Palette Bistro

Slow service. Flat sprite. Forgot coffee order.

It’s incredibly rare that I am completely disappointed by a restaurant, but Palette Bistro managed to run away with that honor yesterday afternoon. My friends and I were looking for a casual lunch. Understanding that it was Easter Sunday, there were few options so when our first wasn’t available, we stopped at Palette Bistro. There were quite a few open tables both inside and out, so we grabbed a fourtop outside. That was pretty much the high point of the afternoon.
— We were seated at 1, drink order was taken 5 minutes later food order was taken by 1:15.
— We didn’t see our waiter for another 45 minutes. No — scratch that. We saw him plenty — chatting it up with other tables, laughing and relaxing — but never at ours to refill drinks or keep us updated on where our food was.
— When he showed back up at our table @ 2, he said the following: «Hey guys. Just so you know we have a 12 top that’s ahead of your food and then you’ll be up. So it should be another 5 to 6 minutes MAX. Is that ok?» …as though we had a choice. He then offered a halfhearted apology and was on his merry way.
— At 2:15, still no waiter or food in sight, I went inside to speak with the manager. After a brief discussion where I explained that we had been waiting an hour for our food, I asked if he could let us know what was going on. He assured me he would go into the kitchen and would be right back.
— A full ten minutes later, with no manager or waiter in sight, we left.
Definitely consider Palette Bistro if you aren’t hungry or thirsty and you don’t mind being completely ignored.

This place is awesome. We came in for brunch and shared the crab benedict and the burger. The crab benedict is awesome, with generous amounts of lump crab meat atop a toasted english muffin with a poached egg on top that bleeds out its delicious yolk when cut, merging everything together perfectly. They serve it with a nice side of sauteed red potatoes, crisped up and nicely salted.
The burger was even better. A thick pretzel bun, a juicy handmade and seasoned medium rare patty, a slice of smoked gouda, some caramelized onions, a few pieces of arugula, and some powerful garlic aioli. Wow! Every bite was awesome. And on the side they give you some really tasty truffle seasoned fries.
I am very excited to come back for dinner.

I went here during the week with a friend of mine and a Groupon. What a pleasant surprise. We were greeted by the manager, Nathan. He was very friendly and welcoming. We were quickly seated. Our waiter was Justin, and he was extremely helpful with drink selection and menu selection. Additionally, he also explained several things of the menu. Our server also did double-​duty as our bartender. The drinks were just like I like them; they were strong and flavorful!
We started with the pork medallion appetizer. It had great flavor. I had the steak option. Whatever is was served with had some amazing flavor. The other in the party had the fish option. It was small, but tasty. My option was quite filling, but theirs… not so much.
I enjoyed the food, drinks and service. The service was great from the management down to the individual who brought the bread for us. Kudos! Groupon, you got this one right.

Really cozy (albeit outdated) atmosphere in a quiet area. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wine list and incredibly attentive.
Started with the mussels and chorizo — a great appetizer even though the portion was a tiny bit smaller than I would have liked. For the entrée, I had the duck breast with gnocci, mushroom jus, and Captain Morgan braised peaches and it was perfect. Medium rare with a very crispy skin. Would order it again and again. My girlfriend had the sea bass with pumpkin ravioli. The bass was cooked very well and my girlfriend has been raving about the ravioli. Dessert was really the only letdown in the meal but I can hardly hold it against them. We had some sort of caramel apple concoction and it just missed the mark.

My husband and I came here for dinner this evening based on an amazon local deal we had scooped up.
This is a fantastic upscale date restaurant. I would even come back with a small group.
The staff was all very friendly. We really enjoyed that our server knew the menu extremely well and was very attentive.
For an appetizer we had pork medallions with a quinoa cake. This was a good portion for two of us and was full of delicious flavors.
I had the beef burger and would come back just for the burger. I am somewhat of a burger snob, and to me, this burger was fantastic. At first I was unsure of the pickled zucchini, but decided to try it anyways and I was very glad I did. The aged gouda caught my eye when I was ordering.
My husband had the seafood bouillabaisse. He wouldn’t order it again, it just wasn’t for him. He said it was tasty, but didn’t like how it had some zing to it and overall felt salty. I think the shrimp not being shelled kind of freaked him out a little. Then again, he would have been better served ordering a meat dish since he usually tends to shy from cooked fish dishes at restaurants.
The espresso chocolate cake was tasty, but only had a hint of espresso flavor. My husband said he would have preferred it to be a little less crumbly and I would agree. However, he couldn’t stop raving about the whip cream they served with it.
The tahitian vanilla gelato was delicious. It was a nice soft vanilla flavor and had a great texture to it.
They had an excellent section of wines, bourbons and cocktail specialties. I had the Nate’s French Twist and it was delicious. It was slightly jolly rancher-​esque.

I have to respect a business that is willing to acknowledge a mistake and do what they need to do to rectify it, even if it is to one customer. The new manager, Nathan, reached out to me via Unilocal and gave his apologies for my past negative experiences and offered to show the new Palette Bistro (along with their new small plates which are amazing! Pork belly? YES!)
I had brunch yesterday and our server, Jason, was as friendly as could be and very attentive. Nathan (the new manager) came out and introduced himself and again, reassured me of the changes that have been made to improve Palette Bistro.
The food was amazing, the crab omelet and crab eggs Benedict were out of this world.
Overall, my faith in Palette Bistro has been redeemed and I am more than happy to return and try more of their small plates!

On what was probably one of the last warm-​weather evenings in Chicago for about 9 months, my BFF and I decided to use my Bloomspot deal at Palette. We sat outside and had the sidewalk patio to ourselves. It was definitely a wine kind of night, and Nathan recommended an awesome California Meritage to sub for the Malbec that was out of stock. We ordered the crab cakes, mussels and cheese plate to share.
OMG.
There was — I kid you not — at least half a pound of cheese on the cheese plate. EIGHT FREAKING OUNCES. I die. Drunken Goat (Murcia al Vino for those who care), a brie or camembert, a Manchego, and a gorgonzola. Plus apricot and some kind of berry preserves, cornichons, etc.
Crab cakes were full of crab and not of breadcrumbs, and the slightly spicy mayo-​ish sauce was fab. The mussels were delicious, and I’m sure they would have been better with the chorizo, but I’m a wimpy pescatarian and asked to take it out. Next time I’ll go whole hog, as it were.
And our waitress was adorable!

Definitely one of the best places I’ve been to in Chicago!
The boyfriend and I decided to go out for a fancy dinner at the very last minute — called them two hours before to get a reservation and expected to get turned down. They were more than ok with it.
Turned out it wasn’t crowded at all — but I was happy. The inside was very intimate with dim lights and soft music. Perfect for a date night. Our server was beyond friendly but not overbearing. The menu was on the simpler side, so we didn’t need much time (more so because we were starving).
I had a fish dish and it was perfectly done. I’m usually very picky when it comes to fish but their entrees passed the test. He had the pork and he was really happy with it as well (I wasn’t, because he didn’t want to share any of the food). And the lava cake for desert? I still drool thinking of it.
I was surprised to see other people giving this place a bad review — maybe they had an unlucky experience, or maybe I had a very lucky one? Either way, I’m so glad to find this hidden gem in my neighborhood. Will for sure come back to try their brunch.

Quaint, unassuming, neighborhood spot, ideal for date night. On a romantic evening request the «alcove» table, nestled in a corner spot which could have easily housed a coat rack, but that ideally isolates you and that special someone into an ambience of your own. If that someone turns out to be not that special, the art pieces on loan on the wall will provide you with a welcome topic of conversation.
I greatly enjoyed the Filet Mignon with Bordelaise sauce. My date was pleased with his Stuffed Pork Loin, although he found my mash potatoes more tasteful and satisfying than his polenta, to the point of making it disappear from my plate. I, in turn, covertly picked at the Mac & Cheese, which he had ordered as a starter and I had declined due to my lactose intolerance. Turns out their Bacon Mac & Cheese was so good, that half a plate gone later, I had to pretend to have unselfishly sacrificed myself to surrender my side to him.
I have yet to enjoy a glass of Riesling out in their patio, but I’m looking forward to it when Summer finally decides to arrive in Chicago!

we came on wednesday night and was surprised at how small the restaurant is, and how slow/​intermittent the service was. I believe it was supposed to be a slow night, so there were only 3 people running the restaurant, the manager, a waiter and a busboy. The service was definitely spotty, and the food questionable.
angry mussels — ok, kind of expensive for 1 pound of mussels. we asked for bread several times, and they were forgotten.
oven roasted chicken — very good, loved the mashed potatoes as well
stuffed pork loin — unseasoned and with jello like polenta.
The food was not good, and the service spotty. The whole place was also under lit with 70’s love songs in the background. WHAT’S GOING ON???

I have been to Palette Bistro twice and have really enjoyed both times. This is a terrific neighborhood bistro. The food is prepared well and with love, and I really like that dishes come with a substantial serving of «real» vegetables, i.e. those that actually provide vitamins. Portions are very generous. Last night, 3 of us split the special appetizer of the day: mussels with a smoked paprika broth. They were not bad, but not the best mussels I’ve ever had. They were actually a little on the underdone side for my taste, but nothing to seriously complain about.
For my entrée, I ordered the escolar. I love escolar for its meaty and rich flavor. I know it can cause GI issues if consumed in a large quantity, and the generous portions at Palette may actually approach the «danger» amount. :) But it’s well worth it. It was grilled nicely and juicy in the middle. Side dishes were mashed parsnips and roasted carrots, brussels sprouts, and more parsnips. It’s simple food, but good. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and our server, Nathan, was terrific. They had run out of the pumpkin cheesecake for dessert, which was disappointing, but he offered to make us a bananas foster martini to try on the house. It was delicious! We also split a carrot cake, which was good but not my favorite style (not a fan of chunks in carrot cake).
All in all, this is a great spot for a relaxing dinner with friends or family. Wish it were closer to home!

Great brunch option.
I’ve had two of the benedicts here and both were awesome. The duck and the lump crab. Not diet friendly so cut the calorie counting for a day and indulge.
Bottomless mimosas is always great and it’s even better when they allow you to spend a few (three/​four) hours enjoying them. On my first visit we closed the place down and were welcomed to do so by the staff. If they had needed the tables of course we would have stumbled out willingly.
It hasn’t been busy either time i’ve visited and i’m not sure why because the food was great and didn’t I just mention BOTTOMLESS mimosas? I guess that doesn’t appeal to everyone. But either way, if you’re not into the mimosas at least go and try the food… your stomach will love you.
A reservation isn’t necessary for a small party but since it’s free then it couldn’t hurt to just make one in case brunch picks up.

I came here with 5 other ladies for Sunday Brunch. I arrived early and the waiter kindly let me begin working on bottomless mimosas. When the other gals came, he began bringing us carafes of various flavors (regular, pear, mango, peach), and except for a short while in the middle of the meal (perhaps he was pacing us), he kept them coming, even after we had finished eating. I broke my vegetarian ways for the lure of the crab benedict and it was worth it; it was deliciously decadent.
A great choice for a bottomless mimosa brunch!

My attitude on fighting the drunken hordes of youngins on «St. Patrick’s Day weekend» for a green beer is — been there, done that, bought the t-​shirt. Instead, I decided to get my boozy brunch on all classy-​like with a lovely group of ladies over at Palette.
The lure of bottomless mimosas and a tasty brunch menu lured us to Palette. Soon after arriving, we got down to brass tacks and ordered an assortment of mimosas. The nice thing about their bottomless deal is that (1) they are served in carafes and (2) you can mix and match flavors. I tried the pear and mango varieties, somehow missing the peach (I blame it on the bubbles), and reaffirmed my foregone conclusion — I’m a mimosa purist at heart. The mimosas were nice and strong and kept coming, we also never felt pushed to order or leave even once we’d finished our meals.
For those not fond of eggs or meat, I will say that the brunch menu is heavy on both, but there are options. As a hater of both, I went with the bagel with lox, although I was very tempted by the french toast as well. My meal came with a generous helping of lox accompanied by red onion, tomato, and capers. The presentation was nice, except for the mini tub of Philly which looked rather out of place. Given how creative they are, it would be nice for them to serve a homemade flavor like chive or put it in a stainless cup like the ketchup. Breakfast entrees come with a side of potatoes or fruit; I can’t pass up breakfast potatoes and these baby reds were quite tasty.
The bistro’s décor is pretty traditional. The walls have dark wood paneling and are lined with small paintings; the tables are dressed with white tablecloths and cloth napkins. I didn’t feel out of place in jeans, but it’s definitely a nicer place for brunch.
Brunch was not very packed, but they do take reservations which was perfect for our group of six. Service was very friendly and attentive throughout the meal and brunch prices were quite reasonable for the portion and quality of our food; I would definitely come back!

There are just some things in a breakfast/​brunch establishment that are non– negotiable. Coffee, for example. Not only is it not acceptable to have to wait fifteen minutes while a new pot is being brewed, but the coffee also cannot taste like dirty dishwater. Next, if I specifically inquire about an item on the menu– Like the crab omelette, please don’t get snippy with me and tell me «anything with crab is great.» Had the waiter taken a bite out of my crab and spinach omelette, he would have known that his statement was unequivocally false.
After about two cups of the dishwater coffee, our food arrived and we were horrified from first bite. My omelette (the anything with crab is great) almost made my veggie burger from last night come out the wrong end. It was not properly cooked with runny egg in the center and tasted like rancid fish with wilted whole leaves of spinach. I hoped to find comfort in my husband’s veggie omelette instead. As bad as mine was, his was infinitely worse. If I wanted to eat a salt mound I would have unscrewed the salt shaker and let it rip onto my plate. In fact, I’m quite sure that this is what the chef did to the veggie omelette– that or he was still drunk from the previous night’s St. Paddy’s festivities. Lord have mercy– somebody stop the salt invasion of the Bistro.
The fruit plate on the side was a sorry excuse of a side. Three to four tiny pieces of stale cantaloupe and four– yes, four– tiny grapes does not a side of fruit make. The potatoes which were to be «phenomenal» were no Better than just mere ordinary.
The final insult to this over-​proceed, snooty wreck of a restaurant was the toast. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no excuse for serving Wonder bread that’s ever so lightly toasted. There’s plenty of bakeries like Fritz’s right around the corner. Seriously, Wonder bread? What in the world are they thinking?
If you hold yourself out to be a nice restaurant, please get your brunch service and menu together. The greasy spoon diner down the street, S&G, has you beat. There’s just no excuse. Water goblets and white table linens will do nothing to save you from all of the above cardinal weekend brunch sins you’ve committed. Get it together Palette, please.
P. S. You know a place is bad when you’re getting a salt-​induced heart attack while Unilocaling about your experience 20 minutes after leaving the place.

Our waiter lied to us. Simply lied to us. And over the stupidest thing that, had he just told us the truth, would have allowed us to move on without a second thought. but he lied to us and that leads to a one star review. If you cannot hire someone that is honest, then you do not deserve anything above a one star.
Simply put, two of us at our table ordered sidecars. Nothing spectacular, nothing complicated. After ordering the drinks I glanced over to the bar and noticed both the bartender and our waiter looking over an empty bottle of Cointreau, essential to making the drink. Instead of walking over all of 8 steps to our table and saying, :Hey, I am sorry, we are out of Cointreau. can I get you something else?” He came over, served us the drinks made not with Cointreau, but with Amaretto, without saying anything. then denied knowing it was made with Amaretto. Even AFTER my tablemate said that the color of his drink was wrong. The waiter Flatly lied over something completely stupid. until I looked him right in the eye and said. «I know you know this is incorrect as I saw you and the bartender discussing it. you are not telling me the truth are you.?» And he admitted it… Really? See above. take 5 seconds, walk over, say Sorry. what else can I get you? Its a freeking drink, not heart surgery.
And, to the food… The pork chops were spectacular. absolutely perfect… the apple salad was pretty unimaginative and probably a mesculin mix that was out of a bag with about an eighth of an apple cut up. The filet mignon was overcooked and actually tough and the blue cheese topping was not a very good blue cheese. very little flavor… but I would have lived with it were it not for the cocktail issue.
I am baffled when a waiter and a bartender can have a silly assed conspiracy and try to b.s. a guest… and more baffled that management allows it… again, no matter how good the food or great the atmosphere… hire honest people… thank you.

I still love this place. They just didn’t blow me away they did on my first visit.
The charcuterie plate while still good– no longer comes on the beautiful platter with balsamic vinegar drizzled about. But the meats and cheeses were plentiful and artfully arranged.
We were all about comfort food on this visit and Palette Bistro delivered. We had the beef bourguignon and the cassolet with duck, sausage, and beans. Both were delicious.
This time we sat at a romantic table for two in the back that was perfect for a snowy night. And even though there was a birthday party going on nearby– we felt isolated and coddled– just what we needed given all that was going on in our lives.
Still tops in my book for a romantic night out.

