Girl & the Goat

Girl & the Goat Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant and décor: Chef Stephanie Izard --- winner of the fourth season of "Top Chef" --- partnered with Boka Restaurant Group's Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm (GT Fish & Oyster, etc.) on this fashionably unassuming West Loop eatery. Rustic details --- including brick and burlap colored walls, vintage ceramic tiles and Edison light bulbs --- meet a frequently changing, sharable menu. Most dishes reveal unexpected twists and turns.

About the food and drinks: Start with oysters, chickpea fritters or duck tartare. The restaurant's namesake, too, appears in ways you may not expect. For example, there's goat liver mousse, confit goat belly and goat empanadas with smoked blueberry. Desserts are every bit as off-kilter-tasty, so grab a seat next to the kitchen line to watch the frenetic action, and indulge in a fudge brownie sundae with shiitake ice cream. You'll find local beers on draft, as well as craft cocktails and a short list of wines by the glass. For something more casual, check out Izard's Little Goat Diner or Duck Duck Goat.