If you want to know if a chef can really cook, there may be no better test than how they can cook a piece of chicken. At Ox Bar, chef John Asbaty doesn't only pass this test, but almost makes it impossible to not to order the chicken. His half chicken cooked on a wood fire grill somehow arrives to your table with perfectly juicy white meat attached to a perfectly cooked leg and thigh (a nearly impossible task for even the best cooks). On top of that, the skin is reminiscent of the crackling on the best lechon asado you've ever had, and the dish is surrounded by an irresistible sherry jus/reduction. So yes, if you go to Ox Bar you should order the chicken because it's that good, but fortunately the menu is designed for sharing, so your your table can also be wowed by what Chef John can do with the other ingredients on his menu: a medium-rare yet fork tender beef short rib, pork shoulder, whole rainbow trout, and an amazing selection of elevated starters/sides featuring locally-sourced and seasonally-chosen produce to complement those proteins or satisfy any non-meat eater in your party. read more

Sometimes (just), sometimes, you go to a new restaurant and out of no where, you are dumbstruck by: The welcoming The service The ambiance The menu selections The flavor palette And just how exceptional a restaurant can be. That was my experience tonight here at The Ox Bar & Hearth on Clybourn Ave just west of Lincoln Park. Me, my wife and my son visiting us from NYC had the same experience I had with the Ox Bar which was one word - "Impeccable"! We all shared this evening: * Lettuces shaved asparagus, raw milk cheddar, anchovy vinaigrette & breadcrumbs - scrumptious * Blue hopi cornbread cultured butter & tart cherry preserves - shockingly good *Steak tartare pickled ramps, horseradish, raw milk cheddar & grilled sourdough - excellent * OBH burger beef fat wedge fries - up there with Au Cheval * Half chicken onion marmalade & chicken jus - sensational * Pavlova raspberry sorbet & sage cream - what a way to end a meal I've been a "Chicagoan" for 4 1/2 years now. I'm still awed how incredible the culinary scene is here. I have to go back to my opening words - I'm Dumbstruck! read more

Ox Bar & Hearth - I'll be back! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall great meal. Interior decor was very classy, open style kitchen, attentive and kind service, nice tight menu. All the dishes were great and well seasoned. Definitely worth trying out! read more

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From the moment we walked in, the hospitality stood out. The owner, Allen, personally introduced himself--warm, welcoming, and genuinely attentive. That set the tone right away. Service throughout was excellent. The staff was efficient, friendly, and very in sync. We started with the sourdough bread--perfectly crisp on the outside with a nice grainy texture inside, and the butter just melted beautifully. Simple, but done right. The salad tasted incredibly fresh and clean. Then came the highlights: the steak was juicy and flavorful, and the chicken had that ideal contrast--crispy on the outside, tender inside. Everything was so good we finished it faster than expected. As you can see in the pictures, the charcoal is actively burning while they cook, which adds a great visual element to the whole experience--you can literally see the fire and the process behind the flavor. Allen came by again to check on us and took the time to explain the dishes, which added a thoughtful, personal touch. A well-rounded experience with great food and genuine hospitality. Definitely a spot I'd come back to in Chicago. read more

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Was in the area and looking for last minute Hh and found this highly reviewed spot. Unfortunately everything was just okay. Service was very Attentive but food drinks were just okay . read more

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Good stop into Ox Bar upscale, modern, and casual all in one. Service took care of me from the jump, great first drink and that set the tone for the night, cause I only needed 1. The beef tallow fries were impressive super crispy exterior with a fluffy interior, which is hard to pull off with a thicker steak fry. The burger was cooked well and solid overall. The cabbage was a standout too, the fish roe added little bursts of salt that seasoned it naturally rather than your typical table salt, and it was tender without being overcooked. Apple Fritter is one for the books fs and would come back for just that. -Mr. read more

