The Purple Pig

The best meal we had in Chicago hands down. I was a bit skeptical coming into it because it seemed meat heavy and I don't eat a lot of meat, but everything here was insanely good.

Our server was really great with recommendations. We got the roasted bone marrow, grilled broccoli, pork belly, and milk braised berkshire shoulder.

Bone marrow was really good and a pretty decently large size. I went somewhere else the next weekend and theirs was lacking compared to the purple pig's! The broccoli had a great crunch and I really liked the sauce.

Star of the show was the meat. The pork belly and shoulder were extremely tender and very delicious. We were so shocked at how good it was. Definitely get either or both.

We loved the purple pig!

Great ambiance and food, just be sure to snag a reservation especially on the weekend. Located right by the riverwalk, this is a wonderful spot to grab dinner after walking around the riverwalk and magnificent mile.

We ordered the Chicken Kebabs and Pork Belly to split between the two of us. The kebabs were simple but cooked perfectly with a nice char but still moist. The pork belly was absolutely delicious with that glaze. We'd love to come back and try other things on the menu!

When searching on places to eat, I kept seeing the purple pig. I ended up going with friends before heading out to a concert. It was decently full for 3 something pm on a Thursday. We got the crispy pig's ear, mushroom 3 ways, hummus, whipped feta, lamb shank, seafood risotto, and grilled broccoli. This was split 4 ways with one of those people being a vegetarian.

Crispy pig's ear: This was interesting in concept but in reality it's essentially like fries. Of everything we ordered it was the most whatever because of how the main ingredient didn't really stand out.

Whipped feta: This is exactly what it sounds like. I wasn't particularly big on this but not really my order. It just tastes like feta so if that's what you want, it's perfect.

Hummus: The hummus is good. The whipped feta and hummus come with the same bread. They are thick slices that can handle the weight of a heavy smear. The hummus has more to compared to the feta. More toppings which I think made it feel more interesting.

Seafood risotto: This came last but it was yum. A bit on the salty side but with a strong seafood taste. I wouldn't change it but it's heavy and has the vibe that it'll hurt anyone who is lactose intolerant.

Grilled broccoli: Of the veggie dishes, this one was the best. I wish I knew how to cook broccoli this well because this was just so good.

Mushroom 3 ways: This was the dish that came out first. It was a solid starter veg. The mushrooms are longs slices which was somewhat unexpected. It didn't stand out among all the dishes but it was good.

Lamb shank: This was good. The meat fell off the bone so it was easy to eat. There isn't anything bad to say about it because it was prepared well. The taste just didn't linger enough for a review over a week later.

This was too much food for 4 people. Sadly because we're not local that means food to waste instead of a doggie bag. The location is great for tourists and fantastic to share with friends especially since they serve with that expectation.

Overall, this was good. It's worth a stop once because you will get a solid decent meal and the price tag does correlate to that quality.

Food: 5/5 To be honest, I came here back in 2014 with some friends and I didn't really enjoy the food. Ever since then, I never came back until recently because my boyfriend loves this place. I gave it a second chance and I was amazed! The bone marrow was so good, I love the sauce and it melted in my mouth! The half duck with the bread was so good! We got a pistachio cake and this is one of the best pistachio cake I ever had!

Service: 5/5 We stayed there for a bit and the server was nice enough not to kick us out. Also, the server was attentive to our needs and answered all of our questions.

Ambiance: 4/5 The place can get very crowded during the weekend and many tourists come here so the seating is quite tight.

I stopped in here for an afternoon cocktail and snack while I wait for my other coworkers to make it into the city.
I grabbed one of their lovely featured cocktails and some prosciutto wrapped dates. The cocktail was so light and refreshing and the dates were cooked to perfection with a little crisp to them.
The atmosphere was a bit loud, but the food and contain I ordered was amazing.

Service and ambience is good. I sat at the bar and watched them cook. I probably should've paid more attention to them before ordering. Some of the dishes they were putting out looked really good. My spinach salad was very good but a little small. It had peaches, blueberries, walnuts, cheese crumbles, etc. I then had the chicken saltimbocca. Chicken was a little overcooked and dry. The prosciutto was a little tough and the risotto was very rich, heavy and fattening. I would avoid this dish and go for the pork chop or shoulder.

I can see why the chef got a James Beard! The restaurant is served tapas style so you split different plates which is nice. The food came out quickly and they quickly cleared our plates and refilled our water. Our waiter could've been more friendly and checked how we were doing more. Definitely recommend if you are in Chicago
My favorites were the
- the arancini
- duck croquettes
- braised duck shoulder
- apple crosistant

These dishes were alright and I wouldn't order again
-broccolini
- seafood risotto

What an absolutely delightful experience! So glad my cousins introduced us here and made a reservation two weeks in advance! It is definitely a popular spot, so it's recommended to make reservations if you intend to visit. Lines start to form throughout lunch and dinner service well into the lobby area.

I ordered a non-alcoholic called the psych which was delicious. Bit of a fizzy and fruity drink, which was lovely to sip throughout the meal.

We ordered a small chunk of cheese (humbolt fog) which I thought was quite nice. it reminds me a bit of the funk from blue cheese. They served it with a peach type marmalade and olives mix and some bread. Flavours complimented the cheese quite well and I enjoyed having a taster.

We ordered grilled broccoli starter and the mushrooms 3 ways - highly recommend both. Lovely taste and texture.
For mains we tried out the halibut, turkey leg, and lamb shank. We also tried a pasta which I believe was orecchetti. It was a cheesy one and it sort of reminded me of the thick nacho cheese you'd get at the theatre. Quite a comfort food.

The halibut was very well cooked and I loved the sauce it was in. The lamb shank was very rich and heavy. Meat eaters at the table were huge fans. I loved the bed of sweet potatoes it sat in. The Turkey Leg was probably my favourite. Lovely caramelization on the leg and the bed of veggies soaked up the sauce. It was sweet and tangy from the vinegar used to create the sauce. Beautifully balanced. I wish I could eat it again!

Definitely recommend checking this place out. And it's all meant to be shared which always makes for a lovely meal time with friends and family. Service was also quite fast!

I enjoyed all the food! We had a big party and we all chose our own thing but the food is served to be shared so we all picked at each other's food and everything was amazing. I wasn't too hungry so I just ordered a caesar salad and an order of dates, the dates were so good!! I wish I would have ordered more.

We had a little difficulty finding the restaurant as we were originally walking from downstairs but eventually made our way over.

One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Family style sharables make it a great shared experience. Make sure to make reservations, it is popular for a reason!