Reviewing Girl & the Goat: Globally-inspired small plates packed with seasonal flavors in Chicago.

Chicago’s Restaurant Row on Randolph Street is home to the city’s hottest and most popular restaurants. The establishments are a perfect embodiment of Chicago’s rich culinary scene with all the great offerings the city has. For restaurants on the Row, you’re only as good as your Chef. And lucky for Girl & The Goat- their Chef Stephanie Izard is certainly one of the best. Izard rose to culinary cult status when she was the first woman to win Bravo’s show Iron Chef. Soon afterwards, she opened the very popular Girl & the Goat restaurant. 

In an area of converted warehouses, I immediately noticed that Girl & the Goat has retained its rustic roots. I was in awe of the hanging Edison light fixtures and funky colorful canvases that adorned the bohemian walls. The energy of the restaurant patrons was electric. It’s hard not to have a great time in such a lively and hip atmosphere. The bustling establishment was full of raucous laughter and the ringing sounds of clinking wine glasses. Some of the excitement could be due to the fact that people were incredulous that they actually secured a reservation at one of the busiest restaurants in the city! A young bride and groom all dressed up in their wedding outfits were met with roaring applause and cheers from the restaurant patrons when they appeared through the doors. This is the kind of place Girl & The Goat is- fun, communal and buzzing with excitement. 

Along with being very busy, Girl & the Goat has received many accolades, including the Bib Gourmand which is named after Michelin’s chunky mascot, Bibendum (or Bib for short). Although not quite a Michelin star, a Bib Gourmand award is what the Michelin Guide bestows on restaurants deemed to be the best value for money. They are excellent restaurants without the steep price point that patrons may come to expect from Michelin starred establishments. Friendly service is also a huge criteria factor and the Bib Gourmand picks are revered worldwide.  

When it comes to food, it is recommended to order 2-3 dishes per person as the plates are smaller. I started off with the chickpea fritters which consisted of goat yogurt, green chutney, sev spice crunch and pomegranate. I love seeing upscale restaurants incorporating the best aspects of traditional Indian cooking. Next I had the chili crunch chicken that came with chap chae, pickled pears and chili lime crunch. Such a wonderfully textured dish! I fell in love with the tanginess and flavors. Finally I ordered the goat empanadas which were my absolute favorite. They were served with smoked blueberries- a fantastic and unique touch. The dish was also accompanied with piparra and idiazabal cheese. The dish was incredible and it’s no wonder it has been a restaurant staple since Girl & the Goat first opened its doors in 2010. 

When trying all the menu items, it felt like time slowed down for a minute. I was trying to savor every bite, fully recognizing just how incredible each taste was in the moment. Every dish was rich, beautifully bold and contained interesting fusion elements. Despite being completely stuffed, I found myself, fork in hand, going back again and again to my plate. 

I wanted to try everything on the menu, especially more goat-centred items such as goat liver mousse and the goat cheese board but I guess a second visit is obligatory! 

While the food was unbelievable, what really sets this restaurant apart from others was the service. The attentiveness and good-naturedness was infectious. The service was outstanding and I felt more like a dinner guest than a patron. I was celebrating my birthday and the server Yazmin was so accommodating and really went out of her way to make me feel special. One of my entrees was on-the-house and I even received some complimentary champagne and popcorn ice cream for dessert! 

The West Loop restaurant has remained popular since its inception- which is a testament to how great the dishes and hospitality are. In an age where restaurants seem to explode with trendiness and quickly fizzle out to the next big thing- Girl & The Goat proves it has staying power. What the restaurant does best is originality. They take the complexity of global flavors and find a way to incorporate it in the most unexpected of ways. The end result? A restaurant that keeps you coming back for more.