The Bristol
Permanently Closed
Seasonal New American cuisine, tasting menus, and shared plates
Seasonal New American cuisine, tasting menus, and shared plates
"We love a good Swiss Roll or Oatmeal Cream Pie. Pretty much anything from Little Debbie's kitchen is good by us. The problem is we always forget about her tasty treats. Then one day we’ll be wandering in the grocery store, and we'll randomly run into them on our way to buy something stupid like floss. At that point, we think, yes, Cosmic Brownies are exactly what we need. It’s cyclical. And for some reason, The Bristol manages to play the same kind of role in our lives - we forget about it for periods of time, and usually regret having done so. Why do we forget about The Bristol? No good reason. Our best guess is because it’s not flashy, it’s not too big or too small, and it’s on the edge of Bucktown right off the highway. But those factors are also part of why we like The Bristol - it isn't trying to make a big statement. And when you pair those understated factors with some very tasty food, it makes for a great night. The Bristol serves elevated American food, which means you need to expand your horizons if you can't find something that sounds appealing to eat here. There’s everything from salads to smoked white fish dips, a couple pastas, and typical mains like salmon or steak. It’s all meant to be shared, and we like to go heavy on the appetizers and pastas with only a main or two mixed in. The design of The Bristol makes it best for small groups of two to six who are looking to go out for a quality meal and a couple of drinks. Whether that’s date night, couples date night, or dinner with a few friends is up to you. Just don’t bring people hard of hearing, because sound really bounces off the brick walls making it surprisingly loud. We're never surprised by the fact we enjoy The Bristol. Now excuse us while we go stock up on Zebra Cakes. Food Rundown Cinnamon Roll Brunch is a great time to try The Bristol, and a cinnamon roll with plenty of icing is a great item to start with if you do. Smoked Ham Benedict We also like the Benedict, one of the few brunch items that involves eggs. The mustard hollandaise is great, and potatoes are perfectly crispy. Apple Salad Apples and manchego cheese go great together in a salad, particularly over a watercress base. Smoked Whitefish Dip A typical smoked whitefish dip made even better with some horseradish mixed in and caviar on top. Duck Fat Fries A giant bowl of fries with garlic aioli and ketchup. They're crispy and addicting, so we suggest getting them to share. Raviolo A giant raviolo filled with ricotta, farm egg, and a brown butter sauce. Cheesy, buttery, and tasty. Beware you'll only get a few bites out of it. Pappardelle Bolognese Basic but well done. Add some grana padano and parsley to it and it's a simple and good pasta. Amish Half Chicken Good, even if not life changing. We do like the mustard dill spätzle that comes with it though. Basque Cake Top five dessert in the city, no joke. It's the staple here and you have to get it. It's a buttery cake with jam, blueberries, candied almonds, and homemade whipped cream. It might not sound or look like much, but it's amazing." - Sam Faye
"The Bristol, a pioneering Bucktown restaurant, will close its doors on New Year’s Eve, according to a news release. B. Hospitality Group, Bristol’s parent, issued the brief statement on Wednesday night writing that the company elected to focus on its other restaurants and on two new projects." - Ashok Selvam
"Bucktown’s new American staple The Bristol is prepared for inclement precipitation with Sweater Weather, a tummy-warming blend of Johnnie Walker Black and Drambuie Koloa Hawaiian dark rum." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff
"Bucktown staple The Bristol offers an exceptional eight-course seasonal tasting menu that offers spins on nostalgic dishes made with produce from local farms. Start the meal with a creative cocktail like “Farmer McGregor’s Garden,” which blends the smokiness of mezcal with the sweetness of carrot and pineapple juices, or something from the restaurant’s expansive bourbon list before indulging in wine pairings. For a more affordable experience, take advantage of the early bird special tasting menu offered from 5 p.m to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Book a reservation via Resy." - Samantha Nelson, Eater Staff
"Locals, out-of-towners, and food-and-bev industry crowds alike flock to this Bucktown restaurant—one of the first to modernize the fine dining scene in Chicago with louder music, less showiness, and no white tablecloths. Settle into banquette seating for chef Todd Stein's contemporary American plates, all of which feature a strong focus on nose-to-tail cooking. Experience it in favorites like the crispy pig ears (with kimchi BBQ sauce and lime), Amish half-chicken (with mustard and dill spätzle and chicken jus), whole trout (with manzanilla and caper relish), and porchetta (stuffed with fennel-garlic sausage alongside brussels sprouts and plums). Do save room for dessert—the Basque cake, a decadent finale with pastry cream, seasonal fruit compote, and walnuts, is one of the city’s most celebrated sweet fixes."
