III Forks
October 14th, 2011
A very memorable night in our history as we tearfully said farewell to Brian “4” Cartwright and officially welcomed Mr. Crenshaw and Mr. Zebro. Clearly it will be big shoes to fill but they seem up to the challenge.
We went to III Forks on just its second night open and compared to others it seemed to be very well prepared. Our service was solid, steaks were in line and ambiance was great.
Not quite up to Mastro’s level, but infinitely better than Chicago Chop House.
Overall: 7.5
Filed under: General
Great to be back in Chicago for another great night with you gents! I want to repeat something I suggested at dinner: After 42 steak nights, it might be a good idea to get a doctor involved, or at least on retainer.
Six cheese potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, and a perfectly prepared filet.
I’d have to give it higher marks – service, preparation, sides were top notch. If Capital Grille is a 9.5, this was a 9 in my book.
Amazing how many things can be left out of a writeup with Mr. Glick at the helm.
III Forks is an elusive beast. Tucked away in “Lakeside East”, it graces the same grounds as an ill fated, poorly thoughtout par 3, 9 hole pitch and putt did at the turn of the millenium. While this doesn’t bode well from a foot traffic perspective, the spacious, modern and well executed interior more than makes up for it.
As the gentlemen congregated to send off Mr. Cartwright to the frozen, deserted tundra in the northern suburbs of Detroit we greeted Roderick once again; new blood aggressively entered the fray: Mr. Crenshaw may as well have worn a patch over his eye to complement his skull and crossbones bow tie and Mr. Zebro adds another critical eye to the roster. Sunrise, sunset.
Our host, Mr. Glick ensured exclusivity by reserving the Godfather dining room which was perfect for our crew. The open flame seperating our space from the rest of the steakhouse was quickly extinguished: it elevated the temperature of the room to a balmy 80 degrees… or maybe that was the rookies sweating it out a little bit.
Apps were fantastic however there were no true standouts, wine selection was well played by the host. The bisque was a B-. Our sides outshone many that we’ve had in the past, thought the portions seemed small as we had to order a second round of everything… maybe that was because everyone was enjoying them.
The cut of meat was incredible: perfectly cooked, flavorful and juicy. Here’s where I have to take the previous reviewers to task: this was only THE SECOND NIGHT that III Forks had been open. Execution across the board was a 9-10. The service from the moment we sat down at the bar (thanks BJ) to the attentiveness and sheer volume of staff was amazing. They were prepared for every request even beating me to the punch on multiple occasions for water, wine or even an answer to a III Forks trivia question.
Even disregarding that it was their 2nd night of serving, III Forks Chicago deserves a 9.5. Well done.
Speaking of well done, Mr. Crenshaw wowed all of us with a round of cigars – and brought us back to our roots – in addition, the location of III Forks proved fit for purpose: there is a park directly across the street. Well played, sir. Well played, III Forks.
Friends, Chicagoans, Countrymen, lend me your ears. III Forks will not disappoint. Neither will the accompaniment of the fine gentlemen of the Steaks & Cigars crew. My inaugural “Steak Night” was a welcoming of two fine, shall I say exquisite, new faces, and a good bye to an old one. I was happy to be invited into the realm of elite, and more so to be a part of the send off one Mr. Brian “4” Cartwright. It will definitely be a “see you later,” and not a final “good bye.” We’ll expect you to make it a semi-regular appearance, 5 hour drive from Michigan or not.
The night started off with most trying to figure out were the place actually was. When your cab driver has to break out the Garmin, it’s definitely off the beaten path. But what a hidden gem we found. (Thanks Urban Daddy. What the hell would we do without you.) Situated in the new River East neighborhood, this beautiful, contemporary setting set the stage for a memorable night.
After arriving, we settled in for a pre-dinner cocktail hour. Apparently the smarter guys in the group chose the roof top setting, while the rest of us chose to cozy up to the downstairs bar. The lesson? Always check for a roof. We don’t have much time here in the windy city to actually enjoy a drink outdoors.
