Menachem Lehrfield

Review of Shallots Bistro

Wow. What an experience! 1st off, I'll begin by sa...

Wow. What an experience! 1st off, I'll begin by saying that I'm a New Yorker and have been to almost all of New York's (kosher) steakhouses... That being said, let's just say that this place outshines almost every NY joint except for maybe Reserve Cut which is probably unanimously the holy grail for kosher beef. The aesthetic at Shallots is elegant and chic, yet so cozy and laidback. It was truly refreshing coming from NYC where steakhouses are usually jammed and noisy etc...At Shallots, it's mostly full but there's this calm and chill vibe about the whole place. Now for the real good stuff: The food. It's simply delectable. Delicious dishes with a huge variety, all cooked to perfection. The sweetbreads are also awesome! And a huge plus is that the portions are so generous. You really get your bang for your buck. Desserts were also very tasty and funky looking. The service is impeccable too. Staff is super friendly and attentive. Douglas the manager is a delightful guy, that walks around making sure everyone is happy. We enjoyed a lovely chat with him about kosher cuisine and he was super knowledgeable about the whole industry in general...A must-go if you're in Chicago for a visit. It's not cheap, but hey, neither is a Mercedes. ;)
Also, remember that kosher restaurants must charge more money simply because 1) Kosher meat is much more expensive 2) They need to have a full time "mashgiach" ensuring that all the food and ingredients are kosher in accordance to all the proper guidelines.