed in this place. Before I begin, I will say I like the idea that they buy fresh ingredients so their menu changes according to what they can get....but: 1. The food was just ok. Not good, not great, and certainly not amazing. We got -the hanger steak (this was the best of the dishes. It was good.) -the veal (the "soup" had an interesting blend of spices, and the veal itself was a little bland) -the radish appetizer.....omg. WHAT WAS THAT? It was literally plain radish. -the soft shell crab appetizer (this was good, too. The sauce was a little thick and heavy) -OH. The biscuits and honey butter was AMAZING, however. Get full off those if you can! 2. The portions were TINY. Now I realize that a lot of snazzy restaurants love to leave you starving at the end of the meal....and this is no exception. I was mildly satisfied with my dish, but the guys with us (who got the steak) were not even close to full. 3. With that said, this place was WAY expensive. The steak was $26, the veal $24, the radish $6, and the crab $12. With everything that we ordered and split evenly, it was $38 a person!! (The total check was $235 O_o) To not be full...that's a lot to me. 4. THEY CHARGED US 20% TIP. We had a group of 6, which ok, most places automatically add tip. That's fine. But if you do, they need to tell you somewhere, and I never, ever, ever, ever have been charged TWENTY PERCENT. 5. And what pissed me off more? THEY DIDN'T GIVE US OUR CHANGE. What kind of business does that?! I realize it was only like $4....but after over-charging us, and then extra-charging us tip, they keep our change? SHADY. SO SHADY. 6. Decent parking in the area. 7. Service was good.
(1)Hope K.
Initially we wanted to finally try out Lula Cafe, but they didn't take reservations. We were on a tight schedule due to catching the big Bear's game against New England, so we decided to try out it's sister restaurant since we were able to make a reservation on a short notice. This is how it all went down: Host - He was nice and friendly and made us feel welcome and offered to take our coats... I decided to keep my coat on for a bit because it was so cold out and I didn't feel warm even after being seated. We waited for a while before anyone attended to us. Someone finally brought us water and left. Obviously, he wasn't our server. We wondered who our server was... then a lady came over asking if we'd like to get started with something to drink. I actually asked her if she was our server... and she was. We asked to move to a warmer part of the restaurant, away from the main entrance where it was super cold due to the extremely cold weather outside. We were seated near the open kitchen in the back of the restaurant. I immediately felt warmer and I was able to take off my coat. Then we waited some more... I guess since we were moved to a different section of the restaurant, the lady server wasn't serving us any longer... FINALLY, our new server had come to our table. He asked us if we wanted something to drink. I told him that we wanted to have something to drink but we were also ready order. We started with the chestnut cream stuffed donut with chocolate glaze and marshmallow. It sounded better than it actually tasted. We split the donut in half, but unfortunately, my half of the donut barely had any filling. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of the chestnut flavor in the filling. The chocolate glaze was over powering and didn't seem like that special. It was warm and crispy but not worth $4. For our entrees, we ordered the spinach goat cheese quiche and the malted waffle with chicken wings. To my surprise, our entrees came out pretty fast. The quiche was really good and just perfect in flavor and texture but I would have liked it to be a bit warmer. The malted waffle was really crispy and so were the chicken wings. To my surprise, the salted caramel sauce went well with the chicken wings. Overall, the food was great! We would definitely come back for the food. Service was just ok, since we had to constantly track down our server to get the refill on the coffee and the ginger ale. I would have given it a 3.5 stars, if I could have. I would definitely recommend the restaurant for the food, but don't go there if you are in a rush!
(3)Andy M.
I went to Nightwood with my girlfriend before heading out to the Pilsen art walk on Friday. It was the first time I'd been here and I had been wanting to try it ever since we moved to Pilsen. We had a table near the front of the restaurant, which was drafty and crammed in a little too tight. I understand that a lot of popular upscale restaurants with younger clientele tend to do this (like Avec), but if I'm going to make reservations, then I'd appreciate at least a little bit of space. That aside, the wine list was good (but I don't know much about wine, so that doesn't matter to me much) and the service was good as well. Our waitress was attentive, but not overbearing. I appreciated that. My main complaint is that my entree, which was essentially a french onion soup with lamb, just wasn't very good. Some of the lamb was burned to the point of being inedible, which was extremely disappointing, especially since it was one of the more expensive dishes at $27. Our dessert was excellent, but it didn't save this place for me. I don't think I'd ever suggest going here again.
(3)Shalin D.
Best place for a man date! A friend and I were looking for some serious food after Second Friday in Pilsen. We love Lula Cafe so we decided we'd go to its sister restaurant in the neighborhood: Nightwood. It did not disappoint! Ambience: You can't help but notice the various seating options. Private tables. Outdoor seating on an enclosed patio. A bar overlooking the action in the kitchen. A private dining room. And a full bar. All of those options exist at Nightwood. As such, it's perfect for a multitude of occasions. It's perfect for a man date but also romantic dates. I've also been here for a birthday party and it worked well for large groups. Just beware: if you come without reservations, you will wait a while before you're seated. Food: Farm fresh ingredients. A constantly changing menu. And an unparalleled dedication to excellent food preparation. It's all there. I'm not surprised since Lula Cafe functions in pretty much the same way. The only difference is that the portions at Nightwood are much larger. We ordered sweetbreads as an appetizer. Succulent and tasty! I ordered a pork chop (huge and juicy) and my friend ordered the modified BLT (huge and tasty). Since I'm a glutton, I finished my chop. But, my friend had a hard time getting the last bite of his BLT in his mouth. But, we savored each bite. After a 20 minute hiatus, I ordered tea and the house cookies. I'm glad I decided to go all the way. The cookies were chewy and delicious on the inside. Between the two of us, we managed to polish them off. The best part? On a man date you can both sit in the car on the ride home and unbuckle your belt... without judgment. That's a testament to how much we loved Nightwood. (N.B. The only reason this place does not get five stars is the fact that my reservation on another occasion was botched. But, that's a minor point compared to how great the food here is.)
(4)caroline k.
My first time in the Pilsen area, and a surprisingly good find. Group of 4 of us went on a Saturday evening to a busy house on a cold night. Lengthy 'hand-written' menu includes a variety of new-American and Italian style appetizers, pastas, and entrees from primarly local providers. Here's what we had: - escarole and chopped vegetable salad in buttermilk dressing: a bit too creamy, mediocre - burrata crostini with spiced honey and pears: surprisingly rich and sweet, could have used a touch of salt to balance the honey - sweet potato ravioli: 3 square raviolis for $12, what gives? - whitefish poached in bacon broth: I am always hesitant of fish in liquid, but the bacon really made this dish - beef stew in farro: more like a thick chilli bow, not exactly what I had expected - wood-grilled cheeseburger: Pretty good, with a good dab of dijon to add a kick Good date spot, will definitely be back.
(4)Allie J.
Great food. Great ambiance. Good service. I'm looking forward to our next trip back.
(4)Tia S.
I went to Nightwood for brunch with friends after hearing about it for months. We made reservations, and when we arrived there we let the hostess know we were there. She said it would be a few minutes. So we waited outside (there was really no other place to wait), and waited... and waited... Had she forgotten about us? We had no clue, so we went back in and the woman said "Oh! Your table is ready!" as if we were supposed to guess that. Uh, okay. So we sit down, and one of my friends tries to order chai tea. They're out of almost all of their teas, and chai tea isn't on the menu. However, a chai latte is on the menu. So my friend asks if they have chai tea - he specifies TEA, not a latte - our waitress thinks about it for a moment and tells us she can make something like that. Great. A few minutes later she comes out with a cup full of warm chai concentrate and water. Um, what?! That is NOT chai tea. There are also no free refills on this weird chai concoction, which is problematic for my friend who drinks five cups of tea with most meals. So my friend lets the waitress know that he asked for chai tea, and that's not what he received. The waitress looks at us for a minute as if my friend had made a mistake in ordering his drink and was now inconveniencing her with trivialities. Yeah no. That's not how that works. After a few seconds of looking like she's trying to hide the fact that she hates us, the waitress takes the drink back to the kitchen. Not off to a good start. We ordered the doughnuts as an appetizer, which were absolutely delicious (the strawberry/custard ones). Our meals came a little while later, and the food was alright. Good, even, if a little boring. Maybe that's my fault for not ordering some weird meat I've never heard of. Oh well, I can settle for good food. At least the hash brown balls were awesome (yes, they come in little fried balls). So we get our check and head out. Definitely a bit pricey for such small portions, but it's local/free-range/organic/award winning... I get it. Overall, not a terrible experience, but I was expecting more. Nightwood does have great decor though, I'll give them that. I do plan on going back for dinner sometime, and maybe then I'll be able to give them a better review.
(3)Amy D.
I'm glad this gets to be my 200th review. I heart you Nightwood. I have been there four time now and I loved each time, I do have to say though, some more than others. The menu changes daily which is a good and bad thing, b/c I love the Banh mi but it's not there anymore! :( But you def. get variety. I take my clients out there for celebatory dinners (I'm a Realtor) and they're always really impressed with this hidden gem. Drinks are great, but a tad expensive. Food price range is pretty good, sometimes can get pricey but no different than similar restaurants, and the decor is amazing. Great service! I'm really happy a great restaurant came to the area!
(5)Susan H.
We finally had the opportunity (read: free babysitter) to go to Nightwood. When we arrived, they asked if we would like to be seated back at the kitchen counter, where it was cooler and we could watch the action. Since we're food geeks, we gladly accepted, and loved the chance to talk to Chef Jason and his excellent staff. Cocktails were great and the food exceeded our expectations. As we were asking questions and wondering if we should have ordered the crispy pig ear, the chef handed us a serving on the house. As a near-vegetarian, I have never gobbled down unusual pig parts with such abandon. Outstanding food, and great people. We can't wait to go back!
(5)Lali j.
I finally found a place that is worthy of saying, " I think I died and went to heaven"! I went here with 6 other ladies, and we decided to really go to town on the menu. This was over a month ago, while on my yearly Chicago vacation, so I'm sure the menu is completely retooled by now. However... Jesus Christ almighty the Trout BLT on Brioche bread with a Fried egg (everything is better with a fried egg) rocked my F'ing world. I'm sure that someone sold their soul to the devil to achieve the level of scrumdiddlyumptious achieved in the lamb pate with with fried got cheese appetizer. The burger: BEST EVER. Ditto on the fries. I dream of the day when a restaurant with this type of atmosphere and generously loving expressions for all things fine and delicious grace the desert that I call home.
(5)Rachel H.
I love getting invited to a party where everyone lives on the South side. It makes the chances of the location being in my 'hood that much better. We started out with some cocktails on the patio, and I would love nothing more than to spend an evening out there just chatting and sipping berry mojitos. I'm glad it wasn't oppressively hot and we were able to enjoy the evening. Our large party was seated downstairs which felt like a very stylish cave and we lovely ladies pretended that our long wooden table was the setting for a medieval feast. We definitely had a feast. I was pleased with all the wines we tried (and there was a lot of wine) as well as the previously mentioned berry mojito, but let's get down to brass tacks... though I didn't order an appetizer, I snuck a bite of the bread pudding with ham, and wished I'd ordered five of them. The lightly dressed salad I stole from someone else was also very good, if a bit too simple. I ordered the cheeseburger which tasted like a cow had wandered into a forest fire. I mean this in the best of ways. The meat was very distinct in its wood grilled flavor. I also loved that the waitress assumed I wanted medium rare. Of course I did. Sadly the pickle wasn't my favorite, but nobody's perfect, I suppose. Other people ordered the trout which they loved, the risotto, and the trout BLT which intrigued me. They were able to accommodate our vegan pal and made her a special pasta which looked tasty. I finished up the meal with a scoop of lemon balm sorbet which was refreshing and hit the bottomless spot of my current lemon cravings. I swear, what is wrong with me? I would lick a lemon right now. I will be back to Nightwood (or Morning Wood as a friend's companion calls it) as soon as I have some more $$$. It's definitely on my list for special occasion spots, especially for larger groups.
(4)Melissa P.
I love this place. I went here for my birthday this year and had a great experience. The two big highlights were the burrata appetizer and the duck confit I got. Both were amazing. Although, neither were as good as the trout I had here when I had dinner with a friend after it first opened. The only downside was that our waiter recommended a less than amazing wine to us. Still, I'll be back here I'm sure. I can't wait to try it after a visit to Skylark one of these days.
(5)Molly F.
After all these years, my brain has finally decided to connect the atrocious factory farming system with my palette and consciousness when consuming meat. Hence, the search for a restaurant that buys direct from farmers--Nightwood fit the bill. From accommodating us at the bar when we arrived too early to be seated and then all the way through dinner, Nightwood was on the ball. First off, they offered me a water choice--sparkling vs. still--which always makes me giggle and sparks an internal monologue of "Haha, they don't know I'm not this classy!" But, it set the right tone and it subconsciously set my mind to consider this restaurant seriously. Also, they didn't futz with ice in water glasses--again, a deliberate choice that sets a tone. The food was excellent (smelt appetizer, asparagus with goat cheese appetizer, and hand-ground, farm raised burgers), the buzz in the restaurant was comfy, the service was top notch, and the bartender gave us a great wine recommendation. My dinner compadre and I were on a burger hunt, and we were way satisfied with this place, but I will be more adventurous upon my return--their menu was stacked with seasonal greatness! Not until the end of my dining experience did I realize the OPEN FRAKKING KITCHEN in the back! I can't wait to go back so I can watch my food being cooked! Any establishment that allows the restaurant experience to be demystified is a-ok by me. Nightwood, I'll be back, and I'll be bringing more people with me next time.
(4)Carine M.
Love Nightwood. Farm totable seasonal delicious food with great drinks. Um, what more could I want? I went once for the May edition of supper club, and again last night. Last might we sat at the bar, had great food (all recos from our awesome bartender Joe-who also pretty much made our night because of his hilarity in discussing Inception, the movie we had just come from). We had the smelts, sam's summer salad, stinging nettles risotto, rigatoni with line caught albacore, and the whole trout. They sent out an order of green beans with house cured bacon that my husband thought was amazing, but I'm off meat now:(
(5)Chuck M.
Stumbled upon this, going to breakfast in Pilsen and Hashbrowns was overpacked. Delicious cuisine, but not a cheap place to go and the brunch menu is a bit limited. But everything was gourmet level. I will return to try dinner there because the dinner menu looks fantastic. The atmosphere is a genteel nouveau rustic, and very pleasant. Street parking was actually fairly easy. Find by the address--I don't think they even have a sign with their name on it.
(4)Linda B.
Very fresh and flavorful, cool interior, great patio, and attentive service. But the problem at Nightwood is an erroneous assumption that sophisticated and fresh = tiny portions. My corn custard tasted very good, but it was exactly 1 inch by 1 inch, came with five chard leaves and two (2) polenta croutons. It was kind of funny watching people's faces when their entrees showed up--so minimal for the price. And one teeny tiny biscuit per person? Please. Bring more or make them just a bit larger. I suppose Nightwood is worth checking out if you're having a $$$ evening, but I suggest ordering fish or meat and an appetizer.
(2)Krishna A.
I came here on a Tuesday night with 3 friends and I was pleasantly surprised to see it pretty packed - a good sign of things to come. Ambiance/decor: A wonderfully located recessed bar is the center of the room. The huge windows on the facade of the restaurant really open up the space. The juxtaposition of traditional woodworking and the interesting light fixtures gives off a cool mix of rustic and nouveau. There is an outdoor seating area with a gas firepit which is probably really cool in the summer. Drinks: An amazing wine list. My buddy and his wife picked up a 2009 Enamore - a Malbec blend from Renacer. A great choice! I of course had to peruse the beer list, which was quite extensive, and had a surprising selection of quality microbrews. Food: The menu changes every day, and all the ingredients are from local farms. We ordered the ramps with ricotta cheese and mint, and smelts with aioli for appetizers. Oh ramp - where have you been all my life? It's as if spinach and garlic had a delicious love-child. The ricotta cheese was the highlight of the dish - perfectly paired with mint, we licked the plate clean. The smelts were kind of on the fishy side, and we were not all that impressed. For entrees, we split the roasted half-chicken, the Wisconsin trout and the duck leg (all 3 of which are on the menu every day). We also had the vermicelli with clams. I'm so glad chicken is making it's way back to menus since it was my favorite dish. It was so tender - I'd put it somewhere between a baby's bottom and an earlobe. It was served with soft cornbread cubes and dates which were really great when you ate everything together. The trout was delic as well - served with black beans, charred tomato and cilantro. It had a very smokey taste (which went great with our wine). I am not a huge fan of duck leg, but my 3 comrades really enjoyed it. It is served with asparagus and roasted fennel, both of which carry strong flavors and add to the boldness of the duck. The vermicelli was OK - nothing to write home to yelp about. For dessert we had the 3 warm cookies which paired awesomely with the gelatto (mint, dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla). The bourbon vanilla was insane - I highly recommend it. All in all, a great place. Great service - the staff really understands the menu every day and make great recommendations. Absolutely no pretension. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Lindsay D.
Without feeling the need to write a novel-- ahem-- Nightwood was fabulous! Sitting at the kitchen counter, I got to watch the cooks at work. While I find this interesting, everyone else should appreciate that as my group peered over the counter and looked intrigued, the cooks were even more enthusiastic about their work and their product. Love that! While not everything was perfect, each dish was executed with care and excitement. No need to tell you what we ate, because it will change. Just know that you will eat seasonally, locally, and deliciously (shoot, not a word, but totally accurate). And the servers want you to be happy, and worked hard to make sure that we were. Quality for the Cost: 9 Service: 9
(5)Mark L.
Amazing Brunch and great people watching !! nightwoodrestaurant.com/…
(5)A S.
HUGE disappointment. This place was not good at all. The food was average at best and it was way expensive for what it was. Ugh. I wouldnt even go back to give it another try. .
(1)Scott M.
Wow. The restaurant owners were kind enough to treat area businesses and ourselves (we run South Halsted Gallery down the street and to the North) to a decadent dinner on the house prior to opening. Please don't count my review tainted as such... I feel incredibly lucky to welcome such a quality restaurant (and owner/chef with a vision) in what I might be biased on as a gem of an artistic community, for a long time now. Now on to the review... the wait staff was ridiculously attentive but not to the point of annoying. Homemade sparkling water was served (I normally drink Lake Michigan's finest) was off the charts refreshing and clean. I have to say what really shines through with every dish albeit appetizer or main course is the ingredients. I had a spinach salad with morels, potatoes, hard-cooked egg, Parmesan and aged balsamic. I cannot recall ever tasting spinach like this... that normal chalky-like texture and taste was nowhere to be found. Fresh and crunchy with no odd aftertaste. My wife had deep fried Mississippi prawns with dill butter... not off the charts great but still very tasty and perfectly cooked. For the main course, I had wood grilled trout with lentils, hamhock and pea tendrils. Wow. The trout tasted like someone just pulled it out of a lake (a clean one that is). Super fresh. A bit rare for my taste but nonetheless I have to respect the fresh quality of fish served up. My wife had handcut parsley noodles with braised short ribs and cream. It was super rich and tasted homemade to the core. The only tweak I would make, but honestly hard to say after just one visit and likely the first time doors were open to the dining public, is the dishes are prepared almost too delicately. The food is seasoned in such a way to keep the freshness of the ingredients pure but I could see getting a bit more bold with the preparation or seasoning. Besides that, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND and plan on recommending to anyone who comes out for Second Fridays or otherwise.
(4)Lissette M.
Just had brunch there today, and prior to that i had dinner, i have to say this place is great, good food great presentation, superb customer service. They do have great vegetarian meals but i recommend going in early, they do run out of some ingredients towards the end of the night.
(4)Grace S.
My husband and I ate dinner at Nightwood last Tuesday night. We sat on the patio and enjoyed a bottle of reasonably priced wine. We enjoyed the complementary bread and nice outdoor seating. For our appetizers we had the spring salad with raw ramps and raw asparagus. It was tasty, but intense. Definitely healthy, but not comfort food. We also tried the cold asparagus soup, which was simple and had a nice pickled asparagus. For entrees, we ate the two fishes of the day--whole trout and fried whitefish. The whitefish was much better than the trout, but both were fresh and flavorful. Dessert was 2 different kinds of gelatos (dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla) plus rhubarb sorbet. Very good on a hot night! Our server was attentive and courteous. We have no complaints about the restaurant and would go back for more healthy, delicious local seasonal food. We only wish it was open for lunch.
(5)Kristen F.
Had dinner there on a Saturday night. Got there around 7 and there was only a 20 minute wait. There was no one on the patio, which makes me wonder if it is in use yet. The first thing I noticed is that this place is really beautiful, and everyone there was way way way more dressy than they are at Lula. The menu changes almost every day, so the menu they had on Time Out Chicago was already changed, but there seemed to be some regulars such as the hamburger, the chicken pate, and the half chicken. First - they have an amazing wine selection and I am so excited to have a place down the street from me with so much wine! Too bad I am moving soon. My best friend and I got the cured trout belly and the deep fried asparagus appetizer to start. The cured trout belly was overly salted and the pasta was undercooked. For 11 dollars it was NOT worth it. The deep fried asparagus was AMAZING. I mean.. I would eat that every single damn day. Blue cheese was rolled up inside of the asparagus and then it is deep fried. The flavors were perfect together. We then got the Lamb with white cornmeal and the pork belly with roasted potatoes. Everything was amazing. It was all seasoned perfectly and presented beautifully. The flavors were so delicate and soft. My mouth was in heaven. For desert we got the Rhubarb crisp for two with a homemade ice cream, I think, either way that was fantastic. Of course, all the people who work here are part time models. The servers wear dresses or jackets and all look like they just walked off the pages of some low end society magazine. I got over that really quick though, once the food hit my mouth. Except for that trout belly and the undercooked pasta. This place is pretty sweet. Oh and our Bill? 111.00. Just keep THAT in mind also.
(4)Francesca L.
What a gem in Pilsen! Nightwood has fresh and delicious food. The decor is warm and romantic yet casual. We started off with the smelt and they were very tasty. I had the whitefish with fresh vegetables as my entree. The fish was cooked perfectly, a little salty, but the white wine helped wash it down. The vegtables were amazing ... a mix of all fresh and different veggies. You will not be disappointed if you like to try new things. The menu is great because it changes daily and contains information as to where the produce and meat are purchased... what a plus! This was my first time dining at Nightwood and I was with a large group. I agree with others that commented about the service when sitting in a large group. We were at a long table in the basement level ... no problem! However, the service seemed somewhat slow ... not horrible. Can't wait to go back with my husband!
(4)Andrew S.
Just like its older sister Lula this place does not disappoint. Love the Lu but want sleeker decor? Try Nightwood. I feel here is urban and polished, the menu changes seasonally and pulls from local farms and seasonal produce. You can get the very basic and lovely burger or branch out to small plates and unique entrees. To me, perhaps the dishes are a bit more pared down than Lula. Sorry to keep comparing but the similarities are undeniable. One of the two best restaurants in the city, in my opinion.
(5)The Host W.
$$$ is right; this place is expensive. I wouldn't care if I was rich but I'm not. Appetizers, my girlfriend and I went for the pig ears and veal sweetbreads. I don't think I've ever had veal or sweetbreads of any kind but we were feeling adventurous. Pig ears, nice but cold and very thin strips, nothing like we thought and just very average in general. It would have tasted better without the sweetness. I was a little hesitant to try the sweetbreads but they were actually very good. Eating them felt incredibly decadent but whatever, this was only one night. Entrees, she got a rabbit leg meal and I got the cheeseburger with fries. I know getting a cheeseburger at a restaurant like this is stupid and I completely agree but my logic was that if I ordered something cheaper, then we could get another appetizer (veal sweetbreads). Rabbit leg, very nice and it didn't have a gamey taste at all. Cheeseburger, you could get a better burger for cheaper at a place like Five Guy's. I wish I had ordered something else. I give a two star rating because even with the fancy food and atmosphere, I still thought the prices were too high. If money wasn't a concern for me (or if we split the bill but this was a special night), then this place would be three or higher. In the end though, my girlfriend was happy and that made me happy. Is that cheesy? Shut up!
(2)Jean C.
We decided to drive to Nightwood around 5pm on a Saturday. During the Puerto Rican Parade. After an hour and fifteen minutes later, we finally arrived. While in the car, we were all grumbling that the food better be worth the headache of just getting there. The entrance is some what hidden. The beautiful patio is to the left and then the entrance is a side door. This was evident to the numerous people we saw walk by the entrance and go around the building while we sat at our corner window table. But, I digress. That is not going to be the focal point of this review. The food. We were not disappointed. Our dinner party consisted of my parents, husband and myself and when we get together, we eat well. We started out with appetizers: chicken livers, beet salad, and two walleye on a bed of greens. My chicken livers were perfect. I love the irony creamy taste and everyone agreed. I normally don't like to share my meal with people. I admit it, I'm selfish. I like to eat MY ordered meal. But, it was too good to not share! Dinner was as follows: whole Wisconsin trout with bacon, wood grilled cheeseburger, and two orders of duck. The food was divine. I ordered the trout which was a touch too salty for my taste, but the English peas and bacon added a nice balance of flavors. Everyone enjoyed their meals as evident to the cleaned plates. The ambiance, the service and the food made Nightwood a great experience for us all. The open kitchen has a bar along one side so you may sit and watch the food being prepared. I would love to sit there and watch the magic happen. The brunch menu looks equally tasty as the dinner menu. This is a place to have an intimate dinner or a small dinner party. It is top notch and you won't leave disappointed.
(4)Vivian Y.
Our server Alex probably saved our experience at this restaurant. Our waitress barely acknowledged our existence and by the time our entrees were served, we were 1 hour 15 mins into waiting. Our waitress was busy doing something else up front including checking on her faux hawk. The restaurant is very nice - unique decor including a light fixture inside a giant birdcage above the stair case. Be forewarned that this is a very noisy restaurant. There is really cool bar seating at the back overlooking the kitchen which looks like it could be a very fun experience! None of the food blew me away except maybe the polenta dish served with pancetta. The combination of flavors were unique and exciting. The sopresatta and mozzeralla cheese was good and simple. We shared two bottles of low priced wine, two appetizers, 4 entrees, two desserts and two scotches for the gentlemen. For Pilsen (and I'm a Pilsen resident), I thought the place was a little overpriced. They could withstand a 20% price reduction! Everything else was ok but I walked out hungry and $60 poorer. I had the grilled trout served whole. While it did have a nice smokey flavor, it lacked any basic seasonings. I did like that it was boneless yet entact. My friend Chris ordered the pork loin and we both agreed that the texture of the pork was really strange. It was almost rubbery and the flavors from the rub had not penetrated the meat at all leaving the dish rather unsatisfying. Michelle had the pate and corned beef sandwich which really was quite delicious if you love pate. Warning: you have to LOVE pate to enjoy this. I mean, love it enough to be rolling around in it because it is so strong in flavor and so rich from the fat and the buttered exterior of the sandwich! Bonus points for being unique. James ordered the half chicken which was probably the star of the night in terms of entrees. The portion was very very generous and the chicken was pull-off-the-bone tender. Dessert: save room for the almond tart. I'm a caramel lover and this was SOOOO good. The pana cotta was good too but I was seeking something a little sweeter. Again, service - we were not impressed. it took us a total of 2.5 hours to finish our dinner. Luckily we weren't in a rush to go anywhere. I will come back again because i want to see Pilsen emerge into a diversified community and hopefully my next experience will be better!
(3)Cindy D.
Just had dinner with my sister and I love this place. It's very very trendy and hip! The food was interesting flavors. 1. Got a french wine, forgot the name but it was $25. Not great, but the waitress placed in a decanter and got better overtime. 2. Veal bologense - YUMMY! Just got a half order, it seemed small at first, but it was plenty since it's so rich. very very good 3. Trout - It was def. different. Initially very smokey, but got over it with diminishing returns. Don't think i would get again 4. Choc cake with toffee gelato - great!!! fluffy and gelato was delish Overall dinner was $80 total, so pretty good deal for higher end food. Also, menu changes, so everything I'm reviewing will probably not be there for you! Sorry!
(4)Bess R.
Stopped by for a late dinner (10ish) and drinks on a Friday night, and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. We sat inside, but the outside tables looked pretty nice and intimate. Started with a few drinks at the bar - great selection of wine, beer and interesting cocktails. For food, we started with an appetizer of goat cheese on croutons with a sardine vinaigrette and a side of greens. Really interesting taste - we liked it! I had one of the pasta dishes for my entree, and it was outstanding. They make all the pasta in-house, and I would definitely recommend it. Friends had the burger and the polenta. They both enjoyed their dishes. All veggies were SO fresh and delicious. Cool spot, nice ambiance, good service and interesting food. I'll be back.
(4)Frances C.
Ok, so I'm from Logan Square. I'm a huge, huge fan of Lula. It's walking distance from where I live and I've been in Logan Square for 6 years now. I hate leaving the neighborhood but considered going to Nightwood because it's the owners of my beloved Lula. I was not disappointed. They went above and beyond the restoration of the space. It's interior is simply beautiful - wood, exposed brick, leather chairs (all in clean modern lines of course), and yet, totally family friendly and amazing service by the staff. The owner recognized me and my family and thanked us for coming all the way down from Logan Square! How awesome is that?! The food - one word: exquisite. We started with a butterscotch bacon donut. Melt in your mouth and the candied bacon... well, I'm big smoked pork fan... so... My husband had the poutine with duck confit, Brunkow cheese curds and whatever they did to those fries, despite the gravy and cheese held their crispness throughout the meal! I had chicken and waffles. Tender, tender chicken and the waffles were light as air. It was topped with sweet figs and a creme anglaise. It was a foodgasm. My little girl had a blast looking around and making googly eyes at the other baby a table over. The space is big enough that you have several places to sit -front, back, bar, and kitchen bar where you can watch the chefs in action while a whole wall of wines in beautiful wine holders call to you! (Yes, even in the morning.) I'm so glad this restaurant is in Pilsen. Yes, it's a way to go for a great meal, but it's right off the highway and the neighborhood is definitely buzzing with activity. It's worth the trip! I can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)Noopur L.
I've had brunch here twice and one thing was consistent both times .... the doughnuts. Yum yum yum!!! I always make sure to work out the morning of so that I can splurge on the decadent chocolate goodness. I've never had fried chicken and waffles before and decided to try them out and I was wonderfully surprised! The stone fruit compote adds a great touch and evens out the flavors of the dish. The $6 eggs any style is a STEAL and with the hashbrowns/toast consists of plenty of food for one person. Nightwood has a great setting and I love any restaurant that doesn't have a TV. I wish I had a car so I can drive here more often. Two thumbs up!
(5)Brady H.
Tremendously good, just in a very sketchy looking part of town. Warm cozy room, friendly wait staff - perhaps a bit too informal, but competent enough. Food was perfectly prepared - I was impressed that my trout had been deboned so cleanly. We tried three starters, four entrees, and three desserts (including 3 gelatos and 1 sorbet). The menu changes daily so this might not help anyone, but the marinated mozerella was delicious, the pate was good but overpowered by the potato chips (so ask for some bread), and the lobster risotto was not so lobsertry and even if the lobster reference was for the mushrooms it still wasn't that lobstery. For the entrees - two people tried the duck dish - really delicious. My friend raved about the roasted chicken and my trout with almonds was perfectly executed. The desserts were also good - soul satisfying bread pudding, chocolatly ganache tart, and four scoops with caramel being the best. Thumbs up except for the location! No gimmicks, just well executed American comfort dishes.
(5)Anna P.
I wish the star-rating system on yelp didn't exist, or, at least a more comphrehensive one did--because I would give this place 5 stars for service, 3 stars for food, 4 stars for ambiance, and 2 stars for the politics of the situation. That equals about a 3.5, so I'll give them the benefit of my doubt with a 4. Remarkably, the host staff, bar staff and serving staff were all extremely friendly and approachable. At a fashionable place such as this, one could expect much less genuine kindness than was delivered. On the service alone, I would return. We started with the green garlic soup and a simple salad of mixed local lettuces. The soup was a good size, extremely creamy, a little tangy, super garlicky. MMM. The salad was, alas, just a salad. I got the "porcini & mozarella panino" with olives and some other stuff. Rich and extremely buttery. I love olives so this was the right choice for me. The heavy sandwich was relieved by a side salad of mixed greens; it was quite like my appetizer, so I wish someone had told me the mains were served with salad. But whatevs. Like Lula, any bread that might find its way into your dish is going to be DELICIOUS BREAD! The only disappointment was my dining companion's tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta. (SHUDDER! I hate nettles. Why must nettles, and not, say, pomegranates, be native to this clime?) But the nettles weren't the problem; it was the size of this little tart. It was about 3, optimistically 4 inches across. TINY!!!! Who do they think they are, serving us silver dollars worth of food, and calling it dinner? But i'm over it. The crust was delicious on this little tart--fresh and buttery, flaky but not crumbly...The same goes for the strawberry tart I enjoyed for dessert. For now, there is not a fancy cocktails list, though I saw well dressed young ladies around me sipping rhubarb-colored concoctions. I had 2 glasses of wine--the latter, which was recommended to me by my charming and humble server, was a Californian pinot noir (I think it was called Laetitia). I normally am not one to rave over such light bodied wines, but wow! It was super. And super fruity. I had previously thought that Simone's was really the straw that broke the camel's back for gentrification in Pilsen. But I spoke too soon--Nightwood added an extra load on the broken back of the previously mentioned camel. But as it is so far east, I see the future of the area morphing from "east Pilsen" to "East Pilsen," meaning, the southernly environs of Halsted are truly becoming a different neighborhood than the more westernly, Latino areas of Pilsen. This is both good and bad, as it lets the fashion folk have their lofts and eat their nightwood too, while the western parts of the area can maintain their cultural identity. For now.
(4)Mollie O.
I went to Nightwood on a cold winter night and had a fantastic winter dinner. We started with the chicken liver pate and goat cheese, beet and avocado salad. The goat cheese salad while terrific was really more of a beet salad, and I felt lucky because I liked beets while my dining companion wasn't too thrilled. As for the entrees, we had the trout and the gnocci with sausage. Both were excellent. The trout was served on the bone with cabbage, slaw and roasted potato. The gnocci was pillowy and made by hand while the sausage made the dish spicy but not spicy. For dessert try the bread pudding. I haven't been here for brunch, but, I can tell you tasting the bread pudding makes me think the french toast and/or pancakes at Nightwood must be by default, delicious.
(4)Taylor E.
The location is a little bit out of the way - indeed, upon making the trip up here from Hyde Park my friends and didn't quite figure out the most efficient way to get here on the CTA and as a result ended up crossing through some fairly scary parts of town at night on foot, although the area around the restaurant itself is totally fine. The food, however, is totally worth it - FRESH, interesting, and delicious. The menu seems to vary, but I had the caramelized carrot salad w/ garlic aioli and pate and nut-stuffed pasta that no longer seems to be on the menu but was very flavorful. Friends had the smelts appetizer with lemon and crème fraîche, whole-roasted wisconsin trout, a lamb with a cranberry reduction dish, and a fried hominy/goat cheese dish - all delicious. Dessert was equally good - we all shared a coffee fudge cake, a sweet ricotta with dried berries, and, in what was surprisingly the highlight a brown sugar cake, wonderful in its homey simplicity. The atmosphere is wonderful - definitely suitable for a date or a nice family celebration but not stuffy in the slightest - and their wine/liquor selection is absolutely fantastic.
(5)Mike E.
Food is good, but not worth the price. For the amount of money spent I would expect a little larger portions and a couple more selections on the menu.
(2)Daniel P.
Best. Brunch. Ever. Go for the Butterscotch Bacon Donut, stay for the Chicken and Waffles.
(4)Bottomless B.
- food: creative and delicious - atmosphere: vintage, hipster - staff: friendly / accommodating - price: as expected for the quality additional info: - order the glazed carrots
(4)Jodi W.
I think I would dine here often if I lived close. We got one of the best seats in the house - near the windows, tucked in the corner. Had champagne to kick it off right, then just enjoyed dish after lovely sustainably organic farm-to-table dish of deliciously and perfected cooked/roasted/smoked foods. Service was very good. Our server had many tables, and she floated quickly and efficiently to each one of them. One of our dishes came out a little slow (we didn't really notice), and she promptly took it off the bill, apologized and brought me a comp'ed glass of wine (totally unnecessary but nice). Our taxi driver got lost - no idea where we were headed, so bring your iphone with you if you don't know the area. Also, make sure the hostess calls a cab when you are done - not much going on down in this part of town (yet, but it's coming...)
(5)Nicole M.
Our bosses took us there for our employee dinner.. i think there was like 15 or so of us.. cocktails- Amazing! wine- Amazing! food--we ordered pretty much everything and it was all delicious service-outstanding overall- had a great night, everyone agreed!!!
(5)Daniel S.
I've been to paradise, but have I ever really been to me? Okay, so that quote has nothing to do with this review. Nightwood rocked my world just as elder sibling Lula did. What I enjoy about this place- and Lula too- is the attention to detail. Detail that foodies are sure to find reassuring. The seasonal menu is comprised of many local offerings, and they pair very well with the wine offerings. The preparation is exact without being fastidious or over bearing. The same with the service and the surrounding. It is enjoyable and slick without being pretentious. And like Lula they employ some tres sexy cooks. I dined here last week with two friends and we made our own sampling menu. Starting with two salads- one of which was poblano peppers and bacon, another starter of duck confit raviolis and rabbit entre. All were carefully executed and presented. The server too was more than willing to make thoughtful suggestions on the menu and wine pairings. In short I cannot wait to return!
(4)Chris S.
Warm, homemade butterscotch-bacon doughnuts. Bacon is on everything these days, but I finally found where it truly belongs - on my doughnut. Holy cow. I was in for brunch on Mothers Day and cannot wait for a reason to go back. Do I really need a reason? Everything was too good, from the trio of doughnuts, to the eggs benedict; from the whole trout to the bloody marys, and lest I forget the service, it certainly gets the "too good" label as well. The food is locally sourced so the menu changes regularly, but every time I have looked at it online I have been left trying to decide what looks best between about 5 different items. It's all so good. The space changes as you walk through the restaurant. The front by the bar is light and open, and as you move to the back it gets more cozy and intimate, and they have an outdoor area which looked like it would make for a fun evening lingering over dinner and drinks. Oh look - I think I found my reason to go back!
(4)Ria C.
Bustling and trendy on a cool Sunday afternoon. The service was attentive and the clientelle was top notch. We started off with a cinnamon roll and were offered 2 complimentary donuts-cinnamon holes and a caramel donut topped with caramalized bacon-yes BACON! This is seriously one of the best sweets I have ever tried-umami explosion in my mouth for sure. All of this was brought to us because we waited more than 10 minutes for our food, which was not long at all considering the crowd. I opted for the fried chicken and waffles-the chicken was crispy and juicy inside and the spices were just right. The lemon cream complimented both the chicken and the waffles quite well; however, my compaints would be that the portion size lacked (4 small chicken wings, no drummies) and the waffles were already sweetened and a bit too sugary. I was on a fried chicken hunt, and should have gone to Stanleys for complete Satisfaction. The bubs daringly chose the special of the day: Sardines topped with bacon and 2 fried eggs. For a man who used to hate sardines (changed his mind after our trip to southeast asia and hong kong as dried fish is a staple in every breakfast) he gulped his meal like a cool cat-meow.... I had a bite of my friend Emily's scalloped potatoes and wow that was tasty. I would return for dinner.
(4)A F.
I am not pleased to say that I (we) had a very unpleasant first experience at Nightwood last night. I was so looking forward to Nightwood and therein lies some of the depth of my disappointment. The six of us arrived to find a very attractive dining room and bar with exposed brick and nicely spaced tables. Everyone appeared content in their conversation, food and drink. I felt warmly welcomed by an inviting atmosphere. But oh no, this was not to be our ambiance...we were escorted to our table in the basement cellar, a windowless dungeon with exposed brick bouncing the high spirited conversations around to an aggregated decibel level that obviated any attempt at less-than-shouting talk. I have never been in so loud avrestaurant in my life, and I've eaten in many places that test my aural tolerances. But we are family so shouting is not entirely foreign to us. The menu was an especially toothsome read and we all found easy choices. The presentation matched the menu and compelled us to dig in. We all took our first bites and came up with a sad realization that the kitchen took a heavy hand with salt. And we are not salt-sensitive folks. We will return to try the main floor dining area and enjoy real conversations and hopefully a better salinity experience.
(2)Perla T.
Lately, I've been a bit more harsh with my Yelp reviews. So...... I am not sure if this is a case where Nightwood should be getting one more star. My friend and I, who both live in the area, decided to come here and try it out, since it is a new restaurant in Pilsen. Pilsen, obviously has a ton of great mexican restaurants, but when something different opens up, I am especially intent on trying it. I went there, during it's "official" opening week. The decor is pretty and modern. It blends in well with the art galleries that line up Halsted. As you walk in, to the left, there is an outdoor patio which seems like a perfect place for a date. I walked in and was immediately greeted by a small cluster of pretty people. They all seemed so enthusiastic. I guess it was that first week excitement and jitters. My friend wasn't there so I sat and waited for him to arrive. In the time I waited, I had three people approach me and ask me if I wanted water (either sparkling or from a glass bottle) which I thought was kind of cool. They also brought me a wine list and it had a nice selection. The only bad part is that the prices were either really low or really high and it made no sense based on the brands. My friend arrived, we ordered a bottle of wine. The menus are pretty - a work of art on their own. They look like someone handwrote them in that perfect penmanship you only see in commercials or movies. Our waiter told us that the menu changes every day. So that's kind of nice about it too. I ordered a field greens salad and the garlic soup, which was nice. My friend ordered the (freshly, handmade) pasta. We were full after dinner, so we didn't order dessert. We did sneek a peek at the menu and I would have ordered anything on there, it all sounded delicious. So, I would say it was a good restaurant. I think the only reason why this place doesn't get one more star is because, I feel it is yet another restaurant on the map that will soon blend in to all the other one name restaurants in Chicago. (It has become really annoying that restaurants now feel the need to only have one word in their name. That trend is played out in my book.) I think I was also slightly disappointed with it, because I am not sure it lived up to the hype. For so long, we heard about the new "Lula" restaurant that was opening in Pilsen. I think if it hadn't been overhyped, my expectations wouldn't have been so high. BUT, because it is in Pilsen, I do appreciate it. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would. I will definitely come here again, but not before I have made the rounds on a few other places. I would bring an out of town guest here if we wanted to go somewhere with good food but wanted to stay in the area. Best thing about it though is that it is right by the Skylark. When it comes to restaurants, I don't mind paying whatever for a great meal. Yet, given the close proximity, if I had to choose, I would go to the Skylark over Nightwood, and feel I got equally great food and drinks at half the price.
