Custom House Tavern

500 S. Dearborn St. (Congress Pkwy.) Send to Phone

312-523-0200 | Make Restaurant Reservations

Price

$$$$$

Aaron Deal redefines the tavern concept at this modern-minded seasonal spot.

Cuisine

Open

Lunch & Dinner daily

Features

Private room(s)
Full bar
Reservations suggested
Valet parking
Business casual

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Dining room at Custom House Tavern, Chicago, IL

There’s a warm, earthy vibe to this Printer’s Row dining room, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows hung with gauzy curtains, flagstone details and intimate booths and banquettes. Adding the “Tavern” to the “Custom House” venture---Shawn McClain is out---up-and-coming chef Aaron Deal (previously of Tristan in Charleston) has carved a new niche. Start in the lounge with Swan Creek deviled eggs made lively with house-pickled relish and Aleppo pepper or tasty beef tartare, which is a pleasant textural contrast to the melba toast on which it resides. To our dismay, impossibly fresh oysters, however, are overcome by acidic mignonette. When you’re ready to retire to the dining room---larger groups should ask for the secluded, semi-circular banquette---get the smoky escarole greens, a garlicky, modern take on Caesar with winter radishes and a soft-boiled hen egg in anchovy dressing. Kingfish confit isn’t to be missed: it’s ethereal and light with shavings of baby fennel, olives and Cara Cara oranges. Duck rice goes all out when foie gras is folded into the mix. Boneless saddle of rabbit with rabbit sausage, bacon and Sea Island peas takes comfort to the extreme. Pastry chef Bryce Caron’s compositions are no less intriguing. We especially enjoy the tender cube of brown butter cake with hazelnuts, a whirl of pine nut oil and huckleberry aigre-doux. And while some flavors and pairings work better than others, this is an evolution to watch.

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Custom House by Glossyp on 09/28/2009

This is a lovely restaurant and the service was worthy of five stars. The food was quite good though we were disappointed with the signature dish of braised short ribs - they were not particularly flavorful and the horseradish puffs had the merest whisper of that tangy bite one expects. The best dish of the night was the beef tartare which delighted us. The pommes anna with house made bacon was also excellent. The 'Black Chicken' zinfandel was a good match for the meal. Dinner for two plus the wine came to just around $300 - I think we'll try them for lunch next time!