Restaurant Review: The Warbler migrates comfort food and community in Lincoln Square
Named after the Midwestern-migrating bird known for congregating in large groups to chatter and socialize, The Warbler in Lincoln Square, as they note on their website, is a sun-filled gathering place for both locals and visitors, to enjoy delicious cocktails and chef Ken Carter’s elevated comfort food. They also have a nice patio for outdoor dining.
Family-Style Supper Club
Opened since 2018, The Warbler is known for their Family-Style Supper Club, served from 4:30-6:00pm Monday-Friday. For $32 a person, your table can choose a selection of five dishes from their regular dinner offerings. Choices include one salad, any two appetizers, vegetable dishes or house made pastas and your favorite flatbread. Supper Club completes the meal with any one of their decadent desserts.
What’s their secret? The culinary team portion the dishes based on the number of guests in your party to ensure that all get enough to eat.
BEST OF ALL: Kids ages nine and under are complimentary with the Supper Club menu!
Dinner
The Warbler has a nest egg of delights, and something for every palate, mixing Middle Eastern, Asian and Mediterranean influences with comfort cooking.
Start with appetizers like Whipped Ricotta, withThe Warbler’s house made ricotta, mixed with clover honey and balsamic reduction, served with toasted baguette. Or, Brandade, which is salt cod, with preserved lemon and slow-roasted garlic on toasted sourdough. Crispy Tempura Ribs are served with plum sauce, sizzled in tempura crunch, with bibb lettuce, sesame seed, and scallion. Steamed Mussels are from Prince Edward Island (Canada) and served in a creamy tomato broth with caramelized fennel, sweet onion, and oregano on grilled sourdough.
For lighter appetites, try their Summer Chopped Salad, fresh with with cherry tomato, avocado, corn, cucumber, broccoli, cranberry and spiced feta on a summer mix of romaine and arugula, with radish, Green Goddess dressing and a sunflower-granola crunch. Tuscan Kale has a fruity mix of Asian pear, cranberries, crispy sunchoke, with roasted macadamia nuts in a Guava vinaigrette and macadamia nut butter. Arugula pairs whipped ricotta with pickled fennel and marinated olives, nestled in lemon vinaigrette, with roasted walnuts and herbed crouton.
Their flatbreads are equally creative. Chicken Sausage comes with garlic cream, caramelized onion, and shaved manchego cheese. Bacon & Date is a sweet, saland savory mix of crispy bacon, sweet dates, pomodoro, balsamic drizzle, mozzarella, and pickled fennel. Roasted Mushroom has emmental & provolone cheeses, roasted shallot, soubise (onion) sauce, and truffle.
Pastas include a Mushroom Agnolotti with brown butter, fresh garlic, feta and sliced mushroom. Spaghetti Alla Chitarra has sweet peas, melted leeks, herbed mascarpone, baby spinach, tangy lemon gremolata, pine nut, basil, garlic, and parmigiano. Pesto Cavatelli hasbasil, fresh ricotta, zucchini, breadcrumbs, lemon, toasted walnut and parmigiano.
Entrees (Meals) include their Grilled Korean Pork Shoulder with Gochujang glazed pork, Miso sweet potato, with jicama & cucumber slaw, toasted sesame, and fresh scallions. Mediterranean Muhamarra has charred summer squash, spiced carrots, red pepper muhammara, toasted walnut, fresh mint and creamy dill yogurt. Carrot & Coriander Falafel is made with rose petal yogurt, tahini hummus, herb salad, radish, and a sherry gastrique.
Mine is not the only positive review.
“early bird supper club” deal is such an incredible value (so much food!), and each dish we tried absolutely hit the mark (flavor, balance, creativity, and freshness)– we tried the summer chopped salad (unreal!), the cod brandade, the spaghetti chitarra, the mushroom flatbread, and the carrot cake,” said one Google reviewer. “All were stellar, and the portions were super generous. Our server Nathan was incredibly warm, welcoming, and attentive- he also made a great wine recommendation! Gotta shout out Tomás who took great care of us as well. A truly excellent experience overall– the team here deserves all the praise they get and then some!”
The Warbler is located at 4535 N. Lincoln Avenue. They are open Monday-Thursday, Noon–9pm, Friday-Saturday, 1130am–10pm, and Sunday, 1130am–9pm. For reservations, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