(3)Yumiko F.
Dark atmosphere but hear people laugh and talk. Very interesting design in a back of the room where you could see the chef preparing food and you could sit and watch while you eat. My wonderful friend took me there and we got seated by the door so it was actually not that present area to seat but food was excellent. I was super hungry but it was too much to have all appetizer and Entree. Their scone ( instead of bread, they were serving scone) was very small and wish there were 2 of them but it was really good. I would go back but will make a reservation for less wait.
(4)Kerri M.
A girlfriend and I went to Nightwood before hitting the galleries along Halsted. She'd been there once on a date, and this was my first time. Coming into the restaurant, the front of the house definitely screams for an intimate date night setting; my friend and i, having no reservations, were told that we could sit at the kitchen bar. this was WONDERFUL! we were sat at the along a bar that allowed us to watch all the goings-ons of the kitchen. also, this afforded us the opportunity to talk with the head chef, who was very kind and offered to answer any questions we had. As a vegetarian, I, of course, had questions. He explained that every dish is made to order, but some have prepped stock, etc. made from animal broth. he pointed out the dishes i could choose from. i know that some have made comments regarding service and portions. the menu clearly states what are entrees and what are not. the pasta dishes are smaller and are priced reasonably to reflect that. also, the service was great. we had a very knowledgeable server who was friendly and outgoing. the food? well, first we split an excellent whipped goat cheese with beets, avacado and a cilantro vinagrette. because we both told the head chef we weren't fans of cilantro, it was made to order with very light cilantro and placed on the side for us. i had the buttersquash pasta, with arugula. delicious! normally, this would include proscuitto, but mine was made without. the squash was a lovely puree that tasted fresh--not creamy, not heavy. we split bread pudding for dessert. the winter menu was perfect--warm, seasonal flavors. i highly recommend a reservation for date night or sitting in the back at the kitchen bar with a friend!
(4)Beatrize N.
I love Lula so I knew I would love this place and from everything I had read about it, it did not disappoint. They were still working out the bugs a bit but in a few months I'm sure it will be much better. I had a tiny problem with the hostess because I had read on citysearch that they did not take reservations and I had also read that on their website but when we got to the place they asked if we had any...so I told them what I had read and why I didn't make any and they said they had just changed that and it had been updated on the web but since I just had seen it a couple of hours ago..I was like ok whatever, can we get a table and it was early and it was honestly fairly empty...what's the big deal, right? As the meal was progressing she suddenly interpreted us to tell me that I was wrong as she just checked the website and handed me a little Nightwood business card to check it out. Wow, that was a little aggressive.. I didn't care for the attitude and it was unnecessary at that point. Luckily the good food and super nice server put me back in the mood. So we get seated and the server was just lovely and explained everything and was super nice all evening and all her suggestions were awesome. The tomatoes in the salad were so amazing and the Trout BLT was mouthwatering. My friend had the pasta with this yummy lemony sauce. We had great drinks and the deserts where to die for! The cherries in one of the desserts were heavenly. It will become one of my favorites and I'm sure each time things will get better and better!
(4)chris c.
Still my favorite brunch spot in the city. Their ability to take ordinary brunch and make it something special is not to be missed. I just wish they would bring back the Oaxacan chocolate donut which is my favorite.
(4)Jebadiah S.
Yea, I'll never go back here. Why do you people go to this place??? To see and be seen? That's the only pathetic shallow reason I can think of. I've had it up to here with hipsters and I'm done with them and their stupid ignorance, they don't know how to do anything, especially manage and be a server in restaurants. I'm a normal Chicago person, I want you to take my order, not rip me off, and shut up. No one is special because they eat organic, they are simply eating normal, natural human food. This place has such an elitist vibe to me it really turns me off. You know why you never, ever need to go here? Because you can easily stop by a farmers market and get the same exact same ingredients they use and make yourself the same food! For waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy cheaper and MUCH larger portions and no added BS. This entire place is a scam, a rip off, I cannot believe I payed so much money for such tiny portions for food I could have made myself. The food was good, but it is literally not biologically possible for the food to be worth what they charge here. I hate hipsters, I hate them with a passion.
(1)Hollywood G.
Hopped in a Zip Car - as this neighborhood is a bit of a trek away - and popped in for brunch over the weekend. After seeing Nightwood on Chicago's Best show, I knew I had to go and sample the Bacon Butterscotch Donut. The donut did not disappoint. Neither did the rustic vintage chic decor/ambiance. My husband loved his cocktail, an Ol Rasputin w a shot of jameson and a shot of espresso. He's still telling people about it. Overall I felt like the menu looked interesting. We had a taco omlette and a benedict with pork and corn. On the benedict one of the muffins was impossible to cut through, even with a steak knife. The food was good, but it didn't blow our minds. The service was great and we were sat immediately (we did have a reservation). I would possibly go back again for brunch, I would try here again for dinner - that is next time I feel like trekking down to Pilsen.
(3)Joe A.
Not another posh brunch spot, opening with an endless wait, punctuated by a snooty wait staff, ending with a shocking bill. The bill was not small, but the first two presumptions couldn't be further from the truth. Unlike any other brunch spot I can think of, Nightwood allows not just reservations but online reservations. I came with a party of 7, including two small children. We were led downstairs, to the dark stuffy dungeon I thought. Surprisingly, it was bright and cheerful, with cute storm lights, wainscotting, and polished benches, the perfect setting for restless kids. The whole staff went out of their way to be friendly and were remarkable tolerant of the wee ones. Before coming in, I had given the menu a look and being a vegetarian was a bit put off by the meatiness. However the brunch menu had fabulous cornmeal ligonberry pancakes, and my mom seemed pleased with her homemade grannola. It weren't cheap for sure. About $20/person. But overall, the experience was worth it. I'd go back, for sure.
(4)Sunil D.
I had a really pleasurable experience at brunch yesterday. It was jam packed when we showed up and had to wait for a table to open up....and wait and wait...The manager (owner?) came up to us several times to keep us updated on wait times and told us people kept lingering despite having their bills on the table. Finally she recommended/gave us the option to grab bar seating in the back, I was reluctant at first but my hunger won out. I am glad I did, the bar at the back gives you a first hand view of the open kitchen. It was almost hypnotic watching the four chefs churn out plate after plate of beautiful food. The one downside was that I was so consumed by what was going on in the kitchen that I was not the most conversant brunch date (I blamed it on a rough Saturday night out though...). Before we even ordered the manager brought over a round of free drinks and apologized for the wait and then after we ordered one of the chefs gave us a free bacon glazed donut (yes, you read correctly...and trust me, this isn't of these kitschy "lets put bacon on everything" deals....it was a mind blowing (read: best ever) donut). It's the little things like this that help ease the unavoidable and often frustrating long wait times on the Chicago brunch scene. The food was spectacular (beyond the donut), I had the Ram and Eggs. It was hearty, yet sophisticated and complex, but still had a rustic and simple feel to it. Everything was well balanced, my egg was cooked perfectly and topped with anchovies, pistachio and a touch of some type of herb/olive oil dressing. This was all draped over a bratwurst sized sausage (which I'm not sure what was in it, but it was lean, tasty and perfectly cooked) in-between a nice crusty bread roll. I really loved the menu, it was a departure from standard brunch fare, but it wasn't different just for the sake of being "inventive" or "avant-guarde." The interesting combinations seemed to work very well (but to be honest, I didn't know what a lot of the ingredients on the menu were), while still giving you a different take on your old favorites but not stray so far that they are unrecognizable. The food was stellar, the service was great, I really liked the impression that all the employees felt like they had a vested interest in our meal/experience. Two of the chefs came over separately and asked about our meal, not just how it was but how specific components were. Overall a great time, although quite popular and busy, management did a great job balancing this out. A lesson that should be taken note of from their fellow competitors. Prices were also very reasonable (everything was well under $20), despite using top notched ingredients (everything seemed to be locallly sourced, but I am not 100% on this).
(5)Zeen A.
Ok...so being a fan of Lula's, I was curious to check out the new spot in my old hood...(moved out of Pilsen years ago and don't make it back often)...The wait was lengthy, but i gave us a quick chance to hit up Skylark for a few...when we returned an hour later we were still a few minutes from being sat so the owner bought us our first round of drinks! (super nice guy) I ordered an Old Fashioned and I've gotta say it was probably the best one I've had in the city... The food was solid, but there wasn't anything that was mind blowing...every dish just did a good job of doin' its job...I'd definitely go back for a round two...
(4)Anthony S.
Celebrated a friend's birthday here, I don't live too far from it (The South Loop), so was pretty convenient for me to get to by car. I would describe the neighborhood as artsy/hipsterish/ethnic with a fresh dash of yuppie, make of that what you will. When we arrived our table hadn't been setup up yet, so we went to the bar. My friend and I ordered this excellent German beer, I believe it was called something Adele Weiss (will have to double check on the exact name). After about a short wait at the bar, we were seated. Really dig the seats and this place, very cool looking and comfortable. For the appetizers we had the Agnolotti with sardines and this cheese that was out of this world, it was like mozzarella with creme injected into the middle of it. For my entree, I was a bit disappointed. I ordered the pork, after the waiter told me it was the last one left. Now I really like cured pork and ham and other pork like this, but usually when I order a pork roast, it's always almost too fatty, and sure enough here it was also. Even the center, which was surrounded by a gelatin-like layer of fat, seemed a bit fatty. Maybe it is just be me though, since everyone else seemed to like it. Despite not liking the texture, the flavor was very good, tasted a bit like a honey-baked ham, the sauce and the cabbage that were surrounding it were also very good, I just didn't care for the texture. For dessert had the chocolate pudding with this sort of whipped cherry flavored topping with pieces of chocolate in it. The pudding itself was very thick and chocolately, highly recommend this if you like pudding and it's on the menu when you visit. The menu at this place changes everyday, which I personally think is a very good thing, so there's many things to try here. Looking forward to going back so I can try a different entree.
(4)Richard N.
4.5 Stars for brunch. Stellar menu. There's something for brunch traditionalists and the more adventurous set as well. I had a goat leg and eggplant omelet with pickled peppers, fresh parsley and aioli with homemade tater totts and toast. The utter jam. Also had a butterscotch bacon doughnut - off the hook. My mom had oatmeal with fresh blueberries and my dad had a fritatta with creme fraich, dill, and cucumber. They were slammed but the service was attentive and considerate. The only detraction was the coffee, which was a little weak for my taste. Next time I'm in Chicago on a Sunday, I'll be there.
(5)graham h.
Gonna try not to be too verbose here. Nightwood was absolutely superb. Genuinely kind service. The most gorgeous dining room I've ever seen. A peaceful and comfortable patio. Clean, tasty food with impeccable ingredients. Just go - drink wine, and get dessert, especially blackberries and cream.
(5)Becca S.
I went for brunch and just loved it. We had a reservation and still had to wait a bit, but got a seat at the bar and had a Bloody Mary made with PBR instead of vodka. UM, yum! Everything on the menu looked amazing. My friend and I split the butterscotch and bacon donut (could have just had that for my brunch) and we each got the soft shell crab hoagie I think it was called. It was good but really big and we almost could have split it. I know this sounds contradictory, but the crab was a little too fishy. I think I might have been happier with something else, but my meal was good enough to keep me coming back. Plus, thanks Pilsen for having loads of free street parking.
(3)Scott M.
We ate here last Sat night with friends. I had heard (and read here some mixed reviews), but it was a great meal from start to finish. Cocktails were good and the wine list was impressive...many off-the-beaten-path selections and a very wide range of prices. There were a ton of bottles from $30-$50, which was nice. Shared the foie gras appetizer with my wife, which was delicious. One of our friends had the gazpacho--her only minor complaint was that it was a bit too spicy, but I liked it. Some reviews here have been disappointed with the portion sizes for the price, and I couldn't disagree more. I had the whole-roasted snapper (seasoned and cooked perfectly), which was huge, as was everyone's meal. And for most entrees being in the mid $20s, it was a fair value. Desserts and service were good (and parking was free!). We'll definitely recommend this to friends...
(4)Keith T.
Decent food and drinks. The polenta was well done, same for the brussel sprouts. This is what prompted me to leave a review and the 3 stars: very odd vibe from the staff/management. The night I went, it Felt like they are snickering and talking smack about every table.... I am willing to give another chance though.
(3)Thomas L.
Ever get that feeling that the people around you are on a higher intellectual level? I got that vibe here for some reason and it was very strange. The location was odd; I guess it works that you can pull the "up and coming neighborhood" thing for a bit longer. Food had clean flavors and noteworthy philosophy.
(3)maurice s.
This place is awesome. They have an open kitchen in the back, the centerpiece of which is a large rotisserie smoker. This is where the magic happens. We had smoked chicken and smoked pork. Both were excellent. The chicken came with a side of caramelized brussels sprouts. The pork appeared to be smoked as a bone-in roast, then sliced into chops and finished on the grill. It came with a nice side salad. For appetizers, we had tomato soup and gnocchi with goat and goat cheese. The portion sizes are ample and a good value. The only mediocre aspect of the meal was desert, so pass on that. NOTE: The entrance is on the left through the patio. The building was designed with a corner entrance, which makes sense given the location. For some reason, they walled in the corner entrance, so folks who approach the building at the apparent entrance point have to turn around and walk back to the actual entrance. Remarkably, I saw at least 20 people make this turn during the 1.5 hours I spent at the restaurant, so it's a fairly substantial design flaw that probably should be addressed with signage.
(5)Alli Y.
We went to Nightwood for brunch around 10am on a weekend morning. They take reservations so we were seated very quickly and the ambience of the downstairs was lovely. The food was exactly what I would have expected for a trendy brunch place - well presented on crisp white plates and described impeccably in the menu, but fairly normal tasting. Not bad by any means, but also not "wow" inducing. We had two different appetizers (a bacon donut and a lemony-donut) both of which were excellent. The main courses (bread pudding and quiche) were simply okay. Our experience was also colored by the fact that the waitress basically ignored us for 2 hours, and when we brought that up with her, she was less than receptive.
(3)Carly B.
Expectations: Fresh, innovative menu; (possibly pretentious) hipster staff; quiet and not too terribly busy - especially since it was 8:45 on a Tuesday. Experience: Fresh, innovative menu - so fresh, in fact, that they handwrite it daily; UNpretentious, accommodating hipster staff; a 45-minute wait for a table for two - yep, even on a Tuesday night! Since I ate at Nightwood three days ago, something more seasonal may have bumped the gazpacho and ratatouille off the menu. So, sorry to tease you with a meal you probably won't be able to order -- but these were some of the freshest, most flavorful things I've tasted in recent memory. It's the kind of stuff you can feel good about ingesting. My dining partner felt the same; he cleaned his plate - a pasta dish with sausage - before I even thought to swipe a bite. Dessert was a plate of four assorted warm cookies, which were good but forgettable. I believe the dessert menu is fixed, so I would go a different route next time. Every staff member I interacted with was patient and helpful. The hostess, who had to deal with me three times since we snagged an open bar spot in lieu of waiting 45 minutes for a table, actually smiled, used my name, and thanked us on the way out. The bartender, who ended up doubling as our server, patiently explained each drink on the cocktail menu, made just enough conversation with us, and was an all-around likable dude. And that 45-minute wait on a Tuesday at 8:45? I asked the bartender and the only reason he could think of was that since Lula Café (which has the same owners) is closed Tuesdays, the regular crowd commutes from Logan Square to Pilsen to dine at Nightwood. I'm skeptical. I think the word has gotten out and Nightwood is getting the love they deserve every night of the week.
(5)Sarah W.
My brother and I came here as my farewell to life in Pilsen, and it was overall, a delicious experience. The decor was modern and bright, and it was fancier than I expected, based off the casual (but nice) feel of Lula. As others have attested, the service was excellent. Our server was helpful and gave good suggestions, without being intrusive. He recommended a good beer for my brother, and gave me some background on the one I chose as well. Later during the meal, he came to check up on how everything was and seemed to truly be passionate about the food and making sure we had a nice experience. I thought the menu options seemed great- I couldn't decide what to get, because they all seemed delicious. They had just redone them, so it sounds like they probably make a lot of seasonal items or go with what's fresh. My brother went for trout, which came out whole, served with greens on the side, which he said was good. I ordered a trout BLT. Yes, a trout BLT. It was delicious! It was served on thick soft bread with bacon, lettuce, tomato, a trout fillet, and barbeque sauce (!) with a sunny side egg (!!) placed on top of the sandwich. It was SO good. It's making me hungry again writing about it.. Served on the side was a small side salad with a tart and light vinaigrette. Great experience, though a little pricey, but I will definitely be back for special occasions.
(5)Kristi K.
Quite simply, the most satisfying meal I've ever eaten. I took the afternoon to traverse to Pilsen. I walked around, checked out a few places, and then decided, while I was here, to check out Nightwood. I walked in, and it's just beautiful. Warm, inviting. Simple. I love it. I am seated immediately, brought water and a menu. Menus change daily, so they're nicely handwritten. Nice touch! My server comes over, and asks if I have any questions. I start my typical...what do you recommend routine. Ok...if the menu changes as often as they say (I'm sure they repeat items, but still...) he would have to be on his game. Effortless. I settled on a cheese starter that was somewhat like a combination of Brie and Mozzarella. It was served with a fennel sauce and toast points. I told him to surprise me on drink--beer, wine or cocktail. He got excited. I love it when a server loves their job, knows the food AND can pair a drink with it. Class act. He chose a beer which was amazing. Ephemere. It's a Canadian lager with an apple base (but no means a cider) and coriander. I couldn't taste the coriander until I got a bite of the fennel in the starter, and took a swig. Perfectly paired. Next, I had chicken with a white bean and bread salad. It was exquisite. The bean salad was as good with the chicken. The chicken was seasoned well, yet not over seasoned. Once again, he brought me a perfectly paired glass of white wine. A french blend...I don't remember the name. Desert was a glass of desert red (almost a port, but not quite) and a chocolate and hazelnut custard. Again, perfect. Overall, no complaints. Was it cheap? No. Have I spent that much at "the best restaurants in the city". Yes. Was I nearly as happy when I left said restaurants? Absolutely not. I loved it. I had high expectations, as I love Lula, and I thought there would be no way Nightwood could be different enough yet maintain the quality. It exceeded my expectations. Much better service. No attitude. Actually...they had pleasure in what they were doing. Everyone from the hostess, to the server to the gentleman who brought out my entree. If I could give it 10 stars, I would.
(5)Pete D.
Pleasantly surprised here. The inside of the place is really nicely decorated. The menu... I don't think my taste buds are fancy so this menu was a bit concerning at first. Lots of liver meats, beef fat, tuna sauces on chickens, whale turds (okay maybe not). But honestly we just asked the waitress what was good and dove right into it. The food was really great! You read it on the menu and think it will be so exotic that it won't taste good, but truly, the food was really amazing and unique. And the dessert! Try the pretzel bread pudding for some yummy but different type comfort food. I actually can believe that all of their desserts are amazing. Great service here too. Give it a go if you're in the area or looking for a different type of dinner, stray away from your boring italian places!!
(4)Sue S.
Absolutely worth the drive to this out of the way location. Be sure to make a reservation though since it's not huge and very popular. Hip, comfortable atmosphere with great service and excellent food. It's loud, but tables are spaced apart so you won't have any trouble hearing others at your table. Menu changes with seasonal offerings. Our party thoroughly enjoyed two appetizers: the smelt and asparagus. The waiter helped us select our entrees: the trout, a pasta dish, and duck. Each was cooked perfectly and delicious. We had the plate of cookies and strawberry shortcake sundae for dessert. Very nice selection of wine. Would definitely return.
(4)Erin R.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. A donut with bacon in the middle, covered with a delightful glaze, washed down with a nice cup of coffee. We went to brunch at Nightwood this morning, dragging along our cranky 19 month old to this great restaurant in the Pilsen nabe. At first I wasn't too sure how kid-friendly the place was but within seconds of being seated, our waitress offered up many options for kids, which aren't relegated to a separate menu. Shortly after we sat down there was a parade of fashionably dressed youngsters, hitting the fancy food on the early side of a Sunday morning. Like I said, we split the bacon donut. Good lord that was evil. Evil in the best way ever, basically. After our hearts recovered from the indulgence (we split one donut between three people and it was plenty), we ordered our breakfasts. The service was great. The "tots" are not to be missed. I had an apple omelet with blue cheese. Oh man it was good. My husband had some spicy eggplant thing and our friend had a frittata. Frittata is just a fun word to say, admit it (and hard to spell). The baby had a waffle and some fruit but was really more interested in trying to snag our cups of coffee. I will most definitely be back. It is so nice to know that there are standout dining options on the south side and those of us who live south don't always have to trek to the north side for excellent food.
(4)Robot A.
First off...every time I walk into the bathroom at Nightwood, I immedietly think about taking a sledgehammer to my own bathroom and redoing it. My wife is lucky that I get the inspiration to do this before we order food so that the distraction of a good meal wipes the idea out of my head. Start with a bacon donut. Menu changes daily so there is nothing I want to tell you to get...just enjoy. Brunch is fantastic! May be on the little pricey side, but hey...I don't go out much now that I have a newborn so when I do, I like to enjoy. A welcomed (and well needed) place to eat in Pilsen.
(5)Eric F.
Went to NIghtwood on a Monday night. The meal was just 'ok', To summarize, the place had decent flavors and was worth the price but did not impress. Some things were really excellent, and others were not. I really enjoyed the 'off the beaten path' location and cozy atmosphere. But the service was a bit slower than what I would have expected on a Monday night. The Pork appetizer was absolutely excellent, with very good flavor profiles. Bread came out cold and stale. The Fois Gras Pasta was pretty good, but I was not impressed with the flavor; had expected more from a homemade pasta that contained fois gras. The spit roasted chicken was nothing special. I've had better at KFC and Jewel! It really did not taste any different than what I have had elsewhere. We wanted to get the pork but they were out. Maybe we just had a bad pick. I really wanted to love this place, but it just wasnt that great. I am currently unsure if I will be back to try this place again.
(3)Sarah F.
Amazing atomsphere and lovely location in Pilsen! Truly a top notch, in-the-know crowd, and great service at Nightwood! I went for V-day brunch, and started w/ the the homemade donuts (coffee chicory and also bacon butterscotch) which were TO-DIE-FOR! The other brunch items we ordered left something to be desired, I think. Small portions and kind of odd combinations. Although I wasn't in love with my strada (fig and pork belly) and my boyfriend wasn't in love with his clam chowder egg dish, I am DEFINITELY willing to give this place the benefit of the doubt. I can't wait to try dinner here! They allegedly have a better burger than Kuma's corner, and the rest of the menu looks so fabulous as well!
(3)Andrew M.
Loved it! Everything was perfect - the ambiance, decor, vibrant bar scene, artfully created fresh cocktails, inventive and tasty cuisine - exactly what I look for in a great restaurant. The menu changes daily, so you can always try something new. I had pheasant - it was delightful. I can't wait until the weather warms up and the outside fireplace starts up. Best part was getting the bill - 2 people with 3 courses and a bottle of wine came in under $150.
(4)Sally M.
Went for restaurant week and felt underwhelmed. After tax and tip, my meal cost $60. I would have paid $30 MAX for the meal that I ate. The portions were tiny and the food tasted bland--nothing special, and certainly nothing worth $60. Their entrees looked more promising, though, so maybe worth trying regularly.
(1)Sophia A.
Went here for my brother's 20th birthday. This is the brother that loves a good meal but will make a scene wherever he goes. (He once loudly sang peanut butter jelly time in the middle of Spiaggia.) Since it was a party of 12, you'd think they'd send us to the basement. However, they were really accommodating and gave us a large table near the kitchen. They might have regretted that move once they saw my suburbanite parents whip out the camcorder and camera that has a lighting storm of flashes and endlessly take photos against the mirror and towards the kitchen staff and servers. Or when my brother decided to randomly make gorilla or dog noises. (Huge mea culpa, Nightwood!) But they were really nice and at least showed some good humor about it. Phew. But my oh my, LOVED the food. Love how the menu changes. (Also love whoever's handwriting that is. The "g"s are cute.) Love the cocktails and their extensive use of Koval's products. And I really love it when a restaurant puts sardines in the spotlight and prepares it in a way that can convert sardine-haters into lovers of the fish underdog. The gnocchi & gruyere app was ordered again once the sibling realized how awesome it was. The entrees need no explanation. You can't go wrong. I guess only thing i was meh about were the desserts. They were good, but I guess since everything else was so incredible - they ended just being an afterthought for us. Definitely returning to try the brunch!
(4)Kate L.
Love at first bite: Fresh doughnuts with a butterscotch bacon glaze, accompanied by mini donut holes, lightly tossed in cinnamon and sugar. My first taste, of my first (and as of yet only) visit to Nightwood, and it was one of those tastes that you just want to keep going and going in your mouth. I've said it before, I'm a sucker for donuts. Correction: I'm a sucker for FRESH donuts. I don't generally bother with donuts unless they're fresh, it just seems like a waste of time, taste and calories otherwise. This was not just a fresh donut, though, this was the BEST fresh donut I've had in recent memory. I will be back for the donuts alone, however, the entree I had was amazingly tasty as well; a somewhat unusual, though not that different of a take on eggs benedict. Fresh english muffins topped with spicy cabbage, perfectly poached eggs with the yolks still runny and hollandaise drizzled on top. There was also a strangely large amount of fresh frissee lettuce on top, just under the hollandaise, obscuring most of the other elements on the plate. I suppose I should have been thankful for a little fresh, uncooked green addition to my brunch, which is somewhat of a rarity, and I think it would have been a good idea perhaps, if only the amount had been a bit smaller, and the leaves themselves had been cut down into more manageably-edible sized pieces. Overall, it was still really good eggs benedict In addition to the eggs benedict part of the eggs benedict, you also get "tots", which are like a tater tot but 20 times better, or a round, extra crispy mini latke ball. Rejoice: now you can order tater tots as part of your breakfast without regret. One last thing I must mention which was absolutely wonderful is that on a Sunday, at around 12:30, my friend and I were able to sit down for brunch in Chicago without waiting. With such good food on offer, and a lovely seating area too, I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with this picture, but me and my hunger happily accepted not having to wait. Another last, last thing: I had planned another trip to Nightwood for brunch on Saturday the week after my first visit, but sadly learned that they only have brunch on Sunday. Devastating.
(5)Monica S.
Actual rating is 3 1/2 stars. Nightwood was highly recommended by friends and thought this might be a good place to celebrate my husband's birthday. Going in with high expectations, it was disappointing that the overall experience was just a tad above average. The food was tasty but the prices for some of their dishes were too expensive. Because they use locally grown seasonal vegetables and their menu changes daily, that is a plus and we will try this place again but without preconceived expectations.
(3)Ryan P.
I am still obsessed! How do other restaurants lose their magic after a few months, but Nightwood is still as delicious and special as the first time I came? Idk, but I looove it. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. And I am still thinking about that delicious meyer lemon dish, it was so amazing!
(5)Cristina T.
Food was amazing, service was very friendly. Went for my birthday dinner & loved the romantic atmosphere. Had the fried meyer lemons & bone marrow gnocchi to start. Had the 1/2 chicken as my entree and the portion was enormous. It was cooked to perfection and served with walnuts, pecans and a delicious raisin/walnut bread. Got the plate of warm cookies for dessert & was not disappointed. The gooey butter cookie is to die for. Will definitely be back!
(5)First L.
We always wondered why there were so many dandily-dressed folks meandering around South Halsted late at night...and finally found out for ourselves. We started with the salted butter, flaky pastry-like biscuits and cocktails, the Four Under Par (vodka, sweat tea, lime) and gin concoction that was strong but not otherwise memorable. We followed the cocktails with some Provencal Rose wine, bread, and foie gras (just coming back from France made this even more delectable). The grilled foie gras was quite well done with fresh Michigan cherries and birch syrup. For our mains, we had the cavatelli with chantarelles and an incredible ratatouille. As with the appetizers, they were incredible. The portions seemed small for Chicago, but were actually very filling. Dessert had to wait until next time, although MANY fantastic looking pastries were delivered to tables all around us. It was a bit loud and the service - although good - was pretty affected. It also seemed that horn-rimmed glasses (think Buddy Holly or Elvis Costello) are part of the mandatory uniform for both guests and waitstaff alike. Outdoor seating enviable on a cooler night. More later after we try the brunch.
(4)Paulius N.
butterscotch bacon donut fantasy delight quiet orgasm One tremendous Sunday brunch. The bacon butterscotch donut was a mind blower. And frankly, I'm not a big fan of this bacon fad, but this was insanely great. Sturgeon chowder; awesome. Homemade tots; priceless. A kitchen in full view; major props. Bravo. Carry on.
(5)Lauren C.
Best Manhattan in the city! The food was so good. The service was fun, chill and clever. We can't wait to go back and sit at the kitchen bar. We had the spit roasted chicken. I have to say I still like Popeye's in Lake Geneva, BUT it was really good. The Blueberry dessert was so good. SO good.
(4)Suzanne K.
Nightwood has been the perfect gem in Pilsen. It's so dangerously close to where we live, that I would go there often, if I could! What I love most is that the menu changes based on what foods/ingredients are in season. My husband and I have been there for dinner and brunch, both very good. You can find dishes that satisfy every palate, from fresh cut pastas to even one of the tastiest burgers. Brunch offers tasty doughnuts of the day, chicken and waffles and an amazing cup of coffee. They have a wonderful wine, beer and cocktail list to complement your food as well.
(5)A S.
Really enjoyed this place. Ambience, menu, food quality, wine list, wait staff. We had the fried lemon app and the spicy melon app -- both delicious. The trout was perfect and the fresh tomatoes and greens complimented it wonderfully. I can't stop thinking about it! Oh and the women's bathroom is one of the best appointed and clean bathrooms I've seen in a restaurant in a while. Thanks Nightwood!
(5)Shelley A. D.
This place is beautiful, great location, clear on its mission. However the portions are way too big; there are not enough vegetarian; fish; poultry options; no kids' menu; no Sunday dinner offering. Cannot wait until they diversify!
(4)Roger W.
This place was really nice. The food was really OK. I've heard brunch is awesome and want to come back and give this place a better review.
(3)Swati B.
Came here on a sunday around 11am for brunch, we had a party of 10 and had reservations, we arrived on time but it took a few minutes to actually get seated...and then about 30 minutes for someone to actually acknowledge us downstairs, and then another 30 minutes for someone to take an order..did I mention I came with 3 pregnant women who were fiending for food??? My friend asked for the jalepeno biscuits first thing with her coffee...and another friend ordered an OJ...those items never made it to the table..needless to say, they were not happy. Sure it was extremely crowded..to the point where while you were waiting to be seated you either were going to elbow someone you didn't know..or be in the way of a server..it was just ridiculous! The menu definitely has a very random mix of items, things you likely would never imagine going together...I actually got the scrambled eggs with pea shoots, radishes and cream cheese with tater tots..it sounds...interesting i know..but actually it was DAMN good...now there aren't many vegetarian options here...and if you are vegan you can probably have some toast and jelly..but honestly not a vegan friendly place...a few girls had the goat cheese quiche which they raved about (and it was really tasty!), and the french toast that they had for the day was really amazing as well. They have a great list of morning cocktails...most girls loved their mimosas...the girls that had their bloody mary's thought it needed a lot more salt, as in like 3 more tablespoons but had a lot of spice... I hear that they change their menu weekly and that they have different variety, but I don't know if I would come back on a Sunday..maybe I'd have to come a little earlier in the day..the food was good no doubt but the service and crowd kind of make me want to stay away...
(3)Tazeen C.
Awesome, unpretentious brunch spot --anywhere that serves tater tots gets bonus points in my book.
(4)Cupcake C.
I wanted to LOVE this place. The atmosphere was good but it is no Avec. It was o.k. The salad was good. We had a chicken dish and a burger.
(2)Katie G.
Yum. yum. yum. Everything about this place was fantastic! My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, and we both LOVED it. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the food....oh the food. The menu changes daily, and I can't wait to go back. Everything looked wonderful....I'll go back starving next time, so I can indulge a bit more! He had handmade pasta with jalapenos, some kind of creamy sauce, etc. He all but licked his plate. I had the whitefish with cauliflower, pumpkin seeds, olives....YUM. It was very light and very fresh. The drink list is very extensive (cocktails, craft beers, wine), albeit a bit pricey for the area. The only reason I gave this place a 4 out of 5 is because our waiter started to forget about us towards the end of our meal. Besides that, they've nailed just about every element: Ambiance: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Noise Level: 5 stars Service: 4 stars People Watching: 5 stars
(4)Dave P.
Visited again, this time for Sunday morning brunch (a.k.a. Morningwood....ha ha ha I crack myself up sometimes.) Overall, a very pleasant experience. Menu is split between more basic and affordable options (granola, oatmeal, eggs, donuts, etc.) and more creative and expensive options. I had.... Intelligensia Coffee brewed to perfection Bloody Mary that was fresh tasting a spiced well...but almost unsalted. Chicken (wings) and Waffles....delicious but could have used a thigh for $14. Butterscotch and Bacon Donut...no review necessary. Others with me had... Bagel sandwich with smoked trout cream cheese, pickled winter veg, and "tots".....this was the best thing I ate. Mutton Omelet...very tasty but not exceptional. Rhubarb and cardamom crepes....again very tasty but not exceptional. Would certainly return...plus if you sign up for emails you can have the brunch menu emailed to you Saturday night so you can decide whether or not to get your ass out of bed Sunday morning.
(4)kelly a.
Positives: love the decor, good ambiance, farm fresh ingredients, extensive wine list, daily menu, DELICIOUS buccantini, crunchy ramps, cool cocktail creations, close to Skylark. Negatives: terribly inattentive waiter, tough veal, the $9 plate of lettuce I had for an appetizer, bathroom was out of toilet paper.
(3)Anisha A.
Nightwood shouldn't be confused with It's Always Sunny's NightMan, but should absolutely be chanted in the same singsong tune. Being fans of Lula, we made the trek to Pilsen to check it out. The scene did not disappoint, the food kinda did. Would recommend going here if you're a sucker for fun dining chairs or if your commute is under 7 minutes. Otherwise opt for Lula instead. Started with the short rib tortellini and beet salad, both respectable. For mains, had the goat. The waiter reveled in letting us know that the goat was, in fact, a kid goat. So we stamped our tickets to hell, eating the animal equivalent of a fetus. But it was sweet and interesting- bottomed with brioche and topped with an egg. Besides that, the trout was so-so and the pasta was slightly hardened and dry. For dessert, had the ganache tart with expresso ice cream. Almost lost a tooth biting into it.
(3)Evan R.
I am just not impressed with this place. I live in the neighborhood and I don't feel that the food presented at Nightwood is worth the money that is being put on the menu. I have been here a few times for brunch, which I would recommend the Bacon Butterscotch donut, but you can get as good of a brunch down the street at Nana on Halsted for WAY less money. For dinner, this place is very overrated and I REALLY wanted to like this place after loving Lula Cafe for so long. The food is ok (everyone does a burger well these days)but it does not justify the prices. The menu is small but not very well thought out. Salmon appetizer with a salad for $15! The plate had like three bites of salmon. Come on dudes! The wine by the glass is too expensive too. Come on, it's Pilsen! Make the menu realistic. I don't feel that many local people eat here. It is for the people that look at NIghtwood as a destination dining experience. It definitely is not and it is not going to be somewhere where I go to or recommend again.
(2)Lara E.
we went on a friday night. 2 people. no reservation. and were seated within 10 minutes. = nice. why 3 stars? - great ambiance and style. - a clueless waitress. when i ask a waitress about a particular dish, i expect more than her reading the menu to me. i say how's the burrata? she says "oh, it's good. it's served with honey and pears." well guess what? i could have determined that by reading the menu! a truly well trained staff would give you additional details about the preparation, the flavor, the ingredients (local/not?, etc), its popularity, etc. etc. sadly to say, she was nice but had peas for brains and having worked in food service before, i am not easy on these cute but totally clueless, deer-in-headlights waitresses working at nice, new american restaurants. on the food: good not spectacular. sweet potato ravioli = 3 small squares for 12 bucks. insanely great flavor. served with fried sage. just wish there was more.... burrata crostini = needed heat? something pickled? some acid?just anything to contrast the creaminess. sardines = lentils were excellent, but sardines were a leeeeetle too fishy. i mean really fishy. pecan pie = good portion. get a scoop of ice cream. yelpers that give nightwood 5 stars are almost always talking about brunch. i don't see very many 5 star dinner reviews. consistency is key nightwood!
(3)Tom A.
We're in the camp of Lula fans who drove past Lula, trekked out of Logan Square into the unknowns of the Pilsen area to visit Nightwood -- and, given the online menus, I most certainly would not have ventured here without my extensive background at Lula. Skeptical, we let curiosity get the better of us. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed. I had high hopes and expectations, went out of my way and had my very nice friend treat me to a pricy meal which was rather lackluster. Vegetarian options are highly limited. 3 apps and one main course (two if you take them up on the spaghetti and meatballs hold the meatballs/pay for the meatballs anyway), so we got them all. Gnocchi app was quite excellent and is the only thing that could constitute a standout. Beet salad was ok; it had these huge deep fired croutons, which didn't add much. Pizza was ok. I'd like it more for a couple dollars less. Main course pasta dish was unforgivably salty. Borderline inedible. For the cost ($22!) i would expect more. It was mostly pasta and salt. Food cost must be in the 10% range on this item. I had some serious belly aches after the meal, which I am attributing to the not-particularly-cooked onions in this dish. No side vegetables available. Wine selection is rather large, mostly midlevel bottles with a few by the glass. We did well with a ~$35 bottle. Beer selection is decent. However, my 90 Min IPA came about 15-20 degrees below recommended serving temperature (50-55F). Although by now I know almost no restaurant can handle serving beer even remotely correctly, it does bother me every time. It's like getting a good red wine served to you in a mug at 34F. Non-iced filtered water (still or with gas) appreciated. Gelato by the scoop (@$2 each) is a nice little end to the meal. I do appreciate the availability of a smaller dessert, although 'full' desserts are also available. Staff: attentive, hip. Decor: dark, grey. Sort of cave-like. open kitchen.
(2)constance p.
Always incredible! One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago
(5)Joshua R.
Attention Nightwood owners/managers. If someone asked me what my favorite restaurant in Chicago was about 6 months ago, I would have said Nightwood. Don't get me wrong -- I love the vibe, love the quality of the food, love your servers. BUT, I've gone recently twice for special occasions and I think you're a victim of your own success. Each night you were out of like half the menu which was disappointing. The service and wait times have gotten borderline bad. The noise had become deafening. It's been hot as hell in the restaurant. Bottom line -- it's becoming not very pleasant!!?? Guys...WTF? Maybe you need to stop taking walk ins, I'm not sure. It's just too busy, too crowded, too hot, the service is starting to suck, and half your menu items on any given night are gone by 8PM!! Make some imporvements and you'll get 5 stars from me once more.
(2)lesley h.
Loved this place for a great dinner with friends---we all enjoyed every one of our appetizers, entrees and desserts. Lovely setting, great service, will be back!
(5)Jo Jo B.
Excellent! All of our dishes tasted fantastic, they definitely catered to my food allergies as well. This place can be quite noisy though, so prepare yourself for that. Other than that everything was great. It's definitely worth the trip.
(5)K B.
Went back for brunch again with a group. This time I was disappointed. I would downgrade the entire brunch menu to a 3, but as long as you order what they do well you'll leave very happily. I had the griddle cakes topped beans and egg - it wasn't good. Someone at my table had the salad with I think rabbit or some other meat, and they were also disappointed. However, the bagel sandwich (this time with Trout), the hashbrowns, and the donuts are still killer. So get that if you for sure want a delicious meal. Otherwise I'm giving no guarantees.
(3)Brad C.
Went to Nightwood for my birthday dinner the other week, now I don't venture to the south side that often but Nightwood had been calling my name for awhile. I made a reservation but there were plenty of tables open around 7 pm on a week night. My fiancé and I were asked if we wanted to sit at the kitchen bar but ended up going with a normal table instead. The idea of the kitchen bar seemed like a really neat concept, it's always fun to see your food getting prepared. With a quick look over the drink menu we both decided to go with one of the craft cocktails, they had an ok beer selection but nothing really jumped out at us. I ordered the pumpkin old fashion which was pretty great. Never thought about using a pumpkin bitter to create a seasonal cocktail. For dinner we ended up sharing a handful of small plates. Everything on the menu sounded pretty good and we both wanted to try as much as we could. A couple highlights were the Poached Farm Egg and the Butternut Squash pasta. Since it was a birthday dinner I couldn't pass up the chance to try a few things off the dessert menu. My favorite was the Lemon Curd but the fiancé loved the Chocolate Pumpernickel Bread Spoon. Overall everything we had was good but I guess I'm kind of getting tired of all the "New" American cuisine spots I've been going to lately. I'd go back again but after seeing some of the brunch options I really wish I would have done that instead of dinner. When I make it back to Nightwood it's likely I'll be going for brunch.
(4)Cole L.
I went here last tuesday, and upon looking at the menu I knew I was in for a good experience. This restaurant deals in authenticity that so many haut-cuisine wannabe Chicago restaurants sadly imitate. Our waiter was outstanding, we made conversation with him about the restaurant, its philosophy, and history. As for the food. On the day I was there, I had a mushroom soup which was ok to good. The taste was rich and creamy, yet the texture was watery for its intensity. My entree though, proved that there is some hope in this city. It was a sandwich with porter mustard (Old Rasputin Imperial Porter I was told, which is one of my favorites), pulled pork loin, and a fried egg. Fried egg seems cliche these days, but let me just say, in the same fashion as I said to our waiter, "Despite your daily menu changes, serving this pork any other way would be a war crime." It was absolutely stellar. The restaurant's ambiance, seats surround in the kitchen, and very cool looking outside area in the summer make it a winner. Shitty location, but I don't mind trekking to enjoy it.
