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Balena is first collobaration between Boka Restaurant Group and The Bristol Group. Led by Execeutive Chef/Partner Chris Pandel, the restaurant serves what he calls "Honest, Italian cooking." Balena's many accolades include Best New Restaurants in America by Gayot and Bon Appetit, 3 stars by the Chicago Tribune, and a James Beard semi-fnailist position for Best New Rstaurant at...
LINCOLN PARK—Chef Massimo Bottura of Italy's three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana will hold a book signing at Balena on October 15. The $145 ticket cost includes a dinner by chef Chris Pandel; optional wine pairings cost $50 more. Call Balena to reserve. [EaterWire]
LINCOLN PARK—Gemini Bistro is celebrating its fifth anniversary with six days of deals incorporating the number five...
LINCOLN PARK—You can now get Chris Pandel's Italian dishes and pizzas delivered to your door. Balena's full food and wine menus are available within a two mile radius via Grub Hub. [EaterWire]
LOOP—The Roots of American Food, the epic chef and food conference coming September 7 and 8 to the Wyndham Grand Hotel, will also the first appearance of Brooks Headley's Superiority Burger outside of...
LINCOLN PARK/RIVER NORTH—Look out Chicago, legendary Spanish chef Ferran Adria will soon be here to promote the release of his seven-volume elBulli catalog, elBulli 2005-2011 (which arrives March 3). Adria will be in town on Saturday, March 15, starting his day at 8:30 a.m. at the International Association of Culinary Professionals Conference. From there he will head to Balena at 11:30 a.m. for...
Between the "consistently impressive" pizzas, "must-have" pastas, "delicious" cocktails and "oustanding wine list", fans find lots to like at this Lincoln Park ‘in' spot where chef Chris Pandel's "inventive" dishes offer an "original" take on Italian cuisine; the "sprawling", earth-toned space includes a brown leather and steel bar and can be a "bit of a scene", but service remains "helpful",...
LINCOLN PARK—Chris Pandel and company continues to draw big culinary names into Balena and The Bristol. The latest is a James Beard chef dinner on Feb. 6 at Balena, featuring courses by Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto in NYC), Andrew Carmellini (Lafayette in NYC), Gerard Craft (Niche in St. Louis), and Chris Cosentino (Incanto in San Francisco). Six total courses with wine pairings cost $115; call...
Thankfully we sat upstairs. It was very quiet and peaceful. When we finished our meal and walked downstairs it was like we entered a whole new restaurant. Extremely loud. I recommend sitting upstairs if you are on a 2 person date.
Extensive bottle wine list...too bad my girlfriend doesn't drink red wine so we opted for glasses.
We stop frequently after Steppenwolf plays Stacy our server was vibrant attentive and very pleasant. Spicy olive appetizer was anything but. Just oily and bland I pitted olives. Chicken liver mousse bruschetta was very good. Chicken thighs weren't up to par. Rather dry and overnight. Polenta was excellent. My wife's pasta was very good with plenty of seafood in it. Stacy's wine recommendation...
This is the second time I've been to Balena and somehow it even got better than the first time. The pasta is incredibly fresh, the Bavette and Ragu are truly unbelievable. The spicy lamb meatballs as an appetizer are incredible as well.
Great ambiance and great food. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
Balena has been executing honest, Italian cooking in Lincoln Park since 2012. Led by Executive Chef/Partner Chris Pandel, the restaurant is the first collaboration between Boka Restaurant Group and B Hospitality. Balena's many accolades include Best New Restaurants in America by Gayot and Bon Appetit, 3 stars by the Chicago Tribune, and a James Beard semi-finalist nomination for Best New...
Our bureau in Chicago is working on a review for Balena - feel free to submit your own comments.
admin, 7-15-2016
Balena is first collobaration between Boka Restaurant Group and The Bristol Group. Led by Execeutive Chef/Partner Chris Pandel, the restaurant serves what he calls "Honest, Italian cooking." Balena's many accolades include Best New Restaurants in America by Gayot and Bon Appetit, 3 stars by the Chicago Tribune, and a James Beard semi-fnailist position for Best New Rstaurant at the James Beard...
Balena offers an inspired menu of Italian dishes. Order from a selection of starters, pastas, pizza, and entrees that have been grilled, or are from the oven or rotisserie.
Go early, make reservations - but get there. The collab between the Bristol crew and boka group is stellar.
A striking room sets the scene for a seriously tasty Italian meal. Can't go wrong with the pastas, and the pizzas will haunt your dreams. Great date spot!
Known for its wood fired pizza with a bit of a European flare, Balena is the place to go if you love a lightly sweet and chew crust topped with pistachio pesto and fresh mozzarella. Tastes delicious and sexy!
Crusty-charred pizza, creamy Zingerman'a burrata, silky carbonara - Chef Pandel serves rustic Italian fare in an airy, cocktail driven space
I think I could eat at Balena every day and be happy—great, amari-based cocktails, delicious pasta, well-executed dishes like lamb sausage, and a warm atmosphere make it the ideal place for a long dinner.
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