Openings Fri Oct 01 2010

The Crossing

By Renee Barone

Tonight The Crossing opens as the latest addition to the Four Corners Tavern Group. Coming hot off the heels of the Benchmark opening, The Crossing is going to be a sports haven for those who like good beer, good food and LOTS of TVs. I had the fortunate experience of dining there earlier this week and testing out the new menu.In some ways the menu was completely what I expected; in others, it was surprising. Staples like chicken tenders and burgers are a must, however unexpected items like Korean steak tacos and truffle cheese mushroom pizza made me happy.

This night the food was free, so naturally I wanted to stuff my face with as many options as possible. To start we ordered the jalapeno spinach artichoke dip. The dip was creamy, with just a little spice. Being from Texas, I like my dips a little spicier. If I were to go back though I would probably get the buffalo rolls that they have at other Four Corners bars, because they are just so wonderful.

Next we ordered the mushroom pizza with truffle cheese and the Korean steak tacos and a side of cilantro rice. I'll be honest - I was completely hesitant about the tacos and the rice. I've been eating Korean food since I was young. My dad would, what I called it then, torture me, into heading down to the Korean Market in Dallas. I would only eat bulgogi because it's steak, something I was comfortable with. In my later years I grew to love Korean food, so when I saw the tacos, I knew this was a must to try. The pizza seemed like a natural fit as well since I love truffles of any variety- white, black, whatever.

Our food arrives and we dive in. The Korean tacos come with two tacos and a coleslaw topping. The steak was cooked perfectly and tasted like bulgogi with a bit of hoisin sauce. The coleslaw added a nice crunch. Overall I was pretty happy and would definitely order it again. The cilantro rice was really nice as well. The rice was sticky and the cilantro added a nice touch with the tacos. It was an interesting choice for sure, but good. The pizza was fairly large and could easily serve 3-4 people (not bad for $14). The white pie started with a layer of basil leaves, topped with cheese, then mushrooms and red peppers. I was hoping for a little more truffle in the truffle cheese, but still the pizza was really fresh and delicious. These pizzas are apparently going to change with the seasons. So look of for new pies throughout the year.

The Crossing breaks away from traditional bar food and offers a nice variety for those sick of the old fare. Oh, and you can get drinks there too. They've got a wide selection of bottles, drafts, etc. It opens tonight so check it out! And if you're a University of Kansas fan this is an official Kansas bar so head up there tomorrow for all things Jayhawks.

The Crossing
2548 Southport (at the corner of Wrightwood)
Chicago, IL 60614