This week I will be posting about my recent trip to Chicago where I enjoyed some really amazing food. The trip was only four days long, but my friend Jon and I did a bit of research beforehand to ensure we hit up some of Chicago’s best, though we were not opting to pay top dollar this time. And though the current title holder of Best Restaurant in America (also ranked 7th in the world), Alinea, was within our grasp physically, we weren’t feeling quite up to the challenge of pursuing a reservation ticket this time around.

But since we like to indulge in at least one fancy meal when we travel together, I found Table 52 to satiate us. Table 52 is located north of the river in Chicago in an area that we came to know for upscale shopping, dining, and nightlife. Located in a converted old mansion, the dining room is small and cozy, dimly lit, and decorated in Southern style to go with the food. The menu is what I would describe as fancy comfort food: based on down-home, Southern recipes, but made with top notch ingredients and finely honed expertise.

Literally every bite we had was incredible. From the complimentary cheese and chive biscuits to the twelve layer chocolate cake, everything was amazing. Here are a few photos and descriptions of our meal. I would highly recommend Table 52 for any Chicago visitor (or native!).

The appetizers were a good start — the biscuit was amazing, and the fried green tomatoes were crispy and flavorful.

The mains were just really good. The pea ravioli was an expertly executed vegetarian dish. The garnishes on the catfish were perfection. The mac and cheese? Some of the best I’ve ever had. And I’m not an m+c amateur.

Dessert! It took a while to arrive (oversight by the waiter), but it was worth the wait. Crunchy and smooth at the same time, the flavor was rich but not overwhelming. I was extremely full by this point, but I could have eaten this cake forever.

 

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