Red Rooster: Quirky, Cozy, Fun

It's been a while since my last post and I apologize for being so neglectful. I won't list my excuses. Instead, I 'd like to talk about Red Rooster (http://www.cafebernard.com/Redrooster/). The place would most likely stifle and freak out the claustrophobics in the summer, but in the winter it has a welcome coziness that I have not yet experienced in Chicago. It is connected through the kitchen to Cafe Bernard but has a more relaxed atmosphere and menu.

Let's start with the appetizers: Snails in Garlic Butter, Smooth Duck Liver Pate and Acorn Squash Soup. The snails were adequate, but if that's what you're craving, I'd send you to Marche (reviewed previously). The version at Red Rooster was too garlicky and a bit too chewy. The Duck Liver Pate was tasty, if you're into that kind of thing, and it came with a playful, tangy mustard, which was duly appreciated. The Squash Soup was my favorite - smooth, not too sweet, great color. Excellent for fighting off the cold. And as an aside, my oh my, it's getting just about as cold as I can handle. I am so not looking forward to finding out just how much colder it CAN get around here.

For second course I got the Spinach Goat Cheese Salad, B got Beef Tenderloin Tips Stroganoff and a friend got Duck Confit. My salad had a yummy vinegarish dressing, but a smallish piece of grilled goat cheese. The best part was the fresh crisp Belgian endive. Beef Stroganoff was a loser all around. The sauce was a blah and there wasn't that much beef. My friend did like Duck Confit though and he's a duck fan, so perhaps I will try that next time.

And now on to what seems invariably to be the best part of Chicago restaurants... the dessert. I had the Cappuccino Cheesecake and my friend had the Marjolaine cake. Both were good with slight preference going to the cheesecake. I liked that it was not too dense and not too fluffy, not too sweet and not too chocolaty, which sometimes regretfully happens to cappuccino flavored pastries. I liked it a lot and thought well of the moist fluffy layers of the Marjolaine cake as well.

All in all, Red Rooster is a pleasant unusual spot where, for once, the prices successfully correspond to its culinary offerings, and where I would love to go with a small group of close friends to relax, drink some wine and talk into the night.