III Forks – A Four-Star Evening
A good rendering of Chicago’s most fine gentlemen descended on yet another worthy venue in September for an evening of feast and sport the likes of which no one will ever forget…well, except maybe Don Cole who ceremoniously canceled with 5 minutes left on the shot clock until dinner. This left us with 8 diners for the evening as Rick Ray was on a date somewhere with a certain someone, who shall remain a secret.
Besides the usual draw, the night of steak had a special lure as we were drawn in celebration of young Guillaume Conway’s early retirement from the publicly-traded rat race in his desire to delve into something much more challenging. A few of our select gentlemen joined him at his private terrace on Michigan Avenue overlooking the park thankfully not named after that edgy 18-30 demo (millennials) for a few pre-dinner bevs and the night was off and running.
Making our way to the venue was high class as Mr. Conway afforded us a black car SUV ride with a driver we will just call “Aswipeay” because he drove like one. III Forks, in its tucked away oasis of location just off Wacker/Lake Shore Drive provides some nice breathing room for those who enjoy the relatively massive greenspace that the area displays along with the peace and quiet of the area’s contained ecosphere.
Dale at III Forks was a wonderful hostess and immediately seated us in a side room with a view to the restaurant where we all snuggled in comfortably. Vinnie showed up not more than seconds later with an introduction and walk through the cuts, sides, and wine, 2 of which were likely due to be ordered in excess. That said, we settled on the app round with hamachi, lamb meatballs, veg ravioli, and seared scallops which all were winners in my opinion. To top it off, Zee German was shut out from getting any ravioli, which was fine work by the table.
Moving onto the steaks was a wild adventure due to both the choice and exorbitant pricing that faced the group, from tomahawks to wagyu to dry-aged, the III Forks meat lineup presents a lot of choices, but none too cheap. It seemed like the group as a whole meandered comfortably through the selections and will leave it to each to comment on theirs; as I thoroughly enjoyed my bone-in NY strip, enhanced with a 42-day dry age on it.
Conversation was live and we even had the pleasure of seeing out waiter slam into the clear glass door of the private room and spill everything he was carrying, including some expensive cutlery. Other highlights included some bread tossing into the awaiting open mouth of Daddy Gimms and some general teasing when it came to my recent performance in Las Vegas and one member’s employment of an au pair as the best deal on the planet.
Sadly, eventually the evening was drawn to an end with young Mason setting a steak night record with his breakneck winning pace of credit card roulette continuing as he enjoyed yet another free dinner on the group, while some members tore off into the night in search of another oasis similar to what III Forks delivered us for our event.
8.5/10
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III Forks – for the third time – after celebrating Conway’s decision to put a fork to his time in powerpoint purgatory.
Drinks before were a new wrinkle and where I learned the line between start-up and unemployed is easily blurred. (For those wondering Bloom Capital is in month #4!) That said many thanks to the hosts at Chicago Club for putting it together.
Dinner at 3 forks was solid – put pricy. Jevon and I split the bone in ribeye and we still managed to cross $200 per guy. Reminds me of the days where everyone was getting crab meat on their steaks. Not sure if the price was worth the meal, but the company was great.
MIA were Don and Rick – apparently Rick was upset the new line of tube tops he’s been modeling all summer would not be accepted at the Chicago Club.
After dinner was a bagel – we were all toast from the 6 hours of drinking.
Overall: 7.5
III Forks holds a special place in my heart, as it was the location of my inauguration into our esteemed steak club on October 14th, 2011. Almost five years later, our group, and this out of the way restaurant are still going strong.
The night started out at the Chicago Club for cocktails. Since Mr. Conway is saying farewell to the lucrative world of investment banking, his JPM co-workers wanted to throw him a going away party that we were so graciously invited to crash. Nice place, great views, very tight. In fact, this place was so tight, if you shoved a lump of coal in its ass, in two weeks you’d have a diamond.
Moving on to dinner, we arrived to find sirs Papa Franz, Jevon, and Mason drinking at the bar and off we went. We were sat in a nice, private, glassed-in dining room, which allowed for Brad Ray to yell of the curse words he wanted with no fear of being reprimanded.
Apps consisted of Hamachi, Scallops, and Lamb Meatballs. All were excellent, but the scallops really stood out to me. I saw Hans hollow out a full bread loaf and stuff in all of the meatballs like a hoagie. They looked good. I’ll probably try them the next time we come.
I went off the path a little tonight and ordered a dry-aged New York Strip. The steak was wonderfully flavored, but the cut of a NY is a lot tougher than the ribeye I’m used to. Great steak, but I’ll stick to ribeyes from now on.
Sides were creamed corn, six cheese potatoes, and sautéed spinach. Hans was generous enough to let us sample them too. All were excellent, but I thought the potatoes were far and above the best of the bunch.
