Maxwells Trading
Chicago, US
It’s not often you can eat beneath an urban farm, but at Maxwells Trading, you’ll do just that. Chicago agriculture initiative The Roof Crop grows flowers, herbs and vegetables on top of residences and office buildings in the city, including at this restaurant, supplying herbs, greens and honey directly to the kitchen. Maxwells is the baby of Josh Tilden and Erling Wu-Bower, who wanted a place where they could unwind, eat, drink and listen to music with their family and friends. Though the warehouse-chic space is large and open, the atmosphere is homey; you might even see the owners working the room. The menu is divided into self-explanatory sections: ‘Beginnings’, ‘Griddle Bread & Dunks’, ‘Starch’, ‘Substance’ and ‘In Conclusion’ with dishes that draw from global cuisine with a tendency towards Asian. Dips are freshly zhuzhed (the whipped ricotta, a standout), while the suzuki tartare, a zingy combination of fish, coconut, lemongrass and chilli, is a favourite. Heftier mains include spit-roasted crispy chicken lifted with a ginger-spring onion salsa verde and steak with Japanese mustard bearnaise. Cocktails are reinterpretations of the classics, many also featuring what’s grown above diners’ heads. Ask for a table by the steel-framed windows and watch the world go by.
Key Information
- Average price per person $68
- Dinner: Tues – Sat
- 1 312 896 4410
- Visit Maxwells Trading's Website
Location
1516 W Carroll Avenue, Kinzie Industrial Corridor, Chicago, Illinois, IL 60607
