Reviewing Chicago Q: an upscale indoor Southern BBQ restaurant in Chicago.
Being somewhat of a self-described “foodie,” I am always on the lookout to try new eateries in Chicago. Recently, when chatting with a family friend, she mentioned Chicago Q as being one of her favorite barbecue restaurants in the city. Because Chicago is far away from most of the well-known barbecue capitals of the U.S., I was intrigued. I took her recommendation and jumped at the chance to check out this upscale southern spot with a friend and my partner.
Upon entering, we were given the options for indoor dining, which includes both bar and dining room seating, as well as outdoor dining, if weather permitting. The outdoor seating area is underneath a white trellis with tables surrounded by flowers, making it a beautiful site against the downtown scenery. Because of the time of night we were dining, our party opted for indoor seating at a booth. Once seated, we took in the relaxed and friendly environment around us.
Our server was prompt and polite, starting us off with cocktails and a whiskey flight to drink. I ordered a jalapeño tequila drink with a BBQ rub rim, which was an interesting twist on your typical spicy margarita, while my dining companions went with a rye whiskey flight and a peach bourbon cocktail. The whiskey flight featured a good variety of ryes, and we were all pleased with our selections.
To start the table off with an appetizer, we split the hush puppies, which are a southern classic side dish to either a seafood or barbecue meal. This dish included the traditional cornmeal and corn batter as well as bacon and cheddar mix-ins and an accompaniment of chipotle aioli dipping sauce. The hush puppies were crisp on the outside, yet soft and savory on the inside, giving that satisfying crunch on the first bite. The aioli was a nice finishing touch, adding spice and a slight tartness to the heavy dish.
For the main course, our table ordered a range of items to get a sense of how well Chicago Q could execute on their many barbecue offerings. We ordered the Q Fried Chicken Sandwich, Q2, and the Flight. The Q Fried Chicken Sandwich was made with a Cajun-spiced piece of fried chicken, chipotle aioli, bread and butter pickles, and butter lettuce atop a toasted bun. The portion was sizable and would be enough for one person’s entire meal. The sandwich also came with the option of fries, coleslaw, cornbread, or mashed potatoes for a side, and we selected the cornbread. It was a generous serving, topped with a dollop of honey butter.
The Q2 came with a choice of meat and a half chicken or half rack of ribs; we opted for the brisket and half rack of ribs, which were well-seasoned and cooked to perfection. Lastly, the Flight included small portions of pulled chicken, pulled pork, and chopped brisket.
Each meat was served in a small ramekin with red onions and three dipping sauces — sweet BBQ, spicy BBQ, and honey mustard BBQ — on the side. We also indulged in a side of smoked brisket baked beans, which were the perfect combination of sweet and smokey, and a side of the mac and cheese, served in a small cast iron skillet with toasted breadcrumbs and melted cheddar cheese.
I would get dinner at Chicago Q again in a heartbeat. The atmosphere and menu offerings would be perfect for a date, a casual dinner with family, or a happy hour with coworkers. Finding good barbecue in the Midwest can be a challenge, but Chicago Q absolutely rose to the challenge. With the added benefit of being centrally located, Chicago Q should be on every Chicagoan’s list of must-tries!