They say the good things in life are worth waiting for. Thus, a restaurant with the explosive flavors and chic decor of Au Cheval should be worth waiting a while for. Or in our case, one and a half hours.
Granted, it was a Friday evening and the restaurant does not take reservations.
That being said, I would totally accept the long wait time for a chance to dine there again. My date and I ventured out to this hip section of West Loop at my date's recommendation. A lot of pressure falls upon the restaurant recommender, especially on a first date. He passed with flying colors, or should I say "frying" colors after ordering three delicious items from the menu to share.
The first was a side of thick cut peppered bacon which was absolutely phenomenal. The bacon was tender and marinated in a slightly sweet, slightly peppered glaze that oozed perfection. Perfect to share.
The second was the General Jane's honey-fried chicken with chile, sesame and cilantro. A spin-off of the traditional Chinese dish, General Tso's chicken, the entrée was an intense combination of sweet and spicy. The chicken was well cooked and glazed in a sauce that combined notes of honey with the spicy tones of chile peppers. What a kick.
The third was the crispy potato hash with duck heart gravy. Quite possibly my favorite. It's breakfast-for-dinner done in a chic, sophisticated manner. The combination of the crispiness of the hash browns with the soft and creamy texture of the duck heart gravy was inspiring. Hopefully you have a history of great cholesterol before you indulge in this entrée...
The modern, dark ambiance of the restaurant is both relaxing and invigorating. A great place to dine and spend your weekend.
Overall, Au Cheval is now one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in the city of Chicago. The food is fantastic, the ambiance is awesome & the servers are spectacular. Will definitely be dining here again and recommend it to all of my readers!
Mary
Au Cheval
Thick Cut of Peppered Bacon
General Jane's Honey-fried Chicken with Chili, Sesame Seeds & Cilantro
Crispy Potato Hash with Duck Heart Gravy
