Patrons have been warned: They should "bee" careful at Ceres' Table ( 3124 N. Broadway; www.cerestable.com/ ) if they're going there for brunchat least until the cold weather settles in Chicago.
A passel of the stinging insects seemed to hover around diners inside and outside the restaurant, thanks to the many flowers decorating the restaurant's sidewalk cafe. A couple people came in from outside, and my dining companion and I had to duck and leave our seats once when one flying visitor would not leave.
However, one couldn't have blamed the bugs for wanting to come inside and partake of the food. Ceres' Table may have changed locations ( to Lake View from farther north ), but its quality of cuisine is, overall, still impressive.
Things started off for my friend and me with, respectively, a tasty Bloody Mary and a mimosa. As for the food, I went with the lonza cotta ( basically a pork chop topped with grilled radicchio, pancetta and a sunny-side-up egg ). The presentation was stunning, and the items on the dish worked together very well, even if it seemed slightly salty. As for my friend, she ordered the benedict with butter-poached lobster, prosciutto cotto, hollandaise and parsley. I'm normally leery of lobster on Sundays, but this concoction tasted pretty good, I must say ( or write ).
Lastly, in order to try something sweet, we went with the Italian toast ( fitting for this Sicilian-themed eatery ). The concoction sounded dreamy brioche, slow-roasted pineapple, mascarpone and cinnamonbut literally came off cold, putting a damper on the visit. However, I do plan on returning to try the chocolate crepe.
Also, if you can, sit in one of the couches that dot the front of Ceres' Table. They're quite comfortable, and a bit chic.
Special kudos should go to our server, Karl, who went above and beyond the call of duty by getting rid of our insect visitor.
Soho House Chicago ( 113-125 N. Green St.; www.sohohousechicago.com/ ) recently hosted a media event that involved sampling the three dining establishments in the hotel: The Allis, Chicken Shop and PizzaEast Chicago.
The hotelwhich has 40 guest suites and a look best described as "industrial chic"only opened a few weeks ago, and it already seems to have established itself as a place to see and be seen. ( The night I was there, I saw no fewer than five friends/acquaintances, including Catherine De Orio of TV's Check, Please! )
Fortunately, the restaurants are open to the public. For those who don't reside in the hotel and are looking for a spot to relax after work, The Allis ( named after the family that commissioned the Soho's historic building in 1907 ) works perfectly. The place serves salads, pastries and small platesand also has an enticing list of cocktails, including the Eastern Standard ( Grey Goose vodka or Bombay Sapphire gin, along with lime, sugar, cucumber and mint ). However, The Allis ( www.theallis.com/ ) isn't just an evening spot, as it also serves breakfast and lunch.
Chicken Shop ( www.chickenshop.com/chicago ) only showcases relatively few itemsbut it does them very well, overall. Using free-range birds sourced from Pine Manor Farm in Indiana, the rotisserie chicken is extremely flavorful. Sides include cole slaw, corn on the cob, mac 'n' cheese and crinkle-cut fries, while warm chocolate brownie and deep-filled apple pie are among the sinful-sounding desserts.
Lastly, PizzaEast ( pizzaeast.com/chicago ), as one might expect, concentrates on the titular itemswith tasty varieties such as crispy pork, tomato, mushroom and mozzarella; artichoke, spinach, provolone and pesto; and spicy sausage, mozzarella and broccolini. However, the restaurant invests a lot of energy into its antipasti, which range from bone marrow to burrata to soft-shell crab.