Located in a 1920s Chicago Historic building that once housed a social center for immigrants, Trenchermen opened in 2012 keeping the spirit of that social center alive. Their dining room was created to be a warm and inviting space while the bar space was created for people to stop in for a drink or to have a leisurely dinner with friends.
Kevin and I visited Trenchermen for Chicago Restaurant Week last year and it has been one of my favorite meals to date. The menu was a four course prix-fixe with several options for each course.
For my first course I chose the Beets with Burrata, Pistachio, Black Olives, and Nasturium. I can’t seem to get enough of burrata and the beets in this dish were the perfect compliment!
Kevin opted for the Octopus with Posole Broth, Masa, Marrow Beans, and Crispy Corn which was another beautifully prepared dish.
For our second course we both chose the Kale Salad with Vegetable Escabeche, Bagna Cauda, Avocado, and Sunflower Seeds. I loved every bite of this salad and would order this again and again.
The Artic Char with Beluga Lentils, Pumpkin Seeds, Sage, Squash, and Brussels Sprouts was my entree choice. This dish was another home run for me as I loved every bite!
Kevin went with the Pork Shoulder option which was served with Bulgher, Broccoli, Pickled Vegetables, and Black Bean. The pork was tender and delicious and paired well with the other ingredients.
Finally for my dessert course, I picked the Trenchermen S’Mores with Dark Chocolate, Popcorn Ice Cream, House Graham, and Smoked Mallow. I usually tend to be more of a savory than sweets kind of girl, but this dessert was so good! I loved their take on the classic s’more!
Kevin chose the other option which was Carrot Cake with Candied Carrots, Dates, Toasted Coconut, and Chai Ice Cream. Also, a fantastic dessert option!
In addition to their wonderful dinner menu, Trenchermen also serves brunch which I had the pleasure of experiencing this past weekend with some girlfriends. Their menu has a great pastry section which I started my meal out with their Gluten Free Apple Carrot Muffin with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing. The muffin itself wasn’t overly sweet which I appreciated because the icing added just the right amount of sweetness to the cake.
For my meal I ordered the Eggs ‘Florentine’ which five of the seven of us ended up getting. The Poached Eggs were served over Crispy Grits and Smoked Kale and topped with a Tomato Hollandaise. This was served with a side of Brussels Sprouts which of course was a win in my book. I loved their twist on a classic dish and I now prefer all of my eggs benedicts to be served over cripsy grits!
Trenchermen is a great spot for both dinner and brunch. I highly recommend making a reservation during Chicago Restaurant Week as their menu this year looks just as good!
Trenchermen is located at 2039 W. North Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood
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