Good lunch at PGC yesterday. I had the turkey burger. The burger was moist and had a light peppery, spiceness that made it interesting. Size was good too - not too large or too small nor was it overwhelmed by the bun. Came with a tasty slaw of cabbage and apples with mayo.

The young server was gracious, but inexperienced. My eating companion, who had not been there before, asked Chef Stegner for an ice tea refill - she was visiting with the table next to us - yikes!

Every time I eat at PGC I like it more and more. We had a wonderful dinner their last Saturday night with three other couples. On a non-food related note, I like that the tables at PGC are round. We enjoy evenings out much more when everyone can participate in the conversation and the tables at PGC really accomodate the same. The place was really humming which was nice to see in this economy. I am glad that they have overcome the curse that formerly plagued other restaurants at this location.

Food wise, we had the excellent house made lamb sausages among other stellar starters. They were just outstanding. I had a terrific monkfish special and my wife had the Tallgrass Filet which was the star of the evening.

I plan to return often to this neighborhood gem.

The 2009 ramps are now in at PGC and I've ordered them a couple of times over the past week. I love the simple prepartion: they're sauteed in a little butter, sprinkled with salt and served over herbed crostini. Last night, they were also running a special pizza topped with Ramp Pesto, Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese, La Quercia Prosciutto and a runny egg. Needless to say, that was spectacular.

Wild Alaskan Halibut is also back on the menu and the portion I ordered last night was out of this world. It was flaky, buttery and moist, and the light, crispy crusting accentuated the fish magnificently. As much as I always love PGC, last night's dinner was exceptional, even by their own high standards.

=R=

My dad and I went here a few weeks ago for my birthday. It was our first visit, and it won't be our last. In fact, as he drove me back to my apartment, Dad stated quite emphatically that if I ever want to go back there again, he'd be very happy with that choice. (Since he always pays when we go out, I definitely take his tastes into consideration!)

I had the shepherd's pie--most excellent, and the perfect portion size. The flavors and textures all balanced wonderfully. Dad had the special of short ribs and mashed potatoes, and he wants that recipe really badly. (He won the Tribune's Ribfest back in the late '80s, so he knows his ribs!) For dessert, I decided since it was my b-day to have a slice of pie--lemon chiffon, so good! When I ordered it, Dad decided to get a slice as well, and we both agreed it was probably the best lemon pie we'd ever had.

That halibut sounds terrific, ronnie. I'll have to try that the next time we go there.

Ronnie, I just got back from PGC and had the ramp, prosciutto, Pleasant Ridge pizza and I agree it's on a totally different level. Wow, I challenge anyone to try that and tell me you don't absolutely love it. It hits every foodie soft spot. Salt in the prosciutto, acid and bite in the ramp, cripsy crust, depth, aroma, and smooth texture in the cheese, and umami in the egg. Find me the weakness. Incredible if not perfect.

I actually started with a shrimp Caesar salad that was also flawless with the chopped, perfectly fresh and crispy romaine, with the subtle bite of the dressing with Parmesan bits and faint hints of crouton that were a great background accent without the greasy overbearing annoyance of most Caesars, not to mention the huge and perfectly cooked shrimp that went down quickly and delectably.

Life is good, and I will be going back tomorrow night for the Tallgrass burger and the NCAA's.

As often as I go to Prairie Grass Cafe, I don't normally bring my camera but the other day I just happened to have it with me when I was meeting my family for an early dinner. I just wanted to document a couple of the great, newer dishes we had at our meal . . .



Three Sister's Farm Pea Shoots and Chopped Romaine Salad with Capriole Farm Goat Cheese, Crispy Shallots and Apple
This salad, which used to be a special, is now on the regular menu. I just love the combination of flavors and textures. The shallots are a perfect accent and the light vinaigrette strikes a wonderful balance between sweet and acidic. It complements and unifies the components without obliterating them.



Brioche-encrusted Wild Alaskan Halibut with Green Lentils and Assorted Root Vegetables
I am thrilled that the Wild Alaskan Halibut is back on the menu. The brioche crust is light but amplifies the naturally buttery flavor of the halibut extremely well. The medley of root veggies and lentils is inspired. Last week, the lentils were combined with cannellini beans, which was also very nice.

