Yesterday, The Bluebird in Bucktown quietly launched a revamped menu from brand new chef, Jack Stankovic. A defector from The Black Sheep — apparently he put his notice in a day before the mass exodus — Stankovic was brought in to “take the food up a notch,” according to the restaurant. Much of the menu was designed around Bluebird’s extensive beer collection. (The waffles will actually be made with a Belgian beer-batter.)
Of course, everything isn’t new. Some of the restaurant’s signatures, like the harissa-spiced chicken wings and the bison burger, remain; also, you’ll still be able to score mussels and frites at any time. Still, new dishes showcase a restaurant trying to stretch out a bit. A braised pork shoulder ($16) is served with apple stuffing, faro, Napa cabbage, and a cider-maple gastrique. Smoked trout is whipped up into a brandade, and served on a grilled sourdough crostini ($9).
The menu officially launched last night, and you can take a look at it below.
Meat & Cheese
Charcuterie, house pate, assorted meats & sausages, housemade pickles & mustard 18
Artisan-produced selection of four cheese, chestnuts, honey, house jam 16
Meat & cheese ensemble, olives, house accoutrements 25
Small Plates
Belgian-style pommes frites, herbs de provence, aioli 5
House-cured olives, orange, chili, fennel, garlic 6
Harissa-spiced chicken wings, grilled orange 9
Market salad, michigan apples, fennel, dante cheese, house vinaigrette 7
Grilled romaine, garlic puree, parmesan spaetzel, anchovy vinaigrette 8
Smoked trout brandade crostini, grilled sourdough, cucumber slaw 9
Duck poutine, juniper gravy, cheese curds 10
Mussels & Frites
Belgian - wit beer, thyme, celery, chili, garlic, parsley 15
English - india pale ale, orange, malt, ginger, carrot, fine herbs 15
Southern French - white wine, fennel, leek, tomato, chili, herbs de provence 15
Large Plates
Artichoke flat bread, goat cheese, leeks, lemon, arugula 12
Baked mac & cheese, left hand milk stout, gruyere, smoked cheddar, house bacon 10
House-made pappardelle pasta, miataki, squash, brussels leaves, chestnut 14
7oz bison burger, oven-dried tomato, sage aioli, cheddar, garlic pickle, frites 13
Braised pork shoulder, apple stuffing, faro, napa cabbage, cider-maple gastrique 16
Hanger steak & frites, dirty bastard duck butter, house aioli 18
Sweets
Chocolate stout cake, lavender cream, fresh figs 8
Pumpkin pie, butternut squash, hazelnut puree 8
Belgian beer-batter waffle, seasonal fruit 8
