LTHForum.com

Certificate as awarded to Sweets and Savories following this nomination.

I don't post much on this forum, but I think GNR is a great program.

I would like to nominate Sweets and Savories as a GNR this time around.

For those unfamiliar with Sweets and Savories, the food is French inspired, served in a cozy and friendly environment. But what really sets Sweets and Savories apart from from the herd is their outstanding tasting menu.

7 courses, $50. What else needs to be said. What do you get for $50? How about some foie gras? How about some perfectly prepared meat and seafood dishes? How about more desserts than your table could possibly eat? The $50 tasting menu is, in my opinion, the absolute best bang for the buck in the city.

Perhaps tasting menus aren't your thing. Maybe you're a burger and fries kind of guy/girl. Well, Sweets and Savories would be happy to hook you up with a Kobe beef burger, topped with foie and truffle mayo. Enjoy your fries cooked in duck fat with that.

Finally, let's say you're in the mood to splurge. Right now, Sweets and Savories is offering a white truffle tasting menu that includes 9 courses with wine pairings for $150. Pictures can be found here:

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=76033&view=findpost&p=1063848

Finally, the last few times I've been there, the place has been practically empty. I hate to say it, but they need the help. Heck, they don't even have a website.

So again, for your consideration, Sweets and Savories.

Sweets & Savories
1534 W. Fullerton Ave.
773-281-6778

Can you point us to some posts on LTH about Sweets and Savories? I have never been and I would like to read some other posters' opinions.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

No problem.

Nice thread here with some pics of the burger:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=212

More here on the white truffle dinner:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5493

Let me know if you have any other questions.

I heartily agree! In fact I'm heading back to S&S this Saturday. I just wish I could afford the white truffle tasting... I really, really wish I could afford the white truffle tasting ... *sigh*

I'm glad to see this nominination. I have been there for brunch 4 times, and each time, I left extremely satisfied with a wonderful prix fixe meal. Over the course of my visits, I've tried almost everything on the brunch menu, and everything is nicely presented and tasty!

Brunch includes various breads, an alcoholic beverage, choice of soup/salad/fruit, an entree, and usually a truffle to finish with for $16. The sweet pototo soup is a favorite of mine. The menu changes a bit each time, but all choices are sure to be delicious. The atmosphere could be jazzed up a bit, but the food, service, and value are well worth the visit!

I also wonder why this place doesn't get more business. I don't think I've ever seen an overall negative review. I can only think that maybe the location, not in a shopping/walking area, and maybe the small storefront don't help it get noticed enough. However, I know that it's been featured in the media many times. Maybe, it'll take a Check Please showing to get it more attention. I just hope that it survives and thrives, because it's currently one of my favorites. A meal there is incredible and doesn't leave your wallet empty. Try the weekend brunch or dinner there yourself!

A sure winner at Sweets and Savories is their $50 tasting menu. It is not listed, but is readily available, and includes some 7 to 9 diffrent items. I have had this a number of times since the restaurant opened (and before then at Chef's Station in Evanston, where he was formerly chef). You really get Dave Richards feels like preparing -- not the same items over and over again. His risottos are often superb. This is certainly a personal favorite of mine. I am almost certain I posted on this about a year ago, but can't find a trace of it ...

I think it's $60 now, or at least, that's what the waiter said to us when we were there the night before Thanksgiving...

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You've got that right, the risotto is awesome! We've had it for brunch there.

We had foie gras risotto as part of our tasting menu last night and it was simply outstanding.

I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Great nomination.

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The onions say "AAAHHH EEEESSE"

A most sincere thankyou to everyone at LTH forum for including Sweets & Savories on you best restaurant list!

Well deserved, Chef. Keep up the great work!

As the original nominator, it is my pleasure to put Sweets & Savories up for renewal.

If anything, I would say that Sweets & Savories has gotten even better over the last year/year and a half. The burgers are still fantastic and the desserts are out of control good.