These guys continue to turn out some of the best food around. The ingredients are always very high in quality and the cooking is impressively consistent. I also like that the menu changes but not constantly or completely. Every so often little tweaks are made that reflect seasonality but favorites don't disappear right away, either. I know that when I go to PGC, if something I love is no longer on the menu, almost invariably, something equally interesting will have replaced it. And fwiw, service at PGC remains at the very top of any restaurant in the Northern suburbs -- it's the best FOH north of Howard Street and beyond -- for sure.

=R=

A bit of news: the folks at Prairie Grass Cafe just announced that they'll be opening a second location -- Prairie Fire -- in the old Powerhouse space.

Chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris are opening their second restaurant, Prairie Fire

Estimated opening is slated for November 2009

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Prairie Fire
215 N. Clinton
Chicago, IL 60661

Excellent news, indeed. Congratulations to all concerned and we're counting the days, now.

(The fact that it's a five-minute walk from my office can't possibly hurt, can it?)

LTH,

Had lunch with the estimable Ronnie_Suburban at Prairie Grass and could not resist the lure of Jeff Ruby's number one Chicago Magazine pick for Best Burger in Chicago. Mr. Ruby pegged the deliciousness factor of number nineteen Flub a Dub Chubs, where I had never been until the Chicago Magazine list came out, and the meaty juicy beaut of a burger at Prairie Grass. Blue cheese, bacon, grilled tomato and red onion on hearty sesame seed bun, a true top tier burger.

Prairie Grass Burger



Picture does not do burger justice


Enjoy,
Gary

I was lucky enough to dine at PGC on Wed and Thurs nights. I sampled my compsnions burger both nights and it was as delicious as Gwiv's picture looks (it looked good to me Gary). In addition to outstanding whitefish and halibut entrees I sampled something that I hadnt as of yet tried on multiple visits to PGC--Corn Fritters. All I can say is O-M-G, big, honking delicately fried balls of what I can only describe inarticulately as a sort of creamed corn? (and i mean this in the best possible way) The roasted pumpkin appetizer is also out of this world.

PGC was pleasantly crowded wed night and humming a bit during my early thurs dinner. PGC just keeps getting it right, and they poor a very nice drink too.

I had dinner there Wednesday night as well! Was on a hungry mission for that burger, which was every bit as "#1" as Chi Mag described. Well earned spot amid burger royalty. And those THICK potato wedges!

Also, gotta give props to Sarah's mom for some kickass pumpkin pie. Twas my first of the season, and quite likely the best I'll have this year. Thanksgiving will be a let-down after having this pie (unless I order pick-up from PGC)

~M@

Thanks for reminding me about PGC! Mom's coming into town on Wednesday for a few days--I'll have to take her there for dinner.

I suggested PGC to a client to meet for lunch tomorrow. I was looking forward to it, but now that I've seen G Wiv's photos of the burger, I can hardly wait -- and I don't even think I'll need to look at the menu. Beef, bacon, and blue cheese is definitely the plan.

Has anyone ever done a Holiday here? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the experience. It's on my short list of places I'm considering for Christmas Eve - party of 6. Thanks, Lynn

LynnB wrote:Has anyone ever done a Holiday here? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the experience. It's on my short list of places I'm considering for Christmas Eve - party of 6. Thanks, Lynn

I'm a big fan of PGC and have become friends with the owners over their 5 years in operation. I mention this because I want to be perfectly clear about where my comments are coming from . . .

We've had several holiday meals at PGC and they've all been very enjoyable. These have been strictly brunches on Mother's Day and Christmas 'Weekend.' The food at these events has been great -- with lots of wholesome, interesting offerings -- and the service has been warm and friendly. I think having a holiday meal at a restaurant can be a scary prospect but at PGC the vibe is casual, comfortable and family-friendly (yes, even on Mother's Day).

This year, we'll be having our first Thanksgiving experience at PGC, which Bon Appetit recently named one of the top restaurant Thanksgivings in the U.S. It's my family's "off" year and with my siblings all visiting their out-of-town in-laws, we decided it would be a perfect opportunity to have Thanksgiving at PGC. This is not a buffet but a set menu of fairly traditional Thanksgiving fare, prepared with Sarah and George's typically-creative, local aesthetic. I have to say that I'm really looking forward to it and that I wouldn't even consider having Thanksgiving at a restaurant if I couldn't have it at PGC. Seriously.

