Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Washington Park

My sister and I went for a late dinner. This place was gorgeous! Great ambiance, lovely, knowledgeable waitress and great drinks! The food was good too! The only thing I would say is we ordered steak medium well and it came out a bit undercooked. We were so hungry that we went ahead with most of it except for the centerpieces that were just too undercooked for us to eat. When our waitress came over to check on us, we told her about it… She assured us that it could be cooked longer, but since we only had a few pieces left, we did not take the offer. However, we did order dessert and she ended up comping us the dessert to our surprise! Overall, this was a very good experience and a beautiful place! Although it was too cold to sit out on the rooftop patio… they encouraged us to walk out and take a tour… It was breathtaking! Make your reservation ☺️

Brutø is next-level dining—seriously, what a ride! From the second you walk in, it’s clear this place isn’t messing around. The vibe? Modern, cozy, and a little edgy, like it knows it’s cool but doesn’t need to try too hard. Even the plates, bowls, and cutlery were so on point that I caught myself thinking, “I need to step up my dinnerware game.” We went big with the 11-course tasting menu, and wow—just wow. Each course was like opening a little gift, perfectly wrapped and full of surprises. Every single dish had a story, a purpose, and a whole lot of heart behind it. You could feel the thought and care that went into not just the food, but the entire experience. The flavors were bold and inventive but somehow still comforting. Oh, and everything? Sustainable in some way, which made me love this place even more. And Lauren, our expert in literally everything…absolute rockstar! She didn’t just bring us food; she brought us into the food. The way she described each dish and wine pairing—like she was giving us the inside scoop on a masterpiece—made the whole night feel like a VIP event. Plus, her energy was infectious. You could tell she loved what she was doing, and it made all the difference. This isn’t just dinner; it’s a full-on experience. Brutø is the kind of place that makes you want to tell everyone you know about it and then book your next visit before you’ve even left. I’m counting the days until I can go back and hopefully see Lauren again. If you’re on the fence—go. Just go. You’ll thank me later.

Nice easy going breakfast place. They do not require reservations for breakfast and rarely for lunch. My server, Miguel U was nice and efficient. He gave me plenty of time to make my selections. I ordered a hot matcha latte from the Little Owl Coffee bar nearby. He brought over a small stoneware beaker of simple syrup to sweeten my latte. I got the Scrambled Toast with veggies & scrambled egg on sourdough toast and an Icelandic style Skyr yogurt with granola. I will be back to try other items including lunch.

Always dependable for good food and ambience. The drinks are good, the food very good.

This was our first time to Jack’s after a recommendation from a friend. The food and service were both excellent! Highly recommended to anyone looking for an amazing and experience.