In early December Rodgers Park got some mo shine with a 2nd installment of the uber sassy Uncommon Ground.
The resturant boasts rooftop solar thermal panels and a production garden with sustainably grown organic herbs and produce.
Indoors, the joint continues to exude this eco-friendly philosophy and a natural beauty throughout. The dining rooms are furnished with handsome wood table tops which are made with reclaimed wood from downed trees at Chicago’s Jackson Park and still life photography framed by omnipresent trunk cuts. Live singer-songwriters bless the UC vibe and fortunately manage to avert hippiecrit status.
At the bar, leather couches and club chairs nestle against the hearth where fires blaze like a Cypress Hill concert. After a couple draft Anchor Steam Christmas Ales (hells yes UC uses the gold rimmed pint glass cuz its just MO PIMP) we commence our meltdown into an array of gray haired Loyola Psychology Professors and 20-somethang girlies that tie they scarves all funny.
Now I’ve eaten at the Lakeview location a few times and never strayed from the Pumpkin Ravioli (which is hotness), but b/c we had you Innanet foodies in mind, we opted for small plates.
For starters we select the potato soup with a beef stock base as well as the baked artichoke, pesto and goat cheese dip. As for the latter, let me just say that your tastebuds better ready for the blitzkrieg of flavor profiles. I almost thought about throwing my white flag, but at this point dishes were coming at us rapid-fire.
UC came correct with the local grower friendly organic baby spinach & seedling farm apple salad with spicy walnuts. Crunchy, oily, spicy, savory, sweet…et al. Another clusterfuck of flavors that you’d think wouldn’t pan out but slaps out reprimands for prejudice like tree branch switches and frat paddles.
And this is where the cuisine went “eeehh” on us.
The porcini crusted beef tenderloin carpaccio with arugula, fried onions and capers sounded like a good idea…I mean, we felt like we were up $400 at the blackjack table. Nevertheless, this dish was booty. I KNOW carpaccio is supposed to be thin, but so thin I can’t even get it off the damn plate? I was eating air particles. C’mon now shunn.
Then there was the quail and mushroom risotto. My girl was right; there is a reason why kats don’t eat risotto outside of Italy. I’m under the impression that UC’s kitchen prepared this dish and then basically took turns pissing and shitting on it.
A travesty. Diabolical.
So when things go wrong, what do you do? You go back to basics: duck.
The duck confit quesadilla was on time. But the sweet potato salsa boinked at the finish line. Can I get some flavor in my salsa?!$*#! It is called salsa, right?
In sum, Uncommon Ground is a great spot for aesthetics and ambiance. I suppose the theory holds true that many establishments can get away with murder when they create a unforgettable dining room and proficient service. Part of the Gluttons contingent says the breakfast is on point (they went three times last week) so you might wanna peep that shit out.
As for my ass, Ima try to doctor up some of these leftovas with some extra virgin olive oil and my arsenal of herbs an spices from The Spice House. Till the next meal Gluttons…
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