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What a great spot for celebrating friends' birthdays! It's upscale with a nice ambience. Exactly what you'd expect a Lincoln Park restaurant to be. Dim but warm lighting to set the tone. Beautiful furniture for seating and general ambience. The space is separated in two, with the first side where you first walk in having the bar area and some cozy booth seating. We were seated in the second half of the space which had more seating and overlooked the open kitchen. The smell from the hearth was incredible. Our table for 4 was also incredibly spacious and perfect for ordering lots of dishes to share. We were all impressed by the table space hahaha. The restaurant was very busy on a Friday night after 8pm. We had reservations but we were seated about 50 minutes later. The staff were apologetic and said we could put in some starters to order so that some food would be ready once we were seated. We took them up on it and appreciated that the food did come soon after we sat down. It was also a very welcome surprise that when they brought out the check they told us they comped our desserts we ordered because we waited for so long :) Service was great! I enjoyed that they provided a brief but informative description of the food when they brought it. They were friendly and attentive with water refills too. Overall great experience! The food was amazing!!! You get the quality you pay for. We ordered beef fat fries, potato pierogies, trumpet mushrooms, and charred cabbage for appetizers. They were all declicious!! But the highlight were the trumpet mushrooms and charred cabbage. For the main food, my partner and I ordered the rainbow trout to share and it was so tasty!! There are a few tiny bones so just watch out for those. For drinks I ordered the Key Word, which was delicious. It's a great balance of gin, lime, and cherries! For dessert, we ordered the pavlova and cookies. The pavlova was so good!! Perfect balance of sweet and tart, and great texture. The cookies were fresh and pretty good but overall quite sweet, so it's good for sharing. Since we were celebrating two birthdays, the servers also brought us out 2 complimentary scoops of chocolate gelato which also had a hint of coffee flavor. Delicious!! And such a nice touch! Overall a great spot if you're looking for an upscale spot for a celebration:) read more

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Ox Bar was amazing! It was a great place to go for both parents and kids. The burger and wedge fries were excellent. The service and atmosphere were also top notch. Highly recommend! read more

TLDR: this is our new favorite neighborhood gem. We had reservations for Obelix but their kitchen had issues and they had to cancel our reservation the night of! Tragic, I know. We had to scurry to find a replacement for our much anticipated bi-weekly date night, and found this place! We didn't even know it existed! Glad we took a chance though bc everything we ordered was PHENOMENAL. The smoked white fish dip was lovely, and the beef fat fries came out hotter than the sun (which is how I love my fries); they were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The trumpet and oyster mushrooms (not pictured) were so good we ate them all before we took a pic. I can't remember which salad we got but it was also very solid. Just the right amount of salty to acidic. And the steak was perfectly cooked. Just *muah!*. Oh, and the server was attentive and friendly, and actually had recommendations that were personal. We WILL be back. Tasty food within walking distance is what we love. Cheers! read more

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Let's talk sweet potato. Not just any garnet, Hannah, Japanese, jewel, or purple stoke, but a Beauregard bathed in pomegranate molasses and black truffle glaze. Nestled in chestnut and black truffle cream and crowned with wild rice, this epitome of Ipomoea batatas is anything but your run-of-the-mill tater. 25 bucks and worth every penny. Accompanying the sweet potato were seeded sourdough, marinated beets with grilled radicchio and goat cheese, and a sizable rainbow trout with fried garlic and lush caramelized onion oil. Oh my! Service, led by Ryan, was polished and attentive, and the cocktails were just as impressive. Extra credit for a bar stocked with both blanco and reposado Fortaleza tequilas. read more

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Update: we went back for dinner on Friday, June 19th, and had an amazing experience (again). This time we sat at a table. Every interaction, from host to server to sommelier to owner, was warm, sincere, and professional. And I finally got my pot de creme! I am adding pictures from our meal, though I didn't capture everything. Next up to try: brunch. (Oh, and in response to Management's reply above, please feel free to use my review as a testimonial - and thanks for asking.) read more

