Erwin (Reported Closed)

Doesn't Recommend

therapist08

Joined 5 years ago

A supreme waste of time. My husband and I live in the lakeview area and decided to give Erwin a shot one night as we were walking by with our son. We had our stroller with us and the host sat us pinned into a corner, so much so that the bus boys had to pass hot plates of food across the stroller and over our son. Our waitress was one of the rudest we have come across, talking by the bar for 10 mintues with staff before even bothering to approach our table. She forgot to drop the order for one of our appetizers, and we when asked where it was she stated, "you never ordered that." She never came back to check on our entrees and took forever to cash us out. As for the food, it was paired oddly and one dish was cold that was supposed to be hot. The dishes looked as if they had sat under a hot lamp for awhile, and the lamb/duck combo was tiny in portion and served with the blandest mixture of lentils and vegetable. I felt as if we paid Euro prices for sub-par food, and it was obvious that the waitress felt as if we should be serving her. Never again.

Recommends

ordgrrl

Joined 6 years ago

Nice ambience, waitstaff friendly, food is okay. I had seen Erwin on Halsted and it looked like a place that I definitely wanted to try. The menu selection is pretty creative. I did enjoy the onion and blue cheese tart. I had ordered the salmon with lentils and thought it was good (but just slightly bland). My husband did not enjoy his hamburger because they added to many onions and spices in it and he was expecting a basic burger, but I had a taste and thought it was pretty good. Our friend had the jambalaya and did not feel so great afterwards. Our wait staff was very friendly and they kept our waters filled. I had two Kir Royal's and thought it was very good. We all liked the ambience, but though the food was pretty average.

Recommends

mrtrumbe

Joined 11 years ago

Great food, simply.. erwin uses foods many chef's wouldn't think to touch and the results are wonderful. All seem to me to be seasonal and at their fullest flavor, such as sides of corn salad or turnips, or starters like gaspacho or chicken livers in an apple, spinach and onion salad. Their menu mainstays are also wonderful, and include such heartland fare as duck and venison, rainbow trout, and a caramelised onion tart with blue cheese, walnuts and sage. The wine list is extensive and the staff knowledgable and attentive, though they can be occasionally overwhelmed on a busy night. This is a family affair, adding a friendly touch. The crowd is generally older and the room isn't exactly hip, but it is welcoming and comfortable with a cottage-like feel. erwin is a satisfying experience with reasonable prices, I highly recommend it and dine here often.

Recommends

Elisa Kronish

Joined 10 years ago

Lakeview fine dining favorite mingles serves up the flavors of the heartland in a comfortable American atmosphere.. The Scene
Urban sophistication and provincial Americana combine for a comforting atmosphere. The bar's moody, dark hues and gracious bartender entice waiting diners, while the airy dining room fills with exuberant conversation. Charming accents play up the establishment's sense of humor, like mini-silverware napkin rings and sparkly chair cushions reminiscent of old banana bicycle seats.

The Food
Chef Erwin Drechsler anchors his seasonal menu with heartland ingredients (calf's liver, roasted chicken, duck and venison, pork chop, pasta with rabbit). Start with catfish coated with a crispy breading and sesame-ginger vinaigrette. Order caramelized onion tart only if you love blue cheese--it overwhelms the dish. Wood-grilled salmon gets sweet treatment with a sticky shallot-ginger jam. An excellent duck-and-venison combo is complemented by parsnip-apple hash and sun-dried cherry pan sauce--not for light eaters. Desserts twist standards with incredible results. Try the farmer's market crisp--ours had pears and cranberries with plenty of baked, crumbly topping and vanilla ice cream.

Doesn't Recommend

blacknef

Joined 9 years ago

What a Joke. As a frequent visitor to the fine city of Chicago, I expected more from Erwin's. The service was unfriendly, confused, unorganized and extremely slow with service. The brunch menu was limited, delivery time of meal was unexceptable; the food was bland and ordering a drink nearly impossible. I don't know what upset me more, that the valet dropped my keys off in the middle of brunch;the $2 per person "cakage" fee, (which took 30 minutes for the kitchen to slice a cake for eight people),or the fact that the cake was served on old stained cracked plates. I wish I had two extra thumbs, so I could give Erwin's four thumbs down.

Recommends

jaynel

Joined 9 years ago

Pure pleasure. The waitress was knowledgeable and friendy. The food portions ample. I really enjoyed the antipasto appetizer. The viniagrette was mouth-watering! My husband had the duck and venison cooked exactly the way he liked it. We will go again and again.

The cosmopolitan from the bar was pretty delicious too.

Recommends

bluetulip

Joined 11 years ago

Excellent. Nice, clean space with a cozy neighborhood feel. The waitstaff is professional, friendly and unobstrusive. The food is fantastic--everything we've ever ordered has been wonderful. Special favorites: halibut, caeser salad, mushroom cakes, smoked chicken risotto. Ample portions and great wine list, too.