I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not know about North Pond prior to Chef's week. But after hearing my boss rave about this place, I decided to add it to my ever-growing list of restaurants to check out.
I had no idea it was located in Lincoln Park and had such a picturesque setting. Just the location alone is enough for it to become one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Unlike other places that occupy prime locations and capitalize on that by skimping on food quality, North Pond also serves excellent food.
We arrived around sunset on a beautiful spring day, just in time for me to capture this lovely picture of the skyline. This time round, I truly feel blessed to live in such a gorgeous city.
The interior of the restaurant is decorated with beautiful wood. The decor is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's design style.
We started with an amuse bouche of parsnip panna cotta, blood orange, citrus sassafras gel, parmesan crisp, celery & turnip. The panna cotta was silky smooth and full of the freshness of parsnip. The citrus sassafras gel tasted very much like a citrusy root beer. I can certainly say my mouth was amused by this!
The appetizer I chose was Cauliflower-Apple Velouté Soup, Buckwheat Blini, Cured Arctic Char, Chive Sour Cream, Smoked Caviar. Cauliflower veloute seems to be on every single menu in Chicago at springtime, but this is by far the most superior version I've tasted. "Clean" was the word that came to mind when I took my first sip, cauliflower and crisp apple flavors jumped out at me. This was simply amazing. Unlike many other versions where the flavors are often muddled with cream or loads of butter, this version gets its creaminess from the cauliflower alone, which probably accounts for the clean flavors.
And here is why I vote NorthPond to have the highest quality service I've ever experienced. Not only did the waitress ask me whether I'd like to take a picture of the soup-pouring in action, she thoughtfully stood out of the path of light so I could get a properly exposed shot. How considerate!
Entree choice #1 was roasted Lake Superior Whitefish with Orange-Glazed Fennel, Minted Grains, Carrot Nage, Baby Carrots, Pistachios, Tendrils. The dish was beautifully plated, and fish cooked to perfection with crispy skin. Again the word "clean" came to mind. There was no excess of butter to muddle the fresh carrot flavor.
I had the charred Tri-Tip Steak paired with Thyme-russet potato pavé, grilled king oyster mushroom, confit garlic, black garlic and golden beet jus. One word: wow. The steak was beautifully pink and tender. I could taste every ingredient clearly. The deceptively simple looking piece of king oyster mushroom was the big surprise of the dish: meaty, juicy with that smokiness only grilling can impart. Unfortunately the thyme in the potato pave was too overpowering, and I bit into a chunk of salt in the veggies. But the steak and mushroom more than made up for those tiny missteps.
This rather sloppy looking dessert was Banana Crémeux, Coconut Cake, Jamaican Pineapple Sorbet, Macadamia Nuts, Toasted Coconut Flakes, and it gets my vote for most interesting dessert of the year. There were strange spices in the pineapple sorbet, and when I first read the description I didn't think they'd work together. But they did, in a strangely fantastic way.
Last but not the least, a word about the service. Our waitress was cheerful & friendly. She patiently answered our questions and made us feel so welcomed it was like dining at your favorite aunt's place. What more could you ask for at a restaurant?
At the end of our dinner, we walked out of the restaurant, greeted by this lovely scene. Prior to this first visit, while checking out their website online, I thought to myself: $30+ for brunch? Are these people crazy? They might as well go rob the bank. But after this meal, I'd happily surrender any amount of money they demand. This was possibly one of my best meals ever. I can never forget how clean the dishes tasted, and how clearly each ingredient shined through. Chef Bruce Sherman knows what he's doing. Now go see for yourself.
2610 N. Cannon Dr.
Chicago, IL
(773) 477-5845
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