Ox Bar & Hearth - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Crazy good...... we went here for my brother's 30th birthday and it is a perfect birthday restaurant. They give you Prosecco if you are celebrating and they have the most lovely half circle booth, which I love. The actual restaurant feels very cozy yet contemporary, and it's elevated, but comfortable with a full open kitchen. I appreciated that it wasn't too loud and it just felt like a nice place to celebrate. Going onto the food- Everything is seasonal and made on the open hearth, which gives most things a really nice char and smoky flavor. They still had their winter menu right now and so the food was honestly super heavy (kind of hogsalt) but insanely good? We started with the pierogies, lamb, sausage, and sourdough- Genuinely these pierogies will live rent free in my mind. They were so flavorful. For mains, we split the burger and chicken along with carrots and fries. Carrots were really the only miss- Just nothing special and I honestly didn't love the flavor or the amount of char on them and they were almost burnt. The chicken was very flavorful and came with a really good red onion marmalade, which I've never had before. The burger was outstanding. Filled with onions, pickles, and this addictive aïoli genuinely we bit into this burger and said that this is one of the best burgers I've ever had?? It comes with these huge beef fat fries, which are also addicting. We honestly inhaled the burger and then felt like we were going to tack because it's really heavy and salty lol. For dessert, we split the brown butter, custard cake, apple fritter, and they gave us complementary chocolate gelato for the birthday. Apple fritter is genuinely one of the best desserts I've ever had in this city- I want to go back this summer just to have that dessert again. Overall, really great experience and I definitely think this is a good addition to a super random area in Chicago? It's on the street right by new city so really there's not much over there??? There's no parking so you do have to valet. Great service as well! Very personable. read more

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Excellent food and a cozy bar experience. We sat in the bar area and immediately liked the vibe. It's cozy and comfortable, and we had a great booth by the window. Service was excellent. Attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. We ended up ordering a lot as we always do, and every single dish was very good. Here's the list: Smoked Whitefish Dip with Radishes & Seeded Rye Crackers A great opener. The dip was delicious, creamy and slightly smoky without being heavy, and the radishes added a fresh crisp bite. The seeded rye crackers were perfect with the dip. I don't like rye at all. . . but appreciated them with the dip. Seeded Sourdough with Cultured Butter & Sea Salt Simple but excellent. My wife is all about the bread at restaurants. This was a favorite! Potato Pierogi with Cabbage, Sauerkraut & Horseradish Sour Cream Comfort food done right. Tender pierogi with a deep savory cabbage and kraut flavor. The horseradish sour cream added just the right amount of kick. These were amazing. Trumpet & Oyster Mushrooms with Brown Butter & Maple Vinaigrette Only slight miss for us. Beautifully cooked mushrooms with great texture. The brown butter gave richness while the maple vinaigrette made it too sweet for us. Felt unbalanced. Charred Cabbage with Brown Butter Hollandaise & Smoked Trout Roe The char gave the cabbage a deep roasted flavor, and the hollandaise with trout roe added a, slightly briny richness. Whole Rainbow Trout with Fried Garlic & Caramelized Onion Oil Excellent fish. This was the star for me!Perfectly cooked with crisp skin and delicate flavor. The fried garlic and onion oil added depth without overpowering the trout. Half Chicken with Onion Marmalade & Chicken Jus One of the best chickens in the city. We always pay close attention to restaurants that can execute a great chicken, because if they can make something this simple exceptional then they clearly know what they're doing. This one was juicy, deeply flavorful, and beautifully balanced with the onion marmalade and jus. Chocolate Chip Cookies with Malted Milk Jam: I'm a self proclaimed chocolate chip cookie expert and even keep a personal Chicago ranking. These absolutely made my top five in the city. Perfect texture and flavor, and heavy on the chocolate. My Cocktail was very good and the wine list overall is solid. My only small critique would be the by the glass selection, which leans heavily California. The options available were a bit too juicy and fruit forward to complement many of the dishes. A few more Old World options by the glass would make a big difference. They do have old world options by the bottle, however. . . we like building our own pairings. For example I had beer with the fish dip, white wine with the trout, and red with the rest of the meal. This is more our choice than a real problem by them. Overall this was an excellent meal and a wonderful date night out. We will definitely be back. read more

