I was so impressed by Wrigley Taproom and Eatery. The menu is small and not printed, instead…read moredisplayed on several blackboards adorning the walls, attractively written with colored chalks. As a "farm-to-table" type of place, many of the items included the name of the farm where the ingredients came from. As it was fairly busy I sat at the bar so as not to tie up a 4-seat table. Soon after sitting a pleasant smoky aroma filled the room and I saw the bartender fiddling with a kitchen torch. Making a Smoked Old Fashioned. So that's what I got. What bourbon, he asked. I wasn't sure so he walked me over to the side of the bar and there were so many! I decided on one arbitrarily, a local craft brand, and he approved. Only a $3 upcharge from the standard one. It was very good, though not as smoky as I expected. The cherry was premium, not the standard bar maraschino.
I do like an Old Fashioned, but I sort of wished I noticed the list of specialty cocktails first, which were really unusual and intriguing. Such as the "Garden Gnome": Vodka, yuzu, olive juice, basil, St. Germaine, and gin.
For beer lovers, a very large diverse selection, from Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and Mexico.
Most of the entrees are a la carte. Order sides separately if you want them. I decided on tacos, with sides of fries and roasted brussels sprouts. This works here even for a single diner because the sides are small and inexpensive ($4 and $5), though a larger size is also offered. The entrees also were reasonable, most $15. Even the Wagyu Steak was just $29, complete with sides. I've seen prices from $40 to $60 elsewhere.
The tacos were Birria, which is a Mexican style of slow cooking meat - short rib in this case - seasoned with adobo. They included mozzarella cheese, cilantro, and pickled onions and cabbage. The flour tortillas were deep-fried and more substantial than usual. Two sauces were offered in tiny bowls. One was thin and was probably the braising liquid from the meat and the other white and speckled with green herbs, sort of like a raita. Very good.
The fries, crispy, hand cut, crispy, and seasoned, were also very good. And the roasted brussels sprouts were amazing. The best ever - though I seem to say that often. Sauced relatively heavily in sweet maple glaze, tender, and not at all bitter.
I was surprised that there were no seafood items on the menu other than the Smoked Salmon BLT taco. And vegetarians might have a problem here. Not much to choose from other than the Big Ass Pretzel or a green salad.
For dessert I had Bourbon Butter Cake, with peaches, Amaro (a peach liqueur), bourbon, and ice cream. Good but it could have used more bourbon and liqueur. And it was warmed and served in a small cast-iron skillet so the ice cream was too melted for my liking. That's my fault. I usually ask for these types of dessert not to be warmed.
The great meal was matched by the decor and ambience. Pretty brick walls, decorative chandeliers, and a huge welcoming rainbow flag. Maybe that keeps the MAGAs away. That's fine. They can eat at Chick-fil-A. (Joking. Everybody is welcome here.)
