NightwoodNightwood Delight!I recently took my sister to Nightwood for brunch on her birthday. I love a really good brunch experience, and Nightwood made all of our brunch wishes come true! Every single item, from the OJ to the homemade donuts for our "starter"---the freshness of the eggs, bacon, etc.....was simply melt in your mouth amazing! I hadn't experienced very many "farm to table" establishments before Nightwood in Chicago----and now, I can't see myself really appreciating anything less;-).6/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat atmosphere - casualGreat atmosphere - casual but seriously good food. The service was excellent and attentive without being the least bit pretentious. Overall a great meal at reasonable prices - we will definitely be back.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice, perhaps not up to hypeIt's a good restaurant. The food was of high quality, although it didn't blow me away to the extent some friends had led me to expect. The prices struck me as fair. The wine list seemed good, and our waiter made a recommendation that we all enjoyed. The noise level was a bit higher than I like. Also, the chairs they've put at the dining tables may be stylish, but I found them very uncomfortable. I'd recommend ordering an appetizer – no one in our party did, and then we ended up waiting quite a while for our entrées to arrive. In any event, they do a fine job, and it's a restaurant worth trying.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe arrived for a reservationWe arrived for a reservation early and was seated before our reservation time. The ambiance was good, we were there later in the evening and the sound level was fine for conversation. We were a party of 7 and everyone was very happy with their choices. The portions were good and the food excellent.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMService was great - dishesService was great - dishes were explained - recommendations were right on. You got a good vibe that the people who work there were passionate about the food. I would definitely return.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMmy naughty night at nightwoodi am a Paleo/Atkins eater. Initially I threw the kitchen for a loop with my requests. But they rallied to the cause and fulfilled my dining needs. I had a burger with fois gras topper and the mozzereall enrobed egg as a topper. It was so good that they should put it on the menu. My one complaint is that they did not have tomatoes or sliced onions for my sides as I could not eat fries.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMpleasant mealhad a really great meal here w party of 5 in a corner bench/outdoor covered patio area. You could tell they put some thought into each dish as they were all delicious in their own way. Service seems like it's exactly as they designed it to be; although, would probably have preferred to see uniforms since it seemed each person could wear whatever they wanted. It was tough to tell who was a patron vs. waiter or host. I understand the decision to go that route - I just think the waiter was wearing a shirt that looked like he rolled out of bed and should probably have ironed it before clocking in. Bartender was especially nice when getting a drink upon arrival which helped the experience. Do plan to go back so I can definitely recommend it.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMPilsen LANDMARK!As my friend & I embark on our culinary journey this year dining at 300 new Chicago restaurants including all 19 Michelin starred establishments. We visited Nightwood this past Tues & sat right next to the open kitchen so we could watch passionate Chefs cook dish after dish. Our server Cameron was a delight all around. Great personality, very knowledgeable about the menu & coursed all 12 dishes perfectly. As for the food we had 6 small plates, 2 Entrees & 4 Desserts. I must mention the best dish, Walleye liver, seared Pigeon breast, Dungeness crab, oranges & parsley. We couldn't have left happier! This establishment invites into their home & kitchen, literally! Then cooks up some very unique & flavorful dishes. We will return!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome Brunch!The location is slightly out of the way if you are staying in the loop area. But the bloody mary and donuts make the trip out to this restaurant worth it. Excellent food. Really a must do for brunch in Chicago.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAMAZINGLY TASTY BURGER!!!!Wow, worth the cab ride there and back. My burger was impeccable. fantastic way to start my day! p.s. my cousin also enjoyed her meal5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMNightwood. Close to morningwood.The food was great. Super rich. Super flavorful. The cocktails were amazing, my personal favorite was the 8 o'clock. I am a huge fan of scallops but you only get 2 per plate (granted they're big, but working for Graham Elliot I thought they'd give you more) so I opted for chicken. My boyfriend got the duck and between the two dishes we dined like kings. The food runners and back servers were amazing. Always ontop of they're game. Our front server on the other hand I made the joke that he hated us because my boyfriend wanted to taste one of their blended reds. After that it was hard for him to make eye contact or bounce off our engery. I felt like he was annoyed with us. Regardless. It's a great date night spot!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFarm fresh and fantastic!Wonderful restaurant; great food and wine list. The wine cellar dining area was inviting and very relaxing; great setting. All in all, we left there quite satisfied. Give this place a shot!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFlavorful and ThoughtfulNightwood was already quite full when we arrived for our 7:45pm reservation on a Wednesday night, so I'd recommend making reservations for dinner (even mid-week). Upon sitting down we told our waiter that someone in the party was gluten intolerant, and from that point on every recommendation or description of a menu item came with additional information on how it could be made gluten-free. The food was excellent. Reasonable portion sizes that were very flavorful and well considered. Nightwood is know for regularly changing their menu based on what is fresh and available in the local/regional markets. This dedication to freshness is apparent in food they serve. One of the best dinners I've had - anywhere.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMso awesomeCreative, thoughtful. approachable food, concise well priced wine list, friendly service, great room5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMHot in PilsenFabulously designed with the option between sitting in the restaurant or outside (contained at least on this night), and that was a tough decision. Both looked great. Food was well executed, creative, and scrumptious. The pheasant/dungeness crab app. was really, really nicely flavored. The asparagus was lovely, and we went for the duck for dinner, which was perfectly cooked. Cheers to Nightwood - great spot!5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMNever disappoints!I have been to Nightwood 3 times in the last year and it never fails to be outstanding. The menu is inventive with what is essentially local comfort food. Homemade pasta presented in new ways. Seasonal local vegetables and fruits prepared with a twist or combined in flavor combinations that are very different. Cuts of meet are excellent and locally sourced as well. Cocktails are far from ordinary and worth the trip alone. Staff has always been very knowledgeable and friendly.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMfood was really great. menufood was really great. menu very interesting. we had the swiss chard caesar salad - not described that way on the menu - was excellent - also had the spring vegetables with pasta sheet - really lemony and fresh - tasted just like spring:)
i had the chicken thigh with gnudi - it was a little richer than i what usually eat, but very tasty. Partner had the trout, which he loved.
