November 20, 2009
The beer list is very well designed (available online), and organized into the following sections: Draught, Trappist, Belgian-micro, Abbey Style, Methode Champenoise, Lambics (all traditional), Flemish Red/Bruin, Saison, Biere de Garde, German, Danmark, Norwegian, Finnish, British Isles, Swedish, and American. Drafts rotate fairly often, currently the highlights were Matilda Framboise, Hopsinjoor, Flossmoor Pullman Brown, and Cantillon Lou Pepe Kriek. Drafts ranged from $5-9, and bottles were $5 for Avery IPA, up to $50 for Deus and Lou Pepe Framboise. The list was eclectic and varied, but seemed to focus most on Belgian Saison/Lambic/Biere de garde. We ordered off the "snacks" menu (available from 3:30-5:30), and not from the full dinner menu. Spicy pork rinds, frites with aioli, a trio of aged hams, and L’Etivaz, a Swiss Gruyere style cheese. The frites were a standout paired with the beer, cooked in beef tallow, and my favorite in the city. The menu was a perfect compliment to the beer, sort of high-end "deli/junk food" if you will. My favorite ham was la quercia rossa, the sample trio was $18...if you get a reservation for dinner here, expect it to be in the "$$$$" range. Everything on the small menu was under $20, with the exception of the chef’s selection of a dozen oysters ($30). I’m planning a return visit to try the mussels steamed in Cuvée René. Atmosphere was clean and modern, lots of brass and wood, with shades of brown everywhere, even the staff’s coats. The bar was low (with seats), with uniform wooden tap handles towering above. Taps were identified by small dangling engraved brass medallions. There were giant illustrated canvas prints of equally giant hogs on the walls. It was an ultramodern shrine to the other white meat... edit: After returning for dinner last night, i’d put the food score at 4.75. We shared the suckling pig and sweetbreads dishes, which were really worthwhile. The Kumamoto oyster was a bit gritty with sand or shell pieces, otherwise everything was flawless. Right up to the pigpen corral tables which were surprisingly un-claustrophobic. Oh yeah... and Older Viscosity on tap :)

October 17, 2009
This was a nice place to try in Chicago, but honestly my wife and I liked the Bristol better (granted we live in Bucktown). Large open space. The food is solid, but I feel a little expensive for what you get. The beer list is incredible, but the draft choices are more affordable and very good. They had some stuff there on tap I wouldn’t even see at places like Map Room. Good place and I could see going back there again, but it probably won’t be for a little while. A little loud.

July 4, 2009
After listening to all the hype I guess I was setting myself up to be disappointed, and that’s what happened. The setting is cool, a high-ceilinged Euro bistro. The food is served family style, which means the four of us got to try five entrees. The chicken was excellent, the fish and the others good but hardly memorable. The beer list is impressive, although it seems designed to convert wine snobs more than to appeal to beer snobs -- not a single Imperial IPA on the long list, but plenty of Belgians with the most European sounding names they could find. The beer sommelier is knowledgable and very attentive, the other staff members so-so at best. But the food was overpriced and the beer more so -- bottles I can buy at Binny’s for $14 were $35. I expect to pay more in a bar or restaurant, but not that much more.

June 30, 2009
Great place to try. One of the more unique restaurants I have been to- can honestly say that I have never seen anything like it- in a good way. Great food and a solid selection of beers- some rare belgians

April 5, 2009 [ Updated April 13, 2009 ]
Great restaurant. Menu is focused on fresh and regionally sourced food broken in to categories for oysters, fish, meat and vegetables. Service was really good with the waiter helping us guide our food choices and he was knowledgeable about all of the beers I asked about. Some beers are overpriced but others seemed reasonable. The food is excellent and well prepared. Beer list is good and variable but represents a good range of styles from English Bitters to Lambics.

March 2, 2009
I should probably give these guys a 2nd chance. I went for the Pizza Port beer dinner. What a disaster! They were bringing the beers with the wrong courses, and no matter how much I coached them, they never got it right. I complained there, and sent an email afterwards, but not one single reply. As best I can tell, they neither wanted or needed me as a customer. On another note, they have the most awkward bar I have ever seen. Bartenders and taps above you, and no place to set your food or beer in front of you. It is like they don’t want you to get comfy at their bar, so they made it untenable. They did (do?) have Pizza Port beers on tap, so that could be the one plus. Otherwise, sloppy, arrogant, overpriced, and unable to provide basic service to a customer.