Girl and the Goat

One of the big hotspots in Chicago now is "Girl and the Goat."  This is the restaurant created by Stephanie Izard, who won Top Chef.  While we had heard the food was "too salty," we really enjoyed it (and did not think it was).  Situated in a happening restaurant scene (Randolf and Halsted), the inside was dark (but not obnoxiously), spacious, and sexy.  Staff was very friendly and helpful: we asked our server what she would order, and she gave us great recommendations!

One big piece of advice: while it would be a fun date place, try to go with a group of four.  We think this is a great number, because it will allow you to share more dishes, and yet still only have to order one plate of each dish.

Scallops - A must have.  We loved it (and were told by several people to get it).  They frequently change the preparation of the scallops, but I am pretty sure you will not be disappointed.

Duck - This was crispy duck tongue.  While it sounded awesome, it was just ok.  It was part of a salad with mandarin oranges.  Good, but nothing special.

Prawns - While the shrimp itself was good, the bed of lentils and polenta it was served on was really good.  Again, this dish changes how it is prepared frequently, so it may be different by the time you read it.  Probably a good bet nevertheless.

Goat Empanadas - At Girl and the Goat, you gotta get goat.  Goat can be pretty salty, so our server recommended this preparation for it (the goat dishes had their own menu!).  It is not often one can get goat, and so we were really excited about it.  We loved it.  

Ham Frittes - This was kind of boring.  Just fries (which were addicting, but just fries).  It had salt that was made from a ham, which sounded cooler than it was.

Green Beans - A winner!  This has been a staple dish since Girl opened, and rightfully so.  Prepared with a fish sauce vinaigrette and cashews, we would definitely get this again.  The beans were cooked to a crispy firmness that was perfect!

Mushroom Ragout - Dan's favorite. The official title was "Hen of the Woods Ragout."  It was ravioli stuffed with mushrooms in a shroom creme fraiche sauce.  We fought over this dish (for who would get to finish it... Dan won... Will literally licked his plate.).  

Pork Ribs - These were slowly cooked for ten hours, and just fell of the bone.  This was Will's favorite, and came with an incredible sauce.  This is another must have.

Chocolate - Our desert was similar to a chocolate brownie, with chilies and ice cream.  The play between hot and cold made the dish exciting and cohesive.  We were stuffed by this point, but insisted on finishing it.

In review, get: Scallops, Green Beans, Mushroom Ragout, and Pork Ribs.

Drinks: A great beer menu, but we went for wine.

Price: Around $55 a person, including wine.

Ranking: 4.25 / 5

Note: this restaurant has a Michelin Bib Recommendation.