On Christmas Eve is their standard menu is offered, usually with a few holiday specials added in. Based on my overall experiences at PGC and my few holiday experiences there, I imagine this would be a great time and an excellent meal but I cannot provide any specific, first-hand feedback. It's a family-owned and operated restaurant, which I think adds a lot to the feel of the place around holiday time. We have a standing family event on Christmas Eve but if we were looking for a restaurant on Christmas Eve, PGC would be my first choice.

=R=

Mom and I went to PGC for dinner tonight. We both had the halibut and had a double-stuffed potato split between the two of us.

When they brought out our food, we were first pleased to see that they had already split the potato in two and put the halves on separate plates that presented the potato nicely. And then we put our forks into the fish.

I think we had a near-religious experience with that fish! Neither of us could stop raving about it throughout the meal, marveling over the melt-in-your-mouth texture, the moistness of the fillet, the lightness of the crust. The green bean/pesto veggies were equally fabulous, crisp beans with the pesto providing just the right flavoring. Even the potato was perfectly prepared and buttery/cheesy tastiness.

I know that that halibut was the best fish I have ever had in my entire life. Just an incredible meal that I think I'll remember for a very long time.

PS: I just want to add that one thing I love about PGC is that they know how to serve just the right amount of food. Not too little on the plate, so that you're still hungry, and not too much, so that you're uncomfortably stuffed. If we had just had the fish and green beans, we would have walked out of there perfectly content. As it was, that extra half potato was a little too much, but that was our mistake for ordering it. When I was there in March, I had the shepherd's pie, which was the perfect portion.

Sharpie66 wrote:I think we had a near-religious experience with that fish! Neither of us could stop raving about it throughout the meal, marveling over the melt-in-your-mouth texture, the moistness of the fillet, the lightness of the crust. The green bean/pesto veggies were equally fabulous, crisp beans with the pesto providing just the right flavoring. Even the potato was perfectly prepared and buttery/cheesy tastiness.

I know that that halibut was the best fish I have ever had in my entire life. Just an incredible meal that I think I'll remember for a very long time.

I had that dish last night, too and I thought it was sensational, as was the rest of our meal . . .


Brioche-crusted wild Alaskan Halibut with Warm Pesto Green Bean Salad

Of course, we also ordered a few other items and because we sat at the bar, there was some nice light for picture-taking . . .


3 Sisters Garden Pea Shoot Salad with Crispy Shallots and Capriole Farm Goat Cheese



Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds



Vegetable Asian Spring Roll with Peanuts and Cilantro; Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce



Duck Hash Cake with Celery Root Puree and Root Vegetables (special)



Top Sirloin Burger (with a bun and Gruyere subbed for Blue Cheese)

We took home a slice of my favorite pumpkin pie ever. In fact PGC's pumpkin pie is the only one I've ever really cared for at all.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Of course, we also ordered a few other items and because we sat at the bar, there was some nice light for picture-taking . . .

You know, until this post, I never really thought about going to Prairie Grass and sitting at the bar. That's just the ticket for me on nights when I'm hungy, but the Chow Poodle is eating Jenny Craig or some such nonsense.

stevez wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Of course, we also ordered a few other items and because we sat at the bar, there was some nice light for picture-taking . . .

You know, until this post, I never really thought about going to Prairie Grass and sitting at the bar. That's just the ticket for me on nights when I'm hungy, but the Chow Poodle is eating Jenny Craig or some such nonsense.

It's a very pleasant and comfortable option, which we've been using more and more lately. As I've sat there, I've noticed that I'm not alone in enjoying it. In fact, dining in the bar area seems to be a very popular choice at PGC. I cannot recall one instance over the past month -- even during the week -- when the bar-area tables were not mostly or completely occupied.

=R=

A week or so ago chef Sarah told me that she had a source for white truffles and asked me if I'd like her to acquire some on my behalf and prepare them for me. Not being a complete idiot, I told her yes and tonight the goods were delivered . . .


White Truffles from San Miniato, Italy
These pungent, aromatic beauties were actually hunted by a dog on either Thursday or Friday of last week.



The truffles were delivered with this outstanding carnaroli rice, which is aged for at least 1 year before packaging



Inside the bag



About 30 minutes after the delivery was made, the finished risotto was served

I cannot even describe how fragrant this awesome dish was. And the rice itself was spectacular. We ate at the bar and when the dish was served -- because of its strong, intoxicating aroma -- everyone around us immediately turned and asked what we were eating. We explained that we'd pre-arranged a 'truffle delivery' with chef Sarah, and then we shared a few bites with our neighbors, who seemed grateful.