(4)Samuel M.
Wood Grilled Foie Gras - superbly smoky, a memorably unique twist on the classic seared style. Whole roasted striped bass with peas and bacon - the ends of the fish were ever-so-slightly slightly overdone, but otherwise perfect; the accompaniment truly elevated the fish. Buttermilk pot de creme - I'd have liked the buttermilk flavor to be more prevalent, but the dish was otherwise well-executed; the berries and pleasantly crumbly cornmeal cookies contributed to a harmonious dessert. Nightwood Manhattan - buffalo trace is almost too good to embellish, but the vermouth and bitters truly took it to the next level. Decor and ambiance were like the food - simple and understated, but truly pleasant. The one knock on the place was that the portions were a little small for the price, but I didn't mind, as the quality was superb.
(4)Amanda Z.
One of the best brunch spots EVER. Definitely the best donut of my LIFE - that deserves the 5 stars, no question. Freshly fried Boston cream pie donut at Nightwood = best breakfast treat of all time. After this sensational bite, we wanted to be gluttonous and order the bacon butterscotch donut as well, but we were too full after our yummy breakfasts to have another donut. Next time for sure. My fiance had the fish tacos which were served deconstructed in a bowl w/all the ingredients and you make the taco yourself. He enjoyed it immensely, but I tried it and was not too impressed (however, I was NOT in the fish taco mood and I didn't like the hominy beans in it). I wanted some lighter fare even though the bagel fried egg sandwich looked sooooo freakin good. So I went with the whipped goat cheese with prosciutto and pears on a baguette...it was so decadent and I've never had anything like that. There were GOBS of goat cheese left over so the chef that made it quickly got me another piece of the wonderful bread to sop up all the goodness (we were sitting at the kitchen counter, which was really neat to see all the chefs in action and how quickly they put out all the food!). We also had the tots as a side, and boy were they delicious and different! Fried ball of hash browns, not a solid tot like you would expect...oh it was so wonderful. Service was a little slow but it didn't matter since we were entertained with watching the kitchen, but had we not been sitting there, it may have been a problem. I can't wait to go back to Nightwood for another amazing brunch (and for the bacon donut!!) and for dinner as well.
(5)Jodi R.
Nightwood is deserving of its Michelin rating. Amazing brunch. Menu changes daily. They use fresh & local ingredients. Space is cool , inviting & comfy. Chocolate eclairs may be one of the best things I've eaten all year: homemade pastry with custard the likes of which I have never tasted. Please give me a vat of the chocolate topping. Hubby said the cheeseburger was one of the best he has ever eaten. Rolled omelet featured lentils & herbs. Portion was a bit small but every bite was perfect. Enjoyed the tator tots which are like a hush puppy made of potatoes . Hot chocolate is homemade , no package stuff here. Even though we live on the other side of town, Nightwood will now be in our rotation. Server was very friendly and helpful. Street parking not so much fun. Crowd is quite diverse.
(5)David T.
Had dinner here tonight, and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. The dishes are all very seasonal and organic, so I would anticipate that the menu changes regularly. According to our gracious dinner host who is also friends with the owners, this is owned by the same couple that owns Lula Cafe in our 'hood, Logan Square. That being said, we had high expectations, and quite honestly those expectations were exceeded. We started out splitting some appetizers for the table which included onion rings with some kind of tasty cream sauce, and chicken liver pate. I also had a watermelon-tomato-mozzarella-bacon salad while my wife ordered a nectarine salad. We also had a very satisfying heirloom tomato and mozzarella soup. For my entree, I ordered the wood-grilled whole trout (which was excellent) and also sampled the spaghetti with lobster as well as the steak. Everything was very flavorful and well-prepared. I didn't have a chance to review the wine list as our host selected the wines, but we had an excellent Zin from Mendocino County, a crisp Gruner Veltliner from Austria, and a delicate sparkling Rose from France. Judging from the quality of the wines we enjoyed, I would assume that the rest of the wine list was also of equal caliber. For dessert, we split a chocolate gelato as well as a salted butterscotch gelato, and also had a sampling of a super-rich chocolate cake. Again, the quality of the desserts was on par with the rest of our meal. As for service, our waiter was very friendly and very attentive and seemed to have a very good grasp of the menu. We are definitely returning, and will likely try to get a seat by the kitchen.
(4)Jims L.
Forgot I ate here, Yelp is telling me I did. Had brunch. It was decent. Will try dinner next time.
(3)Mallory G.
Came here for brunch on Easter Sunday - 5 stars for the bacon butterscotch donut. The bacon is extra bacon-y, perhaps it's bacon-infused bacon and combined with the butterscotch, this could be one of my favorite foods in Chicago. However, donuts do not a brunch make. I had the rabbit omelette and my dad had the ramchillada. He loved the ramchillada, probably because it was huge, I thought it was good but nothing to write home about. My rabbit omelette was just ok - wished I had tried the smoked trout bagel sandwich. The donuts live up to the hype...everything else, meh. Went to Longman & Eagle the day before for brunch (it was a good brunch weekend!) and I was far more impressed. My favorite part of the restaurant was probably the aesthetic, unfortunately for Nightwood, this isn't a design review.
(3)Beer H.
My wife works down the street, and we have been wanting to try Nightwood for some time. We made a reservation for 8:30. We were about 15 minutes early. The hostess said that we would be seated at our reservation time. Little did I know there were multiple groups of people with reservations waiting to be seated. At about 8:45 we started talking to the group standing by us, and they had a reservation for 8:00. I told them I would have been long gone if I were you! They said that they probably would have ,but they gave them free champaign. A few minutes later they were seated. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and offered us free champaign. Not being "champaign people" we declined, and told her that if we were not seated before 9:00 we were going to have to leave. We were finally seated at 8:59. If it was a Friday or a Saturday I would understand this, but it is a Thursday. I understand that is isn't the burbs, and sometimes you have to wait a little longer to eat at the new-hot spots. However, if you are having problems seating people on around their reservation time you should stop taking them. The have a good beer and wine list, but that is what I would expect from a restaurant like this. They sever brought out some bread with goat cheese and rhubarb preserves. It was good, and I tend not too like goat cheese. I had the the confit duck leg with turnip greens salad. The duck leg cam with most of the meat missing from the duck leg. I tried to rationalize it by saying, maybe it is some fancy way to plate it. Also, the duck wasn't that great. The turnip green salad was awesome! There wasn't much to it, it was bitter, sweet, and salty all at the same time! Very interesting! My wife had the pollenate tart with olive oil poached egg. It was ok, it was differnent. She liked it, but it wasn't for me. Sorry, I didn't think the food was that great. And telling us we would be seated at our reservation time when they knew that we wouldn't be seated for a long time pissed me off. Both of those things shouldn't happen from a place with a reputation like this. I'm not going back!
(2)Annie R.
Food not as good as I hoped but the experience was super.
(4)J T.
Food: Deep-fried Michigan smelts w/creme fraiche; chicken liver pate - both good. Veal sugo - a bit on the salty side, otherwise would've been a good dish. Service: Attentive and friendly.
(3)Maggie F.
My first visit to Nightwood was a little disappointing - an especially fatty cut of pork belly, some undercooked peas, and an unpleasant scent hanging mysteriously in the air of the spotless dining area left my date and I underwhelmed by Lula's baby sister. But our second meal at Nightwood more than made up for our mediocre first impression. Local, ethically produced, überfresh ingredients are combined expertly and served amply. I loved the perfectly al dente rigatoni with lamb meatballs, tomato, currants, pine nuts, garlic and arugula. Deep fried mozzarella with tart cherries and greens competed with fresh zucchini and golden tomatoes. Dessert: the apricot-glazed bread pudding with amaretto gelato couldn't be beat. Look for great cocktails, a menu that changes daily, and some of the best and most knowledgeable servers in town. The decor is minimalist and yet robust, with a beautifully done covered patio.
(5)Daani C.
We are new to Chicago and haven't discovered restaurants we really love yet. After several friends and neighbors raved, we tried this place for dinner. it had charm and ambience and all that, but snobby food snob from NY I may be, the food just wasn't that great. We had a hard time choosing because nothing really jumped off the menu. The stand-out in the end, by far, was the fried meyer lemon and pickle appetizer. Really yummy, creative and beautiful. My husband was surprised - he thought I was ordering it to satisfy my weird pregnancy penchant for sour stuff, but he loved it too. We also had the burrata with lamb debri, which was ok but not actually delicious. The quality of the burrata was not top notch, I've had way better. The biscuits are tasty though, perfect biscuit-y texture. I ordered the duck. It had good smoky/sweet flavor, but the meat was just tough. It's often risky to order duck for that reason, but I went for it anyway. The duck itself was under-seasoned, but the veggies it came with were way over-seasoned. The lima beans were good, but they threw the chard in raw which didn't really work. Husband had the skirt steak with black beans. Again unevenly seasoned, but the steak was better cooked than the duck. We shared the apple crisp for dessert. The crisp itself was rich and better than the entrees, but the salted caramel ice cream was really really really salty. I think there was an extra sprinkling of fleur de sel on top of the whole thing, which was total overkill. I guess the main problem overall with this meal was inconsistent seasoning. Service was friendly but spotty at times, like at one point one guy took away my clean utensils, then someone else served my food and I had no mis en place and had to ask. I had half a glass of sparkling water and the waiter filled it back up with still water without asking. Stuff like that, probably poor communication between the front and back servers. We just didn't love the food enough to want to come back, we thought maybe we should have tried their homemade pasta dishes but I make my own homemade pasta often so we rarely order it out. Still looking for our go-to Friday night spot!
(3)t. o.
We have friends who live by Lula, have taken us there, and rave about it. I was completely underwhelmed. I feel pretty much the same about their new joint, Nightwood. The place looks amazing! Best design I've seen in ages. And the service is great. I love the idea of both these restaurants, but the menu and food are just not that inspired. I had pasta, and it was home-made. I know good hand-made pasta, but this is what you'd end up doing if you tried at home for the first time. It was heavy, gummy, too chewy, and sat in my gut like, well, a big pile of wheat flour. I had trouble finding something to order, because the plate combinations just didn't seem that appealing - a number of us agreed on this point (we were a large party.) Prices weren't too bad, but then, the food just "wasn't too bad" as well. Others had the trout - we found the nearly raw egg with fish thing verging on gross. Seasoning was erratic, some things under-salted, others over. Food seemed to tend toward heavy, rich dishes and flavors, with heavy-handed preparation and plating, and I just really wanted to find more chances throughout the meal to "lighten up." I get what they are going for - unpretentious slo-cal cuisine - but it needs work. I need to go back to really give it a proper chance. I love the idea of Nightwood! I want to like it. But I was underwhelmed.
(2)Laura D.
I have had two very bad experiences at Nightwood. The first time, not only was the food blah, but the kitchen forgot to plate a few key ingredients on an appetizer we ordered and we only noticed when the table next to ours had the same thing. When I mentioned it to our server, he mumbled a, "uhh, sorry" and did nothing. Then he charged us for the dish! When we complained, he offered to take one of the desserts off our bill.... it was just super weird. I decided to give the restaurant another chance. My second trip there, we ordered the sardine appetizer based on a recommendation. It was so disgusting that after one bite, we asked them to remove it from the table because of the smell. My entree was a solid C, and my boyfriend found 2 hairs in his gnocchi. I'm not sure what is going on in the kitchen or with the service there. I am frankly shocked they have made it this long...
(1)Tiffany A.
We checked this place out for brunch based on a friend's recommendation! It did not disappoint. Cons: We went on a Sunday morning and it as quite busy so the service was not great - it took ages to just get our drinks and for someone to stop by to take our order (and it sounds like other Yelpers had a similar experience - so that's a bummer). Pros: The menu includes a good selection of brunch dishes, the mimosas were tasty and the food was great! Do not miss ordering Enoch's doughnuts when you go. You MUST try the bacon butterscotch. They come to the table hot and they are to die for! We ordered a few as apps for the table and we were practically licking the plate clean!
(4)Agnes F.
I am a fan of Nightwood, 3 of us went there for dinner and had a very good time started off with some cocktails, i had the hot toddy (it was godsend in this frigid weather), my friends had martini and hot and Balmy for appetizers we shared an argula salad and the wild mushroom risotto the salad was fresh and tart which was perfect against the much richer mushroom risotto the risotto was tasty but maybe a tiney bit salty for my taste i had the roasted chicken for entree and absolutely loved it! the chicken was wonderfully smoky and moist, hands down the best roasted chicken i ever had my friend had the duck leg and i got a bite, hmm, yummy as well dessert we shared the chocolate cake, moist and light wine choices were good, service was friendly the only thing was what happened to the beautiful biscuits they used to give us before the meal starts? we didn't get them this time (i forgot to ask) and i totally miss that all in all, a good restaurant that i will not hesitate to go back
(5)Kate S.
3 stars = vegetarians (like me) 4-5 stars = those who eat meat My friend had a chicken dish and adored it--she said she could taste the woody-cooked flavor. However, there were ZERO entrees that were veggie. Our server was lovely and said they could make any of them w/o meat, but really now? Not ONE veggie entree? That said, there were plenty of veggie apps, so I got two of those instead. The squash dish I ordered was supposed to have a yogurt-mint sauce. It had the yogurt, but I couldn't taste the mint, which was disappointing. 5-star atmosphere though, the inside is rather big but feels small, and the outside patio is well-structured and lumber-ly modern looking. Bonus: They have Lula's delicious sangria.
(3)Matt J.
Pretty good food but in my opinion, didn't live up to the hype. Based on the reviews and the lines outside we've been wanting to come here for some time. We called and got in early on Saturday night. Once we found the door (hint: it's on the North side and you have to walk through the patio), we were quickly seated in the "window corner". For appetizers we had the duck ravioli and fried green tomatoes. Both were excellent. As an appetizer, I got the "vietnamese sandwich" (pate, shredded meatballs, veggies on a french roll). A very good sandwich, but ultimately more bar food than an entree in a fine dining restaurant. My girlfriend got the trout and she enjoyed it, but it wasn't life-changing. We finished up with the warm apple cake and sorbet/gelato combo. The apple cake was EXCELLENT. The best dish of the meal. The sorbet and gelato's were just OK. The vanilla bean gelato just tasted like vanilla ice cream. All in all a good meal, but didn't live up to the hype. That said, I'm not sure that the restaurant itself has made it out to be anything more than what it is. Therefore, the 4th star. I'd go back, but it's not at the top of the list.
(4)Amanda S.
Went again on a Monday night and found out they have 1/2 price bottles of wine, so I'm adding a star! Now all they have to do is offer the bacon donuts for dessert and it will be perfection :)
(5)Russ S.
it's pretty good. The whole place was full of those types.. you know what I'm talking about.. semi-fat, middle aged managers from the burbs. But hey, rich people, nah mean.
(4)Elizabeth T.
I wanted this place to rock my world. But I guess that's like going into the movie you've been hearing excited utterances about for months--you can only be disappointed. I love the space here. I love the location. I love the design. I love the concept. But the food? Meh. I get that the simple presentation and preparation are the style here but there was just no punch to anything I ate. I have no doubt it is high quality food, but my pork was just boring, my date's trout lacked any real flavor much less punch and he disliked that the skin had not been crisped. I like the minimalist presentation. But I kept waiting for the one dish that would make my mouth just curl in delight. And, surprisingly, I didn't get that pretty much the whole night, save for the bread pudding desert. Disappointing? Yes. Expensive? Yes. But we'll be back, have no doubt. I'm giving it a month or two to work out the kinks. I'm hopeful!
(3)Courtland H.
This place has one of the best brunch's in Chicago. A little off the beaten path, but not hard to get to at all, everything was top notch. Not a huge menu, but what they did have was excellent. The bacon donuts, delicious, the eggs very creamy and good, the hash brown tater tots were the size of tumbleweed from an old western. They were definitely the highlight of the meal. Service was quick and attentive, and the coffee was great. Most places have watered down diner coffee, these guys had the good stuff and were not stingy about it. When we walked in the lady asked if we have reservations, never thought you could make brunch reservations but i guess people do. I myself cannot predict how i will feel on a Sunday morning, and what hour past noon i will getup. Recap - awesome, definitely check it out. outdoor patio looked like it would be nice in the summer, not so much with 6 inches of snow o the ground
(5)Alee B.
Came in a larger group, celebrating a birthday, and our crew included a vegetarian. I'll get my one negative comment out of the way first: there was only 1 entree (and no pasta) for the vegetarian. She was a little bummed, but she ordered the veg option (stuffed peppers) and absolutely loved it. Moving on... So we ordered several apps. The fried lemons were heavenly. The grilled (but cold) octopus was a stretch for some of the more conservative eaters in our group, but it went over well. The burratta was rich and smooth, it just needed more than 4 pieces of toast for a bigger party! For entrees, we had a veal pasta with ravioli which was fantastic. Lemony ricotta filling and succulent veal, all around great. We also ordered the tuna spaghetti. I wanted to try it, but the person that ordered it loved it so much, he refused to share! We also had a whole roasted fish at the table. Only complaint with that was there were a few pin bones, which made the eater a little nervous. The last in our crew ordered the cheeseburger (which we didn't understand being at a place with such great food!), but she said it was one of the best she'd had in a while, so mission accomplished. We finished the night with a plate of cookies, some cinnamon and vanilla ice creams, and blueberry cake. While the rest of the food was great, the desserts were easily the best part of the night. And I can't go without mentioning the coffee. I usually base my return to a restaurant based on their coffee and Nightwood doesn't miss. It was clearly fresh, smooth, and had great balance. I had to peek at the bar to check what they were using and of course, the bartender told me it was a blend, specially made for them! It just means I'll have to come in for the coffee more often. Have heard great things about brunch, so that may be my next trip in...
(4)Nathan K.
I came with a friend on Friday night and we were both very impressed - it was well worth the trip from the north side. The ambiance is warm, sophisticated and modern without being cold contemporary. The service was equally warm, staff greeted and served us with genuine warmth and grace. And the meal was fantastic, although I was a little underwhelmed with the pretzels and chocolate dessert (but then again, it was as described so my fault for ordering). I'll be back soon. Northsiders who rarely leave their red line corridor shouldn't fear a trek; the restaurant is right on the 8 bus and about a 10 minute walk from the Halsted orange line.
(5)Simone L.
You will never be disappointed by anything you have here. Everything is prepared perfectly from the best ingredients. The atmosphere is hip but relaxed.
(5)Dennis J.
Even if the only positive part of my experience was the bacon and butterscotch donuts, it would still get all 5 stars. They're THAT good! I had been to their sister restaurant (Lula's Cafe) before and loved it and was happy to have a similarly excellent meal here. We also came back for dinner a few weeks later and it was also great. Surprisingly good cocktails!
(5)R R.
It is the first day of Restaurant week and my boyfriend and I decided to try Nightwood in Pilsen. I have driven by some many times that I needed to see what it was all about and it had some nice write ups in Time Out magazine. We got there on time for our reservation and the place was packed. Once we were seated, I immediately read the prix fixe menu for restaurant week and there were NO vegetarian options! You had a choice of chicken or pork as your main course. I was so shocked and disappointed that it immediately colored my opinion of the restaurant. It touts that it is local, organic and sustainable. Usually that also means Vegetarian friendly. So I was not able to participate in the "restaurant week experience" and my boyfriend was able to enjoy a 4 course $44 menu. So I reluctantly went to their usual menu and choose the fried Meyer lemon and Mizuna salad ($9) and Pumpkin ravioli ($14) as my main course. The only other vegetarian option was Hominy, Chickpea and beet creation for $16. It did not sound appetizing. I received the salad and it had 5 fried thin lemon slices and a small (I mean tiny -would fit in a table spoon) heap of Mizuna greens. It was tasty and who knew fried meyer lemon was yummy, but it was so small that I finished in 3 bites. My boyfriend's first course of lemon cheese bread with mixed greens was HUGE compared to serving and just as tasty. So I of course had salad envy. He got his second course of fish roe /egg mix on toast. I was not a fan but the meat eating boyfriend liked it. Then the mains came. Surprisingly the pasta was very good and the presentation was very modern, but again it was tiny in portion. I had 3 average size ravioli on my plate with a smear of sauce on the side. I really wish they would increase the portion of what little vegetarian friendly food they have. My boyfriend got a nice size piece of chicken with turnips. We finished the night with dessert and finally that is when everything felt right. He had bread pudding, which was great and I had a trio of ice cream (red velvet, vanilla and blood orange sorbet). We had a spoon war over the ice cream. So in conclusion, the meal was "ok" but still teetering on "lack luster" for the experience and price ($128 with tax and tip). I do not think I will be revisiting Nightwood for any future meals until they become more veggie friendly. PS: Nightwood, we veggie folks like gourmand experiences as well; and if Joel Robuchon can provide a stellar vegetarian experience, so can you! Note: Street Parking is hard on Friday night. You may need to park south of Cermak on Halsted and walk back up to the restaurant. Watch yourself! Chitown Veg Gal
(2)Scott H.
Went with friends and loved this place. First time in a while that I can remember being really excited by a menu. Great local produce on the menu, and a huge variety of options means that nobody leaves disappointed. Will be back here for sure - and that's a rare thing for me to say.
(5)Double L.
We had high hopes for this place from the reviews we read and the experience we had at Lula but sadly Nightwood didn't do much but disappoint on almost every level. We arrived on a Friday evening and asked to sit outside on the covered patio. The tables along the north wall are a bit strange in that the booth seat, i.e. 4x4 rail road ties, sits about 2 inches higher than the chairs on the opposite side of the table. That was a bit strange so we asked to move, hostess said no but more on her later. Once our server arrived, she more than graciously moved us to a different spot even though it wasn't in her section. Now we both are sitting on rail road ties, awesome, but at least we are eye to eye. At $20+ an entrée a seat cushion would be nice. As expected they have a fairly comprehensive and reasonably priced wine menu, they also have a good variety of craft beers and cocktails. We had a bottle of wine and Gin cocktail. I saved my cocktail because we are working on striping the paint off some concrete pillars in our loft and I thought it might work for that. According to their website and our server the menu changes regularly and turns over about 20% or so on a daily basis. We both really enjoy that idea, however, that creates a limited amount of options on the menu which we normally don't mind but in this case we had difficulty choosing appetizers and entrees that didn't contain the same or similar ingredients. That was particularly an issue for the protein portion of the dishes. We ordered a variety of appetizers which all sounded interesting on the menu but for the most part fell short although full of potential. The White Cucumber and Pickled Trout Salad was by far the best dish we tasted all night. It was light, had excellent flavor and we really enjoyed the different take on a more traditional herring salad. The Rock Fruit Salad which had the freshest fruit we have had in a while was totally ruined by what essentially was a ranch dressing. The menu described a ricotta something or other but for all intensive purposes it looked and tasted like ranch, a good ranch but ranch all the same. The Rabbit Tortellini in a Spicy Broth really shouldn't even be served and I don't know how that made it on the menu. The rabbit had excellent flavor, however, the tortellini was tough even by the most ardent al dente standards and the broth was neither spicy nor had any flavor at all. The first course intentions were excellent but the execution fell well short of tasty. It was around this point in the meal that every time someone came into the restaurant to ask how long the wait was the hostess would pause, blatantly stare at us and then give her answer as if we were the reason other people weren't being seated. I've worked in restaurants plenty enough to know you have to be aware of where people are at in meal but there are tactful ways of doing that. Doing so every two minutes and when someone has half a bottle of wine left and hasn't received their entrees is probably a bit premature. Now lets talk about those entrees. There were some interesting choices last Friday but we ended up going with the White Cheddar Fondue Burger and the Smoked Trout BLT. The burger was cooked just as ordered medium rare, the white cheddar was awesome but for some reason the kitchen puts yellow mustard on it and a lot of it. Sort of a buzzkill for sure and something I will never understand, at a minimum that should be listed in the description on the menu because we would have ordered it on the side. The BLT was an interesting concept for sure but again the execution really fell short. The only smoked flavor I tasted was from the bacon which really needed to be cooked longer, there is nothing worse than uncrispy bacon on a BLT. The trout was essentially a trout salad, heavy on the mayo, which I wasn't expecting at all. It was extremely rich and tasty for a bite or two but a little over the top as a meal. Aside from the uncrispy bacon and Mayo O.D. it was interesting. The sunnyside up egg on top was a nice touch and countered the richness of the trout salad. For dessert we ended up with the Homemade Frozen Yogurt which was awesome and a blueberry something which was good but extremely overpriced at $10. It tasted like Betty Crocker blueberry muffin mix, which I like, and was topped with a cheese cake style cream. Tasty but has nothing on the desserts we have had a Lula. It is hard to say if we will ever be back but at this point I would have to say no. If we did, I think I would definitely sit in the kitchen seats so I can see what everything looks like before I order it considering the description on the menu didn't really translate into flavorful dishes on the table as we expected. Nightwood, might need a Cialis or something
(2)Bryant S.
not sure what all the hype is about. i went for brunch on a sunday because everyone was talking about it. i mean, it was ok...my wife liked her hamburger and the corned beef hash i ordered was ok. but to drive all the way to pilsen? it should be better...
(3)Rett L.
Went back. Perfectly as awesome as the first time. CHRIST I love when this happens. The kicker is that I was suffering from the type of sinus infection that ends wars. But with a reservation and my significant other having a rare night off, I said "screw my nasal misery, we are going to Pilsen." So we did, armed with an actual box of tissues and my near deafness due to congestion. There is NO way our waitress did not take into account my disgusting state of doom. If I had been serving myself, I would have surely taken a step back and downed a shot of hand sanitizer. Our waitress, rather, recommended a zesty drink to clear my sinuses, did not cringe when I surely yelled at her about the duck heart pasta and where the bathroom was, and immediately brought out some delicious biscuits about which I bellowed I had enjoyed so much in a previous visit. Once again, our order was coursed with timeliness, our drinks were refreshed without question, and the food... well. the FOOD, This is what it is - I feel like I am on vacation at this restaurant. The only other place you feel so comfortable and spoiled is staying with your Great Aunt Sue in Vancouver. The aunt with the wine cellar in the basement and the farm handed down generation after generation and her own special recipe for whipped butter and, of course, Puffs plus Lotion in the rehabbed victorian bathroom. You know. That aunt.
(5)Sara G.
I sometimes wish I had a bottomless stomach and elastic waist jeans. I came here on Sunday for the B Words: Brunch and Binge. Its very dangerous in a good way because you can get chicken and waffles and donuts and booze all under one roof. What a combo. It gets better: its affordable. I'm not sure how this is possible but I wish I lived next door to Nightwood, or maybe not. If I lived next door I'd need bigger pants.
(5)Debra R.
a new favorite. i want to LIVE at nightwood. adorable outdoor seating, cozy indoor seating, bar overlooking the kitchen and adorable private dining space downstairs. i went with my man on thanksgiving eve on my way outta town. we didn't have a reservation and they asked if we wanted to sit in the restaurant or at the bar overlooking the kitchen. the bar sounded interesting so we took her up on it. what a great choice - so neat to watch the chefs at work!! we kept a hold of a menu so to figure out what each dish was as we saw it being prepared. our waiter was adorable. i wanted to put the fellow freckled in my pocket. he was very attentive and patient with us even when i asked him to explain almost everything on the menu. i finally decided on a nice glass of red wine to go with my beet salad and trophie pasta. next up was the rolls. we could have eaten these rolls all night. they are those delicious kind that are flakey and you can peel off the layers. my favorite!! all in all - great place, terrific service, amazing food - did i mention that it is all from local sustainable sources?! my only advice is they should obtain a list from the baker for the ingredients in the dessert items as we had asked for something with no nuts due to allergy but couldn't get a definite answer as the baker was not around. i can't wait to go back for brunch now that i have experienced an amazing dinner!
(5)Zenia R.
is slowly becoming my favorite weekend breakfast/brunch spot. the food is always super fresh. the donuts are absolutely delicious and i love the changing menu. their take on hashbrowns is a fantastic, crispy potato ball of goodness. i've enjoyed every meal there and look forward to my next visit. reservations highly recommended.
(5)Joyce H.
Was recently there with my husband on the 1/2 off wine Monday night which is a really great value. The wine menu is huge and varies in pricing. We had a delicious italian red. I wanted to try several things on the menu since they all looked so interesting. We tried the fried meyer lemon chips with aioli. Super delicious. We were feeling a little adventurous and tried the veal sweetbreads. We did know what they were and although they were very tasty, we both had a hard time finishing it, knowing what we were eating. It was just a mental thing. We're glad we tried them but probably won't order them again. Let's see, we also had the pasta with pistachios and ricotta butter. I really enjoyed this dish. It was very flavorful, yet simple ingredients. I would get it again for sure. We then split a burger and my husband really enjoyed it. I love burgers but for some reason just wasn't into it. I can't really explain it. Delicious fries alongside. Really nice server and host staff. A friendly place with an interesting menu if you're looking to try that sort of thing.
(3)Kristin J.
Awesome! Only two small complaints: 1) Host was a little snooty about our 25 minute tardiness, and while we were waiting (understandable, since we were later), the bar was super crowded so we awkwardly hovered between the packed bar and some poor couple's table, despite several tables being unoccupied at that time. 2) Pasta plates were a bit small, but so rich and delicious that I didn't really mind (and the waitress had warned us they were "smaller entrees"). Everything else, great: 1) Honey butter and biscuits brought over after we ordered were unexpected in this kind of restaurant but delicious (if a wee bit salty). 2) Drinks were tasty and not too strong. I had the pink whippet, she had some sort of concord grape concoction that did not bring to mind the slightly tart and overly sweet artificial taste of most grape beverages. 3) Starter of beets, avocado in some sort of lime-cilantro marinade, and whipped goat cheese was fantastic. The three separate little piles of flavor complemented each other very well and also worked well together on the accompanying bread. 4) Pasta dishes (I got farfalle with mornay, crab and pea shoots, my dinner partner had rigatoni bolognese) were both flawless. Right amount of sauce, pasta was cooked perfectly al dente (just the right amount of chewiness) and tasted super-fresh, and the cook was not stingy on the other components (crab/ pea shoots/ meat). 5) Buttermilk panna cotta with citrusy shortbread wafer, honey citrus salad and sweet citrus syrup was the perfect, balanced end to our meal. Not too sweet, just tart enough, and the panna cotta was small but didn't overwhelm with its creaminess. 6) Waitress and bus boy were both super attentive and out water was constantly refilled.
(4)Rick F.
Nice environment, great food, parking available. A bit picier than I would have liked, but still ok. Good selection of beers. Just what this neighborhood needed.
(4)Elisse B.
The bartenders's have an impressive amount of sex appeal...also the food was phenomenal.
(5)Richard F.
One of my favorite spots in the spring/summertime. Nice date spot. Menu changes from time to time which is pretty cool because you don't get stuck on going to a place for one particular dish. They encourage you to try other dishes. Want to try brunch on a sunday though...
(5)Anne H.
The food is extraordinary. Truly. We sat overlooking the kitchen and one could see the dedication and care that the chefs were putting into each and every dish. It was fascinating to observe. But what I really want to talk about is the service. Every single person we encountered at this restaurant was amazing. From the hostess to the bartender to the server...everyone went above and beyond the call of duty to make our visit enjoyable. We were pretty late for our reservation and they did not send us away. Our food came promptly and we were asked frequently if everything was ok? The bartenders were superb. One doesn't always get offered a glass of water with your cocktail. I know this may seem small but it was an amazing gesture in a crowded bar on a Saturday night. I know I am running out of adjectives here but I just have to mention the bartender again. We were having lots of trouble getting a cab in the rain and seeing our distress he helped by calling one and offering us a glass of wine while we waited. His concern truly touched me. Thank you everyone at Nightwood.
(5)Dina I.
Only a few minutes south of my condo, so I've been here quite a few times. The only bad experience I had was when we arrived for a late meal on a weekend, and they were out of pretty much everything on their menu. Other than that, dependable meals every time. They had an impressive rose wine list this past summer!
(4)Joe S.
Really delicious and very good. Nice and highly enjoyable. Pleasing aromas. Great seating and top shelf drinks. Wine has a nice bouquet. Neat menu.
(4)Brie Y.
I came here for dinner on a Saturday during restaurant week. Sad to say I was not impressed with the food, they are trying really hard but it just missed the mark. The best thing was my second course which was a foie gras stuffed ravioli. The meyer lemon garlic bread was too strong came with a side of greens. The salad was good, nothing to write home about. The third courses were OK I think I lucked out with the chicken, even though the sauce didn't have too many layers and once again it came with a side of greens. Dessert was the best, I tried both dishes for restaurant week, the sourdough pudding and the "brownies ice cream" to dumb it down, both were better than the main courses. Also tried the red velvet and chocolate ice cream, very tasty and I am not even a big sweet person. Over all take the $44 which turned into $77 a person with a bottle of wine tax and tip. Much better places where the $33 menu is amazing. This is off the list, sorry to say, I will not be back anytime soon.
(2)Karen O.
Great brunch spot - well worth the drive to Pilsen. Agree with other posters that the beer & bacon donuts are a highlight... the bagel sandwich was exactly as messy and delicious as it should be. Check out the kitchen table - awesome view of the proceedings.
(4)annie r.
so this sunday, i visited nightwood for the second time for brunch. once again, the experience was fabulous. i didn't realize it, but the menu changes (i'm not sure how often, but last time i was there was about a month ago, nothing was the same) and the food ordered by all parties on all occasions was delicious. this past time: my brunch date and i split a very tasty maple and bacon donut, sometimes i'm not such a huge fan of bacon mixed with sweet, but this one was definitely a good combination. for my meal, i had the tomato and parmesan polenta with stewed beef and baguette toast. he had the brussel sprout scramble with tots. yum yum yum. plus, good coffee, nice waiter and no wait for a table. time before: i dont remember what my friend had and really, i dont care, because i had the most unbelievable chicken (fried chicken like no other) and waffles (crunchy AND fluffy, mindboggling) that i've ever experienced, with a habenero/peach/apple compote. gaggity gaggity. i was kind of hoping it would be on the menu again, but no such luck. its good for me because otherwise, i would never try anything else. mm mm mm definitely will be back. also, decor is fabulous. and so much more comfortable than lula.
(5)Adam S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Great scene, great food, just go.
(5)Sarah S.
I've passed Nightwood in Pilsen many times on my way into Chinatown and finally got the chance to try them a couple weeks ago. This hipster haven at brunch has some amazing choices to nosh on from 9am to 230pm on Sundays. Their bacon butterscotch donut for $5 may just be the best I've ever had! It was sticky & savory topped with chunks of bacon, completely on point in the flavor combination. This was the shining star of my meal. I'll probably skip the $9 Mimosa next time as it was nice and strong but not overly special. I had the two egg plate with tots and toast as my main entree. I don't usually eat toast served at breakfast places but I polished this off as the jam I spread on it with whole blueberries in it was phenomenal! Their tots are so unusual and accompany just about every main dish. Three deep fried little balls with unique crust on them...do NOT skip the tots! My friend and I added the side of bacon to share and I'd honestly probably skip that on my next visit as mine was very overcooked & way too crispy. Our bill was $63 with tax and tip for brunch for two including a bloody mary & a mimosa. A bit much but I think I have a better idea of what can be skipped & what can't be passed up for next time. I will go back to Nightwood for the donut and tots alone! Those two items are just marvelous!
(4)marcy s.
Such a great atmosphere. The menu changes often and is always interesting. John, the manager, is more than accommodating & friendly. Tonight we shRed the burata and beef tartar. Dinner we had a trout dish and a cod dish. Both were outstanding with wonderful, rich tastes. A great date night or couples dinner!
(5)Hannah B.
Hurrah for Nightwood! I've always loved the Lula, and so I've been excited to try Nightwood, especially as it is a quick trip from downtown, making it a good option for an after-work dinner. DH and I arrived around 7:00 on a recent week night. There was no wait for the outdoor patio, so we took advantage of that. I would warn you that some of the patio chairs have backs, and some are more of the tree-stump stool variety. We had the latter, and DH's back hurt by the end of dinner. Other than that, we were very pleased with the patio, which is covered by a roof that has clever skylights to let in some light, but not to overwhelm you with intense summer sun. (Also means that you could eat out there in a light rain too.) (The interior of the restaurant also looked very cool, but we didn't spend any time inside.) The place was really filling up by about 8:00, even on a weekday, so go early because they don't take reservations! (And, if I may be allowed to digress for a moment: why not?? If you want to service walk-ins as well, limit the number of reservations you take, but please, please permit me to make a reservation!) The dining experience itself was top-notch. Our server - apparently Vivian Y's maligned "faux hawk"- sporting server - was attentive in an unobtrusive way. All other aspects of service, including the wait time for food, etc., was well-executed. No complaints there. The food was a glory of simplicity and fresh ingredients. I hesitated to tell you too much because by the time you go, the menu will have changed. (I experienced great disappointment at having missed the fried asparagus described by others in prior reviews.) But I will say that the fried fresh mozzarella with bacon and apricot -- bacon works with nearly everything! -- was a particular highlight, as was DH's spaghetti with bolognese. As I said before, all the preparations were fairly simple. The flavors are straightforward -- no competition between discordant elements in your mouth -- and so you could really taste what the food was supposed to taste like. Quite refreshing! For dessert, we opted for the cookie plate. I wished that we could have eaten a whole bunch of the almond cookies, which are so much better fresh from the oven! The drinks were also quite good. I sampled one of the house cocktails, which was made with fresh juice and went down smoothly. DH is an avowed hop-head, and he approved of the beer list, particularly the prices on some microbrews that are pricier elsewhere. Yes, it was somewhat pricier than Lula, but worth it. We will be back!
(4)Alex M.
The staff seemed bougie and as if they didn't want to be there. Their draught wasn't working so I ordered a bottled beer. Let's say it wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. I have colder beers at home in my fridge. We weren't impressed with the staff or drinks, so left and ate elsewhere.
(2)Matthew A.
Returning to this place for dinner was a good idea. We were greeted quickly as soon as we arrived and seated right away. the menu was quick and easy a little hard to read with the handwritten font that's being used but that was not a major concern. I was impressed with their wines as we ordered a nice bottle of champagne. The place was filled but not too much for a Tuesday night. A couple of large parties which made the time we ordered to the time the food arrive a bit long. I would go back and try something a little less costly.
(3)John I.
Good, solid, food with excellent ingredients, prepared competently. I was with a vegetarian, and I didn't want to be offensive by trying the much-touted butterscotch bacon donut (more fool me). But the rolled omelette with goat cheese would have made Julia Child swoon, and the decadent "tots" (balled-up hash browns, deep fried to a perfectly-crispy outside and moist, chewy, spud-ifying inside) turned my tongue into a comfort-foodie erogenous zone. The blueberry jam on the delicious toast was another delight. Icing on the cake? Our server's cheerful face reminded me of Megan from Mad Men. I don't want to reduce her essence to good looks, because she was excellent in her job and fun to chat with, but it would have been hard for an average bloke not to have his heart warmed by her, beyond the excellent Intelligentsia coffee she was pouring. Sit at the counter by the kitchen in the back--a laid-back symphony of flavors being orchestrated.
(5)Rebecca O.
I went for brunch at Nightwood with a few friends today, and was very happy with the service and the food. Our server was friendly and the food came out fast, which was awesome because I was starving. The restaurant itself is beautiful and gets lots of light. I had the bacon and fig? or something doughnut, as well as the bagel sandwich. Everything tasted incredible. Reasons I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5: 1. I wish the tots had been more cooked on the inside. Plus, each plate only came with 3 tots, which was kind of lame. 2. This place is definitely on the higher end price-wise... I usually hope to spend no more than $15 tops per person on brunch. With the coffee, entree, tax, tip, etc. it was more like $20-25 per person, and that was without cocktails. Due to my paltry social work salary, I probably won't go back for a while.
(4)Sophia Y.
Pros: Great atmosphere, cool interior, extensive drinks list Cons: The food is TOO SALTY!, overpriced, the wait can be preeeetty long.
(3)Elizabeth C.
I was really looking forward to my first brunch Nightwood, but left feeling disappointed and a bit letdown. I have heard nothing but good things about their excellent brunch, which is why I rallied a group of other first-timers for brunch last weekend. (Always a risk to pick the restaurant when you've never been), but that's how confident I was that our experience would be amazing! First of all, they were very busy- I get it. It's not easy to provide impeccable service when the place is overflowing with eager brunchsters. But I DO expect someone to swing by the table earlier than 15 minutes after we've been seated. Unfortunately we had to flag down someone, who made it clear she was not our server, but would take our drink order (thanks?). However, she did end up being our server for the duration... The bloody mary was good- could have used more garnish, however, considering the price (cauliflower?) The doughnuts= amazing and worth it!!! Beyond that, our group was unimpressed with their food. My bagel sandwich was good, but it's hard to screw that up. No one in the group had rave reviews and (politely) said their entrees were 'fine!' I was surprised to find the lack of non-meat options on the menu. I realize as a pescatarian I am annoying, but a few items I asked if the bacon could be removed, and the server advised it was already 'mixed in' (um, pre made?) and therefore they could not accomodate. Which literally left me with the bagel sandwich or the yogurt as my options. Bottom line, the service was subpar, and the food was just 'OK'. I recommend keeping expectations low, and you might be pleasantly surprised!
(2)Celine S.
A friend referred me to Nightwood after raving about the quality and unique taste. There's no doubt, the ambiance is very nice in a sort of unpretentious way. We decided to be seated outside on the covered patio. I would recommend dining outside to those who would like the fresh air minus the direct sunlight exposure. DRINKS: We ordered about four drinks, each of them very unique and what I'd call "grown up drinks''. They were good, complex, and stiff with just enough flavor to make them smooth palatable-certainly worth the the twelve bucks. We also had their Moscato Diasti, which was delicious! Even for myself, one who isn't a huge fan of sweet white wine. FOOD: I ordered the lamb and my partner ordered the pasta. We also had the smelt for as an appetizer. There's no doubt the food quality was impeccable. Don't let the small portions deter you. Although, I'm a fan of large dishes, I'm also aware that when food is of high quality and richness, it doesn't take as much to to feel satiated. The smelt was our favorite dish of all. It's breaded, lightly salted and had very little oil. The lamb was served with polenta. Although it was supposed to have squid, there was only one small piece in the whole plate. I enjoyed the texture of the meat, however the flavor wasn't for me. It reminded me of salty bbq. I enjoy salty sweet flavors, but not with my lamb. I tried the pasta with ricotta cheese and again they seemed have gotten carried away with the salt a bit. It' didn't really taste like like a pasta dish to me. Again, the quality, service and ambiance was super. I think those who are huge fans of traditional ultra gourmet style American cuisine will appreciate this place. It just wasn't for me.
