Butter has closed its doors and will now only cater to private parties. We recommend calling ahead of time. Butter. The name alone got us all worked up about this cavernous West Loop eatery on a remote stretch of south Green Street.
Though the butter yellow of the exterior is a shining spot on the drab gray street, the inside looks like an old-school suburban banquet hall that had a little too much cheap vino and didn't know what to do with itself.
What really screams "look at me" is the layout of the menu (we're always a sucker for new ways of presenting the same old food) and we were interested to see items classified in sections like "From the Land" and "Then There was Lite." Still, what your eyes really skip to immediately is the price tag (most entrees average just under $30). This downtown area certainly has its share of full pocketbooks, but for the average date (this is a very date-friendly location), the food has to really shine to make spending dough like this worth it.
The team in the kitchen does manage to pull together an eclectic New American menu and have taken great care in presenting the food with a fresh, farm friendly quality. Fish (salmon, halibut and monkfish star) is served heavy on the veggies (Trumpet Royale mushrooms, roasted green garlic and white bean ragout) and the meats are kept simple (farm-raised, sweet and sour Pork Two Ways and herb-stuffed chicken are good choices) and doused in butter (the chef really does love this stuff).
The carrot cupcake ($10) is a house favorite and the trio of cremes is a taste sensation. Again, though, we couldn't get past the price points for simple desserts. Just imagine ordering from the luxury raw bar. Though fresh and delicious, it breaks the bank at $95 for a Butter Royale Sampler. Wow.
Centerstage Reviewer: Misty Tosh
