Note: This picture of the citrus salad is from the Province website.
Province
www.provincerestaurant.com
161 N. Jefferson St.
(norhteast corner of Jefference and Randolph)
Chicago, IL 60661
312.669.9900
The Background: Reva, Charlie, and I were at Province on Friday, September 11, 2009 for dinner. Reva and I were a little early and Charlie was a little late (which nevers happens). Prior to Charlie’s arrival, we (I, Reva doesn’t drink) ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, Grove Mill, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2007. I began my first glass, as Reva and I caught up on books and movies. However, when we started to worry, Charlie appeared.
The Food: Overall, the presentation of the food and the food itself were very good. I appreciated how the menu was arranged: bites, raw, soup/salads, small, big, bigger, and vegetables. Prior to ordering we were brought on a small piece of toast a tasty morsel of chopped jicama, corn, garlic and cilantro(?). I ordered the House Cold Smoked Salmon “Cone”. It was literaly a bite packed full of flavor. It could be conceivably two bites if you were on a date trying to impress someone. Then, I ordered the Green Acres Farms Beets & Radish Salad with goat cheese &olive oil. Now that was good. For my entree, the Gunthorp Farms Rabbit Confit in a marcona almond emulsion was tasty but slightly saltier than I would have liked.
Reva ordered the Softshell Crab Bisque with sherry and peppers for her first course. She loves her soup extremely, extremely hot and on that score Province delivered. We have eaten out many, many times and I cannot tell you how many times Reva will make the request for EXTREMELY hot soup only to get back warm soup. It boggles the mind but I digress. For her entree, the House Ground Cheddar Burger (with out brioche roll), potato frites, and house made ketchup.
Charlies first taste was the House Smoked Sable Ceviche with hawaiian papaya. I said it looked delicous and he agreed it was. His entre was the Lavender-Honey Glazed Rotisserie Natural Chicken with cress salad and salsa verde.
We all like the food because there was that two to three minute period when everyone begins eating and nothing is said; just savor the meal.
The Wine: 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Grove Mill, Marlborough, New Zealand. I really liked it and thought it blended well with my meal.
The Service: We found our waitress to be, let’s say, distracted most of the time we were there. When a large crowd came in we lost her completely. We were all annoyed by the disappearing waitress. Reva and Charlie rarely get visibly annoyed (I’m the emotional one), but when the waitress disappeared for the umpteenth time (okay, to be fair, the fourth or fith time), they were annoyed to the point of not leaving a 20% tip. It may have even been less than 15%. They always leave a 20% or more tip even for adequate service. I can not remember what I left but I suspect I would have supported them. The bus staff and another wait person were excellent and were instrumental in having visible annoyance not turn into anger and possibly a horrible review.
The Ambience: When I walked in I noticed that the space was open and airy. I found it appealing. The noise level for most of our meal was manageable because the restaurant was not populated. As it became more so, the noise level rose but not to the point of unbearable.
A few more details: We talked about their latest trip to Lake Tahoe, work, books, movies and generational differences in the workplace. As always with Reva and Charlie, it was a nice evening. Defnitely one of our more quiet ones. But with good friends, sometimes very few words are needed.
Tags: American Cuisine, American Cuisine, bites, dinner, downtown Chicago, rabbit confit, raw, salad, soup, street parkng, Valet, west loop