The other thing I still love about this place is that food continues to be at a level comparable to many other more expensive restaurants, but the atmosphere is casual/homey and the prices are lower. That isn't to say this is an inexpensive restaurant, because it's not. But I feel a heck of a lot better spending $60 per person on food at Sweets & Savories than some other high profile openings over the last couple of years.

I wish I could add more, but there's been so much said on the restaurant's main couple of threads that I can't think of much else. All I can say is that I love this place, and it really has become by "go to" place when I want to guarantee myself a good meal without the pretensions inherent in some other restaurants.

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-Josh

An amuse bouche at breakfast is called a Bloody Mary - Scott Manlin

Sweets and Savories is a good example of a restaurant that, once put on the LTHForum map, stays there. Notable posts since the 2006 award include:

Eatchicago/JiLS, 8/24/06
GAF, 4/14/07
Ronnie Suburban, 5/02/07
Dickson, 5/02/07...

so far that's all in one thread, one post after another (my own is in there somewhere too). But S&S turns up regularly as an example of a small neighborhood place with big food. Suffice it to say that a steady stream of pretty wowed posts make S&S a restaurant that LTHers took to heart and continue to show affection for.

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It passes the "everyone I have ever sent or taken there loves it" test, too. I guess it even passes the "when I suggest we go there, no one says no" test.

Keep up the good work, David.

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d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

Still humming along, and maybe even better than when we first awarded the GNR. As I'm sure will come as no shock to anyone, I endorse Sweets & Savories for renewal.

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-Josh

An amuse bouche at breakfast is called a Bloody Mary - Scott Manlin

yep, I had a couple of very nice meals at Sweets & savories in the last 2 years. It's my favorite brunch place in the city, on account of the incredibly decadent breakfast risotto.

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...defended from strong temptations to social ambition by a still stronger taste for tripe and onions." Screwtape in The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

Fuckerberg on Food

Excellent food. Exceptional value. When I took 20 people there we received every dish on the menu family style, brought tons of wine and beer, and enjoyed an outstanding 3-hour meal for an extremely reasonable 40 dollars a head including tax and tip. I fully support their renewal.

I'm a fan of S&S. As others have mentioned, great food and a good value. BYOB doesn't hurt either.

I support this GNR.

REB

The prix fixe at Sweets & Savories has got to be one of the best fine dining deals in the city. In my opinion, the excellent food and the unassuming storefront make this little place the very model of a GNR.

S&S is my favorite way to show people visiting from out of town how incredible the food scene is in Chicago--a truly satisfying, ingredient driven, multi-course meal AND BYO for under $35. Hasn't let me down yet. And has always delivered a lovely, warm environment for special evenings. By definition, a GREAT neighborhood restaurant.

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

I've enjoyed 3 dinners & a brunch here.

The first meal was rushed. After that no problems. One of the best things I had last year was a sweet potato bisque. I look forward to going back.

Sweets & Savories exemplifies a "fancy" GNR.

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Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening

Over the last couple of years, I have eaten there three times - two excellent dinners, delightful, as always, and one Easter Brunch, late seating, and the whole place seemed to be careening out of control. I really do not hold that meal against S&S, though, more of a reminder as to how risky holiday dining out can be. It was the second time we had done an Easter Brunch there, and the first one was very good - I still remember that bacon and egg risotto with great fondness.

Still a GNR for me, without a doubt.

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d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

We had our family's big Christmas Eve dinner at S&S. All the out-of-towners were a bit skeptical of driving to what they perceived as a dicey neighborhood (although it's not - they just thought anything not within a few blocks of Michigan Ave. was suspect). My brother-in-law's comment: "This may be the best meal I've ever had in North America. This would be an outstanding restaurant even in France."

Definite renewal.

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I agree that places like S&S are, to me, what city dining should truly be like. Yeah, we get that big-name chefs downtown can do great things, but S&S is the go-to neighborhood place to relax, not be challenged, have a well-executed meal, and not have the bank broken. I was a latecomer to S&S, and don't go there as often as I should, but I strongly support renewal.

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