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This is a recently opened restaurant at Clyborn and North Avenue. Nice valet parking and a terrific remodeling of an old German restaurant. Loved the atmosphere and great service. It's not a deep menu but what we had was very good. The 4 of us started with the delicious smoked trout dip. This almost could have made our meal. The pierogis were a hit with sauerkraut, but the sauce could have used more horseradish. The beef fat wedge fries were tasty but the malt vinegar arioli could have used more vinegar. I grew up on fries with malt vinegar and this was a little weak. Our couples split the delicious trout. We enjoyed the Ken Wright Pinot Noir, especially since we had visited the winery. read more

Ox Bar & Hearth - Menu - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We live around the corner from Ox Bar & Hearth and have now been several times. It is truly amazing. The food is delicious. The fries are truly out of this world. Perfect crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. Have also tried the steak, burger, and chicken. All mouthwatering. Very good portions as well. It's a dark and cozy vibe in there, and they have a lovely patio (though loud because of the street). The servers are very knowledgeable of menu and top notch as well. We will keep coming back! read more

We loved ox bar and hearth. The chicken was absolutely unbelievable! The service was so lovely and the interior is stunning. Starters foie mousse - delicious 10/10 lamb sausage - nice texture and good flavors For sides Carrots - unreal!! Leeks- I'm British and I love leeks and I really liked this take on them Main course Half chicken- it was HUGE- definitely good to share and genuinely Delicious 100/10 We then had cookies for dessert! Will return! Such a nice addition to the neighborhood and it's soooo close to the red line, so very accessible! read more

TL;DR: Service was pretty questionable. Some good bites, some just okay. Overall, not a great experience. Ox Bar & Hearth has been one of the most hyped openings in Chicago, so my family was excited to try it. We arrived early for our reservation and were seated right away, but then things went downhill. We waited about 15 minutes without anyone acknowledging us while nearby tables (seated after us) were already being helped. We eventually had to flag someone just to get water and to ask where our server was. The GM ended up taking our order before our actual server, Sarah, appeared. Food arrived after a mix-up that caused about a 20-minute delay. Here's a quick rundown: - Smoked Whitefish Dip: Fine but small for the price. Mild smokiness. - Potato Pierogi: Best dish of the night. Crisp outside, delicious potato filling. - Charred Cabbage: Tasty but very small portion for $18 (about half a small cabbage) - Beef Fat Fries: Thick, fluffy fries with good aioli. Hard to tell if the beef fat mattered much though. - Smoked Trout: Fine. Felt like the smokiness overpowered the garlic/chili oil flavors. Braised Lamb: Flavorful but salty (fine for me, a bit too much for some other family members). Wife noticed a gamey smell. - Trumpet & Oyster Mushroom: Tasty, but wish the brown butter was more of a sauce/this dish was saucier. - Pavlova: Light, airy, great with the tart gelato. - Chocolate Chip Cookies: Warm and nostalgic; the malted milk jam didn't add much for me. Others did really like the jam though. Service the rest of the night was fine but felt rushed. Plates were almost taken before we were finished more than once. When the bill came, we were charged for two extra dishes (duplicate whitefish dip and pierogi), which they corrected after we pointed it out. Final bill was about $60 per person; we left full but not stuffed. I understand they're new and still ironing out kinks, but the lack of acknowledgment around multiple service issues made the experience feel disappointing. The space is big and family friendly, but with so many New American spots in Chicago at this price point, I'd have a hard time recommending it right now. read more

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I really like this spot! Came for Chicago Restaurant Week and everything we had was delish! I did feel like the options didnt equate to the crw cost but I wont hold it against them because the service was fantastic, the vibe was incredible and the food was really great. What was a steal was the wine pairing! They have some really nice wines. Ill be back! read more

