Table Fifty-Two
(312) 573-4000
52 W Elm St
Chicago,
IL
60610
41.9031
-87.6305
Neighborhoods: Central, Near North Side
What People Are Saying About Table Fifty-Two
The Editor
Fred Schlatter
Citysearch
The Scene
The coach house for the Il Mulino mansion has a brilliant white fresh coat of paint which contrasts nicely with beech doors and chromed hardware. The single room is clad entirely in cream wainscoting, a handsome complement to a rust-colored tin ceiling. Massive copper lamps hang over a marble slab bar and a rustic pizza oven adds vintage flair. A dozen white linen topped-tables fill quickly with well-dressed, presumably local patrons.
The Food
The menu is very accessible--two pages of familiar and very familiar items, starting with complimentary piping hot biscuits, arriving tableside from a sizzling skillet. A napoleon of fried green tomatoes, bacon, goat cheese and tapanade is a rich starter. Local arugula is anointed with mustard dressing and dotted with grilled peaches--a near perfect salad. Entrees are big; one mammoth pork chop is ancho-rubbed and served with brussels sprout flakes and pickled plums. Seasonal buckle--recently blueberries baked with cross-hatched crust--wrap things up.
Hits: Art works magic with seasonal American ingredients, making things like unripe tomatoes and bacon seem very sexy.
Misses: The wine list leaves little for the patron looking to spend a minimum on wine and still get a decent bottle--an obnoxious fault considering significant markups on economy items like grits and potatoes.
User Reviews
trisamst
September 23, 2008
The place is beautiful! The service was great! The food was not good....I'm for real. My girlfriends and I ate lamb chops which were over cooked with a gaming taste. The shrimp and catfish were fishy. Our salad was just ok. The biscuits melted in my mouth..great job here. Overall, I would go back for the biscuits and the ambience.
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chgofoody
June 25, 2008
Myself and seven guests luckily got a table for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. A warm, friendly greeting awaited as we entered the beautiful, fresh looking dining room. The menu featured many down-home favorites, familiar food that insures satisfaction, even without a gourmet slant. The goat cheese biscuits were enjoyed by everyone as was the crabcake. I had the jambalaya which tasted no more special than any other place I have had it. The macaroni and cheese was good but not exceed expectations, especially since was made with penne--why not call it Three-cheese Penne? The hummingbird cake was liked by all and solicited the most oohs and ahhs of anything. Service was terrific and accomodating. The commanding prices were out of line with the food and ingrediants. We did not feel the wow factor, other than $700+ lunch bill ($80 was wine).
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diner121
April 27, 2008
I'm not one to write reviews, but I was so disappointed in this place I feel compelled to share - I just wish the maitre d' could read this because in other reviews it seems that rudeness is not uncommon at Table Fifty-two. Unfortunately, the last member of our party arrived almost 15 minutes late, which prompted our initial greeting to be an admonishment about making sure we were finished in order to seat the next reservation. In a place this expensive, I'd have hoped have met with a bit more class instead of open arrogance (they could have told their servers to make sure to help us move the experience along rapidly). The food was not extraordinary as expected - the fish was dry and the flavors were often over-powering (the cheese grits and fried green tomatoes were lost in strong flavors). Best food of the night were the pork chops and the honeyed sweet potatoes. The macaroni side dish wasn't macaroni -- it was cheesy penne pasta -- but was enjoyed by all. If this is Southern comfort food, I didn't see anything here that would have come right from Grandma's kitchen. Maybe I was turned off by the poor greeting, but I eat out 5 days a week as a road warrior and I just didn't enjoy my meal the way I was looking forward to. I'd just have to agree that this is one place that did not live up to the hype.
read full reviewThe Details on Table Fifty-Two
What to Drink:
The wine list is mostly American which works with the big brassiness of the menu. Curiously, reds out-price whites by a wide margin.
Fun Fact:
Yes, Art Smith of Oprah fame, is the chef, and yes he roams the room pampering guests with things like complimentary chocolates and gravy boats of extra sauce.
The Extras:
A tea room upstairs features cakes, tarts and savories for afternoon tea.
Know Before You Go:
The restaurant is available for reservations at specific seating times, call ahead to ensure your spot.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Romantic Dining, Quiet, Fine Dining, Notable Chef, Hidden Find, Date Spot
