Browntrout is a comfortable, casual fine-dining experience. We grow our own herbs in our rooftop garden and we use sustainably farmed and/or organic products whenever possible. All our seafood comes from natural waters or sustainable farms. Our meats are all free range animals. We can seat 80 people in our dining room comfortably. We serve the same sustainable food for children as well. We have a large central communal table for large groups. It seats 16 people. We have a full Bar, plus Beer and Wine List.
"We were repeat diners at Browntrout and brought some friends there for dinner on Sat. 05/18/13. Dinner was excellent. The mussels appetizer was terrific as usual. Very fresh and hearty portion. The entrees are delicious. The trout is superb. Burger is great. The GM was our server and was friendly, engaging and service was excellent. We ended up closing the restaurant that evening, and never felt rushed. Our friends will definitely be repeat diners as well."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Food was delicious but portions were small. Ordered the fish fry special and got two very small pieces of pollack for $19. The service was poor took 20 minutes to put in our drink orders even it was not very busy. Took another 20 minutes to get drinks. Too bad this place used to provide much better service."
Dined on 5/17/2013
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"Serious and inventive food at a friendly, casual neighborhood place. They favor local growers and producers. The quality is very high and the taste sublime. Four of us went for the first time. We were extremely pleased with all of the food we had. The menu is small and changes. The signature trout dish was excellent. Our server was knowledgeable, fun and very accommodating.
Highly recommended for foodies."
Dined on 5/16/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"My third time at Browntrout-- all the staff remembered me and said hi :) Food consistently amazing, had the steak this time and it was cooked to perfection. The mac and cheese is incredible and even my friend who 'hates comfort food' loved my dish. We shared the smoked trout appetizer and both of us could have ate that all night long. She had fish with the most incredible lentils. The flavors pop and we both left with a food(ie) glow. So YUM. Still telling everyone to GO THERE"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"We started off with an order of the morels fried in lard. One of the best things in my entire life. I'm now willing to go to the country to search for them. Or just go back to Browntrout . Delicious meal, perfect, knowledgeable service. Great evening."
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"We were celebrating our anniversary & chose Browntrout because Chicago Magazine recommended it. It was delightful & we will surely return. Our waitperson was charming and very knowledgeable. I'm thinking going back for 1/2 price wine dinners is our next visit."
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"I thought it was overpriced and that the menu offered a very narrow selection of items. My friend that accompanied me is a vegetarian and there was little for her to choose. The portions were small. The waiter said the smaller portion of pasta was enough for 1 person and that the larger portion should be split. The smaller portion was maybe 5 forkfuls. I don't think that's enough for dinner. I would not recommend the restaurant."
Dined on 04/24/2013
2000
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"Upon walking in, I was told it was our anniversary when it was not. I corrected our greeter and he insisted, and somehow believed it. Mistaking me for another couple, he persisted to the point that my date believed I was dating another. It was very awkward and unpleasant."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2011
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"My wife and I went here for our anniversary, and it was a perfect night. Great local food and drinks. It was comfortable and delicious. Even the coffee was wonderful. I had the walleye in a Boston Clam Chowder sauce that was wonderful. Appetizers were fun and very tasty, fried pork skins and white fish fritters were a nice start. Great local cheeses were a great starter, smoked cheddar from Wisconsin was my favorite. The service was very attentive, fun, and very helpful. We are already planning on returning soon."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"well presented restaurant, warm and welcoming host, our server was outstanding, hospitable. he knew every dish on the menu, how it was prepared, how it tasted, he did a great job the entire evening, engaging us in conversations and even sold us on returning this sunday for brunch as he could describe the food in such great detail and with such passion! this place is definatley a neighborhood gem."
Dined on 04/17/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem
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"There were four of us and we had a wonderful time. We all had the 3 course prix-fixe dinner. The food was delicious. The variety of flavors were outstanding. I loved the pate compagne and the brandade fritters. The walleye was cooked to perfection. The chocolate souffle was the best I've ever had. . Our waiter was terrific. He advised us and answered all our questions about items on the menu. He was very attentive and helpful. The staff was very accommodating. This is one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time. We will highly recommend this restaurant to our friends and look forward to returning."
Dined on 04/10/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"Got there 2 hour early but they accommodated us at the bar and we were able to eat. Friendly bartender had us taste few drinks we had asked us about and were very attentive while dining. Great ginger carrot soup, baby octopus, even seemingly mundane chop salad was unique in flavor. We found a great place to sit and drink slowly for hours."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Wonderful spot. The food was amazing in taste and presentation. So much pride in their product and very welcoming. I can not wait to be back. The staff/service was top notch. Amazing how a first visit makes you feel like you'd had been going there for years."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"We went on their Thursday night BYOB night which turned out to be an outstanding bargain. The wait staff was terrific as was the food and general ambience."
Dined on 03/28/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"wonderful ingredients, without overly elaborate presentation. flavors all in harmony. warm and cheerful servers and great vibe in this small neighborhood restaurant. lots of price points for those on a budget. loved the whitefish fritters to start. beet and chopped salads were excellent. terrific veal saltimbocca. apple pie very nice but not as harmonious as other dishes, I found it had too many disparate flavors including otherwise excellent bourbon ice cream. Sunday evenings there is live bluegrass trio, excellent music! Sunday brunch menu noted but not tried yet. there is a backstory to the strange name of this restaurant printed on the menu."
