The Rooftop Patio is Open @ Owen & Engine | Logan Square

Owen & Engine Front Door & Sign

The weather has been amazing in Chicago and it got me thinking of places that would be opening up their outdoor seating. My first visit last year to Owen & Engine was after they closed their rooftop but I have been patiently waiting for the weather to be warm enough to sit outside at Owen & Engine. This British pub has three floors of food and drink goodness.  The food is authentically British “elevated” pub food, well-designed interior but with a neighborhood tavern feel. A wide selection of beer and spirits along with a nice selection of Pimm’s Cups.  They take their cocktails very seriously – think old timey mixologists but are very welcoming and relaxed. Decor is beautiful from the amazing bathroom wallpaper and tin ceilings to the fireplace on the second floor and the rooftop. It’s right across the street from a movie theater so you can do dinner and a movie quite easily.

I started with the beet salad. Generous portions of fried goat cheese and beets. It hit the spot.

Then onto the Gunthorp Farm Chicken Wings with Piment d’Espelette, sherry vinegar and chive créme fraiche. Deeelicious, not your typical small, overcooked wings. You can immediately taste the quality of the meat and the crisp was just right and flavor was spot on (don’t the British say that?). Bit of spice from the Piment’Espeltette and extra flavor from the creamy crème fraiche. Also happen to be half off on Wednesdays. These are second to my favorite wings in the city…but that is for another post.

Charcuterie: Housemade sausages and cured meats, stout mustard, sweet pickles and brown bread. On this particular night they served smoked head cheese, lamb coppa, duck pate wrapped in bacon (because pate isn’t pate unless it’s wrapped in bacon) and duck confit. I didn’t partake of this dish but was assured by a seasoned meat-eater every piece had great flavor and was up to their high standards.

Owen & Engine Charcuterie

I have been back to Owen & Engine two other times but unfortunately did not have a camera with me. However, if you are a burger fan, and really who isn’t, then you will not be disappointed with the burger O&E serves. The chips are amazing too.

The Slagle Farm beef burger with caramelized onion, house potato bap and chips. This burger is worth its reputation. Very juicy and very rich. In fact I ate half and was satisfied (I mean, I did eat all of my chips) and had the rest for lunch the next day. I think there are versions that come with an egg as well. Hey, why not?

On a cold night winter night I ordered the pot of hot chocolate served with cinnamon toast. Really ridiculous to get by yourself because the chocolate is so rich and you can’t possibly drink the whole pot. But it was everything you want hot chocolate to be. Strong, rich and smooth. Ideal for 3 people to share and good for breakfast/brunch or when you want a non-alcoholic drink to warm you up.

The drinks are worthy of an entire post to themselves. But with names like, Nook & Cranny, Tempest and Wounded Swede you get the picture of the thought and creativity put into their beverage menu.

Owen & Engine 2700 N. Western Ave. Chicago, IL

Grilled Cheese Quest – Grahamwich

I feel like I was born to love grilled cheese. Guess it’s not that hard but I really do have a huge affection for the wonderful buttery bread and cheese combination. It’s a comfort food from my childhood that has lasted through adulthood. Good thing comfort food is so popular in Chicago.

Here is my first official stop at a restaurant solely to try their grilled cheese. If you have any recommendations for where I should take my next grilled cheese quest, please let me know!

For my first visit to Grahamwich I think I went at the perfect time, after lunch. I am assuming this place gets a lot of to-go traffic from people on their lunch break. Even if you want to eat-in the seating is limited. But after 2pm there is plenty of room at the communal table in the back and no line. The restaurant is small with a clean design and good lighting.

Grahamwich Front of Restaurant

My friend and I decided on splitting the grilled cheese (obvs), the tuna salad sandwich and the g’wich chips.

Grahamwich Tuna Salad & Grilled Cheese

The Grilled Cheese: Wisconsin cheddar + tomato marmalade + cheese curds + cracked pepper + Pullman loaf

Grahamwich Grilled Cheese

If comfort food is what I wanted, I got a whole week’s worth from just half a sandwich. Last time I had cheese curds I was in Madison and these took me back to good ol’ Madtown. Yum. The sandwich could survive without them but what fun would that be? The tomato marmalade satiated my love for ketchup and the bread was crunchy crisp on the outside and soft once you sink your teeth into it. Enough melted cheese to satisfy anyone. I recommend this sandwich to anyone looking for a delicious, quality grilled cheese. Depending on your appetite this sandwich is plenty big enough and rich enough to split with a friend if you throw in a bag of chips.

