Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
Wine bar · Humboldt Park
954 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Highlights
Gastropub plates, extensive wine list, and the city's best burger.
Gastropub plates, extensive wine list, and the city's best burger.
"This wine bar is delivering its full menu, along with wine and beer." - adrian kane
"Rootstock is a casual wine bar where the food is as much of a draw as the wine. They have delicious seasonal dishes like bay scallops with green lentil remoulade or an asparagus and taleggio tart, but their burger (a permanent fixture of the menu) is also great. The inside is welcoming and relaxed, while the mismatched chairs and modest streetside patio make you feel like you’re eating at an artist’s loft instead of a sit-down restaurant. If you’re not coming for a full meal, split one of their rotating charcuterie and cheese boards." - josh barnett, john ringor
"Humboldt Park’s cherished neighborhood hangout for oenophiles and industry insiders isn’t afraid to change its menu items and regularly rotate in new seasonal dishes. That’s why it’s especially telling that its burger — a dry-aged Slagel Farm beef patty (bacon aioli, red onion, cheddar, pickles) — is the only option that remains year-round. The wine list is magical at this tiny spot. There’s something for everyone." - Ashok Selvam
"One small plate leads to another at this cozy wine bar—and that’s a great thing. You’ll want to sample lots on the menu here, where the team takes pride in their farmer relationships and ability to seamlessly reflect the seasons, from house-made pastas to bright, just-plucked greens. The burger—thick, juicy, and brimming with flavor—is equal parts spectacle and celebration of simplicity, a showcase for the 25-day dry-aged Slagel Farm beef that's been processed and ground specifically for the restaurant. With white cheddar, shaved red onion, and bacon aioli on a brioche bun (plus Werp Farm lettuces, house pickled cucumber, and jalapeño on the side), we understand—and are now unequivocally a part of—its 15-year-old fan club."
"A neighborhood hangout since 2009, Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar showcases wine growers from around the world with a variety of specialties, including terroir-focused, organic, and natural pours. The food from chef Duncan Biddulph (Lula Café, Kinmont) only helps and nearly all of the plates rotate on the regular. The only item that stays on full-time? The burger is a Slagel Farm beef patty that is topped with bacon aioli, red onion, and cheddar. Patio seating is available." - Ashok Selvam
