Daisies — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

As a group of 4 we had such an amazing time here! The hostess was very helpful and got us seated early. The waitress took the time to explain the menu to us and make recommendations which we really appreciated. All the dishes are very seasonal so it can change week to week and by season, which excites me because if I go in summer I’ll get to try something new!

We started off with 4 different cocktails with which everyone was happy, none too sweet or strong! The mushroom margarita was particularly unique, very umami and salty and I recommend if you feel adventurous. We started off with the onion dip, butternut squash salad, mushroom toast and Brussels sprouts. Onion dip was an easy crowd pleaser (can’t go wrong with that) and was whipped very light. The butternut squash was on the lighter side, refreshing and a little sweet. By far the show stopped was the mushroom toast, soft and perfectly cooked mushrooms on top of a crunchy toast with lots of cheese, our entire table absolutely loved it.

For main we focused on pasta and went with the truffle ravioli, pumpkin farfalle, pierogis and the rabbit pasta. Wow…. All were SO unique I’ve not tried pasta dishes like this, great departure from classic originals!

The rabbit pasta had flavors of mustard and celery and tasted like a chicken noodle soup, the pasta itself was on the thicker side which made for great texture. The waitress said it’s a crowd favorite and I can see why, great for cozy winter vibes.

The pierogis were perfectly browned on the outside and you got the rich potato flavor on the inside. The dish came with mussels which added the BEST flavor, you could tell they went with very quality or very fresh mussels as there was not even a hint of fishy taste. Really fabulous dish and apparently it’s always on the menu!

Pumpkin farfalle had a sweet brown butter taste and was highly addicting. Perfect fall pasta, great texture and softness.

My personal favorite was the truffle ravioli. It came with grapes and shavings of Brussels sprout which I have never had on a ravioli dish before! The flavors worked SO well together we could not get enough. This dish is a must have, and who doesn’t like truffle?

All in all, unique and creative flavor combinations that really work, great dishes all around. For 4 people we got 4 apps and 4 pastas and were really quite full by the end. When I go again I will maybe do 2 less apps so I can try a dessert!

The staff were very attentive, frequently refilling waters and wiping down the table, always taking away empty dishes promptly. So we were never without water or over crowded on the table. Dishes were all very easily shareable, and I recommend sharing so you can try as many of the flavors as possible.

Great place for a fun date, group of friends or to bring your parents! Cozy and home-y dishes in winter that genuinely can please any crowd or picky eater.

I also noticed that the entrance and walkways were quite wide and roomy, no stairs to get in, so if you or your family/friend have any issues with mobility or use a wheelchair I truly think this space would easily...

Difficult review to write, but I feel it's important to share the experience. First, I have to say how excited I am the new space is open. Of course, since it's new, there are going to be some kinks - which I wanted to make you aware of. Let's start with the good news - outstanding front of house. I checked in very early and the host was extremely gracious. I proceeded to sit at the bar, whereupon I was immediately poured a glass of water and provided a menu. The bartender was EXCELLENT. He asked what I wanted, and, after I described a flavor profile, he proceeded to produce an excellent cocktail - probably haven't enjoyed a cocktail that much in the past year. Unfortunately, we had a reservation at a table and so we left the bar and were seated. That's where things started to change. After being seated, and being poured water right away, it was a good 6-7 minutes before we could place another drink order. It then took 30+ minutes and two reminders to receive our glasses of wine. In the interim we were having trouble deciding what to eat and so we both decided to go with the "Feed Me" option. We were advised that the option was not available, and we'd need to choose something from the menu. No problem - too many excellent choices is a good problem to have! However, when something is printed on the menu and is one of the main reasons someone may dine at the establishment, it's important to manage expectations. At any rate, we made our decisions regarding courses, but it was another 10 minutes before we could place our orders. After placing the orders, we were thirsty, so decided on a couple more glasses of wine. Another 10 minutes and a polite reminder before receiving the glasses of wine - and those were brought over by a manager who had checked if everything was OK (who we updated on the wait time). After another 15-20 minutes of waiting (from placing the order), the first of our dishes came out (parsnips) which was very good. Next dishes followed about 10 minutes later (pappardelle and pierogi) which were pretty good. I won't continue to describe the events in exact detail, but it became clear there was a staffing/service issue. Every table around us was devoid of food/drink/etc. for at least 10 minutes after they were seated. This is exacerbated when you have a service fee tacked on to the bill (which I 100% support). Unfortunately, given the experiences of those around us, the consensus was that they wouldn't be back. I, too, would be hard-pressed to recommend Daisies to someone who wanted to check-out the new digs at this stage. Obviously there are some growing pains, but you MUST deliver if you are to compete in this cut-throat city of culinary giants. It is imperative that the service/attentiveness live up to the expectations of the diner - the tenor/tone of which is set by the management as you make your reservation and by the service charge, combined with a menu which must accurately reflect choices available. Overall, I really REALLY want to come back, but I'll wait to see what happens with other reviews...

I took myself on a solo date to Daisies, and I’m ready to hard-launch our relationship.

I sat at the bar with my kindle, which was a great height with a wide enough depth to accommodate the various drinks and dishes I’d eventually order myself and a purse hook(!!!). The bar staff were knowledgeable and effusive ready to talk the details and notes on everything from the drinks to the dishes I ate through. The atmosphere of the restaurant was approachable with some moody elements. I felt like I was treating myself, but also was somehow very connected to what produce was in season. Duality at its best. The music was at a great volume where it filled the gaps between the sound of people and drinks; making it equally possible to eavesdrop on the people around me as it was to tune them out and read without much effort.

The drinks: I am going to gush about the bartenders at every step here because they’re really that great. The drinks had some new riffs on our favorites (the mushroom margarita) as well as flawless execution of classics (the gimlet I had with my main) with an understanding of deep punchy flavors ( the fig carre that accompanied my desert).

The food: I started with the onion dip and home made chips. They were salty and crispy without being overly oily. The spice on the potato chips worked so well with the creamy onion dip. I had to remind myself to pause and read a sentence before relishing in it over again. Deliciously salty.

For my main I went with the Cavatelli, one of their seasonal items with a summer squash sugo. I was dancing in my seat. The textural components of the dish worked so well together with the richness of the sauce and the softness of the pine nuts. The tomatoes were burst but also had a bit to them close to a Sun dried tomato and they were brimming with flavor. I literally stared at my plate for a minute wondering how and if I could ever make something like that for myself.

For dessert I listened to the once again amazing bartenders and did the warm apple pie. It’s the first dessert I’ve finished in a very long time. It was soft and crunchy in all the right places and the vanilla ice cream they made for it was rich and grounding for some of the warmer spices that accompanied the apples. The crust was flaky and buttery and when the bartender brought out the fig carre to accompany the pie I could have proposed to her right then.

It was an incredible evening, and inspired feast - a perfect place to be alone or together with some one(s).

My only regret is that I could not...