Chicago
The Bristol, Chicago
Chicago, IL, 60647, United States
Stop by on a Monday night and the place will likely be sprinkled with the city’s off-duty chefs, all wondering what they’ll find on Chris Pandel’s wildly unpredictable rotating daily menu, charted out on a blackboard that dominates the wood-lined dining room. One thing’s for sure: Pandel doesn’t play coy with food. His approach is head-on and all about bold juxtapositions. Regulars can take comfort in the familiarity of his signature “Scotch olives”—sausage-stuffed, deep-fried, and paired with crème fraîche—or roasted marrow bones, split lengthwise for easy spreading on rendered-marrow-soaked toast and served with pickled ramp bulbs and red-wine shallot jam. But the rest of the menu is a seasonal free-for-all. When you see the brined, braised, and crisp-fried pig ear with Vietnamese noodles, coriander, and Illinois soybeans, floating in a meaty pho-style broth tinged with palm sugar, grab it. Pandel may never show it to you again.
Insider Tip:
The Bristol specializes in small plates, so order a few to share and ask your server to suggest drink pairings from the extensive wine, beer and cocktail lists.
Amenities
Open / Closes- Accessible by Public Transportation
- Brunch
- Dinner
- Full Bar
- Kitchen Open Late
- Late-Night Dining
- No Reservations
- Notable Wine List
- Private Room Available
- Private Dining/Party Space
Cuisine Type:: American Nouveau