Dined on 03/24/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"Been there before, and still very good. Octopus appetizer with crispy cannalleni beans was unusual and very good. Thursday special on oysters at $ 1 apiece was also a good deal."
Dined on 03/21/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Go to this restaurant. I was there for Restaurant Week and became happier and happier as our meal progressed. What struck me most was how each flavor was so fresh and individual but when you ate everything together the flavors exploded in a new and intense way. I was trying to think of a word for it as I drove home and it seems strange, but I would say it was mindful eating: each piece mattered as did how they paired together. The staff was also awesome, attentive, helpful and non-intrusive. If I weren't so full I'd go back now. Really worth going here for an amazing meal."
Dined on 03/21/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
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"We started with a dozen oysters and 2 glasses of champagne. Fire River oysters were briny and delicious. Inexplicably, champagne came in two tall, glorified shot glasses. Real champagne deserves genuine flutes! ;-) Our charcuterie plate: smoked cheddar and Driftless sheep's milk were standouts of cheeses. My husband got the hanger steak, a personal favorite of his, and I got the porcini risotto. Both lived up to our expectations and then some. Still reliving that risotto. Chef really knows his flavors. For gluten intolerant, Browntrout worked with us to assure GF adjustments. Decent wine list, some excellent course pairings."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"After three visits in four months Browntrout is becoming a "go-to" place for my girlfriend and I (and several of our friends). On one visit we came here to celebrate, on the other two we came here just to unplug and enjoy a great meal and great service (and on Sunday nights to hear the amazing bluegrass band). The food is always wonderful, and all of the staff is amazing."
Dined on 03/03/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"To quote my husaband, "that was the best meal I have had in a long time!" And a a person who seldom orders fish and did on Sat. night, that is a real compliement. The noise level was converdatino friendly, even with some tables with children. The mussels were most unusual and delicious. Elegant food served elegantly."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"I loved my dining experience at Browntrout. I loved the food, and the service was spot-on -- the waiter was very helpful without being the least bit intrusive. Great job, Browntrout. I will be back."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
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"I find the menu frustratingly limited. The Fish Fry was a good idea, but it came off a little heavy. Service was excellent with the Host going out of his way to let my wife sample a few different wines.
The French Onion Soup was kinda meh, I wish restaurants would go a bit wilder when it comes to soup.
Also, I'm sure there are good reasons for it, but the drop ceiling in the dining room kinda kills the ambiance. Just looks cheap."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"Loved the idea, the room, and the host. Our server seemed preoccupied and too busy to help us so the host served us our drinks and gave us recommendations twice."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2009
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"We had been to Brown twice recently for dinner. I liked our dinners better than brunch, probably because I don't like brunch food that much. I will say that the omelet was very good and I don't usually like egg dishes."
Dined on 02/17/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"The poutine was soggy and there was only 2 curds on the plate. It had very little flavor. The mussels could have used much more broth. The risotto was overpowered by the pickled garnishes. Service was also slow, it took an unusually long time to get drinks."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2008
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"Browntrout was extremely over priced for what was served and for the area it is in. The food was mediocre at best. The service was just ok. They are trying to pull something off that they can not."
Dined on 02/17/2013
2013
Special Features: kid-friendly
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"It was a first time visit for us and we will be going back. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu items and he knew his wines and pairings. The patrons were a mix of young and old, everyone seemed including our party, very happy and energetic in a positive way. From wine choices to appetizers, entree and desserts, we were very happy."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"The best thing clearly is the food. Excellent choices, very fresh and interesting tastes. (Although the beets were too hard and needed to be either ripened or par-boiled or something). The rest needs work. Three of us were served our appetizers and the fourth didn't get hers until we were already finished. Then one hot entree was brought to the table while the other three took over 5 minutes longer to appear. The wines are expensive and the waiter didn't know them at all. We started with one bottle that went back because it had turned. The second bottle, much more expensive than the first, was very good."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"The service was outstanding but of the three of us only one who got the fish fry special thought their main course was as good as it should be. We are all foodies, one worked in the industry for years and all really enjoy creative new combinations. Loved the rasberry preserves and pea sprouts with the pate but food experience definiteloy went down from there except for the fried fish special. Pasta with lamb was undercooked and hard to cut with fork and although the plate was hot the food was not. Hamburger not rare and complaint was there was to much marrow in the mix. Crust on the creme brulee was great with lemon curd but the creame brulee not as thick as it should be. They should take lessons from the chefts at Trencherman"
Dined on 01/25/2013
2010
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"This is a restaurant we have eaten at many times. The food is outstanding. However, one of the reasons we originally came here and have continued to come is the corkage policy that has allowed us to bring wines 10 years or older and skip their $25 per bottle corkage fee. When we sat down this past Friday with our high end Bordeaux wines we were informed that the policy had changed and $25 per bottle would be charged. I pointed out that their web site still had the original policy which I had checked before I made the reservation. After the server had a discussion with the manager/owner we were told the corkage fee wouldn't be charged this time. Later as I looked at the menu I found the original corkage policy still there. Be forewarned."
Dined on 01/25/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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