Tasting Table’s Adjectivally-Challenged Chicago Restaurant Breakdown

Tasting Table, a daily food-related email service in the vein of Thrillist and DailyCandy, focuses today’s National dispach on Chicago restaurants.

We don’t question their choice of restaurants — you’ll get a great meal at any of them — but we do raise an eyebrow to the description of their four picks as “adventurous new spots”:

One: graham elliot.
Adventurous? Yes, we’d say so, with twinkie brioche and pop rocks scattered hither and thither.
New? Not so much, the doors have been open since June of ‘08 — in our opinion, if it’s enough time to make a baby, it’s too much time to count as “new.”

Two: L2O.
Adventurous? We hesitate here. Laurent Gras’ food is certainly inspired, and certainly spectacular. But we find his flavor pairings and plating notions to be more “interesting” and “creative” than flat-out adventurous.
New? The restaurant opened its doors in May of 2008, and was blogging the process long before. It’s sleek and modern, sure, but it already feels like it’s been around forever.

Three: The Publican.
Adventurous? We’d say it’s actually the opposite of adventurous: The restaurant’s menu is built on a platform of hearty, old-school comforts. Though, okay, half-credit for the extensive use of offal.
New? Yes! The beer-and-organs juggernaut is just four months old, and the extensive anticipatory period we all had to suffer through before the official unlocking makes it feel even younger.

Four: Urban Belly.
Adventurous? Again, like The Publican, the food’s more “intensely flavored” and “authentic” than adventurous. Its Korean-fusion comfort food won’t stretch too many people’s palates — instead, its quality preparations just help show diners what things should have been tasting like all along.
New? Eh, kind of. The restaurant opened in August with a heck of a media bang, but has sort of piddled into neighborhood-standby territory. Which, don’t get us wrong, isn’t a bad thing at all. But we’re not sure if we’d say “Oh, you’ve got to check out this hot new restaurant” about Urban Belly anymore.

Four Adventurous New Spots in the Windy City [Tasting Table National]

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Tasting Table’s Adjectivally-Challenged Chicago Restaurant Breakdown