Baume & Brix

Earlier this week I went to Baume & Brix with a girlfriend. This restaurant opened about six months ago in River North by the chef who used to run the kitchen at Moto. The place is decorated to be cozy and modern with a gas fire place almost the entire length of the room and backlit walls. The chairs and light fixtures were also to die for.

Don't get me wrong, the food was good but my potato chip gnooci tasted like a glorified version of hash browns. My friend ordered the octopus that came with three dipping sauces and she said it was great. We were shockingly surprised at how empty the restaurant was. I think that this is because of the prices. They don't have many entrees under twenty bucks and there aren't any appetizers priced under ten dollars. This eliminates a lot of the young after work crowd who would be more likely to go to Siena Tavern or Central Standard just down the street for a similar atmosphere and better prices. That being said, the service was phenomenal and I would recommend this place for an after work cocktail or a date night on the weekend. There is also a bar downstairs called The Grid that I want to try.

And if you have an extra several hundred dollars to spend there is a private room that can seat six people. You can get as many courses as you want with wine pairings and the chef serves you.