Ox Bar and Hearth just opened, so they have a few things to figure out with their service but I was much more impressed than I had anticipated. I'm giving them a 4, but could be a 5 in a few months when they get their bearings a bit. Vibe - We sat in the bar / lounge and it was comfy cozy, but for a place with "hearth" in the name, the fireplace near the bar should have been on, but it wasn't. I'm assuming it isn't ready yet because I'm not sure why that wouldn't have been on. Food (Savory) - dinner was excellent for recently opening. We got the potato pierogies, roasted cabbage, roasted carrots, and roasted chicken for the main. All in all - very good. I would recommend adding in some starch or carb with the roasted chicken to soak up that jus, it was very good but there was a lot of it and no spoon to scoop it onto the chicken - some mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or even a hearty bread or wood fired pita type bread would have been excellent. For the pierogies, the horseradish sour cream was excellent with the mustard kraut, but we wanted more of it to cut through everything. The little dollop could have been bigger. Roasted carrots and roasted cabbage - no notes. Dessert - don't skip on that pavlova. We were tempted to lick the bowl. Meringue was perfectly crisp on outside, goey in the middle. Raspberry sorbet was sharp and cut through the meringue nicely. Sage whipped cream was well balanced with the rest of the dish. Cocktails - the cocktails were good, but would definitely like to see a few more craft cocktail options including tequila / mezcal. I'm local to the area, so could see myself coming for a drink or two more often if they change up their cocktails seasonally. My girlfriend really liked the Fig and Florence as well as the Key Word. I tried the Plum and Agave, which was OK, and the Negroni, which was a fine Negroni - nothing special. read more

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Hubby, auntie and I had a lovely early dinner here on a Wednesday, specifically chosen so we might have a quiet table in respect of her hearing aids. The dining area was nice and quiet with a great view of the open kitchen. The decor and other furnishings were welcoming and the music was at a pleasant low level. I was giddy to see unscented soap in the washroom as it is a pet peeve of mine when fragrant hand soap interferes with my appreciation of the food. We chose to construct our meal with small plates and forgo entrees because we wanted to sample a variety of dishes. We enjoyed everything we had, but our favorite (trust me here) was the lettuce salad. It may sound prosaic, but it was perfect: nice selection of greens, fantastic dressing judiciously applied (do not ask for it on the side). Stracciatella was something new to us and was great to eat with the toasted bread. Pierogies had a lovely crust on one side and were simply presented (not overpowered with distracting garnishes). Inside tip: they will prorate extra pierogies if you need a couple extra for the number of people sharing. It was my aunt's first pierogi and has spoiled her going forward. Lamb sausage had distinctive warm spices, and was another favorite of mine. Other items that we enjoyed were the steak tartare and cavatelli. For dessert we loved the pavlova, which showcased intense raspberry flavors. Every staff member we saw was unfailing friendly and professional, conveying a pride in their work. We have a special shout out for waiter Ryan who was thoroughly knowledgeable about the menu items, helped us with our choices and made sure we were well looked after. There is a parking garage nearby, but we choose the valet parking ($16 for up to 3 hours). read more

Visited Ox Bar and Hearth for the first time. I was so impressed by the atmosphere and its welcoming feel to it. Everything was beautifully done. The food was even more beautiful as everything was served with such creative presentation. However it's the flavor that counts the most and the Chef did not disappoint. I was so impressed, I will have to go back soon to try more entree's! I give it 5 stars read more

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Special unique food and a unique place with all the bells and whistles (private dining room like a chefs table that feels like home), valet parking, drinks are creative and tasty, they honor dry January and the non alcoholic drinks were great. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and in the cold they have that double door to keep the outside cold from getting in. Really enjoyed the experience. I wasn't a fan of the custard cake ... whipped topping tasted fake, not much custard in the cake bc when I saw custard cake I thought lots of cream inside, but the cherries were great! The fries were amazing crispy and sauce was great too. I wasn't a fan of the cabbage w trout roe...the fishy smell of the roe over took the cabbage flavor and it was not appetizing plus too much aioli tasted heavy and fatty. We will return and the staff and our waitress was amazing ... attentive and sweet and knowledgeable. read more