(3)maggie t.
Seriously fantastic. My friend and I ordered three appetizers and two mains and each was perfect. Great, if only a few, vegetarian options. Undoubtedly the best Chicago dining experience I've had in two years.
(5)Alana H.
As a big fan of Lula Cafe, I was excited to hear that the culinary masters behind this fine establishment had opened a new restaurant. I arrived early to find ample free street parking (21st and Halsted) and a charming exterior with an impressive back patio. Entering through the patio gave me almost a feeling of going into someone's home through their back porch. I was greeted by the hostess who kindly suggested I wait at the bar for the rest of my party. Every cocktail on the menu was enticing but, being a Bourbon girl, I settled on the Bear Paw which was complex, flavorful, and ever so tasty with hints of allspice, maple, and citrus. Only complaint is that they issued a sales tax on the drinks (Is it just me or is that atypical?). Once my dad arrived, we were seated at a great two-top by the window. Every item on the menu, which changes constantly depending on local and seasonal availabilty, made my mouth water. I split an appetizer, pasta, and main course. Everything was flavorful, unique and absolutely delicous but the main cource was most impressive to me. It was lamb and octopus pieces interspersed on a skewer with an apricot barbeque sauce and a smattering of some sort of delicious grits type thing. Awesome twist on surf 'n turf and delectable! Dessert was a butterscotch creme pudding-type thing with shortbread dipping cookies and fresh, tasty coffee complete with brown sugar cubes and fresh creme. Beer list was also impressive and my father and I left full, contented, buzzed and completely satisfied. I will definitely be back and would heartily recomment Nightwood.
(5)Temple H.
This is my 1st restaurant review. My dining experience @ Nightwood was so 'strong' that I felt that I had to write a review, and write it as soon as I returned from this dining experience. Let's start w/ the positive: The restaurant itself is quite lovely - very old school chicago (exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, tray/tin ceiling): hip but not pretentious, great light (from gorgeous fixtures and great huge windows in the front room where we were sitting), good looking bar, loved the music (80s/90s 'Pretty in Pink'), The whole environment was friendly and welcoming, really liked the crowd (all ages, but didn't see any kids - it was a school night). Our party didn't arrive 'til nearly 40 min after our reservation time (crazy rush hour traffic); but not worries - the staff was wonderful, understanding, we had drinks in the walled terrace til everyone arrived and our table was waiting. Now for the not-so-good: the food. The appetizers were fussy and not that tasty. W/ the exception of the Rabbit Pate (yumm!). The entrees, spec. the cheeseburger, and chicken were abysmal. The chicken was undercooked/veggies burned, the cheeseburger was a soggy mess on a stale huge bun that was as hard as a rock, the fries - tasteless mush. Wine by the glass was actually a glass filled 1/4 full - for $13! And I don't get the wine list at all - very little that was actually interesting (way too trendy). Dessert was equally dissapointing - tasteless glop (the torte), a tiny scoop of ice cream. The rasberry/lemon tart was just okay. For some reason, even though Chi-town is having an unusually cool August, the air conditioner was on full frigid blow AND they had fans blowing. At every table most people ate w/ their coats on (I'm not exaggerating), my husband was kind enough to run to the car for a blanket for my legs - and I had long pants on. At the end our party of 6 spent more than $100 each. Yep $600+ not inc. the mandatory 20% tip. For the 1st time ever, I left a restaurant hungry. We had to stop at a drive thru on the way home. Nearly every review I've read @ Nightwood has been positive. I don't know what went wrong: an off night, the stars were misaligned? All I know is that I hope the restaurant uses every cent we paid b/c we will never return.
(1)Kristina C.
I recently came here for brunch. Butterscotch bacon donut - orgasmic. Bloody mary - tasty. Eggs Benedict - to die for.
(4)Cory R.
Went to dinner Tuesday night with 4 other people. Service and hospitality were excellent. They were very friendly and accommodating. They also didn't rush us through dinner, which is always a great sign of a nice place. Highlights of the night were the fried smelt and heirloom tomato appys. The duck breast and ratatouille were both amazing and highly recommended. The ratatouille had an almost Moroccan flair to it. Entres are around $20, so mid priced but very worth it. Try the duck!
(4)Colin K.
I have to update about a dish I had last night at Nightwood: Hand-cut noodles with grilled beef short rib, white anchovy, olives, and spicy peppers. The anchovy overpowered everything! Don't get me wrong, I love white anchovies in Caesar salads. But this was too much; I couldn't even taste the beef. It was kinda like the Food Network show where they start with random ingredients and have to create something out of it. Despite that, the noodles were amazing with the kind of texture you only get from homemade noodles. This place remains one of my favorites in the city.
(5)Kristin S.
Nightwood was phenomenal! I absolutely loved it. We got seated right away. The atmosphere was casual, but a bit loud (particularly the loud gentleman to our left!). I had the chicken wings and waffles. This was out of this world. I am from Atlanta and grew up there. I have to say this was the best fried chicken I have ever had. The seasoning in the batter was outstanding. I asked and it was a great combo of salt, pepper, onion powder, ginger, paprika, and garlic. WOWOWOWOW. The waffle was just as good. It was served with an orange marmalade type deal with toasted cashews on top. Yum. Under the waffle was a vanilla sauce of sorts. It was sooo good. No syrup required. The combo was excellent and more than just savory and sweet. The spices of the fried chicken melded with the tangy and vanilla bean of the waffle/sauce. They have outdone themselves with this combo. I hardly ever give a 5 star, but this is worthy. The coffee (Intelligensia) was not brewed as rich as I would have liked, but I am a snob or rather, I am picky. My husband had the burger and he loved it, the fries were perfect, long, crispy with the skins left on. The service was excellent. The owner came and graciously spoke with us. I so recommend this place and will be back again and again.
(5)Nicholas W.
Fresh ingredients + cool design + and brilliant cooking
(5)bonnie b.
I feel like many of the other reviews capture the essence so I'll just write a short note here. Having lived in Logan Square for several years I have always loved Lula's Cafe. Now that I'm in Pilsen a lot I also love Nightwood. Great space, great design, helpful staff and an interesting menu that changes frequently. As for some of the complaints about portion size, I thought it was perfect. Some of the dishes are so rich I couldn't imagine eating a larger amount of them.
(4)Sarah W.
Loved it. I live nearby so we were ecstatic to find this place. I have been there for brunch twice and really liked it but think dinner is even better. I've had pork, pasta, chicken, etc. Obviously we keep going back because the food is delicious.
(5)Anna G.
We went to the first wine dinner of a series of 4. There was 3 communal tables downstairs and each table had their own wine maker to talk to! You cannot beat that. Our winemaker from Greece was fun and full of information which made the night special. The food was really delicious and actually amazing. I docked it one star because they started late and their was no bread or carbs for the reception of champagne which made it for a tipsy evening. Well, we were headed there anyway but maybe we got there a little too fast!
(4)Jessica G.
okay.... i really think i need to give this place another shot, i really want to like it. I had the spaghetti bolognese... parsley and peas all up it in... it was really just okay.. REALLY not worth the i think 18 or 20$ i had that and a drink and my bill was 32$.....which is fine, if the food is amazing or really good. not so nightwood, but i will try again to give it a fair chance!
(2)Allie B.
I had the pleasure of dining at Nightwood last night, which I think was their first "official" open night, although they've apparently been serving meals for about a week now. My husband and I have been waiting for this place to open forever, as we're huge fans of Lula. When we first arrived, we were greeted happily, and escorted directly to a lovely table that was about halfway between the bar and the kitchen. The space itself is gorgeous, the bar is beautiful, and they have really lovely seating along the windows, and at a counter that faces the open kitchen. Opposite the kitchen there is shelving, which holds logs, which I presume was for the wood grill they are using in the kitchen. I saw one guy stop to positively inhale the scent of one of the pieces of wood, which I found strange, but worth noting. Anyway. The service was fantastic -- very attentive, but not annoying or overbearing at all. Very much in line with the service you'll get at Lula, in that our server was very knowledgeable and willing to share his opinions and recommendations, but wasn't suffocating in doing so, as I find to be a problem with a lot of other restaurants. They have a rotating menu, and we had a really difficult time trying to decide what to order. My husband ordered two appetizers -- the garlic soup, and the lamb meatballs with noodles. The soup portion was large, and the meatballs were a typical appetizer size, and came with three meatballs and a bed of noodles and sauce beneath. My husband said they were both very delicious. I ordered the morel and short ribs with garlic bread appetizer, which was fantastic, and for my entree I had the asparagus and potato tart with hollandaise, which came with a side salad, and honestly is one of the best things I have eaten in recent memory. My husband, who isn't really a "tart" kind of guy, couldn't stop raving about how good it was either. I opted out of dessert, as I was too full at this point, but my husband ordered the tangerine panna cotta,w hich looked beautiful, and which he said was delicious. It came in a ramekin with tangerine pieces on top, as well as a bit of rind. A word to the wise -- Nightwood doesn't currently have their liquor license, although they are expecting to have it by next week. So, BYOB, my friends. There is a liquor store just next door, so you can stop in there on your way in. Or, if you're someone like me who didn't know that, the staff of the restaurant might be inclined to gift you with a courtesy beer or two during your meal. Overall, great meal, great space, great vibe, really wonderful service. I can't wait to go back! They also have a nice outdoor space, which I can imagine will be wonderful to visit over the summer.
(5)Rose G.
I hate to give a Lula production such a bad review, but I had a horrible experience at Nightwood. I was really looking forward to trying Nightwood, because I tend to really enjoy my meals at Lula. While the place is aesthetically pleasing-- beautiful interior design--the service was really unusually bad and my boyfriend, who will eat almost anything- couldn't choke down his fish. It was downright nasty. When I walked in on time for my reservation, the host was talking to a co-worker for five or six minutes before they even looked up at me. They were incredibly snotty and rude. My boyfriend and I ordered two different fish dishes-- I had trout with lentils, and it was nearly inedible. His fish was so bad that he left his plate mostly full, even though he was hungry. We would have considered sending it back (which is something neither of us ever do!) but the server didn't come back to ask how the food was. Overall, a really awful meal priced nearly $80. Skip it.
(1)Heidi O.
I'm glad that I can update this because I was pretty bummed my last time here. So a friend wanted to check this place out. Time has passed, seasons have changed, and I'm happy to report, this place continues to better itself. I was seriously surprised at how much the service improved from my last visit. Everyone was attentive and made sure beverages were full, things were to our liking, etc. and this time there wasn't any attitude with it. The serving seemed to be much more of a communal effort this time, and because we went after a storm, there wasn't a wait and they weren't rushing people. The outdoor seating is cute and in the future I wouldn't mind sitting outside. I still don't think there is anything particularly special about the donuts, and it's difficult to comment on the menu because it changes frequently and I don't want to get any body's hopes up only to have them shattered at a later date. But the food again proved to be solid. They could cut back on the salt a bit, especially with the tots, but even the coffee had improved flavor this time. I secretly wish they had a few more staple breakfast items to build from but things are really evening out now with this place. Who knows, someday maybe I'll give this place 5 stars. On a bizarre note, I find the bathroom to be quite lovely.
(4)john m.
I was told that Nightwood was too expensive for what it was, NOT TRUE. I had a great dining experience and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great contemporary American meal. I also suggest arriving early so you can hang out at the bar and enjoy a cocktail or two before dinner, they're great (on par with the Whistler) and they pour them stiff. For dinner we got a few appetizers to share and we each had something that was Spit-fire roasted which was excellent! The menu changes daily so it's hard to make specific recommendations, but I suggest getting down there as soon as you can, this is a great addition to the Lula family!
(5)Hagene L.
I've been here twice now and it's been great both times. I got the hand cut pasta, each time prepared differently but both were delicious. The food is fresh and the menu is unique.The atmosphere is great with good music and decor.
(4)Erin M.
MMM the food was out of this world great. I had the rabbit for an appetizer and the duck for my entree... I cleaned my plate it was so good. Also, what was cool was that we sat back by the kitchen. So it was cool to see our food being made as well as everyone elses!!
(5)Colt E.
We came to Nightwood for their weekend brunch menu, something I've heard many good things about. I therefore have no idea how their dinner menu is. I can tell you though, that we were all very pleased with the brunch. The donuts were fresh and tasty. The food was all done well, tasty, and each had it's unique points of interest (5 of us shared 5 dishes). If you're expecting the kind of brunch that borders on dessert food (ie waffles stuffed with cream cheese and covered in a chocolate sauce), don't come here. Where else can you get chicken and waffles and blueberry ginger ale though? To top it off the place has great friendly service, and it's HUGE, so our party of five barely had to wait for a table. Most brunch places have an hour wait, so that was a huge plus. This might be a new go-to brunch spot for me.
(4)Jennifer P.
Utter Disappointment. Being a huge fan of Lula I was stupidly excited to try out Nightwood...only to be let down. Let's start with the decor. The patio seating looks like a outdoor japanese business savvy cafeteria. Inside...is fully lined with wood!-No way. The place does have a gorgeous bar though. I have mixed feelings about the ambiance of this place. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday about a month ago and we were both originally very excited as I stated earlier. We got there on a warm day and after 5 minutes he had to hand me his suit jacket because it was freezing inside. I understand that they want to keep it cool on these hot days, but really? make me cover up my adorable new dress with an over sized coat, really? This all makes me very bitter, but I digress... The beer selection is pretty good. Can never go wrong with anything by Two Brothers and Great Lakes. Instead of bread we got TWO (as in one per person) biscuits. They were dry and lacking every element that a biscuit should have. Plus, they were the size of quarters. Yeah, sounds satisfying? I got the chicken, which is also on Lula's menu and it was great. The boyfriend got some sort of pasta dish that I can hardly remember because it didn't stand out in the slightest. Prices seemed average, but I honestly didn't feel as though I was getting my money's worth. Service was very mediocre. I understand it's an opening of a new restaurant, but our waitress seemed really clueless and showed up at the table at all the wrong times. Overall, I probably won't go back here. I wish I could have given this place a positive review, but it doesn't deserve one in my opinion. Go to Lula instead!
(2)Allison B.
Went here on a romantic date and it was completely wonderful. Perfectly designed space with great bathrooms (loved the black sink and toilet). Our waiter was amazing and completely attentive. Our dinners were mouthwatering, I had the half of chicken and my date had the steak. The dessert of rhubarb cake ale mode was hard to stop eating. I would go here again in a minute.
(5)Kristen H.
Came here on a Friday night with 2 lady friends with no reservation. The hostess said it'd be about an hour wait and she was right. The 3 of us decided to order family style and share everything. As an appetizer we had the whipped chicken liver with crispy sunchokes. The presentation of the plate was beautiful resembling that of a wreath. The liver was quite flavorful, light and tasty. The sunchokes, onion and fried chicken skin were a great addition. For dinner we ordered a pasta dish that had be added to the menu that night that included short ribs and round flat pasta along with the buttermilk-fried scallops. The pasta had good flavor combinations and the scallops were prepared differently than usual, but melted in your mouth as scallops should. Overall the meal I enjoyed Nightwood - it's a place you visit once a season to try all the fresh ingredients. The service was great and the atmosphere was pleasant - love the open kitchen towards the back of the restaurant that has seats at the counter for viewing. I'm interested in trying Nightwood again for brunch.
(4)Michael B.
good food, somewhat overpriced for brunch items, staff very hipsterish, which is fine, but we could have done without the snobby attitude toward non-hipsters.
(2)Valerie G.
I left hungry and broke. I went with my fiancé on a weekday night and we were in the mood for some Italian food. I wasn't expecting a bottomless plate of spaghetti, but I was expecting to leave satisfied. First they bring us out two tiny pieces of bread, each about the size of a ring box. Good, but definitely not enough. Then we ordered the sweetbread and it was okay. I'm not a foodie and I honestly thought sweetbread was some kind of bread that is sweet. No...it's an organ of some sort. That's my fault for not asking, but it was okay anyway. We each ordered a pasta dish and when it arrived, it was on a plate that reminded me of the amount I serve my two-year-old niece. Yes, the pasta is hand made and very good, but I left with a bad taste in my mouth anyway. A taste of being ripped off. I'm definitely willing to spend a lot on a good dinner, but in this case, it's just not worth it. If you're looking for a good food experience outside of the loop and in the Bridgeport area, go to Nana's instead.
(2)jim m.
My wife and I decided it should really be more like 3-1/2 stars, and we'll explain why. First, there is definitely a shortage of "real" restaurants south of Randolph street on the Halsted St. strip, so Nightwood deserves accolades just for being in the area, joining Amelia's on 46th as a "valid" dining destination. They also have a liquor license, which is semi-miraculous around here, and their wine selection is fairly reasonable. We got the Reader dining update e-mail which informed us Nightwood was open, though not taking reservations, or as we found, even phone calls, so we decided to take a chance and just show up. We were able to be seated right away, joining another couple of friends who just happened to be going there at the same time. The place is certainly beautiful, with a carefully and lovingly designed interior, and a nice outdoor drinks area. Indoors got pretty noisy at the height of busyness. We had the green onion and morel soup, a blended soup, very tasty, and the deep-fried asparagus with an aioli dip, satisfying the fried stuff craving. For entrees we did the trout, which came with swiss chard and a very light buerre blanc, and the half chicken, very plump, which came with white beans and a sort of bread dumpling. These items had a pleasant wood smoke taste and were exquisitely prepared, if not particularly exciting. Probably what was most noticeable was that the plates were almost entirely main dish, with their sides being minimal to almost nonexistent. This made them sort of one-note affairs, crying out for a little more garnish and balance. It would be nice to be able to add vegetable and starch sides if desired. Also, the flavors, as somebody else noted, were pretty mild and delicate, a stylistic choice, we assume. For dessert we had the almond tart with chocolate sorbet and the tangerine panna cotta. The panna cotta was supposed to have saffron in it but the tangerine certainly predominated. Service was great, and one of the owners, Jason, came by to chat with us. Overall we had a pleasant time but feel the flavors and plate content need a little more push to propel this place into a favorite.
(4)paul z.
TO be honest, I can't believe I'm writing this. But my experience here was horrible. For starters, our waiter was obviously new to nightwood, as well as new to being a waiter. He was nervous and overwhelmed. But, that's not his fault. But at one point in the evening I had to point out to him that my gin and tonic was ready and sitting at the wait station. I wouldn't have said anything but I noticed my drinking sitting at the wait station for 10 mins! For starters my date and I split a appetizer which was a beet salad, w/ goat cheese and a balsamic dressing I think. VERY good. The only reason I'm giving this place a star! :) Off the chain and fantastic with every beet. For dinner, we both had a pasta dish. Bad idea I guess. My date had a pasta and sausage dish which just didn't have any flavor, but was by far better then my dish. I had a rigatoni with walnut, olives and shit ton of olive oil (something else was in there as well but I can't remember). The pasta itself couldn't have been made fresh because it was very under cooked and I wouldn't even dare call it al dente. After hearing a few good reviews from people who went, I thought it couldn't miss. IT missed and then some. Save your money and go down the street to Simone's or get some taters at Skylark....
(1)Cecelia M.
We had reservations for 3 and, as other diners have experienced, we still had to wait for 30 minutes at the bar. The place gets one star deducted for that. As for the food, it was, like the food at Lula, weirdly overwrought. I have been to Lula numerous times and I always leave with a vague feeling of discontent. At Nightwood, my reaction is a bit stronger. The appetizers were very good - chicken livers, green beans and fried smelts. The flavor combinations in these dishes worked very well. I had trout with hominy and black beans for my main course, The hominy and black beans were wonderful. My first bite of the trout had a little bone in it and was just overpoweringly salty and smoky. Also, the shredded onion on the creme freche was so strongly flavored. Together with the trout, it was just too much. I did not finish my entree. The trout dish could have been a fantastic dish. Great in concept, poor execution. I may try this place again sometime.
(3)Isabella M.
Just went here for Sunday Brunch! Started off with a bloody mary, extra spicy, extra delicious. $8! holy cow, but good. I only realized this place had the same owners as Lula in Logan Square when the check came, but it makes perfect sense! Two great brunchin' spots! I think it might have ended up being cheaper than Lula, for two people with drinks it was only $48. More of a special occasion brunch, but worth the treat! Then I ordered the eggs benedict, and it is my new favorite eggs benedict of the city. (yes it's better than the eggs royale at feast!!!!) My boyfriend had a simple eggs and hash browns with toast and a side of soy sausage. Delicious soy sausage, and they had delicious jam. It was also one of the better deals ($6). The hash browns are adorable, they're little crispy balls and they are also very delicious! Afterwards he got a coffee, I got a latte, both good. The service was great, and very attentive, especially since we are sort of late brunchers (we walked in there at 2:00).
(5)Lisa C.
I hoped for so much more and was let down. We sat at the bar and waited while staring at an unoccupied table, then it took 15 minutes for one of the random people to take our drink order. Then the waitress tried to sit us before we got our drinks from the bar and looked flustered and confused as to whether or not we could just have our drinks brought to the table. Their daily menu sounds like a good idea, but if you don't like Pork (which was the key ingredient on the day we went), there was nothing else to choose from. My vegetarian friend had the option of a salad, which they were out of, along with 5 other dishes listed on the menu. My pasta was cold except in the middle, and I paid $9 for 3 fried asparagus. And then $15 for 3 ravioli. Overall, I don't think I would intentionally go back. Overpriced food, not much variety, poor infusion of daily ingredients, confused service. At least the owners are changing the menu more than every 3 years unlike their other restaurant Lula.
(2)Steven M.
This place is too hip for its own good! The decor is cool, with chairs that look like they have come from someone's rec room from the early 80s. The waiter was a late 20s obnoxious, condescending hipster who told us that the burger was "gourmet" and that our cautiousness about its description on the menu was unnecessary. My friend is a burger purist so her cautiousness was apropos. When asked about tomatoes for the burger, we were told they are out of season...cut the crap, you're just out of them...tomatoes are in season year round in this country...keep some damned tomatoes in house bee-yotches! Then, there was no Splenda for the iced tea, and the omelets with root vegetables and paneer cheese was NOT good. In fact, it was odd. The root vegetables were undercooked and just way too big...dice those roots and really roast them next time. They were just bad. The paneer cheese was peculiar and did not remotely resemble paneer cheese I had ever eaten. I also felt remarkably queasy an hour later...it was just way too rich for my taste. Surprisingly, this place is owned by the same folks who run Lula Cafe which I love...meh, this place just underwhelms me.
(2)Lisa M.
*Loved* this place. We had high expectations and they were met. The food was thoughtful, well-prepared, extremely fresh and local. We had the burger (which might be the best in the city), the spit roasted pork loin chop (which was perfectly cooked--slightly pink, not dry at all, perfectly seasoned), and two appetizers--the agnolotti pasta with foie gras filling and the sweet corn and garlic soup. Both were great. We even got a taste of the rabbit tortellini in jalepeno broth, which might have been my favorite dish of the night. It was all really so yummy, and so worth it, considering just average restaurants are charging the same prices for food that is not nearly as thoughtful or well-prepared. Oh, I almost forgot--dessert was great too--we had 2 scoops of house made ice cream (a salted butterscotch gelato and a rasberry sorbet). The rasberry really captured the essence of fresh rasberries and wasn't too sweet. The salted butterscotch was great too. We also had the rice pudding with Michigan peach compote, which was lovely (and rich!). The kitchen staff were so friendly and helpful. Loved their attitude. We will definitely be back!!
(5)Van D.
Have been to Nightwood for both dinner and Sunday brunch. Food was excellent each time. I am also a big fan of their sister restaurant Lula Cafe so its inevitable that I (and probably many others) want to compare the two. Nightwood has less choices and probably a bit pricier but food quality is excellent. Liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Expect it to be jam packed like Lula Cafe very soon
(5)todd s.
Second time here for brunch and had the house made doughnuts again-fabulous. Tried the burger this time and was definitely impressed. The bun tasted fresh made and was sturdy enough to hold the large juicy burger. It was cooked perfectly but could have had a bit more seasoning in the meat. And do not pass up the house made tater tots. Will return.
(4)L N.
Extremely enjoyable dinner here last Friday. The staff is warm and welcoming. The room is cozy and buzzy but you can easily converse with your dinner mate. Our server was charming and efficient. They offer still and sparking water at the table which is nice, and no ice, which I prefer so that made me happy. My friend and I shared the chicken liver pate appetizer. You get sort of a big shmear of it on a plate with seed-y mustard, cornichon, and sliced baguette. More bread was provided promptly upon our request. The pate was creamy and fresh; nicely cut with the vinegary side things. For dinner my friend had ribbon pasta with duck and broccoli. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the long ribbons were very pretty on the plate. The duck was tender and just enough to provide some heft to the dish without being too filling or overwhelming. I had smoked trout on a bed of sweet corn with bacon (bits). Probably the better of the two dishes. The dish does not look super impressive -- its a whole trout with the skin on a bed corn basically -- however, incredibly delicious! Mildly smoky, tender and juicy trout which pulled away easily from the skin with no bones. The corn had been cut from the cob and was bright, sweet and a perfect compliment to the fish. Bacon punctuated the smoky theme. Oh, and the bottle of wine we wanted was out so they upgraded us to something better at no extra charge. Nice. We shared chocolate pudding for desert which was more like a dense cake. Not bad but I would probably order a different desert next time. And I hope to have many next times!
(4)Jo W.
Everything was good -- and I NEVER say that. From the burrata to the rabbit pasta to the pork loin. And don't forget the warm cookies. Service also stellar. Wish these folks had something closer to the north :). As a heads up, it is pricey but you're paying for fresh stuff. Love it.
(5)kristin t.
When this place opened up just a few blocks from home I could not wait to try it. We headed out with another couple on Saturday to try this place and I could not have been more surprised by the atmosphere or happy with my food. The ambiance was amazing, the decor spot on, the service friendly and attentive and the food was amazing. We had the escarole and chopped vegi salad which had the perfect mix of flavor and texture, the burrata crostini which was to die for, sweet potato ravioli, the poached whitefish and the whole trout were also wonderful and the hand-cut noodles with rabbit loin was impressive. Our cocktails were fabulous and personally I could have stayed until they kicked me out. Without a doubt we will be returning here over and over.
(4)Lisa W.
Clean, spare, fresh, beautiful. Gorgeous people, gorgeous food. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
(5)Julie N.
Great space, great service but not great food. Starters were perfect: homemade bresaola, short rib ravioli, tomato soup. Mains were way, way off. Duck confit was very good, but surrounded with cold chunks of cucumber (why???). Pork tenderloin was incredibly fatty and undercooked, inedible. Cheesburger was just fine. STAY AWAY until they get the kitchen tuned up.
(2)Mary M.
..just "the best restaurant in Chicago" right now!!,,if you are looking for wholesome, fresh locally grown products..the wood burning grill and the pairing are just out of this world! and the desserts..the pie to die for...complimenti!!
(5)jo d.
One word of caution: the drinks may take a while, and although they are great (Chipolte Margarita!= phenomenal) the proportion of strength to $ is not equal, so stick to beer or the wine list. I needed to get the bad part out of the way so it does not sway your decision as much as the good that follows below. I make no claim to being a foodie, but I love good, interesting food. I love experimenting in the kitchen and can appreciate the effort it takes to put out inspired quality plates. We have been to Nightwood a number of times and have loved it each and every time! Our first experience was a brunch. I was VERY excited about the bacon donuts (REALLY BACON ....ON DONUTS!!!???), as well as the Poutine with Duck confit, duck gravy and poached egg. Can life get any better? Since the brunch we have been to Nightwood more than a handful of times. Many people have issue with the size of the portions, but I think they are just right. I think in the US we have come to accept overeating and massive plates as getting your money's worth. Not true or right. Nightwood practices a quality over quantity approach to food. It is evident in each bite. I am a little one, and at other restaurants I typically can split an appetizer and finish 1/2 the entree, then feel like crap for overeating yet upset for not being able to try one of the awesome looking deserts. But at Nightwood the freshness and lightness of each of the meals is a refreshing change. At the end of each course, you are left a little depressed that there is no more to eat because it was so good, but if you choose the correct next course according to your tastes you are not upset for too long. AND THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR A LITTLE DESSERT! I love feeling satisfied... not full to the point of splitting at the seams. Every dish that I have had or have tasted from other people at the table was amazing. Eat bite is a perfect bite. Overall highly recommended! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we have.
(5)Harold J.
Being an pilen/bridgeport/chinatownian , I am pleased to have a restaurant in my neighborhood I can go to that will impress out of town guests. In this case, it was my girlfriend and her friend from Philadelphia. The staff was very helpful and attentive. The plates were of ample size. The wine selection is extensive and impressive. As the night went on, I can see that there are a lot of restaurant fans in the community because it was packed on a Wednesday night with no specials or gimmicks of any sort. Just great food, ambiance(FYI, if you're a smoker you will love the faux fireplace outside for you to warm yourself as you puff away), and service. Looking forward to a brunch there on a sunny June afternoon. But, I'm sure I'll be there beforehand.
(4)Grace C.
This place was recommended by a friend. The hostesses were not helpful at all I think they forgot to put us on the list. the wait staff were fantastic - they got us a seat at the chefs table. we had the goat cheese gnocchi as appetizer, trout and duck, then sorbet and pecan tart. The savory food was excellent . My husband rated the duck as 9/10. My trout was good too 7/10. The desserts were a bit of a disappointment after the dinner . Sorbet was ok and tart was good but standard.
(4)cindy g.
I am and I am not a fan. Originally we ate at Nightwood 8-10 weeks ago and had amazing food and memorable service. I took the time to mention it to the owner when we were eating at his other restaurant last week. I was looking forward to going to Nightwood to celebrate our husbands' birthdays. We made our reservation for last night weeks ago and when I confirmed yesterday I thought that I made it clear we wanted to be in the front room. We arrived to a packed restaurant. When we were seated it was near the kitchen- with the wait staff going back and forth, and back and forth. It was NOT where I had anticipated our celebration- it was unappealing and the back and forth was driving us crazy. I left the table to speak with our waitress and the owner's wife overheard us talking and graciously changed our table although I would have preferred that it had been done initially when I said something instead of essentially being ignored. Our meal was delicious although with a few negative comments- they were already our of one appetizer and one main and served the skimpiest smelts appetizer. We were told that it was because they had only received a limited amount that day and coupled it with beets. (I think there were 6 smelts on our plate and my husband had been so looking forward to them since our last visit- he had been told by our waitress then that they were always on the menu. Desserts were underwhelming. I think a first class restaurant plans well for its clientele and doesn't run out of ITEMS. I bring up this point over and over- if you have had an outstanding meal on one occasion, do you try and repeat it or move on to the other myriad of restaurants in Chicagoland?
(4)Elisabeth A.
I have eaten dinner at Nightwood 3 times, and while the overall experience has always been pleasant, I have one major complaint. The knives they give you to cut meat are TOTALLY INADEQUATE! Here's the deal. Nightwood serves family farm-raised, organic beet-and-arugula-fed, designer-shod, psychologically, ecologically, physiologically and emotionally well-balanced meat that was sensitively slaughtered, like, this morning. This meat is expensive and flavorful, but because it is so fresh it has a weird, tough, kinda rubbery texture. It doesn't fall off the bone. You gotta saw that sh*t if you want to consume it. This is where the knives come in. They have these super fancy white enameled French knives that cost an arm and a leg at Williams and Sonoma, but despite their beauty they suck suck suck. So you're there, attacking your meat, hacking away at it like some kind of deranged serial killer, because the g-damn unserrated knives are too busy being tres cute to actually cut anything. Nightwood deserves more than one star, because the atmosphere is very nice and much of their food (I'm thinking of the trout, and all the fabulous veggie sides) is wonderful. But they need new knives and they need to figure out how to cook their chicken so that the meat falls off the bones like it's supposed to. If KFC can do it, so can they!!
(1)Rachel P.
I was very excited to dine at Nightwood and feel it was a nice, but not a great experience. We were seated on the patio which was beautiful. It has heat lamps going to take the edge off of the fall chill. Our drinks were good, not great. For the price I expected a little more. They were much more basic tasting then described on the drink menu. The appetizer we had was great; creamy cheese, delicious cherry tomatoes and bread, really well balanced and tasty. My friend got gnocchi with short rib which was good, and I had a burger. The burger was good...but here is my biggest complaint-this chef clearly has firm beliefs on how his food "should" be cooked despite the guests' order. Before my meal was delivered, two diners next to us received their burgers, one promptly sent hers back for being too under cooked and the other left much on her plate. I over heard her later explaining she didn't know how raw it was until she took a few bites. Now I do not like my meat cooked to extremes, just a nice pink medium for me, which is how I ordered. My burger was better described as rare; very rare. Why bother asking diners how they want their food cooked if the chef will not honor it and simply cooks the food to his or her own liking? Not the best dining experience I have had recently. The flavors were good, however, i would have loved to enjoy the burger even more with it being cooked properly, as in how it was ordered.
(3)Brian M.
We went here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and were promptly seated in the basement. Unfortunately we didn't get menus and water until 15 minutes later. After sitting for 20 minutes we ordered the bacon donuts, two burgers and eggs and toast for our kids. 45 minutes into the meal, we had received nothing except one cup of coffee and my wife's cream never made it to the table. We cancelled the doughnut starter and waited for our burgers instead. They were both pretty good but not worth $13. The fries were actually some of the worst I have had in a while and my daughter wouldn't even eat them. The eggs and toast were pretty standard. Needless to say, we wont be going back here for brunch again, but the space was cool and we would give it a second chance for dinner. They don't seem to have a handle on the brunch biz and the food is only marginal so its certainly not worth the trek from Lincoln park. Very disappointing considering how exceptional Lula has always been for breakfast.
(2)LB F.
BRUNCH review: Wow -- cool place. Pretty decor (dark wood bar, pressed tin ceiling, wrought iron fixtures, a nice enclosed outdoor patio/courtyard); friendly service (hosts and servers are patient with questions, conversational and welcoming / Maria was awesome!); and a wonderful restaurant philosophy (mostly local ingredients and a frequently-changing menu). This is the epitome of haute junk food... from plastic fork to silver fork... aka several doughnuts made to order, a pop tart with fresh cream cheese frosting, buttermilk friend chicken and waffles (with fruit compote and vanilla sauce, no less), and crispy, salty tater tots the size of golf balls. With a menu dominated by heavy food, this resto is not for the faint of heart (or those with heart problems -- think melted butter glistening on just about everything except the coffee), but the price is right and the food and drinks are yummy. At least it's different. If you're looking for a very filling meal in a lovely little spot, make the trek to Pilsen.
(4)Drew F.
It took me a while to write this review, I went to Nightwood becasue I want to support the resturants and bars where I live. I went on a Friday night and the place was jumping with people who dont live in the area. You can tell by the look on there face when you see them walk past the big windows looking lost, the menu is not deep enough. It had 10 entrees and just about 90% of the items where over $20, the appetizers prices where crazy! Decor was nice the server we had was awesome we didnt feel like we where being rushed, we stayed until then end with 1 bottle of wine left to finish. Nightwood is great for our neighborhood, I think they need to work on the menu price's so all of pilsen can enjoy them.
(5)Beth O.
Could have been an off night, but tartlet of stinging nettles and asparagus and ricotta tart was disappointingly dry. I am fiercely picky about crust, since my family (mom, Grandma, me) make some of the best, lightest and flakiest tarts and pies in the country. Although my date enjoyed his fresh and well-seasoned pork as though Pavlov had rung his bell, my tart seemed to have spent days hanging out on a hot plate or been reheated from the first bake. What salvaged our meal were the expectedly delightful bookends of arugula salads and rhubarb crisp. Have to say Lula has never disappointed, and little sister needs to practice more to get up to Lula's level.
(3)Nancy S.
None of the people in my 5-person group will return. Small, poorly displayed food. One of our $20 pasta dishes (consisting of broad noodles, broccoli, chilis & some goat cheese) had exactly 6 noodles. The $30 pork roast was unedible. The appetizers were so disappointing that one person in our 5 person group decided not not even order a main course. I decided to play it safe & order the hamburger. It was so over-done that I had trouble swallowing it. The bun was enormous & the burger was like a tiny hockey puck. One of the appetizers, and both pasta dishes were just slapped onto plates...spread out everywhere. The fava beans were just literally dumped onto a big white plate. Completely unappetizing. We left & went somewhere else because we were hungry & annoyed. I do have to say that our waitress was nice. And, upstairs, the ambiance seemed cool. But, even though we had reservations, we were seated in the musty basement. And, yes, it smelled musty. There was just one other table of people in the dungeon while we were there. They were elderly people.
(1)Morgan O.
Disappointing with a capital "D". I was so excited to sample this highly recommended restaurant, but every dish I ordered tasted like pickles. I thought that the homemade ice cream for desert would make up for a flavor-lacking meal, however, I was AGAIN unbelievably mistaken. I wish I would have known because $100 for a crappy meal is a real bummer. Bottom line: Great space and environment. Awful food. And by awful, I mean almost inedible.
(1)Maria C.
At Nightwood for brunch! Food good but surprised that it took 38 minutes to get food while others around us got fast service. :( with no explanation when I asked about why it took so long. Sad. Will have to find another place for brunch, didn't feel welcome.
(1)Erin N.
Every course of this meal, from the cocktails to dessert and the port that went with it, was delicious. For a livelier restaurant experience, sit in the back by the open kitchen and ask the chef his favorites. My date and I had such a great time indulging the server suggestions and watching the preparation right in front of us. The front of the restaurant is more darkly lit and romantic in nature-- a setting for intimate conversation with dates/family/friends. Lastly, the staff is kind and gracious--no pretention present, so feel free to relax and enjoy the meal.
(5)Brooke B.
Thank goodness this place is in my neighborhood, where I can walk there to round up my appetite and walk home to burn those heavenly calories away. I prefer this place much better for brunch rather than dinner. And for brunch, I've never been disappointed. Great service, strong coffee and creative dishes...the menu always changes. Typically though, they'll have some sort of quiche, some sort of bagel sandwich and always organic ingredients. I've only been there once where I struggled at finding SOMETHING on the menu. It's not huge, but there's typically something for everyone, between sweet and savory. And, for heaven's sake...don't pass up that bacon doughnut. I'm not a huge fan of bacon or doughnuts for that matter, but for some reason, that dough melts in your mouth and leaves you smiling. Actually, every single doughnut I've tried here has left me dipping the last piece and wanting more. Wish it was open for brunch every day and not just Sunday!!
(4)Mahsa T.
When you treat your customers poorly, those customers are going to get on Yelp and tell all their friends that you like to treat your customers badly. Well, I'm telling my friends that they should definitely not spend a dime of their money supporting this establishment because they have let their popularity go to their heads. And with their giant inflated heads, they can't possibly quote an accurate wait, provide good customer service, or have the decency to make it up to you when they've royally screwed up. I have NEVER ever waited for a table for this long. I got a table at Hot Doug's faster. Yes, it was our fault for not having reservations on a Saturday night but this was not planned. The other restaurant we were originally going to go to didn't take reservations and had a two and a half hour wait, so we decided to go to Nightwood instead--big mistake. I called ahead and put our name down. We were quoted an hour for a table for four. We ended up waiting almost TWO whole hours for a table!!! We kept checking in with the host and hostess who kept saying a table is just about to get up--except one hour went by and no one got up. There's nothing around here within walking distance of the restaurant so it's a destination spot and people like to linger at their table for hours!!! So you would think that the manager of a well-known restaurant would: A) recognize that it's wrong to go over your quote by a whole hour (you should know by now what the Saturday night flow is at your restaurant). B) Come over and apologize and take immediate steps to remedy the situation (like for example, let us order food at the bar). C) Comp a portion of the meal. What did the manager do? NOTHING. In fact when he got word that I was irritated and annoyed, he avoided us. So all of this would have been water under the bridge if the following didn't happen. A table finally opened up. It had two seats on it but was definitely large enough to seat four people. The hostess walks right past me and seats a couple that just walked in through the door. At this point I became IRATE!!! I went up to her and asked why we were not seated at that table and her response was that she didn't think we'd be comfortable at that table and would want to wait for another larger table. REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Do you think it's comfortable sitting on a metal bar stool for TWO hours, holding your winter jacket in your lap, starving, watching everyone else around you eat?????? Are you kidding me?!?!?! Twenty minutes later, we were finally seated at a drafty table by the door. Our waitress provided sub-par service. Even after all of this I was excited to try the food, but even the food was a huge let down. Pork belly--I've had better at XOCO. Lamb shank--not even really a lamb shank, more like tiny pieces of lamb served in a small patty. You want awesome lamb shank, go to Noon O Kabab. Polenta with mushrooms--you want better polenta, go to Enoteca Roma. Burrata--should just be called bread in tomato sauce with side of cheese. Food was uninspired, lacking originality and taste. Overpriced for the tiny portions. There was nothing at all worth coming here for. The two stars I've given are for the two genuinely nice bartenders at the bar who were the only ones who cared about us. They provided excellent service, chatted with us, and made an effort to ease our pain. The manager and hostess should be fired and the bartenders should run this place.
(2)Irene J.
This was on the top of my bucket list, for restaurants in Chicago, and it did not disappoint. Normally I know what I want immediately after a quick glance at the menu. initially, I decided on the rabbit's foot. At the last minute, I switched to the burger, per the waitresses telling me it was a staple item, along with the crispy pig ears. We had the 1) crispy pig ears, 2) the rabbit's leg and the 3) burger. All fantastic!!!! The burger was well crafted, the meat: flavorful, cooked to perfection, the bread: was fresh and brioche, finally: the sauce melded into one (cheese and only god knows). The fries were even delicious!! My boyfriend and I ate in silence. I had the Au Cheval burger two days later. I enjoyed this burger much more! I look forward to brunch.
(5)Ennis O.
Walked into Nightwood for Sunday brunch and immediately felt like I was back home in SF. Everything from the style, the people, to the seasonal, varied menu. Though if it was SF it would be far more pretentious and be about double the price lol. I'm not a huge donut fan especially when they are filled or topped with something - always taste too sickly sweet for me. BUT...I had it on good authority they were not to be missed so dove into the caramel cream donut with pecans. UH-mazing - and subtlely sweet (well as subtle as one can be with a caramel cream donut) Super tasty. Also had the red pepper scramble with rapini which was just right. And the tots? Crazy good and on my list of things to try at home. Recommend sitting at the kitchen counter which despite the bustling chefs actually feels more intimate then the front of house. Besides, an open kitchen view is basically foreplay so it's almost a must...
(4)Johnny R.
We got out with our favorite foodie couple and gave Nightwood a try. The restaurant is very nicely laid out. If I was selecting a place just based on how decorated and the vibe, Nightwood would be near the top... trendy, loud, and clearly popular. I like the Pig Ears appetizer, somewhere between crunchy bacon and pork rinds. Clever, and nicely flavored. I'm a salt person so I got pretty excited. I ordered the spit-roasted half chicken, which looked impressive as it was carried to my table. But to be honest, while it was moist, it was also very bland. I liked the fingerling potatoes. My wife had the scallops, and to be honest, she and our other friend who also got the scallops were not wowed. My friend got the lamb chop and was not blown away. The almond butter cake was excellent, we all fought over it. The bittersweet chocolate cake was well received and had it not competed with the almond cake it would have been even more popular. I will say that we four tend to like spicy interesting food, and the somewhat bland flavorings of the entrees were a little underwhelming. But don't go by just my review I would read a number of them. Ironically I had just eaten somewhere else a week ago and though the food was overly seasoned. There's just no pleasing some folks.
(3)Tiffany K.
I have been wanting to try this place for so long, and I finally got my chance this winter. Seriously, this was one of the top 5 dinners I have ever had in Chicago, hands-down. Came here for my boyfriend's birthday in December. We had reservation on a very rainy day, but it didn't stop us from going nuts and ordering half the things on the menu. Joshua (I think that was his name? Forgive me, it's been a couple of months) was the bomb dot com and recommended the best dinner dishes to us (the trout and the chicken). The entrees were fantastic and perfectly cooked. We also ordered the pigs ears, which were irresistible, and some delicious lemony tortellini for appetizers. We also ordered the donuts for dessert and shared many drinks, of which we most enjoyed the mixed drink made with Malort. Seriously. Malort. Joshua was so nice and helpful, he even gave us a bag of cookies to go. It was an awesome experience, and I would DEFINITELY come back!
(5)donna y.
The best part of my meal was the Almond Butter Cake. I have been craving it since my visit and will return even for just that! I had scallops for dinner. The dish was flavorful but it looked like a lot thrown on the plate and the scallops are also diced. I haven't craved the dish but it was good.
(4)Lizbeth T.
A lot has already been written about Nightwood, so I'm just going to focus on the highlights and low points of my recent dinner there. Great: cocktail and wine list. I couldn't pass up a chance to try the house-made tamarind syrup with Buffalo Trace bourbon, so that's what I ordered. Not as fussy as some of the other cocktails on the menu, but I typically prefer straightforward combinations, and this one hit the spot! Simple and just sweet enough. Also great: fried meyer lemon with aioli. Most memorable appetizer of the past few months. Good: our entrees. Trout was fresh, perfectly prepared and lovely, but just a bit boring. Same for the fried chicken. Very good, but too much of one thing on the plate. Amazing: the desserts! We had the goat cheesecake with fig and pistachio brittle, and the vanilla tapioca pudding with cherry marmalade and caramel corn. I can't say enough about either of these, so I will just stop now.
(4)Kyle F.
Imagine taking restaurants like Burger King and fazoli's, then make the portions smaller, increase the price, and finally add ingredients like kale and yogurt. If you can imagine such a place, you imagined nightwood. I really enjoyed the food here. The fried squid was like eating Burger King onion rings but if the onion rings were touched by the hand of god. If you like junky Americana kind of food, I.e. Pasta, meat, creamy sauces and fried foods, you'll like Nightwood. The only negative I'd add is the desert we ordered. It was the brioche donuts with ice cream. I don't remember what the flavor of ice cream was suppose to be but it tasted like I was sucking on a key while eating peanut butter. The waitress behaved very aloof, which was pretty off putting, but the guy refilling our water was really on his game. He was awesome.
(4)Stacey A.
I live in Ravenswood. It is a complete and utter pain in the ass to get from Ravenswood to Pilsen via public transportation. You have to take the brown line to the red line to the orange line and THEN, if you're going to Nightwood, you have to double back and walk north for however many blocks and pass a bunch of what look like abandoned factories so you walk with your keys in your hand just in case you need to stab someone. But your end goal in all this is Nightwood, which is an amazing personal reward for not being murdered for walking on Cermack or whatever murder-filled street it is at night. And in the event that you bring a friend with you, you get to try twice as much as you normally would, unless you're the sort of person who eats like, 4 plates of food at every meal and then I'm going to wonder about your metabolism and why you don't have a reality or whatever. Anyhow. In the event that you bring a friend, here's what you should order: -- The agnolotti with the GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS INSIDE. I cannot stress this enough. You should order at least one plate of this for every two people that go to Nightwood, in order to minimize sharing because you will not want to share because it's pasta with GODDAMNED FOIE GRAS IN IT. And you will bite into it and your eyes will become as giant and wide as saucers and you will shovel the remaining pasta into your face with the kind of reckless abandon usually reserved for afternoon quickies before the kids get home from school. -- The sturgeon with the lemon and the creme freche and the BACON BRAISED POTATOES. Don't get me wrong here, the sturgeon is the star of the show and there is nothing better than a big steaky fish that doesn't smell or taste "fishy". But oh lord, I want everything to be braised in bacon after having those potatoes. -- The half chicken with black beans, pickled onions, white sauce, and CORNBREAD CROUTONS. Don't judge me for getting this solely because of the fucking croutons, okay? Because that's pretty much 100% of the reason why I got it. And to Nightwood's credit, chicken is a really easy dish to fuck up or overdo or make boring or lame or whatever - and this was some GOOD chicken. Perfectly seasoned, super moist, and all the flavors went together perfectly, provided you got a magic cornbread crouton in your grill piece. I have no idea how dessert is here because I was too full to eat any. But in terms of dinner? Nightwood delivers. (Not like, they will deliver the food to your house, but in terms of "they will bring some seriously good food to you while you are in the restaurant.) Just don't get murdered on your way there.
(4)Chris H.
We didn't have a reservation but got seated within 10 minutes. While waiting we grabbed a few beer mosasa and beer bloody marys. Both sounded strange but were good. The bacon caramel donut was ridiculously good. Try it! The pork belly hoagie was awesome too. Overall, this was one of my favorite brunches in the city
(4)Luis C.
Love this place. If i had the money to spend, I would come here weekly. So, my wife and I saved this spot for special occasions. I love the fact that their menu tends to change in season. The staff is very friendly and the deserts are to die for. I've had friends rave to me about their brunch but i have not had it yet but plan to soon! !
(5)Bill T.
My GF and I visited nightwood two nights ago, and had some very high expectations, but unfortunately, none of the dishes lived up to their hypes, and it was overall very disappointing. The night started off well with the drinks at the bar; the bartenders were friendly, while the drinks weren't incredible, the draft beer was fresh and aromatic, and the mixed cocktail was tasty and refreshing. Having read many positive reviews about the smelt and sweetbread, we were not hesitant to order one of each as appetizers. We also ordered the wood grilled whole trout and the polenta as our entrees. Deep fried smelt: This was supposedly one of the best things Chicago had to offer, and I was deeply disappointed. Maybe, just maybe, for someone who has never had fresh seafood, this dish may be interesting, but overall, I found it to be extremely boring and uninspired. Also, my fish was under-seasoned, and I had to repeatedly add salt from the shaker. Sweetbread: The sweetbread was slightly better than the smelt, but I did not love it either. While the slightly spicy batter was an absolutely delight, its ratio to sweetbread ratio was way too low, perhaps it would have been a better dish had they flatter out the sweetbread for more surface area. The sweetbread was juicy and moist, but I think it would really go well with a sauce of some kind. Whole trout: I was really looking forward to the trout, but unfortunately, it was, by far, the worst dish of the night. Generally speaking, I love a runny egg on anything, but I found it really hard to eat raw yolk with fish, when combined, both the texture and the taste were completely off. The fish was cooked rather nicely, and I commend the restaurant for boning the fish, but again, it was missing a sauce! It's incredibly difficult to just eat plain grilled fish with olive oil. I honestly had trouble finishing this dish. Polenta: This was by far my favourite dish of the night. The ground polenta was cooked very nicely, and the mushroom really added essential flavour and textural contrast. Compared to the fish, this dish was really comforting, and I just wanted to keep on eating it. Dessert: fig cake with goat cheese I really liked the dessert, and it was somewhat of a saving grace for this restaurant (much like my Morimoto experience actually). The dessert was very well thoughtout, the warm fig cake went extremely well with the goat cheese topping, and it was as if I was eating cheese and crackers. Service: I feel bad for saying this, but I really did not enjoy the service. I felt that our waitress had a "holier-than-thou" attitude (this was my perception, to say the least). When I asked for recommendations, she suggested something that she has never tried simply because it "sounded really good". When we inquired about the lack of apple cake on the menu (it's in fact still stated on the website) and showed disappointment, she was extremely unapologetic and stated very matter-of-factly that it was just not there. Maybe it was a particularly bad night, but I will most likely never return.
(2)Beth T.
Everything we had for dinner was delicious, from the Pink Whippet (not-too-sweet vodka-based grapefruit cocktail), to the quark (delicious creamy cheese) plate to the scallop entree. The crispy pig's ears were a novelty, but we didn't need quite the large portion that we go and ended up leaving quite a few for, I hope, someone who appreciate it more. I will definitely go again.
(4)Jenny Z.
Just returned from a wonderful meal at Nightwood. As far as cocktails, I ordered exactly what I was craving (how often do you find exactly what you are craving on a menu?), if you are craving a fresh, citrusy, not to sweet cocktail on a summer day like I was then order the pink whippet! It was divine. For a starter my husband and I shared the crunchy spring vegetable salad with queso fresco and it was again, exactly what I was craving and what I hoped for! Dinner was the spagetti with procini, parmesan and butter....hands down the best homemade pasta I've ever tasted. I also tried the Lake Erie Walleye. I ordered it without bacon and I wonder if that's why it did not taste as impressive as the rest of the dishes. At $29, it should have been phenomenal but wasn't (that's why I only gave Nightwood 4 stars). For dessert we were stuffed so ordered the strawberry lime sorbet and strawberry ice cream....both were flavorful and delicious. The cute little vanilla cone was a nice touch. Our server was great and the patio dining was very nice as well. I don't think I'd come here too often because of the price but I plan on coming back at the end of the summer/early Fall to eat on the patio-hopefully near the fireplace. Overall, I couldn't have been happier with our meal...except for that walleye, if only it was a bit cheaper!
(4)Jennifer W.
We celebrated a friend's birthday party at Nightwood last night and everything was exceptional- the cocktails, the 6 different first courses I was able to share and sample, and my bacon entree was killer. The rabbit dishes especially stood out. I will happily return. Well worth every dining dollar.
(5)John S.
Had a terrific dinner here. The decor is wonderful, the server was very friendly and helpful. If there were a couple of things I thought were really great, they were the brussels sprouts appetizer and the apple bread crumb with rosemary ice cream dessert. That dessert alone was worth the price of admission.
(5)Moira M.
What an excellent restaurant! The food was delicious and the wine, which was recommended by the waiter, was surprisingly good - and a good value. Also must mention the atmosphere - so trendy with exposed brick, dark hardwood with great use of metal and glass.
(5)Dutch B.
I'd say the ratings got me in the door, but the food was super standard. Ya, the tots were good and a bonus, but not worth a revisit. i got the trout spread bagel. LAME-O The egg was a mess and was oozing all over my bagel, the spread was nasty.. drink prices for that area- highway robbery. service, the bus boy and server didn't want to give us new silverware after our overrated donuts for apps. strange experience.. i'd won't be back..
(2)Amanda R.
I visited Nightwood last Friday night with my husband, brother, and VERY PICKY parents. I must admit that I was extremely worried about my parents being able to find things on the small ever-changing menu that would appeal to them. My dad is allergic to most fish and my mom is mostly vegetarian (actually, she doesn't really eat much at all, but that's besides the point). I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful combinations of flavors and textures in the food at Nightwood. I shared the eggplant, summer squash, breadcrumbs, aioli, capers, and lemon oil app, and it was quite possibly one of the best appetizers I have ever had. Creamy, flavorful, rich, and just the perfect portion for sharing. Loved it. We also split the crispy pig ear at the table, which, after becoming obsessed with the pig ear dish at the Purple Pig, I was skeptical. Also very good, though. My entree was the spaghetti alla chitarra with five animal bolognese. To be honest, I think I was just intrigued by the idea of eating five animals in one dish. The dish was delicious. Just salty enough, just savory enough, perfect portion. Even my picky dad tried it and wished he had ordered it. My husband loved his NY Strip with the non-vegetable ratatouille. I like that the ratatouille was advertised by the server as having only meats in it, so that it wouldn't deter vegetable skeptics like my husband. My mom said she liked her spit-roasted Slagel farm half chicken with plums and quinoa, but she only ate about one bite, so who knows. Dad enjoyed his trout but, as expected, didn't like the accompaniment because it was too spicy. The shock came when my simple-meat-and-potatoes-loving-brother ordered the rabbit and loved it, despite his difficulties with figuring out how to get the meat off the bones (he's 21, which means his palate is fond of cheeseburgers, steak, burritos, and Natty Lite, so what did I expect?). Desserts included the blueberry crisp and peach bread pudding with ice cream and they were both some of the best desserts I have ever had, and I am a major dessert person. Conclusion: I would definitely go back, but would go without my parents next time.
(4)Arthur M.
Having eaten at lula cafe many times and being a big fan and signing up for the newsletter of both restaurants reminding me many times to give it a shot I finally went to nightwood for Sunday brunch. And I'm glad I did. The server asked our drink order and if we wanted donuts first thing and I'm glad she did. Having read and reread the handwritten sample menu's description of donuts for hours and days before the brunch that donut and a cup of coffee were exactly what I wanted. Later I would kick myself for not getting all three kinds because I saw the raspberry chocolate pudding donut and I can't stop picturing it, always just out of reach at the next table. My companion had a trout sandwich. The donut we had was bacon butterscotch, the cinnamon roll blueberry cream cheese, the bacon really good but I also got a side of bacon with my queso fresco cherry tomato scramble. The large open windows gave good light onto the leather and wood interior. The only problem was silverware unpolished and the butterfly leathrr chair accentuated my back fat.
(5)Johnny T.
So, here's my problem with my latest experience at Nightwood: nothing about it compared to my previous outing and I left feeling extremely insulted. This is a place I'd told friend, yelper and anyone who would listen, "you HAVE to come here. The menu options are so innovative. The flavor combinations will blow your mind!!" Etc. Etc. Imagine my surprise to find those innovative flavor combinations add up to: lettuce with oil, salty pasta and chicken. What in the who? Back up. A group of friends and I came to Nightwood for a tasting menu. We arrived at 8:30. We made our way downstairs to be seated. We were full of smiles and hope. There was a large group of us (about 20). For the majority of the meal, we had one server. Mistake, the first. Since we were being treated to a tasting menu, there was no need to ask us what we wanted to eat, etc. It was already laid out for us. The only thing we needed to be asked was what we wanted to drink. So, we looked at the wine menu, made our choice..and waited. And waited. And, waited. About a half hour in, we got our drink orders to our server. Mind you, this entire time we've had NOTHING in front of us, not even bread. Mistake, the second. "So, you're really excited about this place, right?" "DEFINITELY. Oh man. I ate here previously and it was beyond belief. You'll see." ... Nearly an HOUR later, we get our drinks. Why? "The bar was busy." Yes, that was the response I received. I wrote it down. I took notes on all of this. An hour. Until this point, we have had only glass after glass of water. It's 9:30. Lunch was a looong time ago. My patience is thin. "Can we have some bread and butter or something?" I asked. "Oh, something's coming out." Mistake, the third. Something's coming out? After an hour of waiting, *something* is coming out? I should hope so. Like a man in prison of Biblical times, I ate biscuits and wine. And I was not happy about it. AT TEN PM, we received our first course. Mistake, the fourth (I am going to stop here. There's going to be a lot of these). Yes, an hour and a half after arriving, we finally start to eat something. Have you ever been so hungry that you lost your appetite? That's the point I was nearing. But, it was 10 pm, I figured I should eat someth...what is this? I waited all this time for LETTUCE? Yes, I waited an hour and a half to eat lettuce. Evidently, it was being hydroponically grown out back, hence the wait. No. Not at all. You don't make people wait an hour and a half for lettuce and expect them to be happy about it. Boeuf a la Bourguinonne? Sure. Salad in a bag? No. Then, as if directed by Dale Earnhart Jr, every other course comes out at once at lightning fast speed and all together? Again, are you kidding? Have you heard of pace? Presentation? Why starve us only to serve everything at once? There's no room on the table for all the plates. Nothing is being explained or presented, just dropped off and left. That makes no sense. Whatever. At least I'll eat...what? What is this? Salty pasta? Fish with LEMON and PARSLEY? DRY CHICKEN??? What the h is this? THIS is innovation? THIS is culinary creativity? THIS took nearly (at this point ) TWO HOURS TO ARRIVE TO THE TABLE?? No. If you mean to tell me that this is the BEST EFFORT of a restaurant that boasts 'whipped prairie fruit farm goat cheese on buttered croutons with arugula, and a chili, garlic and cured sardine vinaigrette' and 'Gunthrop farm duck breast with hominy, roasted garlic, snap peas, and remoulade', I will call you a liar. Because you will be lying to me. And, you will be insulting me. To appease the hunger of our group, we received a couple of more plates of pasta with cheese. Does that come with unlimited soup and salad, too? I didn't know Olive Garden had a Pilsen outpost. Oops. My mistake. OG is much cheaper...in price. My brunch experience was a revelation. From tamarind drink to orange cardamom donut to multi-layered bagel, each bite was a surprise. This food was an insult. Waiting so long for this food was an insult. Having one disinterested (or overwhelmed) server was an insult. Everything about this experience told me that Nightwood was not interested in my business or the business of my friends. It told me that rather than giving me a representative dining experience, it would give me polenta WITHOUT the oyster mushroom vinaigrette, small salad and poached egg. The food, service and lack of attention told me not to come back. And, have no doubt, I won't. I work hard. At times, I work long long hours. My time (MY time) is SO precious to me. To have that commodity taken from me needlessly and without care is entirely unacceptable and unforgivable. TFD.
(1)Christina P.
Located just past Chinatown, Nightwood is a gorgeous space. I loved the romantic lighting, multiple levels and general ambiance. Our large group was led down to the basement level, where we had two large picnic table setups for our fixed menu. I thought it was charming that they had printed personalized menus welcoming us and letting us know what we'd be eating that night. We started off ordering drinks - I shared a bottle of wine and others got some specialty cocktails. It was about 45 minutes in from the time we walked into the restaurant to the time we received those drinks. The waitress explained that the bartender was swamped. The fact is the place was understaffed - our huge group and another large group downstairs was monitored only by one server for much of the night. At this point, members in our party started to get cranky. We're a very understanding bunch, but we've had a lot of good meals and great service in our lives and we know how many wonderful businesses there are out there to patronize. My friend next to me observed that as a former server, she thought it was strange that the server wouldn't introduce herself to the large group and explain how it was all going to work, and that we could go with her with questions. For the whole time we stared at the menu thinking that we had to choose one of the entrée options and found out much later that it would be family style and we'd be sharing it all. The items themselves sounded a bit underwhelming and I found myself longing to look at their regular menu, as I had heard good things about it in the past. We were offered a salad, trout, roasted chicken, polenta and vegetarian pasta , with rhubarb crisp for dessert. By the time we received some biscuits and butter to munch on, we were ravenous. We had waited about an hour by then, I think... far too long to receive bread. My favorite items included the salad, which was very simply dressed but featured some fluffy, buttery croutons that I thought were some of the best I'd ever had. I also enjoyed the side of beets, which came out very simply roasted, and the peas, which were buttery and lovely with some cheese on top. I found the trout much too salty and the polenta a bit boring and flavorless. The pasta I was looking forward to the most because I was so hungry and aching for carbs, and although the flavor was fine - spicy and garlicky - it was much too oily. Our hands were shiny after dishing the noodles onto our plates. I was impressed when they brought out large individual rhubarb crisps for dessert, but the top was much too hard and the filling too tangy and skimpy. I think that some places just may not be equipped to host large parties and I think that they could have reached a little more to create more of an ambitious menu. I found the fact that they stuck to trout and polenta didn't seem like a good value for us, knowing that they were not providing this meal for a very low price. While I thought more highly of the place than many of my dining companions, I agreed with their complaints and thought that fluffy croutons and some yummy beets were not enough to make up for the inattentive service.
(3)Andrea R.
Well you know when you find a piece of tree bark in your salad that the vegetables sure are fresh! Perhaps they were just trying to add a little flavor to the pretty bland salad they served us. Besides the wooden bland salad I found the service for our very large party to be very slllloooowwww (45 minutes just to get biscuits), the chicken to be so-so and the trout smelled awfully funny. Then again I'm pregnant and most things smell funny these days! However, there were a few good things to Yelp about: The polenta was quite tasty. I couldn't get enough of the super fresh egg noodles (seriously, I had about 7 helpings) and the rhubarb cobbler dessert hit the spot. I'm not sure I'd come back here with a large group since they couldn't see to handle it, I may return for the brunch I've been hearing so much about. Or perhaps for more of those noodles.
(3)Marcus H.
The atmosphere is nice and the pig ears are actually pretty good. The beer selection is pretty good as well. The rest of the dinner options are just o.k. I got the Wisconsin trout and T got the Spaghetti alla Chitarra.
(3)Erica A.
I regret not thanking every person in the restaurant individually for probably the best overall dinner experience I've ever had. Our waiter was easily the most accommodating, kindest, and most patient waiter in the city. He made our evening incredible. I hope we'll see him again next time! I really can't say enough positive things about the staff. Everybody was so friendly and so attentive. I'd give this place 10 stars for service alone! BUT that's not to say the food wasn't also out of this world. I had the potato anchovy appetizer, the trout as an entrée, and for dessert we shared two sorbets and one ice cream. The appetizer was so delicious, it was really salty and flavorful with just enough anchovy taste. The trout was perfectly prepared with crispy skin and cooked just right. The olives, mushrooms, and citrus fruit complimented it perfectly. It was the second best fish I've eaten in my life (the first is a dish hailing from my hometown and it was really truly incredible). I was sad to run into the tail because that meant my taste buds were bites away from saying goodbye to the fish from heaven. *tear* The sorbet was delicious and hit the spot! Light but still super flavorful. Also, I can't understand why anybody is saying anything negative about the décor. I love the way Nightwood looks and really appreciated the bear picture on the wall, well done decorators! Overall, a perfect night thanks to an amazing kitchen, wonderful staff, and a beautiful atmosphere. Thanks Nightwood, we'll be seeing you soon :)
(5)Austin F.
Really cool spot, excellent brunch/breakfast. Everything I had was delicious - the bacon donut, the raspberry oatmeal, the omlette etc. Pretty reasonable pricing too. Would recommend for brunch.
(4)Liren C.
Best dinning experience ever! I couldn't be more pleased by the service. All the servers were so polite, attentive and gracious. We had dinner there and the food was out of the world! The decor and ambiance were also very pleasant. Appetizer was a combination of lightly sauteed cauliflower, nectarines, sorrel and stracchion cheese (from Italy) on top of a big slice of Wisconsin bacon. The dish was a delightful little summer affair. For entree I ordered the spit roasted Illinois rabbit. The meat was succulent with a faint woody note, not at all gamey as rabbit sometimes can be. The sauce was a savory broth made of finely diced bacon bits, fennel, porcini and whole shishito peppers. My dinner mate had the strip steak cooked to medium well. I was really concern about that when he ordered but when I tried the steak it was perfection. To be able to get a steak to such tenderness at medium well is nothing short of a true testament to the chef's culinary skill! For dessert I picked blueberry crisp with strawberry ice cream which completely blew me away. I could even venture to say that it was the best dessert I've ever had. The strawberry ice cream was packed with flavor. The blueberry crisp was almost good enough to die for with fresh whole blue berries at the bottom. I can't wait to return for another phenomenal meal at Nightwood!
(5)Katie H.
I wish I could do a 3.5 star rating, but alas... Nightwood was good, but not great. We were seated on the patio, which had a great ambience but unfortunately very uncomfortable chairs. Nice wine and cocktail menu to start off. We had heard great things about the burger, so decided to share that for our entree and get 3 starters as well. The crispy pig ear was pretty delicious (salty and sweet, a little sticky but nicely done), and we enjoyed the melon salad (although as my hubby pointed out, anyone could cut up a good melon and top it with queso fresco - the trick is getting a good melon, which Nightwood definitely did). We also had the warm tomato salad with a baguette and were underwhelmed. The tomatoes were nice, the baguette was average, but the sauce, which was described as a yogurt dill sauce, actually tasted more like a Thai peanut sauce, which I did not love. I'm not sure if others have had the same experience, or maybe the chef just made a mistake on our dish? The burger was very good, and super filling, so we were too full to try their dessert menu. Overall, if you're new to Chicago I wouldn't send you to Nightwood as a first or second choice for dinner - but if you live in the neighborhood or want to soak up the last of the Chicago summer on a nice patio, I'd recommend giving it a try.
(3)April W.
Really enjoyed brunch here. I had the cheeseburger and it is fair to say that it was one of my top 5 burgers I have had. I also enjoyed their beer mimiosa and really liked that it was something different. The service was a touch slow, but it was a Sunday and it was brunch so it was understandable. I never knew such a chic place with so much culinary talent existed on that strip of halsted.
(4)Michael C.
Great food, terrible service. We had a large group and were seated downstairs, which was awesome, but the service was slow. Slow enough to detract from the meal.
(4)Steven M.
Wonderful dining experience in what is still a work in progress neighborhood. We were seated at the bar and I had the punch. What I thought it was and what I got were two different worlds. The menu just had the name not a description of what you were getting. I did not complain as it looked like a White Russian and tasted like heaven. Had I known, I would have asked for a scoop of ice cream to go with it. Our table was at one of the huge windows in what is a quaint dining room. I started with the spinach salad and a glass of Lumos. Excellent wine, I should have gotten the bottle. The salad was amazing with its subdued flavors that would pop with flavor as you eating. The walleye came next with a glass of Lambet. Not too fond of that choice, but by that time I was very happy! The fish on the other hand was excellent. With a smear of mashed underfoot and the bean sauce on the side. I polished that plate in record time! The staff collects the plates, silverware and glasses between each course as well as wipe down the table. I went to the washroom and I saw the lineup of desserts and I had to try the espresso tart with Illinois figs. Now I have never had a fig in my life, because I didn't like they way they looked at me! But these were delicious and the tart was nice and light. I ate quite a bit and I went home feeling content, not bloated. The atmosphere was young and casual. But I never felt out of place, because the server was right on the money all night long, so aces to Jill for her outstanding attention to detail. And everyone else was in their own element as it should be. This restaurant is why people move to the city.
(5)Michelle B.
It was nice to "head South" for a Nightwood dinner. Though the location of the restaurant could mark the start of another restaurant row, for now it has an interesting "hole in the wall" feel - without being a hole at all with its somewhat upscale, minimalist decor. Overall my vegetarian dish was pretty good - though it was only one of two veggie options :( My cocktail was definitely worth 5 stars, but with my boyfriend's cocktail being too strong and only TWO vegetarian options I can't bring myself to give this place a 5 star yelp "woohoo."
(4)Janet E.
We started off with the butterscotch bacon donut. WOW. OUTSTANDING! I wanted three more of them, but I didn't want to start off my Sunday morning being a fatty. I ordered the chicken and waffles and my cousin ordered the trout with fried egg on top. I didn't try the trout, but my cousin cleared off his plate within minutes. As for my chicken and waffles, it was fingerlickin' good! I don't know what batter they used, but it was so tasty and not greasy at all! The raspberry jam and the rice pudding tasted only okay to me. As dishes were being taken out from the kitchen, I was staring at all of them and wished I had ordered EVERYTHING! I need to come back and try more food!! Our server was Maria and she was SOOOOOOOO SWEET to us. Extremely friend, very helpful, and was constantly refilling our coffee or our water (even when she gave us the water bottle to refill our own water, she did it for us anyways!). The service here is exceptional! Everyone works as a team in refilling drinks and taking away plates. We had a plate and utensil change after we used them to attack the butterscotch donut. I was impressed! Parking in the area is pretty easy and free (for now...who knows when the parking boxes will be installed...hopefully never!)
(4)Howard L.
Nightwood feels like about a 3.5. We had a holiday weekend family reunion outing here prompted by Michelin's recent Bib Gourmand rating for the place (good deals for under $40 per person), and daughter's fond recall of her fried chicken/waffles brunch outing here. Overall, they have some creative and organic servings, a vibrant environment, and a blend of hits and average entrees. First, you can't make the Bib Gourmand criterion (two courses, and wine or dessert for under $40 pre tax and tip) unless you order the cheaper $11 - $13 entrees (like pasta, or cheeseburger). Many entrees are in the $21 - $28 range. We found their appetizers and desserts to be excellent, and 3 out of 4 of our entrees to be average in taste and appeal - wife having garganelli pasta, daughter having a black trumpet mushroom sformato (like a souffle), and son having a blandish duck leg. I had a wood grilled trout, and that was an exception and excellent. It was also flawlessly deboned. Rabbit wasn't available on this night , and too bad! All entrees and other servings are on the smallish side for the price, but you're paying for fresh quality and taste here. Our appetizers were a nice veal sweetbread, and clams. Desserts were a lemon pudding cake, and a nice, very dense pot 'o creme with raspberry filling. I also personally enjoyed a bargain and nice $5 draft pint of Old Rasputin, a California brewed Russian Imperial Stout with 9% ABV, and that was probably a star right there. Street parking was easy and area was well lit and felt safe, as we weren't very familiar with the midway location between Chinatown and Pilsen. The restaurant's dining areas are kind of broken down into three distinct areas - the main area with 2 and 4 person tables up front and by the windows (where we were at), a long narrow strip of 4 person tables adjacent to the bar, and then a dining area by the open kitchen in the back of restaurant. The dining room was vibrant and it felt like we were in Lincoln Park or somewhere similar. The business is 2 years old. Service was friendly and very attentive. Overall, a recommended and interesting place to dine, but you have to personally find out what works best for you here.
(3)Angela S.
Was here for brunch and man oh man... Craft cocktails with donut appetizers is the breakfast of champions.
(4)Doreen H.
Had a great dinner last night. Was able to try 3 appetizers which were all great. I'm not very adventurous when it comes down to it but all 3 were different and delicious. My steak dinner.was cooked to perfection. My kudos to chef Shae!
(5)Heather K.
Drink of the night: The Aviation - Yes, Please! Adorable servers, smiling water boys, an open kitchen with bar seats, a warm purple hue on the walls, a nice patio, and honey biscuits; I was really enamored. I had a pistachio ricotta pasta dish and the arugula salad. Not a ton of options if your a vegetarian but hey, we're used that. Here's my gripe - the chairs are not comfortable and I really do think Lula is surperior, thus 4 and not 5. A long time fan of Lula Cafe - Nightwood left me impressed and yelping for more.
(4)Joi B.
First, let's talk atmosphere. I'm a sucker for a rustic environs with soft candlelight and wood accents. Nightwood has that. Plus a very inviting patio. I sat in the basement which was very cozy. OK, I realize "basement" isn't very reflective of the vibe of the downstairs dining room. Reminds me of when I innocently said that my boyfriend was "getting us a room" for my birthday, which sounded very Motel 6 hourly rate, when it was actually a Hilton property. What can I say...I have a way with words. Second, let's talk menu. I immediately peruse any menu for vegetarian options (bonus if they are vegan). Nightwood has a respectable number of vegetarian options, several of them very unique. I'm sure they will leave off the sprinkle of cheese on salads and pastas if you ask them. They seemed rather accommodating. Third, let's talk salad. Oh, how I adore a good salad. I ordered the option with candied walnuts, arugula and sheep's milk cheese. The salad would have been perfect but for the cheese, which was too strong of a flavor and the nuts/greens didn't balance out the sharpness. I would certainly order a different salad upon my return or just ask them to leave off the cheese. Dressing was tangy and delicious. Fourth, let's talk entreés. I had the pasta with vegetables. Pasta is made in house daily, according to our waitress and let me tell you, I dove right into that bowl of delicate ribbons with just the right amount of oil. I especially appreciated the asparagus, though that won't necessarily always be the in season vegetable, obviously. As someone who loves her vegetables more than her starch, I would have appreciated twice or three times the amount of vegetables to pasta, but that's just me. I'd probably order something different on the next visit. and now...let's talk *polenta* Oh my heavens! The. Best. Polenta. I have ever EVER had in my entire Italian life! I've been to Tuscany people, Nightwood's polenta is the (corn meal) bomb! They mix it with stinging nettle of all things. Now, I'm pretty experienced with vegetables but I never even heard of putting this prickly vegetation into food! I am sold! I want to *bathe* in that effing polenta. WOW. Dessert is typically my least favorite (and often skipped) part of the meal. I had a rhubarb cobbler topped with creme fraiche which was delicious, but I wasn't inspired to eat more than 1/3 of it (which my "hips don't lie" certainly appreciate, I'm certain).
(4)Donald C.
Nightwood was a terrific experience. Exposed brick, hardwood floors, large (albeit drafty) windows and a nice feel. I went with 3 others on a Saturday night. We had 8pm reservations and we got seated immediately. I had the sweetbreads appetizer my first time with this dish, and liked it a lot. We had a good Willamette River blend red and the combination was outstanding. My main dish was the duck leg and it was absolutely perfect. The combination of a winter night, cozy restaurant, duck, red wine and good company could not have been better. A nice port with a brownie finished the evening. The only drawback was the draftiness. We sat in a corner in the front of the restaurant and had two large windows by us. It was cold, drafty, and a couple people in our party kept their coats on.
(4)Nishan P.
My worst date ever! Soon after we were seated I realized I never wanted to see her again. What a waste of the romantic atmosphere. What a waste of the prime window seating. Too late to bolt I decided to make the most of dinner. Our server was full of praise for the pan seared trout. The dish arrived with a whole fish perched on a bed of risotto. The trout seemed to be gazing at me pityingly with one big globular fisheye. Mr. Trout: "Dude, your date sucks. I feel bad for you." Me: "Don't feel sorry for me, Mr. Trout. I am going to be eating you." MT: "Yeah, but I will be gone soon and you'll still be on this boring date." He was right. He was also delicious. The tangy risotto perfectly complemented the fish. Soon all that remained of my aquatic friend was a skeleton. At this point any normal person would have yelled for the check. But, I happen to be cursed with a sweet tooth. The butterscotch tart with its light creamy filling and a caramelized pear was almost worth extending the torture. My one gripe with Nightwood is the noise level in the restaurant. It is very difficult to hear the person sitting across the table from you. Had I been on a more interesting date I might have actually wanted to hear what she had to say.
(4)Jen B.
After a year delay, I finally made it back to Nightwood, this time for brunch. Right off the bat, they impressed me with how accommodating they were to a large group. The Women Who Bike showed up about 25 strong and the servers and kitchen handled it reasonably well, breaking us up into smaller groups for ordering and keeping the water and coffee refilled regularly. I tried the two eggs, hashbrowns and toast with a side of veggie sausage. It was a LOT of food for one small person. The eggs and toast were standard (not sure how you can improve, though props for getting the eggs a nice 'n' runny over easy). Loved the veggie sausage and couldn't come close to finishing the three big slabs. The real knockout were the hashbrowns. They came in the form of three large tatertots, but, like, the BEST tatertots you've ever had. Crispy outside, mashed potato inside. Perfection. I am dying to know how they make these. My chai was also good, but nothing super special. Wish they had the option of soy milk and a little surprised they didn't, given the aesthetic. [Bad vegetarian aside: So I may have taken a nibble of the bacon donut. Holy wow. Super rich and yummy. Props to anyone who can tackle a whole one because I hit a sugar wall after one bite.] The only issue came up when I tried to pay early and leave. The server was more than happy to accommodate, but then added someone else's egg sandwich to my bill instead of the side of veggie saus. I didn't really have the time or inclination to ask her to fix it (and run the risk of looking like more than a pill than I already did with the leaving early business), so it was kind of a bummer but in the grand scheme it's no big deal. I'll be back, hopefully within the year this time!
(4)Mike S.
Renovated restaurant, easy street parking, and spacious layout looked to be the makings for a great brunch. Butterscotch n bacon donut is awesome as our most of the dishes. However portion sizes are quite weak for the prices. Also was part of a party of 8 and service was less than stellar. Other smaller parties around us were served drinks and food well before us even though we were sat and ordered first. A one course brunch should not take 2 hours. Will not be back as there are too many good brunch places in the city with much better service.
(2)Laura G.
I came here for dinner with a girlfriend on Friday night at around 6:30. We got seated right away without a reservation. Our waiter was very helpful and gave great descriptions about the food. He also let us taste a couple wines before deciding what we wanted. We started off the carrots which were outstanding. They were flavored with dill and trout, and they were awesome. Next, we got the rolled pasta with ricotta and pepperoni sauce. The sauce was really good, but this dish was probably our least favorite of the evening. We split the mushrooms with polenta and sturgeon for our entrees. We loved the vegetarian mushroom dish and it had a good combination of flavors and textures. The fish was good and nicely cooked as well. Although we were full, we ended on the chocolate cake which was delicious! I can't wait to come back here for brunch!
(4)Mindy S.
ok Nightwood. You got me. Will be back for my craving of the butterscotch bacon donuts. Damn you.
(3)Shelu B.
best brunch ever. pricey. geeky foodie crowd.
(4)Matt M.
A haiku: For you if you like Slow cooked pork, Joy Division, and the Halsted bus
(4)Eric W.
Very good meal, if you are looking for a truly great meal there are better options in Chicago
(3)Joey T.
I was at Nightwood for the first time on Saturday night. I only make it down to Pilsen every once in a while, so I had been looking for an excuse to get over there for dinner. Finally, the opportunity arrived and 4 of us decided to take Nightwood in for the evening. Two of us arrived early for some pre-dinner drinks. The staff was very pleasant and showed us to the bar. The "outdoor" covered seating area looked awesome. I will definitely want to eat in that section at some point. I started out with the "Lucky Rabbit's Foot". It was a bourbon base with bitters, honey and grapefruit. Simple, but decent enough for a pregamer. Once the other 2 arrived, we were seated in the front section of the restaurant. I loved the atmosphere inside. It was lively, yet not so loud that you had to yell to compete with the ambiance. It was a perfect blend of fun and conversation. Our server was kind and helpful, and seemed to honestly care about whether we were having an enjoyable experience. He recommended a couple starters, including the cauliflower and the watermelon plate. We were all pleased with the choices. For our entrees, we all went with a different dish: 1) split roasted chicken; 2) duck leg; 3) summer vegetables and 4) salmon. Everyone really enjoyed their dish. I will definitely visit this place again and will recommend to friends who want to get away from the Randolph scene.
(4)Jose L.
Asked for the burger and it took forever. The server blamed me for asking for well done and then it arrived bloody. Terrible experience.
(1)Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)Liz R.
One of the most phenomenal meals that I have had in a long while. I was in Chicago for a trade show and this restaurant was recommended to me by a local. I went with a friend from the Netherlands. We started off with an appetizer with a rolled piece of pasta stuffed with ricotta and on the outside some grilled chorizo or sausage and some heavenly sauce. For dinner, I got the duck which was perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside, served over lentils. Don't ask me how the lentils were cooked, but the flavor was bountiful. My friend ordered the rabbit and if I remember correctly, he almost licked the plate clean. For dessert, I got a small cake, that at first bite, resembled cornbread, but then evolved into a sweet bite. A plop of pumpkin ice cream with candid walnuts topped this piece of genius. The other dessert was a molten chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream. Needless to say, we couldn't help but devour every bite of our meals. Our server spent the time to help us make our choices and took great care of us, even taking the initiative to call us a cab since there weren't too many in the neighborhood. Truly, a meal to remember.
(5)Colleen C.
Finally, I made it. Dinner at Nightwood to celebrate the dawn of December: 12/1/09. Ok, not really, just a random dinner spot... Date's review: "The lettuce is beautiful." (he's an expert in concise foliage appraisal). And, I concur. The lettuce is truly beautiful. Ordering a salad would be beneficial to overall meal appreciation and health. There are several to choose from...simple, yet satisfying. My review: Neighborhood: Love. East Pilsen is still somewhat untraveled (by the North side masses), and this cozy nook just north of Cermak (and Skylark!) on Halsted is a "blink and you'll miss it" sort of situation, which of course...is why I like it, and why I could get a pretty good table (corner/window) without a reservation on a random Tuesday night. Had it not been dipping below 40 degrees, the fireplace flickering the patio seating may have been an amiable option, but alas...winter has arrived and inside warmth was necessary. Quickly situated with menus (oh, handwritten? nice touch), water (still or sparkling, both complimentary) and an above average wine/beer/cocktail list...our server was both congenial and well-versed in what the restaurant offered and what might be good to try. Indeed, ma'am! Locally focused, sustainable menu has prices a little above average, but the quality and consistency of the food is evident, and much worth it. IN addition, the service and atmosphere is worth some dime all in itself... Glasses of: Zin + Pinot Noir in the correct glasses, at the correct temperature, from the correct vineyards. (I said we were celebrating winter!) Buttermilk biscuits with honey butter. Aforementioned Salad Whitefish with root vegetables for me: Excellent. Pasta with lamb confit for the salad spinner. I would most definitely go back...perfect for a date, or a group of friends (make a reservation). Excellent cocktail list (they were out of ginger syrup for the hot toddy), beer list is extensive and local, and of course...the wine left me feeling warm and happy, thus doing its job very well. Reading Tricia L's review...just realized they do brunch. OF course they do. They are from Lula! How did I overlook this? I will be back for brunching and the Sunday Morning cocktail with prosecco, fruit puree and bitters...mmmmm.
