The Purple Pig | What to Eat on Chicago's Magnificent Mile 🌟

Tucked away in a building on the Magnificent Mile, there's a Michelin-recommended, affordable Mediterranean restaurant that's always bustling with diners. The dishes are generally quite good, so let's dive into my personal ratings based on the order we placed. Snacks: Crispy Pig’s Ear 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The pig's ears are fried to a perfect crisp, seasoned simply with salt, and placed on equally crispy kale. Topped with two soft-boiled eggs that ooze yolk, it's the ultimate drinking snack! 🍻 Vegetables: Mushroom 3 Ways 🌟🌟🌟 A signature dish, the mushrooms are prepared three ways: roasted, in a pork jus, and as a truffle purée, served with red onions and a tangy sauce. I couldn't quite figure out what made this dish special. 🍄 Seafood: Octopus 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Ordered twice, the octopus is perfectly charred, with thick, meaty tentacles. The small potatoes underneath are equally flavorful, and the sauce is both visually appealing and delicious. 🦑 Scallops 🌟🌟🌟 A thick scallop is sandwiched between two slices of mushroom, served with a cheese sauce and truffle purée. The scallops were a bit mushy, and the seasoning was quite ordinary—not worth the price. 🦪 Pasta: Seafood Risotto 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Also ordered twice, this risotto is incredibly aromatic. Every grain of rice and piece of seafood is coated in a rich, cheesy sauce. The generous portion is perfect for sharing among friends. 🍜 Meat: Half Duck 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Despite the name "The Purple Pig," the must-try dish here is the duck. The skin is glazed with a sweet and sour sauce, and the meat is tender and juicy. Paired with Greek yogurt, it cuts through the richness perfectly. 🍗 Beef Short Ribs 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The beef short ribs are braised until they're falling off the bone, served with creamy mashed potatoes and a truffle sauce. A solid choice. 🍖 Dessert: Tiramisu 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Surprisingly not too sweet, this dessert is excellent except for the slightly dry top layer of biscuits. A great way to end the meal. 🍰 Cocktail: Pomelo Sour 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Delicious! Jungle Bird 🌟🌟🌟 A sweet cocktail, nothing extraordinary. ✨ If you're planning to shop on the Magnificent Mile, this is a great spot to visit. Since it's quite popular, reservations are highly recommended (it's always packed). ✨ The atmosphere is great, though the tables are close together, making it a bit noisy—perfect for a gathering with friends. ✨ The portions are generous, and we always leave stuffed. The average cost per person is around $60-80, for reference. #Chicago #ChicagoFood #ChicagoMediterranean #ChicagoEats #RestaurantReview #MichelinRecommended #ChicagoFun #MagnificentMile #ChicagoMagnificentMileFood