Just finishing a Top Chef episode on the importance of farm fresh to table, I was very intrigued to enjoy a fresh, seasonal meal after one too many ‘lets just make it through the winter’ meals.  My Wisconsin roots always appreciate a meal that reminds me of home … had I grown up next to a local farm.  Now imagine tapas, only each entree varies by portion, price and palate – and they all sound fabulous. And your hungry. And your eating with a group of 10. It’s Friday night and you just waited about two hours for a table to share it with four other women who display no interest in wanting to share the remaining bites of their meal with your pal. Yes, the start of the meal was an interesting challenge at The Bristol, a new Bucktown/Wicker Park contemporary American hotspot with rave reviews.

The good: the lazy pierogi, skirt steak and blue cheese ravioli, Scottish olives and duck fat fries.  All are easy to pass and came highly recommended from the staff, but could serve as individual meals if needed. However – a few of the entrees were so rich that they had to be shared in order to be appreciated… otherwise you’re setting yourself up for a taste overload. The egg-and-ricotta-filled raviolo is an example.

The tacky: The Host. He’d definitely taken a sassy pill that night. What we didn’t expect was a 1.5 hour wait for dinner. We spent a majority of our evening upstairs with a cheese plate and other appetizers – unfortunately they limit dinner service to the lower level only, which creates heavy traffic for Friday nights. Definitely not a good place for large groups. Luckily — the waiter and ‘napkin fairy’ definitely made up for it.  Just leave your seat and wait and see what you find when you return… you’ll see what I mean.

The ugly: the sweaters. Seriously. Someone sent a memo out to all males dining at The Bristol that night – it was comparable to a Mr. Rogers’ convention. Definitely an unexpected observation that night. Ugly does not reflect on the restaurant in this situation, but simply the clientele’s attire. Moving on.

It was an interesting stop over to the spot that once known for margaritas and late night dj spinning (Il Covo is no longer). But you can absolutely have a delightful evening spent over their cheese plate and wine upstairs without missing out on a major dining experience. If you do, keep to small tables and make your reservations early.

Check out Shelly’s thoughts on Yelp.

Definitely not a morning to come on your second coffee – you have to start the day with one of their signature (moderately pricey) cups of hot chocolate.  The homemade marshmallows made it completely worth it. Within our group, their

eclectic menu satisfied each person’s chocolate palate – whether it was totally over the top or more like a coffee – dark, bitter and hits you right between the eyes. I had the medium and just like the three bears, I found it to be just right.

  The meals post-HC were nearly impossible to enjoy after such an indulgent first round … but the portions weren’t as over-the-top. Of all of the entrees ordered, the quiche had the most raves by far.   Despite a hectic lineup that morning, our group <almost> made it through the meal at one table.  There was definitely a miscommunication between our waitress and the hostess at the front – so it’s probably a place best for smaller groups. They eventually split the table up and are adorable adopted family of four was sent to their own table after their order was placed.  Sujan invited his patients who’d just moved to Chicago from the UK out to join us and their children, Toby and Zack, were the highlights of the meal. Moving forward, the brunch gang is committed to doing everything with ‘a family of four’ in tow.

Check out Shelly’s Review “they tasted like chocolate crack” on Yelp.