Mr. Glick was able to secure the Godfather Table, in a private room just off the main dining room. Service was outstanding the entire night. Our waitress, who I believe was Makayla, offered superior service, along with a little humor, and friendly jabbing taboot.
The apps were all good from what I remember. I’m a sucker for onion rings and they were outstanding. But if the onion rings are the one thing I remember, I suggest maybe working on a new “go to” app.
But the real “meat” of the meal, was the meat. An overcooked steak is a huge pet peeve of mine. If I say medium rare, I don’t want medium. I got medium. And it didn’t mater one damn bit. It was as tasty a steak as I can remember. Now, I’ve never met a bone-in ribeye I didn’t like, but this one was truly outstanding. The perfect crust was brought on by some mild spice blend it was cooked with, and finished with a perfect amount of sea salt. A revisit to this place will be welcomed down the road.
The meal was finished off with desserts, the crème brûlée always being my “go to” choice, and this one hit the spot.
After dinner, yours truly had the grand idea of bringing some celebratory cigars to the occasion, and hopefully rekindled one half of the name of this group. And since the restaurant was situated perfectly beside a park, the group was blessed with a perfect location to finish things off.
All in all, it was a great night, with great friends, and great food. Who let the dogs out? III Forks did. And that gets a 9.0 in my book.
I must admit, I had my reservations about attending III Forks on only its second night open – happy to say they delivered in fine fashion. A memorable Steak Night for sure; 4’s last as a Chicago resident, Crenshaw’s first, Roddy’s visit from NY and one of the largest groups to date. I was first to arrive at the bar and enjoyed a nice glass of Oban before Zebro made an on time appearance for only his second Steak Night. As the crew settled in, it was clear the new comer wanted to make a good impression. Clad in a skull and cross bones bow-tie, Crenshaw came packing a special gift for the group wrapped in pure class (brown paper bag).
A quick side before we get to dinner – atmosphere at the bar was good, décor was welcoming. III Forks however needs to step up its game on the hostess front. While friendly and accommodating, youth was not exactly on their side. But I digress….
The group was shown to its private dining area in the back complete with its own flat screen TV. Service was attentive and dare I say overwhelming at times. Greeted by the manager and a cadre of help, I think we had up to 7 people dedicated to our table. We all know how much Kid Ray loves attention – just seemed like a bit much to me.
The ordering commenced and soon enough we had apps to go with some of the best bread to date. Bacon wrapped scallops were a highlight for me with onion rings a standout as well.
The menu at III Forks is small, which I am fine with so long as it is good. I went with the old standby, bone in rib eye, medium rare – and it did not disappoint. There was a ton of flavor and meat cooked to perfection. The sides were wonderful as well. Cream corn was delightful and the six cheese potatoes were a not so distant second. A service nuance if I may – I don’t particularly care for the staff serving sides on your plate. Not only was it cumbersome in the dining room, I prefer to taste sides at my own pace and not have them crowd my steak. Minor I know, but a personal preference nonetheless.
I took a pass on the desserts; I was more interested in the cigars Mr. Crenshaw brought for the group. Before heading out, the group returned to its roots and enjoyed a smoke, the first in well over a year.
All in all it was a great night and a great meal. I would gladly return to III Forks. 8.5
What a pleasure to actually have someone update the website on time so that this monthly event gets back on the rails. Fitting it would come after what I considered to be one of the better steak nights in recent memory.
III Forks is a fine place to dine, with the outdoor ambiance on the second floor (which only ET Fingers and I enjoyed) beckoning another return when the weather breaks 7 months from now. Yes, I am predicting a long, cold winter.
III Forks is new, so the buzz has yet to catch up to the place, although unlike other experiments with new venues, I found III Forks to be up to the task on service, food, and the absolutely smoochiest of locations just off the land that was once an old pitch, putt, and be sure you have your 7 iron golf courses of Chicago proper.