(4)Brit D.
this review is based on brunch ONLY. soooooo good. If you are looking for a good brunch place, definitely check this out. They use only fresh organic ingredients here which makes it a bit more pricey then your average brunch spot, but well worth it. Last time we were here my boyfriend and I both got the bagel with trout spread, bacon, egg, and potatoes...sooooo good. I've also tried the oatmeal and butterscotch bacon donuts....YUM! The service here is also fantastic....very artsy waitstaff who have always been very attentive and helpful! oh and they also have an outdoor patio, too bad summer is almost over! :-(
(5)ben w.
Beautiful restaurant, great service. Went for brunch, over priced and BLAND. I got the braised beef omelet. The omelet itself was tiny, the bread and potatoes took up most of the plate. Thirteen bucks for a tiny bland omelet. Yogurt and granola was also bad, the granola was good but the yogurt had the consistency of water. Literally water. Don't sell it as yogurt if it's not. Sell it as milk. This place is perfect if you like to feel better about your food if it's more expensive. Hopefully they take this criticism constructively and make some adjustments.
(2)Peter B.
My date for the evening had heard of Nightwood and suggested we try it. We were both underwhelmed and agreed we would probably not return. This is not to say that it's not a good restaurant but it wasn't our style and here's why: Ambiance was diner-ish and kind of run-down at that. If is intentional (other than cost cutting) I don't understand. No special treatment on walls or celings. Floor was worn as was our wood table. We sat kind of in the middle of the restaurant within view of the open bustling kitchen. The activity in there was interesting. Now for the food: Portions were appropriately sized. First thing on the appetizer list was pigs ears. We passed. Instead, for appetizer we had the pulled mozzarella which the waitress told us it came with vegetables. There was a lot of creamy cheese with ample small pieces of toast but the vegetables consisted of three (good) radishes. We thought the mozzarella was too creamy and too much of it. My date ordered the spaghetti with veal meatballs. I try to avoid veal and other "non-animal friendly" food such as foie gras (several dishes had foie gras so I figured the veal was the lesser of two evils). The pasta was pretty good. The meatballs she thought were a bit dry. I ate half of one meatball and found it tasty, not terribly dry. I ordered the trout. It was excellent, with an interesting and tasty mix of greens, olives, and peas. There was a cream sauce and it was good but I only tried it on a few small pieces of the fish because I thought the trout was excellent on its own. Drinks: We ordered run of the mill drinks, a glass of red wine for my date and a vodka-tonic for me. They were fine. Service: Our waitress was well informed, personable and attentive. Street parking on a Saturday night was problematic. After dropping off my date I had to park a few blocks away and walk on deserted sidewalks past a car full of young idle men (PC for gang-bangers). I was raised in the city, southside, and I'm used to the streets, and I was ok with the parking situation but a lot of people would not be fine with it. I would think a restaurant like this would have a lot or valet. Reasons we would return: interesting food, lively place. Reasons we would not return: Food a bit too exotic, as if they're trying too hard to create dishes that have to be interesting. And there seemed to be a lot more choices with veal, foie gras, and pork than were healthy and lean. Also the parking situation was reason enough not to return.
(3)Melissa M.
Mostly fabulous brunch this morning. As the menu constantly changes, we asked for advice on what to order. The salmon scramble, biscuits with gravy, and butterscotch bacon doughnut were all fabulous. The coffee was excellent. The service was stellar. But, alas, the waitperson also recommended the sardines, which were so full of tiny bones that I spent over an hour trying to extract the edible parts and was mostly just frustrated and greasy by the end. Do. Not. Order. The. Sardines.
(4)Anthony H.
A little on the pricey side, this new local hotspot nonetheless served up interesting choices for the meat-lovers in our party as well as the vegetarians. The diverse menu changes daily and the bar offered a great selection of interesting beers. I recommend the fish of the day and the Dogfish Head beer!
(4)Steve M.
Nightwood absolutely killed brunch yesterday. Brunch was all, "oh hi, Nightwood." And Nightwood was like, "whutup biotch!" and then BLAM!!!!!!!!! We beat the crowds by 5 minutes. Score. I had a bloody mary that was so-so. Honestly, the mix was a bit mealy, with tomato bits floating about. The coffee tasted excellent, and did it's job effectively. On to the food... The table decided to split a bacon and caramel (!!!!!!!!!!) donut to start off the whole affair. When I first put a bit in my mouth, I was disappointed that the bacon wasn't standing out more. Then, just as I was voicing the thought, a deliciously smokey bacon aftertaste came across my mouth and finished the sweet caramel sensation. Damn, bacony caramely donut... you're tricky! I ordered a wood roasted Wisconsin trout with roasted potatoes, braised kale, olives, a fried egg and hot sauce. The fish was de-boned perfectly, and the entire dish was light and delicious. Other dishes included duck confit eggs benedict, a mutton and white bean pita sandwich w/ fried egg, and the real game changer: a bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese, pickled garden vegetables, lettuce, fried egg and bacon. At first I thought trout cream cheese sounded gross, but when I tried it, all the flavors came together deliciously. Salt, smoke and swine goodness from the bacon; the tangy, lightly fishy creaminess of their homemade cream cheese; the gooey from the egg yolks; the lettuce crunch -- all on the perfect bagel. All of the 3 dishes mentioned above came with hashbrown balls. That's right. Imagine a ball of hashbrown about the size of a cueball, with delicious golden, flakiness. Serve up w/ a side of ketchup, and we're in business. Food aside, the service was friendly and attentive. The space was really, really cool. Kind of lofty, but with a cozy feel. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can check out that side yard w/ fire place and chill-out area. I'll be back for sure. Perhaps for some dinner, and then cocktails at nearby Skylark..
(5)John K.
Good food but not great. I have been there once. We tried 5 dishes. Nothing really stood out. If I lived in pilsen I would go back for a second try.
(4)Ben C.
Great food - plain and simple. We go to sit at the kitchen counter which was a neat experience. If you have a party of 2 people I would definitely try and get the counter seating. Spinach salad with apples and goat cheese was very good. The fact that they carry bottles of Dogfish Head 90 Minute is another huge plus! I little higher price point than Lula cafe but I would say its worth it. The execution is a little cleaner, the staff more friendly and the space of the restaurant makes me much less claustrophobic.
(4)Michelle B.
Best brunch I've had in a while! Was pleasantly surprised by the menu, service and food. Love the bagel sandwich and bottomless coffee...you just can't go wrong with the hot donuts either. Innovative all-around brunch, without the pretentious vibe. We will definitely be back.
(5)Will V.
I've been looking forward to trying Nightwood since it opened and I heard great things about it from Scott M, who wrote the first review of Nightwood on Yelp. I finally went last night to meet Scott and his brother for dinner. The atmosphere is fantastic, it's obvious the owner put considerable planning into the restaurant (three years, according to Scott!). The dining room chairs in particular impressed me, they seem to be Eames-inspired, covered with leather and they are very comfortable. I hoped that, as is so infrequently the case, the owner put as much effort into the food as the eye candy. I had a Nightwood Old-Fashioned at the bar while I waited for Scott and David. The drink was mixed perfectly and speedily, with fresh ice and maraschino cherries that were obviously a cut or two above your typical bar cherries. The host (who I gathered is the owner) and the bartender were both very accommodating and friendly. My friends arrived and we sat down for dinner, and ordered a couple of appetizers, a creamy fresh mozzarella and fruit compote dish, almost like a bruschetta, and pork and fig ravioli. Both were as good as they were unusual. The ravioli was cooked perfectly. There were some tough entree choices on the menu, but I decided to order the cheeseburger. In retrospect it may have been a cop-out moment, but I don't regret it a bit. The burger was obviously made from very fresh, high quality beef, and cooked to perfection. There was definitely a smoky flavor, but it did not overwhelm any of the other flavors. The bun was a ciabatta-like roll. In short, it was probably one of the best burgers I've ever had, way better than the one I had at Bad Apple last week. And when you take away the novelty of the burgers at Kuma's, I believe the Nightwood burger blows Kuma's away. Of course, if you want a burger topped with pulled pork and bacon, you're going to have to go to Kuma's! But judged on the quality of the burger itself, I believe Nightwood has Kuma's beat. The fries were excellent as well, obviously hand-cut and crispy. Nightwood also has a nice beer list and an extensive wine selection. I had a Tripel Karmeliet and a nice Cabernet Sauvignon that complimented the burger well. Overall, I was incredibly impressed by the entire experience. I look forward to going back and being more adventurous with the menu (which changes daily, by the way). Nightwood is a Pilsen gem (and not the only one!), and well worth venturing out of Lakeview or Lincoln Park for a visit.
(5)Amanda G.
Nightwood is a hidden gem of Chicago. It's not really hidden but it's definitely off the beaten path in Pilsen. It was well worth the 15 min drive from Wicker Park. My boyfriend and I had such a great dinner here and we will definitely be back for more Nightwood. I want to go back and try there brunch ASAP! We got two appetizers: the Michigan Char Roe an $18 appetizer that's worth every penny and Chicken Liver Pate which had such a nice plating & presentation. For our entrees, we ordered a pasta they had on special and the buttermilk crusted scallops. The scallops were perfectly cooked and were excellent. We ended our meal with a walnut tart with egg nog ice-cream. Service was excellent and I loved the ambiance. Next time we go back I want to sit by the kitchen. It's an open kitchen and you can watch the action!
(4)Reuben H.
*WARNING: the content of this review makes mention of the butchering of animals, in particular- furry, fuzzy ones. If you are squeamish and/or have a soft spot in your heart for such cute cuddly animals, you may not appreciate this review.* Now, I have learned my lesson. Don't order rabbit at any restaurant unless my wife says up front that she knows, for a fact, that they do it the right way. You see, rabbit is quite difficult to cook (when done on the bone, as a whole or a half). For that reason, I have a hard time faulting Nightwood for their rabbit. It wasn't that it was totally bad since parts of it in fact were quite good. They seemed to pay particular attention to the skin of the rabbit. So much so that the skin flap that stays on the beast itself that is a part of the belly (but is split open in order to gut said beast) was folded over to the side during cooking to form this very nice, crisp bacon-like piece that was delicious. Did I just mention rabbit bacon? Did I just use the word "beast" to describe rabbit? The problem with it, like at so many other places where I have had rabbit before is that it was not cooked perfectly. Once again, rabbit is a very challenging meat to cook, but I guess I had high expectations for Nightwood thinking that they would never put something like it on their menu without being able to master it. The meat was not cooked down enough and at some parts was quite dry. Otherwise, the flavors were very well put together. Coupled with a delicious sauce, roasted brussels sprouts, red grapes and olives, this dish was well composed despite the not so perfect execution of cooking the rabbit half. Bunnies are supposed to be soft (fork tender), not tough! The rest of the meal was pretty nice. We also ordered ricotta gnocchi that was terrific- the highlight of the meal. The chicken liver pate had this incredibly strong flavor. It reminded me of liverwurst (usually made of pork liver). It wasn't that it was bad, just very strong and hard to take down as an appetizer. Just not something that I expected (the strength of the flavor that is). The pickled onions and cucumber was a good way to cut the rich flavor- but in the end the pate itself was a bit too over powering. For dessert we ordered the cookie assortment. These cookies were quite good, but to get four small cookies for $7, I felt a bit let down. Some other things that I really appreciate about Nightwood: - They have an extensive wine list, including quite a few nice selections by the glass. - Their menu changes daily which is usually a good sign of freshness and quality. - Their ingredients, in particular their animal proteins (meat- OK?) all came from well respected farms. - Interesting menu items that included a lot of variety. - For someone who doesn't always want to drink alcohol with his meal, offering a non-alcoholic cocktail for a very reasonable price was a welcome site (though tonight I ordered a nice syrah/granach from Washington state). I guess over all having experienced quite a few of these "new American" casual, yet stylish restaurants, Nightwood left some things to be desired. I hold this concept of food in high regards and when it doesn't come out near perfect (like I have had at Blue 13, Naha, and MK to name a few) I guess I leave a bit disappointed. That is not to say that this place should be ignored. I love the fact that they opened up this side of town- at basically the cross roads of Chinatown, Bridgeport, and Pilsen. The space itself is warm and inviting, and over all, the concept is a good one. Just remember this though. If you find yourself leaving Nightwood the way I did tonight- feeling a bit underwhelmed (then again can anyone ever be "whelmed"?)- walk due south on Halsted to Skylark and get yourself a pint of a good beer and some tater tots. Somehow that was the perfect "last course" to an otherwise almost forgettable meal.
(3)Parris M.
Went on an early dinner trip with my boyfriend and his friend. They both ordered first, and ordered entrees. I, being apparently naïve, ordered pasta and expected a full sized plate, seeing as how it was the same price as an entree. It wasn't. I received approximately 15 pieces of pea sized gnocchi on a plate drenched in a butter salt sauce. It was practically cold. Politely, I told the waitress that it was way too under temp for my liking (or anyone's, really) and she apologized and brought back half of what was on my plate on a different warm plate. so now, I have a noticeably smaller amount of pasta left on my plate. While I'm watching my boyfriend and his friend enjoying their entrees, I'm enjoying each tiny morsel of salt. The waitress noticed my discontent, and offered me dessert on the house for not realizing I would want a full meal too. Which made me feel a little better. Until I saw the bill. When asked "still or sparkling water?" It should be implied that they're both the same price. Its not the same as asking "would you like a 7 dollar bottle of san pellegrino?" The appetizer I had was good, but I don't even remember what it was.
(2)Milly P.
I live for brunch and Nightwood is definitely one of my favorite brunch places. I wouldn't call them a "standard" brunch place as you won't find an eggs + breakfast meat + starch combo deal. However, their dishes are delicious and a nice change in pace from standard brunch fare. Their dishes are seasonal so you may not always get what yo loved. My favorite used to be their fried chicken and waffles but I noticed it is not on the menu lately. They do keep their bacon donuts on the menu year-round, and I definitely recommend that! Their bagel sandwiches are always a good bet, as well as any sandwich with pork belly! The service is OK. I think the servers have too many tables and at times it feels like they are no where to be found. The vibe and wardrobe is very hipster-esque, so if that is your thing, you will love it!
(4)Allison A.
Hot Damn! That's some damn good food! All I got to say.
(5)Boon K.
The service was very attentive during our dinner and everything we had was pretty good. Except for the ribs. They were so tough that a knife couldn't help get the meat out. The favor was good but the preparation was terrible, they just threw it on the grill. Well, we mention it to the wait staff and they apologize and did not include it on our bill and offer to send out another but we decline and they comp us on dessert, which was very nice of them.
(4)Angeli D.
BRUNCH: Had their housemade granola which is so good they should package and sell it. They serve Intelligentsia coffee in a Chemex (oh so good) which is enough for 2 people to share. House made sausages were small but tasty. Beautiful space with seating at the open kitchen in the back as well as a patio. Large windows. A harbinger of gentrification in a rundown-ish location.
(4)Lisa L.
Yum! Expensive meal, but to be honest, it wasn't as pricey as I was expecting. We did it up with two apps, two entrees, three adult beverages, and one dessert, and got out of there (using a $10 gift cert) for under $100. To boot, we got to relax on their lovely, modern, outdoor patio; the rest of the indoor space was equally impressive, but it was too nice out to eat inside. The rundown I can vouch for the smelts, sardines, and trout - they were all phenomenal. Smelts were lightly breaded and fried, and served with a creme fraiche. The Sardines were smoked, and prepared with a delicious rosemary butter - there were veggies with this, but they didn't really add or detract from the dish. The sardines in the sauce were good enough to stand on their own. Now the trout - I can honestly say that this is the most tasty fish entree I can recall ever having. The fish has a smoky flavor, paired with a salad of mustard greens, beets, onions, and an almost salty dressing that is just perfect. I had a small bite of my husband's ratatouille, but not enough to really vouch for it. He seemed really pleased. He also had a blackberry and peach crumble that seemed to vaporize before I could have second thoughts about being too full to try some. Also of special note was the tamarind drink with vodka (it's usually a non-alc drink, but you can get it with spirits as well). Beer enthusiasts may be interested to know that they just got Old Rasputin on tap, and it's only $5 for a pint. I would absolutely come here again.
(3)Kymberly J.
You really have to be in the mood for unusual combinations...for brunch anyway; I havent been here for dinner. Dont go in expecting to find traditional breakfast fare. I did see one ordinary thing on the menu, which I almost ordered. It was eggs, tots, and toast. I felt so boring even considering that I changed my mind. I had the English pea and ricotta eggs. A little salty but really good. Who knew peas with scrambled eggs would be good? Now YOU do! it came with their unique version of tots: a glob of shredded potatoes (like has browns) fried up as little balls. A work of art! It also came with toast that was thrown on the wood fire grill and served with a raspberry jam. A few things I would change: since my meal was one big protein and carb fest I would have loved to see a fruit plate on the menu. I always feel better ordering such items as I had when I can get in some healthful fruit. I would also get rid of the iced tea. It was possibly the worst fresh brewed iced tea I have ever had. The outdoor eating area is nice and cozy with a fire place in the center. Dont expect to sit and wathc the passersby because it is closed off from street view...hence the cozzyness!
(4)Troy H.
Tater tots here are the truth. Went here for Sunday brunch with a friend, and really enjoyed it. The sausage is excellent, my eggs buttery and fluffy, and the tater tots. THE TOTS. Ordered an extra side of those afterwards. If you can, sit in the the counter/kitchen area. Watching people do what they like doing is a treat.
(5)Daina B.
Nightwood is in a totally unassuming location on a random street corner in Pilsen. But when you walk in you would think that you were in the middle of Brooklyn (from the decor to the staff). I love that you can walk in without a reservation and sit by the kitchen and get your food served lickety split and watch the talented chefs do their thang. I love that the food is made from locally purchased and fresh food. The menu changes daily and the offerings are inventive. It's really a fantastic place when you think about it. Another thing that I love - the portion sizes. This ain't no cheese cake factory where you can order one thing and feed a family of four. Portions are perfect for one person - you won't feel like your stomach is about to explode if you have just. one. more. bite. So if you are looking for a new place to chow down, or want to take an out of towner to an 'off the beaten path' location then this is the place for you.
(5)Cecilia G.
I was intrigued by the name, appearance and location of this place so I decided to use my a-la-card coupon and try it out. We went late on a weeknight and were seated right away next to the window. I liked the interior but it was way too dark for my taste.. maybe I just don't get the charm of eating in the dark, but I want to see what I'm eating! The streetlamp outside was basically our only light source. On to the food: great!! They have a changing menu that uses fresh, seasonal, local products. we tried a pasta dish (farfalle with olives, anchovies, chili) and the roasted duck with a great almond and prunes salad. both were flavorful and delicious. I just wish there was more - the pasta especially was a quite small portion. I love that you can choose still or sparkling water, which is not bottled but made from tap water with the soda maker. Complimentary biscuits and butter before the meal are also a nice touch. Dessert was good but not extraordinary. Overall a great meal, just a bit too pretentious (and pricey).
(3)andrea m.
I recently went here on a first date, and while things did not work out with the gentleman I was with, I do plan on continuing my relationship with Nightwood. I had the hangar steak, and it was good. The portion size was just fine for me, but I am not a heavy eater. The bruschetta appetizer was really good, too. It was beautiful outside, so we sat on their patio. The space out there is really cute, and there is a fireplace in the middle of it. I am glad this restaurant is in the area!
(4)Tara W.
Went to Nightwood with my fiance last week. We had the Carrots, smoked trout and dill. Amazing! Would never have thought that combo would work but it does. My fiance had the rabbit leg, she was in love. I had the Garlic Mushrooms which I found interesting to try on the menu and I was almost licking my plate after. Cocktails were seemed fresh and delicious. I want go back and try for Brunch I would strongly suggest going here!
(5)Leslie S.
I've been to Nightwood twice now and here's what I can tell you: the food is fantastic, the service, eh, not so much. The first time we went to Nightwood was in September when the weather was still nice enough to sit outside (those were the days, huh?). The outdoor patio is small but pleasant - perhaps a little noisy so consider yourselves forewarned. The food was very well done - I particularly enjoyed the fried asparagus - but overshadowed by the amount of waiting we had to do to get some attention from our waiter. To give you an inkling of what I'm talking about, we waited 25 minutes for our cocktails and asked for them three times. We returned to Nightwood for Valentine's Day 2011. Like most restaurants, Nightwood offered a prix fixe, but also gave diners the option of selecting off a larger menu, which was greatly appreciated! I couldn't get enough of the Michigan smelts with creme fraiche - a wonderful combination. The spit-roasted half chicken was crispy and perfectly cooked. And the bread pudding with salted caramel sauce is definitely a winner (and I don't normally love bread pudding!). But, once again, we found ourselves wondering where our waitress was and feeling largely ignored. Four stars may be a bit generous for what I consider consistently lacking service, but the food at Nightwood is truly good, and deserving of the rating. Before you get too excited about the dinner offerings though, note that Nightwood changes its menu daily, depending on whatever it buys at the markets that morning (and almost everything on the menu is local and sustainable).
(4)Robert D.
I've been here for both brunch and dinner. The dinner deserves a 5 and the brunch a 3. Pro's Dinner Atmosphere Dinner Service Dinner Menu Con's Brunch Sevice Brunch Menu For brunch, I prefer Nana or Waffles (both fairly close) Will definitely be back for dinner.
(4)Lori C.
My husband and I have been wanting to try Nightwood for a while, so it was the restaurant I chose for my birthday dinner on 8/20. One of the appetizers (watermelon seared in a hot skillet topped with gorgonzola) was amazing, the other (with pulled mozzarela) was on the greasy side. We both ordered duck leg as the entree ... and both found it rather tough and unimpressive, yet the sauce of cherry tomatoes, grapes and blueberries was excellent. Dessert was their ice cream assortment, which was lovely. On the down side, when Nightwood booked our reservation, they specifically asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and my husband said it was for a birthday. But ... no acknowledgment of that what-so-ever that evening, no complimentary dessert, nada. It's not like I'm 4 years old and need a candle or anything, but really, Nightwood, why even ask? Just leads to a sense of the restaurant not having their customers feel special so they will return. Which we won't.
(2)Andrew G.
Best brunch in Chicago, period. Menu changes every Sunday (brunch is only served on Sundays). The appetizer donut is a must. It changes everytime, but the bacon-one seems like a standard one. Very delicious. You can't go wrong with the menu. As a non-foodie, there are plenty of great options for me. I just had the eggs and salami. Sooo good.
(5)Anika A.
Cozy spot, a nice change from our usual spots further up North. Started off on a disappointing note with the fried squid - over-fried, salty and too much breading and barely any squid. The only good part was the layer of cucumbers in yogurt under the squid. Our entrees definitely made up for the appetizer miss. I had the wood-grilled trout - cooked perfectly, so many flavors and loved the addition of almonds. Husband had the farm chicken breast, almost as good - more of a sweet taste w/ plums. We had the pumpkin pie for dessert - not your average pie - with a scoop of ice cream (cinnamon?), brown sugar and apple pieces on the side...yum! Excited to go again once their menu changes (which is supposedly every 6 weeks).
(4)Mike D.
I'm going to say this: Nightwood is definitely a diamond in the rough. I moved to Pilsen from Wicker Park a few months ago, and I miss all of those elegant, fine dining establishments that seem to be on every corner in the 60622. I never knew a place as nice as Nightwood could exist in Pilsen, for obvious reasons. However, I was proved wrong when I ate here a few days ago on my birthday. Nightwood is nestled right on Halsted, a little north of Skylark and Cermak Rd. My boyfriend and I were greeted by a warm, inviting host when we walked in. The decor is contemporary, and the kitchen/food prep area is completely visible to guests. Our server was very knowledgable about Nightwood's cuisine, stating how its always fresh and only bought from local farming vendors. I ordered the roasted half chicken, which came with some kind of mint infused quinoa side which was orgasmic! The chicken tasted so fresh and was so tender, it melted in my mouth. My dish was also reasonably portioned; it was not small and scant like some fine dining restaurants are with their food. I felt full after I finished my plate, and that is pretty important to me. My boyfriend hinted that it was my birthday while I was in the bathroom, and our server brought us some delectable pastries for dessert....which were complimentary I might add. The only drawback I can say about Nightwood is the price of the cuisine. For a Pilsen restaurant, its pretty expensive. My plate was $25, but worth it. The menu changes daily, and I would say on average a person can expect to pay between $20-$35 per plate, excluding drinks. However, I understand why the dishes are on the expensive side. Nightwood goes to great lengths to ensure that the food is fresh and organic. In my opinion, this restaurant is worth the extra money.
(5)Mary B.
Limited menu but the offerings are very good, and the service was strong. I appreciated that our waters were refilled regularly. Great ambiance as well.
(4)Ruben K.
One of the better restaurant in this part of town. Great décor and service. The cuisine is simple, highly imaginative, and vey well executed.
(4)Peter H.
went for restaurant week. had an awesome cocktail, dinner was just ok. the desserts were amazing. pretzels w/mustard caramel and lemon ice saved the trip. awesome service, but the menu left us wanting more. a dumpling, sausage, felt they could've been a bit more creative.
(3)Maureen S.
You can't get food this good for this price in very many places. It's expensive, sure, but worth every damn penny. The appetizers are inventive and flavorful, the cocktails (though I haven't tried them yet) looked delicious and smart. I'm excited to come back for brunch sometime. I wish they had more vegetarian options, but I'm not complaining because the food there is excellent, fresh, and creative. I'm very impressed with the decor- it's beautiful and modern without being garish, while still maintaining comfort and functionality. The space was certainly designed with many factors in mind, which I appreciated. The kitchen is completely visible from the back- it's always refreshing when a restaurant has nothing to hide. They use lots of locally sourced produce and meat from the Butcher and Larder in Noble Square, so if that's your jam, you can be sure you're eating something local and quality for your dollar, too. I recommend the vanilla cake for desert- it sounds simple, but the brown butter ice cream it came with was absolutely delicious. The marinated turnips and carrots, as well as house made pickles were a favorite, also. Tucked away in Southeast Pilsen, it's more than worth the visit, though I wish it was just around the corner.
(5)Liz W.
I had a semi-private event at Nightwood for my wedding reception. My (now) husband and I were looking for something that had somewhat of a wine cellar feel to it, and we were so impressed with what we found at Nightwood. We booked it sight unseen, food untasted. We didn't reserve the entire downstairs, we just asked - and Erin kindly agreed - to have it be private for the first couple of hours. We had a party of 12 people, so we had some preset appetizers, salads and my guests could choose between 4 entrees. Rarely do you have a party of 12 people in which each and every one of them raves of about their respective meals. Well, that happened. My grandmother is what you would call "finicky" and even she was pleased. I whole heartedly recommend Nightwood for dinner, private event or semi-private event. We had such a lovely time and Erin was so great as we were planning everything. Final note - the cake... I still think about that cake. We did the vanilla cake with the salted ganache filling and chocolate frosting with bits of toffee candy on top. Oh my goodness. I can't keep thinking about it or I'll want to go back. right. now.
(5)Daniel K.
On a recent visit to Chicago we had dinner at this restaurant...after hearing all the praise and reading the YELP reviews I can only say that this was the WORST restaurant experience we have had in a long time Of the 4 dinners the only one that satisfied was my wife's Atlantic Char. I had a "bowl" of pasta (spaghetti), well for $16 IIRC there was not enough spaghetti to fill a large teacup...friends has a half chicken dish the came out undercooked and leaking pink juice, after sending it back for more "fire" it was still inedible, seems to me that for what we spent, the wine was good, this was an absolute DISASTER...UGH.
(1)Kristin R.
I came here with the famed Filly G. of yelp the other night, and our mutual friend Frank, who has had the itch to try out some Mexican in Pilsen. Considering we could not settle on a Mexican place we all agreed on (namely Phil's aversion to one specific Mexi restaurant Frank wanted to try), we decided to give Nightwood a shot. Because I don't eat most meats, I checked out the menu beforehand to make sure there were at least a couple veggie options that I would consider, and there were. However, this restaurant is not very vegetarian-friendly as most of the entrees were straight up meat on a bone with only two pasta dish entrees, and one fish (I think). In any case, one of the pasta dishes was called "Potato Bugs". So get this, I am such a gullible moron I actually thought this restaurant served straight up big ass black potato bugs. I was actually looking forward to hearing our server explain this as I was so perplexed, yet intrigued. When I asked if there "really were potato bugs on the menu?" she snickered and said "oh, I forgot that we have an 'insect' on the menu. no, those would be the nickname for gnocci". So yeah, I felt like an ass. She was nice about it and maybe found my naivety a tad endearing. Who knows. So, on to the food... I ordered a licorice type pasta with some ricotta cheese and pistachio sauce concoction, which I enjoyed. And Frank's potato bugs were delish as well. I actually liked Frank's dish the best out of all of them. Phil's trout (?) I did not try; however, he claimed it was too fishy. We also were served some biscuits with honey butter, and I ordered a glass of pinot gris. This place is not cheap. My (moderate) portion of pasta cost $22! And my glass of wine $11.50 (I opted for the cheaper glass of white as the only other glass was $15). And I just felt like the food, and their limited selection, was not enough to justify anything above a 3-star rating. In fact, I was considering 2-star, but I did like my meal. I didn't love it, but I liked it. We skipped on dessert because we thought it would be fun to change it up and go elsewhere. Much to our chagrin, most dessert places are closed after 9 on Monday evenings.
(3)Gary M.
OK, so maybe I am being a little more critical that usual because a meal for two people with a few drinks was $140... We came for restaurant week and the food just wasn't impressive. To start we had a salad and a crostini - hard to really mess that up and that course was fine. For entrees, we had pork loin and chicken. Both were not good. The pork loin consisted of thinly slice pieces of fat with a negligible amount of real meat attached. The chicken was flavored well but really was nothing to write home about and the portion was also severely lacking. Drinks were decent (although $12 for a cocktail) and the service was great (we only waited 10 mins for our table to free up and after we were seated the food came in a timely manner).
(2)Mari Y.
Nightwood is not as impressive as it's set up to be. Food is just ok. Donuts are overpriced and the bacon maple was just not my scene. I liked the decor of the restaurant and the feel but the food was not that great. I had the cheeseburger, my bf had the biscuits and gravy and my friend had the tuna grinder. We all agreed that the food was meh. I said that I'd like to go back for dinner since everyone says it's good but my bf and friend both said no way, what's the point if the brunch was just meh and dinner would be twice the price? So....3 stars. It was fine. Eh.
(3)Gina G.
Nightwood is a wonderful restaurant that does not get enough attention. The menu changes weekly and sometimes nightly because of the farm to table concept they use. Everything is local, which I love! I had never heard about this restaurant before a friend recommended it. My boyfriend and I had a wonderful experience with excellent food, outstanding service and a great atmosphere. I would definitely recommend the glazed carrot and the pork belly to start. The spaghetti with meat sauce is to die for!! It's probably the best in the city, if not one of th best. We ended with the cheeseburger, which was also great. We will be back to Nightwood for sure! I want to try their brunch as well.
(5)Brent C.
Quick review- Food is hit or miss and way overpriced, cocktails sound better than they are, and the service is not the best. The room is beautiful and the patio looks amazing. My date and I randomly walked in with out a reservation on a Tuesday night. We were in the neighborhood and had heard good things about the place. The host asked if we had a reservation and acted like it was a slight imposition for her that we didn't have one. My first cocktail was the Tamarand Rickey with rum. I found it to be overly sweet and lacking in Tamarand flavor. After we ordered, biscuits and honey butter were brought to the table. The biscuits were not good- too tough and definitely made by a Yankee- you would be thrown out of the restaurant for serving those in the south. I started my meal with the fried Myer lemons- interesting and I am glad I tried them, but I found them to be a bit greasy and heavy.I did not like the sauce they were served with- it was basically mayo smeared artistically on the plate. For an entree I had the Wood roasted beef brisket which had its moments, but overall was dry and lacking in flavor. My date had the wood grilled Wisconsin trout with roast potatoes and ripe melon with prosciutto ham. The trout was large, well cooked and had a great smokey flavor. My date found the potatoes to be undercooked and salty- I agreed, but it did not bother me that much- mostly because the fish was so good. The Ripe melon and prosciutto was interesting, but underwhelming and I did not care for the texture or flavor of the melon. I would consider getting this dish in the unlikely event that I find myself at Nightwood again. I was to disappointed with my meal and drinks to order dessert, so we headed down the block to Skylark where we had a couple of great beers, played pinball, tipped well and left with a smile.
(2)phil m.
WAY TOOO OVERPRICED!!!! I like Lula's and also overpriced. The food is good but really and great they support local farmers. The question is how are those farmers feeding the livestock or preventing bugs in the vegetation. It's pretty 'hip' to dine and support local farmers but yet do very little to name the farmers and their location. What is local btw? Anyhow, had a burger at the bar and was pleased. It was way overpriced and thought the staff are NOT from the neighborhood. Too many folk in here trying hard to be seen ....
(2)Tony B.
Great beer list. Anything with Rocky's revenge is a winner. Cool atmosphere and service. I went with a large party of 9, and the staff did a great job handling the large party. we got the carrots with creme fraiche as an appetizer, which was tasty. i also got the ham and egg salad which had everything I like in this world: ham, eggs, sharp cheese, candied pecans. It was an outstanding start to dinner. for my entree, I got the roast chicken, which was their signature dish. it was just OK. it was served with some preserved tuna, which added an interesting twist. my issue with the dish wasn't with the flavor; rather, the chicken was cold. having been in the restaurant industry, I understand the difficulty the kitchen would have in plating a 9-top, but cold chicken is not acceptable. The menu was exciting and adventurous; I bet if I went with a smaller group, it would have been a better experience.
(3)Rebecca M.
The bacon-butterscotch donuts are worth a 6 star rating alone. But everything else on the brunch menu I've tried has also been incredible. And both times I've been to nightwood the food has arrived quickly and service has been good (although you get the impression that cracking a smile is a punishable crime in this place). It's also hard to guess which of the 500 deadpan hipsters is a patron, bartender or waitstaff. I only wish they had a better or more obvious waiting area. Everyone just kinda crowds around the front/bar area with their asses in the faces of the poor patrons who end up seated at tables near the bar. Also, for what it's worth, I saw Rahm Emmanuel having brunch here. You can decide for yourself if that's a plus or minus.
(5)Jessica L.
WOW-ZAH! What a meal I just experienced at this Pilsen gem. I was in the hood for Second Fridays where I was able to experience some truly fantastic art exhibits finishing off the evening with a fabulous meal here. The ambiance is so inviting yet chique at the same time. The lighting is dim and romantic but also suitable for a group. We were a party of five this evening and were promptly seated and poured water (choice of sparkling or still). It took awhile for the waitress to get to us, but we didn't mind as we were enjoying our conversation. When she did arrive, she was incredibly knowledgeable and was patient when we played 20 questions with her on the menu (we were really just curious about a lot of the food - she didn't miss a beat with her descriptions). The food was simply delicious. I was able to try the spicy jalepeno popper, the heirloom tomato, the spaghetti and the duck. Everything tasted BETTER than it sounded on the menu (which is how it should be if you ask me). The stand out, knock out punch of the night was the duck by a long shot. It may have been the best duck I have ever set my lips on. Brown sugar glaze, moist meat, crisp skin - I ate myself into a coma. I should have stopped there, but no, I needed dessert...and caffeine. So, I ordered a cappacino and the dark chocolate pudding with roasted marshmallow and graham crackers. The cappacino was nice and foamy but not quite as hot as I like (consider asking for it extra hot if you go that route). And the smores type dessert was tasty, but entirely too rich and sugary for my taste. I only made it three bites in before throwing in the towel. Overall, this was just a fantastic evening. The only reason I did not give five stars is because the service was noticeably slow at key times throughout the meal. I will be back here soon for a second try and see if it was an anomoly or just par for the course.
(4)Erika G.
Yeeeeaahhh, delicious. I don't know if it was the fact that I was in Pilsen, and would have chewed off the ears of a rat I was so damn hungry (and there's really no other game in the 'hood), but I LOVED IT. Went to the Pilsen Art Walk, and frankly, our first stop (here) was the best thing about the evening. Eating a delicious dinner before we go see the trustafarian art students. Ah, yes. I was starved, so I went 12 year old boy on it and got the cheeseburger. MMmmmmm. And it was done properly, very adult. Mmm! My pals got the gnocchi and the pate appetizers - and they were both a good size to share. Pate and fig jam and gnocchi and chunks of bacon. Mmmmmm. Seriously, we couldn't stop yapping about how great everything was. I went back to the bathroom to send a sext 'cos the food WAS sexy and saw my sexy reason to come back. The Chef Bar/Table in back! Kitchen as theater! Mon dieu! Pilsen, as a neighborhood, sucks. There's nothing there. But, this is a reason to go here. Hang out at the Skylark next door while you call a cab to get the hell outta there after dinner, but GO!!
(4)Michelle O.
I have visited Nightwood for dinner 3 times now and I have to say each time I walk away with the same feeling. Last night my friend and I shared the Polenta appetizer with Parmesan and it was very good. However, I think another layer of flavor would have been nice. It said it had spicy peppers in it but I was not tasting the pepper or the spice, in fact I was reaching for the table pepper to add it in. My main dish was the buttermilk fried scallops which were excellent. They had a very different deep fried outside crust and sat on a bed of beans and sauce. The sauce consistency was a little watered down and again lacking some flavor but overall a strong dish. My friend had the Spaghetti alla chitarra, broccoli raab and we both felt that it was extremely salty. It was also very oily and not in a good way were it makes a nice sauce, it was in a greasy way where it hurts your stomach and tastes like your eating only oil. It's the kind of dish where you take one bight and you're like Mmmm but then after the 2nd and the 3rd you're like Hmm... Overall, Nightwood is a cool environment where you can get creative food that needs some tweaking with seasoning and execution.
(3)Jeff G.
went on a sat night with 3 others, 7:45 rezzie. pace of meal was not rushed, we took our time ordering appies and entrees. food was very good, kind of pricey. i like the whole local and sustainable, but not sure why they had trout from oregon and snapper (probably from the gulf) on the menu tasty, but not sure worth driving to from andersonville. if we were in the neighborhood, we'd go back again.
(4)Aaron P.
I can't get enough of this place - I've been back several times for brunch, but have been wanting to go for dinner since day 1. The menu changes (I think) weekly, if not daily, and is hand written - too cool! At brunch, the bloody marys are to die for. Spicy and seasoned just right, using Tito's vodka. The doghnuts are almost always on the menu in some shape or form (different sauces or fillings) and are a must try. The hashbrowns are great too - formed into ping-pong sized balls and fried, served with a homemade/home-jazzed up ketchsup. I recommend a reservation for brunch, otherwise, you'll be toasted from the bloody marys while you wait at the bar! You must try this place!
(5)Ryan B.
A vibrant place, with creative options, and good service. I can't believe I found this Pilsen gem on accident. T'was a roll of the die that paid off when it usually doesn't. I love the quality and how the menu changes daily - just look at the date printed on the bottom - with unique combinations of local and seasonal foods that only talented chefs can pull off. And yes, you can eat in the kitchen - well really darn close to it - which is fun. It's a bar with a kitchen instead of shelves alcohol. You can watch the cooks make each delicious dish and even see a rabbit twirling on a spit (not visible from the regular seating). Cool to me. I had the brunch for the first time last week. I had a tough time choosing from all of the tempting options. I ended up with eggs with hollandaise sauce. Very tasty. The made to order donuts were rich and exquisite - I had to try them but couldn't finish 'em. I had a pork chop and chicken on separate visits and was delighted. Portions are old-school-sized, which means you can eat everything in one sitting - not a complaint. Other reviewers complain that this place is expensive, but they might be better off at Red Lobster. If you think about the quality of the ingredients and the talent required to have a seasonal menu, how could it not be (look in the kitchen - from what I can tell there are no TGI Friday's manual-educated fry cooks). You must appreciate these things if you are going to go here. Anyway, I haven't had the salads, but they look very enticing. I might just try one on my next visit.
(4)Stan W.
Both really, really good and not really that good all wrapped into one. It's a very charming place, good service, cool open kitchen where you can see all the action. The burger was perfect - one of the better burgers I've had anywhere, with solid fries. But you don't usually go to a place like this for a burger and fries. We got the raisin bread, which at $5 and smaller than most muffin's I've seen was a complete ripoff and should've been served to us for free. The salted bass pasta was just as described: SALTY. It also came with one rib floating in it that was pretty tough and chewy - not sure if that was on purpose. This dish was tiny too - I think there might've consisted of 6 noodles, 3 oysters, and 1 rib. So after seeing these dainty portions, I was already making plans to pick up a Happy Meal on the way home. When my ribs came, I was shocked. Was predicting a max of 4 bones and it was a full slab, with a hunk of cornbread and slaw. Unfortunately, the ribs were not good at all - salted beyond recognition and I could only choke down 3, leaving like 2/3 of the slab uneaten. Not only did the salt destroy them, but they weren't cooked well at all. The ribs were tough and dried out - not cooked low and slow. I've made far better ribs myself with my smoker. So I don't know what to make of this place. Seems fancypants, but serves things like overpriced burgers (very good) and ribs (terrible). This would've gotten 2 stars, but the mini baked alaska dessert we got was both interesting and very good. I'd rate the burger a 5, the dessert a 4, the ribs a 1, and the other courses a 2. All over the place.
(3)Anne P.
