The frites/fries look like the ones served at Pomme Frites in NYC, which purports to be an authentic Belgian frites shop, for what it's worth.

The first Monday of every month is Belgian Fried Chicken night at Hopleaf. Has anyone had it? How is it?

Thanks,

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:The first Monday of every month is Belgian Fried Chicken night at Hopleaf. Has anyone had it? How is it?

Thanks,

=R=

As a matter of cosmic coincidence, today is National Fried Chicken Day as well as the first Monday of July. I smell an idea brewing...or should I say frying?

Hopleaf hasn't gotten a ton of love lately, especially with killer beer lists all over the city these days. But i've had a couple of pretty killer meals here lately. Highlights include the smoked cod salad + olives, preserved lemon, potato, anchovy vinaigrette and some other stuff and a fried catfish hoagie that was more po boy than hoagie but totally delicious. Beer list is as great as ever and we walked in mid-Saturday evening with no crowds.

My tasty lunch with a friend consisted of the duck confit salad (yum!), the Belgian style mussels and a second version of mussels in a lobster broth with lemongrass and jalapeño peppers. As much as I liked the Belgian version, the second one was even better. Spicy, rich, delicious.

If you need an excuse to visit here, a MeetUp group is assembling this Sunday @ 3:00 pm. I don't know any of the people who say they are going {but I know one of the people who isn't }, but it's a solid excuse.

Has it really been two years since anyone posted about Hopleaf? Mr. X and I opted to head there dinner last Friday. Our decision was based on availability of nearby parking. Surprisingly, lots of spots open around 7:30. No wait for a table in both the front bar and dining room. A beer for each of us, mussels for him, whitefish special for me, coffee ancho chili brownie to finish. Pleasant service, good food, happy we made the stop.

Hopleaf continues to be a solid option. Our recent dinner was delicious. It was still Andersonville restaurant week so I took advantage of the $20 prix fixe: choice of salad, entree (flemish stew or wood grilled cauliflower) and a Leffe Blond or quartino of wine. Mr. X had the mussels. Our appetizer of Bitterballen (pork sausage & vegetable gravy croquettes, panko breaded, w/smoky mustard aioli) were fantastic. If you haven't been recently, I recommend a return.

At Hopleaf, owner Michael Roper writes “...it is not prudent or wise for us to remain open,” while citing a back-of-house employee had tested positive, Lightfoot’s advisory, and the virus’ resurgence. His Facebook post adds “Until further notice, Hopleaf is closed. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!! We will reopen when it is deemed safe to resume indoor service.”

https://chicago.eater.com/2020/11/16/21 ... ee-chicago