III Forks has been really consistent for us over the years. It’s in an odd, off the beaten path location which really hurts them, but they can stand up to most steak houses in the city, and probably fare better than 90% of them. It was a great night with great food and great company. Just great. Really great. So grateful. #grateful #blessed #humble #steaknight #steaksandcigars #someonestopme
9/10.
III Forks is usually a hit in the summer for the roof bar; but the group didn’t access the main attraction this go around. Many were busy celebrating with Bill at some hoity toity club downtown. Said club had an amazing view of the lake and some great wine to start the evening. I arrived first to see Bill deeply pondering his future at the bar. Shortly after the influx of financial professionals descended on the patio. To that end, and before I get to the steak review, I would like to share my favorite investment banker comments* of the evening:
• My kids go to Frances Parker and we just had a great time at our “Parker Palooza” event
• I grew up playing Tennis in the DC area (sure you did….DC = Chevy Chase, MD)
• Talk to Joe about wine, he is deciding whether to furnish his kids room or expand his cellar
• What do you do while in Maine, Bill? We do some sailing, sometimes on BlueBird 750 and sometimes on an AX-300. AX-300, huh? You’re not going to stay dry on that!!! (followed by explosive BABAHAHA investment banker laughing)
In all seriousness, thanks to Bill for hosting us and for the Black Car lift to dinner.
OK, onto steaks. Place was empty as all hell but we had a great private room that was a solid means to deflect some of the ‘dead-ness’ of the main dining area. Apps were lamb meatballs, scallops and ravioli from what I recall….all pretty solid.
The steak menu upped both in price and options from the last time. Against my better judgment I went for the wagyu Strip and I was disappointed. Never say never, but I think I am staying away from Wagyu here to for. Mason went with the standard strip and the flavor and marbling was much better – and I should know better.
All in all a good night and Mason won CC roulette again – just what a guy with an au pair needs (sorry, one more too many on this topic?)
Until next month.
*Some names (including boats) have been changed and banker comment details enhanced for entertainment purposes
I have been exposed to Roman numerals enough to know better, but I must admit that I did a double take upon hearing we were set to gather at “ILL Forks”. I haven’t been around the steak game long enough to have previously come across this establishment that they’ve stashed away in some non-contiguous extension of our great city. But the place was a hit. It looked like it was built with grander expectations than the 10% occupancy they received that Thursday, but our private room made the attendance inconsequential.
Another benefit of the room with the door was that we were able to get our waiter talking freely about some other steak joints he’s worked at, and we picked up some interesting tidbits.
The beef pricing was a little absurd, but I haven’t had a better steak. Dry-aged NY Strip, 42 days, with a pile of salt that was set on fire. Perfect.
9.5 of 10
I have not stopped laughing from Brad’s post on investment banking commentary….priceless.
Oh III Forks, what will become of you? We asked this question of our waiter. III Forks has a 15 year lease in the space, so they are in for the long haul, sadly, it seems Chicago might not be into them. Thursday night and the place was empty. Still, we had a great time in a private room that Mr. Martin arranged. Despite several mishaps of waiters running into glass doors, it was fun to have a big circular table.
The apps were a success, delicious seafood and an order of the mushroom ravioli took us in a good direction. The steaks were very good. Amazing seasoning.
The price, a bit absurd. Can’t tell if that was from the copious amount of wine the table consumed or Brad’s $95 steak – eitherway, we left a lot lighter. Mason needs to stop winning credit card, 3x in 8 months is silly.
On to football season and playoff baseball.
Hope III Forks can work on their marketing and get folks out
8/10
Due to technical difficulties and the recent addition of a baby this post finds itself on the tardy side of things. I would like to note that Rick Ray missing steak night is like the first time the Orioles stepped onto the field without Cal Ripken after his incredible streak. Throughout dinner I expected him to stroll in and join us, but alas he did not and the streak is over. I hope your romantic evening with some young vixen was worthwhile.
The evening got off to a late start so I was unable to join the yacht crowd for snifters of brandy on the terrace in my tennis sweater, but rather a relatively well done old fashioned at the III Forks bar with Mason. The preseason Bears were on TV showing us they are exactly what we expected them to be. Jevon joined us shortly thereafter and the evening was underway.
III Forks looks to be on its deathbed by the lack of diners but according to the staff they are not going anywhere and in fact have quite a while left on what I assume is a steep lease term. It did start to fill in later in the evening so perhaps my assessment is incorrect. The food always delivers even if the price tag is borderline absurd. The apps were good from what I hear but Crenshaw was not in a “sharing is caring” mood so my taste buds did not partake. I will go on the record yet again that I think dry aging past a couple weeks is a waste of time and money. I went for the bone in ribeye which was perfectly cooked and deliciously tender. It was of the prime variety instead of the 42 day aged variety. Giving a group like ours a glass box to dine in only seemed to amplify our joie de vivre. A solid night out and Mason decided to continue his streak of good luck, early conversation at the bar involved a high stakes poker game in which he fared well.