CHICAGO ETA RESTAURANT AND BAR
When first arriving in the glamorous lobby of the Loews Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, you will see the entrance of ETA Restaurant and Bar. The name ETA honors Chicago in many ways. Everything in the restaurant works to honor the rich history that the city has with the railroad industry. Even the mix drinks have cute names like red line and express train because of this unique theme. If you are looking for an upscale dining experience in the heart of Chicago, this it the right place!
This stylish and cozy establishment offers up a great environment for travelers to unwind and enjoy some amazing food and drinks. Once we were settled in, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience at ETA. After a long day of traveling, it is so nice to sit back and have a nice meal prepared by talented chefs.
THE ETA EXPERIENCE
First of all, the starters themselves come in very generous portions. The avocado toast was inspired and added a nice touch to the already popular food. The added egg and salad gave it something extra that you never knew you needed. Along with starters, the beef tartare was the best I have had. It included scallion aioli with quail egg and petite greens. The amazing bread served with the tartare set this dish over the top.
After you are careful not to fill up on starters, you will be delighted to try one of the main courses offered at ETA. With top quality steaks, roasted bird, and ribs on the menu, you really can’t go wrong. Even the vegetables at ETA were done perfectly.
The crispy brussel sprouts I had with the roasted chicken were amazing. I honestly couldn’t believe that brussel sprouts could even be this good. They came with a cider glaze that gave a nice sweetness to the crispy and salty sprouts. The roasted chicken was an Amish half chicken that was served in a creamy sauce.
THE DESSERTS
As a lover of sweets, I was excited to try the desserts after an already amazing meal. There were three listed on the menu, so we decided to get them all to split.
Everything was done well and with care. My personal favorite would have to be the blood orange creme brulee. I had never had creme brulee flavored this way, and I am honestly not exaggerating when I say that it was amazing.
One of the other dessert options included a chocolate gianduja cake, which is topped with praline grains and garnished with fresh bananas. The last option is the fromage blanc cake which consists of strawberry rhubarb and strawberry sorbet.
OVERVIEW
While the restaurant is on the pricey side, that is expected because it is a fine dining experience. With the quality of service along with the quality of food, you will find that it is worth every penny spent.
After a long day of traveling, or if you are looking for a nice night out, this is a perfect place to have a drink and eat a great meal in the heart of Chicago.
*This is a collaborative post, but as always, all opinions are my own
