4. Three Wise Fries (Coreanos) I'm sure that at some point, the trend of dumping any number of delicious ingredients onto a bed of steaming fries will get old. But now's not the time, thank goodness, so go enjoy the latest iteration of this fad at Coreanos, where spicy pork belly joins marinated chicken, beef short ribs, cheddar cheese and creamy "el Scorcho" sauce. A hot (both in terms of spice and temperature) mess in the most delicious way possible.
3. Bacon Tataki (Uchi) The artful construction and the espresso fish caramel sauce (briny yet energizing) are what really makes bacon tataki unique, but don't overlook the simply prepared pork belly. The porcine chunks anchor this otherwise light and fleeting dish and provide the crucial texture contrast to the crisp scallion snowflake.
2. Braised Portuguese Octopus with Pork Belly (Kata Robata) Proving a pig and an octopus can be friends, Kata Robata successfully combines braised Portuguese octopus with the fatty underbelly of a pig (no word on its ethnicity), along with a sprinkle of basil and some fingerling potatoes. It's not a relationship you see every day, but trust me, it works.
1. Scrambled Eggs with Pork Belly (Haven) As part of its "breakfast for dinner series" on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, Haven is offering sophisticated takes on matutinal mainstays. Its ramped-up version of bacon and eggs involves a prickly, sweet sorghum-glazed smoked pork belly, pillow-soft scrambled eggs, and a thick slice of zucchini bread. Make your dining companion order the chicken and waffles and you'll have a most delicious and comprehensive brinner.
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On the Menu
The Rosemont Social Club
A room with a view, plus great food and cocktails.
Christina Uticone
When a friend mentioned that the Rosemont Social Club was serving up delicious drinks and tasty bites (including my kryptonite, mac and cheese) right in my neighborhood, I was excited to check it out.
When the same friend mentioned that the Rosemont is located upstairs from Uchi and Southside Espresso, my excitement turned to confusion. "Upstairs? There's an upstairs there?"
As it turns out, there is an upstairs, a downstairs and an amazing deck with a great view of the city streets below; with several bars to choose from in one location, once you visit Rosemont you may not want to leave.
And then wait till you hear about the macaroni and cheese.
Located in the old Privé space, Rosemont Social Club has been open for only a couple of months, but even on a Wednesday evening there were folks mingling upstairs in both the inside and outside lounge areas. ("Rosemont" is a play on "Montrose.") To enter the social club, you must locate the dark blue door at the back of the building, which will bring you — speakeasy-style — into the downstairs bar area. Huge, cozy captain's chairs, upholstered in rich turquoise, line the bar; head upstairs to sit indoors or out. The indoor lounge has a Moroccan vibe achieved through red velvet banquet seating and cool tile, and then transitions seamlessly to the outdoor seating area, where you can sit under canopies or at the bar that faces the interior of the building.
We sat indoors, curled up on the red banquet seating that lines the walls. My friend and I split an order of the andouille macaroni and cheese and a plate of sliders. While we waited for our food to come, we started sampling cocktails (created by mixologist Curtis Childress), which were priced in the $10-$13 range. My first cocktail was garnished with a pretty rose petal, and my second was infused with violet flavors; in spite of the flowery theme, the drinks were balanced (read: not too sweet) and definitely primed the appetite. At my friend's urging, I also sampled her frozen mai tai (two rums, lime, orgeat, Cointreau and orange flower water), which was delicious and had me rethinking my "never order a frozen cocktail" rule.
To the food. The sliders were juicy, served on sweet Slow Dough buns and garnished with a tangy herb chipotle aioli and a giant olive. Sliders can sometimes be a little "meh," but these were cooked and built well, so they were as easy to eat on the last bite as they were on the first. Something about that olive on top: It's just a little thing, but it "made" the burger. The andouille mac and cheese was lush, with a creamy cheese sauce and big, spicy bites of sausage throughout.
While the food and drink were delicious, it was the atmosphere that really won me over in the end. Rosemont strikes a balance — with the decor, the menu and the service — that is both upscale and comfortable, and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
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