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I really want to give this place more stars as the food was excellent, but at this time I can't. We went on a busy weekday evening and it was so loud we could not hear a word anyone at our table was saying. Wood floors, chairs, and tables, and walls with nothing on them made everything echo terribly to the point our waiter had to lean in to repeat himself multiple times. It felt more fitting for a bar where you expect to yell in your friends ears all night than a place to go enjoy a nice conversation over a good meal. That aside, the food was great - everyone really enjoyed what they got as an entree and both the appetizers and desserts were 10/10. I would love to come back someday. Unfortunately, having someone in our party with hearing difficulties makes this place a no go for us in the future. read more

Ox Bar is going to become a Chicago staple! It's brand new and AWESOME. Everything we had was delicious. Word of advice: the portions are large so keep that in mind when ordering! The kitchen features a real open-flame hearth that they cook over, and the whole place feels very cozy and warm. Very comfortable and homey. The service is truly top-notch as well. We were blown away with their attention to detail in all aspects. The roast chicken we had was probably the best chicken I've ever had. Absolutely mouth-watering. The sides like carrots and others were delicious. We opened up with foie gras cornbread - the best I've ever had! Experience this awesome new spot for yourself ASAP - before reservations become impossible to get! read more

Went two weeks into their opening. Service was great they took care of us on our anniversary with a bottle of champagne and extra dessert. Owner came up and welcomed us. Food still needs some tinkering but they'll figure it out. Some of the combinations of flavor were a little off, but the braised lamb, mushrooms and trout were on point and worth trying. Decorations sparse and could be a bit more dimly lit but that's nit picky read more

Fantastic!!! So excited to find a new restaurant with gray food and drinks. Had fabulous manhattans with beautiful clear cubes. Tried the burger and wedge fries, both excellent and great quality. The sausage, cornbread and pierogi. All were outstanding. Attentive service.. will be back! read more

Excellent service, food, and atmosphere. It has been awhile since I went to a restaurant and was so happy with the food and service. We were just driving around in a hungry state and decided to pull over and go in - that was a good decision. Servers and staff are nice and genuine, cocktails are great, and the food is amazing. read more

Ox Bar & Hearth - Rainbow trout and amazing cabbage dish, - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been here twice and it was fantastic both times. I had to come back because I was craving this burger! The carrots were also fantastic. The first time I came we were headed to Steppenwolf for a show and the service was very accommodating to make sure we got out on time. And this time, I am at the bar where everyone on staff has been incredibly friendly and helpful. Definitely give this place a try. read more

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Ox Bar & Hearth feels like a break from all the constant city stimuli. The minute you walk in, the outside world drops a few notches. The lights are warm, candles are glowing on the tables, and the music stays in the background instead of shouting at you. The room is stylish without being too serious, and the staff have that same calm, welcoming vibe. It is the kind of place where you automatically slow down and want to stay a while. I started with a non alcoholic cranberry ginger cocktail. It came in a tall glass full of ice, fading from clear at the top to a deep red at the bottom, and it tasted even better than it looked. The bartender walked me through the base and you could tell there was a lot of thought and technique behind it. Bright cranberry, real ginger heat, and layers of flavor that make it feel like a proper cocktail, just without the alcohol. We shared the smoked whitefish dip and that dish was a favorite. The plate comes with a generous scoop of dip, seeded rye crackers, crisp lettuce leaves and fresh radishes. The pictures honestly do not do it justice. The fish is silky with just the right amount of smoke and the mix of creamy, crunchy and fresh is addictive. For dessert we had the apple fritter with ice cream and it was exactly what you want at the end of the night. Warm, soft apple inside, crisp edges, cold ice cream melting over the top. It tasted like a warm hug on a plate. Overall my first visit was great. It is a calm pocket in the middle of an over stimulating city, with thoughtful drinks, really good food and a warm team running the place. With the official opening on December 3, I can easily see this becoming a regular spot. read more

Ox Bar & Hearth - Non-Alc Ginger Cramberry Cocktail - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time here and I know we'll be back over and over to experience the home-cooking seasonal flavors that the chefs bring. Our favorite was the pierogi's, pork collar, white fish dip - and the fries were surprisingly a hit for our family! We usually don't love thick cut fries but these are so Crispy on the outside and perfect in the inside. :) We also absolutely loved our waiter, Luke and AGM Cherish was a delight. Everyone makes you feel at home here, and we loved how much of the food hit the hearth and had that smoky fire touched flavor. 5 stars. read more

