Fab Review: Centennial Crafted Beer and Eatery

Centennial Crafted Beer and Eatery is a new restaurant and beer hall in River North that opened up in early March. It is a gastropub with a focus on beer, which is paired perfectly with its chef-driven food menu. Centennial’s head chef is Ben Sheagren, who previously worked at Hopleaf in Andersonville for nine years.

Centennial offers a rotating selection of 36 craft beers at the bar on the first floor with another 20 beers on tap at the bar on the second floor. They also offer a wide selection of wines along with a curated spirit selection from craft distillers.

{Ambiance}
Centennial Crafted Beer and Eatery is housed in a remodeled building that dates back to 1888.

The space has a rustic vibe with modern accents. On one side of the restaurant, the wood panel walls with window panes look into the entryway as well as a few high-top tables directly across from the bar.

On the other side of the restaurant, you’ll notice the exposed brick wall. There is a fireplace and a bar with plenty of seating surrounding it. At the front of the restaurant, there are floor-to-ceiling windows so high you can look upwards to the second floor. There are also several tables lined up against the walls as well as leather booths.

The second floor is decorated the same as the first floor but with many more tables. There is also a counter with bar stools lined up on one side. Next to the bar, is a lounge space complete with leather couches and fireplace, with a balcony that looks down to the front area of the first floor.

{Food}
The food menu is broken up into a few sections: smalls, charcuterie, mains, greens, extras, and sweets. The distinct flavors of the food are meant to be paired with their extensive craft beer selection. All of the menu items under “mains” list the suggested type of beer for that particular dish.

Croquettes
The croquettes were filled with potato, ham, and cheese and served over celery root purée. The breading had a nice crunch as opposed to other restaurants where sometimes the breading can be soggy. It was also topped with crispy shaved root vegetables including fennel, radish, and beets.

Mussels
The Mussels were steamed and served in a delicious curry broth. It was made with beer, which was excellent for dipping the baguette pieces that came with it. The broth had curried sausage, diced potatoes, and sautéed onions. Even though the broth was very flavorful, it didn’t overpower the flavor of the mussels. This was my favorite dish because I just couldn’t get enough of the amazing broth. I suggest you order an extra side of bread for dipping. You’ll thank me later.

Smoked Brisket
The Smoked Brisket was served on pumpernickel bread with bread & butter pickles and a tangy beer mustard sauce. The spice rubbed brisket had a good smokey flavor. However, I wish the meat was a little more tender.

Pulled Madras Chicken
The Pulled Madras Chicken was served on a thick flatbread. It was a little thick for my preference and would have preferred a thinner flatbread. The flavor of the chicken was overpowered by the thickness of the flatbread. The chicken was slightly charred on the ends and had a nice smoky flavor. It paired well with the curry sauce and yogurt, which reminded me of tzatziki sauce. Then it was topped with pickled red onion and cucumbers.

Centennial Burger
The Centennial Burger did not disappoint. I requested the meat to be cooked medium rare and it came out juicy with a freshly grilled flavor. The egg wash bun was soft while the red onion jam, smoked gouda, house pickles, and garlic aioli made the burger distinctly delicious.

Goat Cheese Salad
The Goat Cheese Salad was served with a generous amount of thick-cut bacon, radish, and panko-breaded goat cheese over frisée. It was drizzled with a warm mustard vinaigrette. The goat cheese added a creamy flavor.

Rubaeus-Nitro and All Day IPA Beers
The Rubaeus-Nitro was my favorite drink. The foam on top was velvety. If you’ve never had it before, it’s an ale with a slight hint of raspberry. I enjoyed it because it was slightly tart, but yet sweet. The All Day IPA was a lighter beer with a refreshing citrus taste.

Raspberry Dubbel Beer
I wanted to stick with the fruit-flavored beers since Centennial offers a large variety that you can’t find at other beer halls or gastropubs. The next beer I chose was the Raspberry Dubbel. This one had a much stronger raspberry flavor than the Rubaeus-Nitro. The raspberry flavor in the nitro beer was very subtle while this one was prominent. Although the Raspberry Dubbel was a darker beer, it had a pleasant raspberry aftertaste.

FAB TIP: The featured brewery of the month is Founders Brewing Co.

{Experience}
Overall, Centennial Crafted Beer and Eatery is a great place to go if you like craft beer, but also want to enjoy a good meal. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the food and beer menus. Once we picked out our first round of beers, she made additional suggestions based on our beer picks and preferences. It’s a great place to keep going back to as they rotate their craft beers every month.

{Location}
Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery
River North || 733 N LaSalle Dr, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 284-5353

{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$36)

{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}

Have you been to Centennial Crafted Beer and Eatery yet? What are your thoughts? Share below.

Eat, Eat, Repeat,
Lisette

Note: This meal was not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.