Stockton ( 1009 N. Rush St., second floor; StocktonChicago.com ) is in the space that the upscale Japanese restaurant Jellyfish occupiedbut it definitely has established its own vibe since opening in October.
Unfortunately, very few people are apparently witnessing Stockton's offerings and atmosphere, as a recent brunch attested. My friend and witnessed no more than five peoplealthough, in the Gold Coast spot's defense, the brunch only started a few weeks ago ( although the brunch menu wasn't on the website when I last checked ).
And like any new restaurant, there are aspects that need work. A drink called the Hangover Vanilla Latte was bitter for me, while the espresso martini didn't work for my dining companion, so we switched. And service was mostly good but occasionally lagged, even though very few patrons were there. And the salmon bagel was deliciousbut costs $20.
However, there were moments when Stockton shone. The French toast tower is a delicious Jenga-esque work of art, with vanilla ice cream and housemade chocolate syrup, while the avocado toast was better than most I've had. The lobster mac was mostly goodalthough it's made with blue cheese, and a little of that goes a long way.
Stockton is not without its faults. However, for me, the pros outweigh the consand it's worth nibbling on that French toast tower while taking in the sights of Rush Street and Mariano Park ( aka the Viagra Triangle ).
Note: Profiles/events are based on invitations arranged from restaurants and/or firms.
Equality Illinois holding wine-tasting Dec. 4
Equality Illinois will hold a holiday wine-tasting Wed., Dec. 4, 6-8:30 p.m., at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St.
Attendees will taste wines and spirits from around the world, and sample light hors d'oeuvres.
Tickets are $25-$40 each; visit EQIL.org/wine-tasting .