It should come as no great surprise to anyone that Spoon and Stable receives 5 stars in this review, or in any review to come. A restaurant with such high anticipation that as of this writing, you'll need to wait until mid-January to get a reservation, holds many intriguing questions (and answers) about the intense excitement surrounding Spoon and Stable.
The location is good. North Loop area must surely welcome Spoon and Stable to its already great selection of "foodie" friendly dining. There is public parking just south of the restaurant (across the street from Bachelor Farmer), however the valet is only $5 and is in the driveway directly north of the front door. Very convenient.
"Comfortable", I thought. The waiting area, if it could be called that, was empty. The bar, however, was full. We were a half hour early for our reservation, but after taking our jackets and scarves and checking them (free of charge), the hostess sat us promptly.
Our waitress gave us the skinny on everything we may need to know about ordering: Their pastas come in half and full sizes, which means they could easily be shared as a first course. The side dishes are also great for sharing, and the Dorothys Dinner menu was meant for sharing. "The food is served on platters... and is a bit more comfortable- err, not that we aren't comfortable- but is served family style." explained our waitress. Indeed, I understood what she meant.
Whisky Sour: My second drink made with egg whites ever, and I'm a true believer! Don't be scared by the 'foam' on top, you will never want another whisky sour after you've had this one. Bitter from the whisky balanced perfectly with the citrus bitter.. and sweet(?!) from the grapefruit. Don't expect 'Master of Mixers' sour mixed into this cocktail, I have never had a better whisky sour in my life. A must try here.
Nancys Cosmo: How sweet it is! Ah, but not too sweet. A great, fruity cosmo for those so inclined. Chamomile citrus infused vodka pushes this drink away from the overly tart, cranberry colored sugar water/vodka mix so many places fall victim to, while maintaining its fruity appeal.
Flip: Whole egg in this one. I was not expecting the thickness a yolk will add to a drink, but there you have it. Garnished with nutmeg powder on top, this drink was reminiscent of egg nog in presentation and smell, which I welcomed. The rye and sherry give this drink a great kick. As the waitress said, it was almost a dessert in a glass.
Old Fashioned: Made somewhat differently than we were used to, this Old Fashioned was quite boozey. I know, the things some people will complain about. I digress, it was not my companions favorite, and waitstaff was more than happy to replace it with something else. My understanding is that this is a unique take on an old fashioned, and I encourage you to try it.
(All drinks $13)
Fairytale Pumpkin Soup: A fantastic fall starter. Accompanied by a coffee brioche, garnished with diced apples and creme fresh, this is the ultimate pumpkin soup. Fall soups can become overly sweet, but they left the sweetness up to the apples and rightfully so. The creme fresh is a wonderful touch. ($8)
Creamy Spinach Cheese Curds: Creamy. Spinach. Fried goodness. These are not your state fair curds. Great for sharing, they melted in your mouth! ($7)
Pappardelle: A thin, flat, wide noodle. The lamb ragu was great, while the oregano bread crumbs gave texture to the otherwise 'soft' dish. Very much so reminded me of pasta night at home, but the lamb adds something that ground beef never did.
Slow Cooked Ling Cod: The fish melted in our mouths, the couscous was perfect, and the sauce was a perfectly light yet a necessary accompaniment. Love fish? Get this dish. Middle eastern flavors abound.
Desserts by Executive Pastry Chef Diana Yang.
Milk Chocoate Torte: Textures play nice with each other in this fantastic, yet simple, dessert. Soft chocolate, with a crunchy addition. The citrus sorbet added an almost summery flavor, while the chestnut brought it back to this season.
Chocolate Chiboust: Meringue cookies! I have not had these in so long. A great garnish for malted ice cream, bananas and an airy chocolate/hazelnut praline.
Since we visited on the second day they were open, we were so lucky to speak with Chef Kaysen in person while our desserts arrived.
I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone interested, even if the wait for a reservation is long. It is most certainly worth it. read more