Vincent

"Vincent is the kind of cozy neighborhood bistro that can only exist in a few Chicago neighborhoods, and that’s a real shame. Everyone should have a local favorite around the corner that’s as friendly, delicious, and inviting. But they don’t, because some neighborhoods can’t have nice things, and some neighborhoods think life is one big Vogue photoshoot - we’re looking at you River North restaurants. Andersonville, however, is the perfect breeding ground for Vincent. Vincent is the product of someone who decided to take a chance on their dream of a restaurant, and it shows. It’s great in the sense the staff seems to be a hodgepodge of friends and acquaintances who just happen to work there, which keeps the mood light and cheerful. It also means they aren’t as professionally on top of sh*t at times like a well oiled hospitality group. But the imperfection is what makes Vincent human and weirdly is an endearing trait, kind of like a narcoleptic puppy - it’s not an ideal attribute, but the people and place are so damn cute and friendly it’s tough to get mad. And you’ll never get mad at Vincent, because whether you’re with a small group of friends or on a date, the dimly limit and homey restaurant will be an enjoyable time. Of course, the food will be deliver too. Vincent pegs itself as a “New American Bistro,” with a menu that offers everything from small and light to large and hearty. Salads? Innovative and tasty. Meats? Filling and comfortable. Fish? Flakey and as fresh as the Prince of Bel-Aire. And mussels. Don’t forget the mussels. There’s a whole section of the menu dedicated specifically to different style mussels, which we strongly suggest you entertain. We also strongly suggest you get to Vincent, because it will make for one entertaining and excellent night. Food Rundown Green Garlic Chicken Sausage Our waitress once suggested this appetizer, and we’re happy she did. The garlic sausage is delicious, and it comes over a mix of fava beans and mashed potatoes that’s equally as good. Add some pancetta, caramelized onions, and pickled mustard seeds and you’ve got a great dish. Burrata We’ve never met a burrata we didn’t like. The burrata itself is solid, even if not in the upper echelon burrata sphere. What makes this dish so interesting is the ramp and garlic mojo, orange, shaved jalapeno, and balsamic reduction that comes on the cheese. Get a little bit of everything involved in each bite. Polenta A creamy polenta that’s been dragged through the garden (asparagus, fresh ramps, pickled ramps, mushroom, crispy parsley) and topped with a poached egg. The polenta and mushrooms steal the show. Pan-Seared Skate Wing A beautifully sliced and plated skate wing topped with a tarragon pesto and charred lemon. It’s mild and light, which let’s the bit of pesto shine. The baby carrot, glazed radish, and saffron carrot puree is good looking and a nice compliment too. Curry Mussels & Frites A giant bowl of plump mussels in a saffron and coconut cream based sauce. A little lime adds some bite for flavor, and don’t forget to use the fries as dipping sticks for the sauce too. You need to order mussels, whether this style or one of the others." - Sam Faye

"Vincent is hiding on a side street up in Andersonville, so it’s a perfect date night spot when you want someplace that isn’t ridiculously crowded. And it just so happens that the street it’s on is tree-lined and not very busy, so you can sit outside in peace. The menu is New American, and has a whole section dedicated to different preparations of mussels (whatever else you order, you should really get at least one mussel dish to share)." - adrian kane

"It’s impossible to have a bad date night at Vincent. Literally impossible. If a date goes badly here, you need to reevaluate either yourself or the person you were with. Go for dinner, order a nice bottle of wine, start with some small plates (like the chicken liver mousse), and then order the mussels cooked in an orange and hefeweizen broth." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor

"Vincent in Andersonville is good for a first date that you want to feel a little fancy (without being stuffy), and kind-of intimate without being weird and quiet. Order burrata and the skate wing, and since Andersonville is one of those cute tree-lined neighborhoods, plan on an after-dinner walk. Grab a piece of pie from First Slice, or go to Simon’s and listen to live music." - josh barnett, sam faye

"It’s impossible to have a bad night at Vincent. This Andersonville spot is consistently busy, but you can still go there and feel like it’s “your” discovery - the atmosphere is casual and approachable rather than overly trendy. Go for dinner, order a bottle of wine, and share some small plates and mussels. Then be glad you aren’t paying $35 for parking, like you’d have to do downtown." - sam faye, adrian kane