Harmon D.
Yelp
Lorriane has sold the business to Carlos, who I understand to be a trained chef - as is demonstrated by his specials. The specials occur on Thursday & Friday nights, from 5 pm - 8 pm.
This week's (7/20 & 721) Summer Seasonal Weekly Specials:
Eggplant Involtini $9
herbed ricotta, house marinara, parmigiano
Bruschetta $7
burrata, grilled peaches, guanciale, baby greens, balsamic
Beet Salad $8
apricots, meyer lemon, straciatella, spinach, hazelnuts
Grilled Lamb Meatballs $14
pickled turnip, braised cabbage
"Gourmet" Mac n Cheese $10
cavatappi pasta, broccoli, pancetta, mascarpone, parmiginao, mozzarella
Risotto $12 $17
lion's mane, trumpet & chestnut mushrooms, peaches, pecans, goat cheese
Rigatoni Calabrese $13 $18
salami, giardiniera, calabrian chili oil, tomato, red onion, ricotta
Roasted Pork Loin Involtini $23
prosciutto, spinach & bread crumb stuffing, slow cooked cannellini beans
Prosciutto Ragu Stuffed Cabbage $21
parmigiano, preserved lemon, house made marinara
We had the bruschetta (fabulous), beet salad (terrific), lamb meatballs (great meatballs but the turnip/cabbage combination didn't quite work for my wife), and risotto (a very unusual risotto, but enjoyable). Carlos then gave us a nice berry dessert to share, with limoncello all around.
We ate on the patio, a very nice one, and while we miss Loraine's summer Taste of Italy (and miss Lorraine, too) Carlos is proving a worthy successor, this being our second attendance for the Specials night.
You can't depend on the web site to show the specials, or that the Hen is open on these two evenings. You have to call & ask, or get on the email list, for the specials. Or just show up - you will not be unhappy!
BYO, with a CVS a block north on Damen, and a liquor store with better wine selections just north of that over on Lincoln.