Desert was pretzel bread pudding wiith home made icecream - omg.
The service was fine - no complaints on the service.
we love this restaurant - now that the chef has been named one of the best new chefs in the july issue of F&W, I suspect getting a res will be a little harder.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food!!!! Nice Atmosphere.Great Food!!!! Nice Atmosphere. Love the decor. Wish the dessert selection was bigger.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a fantastic meal atWe had a fantastic meal at Nightwood. Best ever there and best in a long time in Chicago. Really good. Rich, aggressive flavors. Beautiful presentation in a comfortable setting. Well done!!5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMChez Panisse in ChicagoThe food at Nightwood is inspired and creative, all from local sources and presented with style and care. Like its so-called sister restaurant Lula on Kedzie, these two places remind me of CP noted above. It is inspired by the same approach and sense of creativity. It is more effective to give general impressions than specific menu descriptions because the menu changes daily, sometimes in rather numerous places. However, the general approach of chef and staff make this one of the best nouvelle cuisine restaurants in Chicago. It is not industrial as so many well-known places are here. Gault-Millau is alive and well developed here.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is my 2nd visit. BothThis is my 2nd visit. Both times have been good experiences. Brunch sandwich offerings were a bit messy but unusual and pretty good. Overall a nice value.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous!What a great place. Wonderful food, great service, creative yet approachable. Delicious!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMSomething new for the taste budsThe menu is new and diversified. The pigeon-dungeoness crab appetizer included a small taste of several items I'd never had, like walleye liver. It was delicious with a touch of orange syrup. The ravioini also had rave reviews and although I love butter sauce, I believe the fermented beef fat is better in its indefinable richness. The duck breast was seared to a perfect medium rare and was tender enough to cut with a fork. The spaghetti with veal meatballs had rave reviews from friends and the cheesburger was in a class of its own because of the excellent sauce and fries. Five of us had to restrain ourselves from a feeding frenzy. Marscapone cheesecake with rhubarb sorbet was my favorite dessert.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMNot your average menuI would have lived to see a vegetarian dish on the menu and the portions were a little small. Otherwise the restaurant was really neat inside and busy but not too loud. The non-alcoholic drinks were just as good as the ones with the good stuff.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent service, unique dishesI loved the ambiance of the space, the very attentive service, and the unique presentation of the dishes. My favorite part was the open kitchen - there was bar style seating right in front of it to watch the food preparation (though my group of 6 didn't sit there). The waiter was very helpful in explaining the dishes: our favorites were the polenta with wild mushrooms and veal sweetbreads. The grilled scallops with ramps were delicious but were served in a puddle of a very oily sauce, which didn't add to the dish at all. Too bad there were only 2 mid-size scallops - they really couldn't give 3? The french wine we ordered was excellent. Overall I enjoyed dinner and would come back, especially because the menu changes often.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Food too noisyWe had a very good dinner, but restaurant was very loud. Difficult to talk, even with only 2 of us at a small table.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMall selections were outstanding.all selections were outstanding. very different menu with lots of innovative choices.
would definitley return and recommend to anyone coming to Chicago.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMNoghtwood never fails to impress.Noghtwood never fails to impress. Creativity combined with res.pe.ct for the food is their winning combinitation.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMthis is my third vist to thisthis is my third vist to this charming neighborhood restaurant. I was pleased with the taste our orders but hesitate to give our food the highest rating due to the fact that both my friend and i both concluded that the food was a bit too rich, lacked some of the "let the favor of the food itself come through" rather then cover it with a rich ingredient ( the chicken and two pasta dishes we ordered) as opposed to the last time we visit and had a killer salad that as good as it gets .4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have only been to NightwoodWe have only been to Nightwood for brunch, but that's because it's so good! My husband always gets the burger, regardless of the time, and it's so delicious! The bacon butterscotch donut is also a must-have for brunch.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMBusy for brunch but beautifulBusy for brunch but beautiful and delicious. Sweet staff and wonderful doughnuts!4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMInnovative menu, but expansiveInnovative menu, but expansive enough for any diner to find something they would like. Portion sizes are reasonable and not skimpy. Our waiter was knowledgeable, patient and helpful. The wine list is reasonably priced, much more so than other restaurants serving the same quality of food fit for foodies. The overall vibe is youthful and upbeat, and the food is serious and attractive. The country fried sweetbreads were excellent; and the duck breast was tender and succulent. This is not a once-a-week neighborhood place, but once a month would be just fine if your budget can tolerate a somewhat pricey selection of excellent food.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways looking forward toAlways looking forward to their inventive weekly menu. We find that the service itself can be a bit hit or miss - sometimes a bit of inattentiveness or lack of enthusiasm to just plain miscommunication, but the food is well worth it and while I initially would always get the same items, now I always try to get something new.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways Amazing!!!Food is excellent. Brunch menu changes every week. Scones are always a treat!
