Restaurant Review: Celebrate Chicago BLACK Restaurant Week at Avondale’s Gluten-Free CheSa’s Bistro & Bar
From now through February 26, Chicago BLACK Restaurant Weekwill celebrate the hundreds of food/beverage/dessert businesses serving delectable cuisine in the African American community.
CBRW was founded in September 2015 as a way to honor the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who created Negro History Week in 1926.
One restaurant stands out from the crowd during, with the distinction of being a completely gluten-free Cajun/Creole gem in the Avondale community is CheSa’s Bistro & Bar, offering a fusion of Creole and contemporary American flavors. The two-year-old establishment is offering special brunch and dinner menus in its 1800-foot space.
CheSa’s Bistro & Bar was founded by Chef CheSa Rollins. According to a profile by Block Club Chicago, Rollins left her career in finance to launch CheSa’s Gluten Free Food Truck & Catering after she found out she has Celiac disease, an immune disorder triggered by consuming gluten.
As the legend goes, the Chef opened the bistro to evolve from the food truck and catering scene with fusion Creole and contemporary American flavors.
Just in time for Fat Tuesday (February 21), CheSa’s has created special menus for the occasion. For brunch, priced at $25.23 per person, try their (remember, it’s all gluten-free!) Fried Chicken & Fried Beignet Waffles, which is a crispy chicken breast, seasoned to perfection, and served with delicately-topped cinnamon beignet waffles and berry compote.
Or, Black Angus Short Ribs & Red GrIts, which pairs creamy purple and red grits, cooked in a cheese and butter sauce, topped with sliced black Angus short ribs.
Other options include their Catfish Skillet – house smothered potatoes, two eggs (any style) and three catfish fillets, and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Balls, with eggs and house potatoes.
For dinner, at $59.23 per person, starters include theLobster Louie Salad, made with iceberg lettuce, egg, and avocado remoulade. Garlic Alligator Dip, a five-cheese dip with spinach and alligator. Fried Green Tomatoes, with house aioli. CheSa’s Devil Egg has fried shrimp bites.
Main courses include Lobster Etoufee – authentic Cajun comfort dish with lobster. Crispy Skin Salmon comes with orange-braised sweet potato. And the Bella Mushroom has creamy truffle Risotto, topped with Bella mushrooms.
As always, make room for dessert, especially when the selections include Banana Pudding Souffle, Triple Chocolate Cake, and CheSa’s Chocolate Mousse.
Google reviews were a lot like this one’
“Found CheSa’s bistro through google maps search and am so glad I did! This is a legit gourmet Southern cuisine restaurant on the northside. Chef CheSa is creating gluten free miracles daily. You wouldn’t know this is a new restaurant because chefs knowledge of the south runs deep. Everything we had tonight was authentic and amazing. I would challenge anyone to know that what they were eating was gluten free. Do not let that fool you. These dishes are purely sublime and full of flavor! My wife and I had the creamy, spicy delicious po’boy shrimp tacos and lobster Mac ‘ n cheese. Wow! Get ready for a gut bomb cuz my wife had slow-roasted beef ribs over savory, multi-cheesy grits and I had the delicious fried catfish over shrimp and chicken Cajun jambalaya!!!! So decadent and good I can’t wait to go back to try more”
CheSa’s Bar & Bistro is located at 3235 W. Addison. They are open for dinner Tuesday-Thursday from 5pm-10pm, and Friday and Saturday 5pm-11pm. Cajun-style brunch is served Saturday from 11am-3pm and Sunday from 11am-4pm. For reservations, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
