Restaurant Week is THE BEST because you get to experience so many amazing menus for unbeatable prices. This year, my foodie crew and I went to Bellemore in the West Loop. Let’s dig in…
AMBIANCE
The pictures say it all. I want the interior designer of this restaurant to design the space of literally anywhere I live!
Restaurant Week Dinner Menu ($48 per person)
What I ordered
COCKTAIL…
I ordered the Smokin’ Berries cocktail but got tequila instead of mezcal because I am not a fan of smoky flavors. This may just be one of the best drinks I’ve discovered in the city. Nothing beats a cocktail that has the effects of tequila without the taste of tequila. It was so strong (and I had two!), and you would never know there was alcohol in this drink. I loved it so much…. TOO MUCH!
FIRST…
I chose the Venison Tartare because I never usually order anything tartare, and this version of tartare sounded unique. For future trips to Bellemore, I would totally order this again.
The other popular dish at our table was the Kona Kanpachi and everyone who tried it (including me) really enjoyed that as well.
SECOND…
I loved this Rigatoni dish. I want to put that duck ragu on EVERYTHING. It was just spicy enough. My mind was so blown by how pasta could be elevated in such a phenomenal way. Again, I would totally order this on future visits to Bellemore.
I chose the Rigatoni because I don’t like jalapeños (in the Brussels Sprouts) and I don’t like ham (in the Shrimp & Grits). Others in the group ordered the Shrimp & Grits, and I did not try it.
THIRD…
The Herb Roasted Chicken was unlike any other chicken dish I’ve had before. My favorite component of this dish was actually the crispy maitake mushrooms. They were out of this world and wish I could eat them paired with every entree I eat from that point forward.
I was debating between ordering the chicken and the Skirt Steak, but I don’t like hollandaise sauce, so I opted for the chicken. I would definitely try a different entree next time I dine at Bellemore, but I’m glad I had the experience this trip!
SWEETS…
My favorite part of this meal for so many reasons! First and foremost, I love dessert… DUH!
This Sticky Banana Cake was so good I seriously wanted to lick the bowl. Everything about it was perfect. I would order it again and again and again!
What I wore
We were there on a Sunday night, so I went with a dressed-up casual look if that makes any sense.
I was wearing booties with skinny jeans and the rest is clearly pictured here. You can get away with jeans and a nice top for sure. I suggest wearing leather boots in winter or nicer sandals in summer.
Future Visits to Bellemore...
I will totally return to Bellemore for Happy Hour. I loved the dinner service, but I just would want to give myself another type of experience there.
Happy Hour at Bellemore is Monday through Friday from 4:30pm – 6:30pm in the bar area only.
Their current promotion is $1 oysters, $5 cocktails (bartender’s choice) and half-price bottles of wine (up to $100). I really loved the ambiance and would love to return there for a couple more drinks!
