Powerhouse Restaurant & Bar -- CLOSED

12/19/08

Kiten Staff Walks

by afottel at Citysearch

Used to love the place. Great atmosphere and food, until the kitchen staff left in Fall of 08. Hasn't been the same since. Spend your high $ elsewhere

12/23/07

Great place to take the CEO

by lroy67 at Citysearch

On our latest trek into the city we tried the new Powerhouse. I would describe it as a very good place that will be a can't-miss place once it loosens up and the service becomes as inviting as the food. Reading that the building used to be a working powerhouse with boilers and generators, our initial impression was that the interior was a little austere. Tasteful and grown-up, yet uptight. It would benefit from a little bit of soul and spontaneity. Our server was nice and she answered our questions adeptly, though she seemed nervous. We had a hard time unwinding until the food started arriving. Powerhouse subscribes to the small food/big plate approach, but the warmth, and the creativity and the passion of the chef really came through. For appetizers, my friends had the lobster risotto and it was great to actually see some lobster. I had the delicious sweet onion soup, which they poured into my bowl at the table. For my entree, I had the venison and it was phenomenal! The sommelier recommended a wine that was just perfect, though his demeanor was also a little tense. For desserts we split the sweet potato donuts and the panna cotta, and both were luscious and tasty. Perfect for a cold winter night. The food overall was absolutely excellent. Everyone on staff seemed to be great at their jobs and hardworking, yet their nervousness made it hard for us to really relax. While we appreciated their professionalism, a few friendly smiles would have warmed things up for us a great deal. The bar looked a little more laid-back.

• Pros: food and drinks

12/13/07

West Loop respite boasts fancy food, a thoughtful wine list and a playlist mercifully absent of electronic music.

by Fred Schlatter at Citysearch

The Scene
Subtle banners signal the entrance on a dim side street. Inside, an entire foyer separates the bar-a lively, stylish, warehouse-like space--from the earth-toned, quiet and altogether calm dining room. Modern wall-to-wall carpeting softens steps; in fact, red drapes, upholstered booths and low ceilings all effectively dampen sound. Older couples and groups of business professionals enjoy the serenity.

The Food
The menu celebrates meat--pork and game--but executes even the heartiest dishes with finesse and without sacrificing elegance. Waitstaff warn of the sharp, raw garlic in a romaine, boar bacon, quail egg and fried crouton salad, but the result is somehow refined. Raw apples do little as a foil for a rich braised pork belly starter; a bitter orange foam better contrasts buttery sea scallops in another first course. Crispy nuggets of arctic char are terrific alongside sieved egg and fried caper sauce. Carnivores will find no gripe with succulent double cut pork chop.

Hits: Serenity is honored here, making concentrating on one's company, the excellent wine list and the thoughtful food a real pleasure.

Misses: With the exception of the bar, the decor takes no chances. A shame, as the original space must have had at least a few interesting warehouse details.