Cultivate by Forbidden Root
Restaurant · Ravenswood ·
Botanical brews, craft cocktails, and elevated gastropub fare
Botanical brews, craft cocktails, and elevated gastropub fare
"Cultivate is a spinoff of Forbidden Root, the West Town brew pub that’s known for its botanical beer. The new Ravenswood spot is located in a cavernous space that used to be home to Band of Bohemia, and has an eclectic menu with things like a porchetta french dip, an eggplant spread with housemade roti, and duck confit with ricotta dumplings. Still, the beer is the best part about this place, and most of the food is just OK.. The porchetta is juicy and goes great with its au jus, but dishes like the duck are bland, and that housemade roti has the texture of leather. The huge space is great for groups, and the bar snacks (like the beer cheese and Ritz crackers) are pretty good, so we suggest coming here with a bunch of friends for drinks and ordering a bunch of light bites instead of a full meal. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE" - Adrian Kane
"Try Forbidden Root’s botanical brews like Strawberry Basil hefeweizen and Peach wit in the tiny Tap Room, which features 16 lines to serve beer made on-site and by guest breweries, or in the 135-seat Cultivate brewpub. The restaurant offers house flights, seasonal cocktails, and mocktails along with hearty dishes like duck confit with ricotta gnocchi and beer-braised short rib." - Sam Nelson
"This West Town brewery is inside a former movie theater and was known for adding botanicals to its beers in funky ways. There’s a vegetarian mushroom pot pie on the menu with wild mushrooms and “porcini caramel.” This is only available in West Town, not at a second location in Ravenwsood." - Naomi Waxman
"Chicago is home to the most breweries of any city in the country and that impressive lineup includes this unique botanical brewpub. Using plants and other natural ingredients, Forbidden Root offers options like strawberry basil hefeweizen, wildflower pale ale, and sparkling rosé ale." - Eater Staff
"At Cultivate, the Forbidden Root’s brewpub in Ravenswood, Carlos Cruz serves as executive chef and approaches consulting by not only providing recipes and procedures but also offering to return to taste food, refresh menus, and retrain staff to ensure lasting results." - Leigh Giangreco