Chicago: Bites & Cocktails at Sable

Our original plan was to go to the Purple Pig for some pre-dinner drinks (and bites) but they were packed and it would have been an impossible wait. We booked it over to Sable instead and thankfully found some seats at the communal table for our party of five.

We had dinner plans at Hopleaf but decided on a few bites. A friend was particulary intrigued by the beef jerky. It’s good but it is beef jerky. This would have been a great snack for the bar but I felt a bit awkward gnawing on it in the lounge.

 

We had a couple rounds of drinks but I wasn’t keeping track of what my companions had. They were all well-done and executed. Classics like the Aviation were done well. The cocktail list is quite extensive. And I liked that the bar manager as well as all the bartenders are listed on the menu. Some had drinks on the menu and credit was given to them.

 

I wanted to try the truffled deviled eggs. Then realized they were made with truffle oil. Why didn’t I realized it wouldn’t be shaved truffles. These did disappear quickly so you can ignore the grumblings of a food writer.

Kentucky Grazer (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Pimm’s, mint, lemon, celery bitters) was pretty interesting. I always like the use of celery bitters in savory or brunch-type cocktails. I thought this would have been a good eye-opener.

I love beet salads but didn’t have it in mind because I was eying the spaghetti squash salad. We got the beets anyway and I was glad we did. This was a better salad than the spaghetti squash. The spaghetti squash just sort of sat on the plate without really adding much to the greens.

But the best dish was the sweet corn creme brulee. It may have been late December but the corn was very sweet and I thought this was a great dish.

 

One of my favorite cocktails of the night was the Turning Point (Leatherbees gin, Combier peach, Cio Ciaro, Angostura bitters). The next time I’m in Chicago, I’m definitely sitting at the bar.

 

Sable Kitchen & Bar

505 N State St., Chicago, IL 60654  —  (312) 755-9704

© The Minty  2013