Whatever you order make sure to get a taste of the has browns. Those things are very very good. Never seen anything like it anywhere (which is pretty much what you can say about everything).
Even the granola is something to be amazed by!!!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGo for brunchBrunch was fantastic. The cornmeal pancakes with an egg and pigeon mole was one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. The bloody mary was one of the better ones you'll find in Chicago. The bartender, Mark, is outstanding.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMNext time I want to sit atNext time I want to sit at the open kitchen bar. And get the bread pudding for dessert. It was unbelievable!!!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMChef Justin and his team areChef Justin and his team are a marvel to watch from the Kitchen Counter seating. Pastry Chef Sara delivered a lovely chocolate 'bomb!' Great staff and worth their recent Food and Wine Award. Thanks.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Brunch ExperienceBrunch
I ordered the Torta which was quite tasty and messy but in a fun way. The raspberry doughnut which was amazing. Both doughnut variations were amazing, I still can't decide which I prefer so we took both for the road.
Only negative was that my girlfriend ordered the salmon plate, which was too dry. Even with her entree being well below satisfactory, the donuts made up for that setback.
The ambiance is energetic during brunch, its loud, but you can still hear your table-mates across from you. The service was excellent and welcoming. We will definitely be back to try the other menus.
Did I mention free street parking?4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's so worth the time and energyBrunch was excellent again. The food is always on something else here... This is 3 out of 4 weeks for brunch at Nightwood. It has gotten to the point that other places are just disappointing...Only flaw this last trip was the service was off... Our waiter seemed annoyed at us and was very inattentive. Even the coffee guy was off this week. Usually we go around 1:30, this last time was 10:30. This week, we'll probably go back around 1:00 again. Hopefully its just a random event and not due to time of arrival.Food is still awesome. I'd let the waiter insult me and still go back for this food!!!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food, service and ambianceThe food, service and ambiance was great. However, it was a bit too noisy to have a quiet conversation. I had to repeat myself a few times to be heard by the person accompanying me.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMNightwood is my favorite restaurantNightwood is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. It's the place I go when I don't want to take any chances. The food is just wonderful--fresh, locally sourced ingredients, beautifully done. They also have interesting cocktails and good desserts. I am always excited about the changing menu. But I also love the classics. Their cheeseburger and fries, for instance, is outstanding. But so is the duck and the chicken. So, whether you want something creative and new or something reliable and accessible, it's a great place. It's a bit hipster, but it's difficult to find good things in Chicago that aren't.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMService was attentive butService was attentive but discreet and professional. There were minimal vegetarian options but the particular dish I had was delicious, as was the complimentary foccacia and the two chocolate-based desserts I shared with my table. Atmosphere is warm and inviting.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFood always stands outVery accommodating. Service was excellent. Food is always great. Brunch every weekend is quickly becoming a tradition with this place. Anywhere else just leaves you wishing you went to Nightwood.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was outstanding butThe food was outstanding but a bit pricey, preparation was inventive and tasteful. I just wish they offered more heart-healthy and vegetarian options (you won't find much lowfat food here).3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome restaurant for anyAwesome restaurant for any nice occasion, or just going out on the town. Great location, fun, energetic. Amazing food, amazing wait staff. Definitely going to go back3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFriendly hosts and servers,Friendly hosts and servers, great food and drinks.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMpinot noir red wine optionspinot noir red wine options were not so great, but not terrible. food was incredible and service friendly and knowledgable.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMNot for vegetariansThe only thing thing that I was displeased with were the lack of vegetarian options. I went there for Chef's week and couldn't partake because there was only one non-vegetarian option menu. While what I had was delicious I believe it was the only vegetarian option that was offered.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMAnytime... I'll go anytime...Food is excellent. Menu varies and always has new options. They do a great job of contrasting flavors to bring out the best in each bite.
A recent brunch example of this flavor pairing was the cranberry compote that came as a bit of sauce, with the Meyer lemon coffee cake. The cranberry was so tart that just a little bit on a piece of the coffee cake made the lemon taste so sweet and delicate. It was a totally different flavor profile than when the cake was eaten alone. Good stuff.
Only one time have I ever had an issue there. Even with that issue, the food was replaced and the chef came to the table to apologize for the mishap. One of my all time favorites in Chicago.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMIt would be good to have aIt would be good to have a proper lunch menu. Not all clients want to have a brunch on a week end3/17/2013 12:00:00 AM