TABLE fifty-two
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 573-4000
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Dearborn Street
- Directions:
- El: Red Line to Clark/Division
- Hours:
- Tue-Sat 11am-1:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm, Sun 10am-1230pm, 4pm-8pm
Editorial Review for TABLE fifty-two – by Fred Schlatter
The Scene
The coach house for the Il Mulino mansion has a brilliant white fresh coat of paint which contrasts nicely with beech doors and chromed hardware. The single room is clad entirely in cream wainscoting, a handsome complement to a rust-colored tin ceiling. Massive copper lamps hang over a marble slab bar and a rustic pizza oven adds vintage flair. A dozen white linen topped-tables fill quickly with well-dressed, presumably local patrons.
The Food
The menu is very accessible--two pages of familiar and very familiar items, starting with complimentary piping hot biscuits, arriving tableside from a sizzling skillet. A napoleon of fried green tomatoes, bacon, goat cheese and tapanade is a rich starter. Local arugula is anointed with mustard dressing and dotted with grilled peaches--a near perfect salad. Entrees are big; one mammoth pork chop is ancho-rubbed and served with brussels sprout flakes and pickled plums. Seasonal buckle--recently blueberries baked with cross-hatched crust--wrap things up.
Hits: Art works magic with seasonal American ingredients, making things like unripe tomatoes and bacon seem very sexy.
Misses: The wine list leaves little for the patron looking to spend a minimum on wine and still get a decent bottle--an obnoxious fault considering significant markups on economy items like grits and potatoes.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Fun FactYes, Art Smith of Oprah fame, is the chef, and yes he roams the room pampering guests with things like complimentary chocolates and gravy boats of extra sauce.
The ExtrasA tea room upstairs features cakes, tarts and savories for afternoon tea.
What to DrinkThe wine list is mostly American which works with the big brassiness of the menu. Curiously, reds out-price whites by a wide margin.
Know Before You GoThe restaurant is available for reservations at specific seating times, call ahead to ensure your spot.
User Reviews for TABLE fifty-two
09/23/2008 Posted by trisamst
The place is beautiful! The service was great! The food was not good....I'm for real. My girlfriends and I ate lamb chops which were over cooked with a gaming taste. The shrimp and catfish were fishy. Our salad was just ok. The biscuits melted in my mouth..great job here. Overall, I would go back for the biscuits and the ambience.
Pros: Ambience, Service
Cons: Bad Food, except for the biscuits
06/25/2008 Posted by chgofoody
Myself and seven guests luckily got a table for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. A warm, friendly greeting awaited as we entered the beautiful, fresh looking dining room. The menu featured many down-home favorites, familiar food that insures satisfaction, even without a gourmet slant. The goat cheese biscuits were enjoyed by everyone as was the crabcake. I had the jambalaya which tasted no more special than any other place I have had it. The macaroni and cheese was good but not exceed expectations, especially since was made with penne--why not call it Three-cheese Penne? The hummingbird cake was liked by all and solicited the most oohs and ahhs of anything. Service was terrific and accomodating. The commanding prices were out of line with the food and ingrediants. We did not feel the wow factor, other than $700+ lunch bill ($80 was wine).
Pros: comfort food with some gourmet twist. Great service.
Cons: the wow factor is the price
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