The appetizers were well recommended by Michela, yes, this is how you spell her name, who I still say had the hots for Cartwright (and probably accompanied him to Michagan to meet his parents). Steaks, as usual, were well chosen. Mine, however, was a tad overdone, as if it had been sitting too long on the live fire display that was bordering our private room. Dessert shots and cigars from John Crenshaw and about 3 trips to the bathroom later (I was plowing through vodka sodas) and the boys headed out into the night to find adventure. Other than Don, who booked out and didn’t say goodbye, the post dinner turnout was solid and the bar was loud.
Props as well to young John Crenshaw for stepping up in both dress and pinache. I hope you keep it up.
8/10
III Forks was the Cam Newton of Steakhouses on this particular night. In only the second start of its potentially storied career it scored the equivalent of a 30+ point day, throwing for well over 400 along with a handful of touchdowns to boot. Unfortunately, it may as well be the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cleveland Browns of steakhouses due to its poor, or should I simply say unknown, location. To go right along with that analogy, as the other #1 draft pick of the night, one Mr. Crenshaw delighted the fans with his finest skull and bones apparel and paper bagged bribes. Execution was top notch. Any man who shows up in a bowtie and continues to wear that through a full steak dinner, and then continues on through post drinks deserves some praise. Well done Mr. Crenshaw and welcome.
Only minor complaint about the otherwise modern décor, were the decorative flames that were meant to act as a curtain or provide some sort of privacy to our room. It merely scorched the neck. Get a wrench on that and turn it down management. Also, turn down the heat on the water in the sinks. Like I said minor, and easily fixable.
The starters were fine in my book. Bacon wrapped scallops provided a welcome warmup as well as the behemoth onion rings. Battered, or bacon wrapped provide perfection for any piece of food.
The steaks probably had one of the better flavors I’ve ever had on a steak. Perfectly seasoned in my estimation, and the temp was exactly what I wanted. The sides weren’t that memorable, and like some others mentioned, the fact that there were 4-6 people serving us sides at once was a bit distracting. I can handle that job myself thank you very much. I honestly cannot remember tasting the potatoes, but do remember that all I could focus on was the perfection of the steak.
Dessert highlights included the bread pudding. I’m a creme brulee guy, but that scored some pretty low marks.
I’m a fan of this place and hope for a return, perhaps in the warmer months where we can fully enjoy the rooftop as we cut up some steaks. -8.5-
After setting foot in the country a mere 22 hours before the start of the October 2011 edition of Steak Night I was on the fence about being able to attend. Despite the fact that I had slept as much as a pledge during hell week I had to go. Roddy was in town, Crenshaw was popping his cherry and the esteemed Brian “4” Cartwright would be making his last appearance as a Chicago resident. I’m glad I made it, a great evening as always.
III Forks is easy to find the same way the lost city of Atlantis is easy to find. My cab driver gave me a look that screamed, “Where the hell is that” when I told him where I was going. Unlike Atlantis we were able to find III Forks.
A private room fit for kings proved to be the perfect backdrop for the evening. My bone in ribeye was excellent and the onion rings and cheesy potatoes were solid. The staff was well prepared especially for just the second day open for business. However there is a fine line between attentive service and overwhelming, at times it seemed like there were 5 plus people hovering around our table, which was a bit disruptive. The complimentary dessert shots were a nice touch.
In his spare time apparently Crenshaw has been hanging out with Snoop Dogg as he as dubbed himself “Cizzle”. Well “Cizzle” had one of the best debuts since Appetite for Destruction. He rocked the bow tie but how many hours did it take him to teach himself to tie the bow tie in order to wear it? That’s dedication. The cigars were a classy touch.
Cartwright won at credit card roulette, an appropriate send off. Almost everyone was on board for after dinner drinks at Benchmark which added further to a great evening. On to November.
