City living has its perks, but it has its drawbacks, too. Example? As much as we’d love a sprawling vegetable garden, we only have space for potted daisies. Cheerful, but not the stuff summery feasts are made of. This is where Homestead comes in.
The charming Ukrainian Village spot has a rooftop garden bursting with veggies, spices, and fruits. Executive chef Chris Curren, new to Homestead this year, plucks fresh ingredients to use in his rustic-but-high-end dishes. Try the Duck Egg ($10), a delish blend of wild mushrooms, asparagus, pickled ramps, and gooey poached egg. Other standout eats include the Squid Ink Corzetti ($14), which has pasta stamped with cute flower shapes, and the mind-numbingly good Seared Walleye ($21), made with pickled jalapenos and ramp pesto. And though we wouldn’t normally rhapsodize about a breadbasket ($7), you’ve got to sink your teeth into Homestead’s. The starter comes with perfect carb accoutrements like whipped honey-butter and house pickles.
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The spot is open for dinner and late-night drinks Tuesday through Sunday, and we’d definitely recommend testing out some expert cocktails from new beverage director Benjamin Schiller. The “Ghost Sign,” ($10), made with tequila, grapefruit, kumquats, and Pimm’s, is a particularly summery sip. If you can, score a seat on the patio so you can get the whole garden-side experience. But the interior, decked with birch walls and vintage farm fixtures, is also a chill, homey place to sup on some duck eggs.
Homestead, 1924 West Chicago Avenue (between North Damen and North Wolcott avenues); 773-904-1145.
Photo: Courtesy of Homestead