Steak not in a Steakhouse

[sanglier]

What I mean by the title is, my buddy and I are coming up from New Orleans for Labor Day weekend. Came for the 4th of July last year and had a ball. We love to eat and drink; he especially loves what he calls a "typical Chicago steakhouse". Having been to Chicago much more than him, I've tried the ones in the genre he means and frankly, don't want that! I'd love killer beef, pork chops, venison, veal chops, etc., but in a setting other than steak/onion rings/lyonaisse potatoes/creamed spinach, know what I mean? A great wine list would be lagniappe. Thanks!!

[jbontario]

My go to for steak not at a steak house is Carnivale. There are three, sometimes four, beef choices in which I have yet to be disappointed. Nuevo Latino is the descriptor so it's a festive atmosphere. I've enjoyed both the skirt steak and a ribeye. Come to think of it, there's been a pork loin special a few times that was great too. Great apps to share and fun cocktails.

http://www.carnivalechicago.com/

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Carnivale
702 West Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60661

[sanglier]

Thank you all for replying! This is just what I was looking for. David Burke is in the early lead but Piccolo Sogno and Carnivale are nipping at his heels! Biggest decision at this point is whether to splurge on another dinner at Everest! God that wine list just stuns me. Thanks again ya'll!

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Piccolo Sogno
464 N Halsted, Chicago, IL 60622

Carnivale
702 West Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60661

[nsxtasy]

I'd start with David Burke's Primehouse. It's a contemporary setting, not your standard steakhouse. They have the best steaks in town, dry aged with various aging durations available. And they have a lot more than steaks on the menu, as you can see from their website.

Beyond that, you can get some great cuts of meat at some of our other kinds of restaurants. These include contemporary American places like Sable, which has consistently great food dishes as well as amazing artisanal cocktails. (I love their sweet corn creme brulee.) Italian places like Piccolo Sogno, which is fantastic including dishes like steak that are not necessarily Italian (even better if the weather is nice and you're on the outdoor patio). And you can get some great cuts of meat, as well as dishes you can't get back home, at our creative provincial Mexican places like Mexique; they do a wonderful version of braised short ribs there. Mercat a la Planxa is another great place, specializing in tapas.

You should definitely take a look at the menus at these and any places you're considering, to see how they sound to you.

Incidentally, the communal tables at the Publican were mentioned above; it should also be mentioned that, when reserving in advance for a group of 6 or less, you can specify a preference for the communal tables or your own private table (they have those too), and they will do what they can to accommodate your preference. I'm not all that fond of the place, not just because of the loud noise level but also the food - some dishes are excellent, some others are not, and the desserts are consistently dreadful - but some others like it. It's particularly good if you enjoy organ meats and charcuterie. But I can name a hundred places in the city that I'd rather go back to.

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David Burke's Primehouse
616 N Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Mercat a la Planxa
638 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605

Mexique
1529 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Piccolo Sogno
464 N Halsted, Chicago, IL 60622

Sable Kitchen & Bar
505 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60654

[danimalarkey]

Take a look at the menu for The Publican (though it's likely not to be up-to-date, but it will give you a sense of what the menu usually looks like) -- lots of meat (especially pork) and it's hardly what I would consider a "typical Chicago steakhouse". Beef options are not necessarily as common as at a steakhouse. Many feel that the communal tables and general lack of sound-proofing get in the way of enjoying a meal here - I feel they don't take away from the killer menu. Your mileage may vary.

The wine list is very good though the Publican has carved out a niche of bringing in a diverse collection of beer. It's not the largest taplist in the city, but it's well chosen and focused really well on going with the food. The room is always lively (hence the noise) and I'd suggest making reservations early.

There's a restaurant in Printer's Row called Custom House that would also meet your needs -- I'm just not sure if it's still open. Their website doesn't appear to be working (maybe it's my browser?) but OpenTable still lists them. There's been a fair amount of turnover/concept tweaking, so it's definitely a 'recommend with reservations' idea.

Wicker Park is home to Folklore, an Argentine grill. I've been to their first restaurant in Lakeview, Tango Sur, and was generally happy. Folklore accepts reservations (though Tango Sur is BYO - wine list is as good as the bottles you bring!).
http://www.folklorechicago.com/index....

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Tango Sur
3763 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

[sanglier]

Dani, thanks for the reply! These are just the suggestions I'm looking for, I'm off to do some research. Let me return the foodie favor if you ever end up in The Big Easy!