Since my fiancé, Dan, and I got engaged, we’ve hardly been able to spend any time together. Between his work and travel schedule and my flights back and forth to Boston to plan our wedding, it’s been tough!
Last week, we had one night where we were both free (and in town) so I knew I wanted to plan a romantic date night for us to just unwind, catch up and enjoy some incredible food. A few of my friends had mentioned that Enolo Wine Bar on Clark Street is a great new spot to grab a glass of wine and some shared bites. So, that’s where we went!
When we walked in to Enolo, I was pleasantly surprised with the intimate and dimly lit space. I actually felt like the restaurant did a great job at making me feel like I had been transported out of downtown Chicago. There are probably no more than 20 tables in the entire place.
Since the space is small, our table wasn’t quite ready when we arrived. Normally it can be frustrating waiting for a table when you have a reservation, but the gracious host made it pleasurable! He seated us at the bar and gave us a delicious complementary glass of champagne. I hadn’t seen service like that in a long time and it was actually a nice way to start our evening.
When we sat down (we only had to wait about 5 minutes), we looked through the incredible menu and decided to try lots of dishes and share them all. This place is totally the type of restaurant you want to share at. From their incredible bruschetta to their innovative pizza and Panini options, the selections you’ll have at Enolo Wine Bar will surely impress any foodie.
The menu is actually curated and designed by the restaurants Executive Chef, Fred Keller, who prides himself in the from scratch ingredients used in all of his dishes. While I’m fairly certain you can’t go wrong ordering anything that Chef Keller makes, here are my 3 recommendations:
1) Stuffed Squash Blossoms: This seasonal menu item probably isn’t available for very long, so make sure you get over to Enolo soon. These blossoms are tempura fried and stuffed with an incredible lemony soft cheese mixture. They are served over an irresistible dill crème fraîche sauce. I could have eaten 100 more of these.
2) Brie & Apple Bruschetta: While I found all the bruschettas to be delicious, the standout for me was an interesting apple and brie combination that left me inspired to recreate it at home. It is a simplistic, yet thoughtful approach to creating a delicious bite. The lavender honey drizzled on top didn’t hurt either…
3) Fresh Mozzarella Salad: Normally I would never endorse ordering a tomato/mozzarella salad (since it can easily be created at home). However, in this case, you should order it. This is not even close to a traditional version. Not only do you get incredible heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, but they are decadently layered with oven roasted tomatoes and served with a fresh romesco sauce that takes this dish to another level.
Now normally, I end the review here and tell you to head over to the restaurant, but in this case, I have to mention the wine (it is a wine bar, right?).
I’m not much of a wine snob, but going to Enolo may turn me into one. With their perfectly curated wine list in front of me, I found myself ordering glass after glass (I ended up drinking 3 which never ever happens). It felt like every wine I ordered was better than the last. They also do a variety of wonderful wine flights if you’re up for it!
Honestly, you just need to head over to this amazing little restaurant. Whether you’re on a date and or just want a low-key night with close friends, Enolo Wine Bar on Clark Street is the perfect choice.
Love always,
Erica
