Openings

What to Eat at Gemini Bistro, Opening September 9

The Gemini Bistro pork chop.
The Gemini Bistro pork chop. Photo: courtesy Gemini Bistro

One of summer’s most anticipated openings has now become one of fall’s: the debut of Gemini Bistro, slated for this week, has been pushed back to September 9. As Time Out Chicago notes, it’s for personal rather than professional reasons: managing partner Ryan O’Donnell is getting married this month, so he and chef Jason Paskewitz have decided to lessen the pre-nuptial stress just a smidge by not opening a restaurant in the runup to the wedding. All the more to look forward to: the haute-comfort menu is designed to please, with dishes like duck confit nachos with manchego and mango, homemade oxtail ravioli, and an upscale take on veal scaloppine. Read on for the complete menu, with platings divided tweely into “small,” “large,” and “x-large” (oh, and “x-small” for the kiddos).

DINNER MENU

SMALL
CHILLED LOBSTER GAZPACHO maine lobster, cilantro pesto 9
CREAMLESS TOMATO SOUP herkimer cheddar grilled cheese 7
BABY BEET SALAD goat cheese, lamb’s lettuce, white truffle vinagrette 7
CHILLED JUMBO PRAWNS shaved fennel salad, preserved lemon, virgin olive oil 9
JUMBO LUMP CRABCAKE petite salad, tabasco aioli 12
SUMMER TOMATO SALAD creamy garlic vinaigrette, ricotta salata 7
AHI TUNA TARTAR fresh lime, serrano chiles, yuzu 11
BEEF CARPACCIO arugula, crispy capers, parmigiano, lemon vinaigrette 9
MEDIUM
CAESAR SALAD caesar dressing, parmigiano, garlic croutons, fresh white anchovy 7
DUCK CONFIT NACHOS shredded duck leg, manchego cheese, mango salsa 11
GRILLED GEMINI BURGER 8 oz prime ground beef, toasted pretzel bun 10
GEMINI BISTRO SALAD frisee lettuce, crispy lardons, egg milanese, mustard vinaigrette 8
STEAMED P.E.I. MUSSELS pancetta, fresh herbs, white wine, crusty bread 9
PAN SEARED JUMBO SEA SCALLOPS poached manilla clams, sauce cioppino 12
CREAMY VEGETABLE RISOTTO asparagus, mushrooms, fresh tomato, parmesan 10
HANDMADE OXTAIL RAVIOLI natural reduction, parmesan crisps 12/21
BACON & EGGS crispy braised organic pork belly, butter basted quail eggs 11

LARGE
ROASTED SALMON savoy cabbage, smoked bacon coriander vinaigrette 19
SAUTÉED SKATE WING haricot vert, brown butter, toasted hazelnut pesto 19
PAN ROASTED COD merguez sausage, garlic confit, sauce romesco 22
FARFALLE PASTA organic chicken, sundried tomato, goat cheese 15
CRISPY SKIN CHICKEN BREAST wild mushroom ragout, pearl onions, natural jus 16
VEAL SCALLOPINE veal cutlet, prosciutto di parma, fresh sage 21
GRILLED HANGAR STEAK FRITES maitre’d butter, bordelaise, crispy frites 21
DOUBLE CUT PORK CHOP mustard greens, poached lady apples 23

X-LARGE
WHOLE ROASTED CHICKEN root veggies, natural reduction 32
32 OZ PRIME RIBEYE sliced, bordelaise, choice of side 54
SIDES $6
BRUSSEL SPROUTS, FRENCH BEANS, WILD MUSHROOMS, WILTED BABY SPINACH, CREAMY MASHED, CRISPY FRITES

DESSERT MENU
KEY LIME PIE graham cracker crust, toasted coconut, rum caramel sauce 7
BLUEBERRY SHORTCAKE sweet shortcake, blueberry compote, maple sour cream, blueberry ice cream 7
CRÈME BRÛLÉE vanilla bean custard, caramelized sugar, hazelnut biscotti 7
WARM SKILLET SUNDAE chocolate chip cookie, vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate and butterscotch sauces, whipped cream 7
CHOCOLATE CAKE chocolate sponge cake, chocolate espresso mousse, milk chocolate caramel, white chocolate anglaise 7
SORBET OR ICE CREAM daily selection 6
COMPOSED CHEESE PLATE daily selection, traditional accompaniments 8

BRUNCH MENU

SMALL
WILD BERRY PARFAIT seasonal berries, low-fat vanilla yogurt, housemade granola 5
STEEL CUT IRISH OATMEAL fresh cream, brown sugar 4
CHILLED LOBSTER GAZPACHO maine lobster, cilantro pesto 8
CREAMLESS TOMATO SOUP herkimer cheddar grilled cheese 5
QUICHE FLORENTINE caramelized onions, spinach, goat cheese herb salad 6
MEDIUM
SMOKED SALMON capers, red onions, toasted bagel, cream cheese 9
CAESAR SALAD caesar dressing, parmigiano, garlic croutons 6
GEMINI BISTRO SALAD frisee lettuce, crispy lardons, egg milanese, mustard vinaigrette 7
BEEF CARPACCIO arugula, crispy capers, parmigiano, lemon vinaigrette 7
DUCK CONFIT NACHOS manchego cheese, shredded duck leg, mango salsa 8
LARGE
STUFFED VANILLA BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST mascarpone cheese, sweet cherry jam 10
BUTTERMILK PANCAKE STACK plain, blueberry or chocolate chip 8
3 EGGS YOUR WAY crispy hash browns, choice of meats 8
EGGS BENEDICT 2 poached, english muffin, canadian bacon, hollandaise 10
CRAB CAKE BENEDICT 2 poached, english muffin, jumbo lump crab, hollandaise 14
STEAK & EGGS grilled hangar, 3 eggs, crispy hash browns 11

SANDWICHES
CAPE COD LOBSTER ROLL garlicky bun, maine lobster salad, mango relish 14
CROQUE MADAME grilled ham and swiss, fried egg, mornay sauce 10
FOCCACIA PANINI fresh mozzarella, tomato, sweet basil, aged balsamic 8
BREADED PORK CHOP fried pork cutlet, sweet peppers, spicy mustard 12
GRILLED GEMINI BURGER 8oz prime ground beef, toasted pretzel bun 9
SIDES
FRESH FRUIT 3, HASH BROWNS 3, ENGLISH MUFFIN 3, TOASTED BAGEL WITH CREAM CHEESE 3, CANADIAN BACON 4, THICK CUT BACON 4, SAUSAGE 4
COCKTAILS
THE BLOODY pepper infused vodka 8
MIMOSA toso brut nv, orange, strawberry or mango 7
BELLINI toso brut nv, peach puree 7
KIR ROYAL toso brut nv, chambord 9
BRUNCH PUNCH flavored rum, fresh orange, fresh pineapple, grenadine, dark rum floater 10

X-SMALL $6
MAC & CHEESE baked macaroni & cheese gratin
PB&J; jam & creamy peanut butter
SMALL BURGER Gemini Bistro burger, crispy frites or fruit
CHICKEN FINGERS crunchy chicken tenders, house made bbq, crispy frites or fruit
PASTA buttered, plain or marinara & parmesan cheese
GRILLED ALL BEEF FRANK served on a soft roll, crispy frites or fruit
KIDDIE COCKTAILS $3
SHIRLEY TEMPLE sprite, grenadine cherries
FRUIT PUNCH housemade with our fresh juices
ROY ROGERS coca-cola, grenadine and cherries
LEMONADE freshly squeezed lemons, water, sugar
ROOT BEER

What to Eat at Gemini Bistro, Opening September 9