I went and ate dinner the day after Nightwood's "soft" public opening--that is, not advertised, etc, but word gets around--and was very pleased with the experience. So happy to have another excellent local option. Since it's so new, of course there was the usual 20-servers-for-3-diners thing going on, but that's unsurprising, and the staff handled it with grace, balancing sweetly between attentive and too-attentive, but with a dash of humor added. It did get quite a bit busier before I left, I might add: I arrived quite early, at 5:30ish, right after work--places to be and all. Of course, that was the night before they got their liquor license, but they offered a BYOB option, which was nice. No more, though, or so I hear. From what my server told me (and what I've read), Nightwood's very focused on local, fresh ingredients, and that showed in my meal: "suckling pig and morel ravioli with spinach and green olives." Amazingly rich, and the olives and morels packed way more taste than your usual options. Same could be said for my strawberry sorbet with macerated berries. The berries, I might add, were way more strawberry than normal strawberries, and definitely more strawberry than the sorbet--I know sorbet's supposed to be light, but in the last few bites, I could hardly tell what flavor it was supposed to be. Perrrfectly cooked, too: a good al dente, so that you know your pasta's there, you know? That said, the meal was pretty subtle. If you're not paying attention, it could be lost on you. And the portions are definitely fine dining-sized (though not terribly fine dining-priced). I was hungry again by the end of the night, though that may also be due to me eating early in the evening. But my particular dishes aside--since they're going to rotate the menu regularly according to what's in season and fresh and available and all--it's a very, very pretty place. Low, soft-orange retro-esque chairs, medium-toned woods, hanging iron lamps, steel barstools, etc. The flowers here and there were also a great touch: I kept catching their scent and wondering if they'd perfumed the place. But no, just the lilies sitting right next to me, I finally realized. You can also eat right in front of the kitchen, which is totally open, so you can watch your meal being cooked. The patio also looks lovely, though it was too chilly on the day I went to attempt it. The one bit I found rather unsurprising but annoying (and may have only noticed due to having my leisure to see all the staff wandering about) is the makeup of the staff: was there a BMI cap during hiring or something? Every one of them that I saw was slim-to-teensy, it seemed. For that matter, there were three girls hanging out at the hostess stand, and not one of them topped 5'4", if I were to guess. Nor did I spot any non-whites, I might add. Not that any one physical appearance is a problem, just that that particular trend struck me as irking (and potentially discriminatory, frankly). But it was just one night: there may be other folks around and I just missed them. But for such a diverse neighborhood to have such a cookie-cutter staff is a little... odd. Absolutely nothing against the current staff, though: every single one of them was lovely to me--friendly, chatting and informative, but also willing to leave me alone when I was focused on my meal. The bartender even gave me a short tour, which was super-nice of her. So in short: love the vibe, love the decor, love the focus on fresh and local, love the food, love the current staff, but really wish they'd expand a little in that department.
(4)Pete V.
Nightwood, why did you have to go and mess up my 5 star review by completely failing me with bad service? I make it a point to overweight my Yelp rating on food and underweight on service, but I had to knock Nightwood for bad service, making us wait almost 40 min after our reservation time, and a shady tactic when they messed up our order. The good....we stopped in at noon for brunch with a reservation made on OpenTable. We were told it would be a wait, and fortunately got 2 seats at the bar. We ordered a couple of drinks and started off with the butterscotch bacon donut, which was amazing. The butterscotch syrup was a beatiful mild flavor and texture, and the doughnut was very light and fluffy, reminiscent of Krispy Kreme. The bacon was minced and loaded into the center. This was just an absolutely delightful dish. In fact, the party sitting next to us saw it (when it was mistakenly served to them) and ordered it even after having finished their brunch! My entree was the bagel sandwich. A very large dish with a wonderful light Rushing waters smoked cream cheese (the highlight). I was shocked by how tasty the slaw was, very unique and not overly creamy. The tots were not quite what I expected, as they were more like hash browns that had been breaded and deep fried. I was served three tots on my plate and finished two of them as they seemed almost too fried and heavy for my taste. The bad...first our wait even with a reservation was 40 min. To me that is simply unacceptable. Why have a reservation when you have to wait almost an hour anyway? We ended up just eating at the bar since we were hungry and didn't have three hours to spend for brunch. Second, our doughnut was served to the party next to us. Now, those girls should have said they hadn't ordered the doughnut, but we had to ask the bartender to get the doughnut for us. Third, and most annoying. They had served my wife the wrong order. When we notified our server of the issue, he politely took the order back to correct it. When her dish arrived, they had switched out the main entrée and left the tots and toast from her old dish, which had been served 15 min ago and both were completely cold. Seriously??? Is this how you run a restaurant? Especially when we are paying $16 and entrée? Cold toast? C'mon people. Overall the food was outstanding and I would return just for the doughnut, but the management at Nightwood needs to improve their reservation system and correct these service issues before I will be spending more hard earned coin here.
(3)Eugene C.
I'm a fan of Cafe Lula so I'm not surprised at how much I really liked this place. I mean these guys have great attention to the look and feel. As a designer I appreciate that. Good, functional use of space and the exposed Kendall College or Food Network like kitchen is a nice touch on your way to the water closet. The waitstaff was uber friendly. They were very helpful in selecting the courses and beverages. Fresh and delicious, it has a little bit of everything for the omni, herb and carni taste. It's similar to something you would find in Portland, Or or the PNW in general. I definitely want to check it out in the summer. They have a nice lil area in front that needs exploration.
(5)Lisa B.
Tasty food insanely over-priced. I felt like a sap paying the bill.
(2)Megan C.
Generally good food and good service, but wasn't mind-blowingly amazing...just okay. I was underwhelmed. I have to say though that the desserts were the best part of the meal. Went here for the CRW 2012 dinner and essentially tried every dish on the menu (was with 2 other people so we just shared things)--most of their dishes appear on their regular menu as well: -Spinach salad with buttermilk dressing, artichokes, pecans and fried onions--I thought it was too much dressing and cheese, making it a bit on the heavy side -Crostini--I thought they put too much gorgonzola to the point of overpowering the garlicky bread (which was great) -Foie agnolotti--delicious but the foie was a bit on the salty side, I would've preferred that it would've been either less salty or balanced off with more of the balsamic reduction sauce -Soft-scrambled egg with Michigan char roe--pretty creamy and delicious with the toast, but if this is supposedly a similar value to the foie risotto, it may be a bit of a ripoff -Spit roasted pork loin with farro, capers, onion rings, sugar--I was expecting something a bit more substantial than thin slices of pork with some farro, but it was cooked well, smoky, and had lots of "delicious fat" as stated on the menu -Chicken with a side salad and radish--reminded me of a mashup of sweet-and-sour chicken and barbeque (it was slightly spicy); the chicken didn't seem to have much meat on it, and the sauce just reminded me of eating spicy sweet and sour dishes (ie in Chinese cuisine) -Semifreddo with brownie chunks--deliciously like eating clouds of light but oh-so-creamy ice cream; I wish the brownie chunks were chewy instead of hard though -Sourdough bread pudding with toffee and salted caramel--probably the best bread pudding I've had so far because it was not cloyingly sweet nor too heavy or soggy Overall: food was not bad--just in some cases overseasoned; given portion size and the regular prices (30+ for the entrees), I don't think I would go here...it's a little bit overrated for my taste.
(3)Rusty S.
Great find in Pilsen neighborhood. unique menu, great fresh food and nice atmosphere.
(5)Michael W.
Went here with a friend who used to live in Pilsen and swore by it. We grabbed dinner not too long ago and I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it was the best but the ambiance is great and it's a perfect date spot. The food was very good and the prices weren't too bad, but our waiter did some hovering which made it at times a little uncomfortable. I don't think he knew he was doing it but we're all adults here so ask your question and then beat it. Not saying that rudely because i've worked in the industry, but we've all had that person. After reading a number of the brunch reviews, I can't wait to go check it out. Thinking this weekend so stay tuned..
(4)Michael B.
In a word, the brunch was ridiculous. So, so good. Had a cheese omelet with summer vegetables, and that, the toast, and potatoes (shredded and fried into the shape of little balls) were all perfect. Good coffee, which is unfortunately something that has to be noted. Friendly and attentive service. Really, the white russian donut (yes, get it, don't think twice, it's f***ing amazing) is worth four stars in itself. Can't really think of any reason not to give the place five stars other than I try to be sparing with those.
(4)Edward M.
Ohhh boy, Nightwood. It was awesome. [end short-form review] [begin long-winded review] I went for the first time on a Saturday night with a reservation. As soon as entering, we were instantly greeted by the friendly staff and promptly seated. The ambiance is perfect for a date or meal with good friends; dark and intimate, a kind of minimalistic-rustic (??? I just made that up) decor with a good-looking crowd of 20/30/40-somethings looking forward to a good night. For food, we ordered a lot because it's one of those menus where everything looks good (and because that's just how I roll [un]fortunately). The sweetbreads, sardines, and semolina trofie to start. The chicken and trout as entrées. The cheesecake with scoops of homemade chocolate and peanut butter ice cream for dessert. A bottle of malbec during the meal and an espresso to finish it off. Just like we expected, everything we ordered was at the least great. As an aside, I really do try to avoid ordering chicken at restaurants, but this is one of the rare places where it is completely understandable and worth it. Seriously, it's good to know that you can't go wrong at a place where you're paying a bit more than usual. Speaking of the price, we came out to about $100/person after tax and tip. A lot, I agree. But given the amount of food we ordered plus the bottle of wine, I bet you could have a really satisfying time for probably $50-60/person. In any case, I didn't mind paying given our experience and the special occasion. The service was good; quick and attentive. What I especially liked is that there is a "water guy" (couldn't think of a better term) who goes around and offers tap or sparkling water, which is made in-house (I never really understood sparkling water; doesn't it just make you full? But I guess cool to have the option). And they're poured from large glass bottles, not sweaty pitchers. Just a pet peeve of mine; glass seems cleaner... [end random OCD section] The only part I didn't like about my experience at Nightwood is that it is a pain to get to it. I can't fault them for it, just an inconvenience for most people I'm guessing. Anyhow, if you have a special occasion coming up (date, anniversary, bday, etc) and want somewhere special, I highly recommend!
(5)Sandy K.
I have been wanting forever to check out Nightwood. I love places that use seasonal/ local ingredients! We made reservations for an early dinner at 5:30 on a Saturday night because we had tix for a show after. We didn't need the rezzies but ya never know. We were seated outside on the patio which is very cozy, loved it! Let me get the negative out of the way. Our waitress. She was aloof as aloof can be. She was sort of unwelcoming and it was hard to flag her down sometimes which I find annoying when I'm paying high prices. I don't mind paying high prices but if I do I have expectations of the service. Maybe this was just an off night for her. My hubby is not as much of a foodie as I am but he loved his spit fired chix. I tried it and it did have a fantastic smokey flavor, I have never tasted chicken quite like that. I had the salmon and it was good but I was wishing for hubbys chicken instead. Oh and I loved the pea tendrils.. who knew I'd love pea tendrils? I know there are some comments about the portions being too small here. What we ordered, we did not find that to be true. I felt the portions were just right. We opted out of dessert partly because I was ready to get away from our waitress. We went to Taylor street for italian ice instead. YUM! I would go back. I love that the menu changes constantly.
(3)Zeke A.
I came to Nightwood for brunch this morning with a friend from high school and we had a great meal and a great time! The place was extremely busy and crowded as expected at 11:30am on a Sunday. That made the service a little slow, but we were in no rush so it was fine. However, our food came out so quickly so that was great! We both could not take our eyes of the goat cheese crepes and we did not go wrong with that selection! A little savory and a little sweet...a great balance! The portions were small, but the goat cheese is so rich and creamy that's it's just fine. We both had coffee and I had a mimosa and our entrees and it was a bit pricey. However, you pay what you get for and the quality, presentation, atmosphere, and welcoming staff all make it worth it! This was a special occasion as I hadn't seen my friend in 7 years I think...so when I have a new guest from out of town visiting. I'm definitely making reservations here again. (Yes they take brunch reservations -- Score!!) Thank you Nightwood!! Looking forward to my next visit!
(4)Caitlin G.
Mama may have taught me not to talk with my mouth full, but Mama never ate the spit-roasted half chicken at Nightwood. How can one raised with even the best of manners not praise the heavens and the chef for this dish while shoveling it into her grateful mouth? As a special surprise on my birthday, I was treated to dinner at Nightwood. It was the perfect place to celebrate my birthday. Though we arrived early for our reservations, we were able to snag two spots at the bar where the gentleman ordered a whiskey straight and I ordered a Whiskey Daisy, a delicious concoction of Jim Bean Rye, mulberry syrup and lemon. We were promptly seated at a table by the window where my bulky coat was whisked away for comfort's sake. After deliberating over the menu, we ordered the Slagel Farm Spit-Roasted Chicken for him and the Roast Squab, Foie Gras, Parsnip, Pear, Pea Tendrils with Black Walnuts dish for her. Yep. I like my meals ridiculously succulent and fatty, thank you. We were given a delicious plate of bread, which appeared to melt in our mouths, while we waited, and sipped on wine. The atmosphere of the place was bustling, but not overwhelming or oppressive. We were cozy and comfortable and lost in our own conversation while we waited. Now, about the squab, I did not know what I was ordering, but this is the beauty of a place like Nightwood. You can go in pretty ignorant and end up with a dish that is different but delicious. Nightwood allows you to take chances where you might not at other establishments. The squab was exactly as it should be--bursting wtih flavor, featuring fatty and greasy skin and tender red meat that was somewhat tough to get to, given that the bird is so small. Would I have ordered squab if I had known that it was a baby pigeon? Probably not. Was it delicious? Yes. So there you have it. The little foie gras mixed with the dish were MIND. BLO. WING. Mind-blowing, people. The gentleman's half chicken was, as I mentioned above, unreal. Chicken has never tasted as savory as it was. It was rich with flavor, moist and absolutely decadent. The dude kept slipping more on my plate for me, which was sweet because it was so tasty and my squab was so tiny. We literally could not stop talking about how delicious this dish was. As it was my birthday, I ordered myself the chocolate pumpernickel bread pudding. It was also scrumptious. The chocolate melted in my mouth and made me weak at the knees. I cleaned the plate! Nightwood's not in my budget for visiting regularly, but I'm sticking it in my back pocket as a great spot for a special treat.
(5)Rick C.
We stopped in late on a Thursday night and get seated immediately. My wife had been here before and she enjoyed it, so I was hoping for a similar experience. The place itself was cool, nice but casual. Our waitress let us know they were out of sweet breads, so we went with the soft shell crab with corn relish. Probably one of the better soft shell crabs that I've had. Nothing fancy, just a good quality crab done right. We had two appetizer sized pastas, the trofie which was delicious and the cavatelli with duck heart. I liked both. I think they really do their pastas well here. The duck heart had almost a livery taste. Good, but the trofie was better. For our entrees, my wife had the corn custard with a side salad and polenta croutons. The croutons were awesome. the custard was rich and tasty. Probably a bit overpriced for what you get, but good. I was in the mood for a burger so I gave theirs a shot. I enjoyed it. I've been using the burger at Owen and Engine as my comparison point recently and this one held up well. I believe it was on a ciabatta bun which was a nice touch. Again, not fancy but good quality beef cooked well. That would also probably sum up how I felt about the food here.
(4)Amy L.
I like the concept and how the menu was presented in handwritten format.. food wise I get it that most things are organic but the prices don't really justify it for me. $4 for a cup of grapefruit juice that can from a plastic gallon jug.. that tasted like any other store bought grapefruit juice $7 for a bowl of oatmeal with dried cherries and milk.. steel cut oats yes and it was thick yes but its not that different from the ones I make at home from the cans. Nothing superb. maple bacon donut.. this was good and I think if I were to go back this would be the only thing I get. My friends tried the dish with the tater and tots and they liked it but again I didn't think it was worth it from the presentation to the portion, to the taste.
(3)Melissa L.
My guidebook listed this restaurant as worthy of trying and I would have to agree - this is certainly a hidden gem, at least for us tourists. I'm not sure how many make it out to Pilsen but I felt like we were the only ones. My husband was lecturing me about choosing a restaurant in a potentially unsafe area of the city but it was worth it and we would later learn that the sketchy area was really quite a few blocks away from there. We went for brunch, and the peanut butter and jelly donut was soo good.. but how could it not be really? I got the breakfast bagel with egg, bacon and other good stuff. It was good yet a bit heavy.. The real standout was the rosti potato balls.. I've never had better. My hubby enjoyed the trout omellete. Will definately go back for dinner next time I'm in Chicago. Yet I'll probably take a cab there ;)
(4)Ariel G.
Been for both brunch and dinner service and both are equally as delicious. The atmosphere was amazing, aside from the group of seven seated next to us who couldn't stop shouting-but that's no fault of the restaurant's, and our server Jill was very accommodating. I thoroughly enjoy that the menu changes from day to day, it gives the restaurant a unique "homey" quality.
(5)Tera D.
I really really really liked this place! I went on a Saturday night to celebrate my bday with my husband. It was full but not crazy - a nice atmosphere for actually being able to talk to each other. We started with drinks at the bar before we were seated. Good drink list, and outrageously reasonable wine prices. As for food, the menu isn't huge, and it's set up in a pretty standard fashion - apps, pastas, entrees, desserts. We're so used to small plate menus these days that we decided to order 3 apps, 1 pasta and 1 entree and just split everything. All three apps were great - the pig ear and the caramelized carrots being the standouts. Our pasta was the farfalle with anchovies and other goodies. To be fair, the hubs would probably only give Nightwood 4 stars because he was very offended by the fact that the pasta had a ton of olives in the sauce and they weren't mentioned on the menu. He has a point, since olives are a strong flavor, but I happen to love them and thought the pasta was great. Our entree was the duck, which was to die for. It had this great garlicy rappini on the side, plus dates that were the perfect sweet pairing for the smokey, crispy duck. Yummmm. And best of all, our final bill was $150, which included 3 drinks, a bottle of champagne, and all the aforementioned delicious food! I'll be recommending this place often, and hopefully heading back soon!
(5)Wiz M.
Came here a couple nights ago. I live close by and first time I've been there. Heard about the menu changes almost on a daily basis which is really cool. I also like restaurants that support local farms. It was a really good meal. Our waitress hooked me up with the last duck that wasn't on the menu. It was a spit roasted half duck. it was cook perfect. The portions are pretty big. My guest had the quail, it was ok, I wouldn't have that again. But the duck was to die for. Very good beer selection, mostly midwest brews. Everything is really fresh and you can tell. I heard from others that the brunch is really good, I will definitely come for that sometime soon.
(4)Ashley M.
My boyfriend and I had been wanting to try here for ages and finally we did. It was GREAT! After we finally figured out which door to go in off the sidewalk, we were sat immediately, per our reservation. The staff was super friendly and made us feel welcomed. We started with the pork cheek and the scallops. The pork cheek wasn't what we expected and didn't quite sit well; it's not worth trying. The scallops were fairly good though. For entrees we had the wood-grilled whole trout and the pork shank. Both were amazing! The trout was huge and super flaky and buttery. It was one of my favorite fish dishes I've had out in awhile. The pork shank was super tender and melted in your mouth. Unfortunately, they were out of the dessert we were craving so we opted for a simple scoop of chocolate cake ice cream. It was rich and tasted a bit different than the usual chocolate, but we definitely want to go back for a more appealing dessert. We can't wait to go again and try a pasta; they looked pretty good as well!
(4)Adrian J.
While most of the surrounding area can look a bit "disorganized" don't be dismayed. For those not in the area, this is a place worth the trip. They change their menu all the time but I highly suggest the fried lemons. For the entree I had the sturgeon which came with in a perfectly sized portion. I also got a chance to sample their fries and burger. The burger took on the scent on their wood grill. As for the drinks, I had the chance to sample their Virgina Wolf punch. A big fan of gin, it definitely hit the spot. The service was spot on. No complaints. They were totally willing to split up the check according to what the person ate (took a little longer) but it made it much easier when paying. Since we had a larger party, they seated us downstairs which was more intimate than upstairs. The upstairs was definitely more noisy but I wouldn't say unbearable by any means. I will definitely be recommending to all my s. loop friends.
(4)Anne D.
I came here with a large group for brunch, and we were seated in the basement, which seemed to be a wine cellar. The basement had long tables with benches - not exactly the best for when you're wearing a dress and trying to gracefully swing your legs over the bench! The service was lacking - we were ignored by the waiters for a large amount of time and were met with confused looks when requesting simple things like hot sauce. We ended up being there for about 2.5 hours because the food service took so long. Good thing I was with good company! The food was quite good and the hot chocolate I got was adorable, but the portions were very small for the price. If I come back, I'll try the main dining room and hope for better service!
(3)alex m.
BRUNCH Bacon butterscotch donut?! I don't even like butterscotch. Hot DAMN! Bagel sandwich with trout cream cheese bagon egg and slaw. YES. TOTS, yayy! BRUNCH HERE IS AMAZING. Why can't NYC have brunch like this? Simple understated perfection. And yummy. Housed under a great roof. can't wait to return for the burger which I hear rave reviews about.
(5)John G.
The brunch menu is definitely limited to say the least. While, the burger I had was great, it's $3-$5 over priced. Our server was inattentive, leaving the table thirsty and hopeful to get a simple drink refill while the apparent manager touched my boyfriend twice while telling him where he could find the restroom.
(2)Monique M.
I love dining in Chicago, and had high expectations for this spot based on the yelp reviews. True, the atmosphere/ambiance is great...with a very attractive, friendly crowd. And yes, service was quick and friendly...although our waiter was a tad awkward. I got the distinct impression he wasn't used to seeing ladies like us (non-anglo) in there that often. Anyhow, we asked the waiter about portion sizes...he should have been able to advise us a bit better just looking at our mid-sections! We ordered a salad and beef tenderloin to split and were disappointed by the microscopic portions...which added to two glasses of wine came to the tune of $100. I'm used to foo-foo sizing in better restaurants, but COME ON. The salad was delish, but the tenderloin was not-so-tender, and my jaws ached by the time we left. Sad, but true, we we forced to drive straight to a white castle and order a dozen sliders. Plus one star for a VERY cute ladies room, but I think I would just come for drinks next time.
(3)Carol K.
Nightwood is the newest addition to this southern stretch of Halsted in Pilsen. Owned by the same people as Lula Cafe, they had been open for about a week when we stopped in for dinner. Nightwood is named after the 1936 novel written by Djuna Dumas. It's an interesting choice as I was wondering what the link to the book would be- and as it turns out--there is no link. Just the mystery of why they named it that. The interior is contemporary and bright. As our waiter said- they want it to be a "beaken of light" lighting their corner of Halsted. And the place is larger than it looks- with an outdoor patio, back seating area as well as a large room downstairs for private parties. We were seated right away at a perfect corner, window table (it was early) and since they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more- if you don't want to wait- I'd suggest you go early as when we were leaving the place was pretty full. Our server brought over a simple menu that changes daily- so the food that we enjoyed may not be be there if you go but I'm sure they will be replaced with equally delicious creations! We started with a couple of the appetizers- the ravioli in butter sauce and these interesting spears of asparagus coated with smoked trout and cream cheese, lightly breaded and deep fried. While the ravioli was good-the asparagus spears were amazing! What an interesting combination of flavors! For our entrees- I had the chicken and my friend had the pork loin. Both were extremely tasty. The chicken was a huge portion. The pork looked great- the only challenge was there was quite a bit of fat on it. Finally dessert. I love that you can order a plate of fresh, hot from the oven cookies in 4 flavors. The toffee one was my favorite- but the peanut butter one came in a close second. Service was good- they work in teams so different people were bringing out food out- but our server always checked in to make sure things were good. And free street parking is still available in this area which is always nice. The name Nightwood may remain a mystery- but the delicious food that they are serving shouldn't. It's a great addition to this neighborhood!
(4)Kelly H.
Went here for dinner and sat in the back where the kitchen is open and you can watch the staff prepare everything! If you are a foodie like me you will love it! The seating around the kitchen is bar style and the staff will interact and answer any questions while cooking! SO COOL! The food was amazing, menu is always changing and only use fresh food from local farms! Must try!
(5)Elizabeth S.
The talk is true. Having longed to try this place since it first opened, I was excitedly talking to various friends about my upcoming Friday night reservations. In response, everyone would tell me: I LOVE THAT PLACE. My curiosity and excitement only grew - and after my visit, my trust in these friends did too! Nightwood is a unique spot (worth the Pilsen trip) with dishes that parallel its character. Lamb+Octopus: uh, yeah! Enough said. Everything we had was great. Additionally, the staff was beyond generous (...we closed the place down, and they didn't seem to mind that we honestly had a hard time leaving our table). Thanks for making us feel so welcomed. I can't wait to return with more friends.
(5)Char Y.
we came for the famed burger and it was HUGE! the burger is layered with crispy onion rings, lettuce, pickles and two patties. delicious.
(4)mei s.
i was initially put off at first as i made reservations on opentable.com and i had specifically indicated in the notes, it's a special dinner, if you can seat us at a nice table, that would be appreciated. well, we showed up 15 minutes early and the dude sat us at a table against a wall adjacent to the bar. the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and he seats us against a wall next to the bar??? really? so, i immediately, asked, hey, can we get a window seat, especially since there were a few open too. sure, and he immediately moved us. don't you people read the notes on a reservation? you guys take the time to call people to confirm the reservation, you think you could read the notes too? good thing we moved, as the night progressed, there were asses that would have been rubbing against our heads while we were dining!!! despite the initial interaction, the rest of the night was fine. our server was excellent. very friendly and took the time to explain the terms to us. the meal was well-paced until it came to our entree, which actually was fine, bc we were full from the two appys and pasta dish. we ordered the warm raisin-nut bread with duck schmaltz, which is basically onions rendered in duck fat. i swear they flash-fried that piece of bread as it was glistening!! we also ordered the honey-roasted pears, bacon, spinach, podda (which is a hard goat cheese), sorrel and yeast. that was not a healthy salad by any means but it was damn tasty. and then we ordered the potato gnocchi with foie gras. that was awesome!!! it was a very small plate of pasta. i would have been peeved if that was my only dish. but i seriously, can't think of eating a big plate of it anyways though. for the entree, i ordered the fried scallops. there were three and they were finger-licking good. a bit salty, but good. hubby ordered the indiana duck. it was a lot of duck!! like a whole half of a duck. but i guess if you are going to charge $36 it better be half. btw, i ordered two tamarind rickeys, loved them. nice place, can cross off my list now.
(4)chris g.
BRUNCH. This is not your routine breakfast to say the least. Throw normal out the window & think chef inspired inventive breakfast. Even the homemade doughnuts are delish. I had a Cuban sandwich type dish that was layered with all kinds of things from pork to pickled greens. There's also some seasoned pancakes in there with an egg on top. It may sound weird but boy did all those flavors play well together. I can't wait for my next play date here. Two people with two brunch entrees, a doughnut, two coffee's & tax was $41. not including tip & no alcohol drinks.
(4)Taranika E.
Such a tiny place with a big menu... Definitely a first date kinda place.
(4)Chad C.
Butterscotch bacon donut, bread pudding French toast. Both good, didn't blow me away.
(3)Kathryn S.
My daughter made a reservation and they basically got the wrong night for us, so we didn't have a table when I got to the restaurant. I have to say that has thankfully never happened to me. I know people make mistakes, but their worst mistake was the manager didn't come over to me and apologize, or offer me a drink, or a free dessert. Nothing. He left it to the host to say, we'll find you a table soon. No one apologized. The menu gives the appearance of locavore, sustainable farms, organic, blah, blah, blah. The wait staff for our table couldn't tell me if the fish was farm raised or wild caught and had to check. She also could not tell me if the special, the duck, was organic. So, it's apparent the staff gets no heads up about the menu before opening. $35 for the duck? You would think they would know the menu. Quack, Quack. Impressed? Not in the least. Was the food good? The corn tortillas with the green garlic salsa was delicious. With the duck? Strange. The semi, under grilled vegetables were over powered by the very hot sliced pepper. Not that good. I won't be going back any time soon. However, if the manager had gone out of his way to apologize and to try to make amends, I would give it another try. I won't miss this place in the least. Like my daughter once asked me, "Mom, why is this dentist so expensive?", to which I replied, "if there's a problem, he'll know what to do; that's why he gets paid the big bucks." Clearly, this management didn't know what to do. it's a people business folks. Duh. Another mediocre experience that could have been great. Suck it up.
(2)katy h.
The donut was simply the best. Fresh, melt-in-your mouth, maple sweetness with thick chunks of bacon. We sat at the kitchen counter on a Sunday morning, and watching the kitchen staff in action was terrific! Hot chocolate was dark and rich, if not that hot. Bloody Mary's were bland, and salami and cheese swizzle stick was not very flavorful either. That said, the French toast with a pastrami and ground mustard filling and Cuban sandwich both had good combinations of flavors and texture. The potato balls were crisp on the outside, and gooey on the inside. The host and hostess were very accommodating, and our waitress was efficient, if not friendly. We went with our 11 year old daughter, and she enjoyed her eggs and toast, and the kitchen view. We will return at night for dinner. FYI = 1 donut, 3 breakfasts, 1 hot cocoa, 2 Bloody Mary's = $74.00
(4)Amanda C.
Meh. The hype around this place seems predicated on the notion that 30-something yuppie-hipsters who prefer to dine on Restaurant Row can come to a non-gentrified neighborhood in order to look 'cool' and ahead of the curve. Great concept (co-created menu with their farmers) but Nightwood hasn't quite mastered the execution. I came for dinner and was disappointed in the quality (and originality) of the goat cheese beet baguette and found the polenta to be under-seasoned with a texture that resembled morning oatmeal. Portion sizes are too large for my taste, while the vegetarian options were a little slim. The carrot soup was delicious, but lacked the complexity of the soup you would get at, say, Girl and the Goat. Too much bread, butter, oil and pasta throughout. A pleasant-enough experience if you adjust your expectations but I'm not jumping to go back.
(2)Allyn S.
Went here for my birthday on Feb 5th - right after the blizzard of the century. It was absolutely worth the trip. We were a party of 13, and making the reservation was a wonderful experience. They gave us a table in the Wine Room downstairs (LOVELY) and suggested picking a couple of bottles of wine beforehand so that everyone could have a drink as they arrived. What a great idea for a larger party of people who traveled a decent distance with snow and crap still everywhere. It was great. The food was DELICIOUS. I had a burrata and prosciutto appetizer that was to die for and trout for dinner. So so good. Everything that everyone else had looked yummy, too. The service was attentive without being too in-your-face, and we had a great night. Thanks, Nightwood. I'll be back!
(5)Phil F.
I would describe this place as chincy and in bed with people that just wanna be trendy.....I was really underwhelmed. Sad too, because I think that Lula is great. Or it was the last time I was there. Maybe its crappy too these days? We sat at the kitchen bar, which was exciting. Turned out to be more exciting sounding, it was a pretty chilled out kitchen, which is fine. The biscuits they gave us at first were meh....kinda dry and easy to forget. So was the sweetened up butter. I think what really turned me off was our first course, the burrata, an Italian mozzarella which has a silken creamy center which is to be savored as sweeter than the most profound nectar. BUT, the one they gave us was already cut open and we were given a 1/4 piece of the whole......for 15 BUCKS? EWW. On the menu it was described as being served with charred peppers, but we got ONE hidden in some greens. and we got a half of some ciabatta bread or something. I seriously felt robbed. My main course was overly chewy oricchiette with braised porcinis and pea pods. Good aside from the overly chewiness. And the portion definitely was chincy. Drinks were alright. But they might want to invest in some more inspired garnishes, since the drinks are not cheap. So I would not go back.
(2)Alan M.
I'd have to agree with some of the reviews I've read, that have preceeded mine. Good, but nothing outstanding. Too far to drive (from the north shore) for just "good". There's plenty of good and great in between us.
(2)Aaron K.
Oh Nightwood. Why did we wait so long to meet you? Soon I will not work close to you. You will no longer be within my supple grasp. You gave us so much and offered us even more. Why can I not reciprocate? Why o Why? Your freshness was refreshing. Your cocktails raised our cockles. I only hope we can rekindle the flame and have another night like tonight.
(4)Kristen M.
Menu is quite small and limited, but food is tasty. Servers are pretty arrogant and "stuffy". We had a group of 6 and the server, who never once smiled, let alone earned her tip, added a TWENTY percent gratuity on our bill without any notification.
(2)Chaz A.
If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad? This place is a paradox. How could such a cool enviornment and innovative concept and such talent produce such a dull and uninspired product? I don't know, but It must be the menu Changes daily thing. Maybe I came on an off night. Maybe I am too quick to judge. I don't know, but Nightwood tonight, did not satisfy. We waited an hour and 7 minutes for our entrees. Our waiter was unfriendly as hell. The food was goodish, but NOT good enough for a feature film wait from when we ordered. Chef Candace was very nice, but we were sitting at the counter and she was the only one who even acknowlaged our presence. A single tear, Nightwood. I want to return. But, alas, I was so dissapointed.
(2)Leigh K.
I wanted my 500th review to be a good one! One of the most stellar meals my boo and I have eaten together yet. We went there for my 31st birthday in May and I had noted in Open Table that I was excited to try their duck dish. They went out of their way and called me to let me know they were switching the menu, but that they were going to have a duck for me. Stellar, I tell you. Our server was excellent and we went with his recommendations for a good number of our selections. It was such a special night out and I keep meaning to go back. 2011 New Year's Resolution: Go back to Nightwood a few times this year!
(5)Jane T.
I actually came here late last summer and forgot to review til now. "I'll do it later" and now I'm months behind. Regardless of the time frame, I still remember what I had - pan seared duck on a bed of arugula and other vegetable-y goodness. It was amazing. I also had a piece of my friend's wood grilled whole trout, which was cooked perfectly and deboned as well! We sat right by the kitchen so we were able to see all the other culinary creations that left the open kitchen. I must say, their burger looked awesome. I'll probably try that my next visit, if they have it on the menu. The wait staff was also very pleasant. I loved that they didn't have any specific dress attire - it made the whole experience very comfortable.
(5)Sarah M.
Holy crap on a cracker. This place brings it. Bacon butterscotch donut? Cynics might scoff at the sudden "ironic" hipster nature of bacon and that donuts are the new cupcakes but just shut up for a sec and eat this thing. Would have been five stars had I not ordered a bloody Mary which was just not good. So simple, but so wrong. Can I at least get a celery stalk or a skewer of olives? I guess I was just disappointed that the creativity of the food menu didn't carry over to the cocktail menu. But whatevs. I'm full and need a nap.
(4)Suz M.
De-lic-ious. So good. Everything they brought was really tasty, including the amazing little biscuits they bring while you are waiting. The food is pricey. If you want a full meal you will pay a lot of money. My only problem with the food is that it is incredibly rich, which to most people isn't a problem but to someone who has a stomach problem... it can be. I'll go back here again for sure.
(5)Graham L.
I thought I had my life in order. I have a halfway decent job, excellent friends and family, numerous and engaging hobbies... But then I came here for brunch where a beautiful woman brought me a butterscotch bacon donut and I realized that there are indeed higher levels of living out there. Damn.
(5)Elyse C.
I managed to get a table without a reservation on the patio (which isnt really a patio but sort of an airy room with no ceiling, but really nice regardless) on a Friday night, sweet! Service waa fine, lacking in personality, but adequate. A lot of my comments have already been said...I had the duck confit and it was really good with a crunchy fennel salad and black beans, but expensive, i did clean my plate! My only recommendation: Im not a big wine person so I ordered the two brothers draft...I could get a six pack of the same beer at Whole Foods for a dollar more than the tulip I got at Nightwood. Kegs dont cost that much! Skip the drinks for one meal, or just get one glass of wine. My mom and I went to Skylark afterwards and her gin and tonic + my lagunitas were about the same as my beer at Nightwood.
(4)Eli H.
Not worth it. Decent food, utterly horrible service. It took 45 minutes to bring out half of the appetizers followed by an over an hour wait for the entrees. I've worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and I've never experienced worse service. Absolutely not recommended. Don't waste your time.
(1)Ellen H.
Just like Lula (live just across the Square), I would dash off to Nightwood in a heart beat for the brunch. It's larger, with an open floor plan and so bright compared to it's big sister - which has it's own ambiance. All the wood details, the design, and open kitchen really liven it up. We had reservations for a birthday brunch, and had no trouble adding attendees (ended up with 4, from the original 2). We did wait a few minutes, but the bartender was making drinks and we could peak around a little bit. Always tricky deciding what to order, but we were early for a change, so breakfast was the winner. Ever since a great breakfast at a little spot (King's Cafe) in Cali - I lust after quiche with a nice simple side salad. Upon discovering a lovely ham, aged cheddar and broccoli quiche on the menu with greens - my decision was easy. Drinks were tasty (our table sampled both coffee and bar drinks), donuts were divine, and for the most part, everything was stellar and we all traded tastes. Loved the fall components of the menu - tried the sweet potato frittata, the bagel sandwich (spied at the bar) while messy, was enjoyed by our tablemate. The only small issue - our companion ordered eggs over medium, and sent them back (too runny). When they arrived again, they were more towards over hard (at that point, she went with it); she works in food service, finds that many places can't quite hit over medium.
(4)Sophia T.
I think the best part about the restaurant is the ambiance and the strive for experimenting with a changing menu. What I think bad is that the service is a little slow, which is okay sometimes if the food was great. The food however, was not that great for the price you pay. I would say it is mediocre, nothing too special, just fancy.
(2)Jason M.
When I saw Nightwood on Check Please, I was excited. Then, I saw the address. 2119 N. Halsted. Ugh, no way. Not interested in being in the heart of Lincoln Park. But then...in one magic moment, I realized it was 2119 S. Halsted. Wonderful. While I live north and I generally don't like to treck all over the city, I was excited to hit up the Pilsen Arts District and see what Nightwood had to offer. To admit my own prejudices, had the address really been at Armitage and Sheffield, I probably would've declined. Nightwood was well worth the trip. It's a little cliche in its "alternativeness" but it's excellent. As an example, 100% of male bartenders were wearing cardigan sweaters. We had a couple cocktails. I found the cocktail list to be similar to a place like the Whistler. The pumpkin old fashioned was very good, but the tamarind syrup vodka was even better. While sweet, it was fresh tasting and just beautiful. As for food, the lamb shank and butternut squash casoncelli were both excellent and the burrata was a little different than usual, but also very good. In general, this isn't amazing in the way that Girl/Goat or Takashi or Davanti Enoteca or some other places are, but it's really good, affordable and a great spot to eat.
(4)Natalia D.
The boyfriend and I had made an unexpected trip to Pilsen one Sunday morning and decided to stop in for brunch. Overall our experience was just OK. No real complaints, but nothing that blew us away either. The food was okay, typical Sunday morning brunch fare, although my boyfriend was a bit disappointed at the fact that there were no pancakes on the menu (he loves pancakes). We each started with their two choices of doughnuts, a maple glazed bacon and a concord grape and peanut butter. These were probably the best food choices we made. Both of the doughnuts were obviously fresh and surprisingly complex. And I mean c'mon, anything with bacon is gonna be good. For our entree I got the rabbit and corn flautas and the hubby got a burger. The portion sizes were definately on the smaller end and like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, they were just OK. Nothing spectacular, just as promised. The one complaint that my boyfriend had was that the choice of the bun for his burger seemed a little tough and everytime he took a bite, the bun would push the burger out and he's end up with a mouthful of bun, and a burger hanging over the side of his remaining bun. As for the service, again, it was just OK. Noone stepping on our toes, just a straight forward "What will you have?" Would I go back? Probably would not go out of my way to do so, but maybe the next time we're in Pilsen, we'll give this one another shot.
(3)Elizabeth W.
I am very disappointed to report that I recently had a terrible experience here, considering how much I used to love this place (see my previous review). Our server (who was either vaguely British or feigning an accent) conspicuously ignored my hubs and me in favor of fawning over a table near us at which three older men were seated. For the entire first hour, she blatantly ignored our polite hand gestures and other verbal attempts to get her attention. We considered just walking out. I'm not sure if she believed the other table would tip her higher or if she was just abiding by her own twisted version of a Jim Crow system, but no matter -- her offensive treatment was enough to keep us away for a very, very long time. I'm giving 3 stars only because the food and drinks were still good. But as most people know, being treated rudely (worse, being completely ignored!) by one's server is enough to ruin any dining out experience, regardless of the quality of the food.
(3)Jon A.
"I hear they reserve a special ring in Hell for those who waste good scotch," shoots scotch, "damn fine scotch, sir." Replace Scotch for my Time, and you'll know what happened at Nightwood. I watched all of Inglourious Basterds before I was served. Granted, I was in a party of 20? But that wait is the same equivalent of forcing a bum to watch this place make handmade noodles every day & serve them, without ever offering them. Now...jump-cut to when the food was served...and my Taratino violent tendencies left and I became a Technicolor dreamcoat of a food lover. The way the lettuce felt on my palate was the way Costanza feels when draped in velvet. The house made daily made noodles took me back to the adoration I had as a 9 year old for my Gram's noodles. The wood fired chicken left on the bone is exactly how I cook my chicken when I dream of being a hunter 'round a campfire. The food is more American Country than New American, which seemed good for the crowd (mostly young and detached from family dining). Wait, did you just pour my Saison without proper glass tilting, creating an uglier head on my beer than the mohawk you're donning? Wait, you just did it again? Oh, and for my tablemate, too? Okay, now I'm back to Mr. Orange madness and I'm threatening to cut off your ear. Thankfully, you just served me another plate of those noodles. Placated. My experience at this place was as disjointed as a non-linear Godard-ian plot. Tender drapes of country food. Jump-cut to: running around searching for a spoon that hasn't touched my dirty table. Now...if they would've offered me a fully poured Das Boot when I entered the subterranean dining room...maybe it wouldn't have felt like a roller coaster...because we all know a Das Boot maintains all homeostasis of joy.
(3)Lady J.
I enjoyed Nightwood's brunch experience but I think it is a bit overpriced. I do appreciate that things are locally sourced but my friend had the quiche (asparagus and goat cheese) and it came with greens and vinaigrette and it was $14! It was not a giant piece (shallow like a tart) and no other garnish so we both felt that was pushing it. We split that butterscotch bacon donut and I would recommend trying that, it was obscene, in a good way. Wow. Yum. The coffee prices are $3 for drip, $4 for a latte and $5 for a mocha. Today the drip coffee tasted like diner coffee and the mugs are small. I think they are pushing it on that coffee price too. (just the drip). I found the staff friendly and attentive and everything did taste wonderful, eggs were done correctly and the surroundings were pleasant. We sat outside on this garden patio that is very modern with a fireplace in the middle because there was a 30-45 minute wait for seats inside. You get a cloth napkin and nice utensils as well. Chairs and benchs are comfy and it's not over crowded. I would definitely return but I would like them to consider rolling back some of those prices on the smaller plates! I think quiche and salad should be $10 or $11 tops, and add some fresh fruit and vegetables in the salad..... I plan on coming back soon to try the dinner as well....overall a positive experience.
(3)Zo O.
