Joe Fish sets out a stupendous brunch in River North

Brunch just keeps getting better and better in River North.  My most recent brunch excursion was to Joe Fish located at 445 N. Dearborn. The latest venture from Rosebud Restaurant Group, Joe Fish features classic seafood fare inspired by Italian cuisine and seasonal ingredients. The team is headed by Corporate Chef Joe Farina, Executive Chef Ashley Elech, and Pastry Chef Catherine Nault. They have extended that inspired menu to brunch, and the results are absolutely superb.

I was recently invited to bring a guest and sample the impressive brunch menu at Joe Fish. Both of us went away absolutely satisfied (stuffed, as a matter of fact).  We also left with a definite feeling that we needed to come back again soon to sample some of the items we saw being served but didn’t have a chance to try.  Probably the most photogenic items we saw passing our table were the New England Lobster Roll and the Pecan Sea Salt Caramel French Toast. Wow!

Equally wonderful, however, were the two items we sampled:

• Shrimp & Polenta – This is the Joe Fish version of Shrimp and Grits, but definitely taken up a few notches. The shrimp are gigantic and cooked to perfection. The polenta is filled with pancetta and the white wine used in the dish adds just a hint of sweetness. It doesn’t look like a large portion until you begin to eat, but it is filling and worth every savory bite.
• Eggs In Purgatory – The eggs are perfectly poached and served atop a bowl of pancetta-filled tomato sauce, sprinkled with fresh parmesan. Like the Shrimp & Polenta, this doesn’t appear to be a large portion until you start to eat. Then you realize it’s just the perfect amount without making you feel stuffed. The sauce is some of the best I have tasted and of course (in my opinion) you can never go wrong with pancetta.

The beverage program at Joe Fish features a carefully curated wine list with over 40 wines by the glass and nearly 300 wines by the bottle. While a large portion of the wines are Italian, there are also many selections from South Africa, France, and the United States. To accompany the wine program, Joe Fish offers an array of creative cocktails inspired by classics while embracing modern trends. The bar also crafts signature punch bowl cocktails perfect for large groups and for sharing.

To accompany our meal, my guest and I sampled several of the creative cocktails. For brunch, however, the most fascinating options are the inventive Bloody Mary offerings. Try the Smokehouse Derby (Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon, Cicero Bacon Mary, Chipotle, Candied Bacon Garnish) or the Pickle Me Mary (Chopin Rye, Osbourne Sherry, Housemade Pickles, Shrimp Garnish). Both have garnishes that are like a small meal in a glass, but the most amazing thing about both cocktails is the use of brown liquor instead of the “traditional” vodka. The combination of bourbon, maple, and chipotle in the Smokehouse Derby adds a surprising sweet twist to the heat of the tomato juice. For something a bit less sweet, but equally intriguing, the Pickle Me Mary has a robust rye flavor layered with the sweet sherry to provide complex and incredibly flavorful notes to the drink. I have honestly never had a better Bloody Mary. Even the vodka-based and gin-based versions are unlike anything else you will find in the city.

You can reach Joe Fish at (312) 832-7700. Find more information on their website and follow their social media conversations on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Joe Fish offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.