Funkenhausen Mark Steuer Funkenhausen

Funkenhausen

1709 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Map
Cuisine: German / Southern
West Town bier haus mashes up Southern and Bavarian.
Openings: Dinner nightly, Brunch Sat.-Sun.

Features

  • Dress code: Casual
Funkenhausen, Chicago, IL


Funkenhausen Restaurant Review:



About the restaurant & décor: West Town's emerging restaurant row has a star in Funkenhausen, the answer to locals' search for a brunch, happy hour or unfussy date night destination. The single dining room brims with casual appeal. The front of the restaurant is prime real estate: a long table sits atop an elevated area awash with light perfect for group dining, while the rest of the clientele pull up seats at the bar or at one of the many banquettes lined against café tables. Modern flourishes mix the hard and soft; brass lighting, ferns, wood beams, cuckoo clocks and shiny tile enhance the simple space.

Likes: The well-edited happy hour menu is big on value and flavor, from the spicy smoked chicken leg to the Hot Schnitz Sandwich with Nashville glaze.
Dislikes: With heavy dishes such as spaetzle carbonara and truffle, mushroom and toast, we long for lighter brunch plates.

Food & Drinks: Chef Mark Steuer blends his Charleston roots and German heritage on a menu unlike any in the neighborhood. Steuer draws inspiration from family dishes, tweaking them to be lighter and his own. Case in point: The charred broccolini is a retake on his grandmother's and mother's own versions, this time with grilled broccoli, buttermilk dressing, cider vinegar-soaked golden raisins, toasted hazelnuts and chili oil. Herb-crusted rib-eye with sauerbraten beef jus is an option, too. Garlicky pretzel pairs with pimento-beer cheese and Alabama white barbecue sauce, a savory complement to the German-only beer on tap and the old world-heavy wine list. For fun, sip your suds with friends from a 34-ounce boot, an experience not limited to Oktoberfest. Among the desserts is the Black Forest crêpe cake.