TrenchermenGreat addition to Wicker ParkMy husband and I dined at Trenchermen on Friday night. It was very energetic (ie:loud), but a great atmosphere. The space has been remodeled beautifully. The food is beautiful as well. My husband had the fried chicken, unlike any fried chicken you have ever had. The grits under the chicken are amazing. I had the hangar steak entree. This dish was not as successful. The meat was tough and the formed brisket square had a very strange texture. But the potatoes were the best I've ever had. I would go back solely for the potatoes. We shared the donuts for dessert. They were warm and sweet and perfect accompanied by vanilla ice cream. I would definitely go back. And the service was terrific!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWicker Park Wonder!We recently dined at Trenchermen for our 6th wedding anniversary. The menu, while small, is very creative in the way that fresh, simple ingredients are combined. Although our server suggested that portions are on the smaller side, we found them to be ample and would likely only order two first course choices next time. Our server, Jackie, was bright, helpful and not overly solicitous, which we appreciated as we had over two hours to savor the entire experience. For a Monday night, we were surprised to see the crowd pick up around 8pm. While the noise level was energetic, it wasn't overwhelming. We will definitely dine again at Trenchermen and share the experience with friends.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMMany gluten free options andMany gluten free options and fabulous gluten free bread!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMA Great TimeAttentive service, delightful combinations of flavors and textures, beautiful and creative decor. Have to get the whiskey-glazed doughnuts.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMEasy time eatingTrenchermen is a great place for sharing an intimate dinner or meeting friends. The front of house is welcoming but the waiters are a bit laid back - read slow. The appetizers we ordered came before the drinks but luckily the drinks were worth the wait. I had a kale salad which was fresh crisp and a divine creamy dressing. My companion had gnocchi laced with ham. Both were superb. The entree of scotch salmon on a bed of grits was perfectly cooked and their wine list is extensive if a little overpriced.
We dined on a Sunday evening so the noise level was tolerable. Thankfully the bar is separate from the dining tables b6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMamazing food!The food was fantastic! Corned beef hash, the best! Service was a little slow but overall very good. Cool space too.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMcasual yet chic dining spot.we ordered everything what the waiter recommended and was very pleased. the "tator tot" was not what we expected but good. the "fried chicken" entree was also not what you expect - not deep fried with battered skin. rather, crispy skin & very moist chicken pieces. delicious! my friend's pork shoulder was huge portion-wise, but a bit on the dry side. walleye fish was tender and also delicious. desserts were also good - donuts were perfect bite-size portions and not overly sweet.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat, reasonably priced brunchI always enjoy the food at Trenchermen but in the past, when eating there for dinner, have been amazed at how much the bill adds up for so little food. Brunch was a welcome departure. Portions are more typical than the small plate thing and I don't think there's a single one for more than $12. Plus great coffee and great brunch cocktails.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthday DinnerThe food at Trencherman was delicious. There variety was great and we felt healthy eating everything. Between two of us we decided to order 3 starters, which are fairly generous and then one main dish, all to share. Since it was a birthday dinner, a dessert at the end was required. The chocolate mousse with coconut ice cream was phenomenal. It is fairly expensive and the cheapest bottle of wine begins at $45. For a special occasion, it works well. Our waitress was knowledgeable and very helpful. Overall, great experience.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dining spot!I took my boyfriend here for his birthday. They were more than accommodating, service was excellent and the food was divine.
We ordered the bread to start, had a couple entrees- I recommend the fried chicken with grits.... AMAZING!!!
Afterwards, we had doughnuts for dessert which they brought out w a candle on.
Safe to say, we will definitely be back!5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI liked the energy level atI liked the energy level at the Trenchermen-it felt like we were arriving to a party that had already started. The asparagus salad was a good fresh mix & I especially liked the peeled asparagus!The beef shank was tender & well-seasoned,nice comfortable choice of crispy potatoes as the accompaniment. Timing was okay,maybe a little long from starter to entrée,but it was a very busy night. Somewhat disappointed that there were no house-specialty drinks the server felt were worth mentioning, although the tea was an interesting blend. I would recommend the Trenchermen for groups celebrating something together;good wine selection & small plates.The banquette seating makes it less intimate though, which is the point of 'bathhouse' dining, right?5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious!We had a fantastic meal at Trenchermen. Creative and delicious!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat MealWe had dinner reservations at 8:15 and we were seated at 8:45. This gave us a chance to have one of their speciality cocktails at the bar. The cocktail were very good. We ordered 4 appetizers and 4 entrees. The salmon tartare was great. The kale salad was good but I think they should have chopped the kale. The filet mignon was the best of the entrees with the striped bass fried chicken and salmon coming in a close second. Great attentive service and a well thought out wine list. We all would go back.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat placeThe restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. Great food, great service and great decor.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMfood was great - layers offood was great - layers of flavor - high quality ingredients - interesting combinations - really nice.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything about the restaurantEverything about the restaurant and service was perfect. The food wasn't that great for me because although they are vegetarian friendly, their veggie options didn't make for enough variety. I felt like I just ate different courses of mushrooms and asparagus. It wasn't very flavorful.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMthe real dealthe real deal in every way. knowledgeable, delicious, chill.