Tuna Salad: Green beans + blistered peppers + basil pesto + black olive + rustic ciabattta

Grahamwich Tuna Salad

The polar opposite of the grilled cheese, light, more on the deconstructed side and won’t put you in a food coma after consuming. The tuna had a great flavor and it wasn’t weighed down by mayo or other condiments.  This sandwich is good for when you want a filling but healthy feeling sandwich.

G’wich chips: Yukon potatoes + fresh herbs + bacon bits + cheddar cheese + ranch powder

Grahamwich Grilled Cheese & g'wich chips

Wow. These chips come in a huge bag that you are quite sure you couldn’t possibly finish but next thing you know…you are fighting over the last chip. Genius concept combining herbs, bacon, cheese and ranch. Chips were perfectly crispy. Here, take a closer look…

Grahamich g'wich chips

Grahamwich 615 N State St Chicago, IL

2 Sparrows – Foie Gras Pop Tarts & Tator Tots

2 Sparrows in Lincoln Park is best described as high-end comfort food serving breakfast and lunch. For those of you that have been to Nightwood, 2 Sparrows is like her sophisticated younger sister in college. Serious focus on food but very laid back, fun and if you feel like it, they make it easy for you to get liquored up in the middle of the day by providing an ample list of mouth-watering cocktails (I did not partake so can’t review but the drink menu looked really good). It is also on the louder side. Get there early as wait times can be long.

The donuts and their take on pop tarts are what I kept hearing this place is known for. The donuts did look very appetizing but probably best shared if you have more than 2 people. I was with just one friend so we decided to go for the apple/lemon thyme icing pop tart. Served fresh and piping hot it was like an apple strudel. The icing was a nice complement and did not overpower the tart. If you are someone who loves and can stomach rich food then I say go for the foie gras and cherry compote pop tart.

I had the Belly Sandwich - biscuit, pork belly, sunny side egg, pickled onions and tots. The best part of the sandwich was the biscuit. Rich, flakey and fresh. The best part of the meal was the tots. When I saw there were only four tots I thought that was a bit odd and would not be enough. However, these tots are bigger than any tots I have had and a lot richer. Four was PLENTY. They are extra crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. Next time here I will be getting a side of tots no matter what I order (I am thinking it will be the Cuban: sourdough, pulled pork, pork belly, mustard, gruyere, house made pickles, sans the pork belly).

The other order was the Grilled Cheese – fresh goat cheese, gruyere, irish cheddar with an added egg. I tried a bite and one word came to my mind, amazing.  I was transported to a Parisian Bistro. Rich, buttery bread and warm slightly tangy goat cheese and who doesn’t like a fried egg?

Go for the rich comfort food and laid back atmosphere. There is a small bar so if you can skip the wait for a table and belly up for breakfast/lunch there.  They will be hosting dinners now and then with the next on January 20th. Is a Great Lakes Beer Dinner with 5 courses paired with 5 beers. The cost is $60 per person plus tax and gratuity. You can reserve by calling the restaurant.

Have you been to Northdown Café and Taproom yet?

Northdown Cafe and Taproom opened in Lakeview in May and I have been wanting to check it out. Wow, I love this place. I was there for lunch and it was a really relaxed and friendly vibe. The menu consists of comfort food and a lot of sandwiches that make it hard to choose from. I had a lunch special called the BGLT…that would be bacon, goat cheese, lettuce and tomato on sourdough. How have I NOT had a BLT with goat cheese before? It was heaven. My friend got The Burger which comes with their special sauce and a pretzel bun. She added bacon to keep up with the bacon theme we had going.  Hand-cut fries that rivaled a french bistro.

Very full but with some time to spare to digest we asked the waiter about the pies they had. He didn’t hesitate to recommend the Almond Cream Pie. The pastry chef wanted to make something that could get around a peanut allergy and came up with this genius pie. First of all, one slice is PLENTY to share with two people. Especially after the bacon extravaganza we had just had. Graham cracker crust, whipped cream and almond filling. I haven’t had a slice of pie since I can’t remember but I can tell you I will not forget this one.

They have an extensive beer list (over 60 beers) that I am sure beer drinkers will appreciate. I am not a big beer drinker so I can’t speak to it but word on the street is the list is good. The other bonus is a lot of the ingredients are locally sourced so you can feel good about that. Oh, they have something called Pork Fries…consisting of: French fries with BBQ pork, chopped bacon, cheese sauce, pickled peppers, and green onions. If I had to wager on it, I’d bet I’ll be getting those next time.

Great for casual lunch if you are in the neighborhood and have a big appetite. They have free wi-fi as well. I will come back to see what it’s like at night and let ya know. Northdown Café and Taproom is at 3244 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL.