On the Road Again: Restaurant Review-Chicago’s Gemini Bistro
(Photo Credit Neil Burger - Stronghold Photography, Jamie Hartley)
How do Duck Confit Nachos sound? Exotic, original, zesty: Gemini Bistro is not your average French-American restaurant. Located in the heart of Lincoln Park at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Dickens, the patio seating provides you with a scenic view of the contemporary and upbeat neighborhood. Sitting on the patio during one of Chicago's famous beautiful summer evenings, you are sure that you can actually feel the breeze blowing in off the lake and can smell the water. Gemini Bistro's interiors are warm and sophisticated, with rich tones of cream and dark chocolate for the walls, seating, and lighting. The darkly stained oak tables and soft lighting provide an easy elegance that is accented by a sleek, white marble bar occupying the middle of the room.
While the décor is certainly successful in establishing a polished but comfortable atmosphere, it's the food that most people are raving about. Gemini Bistro has an outstanding menu, filled with classic, French-inspired American food items in small, medium, and large plates. While on the upper end, the prices manage to squeeze into the reasonable range. The Michelin Guide to Chicago Restaurants 2012 has named it a Bib Gourmand pick, meaning they are highlighting the restaurant for its "excellence while on budget". Over two-thirds of the menu's entrees are priced at or under $25. When you take that first bite, the layers of bold flavors will take you by surprise and leave you wanting to keep eating long after you are full.
For my visit to the Gemini Bistro, I decided to sample some of the highly acclaimed favorite dishes. I chose the Slow-Braised Short Ribs, which are served with a rich, sweet and salty butternut-squash gratin. These are then both placed atop of a pool of black-truffle aioli sauce, causing the fragrant and intense flavors of the black truffle to soak into the dish a bit and fuse the flavors of each individual element. The combination of all of these elements creates a perfectly balanced dish, paired with meat so tender that it almost falls apart on the fork before it even reaches your mouth.
My dinner guest for the evening chose to go with the Steak-Frites, which may sound like a simple and even typical dish. However, this is a steak-frites dish unlike any other. The hanger steak is seasoned perfectly, and when you cut into it with your knife, the juices that have been sealed in during the cooking process come trickling out. The steak is served with a bordelaise sauce to provide an extra kick, but it is almost unnecessary to add anything to the meat as it stands alone. We made sure to pair our meals with a side of garlic spinach, and a side of the parmesan truffle fries which were equally fantastic.
Other notable menu items include a roasted salmon dish with Savoy cabbage, smoked bacon, and coriander vinaigrette; as well as a free-range chicken with whipped potatoes and a mushroom ragout. Their salads are always a fresh delight and there's even a three course prix-fixed menu for $32, that is only served between 5:00-6:30pm.
During your visit, make sure that you treat yourself to one of Gemini Bistro's original cocktail creations, like their famous, original "Squirtsky," which is made with Finlandia grapefruit, fresh lime, fresh grapefruit, and soda. Their desserts have created quite a stir around the city, many hailing the crème brule as near perfection and a must-try.
Next time you find yourself heading to Chicago for a trade show, you must remember to investigate this gem. Every item sampled exceeded expectations, and the restaurant is causing quite a stir in the media with its exceptional cuisine and affordable pricing. You owe it to yourself to see what the buzz is all about.
About the Author
Michelle Burbick is an ABOUTFACE Journalism Intern
Trade Show Exhibitors Association