Perhaps I shall review III Forks Quentin Tarantino style and start with the end. It would not be a good steak night if Glick did not ruin or misplace a sport coat. Luckily the lovely, and tremendously intoxicated, lady that was enamored with 4 helped us all out by performing one of the finest champagne of beers showers on said sportcoat. Benchmark, while crowded, was in good form with a surprisingly large turn out from the S&C crew. The disappointment of the evening was the rooftop of the wit hotel. Perhaps this type of place flies in Miami or NYC, but come on this is Chicago and it is Fall. No one seemed to have gotten that memo. The place was over crowded with some of the more amazing douche bags I have encountered in a while. I will not include in that designation the two fine gentlemen that Scotty picked up at the bar. How did that turn out for you by the way? After a fine cigar presented in style by Cizzle, the rooftop of the wit seemed like the right idea, wrong.
Upon getting into my cab and giving the driver my destination to which he replied “What street?”, I realized google would be required. Indeed a secluded location, off the beaten path, however perfect for Chicago’s latest addition to the steak house offerings. The bar was packed with S&C’s finest, less Scotty Markets and ET Fingers, apparently they knew something the rest of us did not. Overall the bar lacks ambiance and character. It is a bit sterile in design and doesnt stand up to the rest of the atmosphere. Nonetheless we persevered and made the most of the situation. Glick’s reservation was top notch and the service was overbearing but thorough. The scallops were exquisite, the bisque was not. I dont require mouth scalding temperatures but I do like my soup to be above room temperature. I can’t say if this was an error in serving or if this is the way they do it. The flavor didnt interest me enough to try it next time, so bye bye bisque. The star of the evening was the steaks. It would seem everyone had a perfect cut and preparation from the compliments being thrown around the table. Mine was prepared to a warm red center, which despite being a heavily used term, it is so rarely achieved. The sides flowed like the salmon of Capistrano, but it was the steak that held my attention. I personally prefer to dish up my own sides as they are needed in lieu of the forced plate rape by the cadre of servers. Desserts were ample and all receive high marks, but the return to the tradition of an after dinner cigar really closed out this months dinner.
III Forks was a memorable night indeed. I’d like to thank the group for such a warm sendoff. Although I no longer live in Chicago, I plan to be back often and try and make as many Steak Nights as I can. Being a member of this group is certainly an honor and some of my most memorable times in the city. You are all truly great friends and I hope the nights continue to bring about some fine memories or at least some hazy ones.
Glick made a fine choice with this pick. Being only the second night of operation, III Forks put on an impressive showing. The ambiance was modern, with touches of rustic flare. We were shown to a a private room that opened up to the rest of the restaurant through a long open fireplace. Temperatures got a little toasty until the flames were turned down, but a minor inconvenience to the evening as a whole.
The food was fantastic and I can’t honestly recall being disappointed with any part of the cuisine. I guess I could say the wedge salad was just simply average but was still enjoyed. My filet was prepared to perfection, and although not the best I’ve had in my excursions with the group, still near the top of the list.
Everyone seemed in good spirits and new member Mr. “Crizzle” Crenshaw even classed op the evening with his black tie ensemble. He received a bit of good natured tongue- in-cheek hazing, from Mr. Ray, but handled it with ease. In a successful attempt to bring back a tradition that I had not witnessed since my induction, a round of post dinner cigars was furnished by our new member. A pleasant way to end the meal indeed.
From dinner we made our way to another time honored tradition not always implemented these days. I can’t remember the name of establishment at this time, but I will never forget the wasted blonde who informed me that her and her friends “just got back from the bad part of town and killed some black people”, or when she continuously sprayed beer on Mr. Glick’s jacket, or told me “she would take be home and f*ck me but she has a kid and that’s the most important thing in her life.
I sure will miss these nights. Thank you for letting me be a member of your fine group. I look forward to the guest appearances. Carry on fellas…