was that dj using a vinyl?5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMI like what they are doing but...The space is really nice and well put together, and our server was attentive. The pace of the food was a little strange - our first small plate came out before we got our drinks, then we waited quite a while for our third small plate and entrees. The pickle tots were really good with a nice balance of flavors, although the baby pink element on the plate was a little strange. The kale salad was uninspired but not bad. My husband had the salmon, which was small on a large plate, but was really terrific. Bright flavors, nice textures, cooked perfectly. My scallops were terrible, sadly, and I ate only one of them. They were overcooked and the garlic that was in the accompanying collard greens was so overcooked it made the whole dish bitter.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat. Expensive, but Great.dinner for two is going to be a $100 meal, if you're drinking. I will say that the salmon dish was outstanding. absolutely amazingly good, best dish i've had out in a long time.
the "signature dish", their pickled tots, were second best for me. they are very good, and better than one would expect if you thought as i did "am i really only ordering tater tots?" no. you aren't.
The fried chicken was good, but i've had so many variants of fried chicken this was not standout. still, my first bite of this dish was phenomenal.
the beets were good, and i like beets, but given the other choices on the menu, i was remorseful i did not try something else instead.
cocktails were expensive (as anywhere), and were hit-or-miss.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMeverything Old is New again...We love this old bath house, loved it when it was spring and really enjoyed it now as Trencherman. Our server M, was great... not over the top but lovely. My salmon was wonderful the kale salad very tasty and my asparagus soup was a treat since it was GF. my husband ordered the pork shoulder but it was not what he expected but still very good.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat flavor combinationsFood was excellent though not your usual menu! We shared scallops and the lamb and both were terrific. Highly recommend!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't miss the pickle totsDon't miss the pickle tots and ham plate. Those alone were worth the visit!!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed a delicious dinnerEnjoyed a delicious dinner at Trencherman. The space is lovely, well decorated and comfortable. Had great drinks to start and enjoyed the salmon appetizer and beets very much. Hands down the braised pork was the best. Melted in your mouth. Saved room for the coffee cake with melted marshmallows and fried chocolate, but was left a bit disappointed. The cake part was bland and the fried chocolate tasted burnt. Beside that it was a great meal with great staff and service.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent cocktails, amazingExcellent cocktails, amazing food. They do kinda crowd the tables in, but the rooms are nicely proportioned. When this place gets discovered properly, there won't be a reservation available for months :-).4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth a PilgrimageWe loved this place-chosen on Food & Wine rec. The ambience was perfect. Started the evening with two delicious cocktails and selected a glass of wine and beer to match our shared four plates: pickled tots, beets, white anchovies and Berkshire pork shoulder. The anchovies were tasty but a little to "vinegary" for my wife but the other three dishes were delicious - fresh and flavorable ingredients creatively prepared. We ended the meal by sharing the "chocolate cremeux" - a combo of chocolate, coconut sorbet, mango and chilis that was exquisite. Even though the plates were on the small side, our appetites were satisfied. Our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly & made excellent rec's. $110 bill was totally reasonable for this A+ nite.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFood & drinks were delicious,Food & drinks were delicious, portions were a little small but would definitely go back.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat find! Loved the cocktailsGreat find! Loved the cocktails and the food. Service was great, from the bartender, to the hostess, to the really sweet waitress. Going back very soon and bringing friends who love a great meal with drinks.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was outstanding.The service was outstanding. Food was creative,interesting, and delicious. Ambience and noise level was loud and close. Drinks were outstanding. Overall a great experience. Will definitely be back.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible experience! WeIncredible experience! We flew in from Jacksonville, Florida for business but had also done our homework on restaurants. Food and Wine said that Trensherman's was a Top 100 to Pilgrimage to and BOY WAS IT WORTH IT! The service was perfect, the food was just indulgent and beautiful! From great Malbec to crusty, light and fluffy foccocia bread and topanods, to asparagus soup to fried chicken, rack of lamb and scottish salmon, to donuts in carmel drizzle! Really fantastic and the decor of the restaurant is minimal, comfortable chique! The buiding is stunning, an old Russian bath house. Well Done!!!!!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMI have not been disappointedI have not been disappointed yet. Dinner and brunch have been awesome here.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFun, sophisticated dining BucktownFour of us needed a relaxing meal in Bucktown neighborhood following a book event. Bingo. The bar area is lively and cool. The dining room is broken up in a way that makes each table feel intimate. Food was outstanding, esp. pickle tater tots, farro-stuffed pasta in broth, hake in something I don't recall...every dish thoughtfully composed. Careful service. My one gripe? The wine list is limited and pricey. We chose a crisp, dense white from northern Italy. $45 per bottle. That was the low end of the list. Other than that, this place is a gem.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved the kale salad and theLoved the kale salad and the salmon. Great wine, fun place, great service. Don't miss it!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMI would have given an outstandingI would have given an outstanding for service if all three of our brunch entrees (the grits, the hash and the yogurt) came out at the same time but two of the three meals came together and then there was a longer than acceptable wait for the third which left two of us just sitting with food in front of us waiting on our friend's meal in order to start.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service; Good energyGreat service; Good energy without being too noisy; Knowledgeable staff on drinks/wine.