This place makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Just a casual restaurant with really simple and warm decor. The type of place I'd like to return to because it's just lovely. Creative and fresh menu, but I won't lie, my food wasn't out of this world. It was okay to good. I do appreciate the local ingredients and creativity though. The food also took preeeeety long to come out. And the restaurant gets preeeeeeety loud. But I'm still a fan :) My rigatoni just tasted like grown mac & cheese, which can be excellent when executed well, but it was ... alright. My soup with olive oil poached egg was pretty hearty. and lastly, the mocha gelato(idk if the gelato is made in house???) was excellent. Prices aren't ridiculous and parking is ample!
(4)Kim W.
i drank here. the vibe is nice. the cocktails were dope. cool of this place to exist in pilsen. the end.
(3)Jeannine H.
I went here a few weeks ago for a birthday dinner with my family. I am wondering why it took me so long to come here. My family can be a rather finicky bunch about new restaurants they dont like new places or things and are very particular about what they consider "good" food as they are all pretty good cooks themselves. Well Nightwood did not disappoint! We started with the fried Smelt appetizer, good flavor, not at all greasy...we were fighting with each other for the last few. As for entrees I enjoyed my duck, the veal meatloaf and whitefish were excellent and the burger and fries were also very good. Desserts were incredible...all I can say is don't sleep on the plate of warm cookies and the buttermilk gelato! I also liked the decor and casual/chic/neighborhoody (is that a word) vibe. Definately plan to return
(4)Julie A.
The location is a little strange, but the ambiance was very nice. I could have sat in there for hours, and next time I go, I'd like to try sitting at the bar that overlooks the kitchen. I especially liked the fireplace on the patio. Service was excellent. The server was attentive without drawing attention to himself. The courses were spaced well. We never felt rushed nor had to wait. Since the menu changes every day, I won't describe what I had except that it was fresh and delicious and both comforting and surprising. That said the proportions seemed a little small, but I arrived quite hungry, and I'm a fairly big eater. On the whole, nothing to complain about - just letting people know. I'm definitely going back soon.
(4)Steven N.
A very popular brunch location in the Bridgeport area, and for good reasons. If you come here on the weekends, make sure you arrive early and be prepared to spend some time waiting. I believe they may take reservations as well. The food's taste is good but nothing memorable, however, the presentation / style is noteworthy. Request to sit at the bar right in front of the kitchen where you can watch the chefs cook right in front of you. Believe me, watching these guys cook together is an experience all by itself. There's even an outdoor seating area during the summer time.
(3)Cris C.
We have never had anything less than a wonderful experience here. Service is great and food is always amazing. The atmosphere is perfect.
(5)Michelle L.
I've been looking forward to dining at Nightwood for a while and finally got the opportunity... The restaurant reminded me of one in Napa, it was charming and cozy and they use seasonal ingredients from local sources, which I love. And while I liked our food, I definitely was not blown away. The app of the cornbread with pork belly was nothing special, between three of us we actually didn't even finish it. The salad we had was great, the goat cheese in it was creamy and delicious. My roast chicken was also delicious, but really there was nothing special about it - I felt like I could have made it at home. The best thing on our table was the gnocci, it was extremely light and airy, and absolutely delicious. My other friends pasta was actually way too dense and not very tasty, but really nothing could compare to the amazing gnocci. We got two deserts, the brownies with ice cream and then a plate of cookies...I can't believe I'm saying this but the cookies were so wonderful and I would get those over any of Nightwoods desserts next time. I know, what's so special about cookies? Every one was just perfect, especially a cold sugar cookie type that was doughy and amazing. I would go back to Nightwood, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)Raymond W.
The food was great. The wait staff was excellent and friendly. A must try in my book.
(4)Aurore L.
So, even without rabbit - I am still not impressed by Knight Wood. Yeah, don't ask, I like picturing the name like that for some silly reason...it's way better than the other thing I am regularly thinking of when I talk about this place...which involves morning. And wood. OK. I stop. I came in twice this week - once for brunch on Sunday, and once for dinner on Wednesday because I had forgotten my gloves there three days earlier. Regular habit of mine....but since they were brand new from Eee-ddie Bau-eeeerr (see review directly below this one for spelling explanation) I wanted them back. Bad. I still love the space, the lamp fixtures, the bricks, the wine wall.... Service is a bit formal and very reserved but efficient....so it's ok. Duck poutine....meh...greasy and quite strong. Sloppy looking (even though I'll admit that poutine doesn't make for the best presentation) Egg dish of mine was on the tiny side, but very tasty. My pants say thank you. Flank steak request medium rare and served RARE. Like almost raw. The meat had obviously not even been flipped over. Sad face. So yeah...even though it's probably the fine dining location closest to home I probably won't be back anytime soon. That's really too bad.
(3)Nina G.
Still going here, still bringing friends, still 5 stars :) Glad the bagel sandwich & the bacon/maple donut is still on the menu!
(5)Laura K.
A-OK is exactly how I would describe this place. Nice atmosphere (great enclosed patio), good service and good food. We ordered a lot of the menu, and it was definitely good but I didn't LOVE anything. Had we gone with more people, we probably would have liked it more. A lot of what we ordered we thought was good, but didn't want a whole plate of pig ears or shishito peppers...we had a few bites of each and were over it. If we lived closer, we might go again, but since we don't live close, we likely won't be back.
(3)Gayle G.
I dream about the bacon donuts. I've only been to brunch at Nightwood and will not consider going for any other meal unless the bacon donut is available. I like to sit at the counter in the back and watch the kitchen do its business. Not great for a party of greater than three, so grab your two besties and get to brunch and watch the cooks do their thang. Tots. Who doesn't like tots? Nightwood's tots rocks! Homemade tots that are bigger than golfballs? Yum! Not long ago we three were at the counter enjoying our bacon donut (share one, otherwise, you'll have a heart attack) and admiring the white chocolate cranberry breakfast bread pudding that the chef was plating. We finished our donut (in three bites!) and were sipping our tasty bloodys when a huge plate of bread pudding arrived and I explained that there must be an error, we hadn't order it. The reply? "Oh, it's a gift from the chef." Nice! It was delicious! The chicken and waffles are the way to go for this non-egg eater. I strayed once and spent my entire meal coveting the chicken and waffles as the made their way out of the kitchen and into the mouths of other diners. Bonus? They take reservations for brunch!
(4)L L.
Brunch, donuts, eggs, Brunch cocktails, love, love, love AMAZE Great service LOVE
(5)Laurence K.
Came for a wine dinner had 3 courses 2 were good 1 not so. I need to come back and try the reg menu.
(3)Amber M.
The space is incredible-- it feels like Lula's older sister, with a lovely play of modernism that leaves you wanting to linger. That being said, I do not think they have quite risen to the challenge they put before themselves of a regularly changing menu. Between the three of us that each selected an appetizer, entrée and dessert, I would say only the sweetbreads and foie gras ravioli were truly wonderful, most were just okay. A few of the items just fell flat, particularly the pork and beans. In short, ordering is a risk, though they were quite nice when I sent my drink back.
(3)K B.
Breakfast was spectacular.
(4)ungs s.
We got to our reservation at 8:30 and it was for 8:45. They were able to sit us early. Than ambiance is amazing. The place is beautiful. The service was great! It has high end food but definitely not high end attitude. We never had to really wait for anything. It was busy so you have to be understanding of that aspect. We were never rushed and never felt that we were being forced out to turn over the table. The food was outstanding. At first when we saw the menu we weren't excited but when we ordered the flavors of the dishes were very classic. They were not trying to do anything fancy or super different, just put a twist on a few things here and there. We had the beef carp. app., and the soup, it was amazing. I had the duck leg which was incredible and my fiance had the veal meatballs. I liked the duck better, he like the meatballs. For dessert we had the graham cracker crust/pumpkin tart. It was a great and a well thought out meal. The presentation was great. I had a drink, quite stiff but they had a great unique selection of beers. Overall what a great experience. Liked it even better than girl and the goat.
(4)Rinko E.
Oh Nightwood. A hipster restaurant in the heart of hipster neighborhood aka Pilsen. I know everyone should love you. I like your wallpaper & lighting, but I think all hand-written menus and specifically identified ingredients (It's like, "Hello I am pork. I came from xxxx farm in Michigan")...you are just trying really hard... I don't really give a fuck about where pork came from and what his name is, as long as the food is cooked with love and it tastes delicious. But...oh well... I came to the Nightwood during the Restaurant Week this year. I ordered duck in pork stew. And it was not that impressive. Couldn't finish the whole thing so I took the rest home, but I was not interested in eating it again. So I gave it to my husband. But their Salty Caramel Ice Cream was good. Employees all looked flat and somewhat pissed. I think that was also a hipster requirement... like, "I am too cool and hip to be friendly to my customers" kind of attitude. Oh but there was some amusing thing at the bar. This young girl was so fucking drunk. She was talking loudly on her cell for the entire time, but she started fucking cursing. She was gently kicked out. Because it's not hip to yell profanity in a fucking hipster restaurant.
(2)Padraic S.
Been talking about checking out Nightwood for about as long as I can remember. Finally made the trip down to Pilsen last night and had a relaxing evening with fresh farm-to-table dishes. Luckily, our relaxed evening was one of the nicer nights we've had in Chicago over the past month, so we decided to eat on their patio. Wood walls, high ceilings and big windows help build on the urban-hip interior feel of Nightwood, and I'm sure the outdoor fireplace and heat lamps are a hit in spring and fall. First and foremost, the specialty cocktails. We both ordered the Paris Wife, a fantastic combination of Mt. Gay Rum, amoro, lime, egg white and bitters. At $12 its not cheap, but it packs a punch with flavor and more. With dinner, craft beer favorites and a few rarities are offered as well. As far as the meal, we decided to split two appetizers and move on from there. Spicy fish broth with salmon, cilantro, avocado and mini carrots was surprisingly easy to share and appropriate for a summer night. The bread with garlic and sea salt butter is another can't miss. For my entree I ordered the hangar steak, cooked medium per the chef's suggestion. Great crust with a soft inside worked well. The real stars of this meal were the fired egg and the farro. Not sure I've ever had "farro" before, but whatever it is, I support it 100%. My fiance had the half chicken which was seasoned well and cooked well to keep it juicy. While I noticed some people have mentioned the price, and we did notice it when the bill came, we have to remember this is Chicago and that's the price of dining out at somewhere interesting. At least parking is free and easy along Halsted. Nightwood is worth the trip and the price.
(4)Lauren V.
Finally got there for Sunday breakfast. While I'm not typically a sweet-eater, a friend told me we HAVE TO GET A DONUT. So, I got the bacon, caramel donut. The bacon was yummy, sweetened with caramel, but the actual donut wasn't great. The small donut holes that accompanied the plate were cinnamon sugar coated and were great! The quiche that morning was outstanding! Duck confit with squash bits. This was by far the best, and biggest (how do they get it so tall?) quiche piece I've ever had. Service was terrific; they seemed to have a lot of help on hand, and we are so looking forward to going back for dinner. Good value for the meal.
(4)Jeannine T.
So the bf was pretending to be nice one day and decided to take me out for dinner. I have no clue why he decided on Nightwood, especially since he didn't provide much compliments about it during his previous visit. Nonetheless, I've never been here, and I always look forward to a new experience. Judging from my sister's review, the menu hasn't changed much since last summer. The duck and the wood grill trout was still on the list. Starter: Deep Fried Mortadella and Lamb Belly. I believe the lamb belly should never be served as an appetizer. The rough texture of the meat and high fat content made me feel as if though my artery was going to clog with each bite. It would have been better if it was pork belly instead. The Deep Fried Mortadella tasted like a fried ham and cheese ball. It was ok. Finally, here comes my steak... Wood grill round steak for one. As always, I requested for the meat to be cooked to medium. The steak is served already sliced, so immediately I noticed that the center was red. Medium usually means pink, right? Not a big deal. I flag the waitress down and asked that it gets slightly more cooked. Steak 1.1 is served. New steak? No. (I wasn't expecting one - not that much of a food snob.) Slightly more cooked? Yes. Perfect medium? No. Since the meat was cooked after it's been sliced, the texture has changed dramatically. It was tough, rough, and a battle to cut through even with a steak knife. The flavor was mediocre at best, but I ate away at the steak anyway because I just felt bad wasting food. I'm saddened. I've waited so long to try this place. My sister raved about it, and now I've departed with the haunting memory of that awful steak. On a good note: my bf had the burger which wasn't bad and the service there is pretty good. Above all, they are very generous with the alcohol for some of their house cocktails.
(2)Roderick C.
Both times I've dined at Nightwood were this past May (first with a friend and then again with an uncle visiting from out of town), and both times, we chose to dine in the back space with bar-like seating, overlooking the open kitchen. This area felt somewhat secluded from the crowd in the main room and turned out to be a pretty cool location for dining--sometimes, it's satisfying to be able to see what goes into preparing your food. The chefs were friendly, seemed to want our feedback, and would even chat with us briefly when they were able to do so. Overall, the food I ordered was of good quality and solidly prepared and presented, but not quite to die for (except for what I heard about the spit-roasted duck); both times, the ambiance and service were excellent and on par with what one would expect from a hip, buzzworthy restaurant like this. Quality, local organic Midwestern American ingredients seemed to form the basis of the menu (I learned what a ramp was here), yet to me, the fare had enough of a fresh, unique twist to it to make it interesting. For example, my first time there, my entree was a nicely prepared wood-grilled fish (either lake bass or trout, can't remember). But what what WAS memorable to me about it, and what I enjoyed, was that it was served whole, complete with head, Asian style. Meanwhile my companion had the aforementioned spit-roasted duck and raved that it was among the best he's ever had. I had just had my birthday and got some nice, complimentary cookies for dessert as well. My second time at Nightwood, I started out with a refreshing goat cheese salad and ended up ordering the "Illinois pork belly." Also a unique offering from a so-called American restaurant. It was new to me, at least. As I was watching it being prepared, it looked an awful lot like a slab of bacon (after all, that's where bacon comes from), but at the end it had a smooth, lean taste and nice tenderness. Who would have thought? (I hardly ever eat pork, except for bacon). Pretty big portion, too. And bonus to the waitress with great ears who overheard us talking about my birthday, and gave me yet another dessert plate of cookies--I felt guilty getting treats from them twice for my birthday. Food, plus the wine, may have been overpriced, but considering the quality of what I had relative to other, similar places where I've dined, I can't say Nightwood was at all egregiously overpriced. I'd go back there again.
(4)Jane T.
I've only been here for brunch, but everything I've tasted has been delicious. Their doughnuts are worth the hype (yeast raised with finger-licking toppings), and everything is just cooked and seasoned so well. I had some soft-scrambled eggs with squash, and it was really basic but so tasty. My brunchmates hadthe cheeseburger (which was supposedly out of this world), the fish hash, and the salmon rillettes. I've also been told by friends that dinner is just as good.
(5)Jamie O.
Note: I ate here in September 2009 and the food may have improved since then. Nightwood is forgettable. Its prices are way too high for the amount of taste they serve. The watermelon salad appetizer was a familiar, trendy dish in restaurant world. It had corn, bacon and onion alongside of huge, one-inch watermelon chunks. The lack of balance with proportions made the salad into a mixture instead of a homogeneous blend. I had a pork chop for dinner which was slightly over cooked and chewy. Its sauce and accompanying salad left much to be desired. When I find a place who is overcharging for the quality of food they serve, I take off major points.
(1)Elisa E.
It was 10:30. After nearly two hours of watching art students scamper around in togas and shout motherf***er (performance art based on Greek myths--say no more), we were tired and hungry. Sweet Zeus, the Nightwood was still serving, and a wee table next to a window had just opened! There is nothing quite as satisfying as cradling a glass of red Zinfadel while gazing out upon a rain-swept street. Our waitress was prompt and friendly. She was also quite apologetic when the wrong appetizer was sent to our table. She comp'd us, since we were confused/hungry enough to start eating it. Our pasta dishes were excellent; mine was ham-filled angliotti (long ravioli?) with white beans and fragrant aged parmesan. When our check arrived, we were surprised to see that we had dined so elegantly (including wine and after-dinner drinks) for a little over 80 bucks. Despite our good experience, I imagine that waits are the norm here. The server recommended dining early in the week and later seatings, all of which seemed common sense.
(5)Carolyn H.
How to be bored to death by overly salted food and stupid foodie cliches such as a fried egg on a pizza. Seriously, how could the owners of Lula go so wrong? Did they bury themselves in Pilsen so that their mediocre choices wouldn't stand out? This place is a waste of time and waste of space in stomach. We really came to dinner with high hopes and nothing seemed interesting or even remotely remarkable. Can you say "resting on their laurels?" that is the whole story in a nutshell. If you end up in Pilsen, go to a taqueria. Much better and much cheaper.
(2)Garvin C.
Had brunch here a couple weeks ago. My wife and I and ordered the bacon butterscotch donut, confit duck egg omelet, and pea tendtril egg scramble. Let me say the bacon butterscotch donut was truly delicious. It was a fresh donut with a butterscotch glaze that was topped with diced thick cut bacon. I'm not necessarily the biggest bacon fan, but this combination really worked. The confit duck omelet and the pea tendril egg scramble were good, but nothing special. However, the tater tots that come with those items were AWESOME! these tots are nothing like those ore-ida (nothing wrong with those) and are much better. They have a thicker very crunchy outside and a very soft and fluffy inside. It's something you really have to try there. I wish they gave more than just three per plate!! Oh, I also ordered a hot chocolate. The consistency was good, but the tempearture was actually very lukewarm, which was odd to me. So, this was a slight disappointment on an otherwise great meal. The inside is very spacious, had large windows and high ceilings. Overally a good vibe and nice place to have a meal with friends and family.
(4)Dan C.
Enjoyed everything about dinner here. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and a competent server. Highly recommended.
(4)Sean D.
As a decade long resident of the south loop, this is the restaurant that I've been waiting for. Sadly, I can't claim it as a neighborhood establishment, but Pilsen is close enough and far enough away from Gold Coast and Streeterville that my friends up "north" have never heard of it. We stopped in on a Friday night after the gallery walk on second Fridays. We had a reservation, but decided to wait for a table on the patio. It was well worth the wait. The patio has high wood paneled walls so that you don't realize that you are right on Halsted. The restaurant was having a rose festival and had close to 30 roses by the glass. What great way to start the meal! As everyone has already mentioned here, the ingredients are very fresh and they run out of dining options often. As it were, two of our top choices were already out by the time we sat. But no knock on the restaurant, we knew the deal going in and our fault for eating at 9pm on a Friday night. I've never raved so much about a salad, but holy crap! My salad was incredible. A simple green salad with homemade croutons and a vinaigrette. Sounds simple, right? Only if the ruffage is your regular boring kind. This salad was so incredibly flavorful and interesting, I just could not get enough! My date's Michigan pear salad was likewise delicious, but had nothing on the simple green salad. For entrees, we had the whitefish and the red pepper wide ribbon pasta. The whitefish was perfectly prepared with a side of mayo. I'm not a huge mayo fan, but it paired well with the light fish on a hot summer night. I was only able to grab a taste of the red pepper pasta before the plate across the table from me was licked clean. For weeks after that meal, my gf raved about her red pepper pasta and has had dreams of it since. We will definitely be returning.
(5)Melody L.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here, from the time I walked in, to the time I walked out. I took my best friend out to dinner. We walked into a bustling restaurant. Tons of people everywhere. Once we checked in, we made our way to the bar. They had some great cocktails in the menu and I had my sites set on the Tamarind Rickey. Wow....went down two quickly, ended up having a couple the rest of the night. My bbf had a grapefruit one. She seemed to like it. We got to our table and we ordered a couple of dishes to start, the fried smelt (oh so tasty!! it brought me back to my childhood) and a pasta dish (it was very flavorful, the most flavorful pasta I had in some time). We both ordered fish, but I think I liked hers better than mine. I think I ordered the wrong thing...my bad! Dessert was great! The coconut cream tart/pie was great! The coffee was divine. I need to show up for brunch next time!
(4)Ayako M.
Amazing brunch. Grilled pumpkin bread with maple butter...to.die.for! I had a biscuit and sausage gravy over kale dish and it was so rich and delicious! I'll admit, I ordered it specifically for the "cheddar biscuits" that were included....you had me at cheddar biscuit...and it was not disappointing, at all. Bloody Mary was funk-key! had a strange thin, yet chunky consistency, a strange dishwater taste and an overall weird look to it. On the bright side our server was super nice and took them away and replaced them with Mimosas...you can't go wrong with Mimosas! I will definitely make a trip here for dinner.
(4)Tom S.
After reading all the reviews in Yelp I was really excited to go to Nightwood. After actually experiencing it I was kind if disappointed. Pros: 1. Ambiance. The look and feel of this place is pretty sweet. Trendy and sophisticated Nightwood is split into two floors with the downstairs being sort of dungeon-like. 2. Fresh food. The food is bought and prepared daily. 3. Staff. The staff is Friendly, nice, and helpful. Cons: 1. Food. The food just wasn't that good. The pasta dish I ordered was bland and didn't have much taste. I was extremely hungry and only ate half of the dish. Frankly, I just got bored of eating it. When my pasta dish costs $26, I expect it to taste pretty good. The appetizers we ordered were decent but significantly over priced ($10+). Also, we also showed up a little later in the night around 9 on a Saturday (all reservation time slots beforehand were taken) and couldn't order many of the dishes including any of the soups because they ran out of ingredients. Overall, I left this place dissatisfied. For two people our bill which included appetizers, entrees and no alcohol was ~ $100. For $100 there are much better places in the city to spend your money.
(2)Mikki K.
Tried this place for the first time today. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't really good. Service was acceptable up until I saw the waitress making catty comments about the likelihood of our table tipping (some of your patrons can lip read, you might want to gripe away from their sight!) which dropped her tip from my standard 20% to barely 15%. It would have been less (my bigot tax can be steep), but I didn't want to screw the runners and bus boys. I ordered the french toast which was drowned in sauce & goat cheese. I liked both, but I couldn't actually taste the bread & it wound up with a weird texture. The bacon was delicious, & my husband's raspberry cinnamon roll was okay though it could have been bigger. I doubt we'll go back, but maybe dinner is better than brunch?
(2)Kimberly L.
What a delightful surprise: a restaurant that fully lives up to its hype! I came here recently for dinner and it was just a perfect evening. We sat outside with no wait whatsoever. The patio was breezy and comfortable. Our server was helpful, friendly and efficient. And the food was delish! We shared the burrata appetizer--Italian cheese with grilled shisito peppers and a baguette. Yum! I ordered the wood-grilled Wisconsin trout with a mustard green salad. (Don't be afraid of the "whole fish" thing. The server graciously offered to have the chef serve it up "sans head." Why thank you!) It was so tasty that I'm still thinking about it, days later. Bonus that everything is local and sustainable! I'll definitely be back!
(4)Rod O.
We had brunch here on a Sunday morning and the food was definitely good. We started with the donut with bacon and butterscotch which was really good. I had the cheeseburger which wasn't the best burger I have had but it was solid. My friend had the steak and eggs and liked it but thought it was kind of pricey for what he got. My wife had the salmon scramble which was good and my other friend has the bagel sandwich which was good. Overall good food only thing to complain was that service was somewhat slow.
(4)Emily N.
Boo to this restaurant. Would never recommend it and would absolutely never return. Unfortunately I thought this restaurant had potential. From what I heard it is owned by the same friendly people that own Lula's in Logan Square. While the restaurant itself was warm and inviting, the staff inside was anything but. My husband and I met up with 2 of our friends at the restaurant and were unfortunately disappointed. It pretty much began when the waitress asked me if I wanted the "organic vodka" and couldn't explain what organic vodka was, when we legitimately didn't understand the idea of organic vodka. Then a "totally alternative" server kept hounding us with whether or not we preferred "still" or "sparkling" water... to the point where it actually broke up the flow of our conversation. We get it, you're hip, and fancy...but we'll still take the "still" water please. Our server had a MAJOR attitude problem, and when the bill of over 200 dollars came, she didn't even bother to stick around to say goodnight and bring our cards back. Then when we had a problem with the bill, we were forced to ask the hostess a question as our server was completely MIA, she was also BEYOND rude. I have to say with all the competition in this city, sometimes people don't realize if your food is just average maybe you should try to cover it up with at least having warm and friendly staff. Definitely wouldn't waste your time here.
(2)Amy S.
Nightwood you made my taste buds dance and for that I thank you. But let me break it down. The good: the food. Ok, that's the fabulous. Everything we had was delicious. Menu changes and is handwritten daily. The chicken pate with homemade chips was delectable. The pesto dip with rustic bread mouthwatering. Spinach handmade pasta with bolognese, yes please! Wisconsin trout-done perfectly. The flavors were layered nicely and the dishes actually had complexity which is something I've found lacking lately. We had the warm cookies for dessert. They were tasty but could be skipped. The bad: Price points-seemingly somewhat random. Half chicken with cornbread $25? Rabbit with cabbage $30? It was a lovely meal so I was overall ok with the cost but found them just this side of high. The ugly: For us it was the service. Our waiter just could not read our table which I gots to tell ya, wasn't that hard. Having been industry generally when three women start off with a bottle of champagne and ask to keep the wine list they are probably going to relax AND order another bottle. Add three appetizers and them letting you know they are "going to keep ordering"-hmm, yeah, you probably shouldn't rush them. Plates were taken before we were asked if we were done, dishes were rushed, we had to ask a few times for our champagne to be brought back and poured (they were keeping it chilled at the bar), had to request dessert menu, etc, etc. It just unfortunately took away from an otherwise great dinner. Perhaps he was just off and it won't keep me from going again. But we all agreed we would have said something to the manager had he been available when we left. Worth it though. I'll go back.
(4)Andrea B.
I knew this place would be fun as soon as I saw buttons with their logo instead of cheap matchbooks at the entrance. I was also giddy from having only 4 hours of sleep, being out on a Monday night, and being in Pilsen, a neighborhood I don't go to often, but which contains some of the most fascinating history in Chicago. Let's just say I was excited. The atmosphere of Nightwood is something I really liked. The decor is something like modern meets antique meets urban meets chic. Or something like that. I didn't like how voices travelled, which made it seem as if the large dinner party in the next room was actually right next to us, but no matter. I actually want to come back and try out their outdoor seating (or what looked like outdoor seating) because it looks very intimate and charming. What i liked best and almost wish that we got were the bar-stool like seats that looked over the kitchen, so one could see the chefs at work and see exactly how your food is being prepared. Lovely. It's too bad I missed out, but i was happy where i was nonetheless. I guess Nightwood is popular for making fresh, handwritten menus daily (perhaps weekly) using only what the local farms/grocers/what have you have in stock. Everything is fresh and organic, and very comforting. My boyfriend, our friend, and I wanted to try an array of dishes, so we ordered 4 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, and 2 entrees, all to share (in case you can't tell, we seem to eat a lot and enjoy doing so). In terms of appetizers, I wasn't fond of the deep fried smelts, but that's probably because I am not fond of fish. Moving on, I thought the fresh mozzarella with white beans and sardines was delicious; everything fit together perfectly and tasted lovely. The chicken liver pate with chips seemed like an odd combo, but in reality was amazing. The veal served over the grilled baguette was also really tasty...and I didn't know I liked veal! But here, it seemed like I have liked it all my life, I gobbled it up with no regrets. On to the pasta! We ordered the potato gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and sheep's milk cheese as well as the hand cut pasta with pine nuts, arugula pesto, and breadcrumbs. The gnocchi was very good in combination with the mushrooms and the vinaigrette- like sauce added a nice touch in terms of flavor. Now, i am a huge fan of gnocchi, so I was not disappointed, but the real winner was the hand cut pasta with pine nuts. The nuts added such a wonderful, crunchy and great burst of flavor to the pasta I just could not stop eating it. I could have totally ordered that as my entree and been entirely happy with it. Yum. The entrees included were the red wine beef stew and polenta tart with a poached egg on top. The polenta had a beautiful presentation to it, and the spinach salad it came with tasted heavenly...it was very simple, but the taste left you wondering how it could be possible to put so much flavor into something that uses very little ingredients. The poached egg was perfectly done. So good. The beef stew was hearty and rich and made you feel like you were sitting in a wood cabin in front of a fireplace watching the snow fall outside, it was that comforting and good. I didn't really care for the glazed carrots (they seemed hard and cut in big pieces that made the dish look awkward to me), but the beef....ohh the beef. I would go back just for that. By now I was sufficiently full and tired and ready for a long sleep, but we couldn't leave without dessert. I had the chocolate pudding which was dark and chocolatety and yummy and just plain good. My boyfriend and our friend got the sorbets and caramel bread pudding, respectively. I didn't try much of the bread pudding as i was too busy shoving pudding into my face, but i will say it was light and tasty and seemed to have a citrus like taste to it, but maybe that's just me. The sorbet I enjoyed most was the plum, very light and cleansing. YUM! I don't know why i had to go into so much detail about the food, as the menu will probably change in a few days time anyway. It doesn't matter. You need to know the goodness I had to know the goodness you will have. A gripe we had was that our server didn't seem to be all that engaged in what we were eating or trying to help us decide what to drink in the cocktail menu. Every time we declared how amazing something was, all he did was smile and nod and take our plates away. ah well, at least our dishes were coursed and paired together nicely, which made for a lovely, and very filling dinner!
(4)Jen F.
Nightwood is my favorite neighborhood restaurant in Chicago. We eat here once a month or more. The food is always incredible - fresh, delicious, creative but not over-the-top. The trout tastes like it came out of a stream out back (I believe it is actually from Wisconsin most of the time). I love the handmade pastas as well - they usually lure me in while my husband has a beef, pork, or lamb dish that I can sample. They are doing interesting things at the bar too & have a great selection of wines. Brunch is great as well - I wake up on Sundays dreaming of the bacon butterscotch donut and the bagel sandwich. They also did a great job with a private Sunday brunch party for 30 people in the downstairs wine room. Great space, great food, great service, very flexible with coming up with menu options for the party. Everyone really enjoyed it. The vibe is a little hipster-ish, but the clientele is mixed. There are always older couples, groups of friends, and yuppie types along with the hipster crowd. It's a very friendly and relaxed place.
(5)Esther Y.
First off, I get annoyed when people say the area is "sketchy." It's not. If you are remotely urban, then it's not sketchy, it's fine. Ugh. Glad I got that off my chest. Now, for the goodies. I loved this place. We were here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and they emailed us the menu for the night. I don't know if they do that for everyone, or if it was a request my friend made, but it was a nice touch. It gave us ample time to gchat about the menu, discuss our eating plan, and really get excited about the meal. We got there, and were greeted by at least 3 people. There were 9 of us, so we were seated downstairs, which is a nice space. The place is nice, it's chill, cozy, and just an easy place to be in. (I do want to go back so that I can enjoy the outdoor space-it looked like a nice place to hang out and have a couple of drinks.) We started with the pate, the fried mozzarella and the gnocchi. The pate was good! Even people that were scared to eat it enjoyed it. As for the friend mozzarella, I think the general concensus was that the greens that they served with it were better than the actual cheese...though who can pass up fried cheese? The gnocchi was delicious, but I am partial to homemade pasta. It is a little denser, but it's so good! For the entrees, we had some burgers (delish-the ciabatta bread was a little too thick but they came with really good condiments and the meat was nicely seasoned), the rigatoni with fried chicken mushroom (which are actually a particular kind of mushroom... and are not fried mushrooms, or fried chicken bits in the pasta with mushrooms), the spaghetti with an over easy egg and short ribs, and the whitefish. Everyone really enjoyed their meals....I think the rigatoni was a little dense, but that is the whole homemade pasta thing. We were all stuffed and didn't order dessert, but then they surprised us with a plate of their warm cookies and a candle for my friend! Yay! I love when people do this! I would definitely go here again, especially since their menu changes everyday...that is part of what makes it so exciting! The vibe is nice, the employees are attentive, relaxed and helpful, and the whole experience was great. This was the perfect place to go with a group of friends for a long, fun, enjoyable dinner...that is if your friends are fun and are cool enough to know the area isn't "sketchy." Good thing my friends are awesome!
(4)Claudia C.
Great spot for a date. We split the duck egg/chorizo appetizer, squash casoncelli (ravioli), and pork belly, with the chocolate mousse for dessert. Everything was absolutely, out-of-this-world amazing. There is no denying that. The mixture of flavors (squash, prosciutto, arugula) in the casoncelli was perfect, in my opinion, and the pork belly positively melted in your mouth (just don't think of your arteries while you eat it). The atmosphere is great, and the wood-centric design of the place is charming and romantic. The staff is also great, from the bartenders to the hostess. Again, only removing a star because of the noise level of conversations (though the music selection was good) and because of the high price tag. Though, in the end, after that meal, one really can't feel too bad about paying $12 for appetizers and $25 for entrees.
(4)Kate H.
Went to Nightwood for Sunday brunch with my parents. Food quality is much better than average brunch fare (and brunch is my absolute favorite meal), mostly because they use noticeably fresh and high quality ingredients. Their house specialty is a house-made donut, so the four of us shared the Bacon Butterscotch donut, which came with glazed bacon bits and three small cinnamon dusted donut holes. The donut was airy and cakey at the same time, and it was very very good. The other dishes were also similarly inventive: my mom and I shared a Wild Mushroom and Parmesan Scramble and an artichoke-specked foccacia topped with an over-easy egg. Again, their attention to choosing quality ingredients and careful preparation shone through, and each bite burst with flavor. I was even more impressed by the side of "tots," shoestring hash browns rolled into a ball and deep-fried--so good! All in all, it was a great meal. The downside is that one of my favorite things about brunch is walking out stuffed, but this was not the case, and I felt I left slightly hungry. Clearly, the money went towards quality and not quantity. Price: ~$15 per person for brunch
(4)candace l.
I can only write about the brunch, and that is to say it was fantastic! First off, we walked in on a Sunday at noon and didn't wait for seating. The hostess asked if we had reservations, which we didn't, but it led me to believe that they accept them (for brunch this is almost unheard of, so kudos, Nightwood if that is indeed the case!), which is a plus if you're the plan ahead type (I am not). I later learned they have additional seating in the back, downstairs and an outside patio for summer. Whew, they can pack them in! Fortunately it didn't compromise the length of wait for our order. I was a little worried at first because there is not a lot of meatless options as the menu isn't extensive, and I was glad it wasn't an issue. I ordered the eggs benedict and it was excellent! My bf had the waffles with strawberry something or other, and he also really loved his. Street parking is plentiful (and free!) on Halsted if you're not in the area. I will definitely be back.
(5)Sarah B.
I wanted to give them 4 stars based on a previous dining experience but unfortunately I had a very disappointing restaurant week meal there last Saturday. The menu was odd (baseball themed) but my boyfriend and I thought we would keep an open mind and ordered everything between us. Nothing was great and a couple of the dishes were straight out bad. My first course was grisly salmon sashimi, and my 2nd was a dumpling (good) in a cracker jack broth (bad - too sweet and lumpy). My boyfriend's 2nd course was mushroom "cinnamon" roll that was something you'd expect in the bread basket, not as a course. My trout was OK, nothing special, same with my boyfriend's (too salty) sausage. Dessert of lemon ice totally missed the mark for Feb. Service was good and wine was great but based on our (expensive) meal and the fact my boyfriend and I were both ill the next day I won't be going back any time soon.
(1)Jocelyn h.
Love this place. 4 of us went during the week. had excellent service. i had the trout. which i was a bit scared of. but they removed the eye for me. and it was delish. we had blush wine, which we all snickered at when we opened the menu. but then considered ourselves trendsetters, bringing back the rose! the service was great and those honey biscuits are dangerous. not sure it was worth all of the hype. but good all the same.
(3)John V.
interesting menu options, I don't know how often they really change, but if every night features something like duck, duck eggs and rabbit, I'm impressed. We went with a party of about eight, so we got a little bit of almost everything on the menu. We did manage to do some sharing, towards the end of the night and we got some baked goat cheese to share around the table, and it was excellent. The pasta dishes are small portions, the kind of portions you expect from a super-expensive restaurant, small and made to look even smaller by the huge plate it comes on. However, the more expensive entrees are kind of large portions... much larger than you'd expect. Everything I tried was very tasty. The standout of the night were the desserts. Very impressive and worth every penny.
(4)Edward H.
Hung over from Saturday's partying or just plain ravenous for some tasty Sunday morning grub? The guys at Nightwood serves up THE best brunch in Pilsen hands down and is ranked amongst my favorite weekend bruncherias. There are hearty stews, delicious fish, savory biscuits'n'gravy, and of course the crown jewel that is their chicken'n'waffles! Their menu changes from day to day since they only nab the freshest goodies from the market. Although this is definitely a blessing, I consider it a double-edged sword as it makes the task of deciding on what to order is next to impossible. The solution? Take your friends... LOTS of them so you can rotate your plates (not unlike gastro-musical chairs). Pull up a seat at the counter in their open kitchen and watch the masters at work churning out savory goodies. They're easy going and a lot of fun to watch. Don't forget to save a bit of room for the fresh made to order donuts covered in chocolate icing and sprinkled with the crack that is bacon! (For those of you saying "WTH? Bacon and chocolate??? Utter madness!" - try it first, you'll thank me later)
(4)Brad B.
On a whim I called yesterday afternoon to see if I could get a reservation for two at a decent time and was shocked to have the hostess say, "why yes, we've just had two cancellations - one at 19:30 and one at 20:00." Me: "Might I take the 8PM, then?" And we're off to the races. Who needs Bono and 71,000 of his closest friends over at Soldier Field, certainly not us! Pfftttt - to you, Bono, Edge, Larry-Bob, Jr and whomever that other guy is (is there another guy?) We arrived and ordered some of the interesting cocktails: a blueberry gimlet and a drink called The Louisiana Purchase - which was fun and yummy. We were directed to our table (this yelper is somewhat critical of the seats in his dining venue of choice) and these passed with flying colors. Baseball glove leather covered and totally awesome in every way. First course: roasted corn and jalapeño soup with creme fraiche - and rabbit raviolis in some sort of spicy broth. Both were highly enjoyable. **keep your damn menu throughout if your memory isn't so great** Second course: duck breast with a jumble of beans - and - whole roasted trout with BACON and some other stuff. At this point we cracked into the wine list with a Cotes du Rhone which was cheap, subtle and pretty damn good, especially for $34 bucks. The whole mess was great, totally lovely perfectly cooked and spot on. Third course: dark chocolate tart with raspberry goo, dusted with coco powder and finished with a dollop of creme anglaise. We rocked out of there around 11PM with smiles on our faces a bill for about $175 (20% tip inclusive) paid for and that perfect feeling of satiated but, not stuffed.... I think this place is great, I will definitely be back but, must find viable public transport options to get there / back without paying $50 for a cab ride so I can properly imbibe...or dupe a friend into dropping me off....either or.
(5)Alexander B.
Flawlessly delicious. This brunch stop has climbed its way to the top of my list. Going early saved us the long waits this place is (rightfully) known for. I had both doughnuts, zucchini choco chip muffin, coffee, and the cheeseburger. I also tried the omelette. Amazing. Don't miss the pickled avocados in the bloodys.
(5)rebecca g.
Returned for dinner and have reaffirmed my love for you, Nightwood! I honestly dreamed about the Spinach & Taleggio Garganelli. It was so divine, my friend & I were close to licking the plate. We weren't as enamored of the Butternut Squash Casoncelli with Prosciutto (small portion, a bit over-vinegared, and the pile of wild arugula made it a bit tricky to eat/ share), but the flavors were still good. We also split the Pork Belly with Maple Baked Beans, which have proven to me that it is possible to have good baked beans! (I was never a fan of the canned ones.) The pork was luscious and tender, although the meat was buried under quite a bit more fat than we might have preferred. Overall, an amazing meal...and worth every penny for the ingenuity, freshness, and local ingredients.
(4)Stephen G.
So I finally got the chance to check out this cool Pilsen hot spot! I didn't get to experience the patio area. . yet but see myself drinking a PBR there frequently this summer. While it was tempting to sit and eat at the Kitchen bar I was more interested in conversation with my date so we chose a store front table cornered by glass. The place was a bit loud but a nice vibe and at 7:00 almost all the tables were occupied. The host was very polite and offered a few options in the way of seating, etc. I ordered the pork but found it to be a bit more work than I anticipated to eat. I was thinking the dish was going to be along the lines of pork tenderloin but turned out to be more like a pork chop. The pork was a bit tough for me. The presentation was very nice as the cut of pork sat a top black eyed peas. (yes for those kids out there, the peas were not named after the music group. ) She had the Polenta which was delicious to both our pallets. So all in all I would like to go again. Our server was very mellow and not overly helpful but it sort of fit the vibe of that space. The experience was very nice and the prices are towards the higher side. A great destination spot!
(4)Robyn T.
9 pm on a Friday night. The restaurant is bustling and there's nary a seat in the house. Luckily I was able to squeeze in at the one available table on the patio because my party had 3 and not 2. Is this a first or what? I loved the whole layout of the restaurant with the dining room straddling the corner allowing for great window views onto the neighborhood, a wraparound counter overlooking the open kitchen, and the patio which though strikingly modern offered warmth with its deep woods and lighting. The cocktail menu is worth checking out for some fairly innovative options, and the wine menu was impressive as well. I had high expectations for the cuisine being a fan of Lula and for the most part the menu did not disappoint. With the focus on sustainability, the menu changes daily. By the time my group rolled around for dinner they were out of a few menu items I was hoping to try, but our friendly waitress did make some great recommendations. Ravioli with goat cheese and honey in a light pesto sauce was divine. The pasta was so fresh and just a little al dente. A gnocchi with tomatillo sauce was good but not as spectacular as the first appetizer. Still hungry for more we tried the chicken pate which was like velvet. Should I say that this liver was better than my Grandmother's? It was and was accompanied by sliced cucumbers and a garnish of dill, onion salad. Entree choices were tough. Everything sounded wonderful. What wouldn't I recommend? The burger. Our waitress said it's one of the best in the city, and if you're putting a burger on the menu at a place like this it better be good. My 2 dining companions ordered it and were underwhelmed. Apparently there was an overpowering cheese/mayonnaise on it they weren't wild about. I opted for the rabbit entree because its not something I'd make at home. The meat was tender and though I loved the originality of pairing brussel sprouts with olives and grapes, the olives were overpowering. Will I go back? Most definitely. I'm practically foaming at the mouth to sit at the kitchen at watch the goings on. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes with the menu as we move into fall and I'm sure they're bound to delight.
(4)