Feld – Chicago

I had dinner at Feld this weekend, and it was one of those meals that quietly wrecks your expectations. It’s fine dining without the attitude. Most of the produce is sourced locally, and you can tell. Every dish felt super intentional and perfectly balanced.

The meal started with a Korean Pear Tea that set the tone for how subtle and clean everything would be. Highlights for me were the Tempura Pear, Turnip with Horseradish, and Lobster Tail with Quince. The flavors were focused and deep, not overcomplicated. Even something as simple as the turnip felt like it had been tested a hundred times to land just right.

There was also a Lamb’s Fat Ice Cream with Grapes that sounded gimmicky but totally worked. It was savory, rich, and weirdly elegant. The dessert section was playful but still disciplined, and I appreciated that they didn’t go overboard on sweetness.

The wine pairings were excellent. They pulled from really good regions and didn’t play it safe. The A. Margaine Champagne was crisp and floral, the F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner tied perfectly into the vegetable courses, and the Weingut Peter Lauer Riesling with the pork and apple was spot on. The last pour, a Hans Wirsching Silvaner Auslese, was honeyed and clean, a great finish.

Overall, Feld is for people who love produce and precision. It’s not a showy restaurant. Every bite feels like it was edited down to its most honest version. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Rating: 9.5/10 – quietly brilliant food and thoughtful wine work.