Rural Society (455 North Park Drive, 312-840-6605), an Argentine steakhouse with a focus on small plates, is set to open in early March in the new Loews Chicago Hotel. It’s the second location for the restaurant run by James Beard Award and “Iron Chef” winner Jose Garces; the first is located at Loews Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The American-born Garces, who was raised in Chicago by Ecuadorian parents, said in a statement that he was inspired to further explore Argentine cuisine, particularly the parilla, or open-flame grilling element, after a trip to Argentina last year.
The steakhouse will be open for breakfast, lunch (weekdays only), dinner, and brunch on the weekends. It will feature wood-fired meats and fish grilled on the parilla, which will be located at the center of the restaurant and will be fueled by charcoal and quebracho, an Argentine hardwood. Signature dishes include bife de chorizo, featuring a 12-ounce Estancia grass-fed beef from Uruguay; fugazza tradicional, which is an Argentine pizza with melted onion, mozzarella and oregano; empanada Tucumana filled with wagyu beef belly and smoked chile; and saffron taglierini with cockles, rock shrimp, tomato confit, grilled lemon and Bottarga. A spokeswoman for Rural Society said prices will be similar to the D.C. restaurant, which ranges from $9-$22 for small plates and $26 to $55 for parilla-grilled meats. A chef’s tasting offers a selection of small plates and wood-grilled meats and ranges from $75-$95 at the D.C. restaurant. The bar will focus on South American wines along with Argentine and South American-inspired cocktails.
Rural Society will be the second Chicago-based restaurant helmed by Garces, who operates more than a dozen restaurants nationwide under the Garces Group. Garces is also the executive chef of the Catalan-inspired, Sage Hospitality-run Mercat a la Planxa.
More Top Picks Best Magnifying Floor Lamps For Women