The Bedford Celebrates 5 Years

It's hard for me to believe that it's been 4 years since I moved to Chicago.  Time really does pass so quickly!  I vividly remember my first few weeks in the city, in the cold month of January.  A new-found friend of mine was having a birthday party at The Bedford, which I had never been to, but was told it was a great place for a night out in the city.   

Walking through the front doors, down the stairs, to the candlelit restaurant and bar for the first time, felt like walking into a secret club.  Vintage vaults decorated with plush seating and chandeliers, marble floors, gold-lined walls - the decor and ambiance oozes luxury.   Needless to say, The Bedford set the "bar" (pun intended) pretty high for all of the other bars and restaurants I would discover in Chicago!

This past week, The Bedford celebrated 5 years of business, with exclusive events and specials every day.  My friend Sarah and I got to celebrate with The Bedford on Tuesday, the opening of their week-long celebration.  The special of the evening was the Anniversary Burger.  I was impressed by how juicy and flavorful the burger was, and even more excited to learn that I could enjoy it every Tuesday with a craft beer for just $10!  

We also sampled the Tuna Poké, new to the menu, the Beef Tartare and the Grilled Octopus, from the Small Plates offerings.  The presentation of each plate was beautifully done, especially the Beef Tartare topped with an egg yolk!  Picking a favorite would be tough, but the octopus was so unique, it definitely stood out as one of the most memorable dishes.  

Beef Tartare

Octopus

Tuna Poké

Another new menu item that we sampled was the Sunchoke Ravioli with sunchoke filling on top of a spring onion sauce, with sautéed sunchokes, parmesan, and crispy leeks.  While this entree is small in size, it makes up for it with an amazing flavor!  

Sunchoke Ravioli

No dinner would be complete without dessert!  We chose to cap off our evening with rosé and some of the tastiest donuts I have ever had - strawberry rhubarb jam filled, with a chamomile glaze.  

For the past 5 years, The Bedford has been a late-night party destination, consistently drawing a crowd and a line out the door.  With this latest renovation of their menu and a strong commitment to providing not only delicious, but unique food offerings, it is apparent that The Bedford is now all grown up.