Desserts much better than average.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a treat. EverythingWhat a treat. Everything was wonderful. Young and energetic crowd...but even us boomers were appreciative of the creative menu. Changing menu will tempt us to keep coming back. Wait staff were very knowledgeable.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGo. To. Trenchermen.Just don't go to too many restaurants that "look" like Trenchermen. Very unique and the customized menu was a nice touch for the night. While portions aren't huge, the flavor and time spent on the dishes made for the best kind of full. Cocktails surprise you at first until you realize they are small because of their complexity.
Great addition to Wicker Park/Bucktown area and will return to spend time at what looks like a fun place to just grab a drink as well.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was outstanding. A terrificFood was outstanding. A terrific looking place with a wonderful and creative menu. But noise levels were awful. It was almost full and there is nothing to absorb the sound what with the lack of fabric, which causes people to get louder and louder to be heard by one another. A young woman just two tables away was absolutely screaming at her date to be heard over the din.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience. I'm notGreat experience. I'm not exactly sure if I'd rate the burger as one of Chicago's top 5. I can think of many others that are much better, especially the bun, which was a little dry. But it was overall very good. The salmon tartar was excellent, as was the kale salad. And our server (Jenny) was fantastic! The bar area is really a great space, too.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMLove Trenchermen and theirLove Trenchermen and their Sunday brunch is one of the best in the city!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food. Great brunchExcellent food. Great brunch items. The popcorn grits are amazing. The eggs benedict and pound cake were okay. The hollondaise needed a tad more seasoning,but the eggs were poached perfectly. Overall great food.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWe came in around 6:30 onWe came in around 6:30 on a Monday so the place was pretty empty. Our server was great. He made honest recommendations and his timing was spot-on.
The pickle tots were our favorite dish. Hake came in a close second. We thought the chicken thighs were a bit bland, but still pretty good.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMTrencherman delivers on all frontsOne of the best spots to dine in the city. 2 absurdly talented chefs making inventive, thoughtful, and TASTY dishes. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and setting. Our server was kind, knowledgeable, and a professional. Same for the host team. Run, don't walk to Trencherman.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMBrilliant. Gorgeous buildingBrilliant. Gorgeous building (an old bank perhaps?) and really quirky décor in the reception area. Delicious food - will definintely be going back as have heard people rave about the burger (I had their version of Eggs Benedict - a mousse-like hollandaise, brisket, toast as thick as your arm and the most perfect eggs I've ever seen).3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe chef's week menu was fabulous,The chef's week menu was fabulous, wine pairings were delicious (especially the dessert pairing), and the service was outstanding. This is a beautiful space with wonderful food. I would definitely go back, and I don't often say that because there are so many fantastic restaurants to try in Chicago.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food! Loved the salmon.Great food! Loved the salmon. My husband had the fried chicken thighs. Not exactly what he expected (cut up), but very tasty. A little heavy on the mushrooms. Kale salad was tasty, but would've preferred it served chopped vs. Whole leaf. Nice wine selection. Very cool bar. Would definitely go back.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat old building with redesignHostess and greeter very friendly ad took all our gear. Love the design and layout with bar and dining area. Bar had super cocktails and very
Comfortable for a Single person or a group3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe visited for Chef's Week.We visited for Chef's Week. I don't understand why the Chef's Week menu will cost the same (assuming the started bread is $3), but I will definitely visit again. My boyfriend was underwhelmed by his braised beef (a little dry, as impossible as it sounds), but I loved my skate wing and both desserts were great. I would go again for dinner or to just hang out at the enormous bar. They were also very flexible with my obscure food allergies.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptionalThe appetizers are all so toothsome we ended up ordering four of those and splitting an entree. The server was most accommodating and everything was spot on. The service was not invasive but timely and the server knowledgeable and helpful with the wine list. Return trip definitely required!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a great dining experience.We had a great dining experience. I am going back. The menu is creative and there are so many items that I would love to try. Totally recommend!!!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat vibesMade dinner reservations once and just walked up to the bar on a weeknight a couple times. Awesome cocktail program. Inventive but accessible dishes. Definitely try the pickle tots, sure. The burger at the bar is simple and great. Really liked the coffee cake dessert with fried chocolate too.3/18/2013 12:00:00 AM