Editor Pick
Charlie Trotter's
- July 18, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Chicago_Dave from Chicago, Illinois
Charlie Trotter’s namesake restaurant is consistently rated one of the top eateries in the United States, and with good reason. Relative newcomers such as Alinea and Moto (whose chefs spent some time in Charlie’s kitchen) feature far more flamboyant dishes. However, the presentation, service, and creativity in the kitchen at Charlie Trotter’s remain very strong.
Charlie Trotter’s has always been focused on tapping into local and regional suppliers, to ensure freshness. At the same time, the grand menu will include seafood (no oceans near Chicago of course), so the kitchen pulls together food from just about everywhere.
The kitchen serves two different degustation menus: the vegetarian menu and the grand menu. The grand menu includes seafood and meat courses, while obviously the vegetarian does not. The wait staff will ask about any food allergies or preferences, and they will modify the menu somewhat if required.
As of early 2006, the grand menu was $145, the wine accompaniment was $85 (the vegetable menu would be slightly less). The accompanying review has a course-by-course description, with personal comments, of the grand menu for the day we visited. This review provides an overview of the entire Trotter “experience.”
The restaurant is in an old “three-flat” apartment building, so there are multiple dining rooms in the restaurant, on multiple floors. There is no elevator, so when making reservations let them know if anyone in your party has difficulty getting up or down a flight of stairs. Each dining room holds fewer than ten tables or so, which provides a nice intimate setting. You enter on the first floor, into a foyer with a small bar (in numerous visits I have yet to see anyone actually have a drink at the bar). There is one dining room on the first floor, along with the kitchen. You will likely be invited to take a quick tour of the kitchen, perhaps by Charlie Trotter’s mother, who serves as a “maitre’d emeritus.” Some wines are stored here, along with their cheese cellar. A second kitchen and dining table, used for Charlie Trotter’s PBS television show, is also located on the first floor.
The décor in each room is simple and uncluttered, with wainscoted walls in light yellow or cream. A flower vase may decorate a serving station. The walls, in general, are unadorned. Some areas of the restaurant have signed menus from special events hosted by or attended by Charlie Trotter. One interesting item is the Multiple Listing Service real-estate listing for the building...a nice piece of history.
Their website is www.charlietrotters.com, which also has information on Trotter’s To Go, a take-out restaurant in Lincoln Park, and his line of gourmet food gifts.
From journal More Chicago Dining