An absolutely incredible meal was had for OBH's grand opening. Our party enjoyed flavors that were beyond words and cocktails that knocked your socks off. The perfect pairing was the foie mousse with blue hopi cornbread and apple jam to start (perfect balance of sweet and salty that made your mouth water), then braised lamb with wild rice and pickled currants (savory and umami galore, the balance of pops of sweet with the crisped rice is perfection), finally the apple fritter with Chamomile icing that truly was luxury gluttonous goodness. Could eat one a day! A perfect evening without breaking the bank, a must have and a new addition to the grand food scene that is Chicago. We will be back soon and with many more guests. read more

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Driving by this place, completely unassuming. But when you walk in, it's warm, inviting, clean ambience. It is a little loud because of the open concept, but it just makes you get closer to the people you're with so that you can hear them. Our server was knowledgeable on everything and had great recommendations. Our favorites for sure were the pierogies and the apple fritter. I would honestly go back here just to drink wine and eat the dessert. The only letdown was probably the brown butter. Custard, it was definitely lacking flavor, interesting textures, which we were aware of, but needed sugar, salt, something. It was just missing the pizazz that everything else had. That being said, would go back to try other things on the menu and eat the apple fritter again! read more

We really enjoyed our experience here. Ox Bar comes across as kind of a love letter to both the neighborhood (that space used to be the Golden Ox) and to the Midwest. The space is elegant and warm, and service is attentive and thoughtful. The emphasis is on local/domestic ingredients for both the food and drinks, and the seasonal menu leaned toward the cozy and substantial. All of this was an excellent combination for a winter night in Chicago. The standout dish for us both was the charred cabbage. I don't even usually like hollandaise sauce, but it worked so well there. The pierogis were well executed with a nice balance of flavors. We also enjoyed the smashed kohlrabi (another hearty vegetable), and the burger, which was gloriously messy and came with these addictive beef fat fries. Our server was wonderful. We let her know we were heading to a show afterward, and she understood the mission perfectly - we got our food quickly, but without feeling rushed. Definitely recommend. read more

The quality of food and its presentation can only be matched by the extremely knowledgeable restaurant managers, waiters and bar staff & front of house professionals. This will be a regular for us and excited to see this new venture thrive and become a top choice in the Chicago restaurant scene. - Ben H. read more

Amazing, the best service I have ever received. You can truly tell they care about each guest that walks in the door. From each point of staff there was kindness and care. read more

We had one of the finest dinning experiences we will ever have. Thanks to John and Luke for making it such an incredible night. Mark DRB read more

The food, ambiance and service were all 10/10! Highly recommend the foie mousse, lamb sausage, pierogis, salt roasted carrots, and trout. The service was impeccable and staff were all welcoming and attentive. Coming back again to try the rest of the menu! read more

A beautiful restaurant celebrating honest food and showcasing the very best of the Midwest. While the clean lines of the room and the seamless, gracious service could easily steal the spotlight, the food is equally compelling - thoughtful, soulful, and complex enough to genuinely surprise and delight. I'm still dreaming of the pierogis! The bar program is beautifully curated, and my Negroni was absolutely perfect. I found myself calling just minutes after leaving to book my next reservation. I can't wait to return and to share this special place with friends. A true gem--well done to the entire team! read more

Wonderful restaurant provided an enjoyable dining experience. We were a party of 4, so ordered family style and everything is amazing. Special shout out to the steak, one of the best that I have had! read more

The Ox Bar is a great new addition to Lincoln Park. Ambience is cozy chic, staff were super attentive and food was amazing. We went as a group and ordered most of the menu, the highlights are Perogis, Foie Gras cornbread, Lettuces, Pork Collar, Trout and Burger. All of the desserts were fantastic, my personal favorite was the apple fritter. read more