Restaurant Review – Salone Nico

This week took me to the fabulous Thompson Chicago hotel. Inside the hotel is the gorgeous Salone Nico, a cozy wine bar and cocktail lounge. This was the perfect spot for a late Saturday dinner. There’s a large wooden bar and a number of small tables, couches, and comfy chairs spread around the lounge. After plopping down on a couch, I had a chance to look at the menu. My mouth was watering immediately! I had a hard time deciding, so my friend ordered first. She decided on the Pan Seared Gnocchi: gnocchi topped with spring vignole, English pea, and maitake mushroom. First, I had to google “spring vignole”. Vignole originated in Rome and is simply a spring vegetable stew. Every region of Italy has their own variation, but vignole often includes artichokes, fave beans, peas, chopped greens, and/or leeks. This was absolutely delicious. The gnocchi was perfectly cooked and I loved the combination of all the fresh vegetables. In the salon, they offer a small “Sandwich Board” menu and I was intrigued. I decided on the Bellevue Burger topped with widmer cheddar, grilled onions, bacon, and horseradish aioli. I had my choice of either fries or salad and I chose fries. For a $15 dish, I expect the burger to be fantastic and I was not disappointed. I loved the sharpness of the horseradish aioli and the smokiness of the bacon. The fries were also super tasty, I loved the creamy aioli that came with them. I will absolutely come back to Salone Nico; there were so many dishes I wanted to try!

Salone Nico serves breakfast Mondays through Fridays from  7:30 am to 11 am; lunch Mondays through Fridays from 11:30 am to 3 pm; and dinner Sundays from 5 to 10:30 pm, Mondays through Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 11 pm. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, head to their website.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO