Girl & the Goat

It has been a couple of weeks since I visited the Girl and the Goat and the expression comes to mind "I may not remember what you wore, but I will never forget the way you looked!" The ambience is warm, dim lights, loud conversation, modern rustic stylings... just my kinda place. Eronica was our server... that part we will not forget. She was sensational. The perfect mix of informative, friendly, funny and accommodating. If the other waiters are like her, I will give this advice... tell him/her how hungry you are, how adventurous you are, and let them guide you. Plates are for sharing - a little discrepancy between portion sizes eg. the delicious cauliflower 'side' was more filling and substantial than some of the fish dishes, so again, let Eronica or whoever you get, guide you through. Two guys (first anniversary fyi) and we polished off at least seven plates, at least one item from the various menus you will be offered (veg, fish, meat, oysters, cheese, dessert) With a bottle of the least expensive sparkling rose, our bill was about $120 and i would have paid $200... Book in advance is not bad advice... and if you are lucky enough to score Eronica, you are in for a top notch dining experience.

July 28th, 2013. This is when my boyfriend and I will be dining at Girl and the Goat. Not only is it his birthday, but it's far enough in advance that I could guarantee a reservation. Last weekend, however, we found ourselves on Randolph street celebrating a little work success and couldn't help but pine over how long it will be before we dine on that succulent pig face that so many before us have bragged about. But, it occurred to us, why not just stop in for a drink? We were greeted by a smiling hostess with not an ounce of snootiness in her voice. Packed to the gills on a Thursday night, there was still one open spot calling our name by the bar, which our hostess so kindly pointed out. Access: granted. We ordered two glasses of wine and made ourselves comfortable. I had the Girl and the Goat reserve, while my boyfriend enjoyed a glass of Syrah. We were pleased, but not blown away by the wine. We didn't expect to be; we were there for the experience. As we looked around at the eclectic group, we couldn't help but smile… A small baby in the corner who had no idea how lucky he was to be feeding on mushy roasted cauliflower complete with pickled peppers, pine nuts and mint. Two businessmen who weren't just dining for business; they were foodies eager to try a new dish and talk about every bite. An older couple that looked like out-of-towners, but also food-lovers. Where else would they go but the most talked-about dining experience in town? Every single one of them had a smile on their mouth, and if their mouth was full, it was in their eyes. They were just happy to be there. We may not have eaten a bite, but we definitely enjoyed ourselves. Is July 28th here yet?

I dined at Girl & the Goat last summer and loved the entire experience! We called a couple days ahead to see if we could get a reservation for dinner and they were completely booked, but we decided to go and grab a drink and see if they could fit us in. After 1 drink at the bar, a spot opened up at a table outside and we jumped at the chance. The tables outside are long family style tables where all the different parties sit together, which some may not like, but we met some really nice people and had a great time with it. The food is considered small plates that are shared among your group so I would recommend ordering a couple and passing them around. Everything is very unique and so so tasty! They provide a menu with a lot of variety, the prices are not bad (especially when considering how delicious everything is!) and the service is great as well. The servers were very knowledgeable. The atmosphere is fun and trendy, and laid back while being sophisticated at the same time. I have told everyone going to Chicago to check it out if they have the chance. Definitely going back next time I am in the city! I'd recommend calling pretty far in advance for a reservation, especially with a larger party. However, don't hesitate to stop in for a drink at the bar and see if there are any openings if you are in the area! Absolutely loved it!

This place has awesome food and awesome service - the down side is the difficulty getting in. Here's the trick - either make a reservation way in advanced, or if you're not a planner, show up at 7:00 PM on a friday/saturday night, put your name down, then go for drinks at any of the great places nearby, and head back over around 9:00 for dinner. It's well worth the hassle. Also, if you can swing the kitchen table (a high-top for 2 at the end of the food line) the experience is over the top.