The Other Critics

Bruno Bites Into Benny’s Chop House and Rendezvous Bistro

Benny's Chop House
Benny’s Chop House Photo: courtesy Benny’s Chop House

Claiming that Chicago can “never have enough steakhouses” Bruno visits River North’s Benny’s Chop House and loves just about everything he tries. The charred Madagascar prawn was “perfection to the max, simplicity on a higher plane.” The dry-aged New York Strip was “a treat to the palate bite after bite.” He finds a couple of misfires like the lobster roll and the fish salad, but the meal ends well with a molten chocolate cake. [Sun-Times]

Rendezvous Bistro is predictable to a fault, according to Bruno. Though it has “bistro-friendly prices,” most of the food is caught in a “bistro rut.” That included the French onion soup, which was “rich, and deeply interesting…but I could have been in a bistro most anywhere. Very predictable.” He had better luck with the steak au poivre and the fish specials. It’s the sides that really let him down: “Why not roasted potatoes or pommes de terre instead of the fries? And how about roasted or grilled vegetables (artichokes?) instead of the cabbage?” [Sun-Times]

Bruno Bites Into Benny’s Chop House and Rendezvous Bistro