Uptown Steakhouse

Kevin and I tried Burch Steakhouse and Pizza Bar on a rainy Friday evening. I had been there previously with some friends to try out the pizza bar in the basement. The food at the pizza bar was fabulous but the noise was almost unbearable. This time, we sat upstairs in the steakhouse portion of the restaurant. I had heard great reviews of the restaurant and was eager to try a few dishes.

The Snow crab cakes with spicy mayo and beet slaw were flavorful and well balanced.

We also ordered the Roasted carrots with thyme and chevre. The carrots lacked flavor and were quite limp.

We had heard from several people that we had to order one of their dumpling dishes so we chose the Lobster spaetzle with caraway and mint. It tasted as though the lobster was just added at the end and no other lobster flavor was infused throughout the dish. The caraway and mint didn't seem to add any flavor to the dish, either.

Kevin ordered the Grilled pork tenderloin with cannellini beans, pickled shallots and fried oysters. He enjoyed the dish but didn't think it stood out from any other pork tenderloin dishes he tried at other restaurants.

For my main entree, I chose the Blackened Alaskan halibut with spinach, caramelized onions and lemon. It was flavorful but nothing I would go back for in the future.

We were hoping the desserts would help us overlook the inconsistencies of the previous dishes. We opted for the cream puffs and a lemon tart but unfortunately, neither dish was worth trying again.

I know many people have told me how much they enjoy Burch but I do not think the same after my experience. I did enjoy my previous experience at the pizza bar and would recommend that, but just be prepared to shout at your dinner guests the entire evening!

Burch Steakhouse and Pizza Bar

North Loop Italian Hot Spot

I have been to Bar La Grassa several times in the past few years and I was fortunate to have another great experience back in May. Our experience began with a white bean salad amuse-bouche. Even though I typically don't enjoy the texture of beans, I found this dish to be full of flavor and worth taking more than one bite!

The variety of bruschettas they offer are interesting so we chose the Charred Red Onion with Goat Cheese Bruschetta. It has the sweetness of the charred red onion with the smooth taste of the goat cheese, which blended well together on the bread that had the perfect texture without being too crunchy.

I really enjoy trying a little bit of a lot of different things when dining out so we chose a few items off the menu for our main entrees. However, what I really enjoy is that they offer small portions of their pasta. I appreciate this option because it helps both in controlling portions as well as allowing a table to share a variety of dishes. I have always been fond of the Silk Hankerchiefs with Basil Pesto. The fresh pasta is so much different than a typical pasta dish and worth every calorie!

Kevin chose the Smoked Spaghetti Alla Chitarra with Brown Butter and Lobster. The server told us they smoke the flour they use to make the spaghetti, which gives the smoky flavor and a richness that is so different from the richness you may experience from a sauce. The umami flavor was pronounced without being overwhelming. I recommend this dish for its complexity as well as creativity in preparation.

We added a side dish of Broccolini in Prosciutto Brodo. It was very rich and was a bit too smothered in the brodo, but certainly enjoyable for a few bites.

We couldn't pass up dessert after looking at the menu so I ordered the Salted Caramel Crespelle. The blend of the sweet and salty was the perfect ending to this Italian meal. 

Kevin chose the Gjetost Cheesecake. It was absolutely smooth and divine! The blend of flavors ensured that it wasn't too sweet and was a great ending to a fabulous meal.

The meal was complete after we received two small sweet treats at the end of the meal. They consisted of chocolate and sea salt and were another example of how Bar La Grassa handles service so well and treats everyone as though they are the only guest. I can't wait to go back!

Bar La Grassa

Uptown French Bistro

I hadn't been to Barbette for quite a few years and certainly not since the current chef (who has since moved to a new adventure) was the head of the kitchen. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to going back, especially for another date night with my husband.

We ordered the steamed mussels as an appetizer and they did not disappoint. The simplicity of the white wine, lemon and garlic made the mussels shine and the bread helped soak up the deliciousness of the light sauce at the end.

For my main course, I chose the Fresh Orecchiette Pasta which included pistachio pesto, peas, tasso and parmesan. It had the perfect blend of richness with the fresh flavors of early spring. I also enjoyed the seasonal Brussels sprouts they added to the dish. I would highly recommend their seasonal orecchiette pasta dish.

Kevin chose the seasonal risotto, which was rich but yet offset by the fresh vegetables on top.

For dessert, I chose the Vanilla Beignets which were as fabulous as I expected at a French bistro. The addition of the cinnamon chocolate sauce and ginger graham cracker ice cream made them stand out from the typical beignets. Since I don't see beignets on a lot of menus, I would highly recommend ordering this dish for dessert.

Kevin chose the Roasted Apple Tartlet and it was presented in a different style than what you would typically expect. I appreciated the smaller portions of apple pieces which gave it a different texture than larger pieces of apple. The almond streusel on the bottom was a great diversion from the usual apple tart dessert.

This is a place that you can go for brunch, lunch, dinner, late night dinner or even a glass of wine and dessert. I would highly recommend Barbette and I look forward to returning soon! 

Barbette Restaurant