In a Nutshell: “Korean American” is simply how the husband and wife team describe their restaurant which burst onto the Chicago restaurant scene in 2014 and continues to gain momentum. Though small on space (40 seat capacity), this place produces big, bold and downright delicious flavors. As for the hype: #5 on Bon Appetit’s 2014″Best New Restaurant” list, a 2015 James Beard Award finalist for best restaurant in the country and for the 2016 list, received its first Michelin star. With only 22 Michelin-rated restaurants in Chicago for this round and many of them fine dining, that speaks volume.
Ambiance: Pretty minimalist but with a cozy/chic vibe. Small and dark, it is best enjoyed on a cold winter night. There are some individual tables around 2 sides of the restaurant and a large communal table near the center (an extension of the physical bar, but with seating on multiple sides). The actual bar area features dining seats which face the open kitchen. Of my two visits there, the experience was best at the bar. Attentive service, in-depth conversation with the staff about the menu and a firsthand view of some back of the house magic.
Service: As noted above, snag a spot at the bar if you can grab it. Service in the main dining area is still good but it can get a little snuggly buggly and loud depending on how tightly it is packed that night (which for most nights will be very). With all their accolades come some pretty brutal wait times so best to reserve well in advance on OpenTable. Otherwise, risk two hour lines that start as early as 6pm- though they at least send diners over to Chief O’Neill’s and will call when ready.
Beverages: They sold me on my first visit with their eclectic wine list. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw they had a bottle of red from a celebrated vineyard in Santorini. On our honeymoon, our hotel was actually across the street from them but I never expected to see a bottle of it show up on Korean American menu in Chicago. When I asked about this particular varietal, the bartender explained how it was nearly extinct and this winery went to painstaking lengths to resurrect it. Upon learning that on a trip to Greece, Parachute’s owners were eager to support them in their restaurant. Just a small example of how they go above and beyond to thoughtfully choose wines from around the globe. They also have select beers and cocktails, as well as some artisanal sodas for those wanting an interesting booze-alternative.
Food: Truly the star of the show. There are a few mainstays (bi mim bop, pork belly and mung bean pancake) but the menu changes pretty regularly. Servers are quite adept at explaining the flavors, sizes and general composition of the dishes to help guests navigate the unique dishes. Nearly all the dishes I have had been virtual flavor explosions- lil’ foodie fireworks, if you will. In all seriousness, the ingredients really pop but somehow come together in a cohesive, balanced finished product.
The Devil’s in the Details: While the food truly is the reason to go, the highly attentive service and interesting wine menu are the little touches that put Parachute at the top of my list for exceptional dining experiences in Chicago. Though not inexpensive, there’s certainly far pricier places in the city and I would put a night out at Parachute against nearly all of them.
Photo credit: Jordan Clark for Chicago Magazine
mrsfoodlady 