Dinner Social Club

A very wise friend recently created Dinner Social Club. What's Dinner Social Club? 

Dinner Social Club: a non-exclusive monthly club for friends to get together, share a great meal and better company.

Details: 
- Dinner will occur on the last Wednesday of every month, around 7:30 p.m.
- Restaurant locations will vary
- Diners are encouraged to make restaurant/cuisine recommendations for upcoming dinners
- All participants will order with 'sharing' in mind and split the bill evenly
- RSVP the week before the dinner
- Friends can bring friends
- No cell phones allowed at the table! (I am the exception, however, and will write a review of each restaurant visited)

Homestead on the Roof was the first location for Dinner Social Club. The farm-to-table restaurant is located above Roots Handmade Pizza at 1924 W. Chicago Avenue and has recently opened its doors to accommodate year-round dining. DSC founder is convinced Homestead is "one of the most underrated restaurants in the city"and I agree. 

Start out with a specialty cocktail, crafted by Beverage Director Benjamin Schiller. If you're a fan of Bourbon, Chicagoist named The Weston (Bourbon, Dark Matter Coffee Essence, Pipe Tobacco) in their "Top 10 Cocktails in Chicago." There's something for everyone, depending on your spirit of choice, so taste one, or try them all. 

Executive Chef, Chris "Chip" Davies, takes advantage of seasonal ingredients, as the menu changes often. He also does an excellent job of combining different flavor profiles to produce stand-out dishes with perfectly paired ingredients. Some of my favorite selections:

From the garden:
- Kale Salad: Local Apples, Burnt Cheddar, Pomegranate, Bacon and Cider Dressing 

From the water:
- Moroccan Spiced Mussels: Sumac Apples, Calvados, Fried Chickpeas, House-made Sour Dough

From the mill (my personal favorite):
- Beef Short Rib Sugo: Pappardelle Pasta, Pecorino, Pickled Chilies, Saba

From the land:
- Chicken Skins: House Sriracha-Honey Mustard, Pickled Mustard Seeds

While we were all stuffed by the time the dessert menu came, we still saved a little bit of room to order two. Not only did Executive Pastry Chef, Chris Teixeira, nail the pastry presentations, but they tasted incredible too. 

We shared a bunch of small plates/desserts and we were pleasantly surprised when the check came that it wasn't more expensive. If you're looking for a truly unique farm-to-table intimate dinner experience, I highly recommend Homestead on the Roof. 

Up next for Dinner Social Club, Oiistar. Check back for a review and follow the hashtag: #DinnerSocialClub on Instagram for a sneak-peek!