The Little Goat Diner

The Little Goat Diner ain’t your grandpa’s diner. This West Loop gem owned and operated by award winning chef Stephanie Izard brings Asian and good old American favorites together on one plate. Located at 820 W. Randolph, Chicago (312 888-3455) along the Randolph Food Corridor is a must try place for you, the family or maybe an evening with that special someone.  I’m a foodie and so is our family, so since my wife-a nurse-worked this evening  I schlepped our 11 and 7 year olds down to this food paradise Friday night and went to town. Oh, did I mention it’s kid friendly? You bet! We started with shakes-$6-$7.00 a piece: Tiramisu for the 11 year old, classic chocolate malt for the 7 year old and a pork and toffee shake for me. What? Pork? Toffee? You heard me right the first time. Chef Izard breaks all the rules by mixing the sweet and savory with this piggly infused vanilla-ice cream delight. By all means, keep breaking these rules!

We then moved on to Goat Chili Cheese Fries-$11.00 made with ground goat meat, “smoked” fries and the Little Goat’s own version of chili. Don’t let the goat meat scare you! Be daring and you shall be rewarded. Smokey, cheesy and with a slight Asian flair it’s heaven. Then onto main courses. My oldest really went for it with the Goat Almighty Burger (braised beef, barbecue pork, pickled jalapeños, salsa verde, onion rings and cheddar cheese)-$17.00-it’s enormous, while my youngest played it safe with pancakes off the kiddy menu. Did I mention they serve breakfast anytime just like your “grandpa’s diner”? What else? I went with the Fork Pork Chop created with mounds of tender slow cooked pork, flecks of crackling pork fat and even some wafer thin slices of pork belly. It’s all simmered in lemon soy sauce jus, cauliflower sautéed just right with a tangy sweet & sour kimchi and guanciale-$17.00. But it doesn’t stop there. The diner sports a full service bar, a fantastic fresh bread bakery and a coffee bar. There’s truly something for everyone in this sophisticated urban American mish-mash of classic eats with a Far East flair. The drink menu was also noteworthy with concoctions such as Hoopoe’s Hope (Heaven Hill gin, Mathilde Peceh Cocchi vermouth and fresh lemon juice) or maybe a Fool’s Russian is your speed (Russian standard vodka, fernet leopold house-made cucumber syrup & fresh lemon juice). There is also a well rounded beer selection sporting delectable micro brews such as Chicago’s own Revolution Brew, Naperville’s Solemn Oath, and a host of other locally sourced quaffs.

Finally, the well rounded and friendly wait staff will not let you down, making me and my two boys feel like-well-we were in a diner! There is roof top and sidewalk seating-weather permitting. Or you can park it at the counter and watch the talented chefs do their thing. Booth seating is also available on a first come-first served basis. Get yourself to the Goat and chow down!

Anthony McMahon