Restaurant Review – Experience Chicago in a cozy winter igloo atop Wicker Park’s The Kennedy!
Once a creative way to safely dine during the pandemic, winter igloos at Chicago’s area restaurants have pivoted. Today, they are a cozy, intimate dining experience for two, or for your family.
Unlike restaurant seating, you share a space with your nearest and dearest, creating an intimacy not always possible in a bustling Chicago restaurant. Surrounded by heaters, the experience is as warm as an indoor space, and in rooftop restaurants like The Kennedy, 1551 W. North Ave, atop the Hyatt Place Hotel-Wicker Park, the twinkling lights of the city beckon you year-round with rooftop seating and exquisite food.
Your heated rooftop adventure begins with Shareable like the 606 Meat & Cheese Platter, The Kennedy’s take on a charcuterie board, filled with local meats and cheeses, dried fruits, nuts, artisan bread, crackers, whole grain mustard, and blackberry jam. Or try a Black and Blue Flatbread, with braised beef, crumbled blue cheese, fig jam, caramelized onions, arugula, and citrus vinaigrette. Their vegetarian, gluten-free Mediterranean Hummus has roasted red pepper hummus, cucumber, cherry tomato, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and pita bread.
Other recommended shareables include Prairie Land Wings, with a choice of Kennedy’s house-made sesame sweet chili sauce, with pickled veggies or Buffalo sauce with vegetable sticks (Buffalo served with ranch), and Pulled Pork Sliders, BBQ pulled pork served on mini brioche buns, topped with cheddar cheese, grilled pineapple and arugula.
Move forward to Atlantic Salmon a pan-seared salmon served with rosemary-scented jasmine rice, and lemon caper sauce, or a casual Honey Chipotle Chicken Wrap with chipotle chicken, lettuce mix, celery, cucumber, and tomato, or tangy Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos, pairing cilantro and lime-marinated shrimp with a cilantro cabbage mix, and chili aioli. Their Rooftop Double Stack Burger has two quarter-pound beef patties on a toasted brioche bun, choice of provolone, cheddar or swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
As we always warn here… save room for dessert! Make it a shareable with Kennedy’s Signature Brownies, featuring an entire pound of gooey, warm chocolate brownies, whipped cream and scoops of ice cream, or Madison’s Skillet, a warm chocolate chip cookie skillet, topped with vanilla ice cream. Solos will enjoy their Keylime Pie, creamy-smooth and fresh in a graham cracker crust.
Google reviewers were enchanted with the rooftop venue:
“Enjoyed an evening in one of the igloos, and had a great time!” wrote one. “The views from this rooftop are beautiful and I really enjoyed their new menu selections. They’ve definitely upped their game in the menu department!
We tried the charcuterie board which I felt was reasonably priced for what you got. We also enjoyed the beef medallions and the butternut ravioli which was a perfect balance of savory and sweet.”
We enjoyed the igloos on a 30 degree night. The igloos were warm at first to where we could take our jackets off. Eventually the temperature dropped and it did get pretty cold inside. This would be perfect in 30 degrees or above, or when the sun is out.
I will be back!”
The Kennedy is located at the corner of Ashland and North Avenues. They are open Monday- Thursday, 4pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday, 4pm-11pm, and Sunday, 11am-5pm. They serve a sumptuous brunch on Sunday, and special ‘Presidential Cocktails’ every night of the week. They are accepting reservations now for Valentine’s Day, and reservations for the igloos are highly recommended, every day of the week. Click here to reserve yours today!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