Needless to say, this item isn't on the menu at PGC but if you're interested in having it, just call the restaurant and they will be happy to arrange it for you. For us, it was a fantastic opportunity to eat a beautifully-prepared dish that incorporated an ingredient I doubt I would have otherwise had access to.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Needless to say, this item isn't on the menu at PGC but if you're interested in having it, just call the restaurant and they will be happy to arrange it for you.

How much would such an arrangement cost? (I know, I know, if you have to ask, you can't afford it.... )

LAZ wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Needless to say, this item isn't on the menu at PGC but if you're interested in having it, just call the restaurant and they will be happy to arrange it for you.

How much would such an arrangement cost? (I know, I know, if you have to ask, you can't afford it.... )

About $125/ounce but the price tends to vary a bit depending on size, timing, etc. This is definitely not something I plan to do again for a long time but I figured I'd be very unlikely to get access to better truffles or more capable hands to prepare them.

=R=

ronnie,

Alinea had almost the exact same dish as a special tonight.

Stephen wrote:ronnie,

Alinea had almost the exact same dish as a special tonight.

Sounds great. I remember a fantastic white truffle dish I had at Alinea back in November of 2007 . . .


White Alba Truffles being shaved tableside at Alinea



Tagliatelle with White Truffle at Alinea November 14, 2007

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I had the option of either the tagliatelle (which it looks like you chose) or the risotto



wish my picture(s) had turned out a little better. What camera/settings do you use, ronnie?

Stephen wrote:I had the option of either the tagliatelle (which it looks like you chose) or the risotto

Yeah, tagliatelle. The only reason that dish probably didn't resonate quite as much as tonight's dish at PGC was because at Alinea it was, like yours, part of a glorious, 20+ course Tour de Force. Tonight's dish at PGC was my entire dinner, so I was completely undistracted. Still, I've had some awesome friggin' truffle experiences -- white and black -- at Alinea over the years.

Stephen wrote:wish my picture(s) had turned out a little better. What camera/settings do you use, ronnie?

I think your image still conveys the essence of the dish quite well. I'll pm you about camera stuff.

=R=

I'm still catching up from our trip to Chicago a couple of weeks ago - but I can't resist adding a note about our wonderful Saturday brunch at Prairie Grass on Saturday 10/31.



I ordered the "plain" waffle, which is served with warm maple syrup (yes - the real deal) and whipped sweet butter. For those of you who don't always remember that sometimes simple is the way to go:



This simple waffle was one of the most amazing taste/texture sensations I've ever enjoyed! Who'd have thunk an unadorned waffle could be so special? The right ingredients and the right hands making it.

Thanks to Ronnie and Julie for joining us.

Does anyone know when Prairie Fire will be open? When I initially ready about it, it said October or November. Thanks

We are shooting for the middle of January, I will give a update as we get closer.
Dan

We brought my parents and in-laws here for Christmas Eve dinner. Upon entering the restaurant I was a little concerned. The dining room was packed, there was a bit of chaos around the host stand and no visable host (lots of people waiting for coats, cars, and to be sat,) and a server had just swung out of the bar area and dropped a large bottle of sparkling Pellegrino and some wine glasses. Kind of an ominous beginning. We were taken to our table by a man who said nothing. Just gestured us to sit, dropped menus, and sped off. However, it was all uphill from there. Our server was great, timing of the meal perfect, and best of all - everyone's food delighted them. Jonathan and I had been here only once before and I had started with the crabcake. I let him taste and we both loved it so much that we each had to start with our own on Christmas Eve. My in-laws shared a beet salad, Dad had the pea shoot salad pictured above by Ronnie and Mom went with some jumbo shrimp cocktail. For entrees, I had the whitefish w/ mashed potatoes, both of my parents had their signature shepard's pie, my FIL opted for the duck, and MIL and Jonathan went with grass-fed steaks. Each dish was just outstanding. There were a lot of happy people at that table. Despite everyone's insistance that they were too full for dessert, I ordered a single dish of housemade vanilla ice cream with berries and by the time it made it around the table it was quite empty. I would definately do another holiday meal here if the occasion arises and Jonathan and I plan to get it on our regular rotation too. -Lynn