RAISED | An Urban Rooftop Bar ( 1 W. Wacker Dr.; RaisedBarChicago.com ) flaunts breathtaking views of the city with a spectacular food and drink menu.
The venue's traditional American cuisine offers choices for anyone—including breakfast, lunch and dinner—along with a selection of desserts and a diverse drink menu. For a socially distanced brunch or a casual night out for drinks, RAISED will go above and beyond your expectations for rooftop dining.
Breakfast options include skillets, omelette, parfaits, croissants, a breakfast burrito and more. You can also choose a "light and healthy" option as well as gluten-free and vegan items.
The lunch and dinner menu is hearty and savory, and it absolutely hits the spot. It's broken down into categories; the first is "snacks," which are smaller, appetizer plates for tables to share. A standout from this section was the crispy polenta and ratatouille with goat cheese and smoked tomato sugo. This snack plate was the perfect starter along with the spot's frites ( French fries ), which are available in rosemary parmesan or regular flavors. They were thick and salty, and perfectly paired with the aioli and ketchup.
The next category on the menu—called "btwn the bread"—offers sandwiches, burgers and everything that's ( you guessed it ) between bread. I chose the all-natural turkey BLT: stacked beeler's farm hickory smoked bacon, mighty vine tomato, lettuce and garlic aioli, served with house made chips. It was a classic lunchtime dish with a wonderful flavor combination.
The "substantial" category features appetizing, savory options of grilled bistro filet, chicken breast and the be-all and end-all of mac 'n cheese. The Carr Valley-aged cheddar mac 'n cheese was cheesy and flavorful with house-smoked beef brisket, roasted peppers, herb crumb throughout; a version without the beef is available as well—but, for my dining companion, the meat was an essential part of the dish.
Another feature of RAISED's menu was the "share" category, which serves platters that are typically ordered for a group to enjoy together, including orders such as a charcuterie selection and lobster rolls. ( Note: RAISED's items were originally all shareable; however, it recently revised its menu. )
As for drinks, the popular Watered Flowers cocktail was almost too pretty to drink. The foamy, delicate, pink cocktail was topped with decorative petals, and smelled of roses. It's made with CH vodka, aperol, strawberry, lemon, egg white and rose water.
Finally, the dessert was unlike anything I've tried before and had a lovely presentation. The raspberry crunch was an irresistibly sweet, creamy combination of raspberry mousse, lady fingers, white chocolate and orange zest—the perfect way to end.
RAISED's cautious approach to serving customers and spaced out dining areas were quite reassuring. Those that are dining must wear masks unless eating or drinking and are given sealed utensils. They can accompany up to six guests at once, but seating is limited to 90 minutes for parties of two and limited to two hours for parties of three or more. You can also scan a QR code and view a menu without contact. Our excellent server, Felipe, wore a mask and kept his distance—but still made sure our every need was met.
While you're munching on these menu favorites, you'll get a unique perk few restaurants offer—being able to see Chicago at its most charming state. I will never feel the same about dining again as I'm crammed in a booth at a chain restaurant, knowing that I could be dining out with the city's breathtaking skyscrapers wrapping around me, debating on if I should photograph my dish first or the view. Reserve a table at RAISED Rooftop Bar and you'll find yourself with the same magnificent dilemma.
Note: Profiles/events are based on invitations arranged from restaurants and/or firms.