Feeling amorous? Craving indulgence? Sounds like it’s time to strike a romantic chord in the cozy, inviting arms of Palette Bistro.
Yep, romance is what’s on the menu and then some! While Palette is self-​billed as a ‘romantic, neighborhood-​friendly’ dining establishment you’ll quickly see why… this quaint, dimly lit little treasure oozes intimacy and appeal from every candlelit nook and cranny. The vintage feel of magnificent wood and glass windows mixed with white tableclothes and fine wines make this truly the perfect wintertime destination radiating warm, sexy vibes. Do I small a makeout acomin’??
I guess if I’m lucky. What I surely do smell, though, are positively tantalizing dishes!
The menu has a very French/​Euro/​Global feel… think Traditional American meets Rustic French. Yep, that’s the ticket! Absolutely adored the starter of Bacon-​wrapped Sea Scallops — YUM! Pan-​seared and served over a generous bed of spinach leaves with pickled red onion and a bacon balsamic vinaigrette, it’s literally like 2 apps in one! Dishes of creamy, blushing Pasta All Vodka with salty prosciutto and sweet English peas and the juicy Apple Crisp Pork Chop (read: a HUGE bone-​in chop topped with Fuji apples and Panko, yo) were both downright delightful, impressive and flawlessly executed.
Needless to say, them were some damn fine eats, but still didn’t hold a candle to my shared combo of Rosemary Butter Chicken and classic Beef Bourguignon. Both were positively perfect in every way… bites of beautifully crisped chicken swimming in rosemary butter being alternated with nibbles of the most tender red wine braised roast…
:Eyes:Rolling:Back:Of:Head:
Just call me supper surprised and send me on my way! Neighborhood spots like this are hard to find, but worth the hunt. Get out your culinary compass and make your way to Palette, you won’t be disappointed.

You broke my streak!
Due to a healthy mix of alchemy, ESP and computer algorithms, I am the go-​to guy amongst my friends when it comes to selecting restaurants. Usually, I get oohs and ahhs. This time I got, «What chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?» and plentiful side-​eyes.
I suppose this experience can best be summed up as a HOT MESS.
Hot: the place was stifling! There was no a/​c in the restaurant and we suffered for it. The windows and doors were open, but tropical breeze, there was not. For being in the Windy City, this was one stagnant night. I saw my friend’s hair go from full to limp. My underwear stuck to me in places that… well, I should not discuss them in public forums. My buddy — a man of great patience — continuously wiped his brow and fought back annoyance of sweating into his food. Just getting through the meal was exhausting. Sweltering is only fun in saunas, steamrooms and beaches — and those all involve some aspect of nudity. Here, no nudity. Just heat. Not fun.
Mess: everything else. I knew the evening was starting on a bad note, when I could barely make out the menu. This place is DARK. Romantic lighting is low. Horror movie lighting is pitch. This was closer to the latter. And the music… no. I think we heard the entirety of The Light’s™ morning rotation. «Daniel» doesn’t make me want to get my groove on. Depending on my emotional state, it makes me weepy or contemplative. NOT.Romantic. Ever.
Okay, so bad lighting and music. What about the food? Heh. This. We asked our waiter about the deal of the evening. Soup/​Salad, Entrée & Dessert for $ 25. Sounds good. He rolled his eyes at us like we were cheap skates. «Do you, at least, want some appetizers?» he quipped. Translation: how cheap are you? Really? It’s YOUR restaurant’s deal! Incidentally, this was the last meaningful interaction we had with this guy. Foolishly, we obliged him and ordered the antipasti and portabella mushroom apps. The antipasti tasted like Water air with a side of Paper. Nothing. It.tasted.like.nothing. I shouldn’t have complained about that. «Nothing» tastes better than nasty. The other app? Nasty. The mushroom tasted like burnt garbage. I felt myself developing heartburn with every nibble.
But wait. There’s more! The entrée. I ordered the pork belly. I received pork jell-​o. It weebled, wobbled and made me gag. It was brown fat. Typically, bacon (amazing, yummy, delicious bacon) is made from pork belly. The only thing that could have been made from this pork belly was tears. Horrible. Laughingly, I anticipated dessert. I ordered the chocolate molten cake. There was nothing molten about it, but it was edible — so that’s a plus. My friends who ordered the passion fruit torte were disappointed. Imagine that!
We made it through the meal. We had dilated pupils, easy listening ear bugs, sweaty crevices, simultaneous indigestion & empty stomachs and headaches. But we made it. Then we got the bill. Turns out the reason for our non-​existent service was the automatic gratuity. At Palette, groups of FIVE or more are hit with the automatic gratuity.
Insult added to injury, all I could do was laugh. All my friends could do was strip me of my restaurant-​choosing privileges. Do you hear that, Palette? Baby was put in the corner because of you!
Hot.Mess.