The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

Good Eats
Home›Good Eats›Good Eats at Southport Grocery and Cafe: Spoil your taste buds at this Lakeview favorite’s Secret Suppers

Good Eats at Southport Grocery and Cafe: Spoil your taste buds at this Lakeview favorite’s Secret Suppers

By TheRealChicagoOnline
March 24, 2014
473
0
Share:

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

Southport Grocery & Cafe exterior

Dine and shop at the same time in this Lakeview favorite, and sign up to enjoy their innovative Secret Suppers

By Trent Modglin

The scene: What the Southport Grocery and Café lacks in size, it makes up in character and activity. Usually buzzing with customers there to eat or shop, or both, it’s divided into equal parts grocery store and restaurant. The grocery side is loaded with local treats — many of them organic — from breads and butters to cheeses, jams, canned goods and handpicked wines, not to mention goods from the bakery like cupcakes, cinnamon scones, granola bars, cookies and more.

The restaurant consists of only a dozen tables or so, meaning the shelves from the store are mere steps from where you dine. My wife’s head was on a swivel the entire time as she eyed different sauces, seasonings and food items she wanted to take home with her.secretdiners at Southport Grocery

What is a Secret Supper? While Southport Grocery and Cafe made its name as a breakfast destination, the idea of serving dinner is a recent endeavor. Their new Secret Suppers happen once a month, showcasing seasonal ingredients through surprise four-course menus and a surprise date and time. Only Facebook fans, Twitter followers and email newsletter subscribers are notified of the date and time of the next Secret Supper. They say the focus of these underground dinners is about “bringing together flavor, ingredients, and people in new and interesting ways; we really want to allow our chefs and the food to shine.”

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

Food and drink: The apple salad, a concoction of mick klug apples, pickled pears, kale, smoked onion marmalade, peppered pecans and five-year vintage gouda, carries a great blend of flavors. We also loved the creamy lobster bisque with ridiculous chunks of real lobster. The ravilolo is a tantalizing roasted cauliflower and oyster mushroom dish with a watercress vinaigrette and yellow curry. The lemon fish, drizzled with a rustic tomato sauce, fell apart from its tenderness when touched with a fork. Not to be outdone is the decadent mac and cheese, served in an oversized coffee mug that is difficult to put down. mac cheese.photo credit Southport Grocery

A unique way to end the night is sharing a grape float, made from fermented grape soda, vanilla ice cream, frozen grapes and grape granite. What a surprisingly tasty way to end the night. Refreshing and not too heavy. Almost made us feel like we were teenagers on a date in the 1950s.

What caught our eye: The tables are within close proximity, so you can’t help but take a gander at what other folks have ordered — or what the next course is in the Secret Supper. And with presentation playing such a big role here, there is plenty to garner your attention. … The jams and butters they sell in the store are quite popular. … The level of anticipation over the Secret Supper menu is palpable.

We’ll be back because: The addition of the Secret Supper idea only improves the already stellar reputation of a Chicago breakfast favorite. The creative blend of flavors in every dish leaves your taste buds on high alert. If you like what you ate or the wine you paired with your meal, there is a chance you can buy some of the options or ingredients in the store before you leave.

The Southport Grocery and Café is located at 3552 N. Southport in Lakeview. www.SoutportGrocery.com

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

TagsChicago RestaurantsSecret SupperSouthport Grocery and CafeTrent Modglin
Previous Article

Pretty Quick: New website offers an easy ...

Next Article

Helping hand: Flexible volunteering with One Brick ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • Good EatsOther Recent Articles

    Good eats at Taco Joint: Upscale, authentic Mexican food and drink in River North and Lincoln Park

    April 15, 2013
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • My Chicago

    My Chicago: What is the best restaurant you’ve been to recently?

    February 10, 2014
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Good Eats

    Good Eats at BBQ Joint: A blend of bold Mexican and sweet BBQ flavors finds a home in Lincoln Park

    August 26, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Signature Dishes

    Signature Dishes: Pork chops and wontons at Matilda, meatloaf and bourbon salmon at Weber Grill

    September 29, 2011
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General FeaturesGood Eats

    Good eats at State & Lake, Weather Mark and Burger Joint

    December 19, 2012
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • We Ask, They Answer

    We ask, they answer: Q&A with Windy City Strength & Conditioning founder Justin Marcis on expanding CrossFit, seeking adventure and ...

    August 7, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Rise and dine: Start your day off right at these fun Chicago breakfast joints

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    1920s-style night out: Uncovering Chicago’s speakeasy past

  • LATEST REVIEWS

  • TOP REVIEWS

Timeline

  • November 11, 2021

    Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

  • July 31, 2019

    Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & Ash

  • July 30, 2019

    First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater experience

  • July 28, 2019

    Finger lickin’ good: Six trusted Chicago spots for a stellar barbecue experience

  • July 25, 2019

    The Big City Blog: Four Friday Night Flights beer tastings remain this summer, including July 26 in Ravenswood

Latest Comments

  • The 14 Best Fireplaces in Chicago | UrbanMatter
    on
    October 11, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: The Real Chicago […]

    Cozy on up: We asked active Chicagoans for their favorite spots to warm up in the ...

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum | FreeForAll.org
    on
    January 16, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum – FreeForAll.org
    on
    October 23, 2016
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • The Real Chicago – The Big City Blog: A very Chicago night on the town
    on
    May 31, 2016
    […] up was The Redhead Piano Bar for drinks and live music. I’ve said it before ...

    Friendly, unfussy, and serious about music: Hanging with Marshall Nelson from the Redhead Piano Bar

  • Scouting Logan Square: A Renewed Historical Neighborhood - The Annex, a blog by Casamatic
    on
    March 10, 2016
    […] (cover photo via The Real Chicago) […]

    The rise of Logan Square: Why this diverse area has quickly become one of Chicago’s hottest ...

Find us on Facebook

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
  • Latest Posts

  • Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    November 11, 2021
  • Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 31, 2019
  • First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 30, 2019

Photostream

    Follow us

    © Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.