Hello dear
Welcome To mfk. Restaurant
At "mfk. Restaurant," a charming gem located in Chicago's bustling Diversey Parkway, the spirit of Spanish coastal cuisine comes alive through an exquisite menu focused on seafood tapas. Inspired by the Catalan and Basque regions, each dish, from the fluffy Spanish Tortilla to the savory Suzuki Crudo, showcases high-quality ingredients that truly shine. The intimate atmosphere, complemented by outdoor seating, caters to both casual diners and special occasions. Highlights include the decadent Basque Cake and perfectly balanced Fideos. With a commitment to exceptional service and a welcoming vibe, "mfk." invites all to savor an unforgettable dining experience.
About
mfk. Restaurant
Welcome to mfk. Restaurant, a culinary gem nestled in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood at 432 W Diversey Pkwy. This charming establishment stands out by offering a delightful array of Spanish cuisine, with a particular focus on seafood and desserts, creating a dining experience that is both refreshing and memorable.
As you step inside, you're welcomed by a cozy atmosphere that mirrors the intimate, European-style eateries often found along the Mediterranean coast. The restaurant’s concise menu is a testament to quality over quantity, allowing the exquisite ingredients to shine. Each dish showcases high-grade ingredients sourced thoughtfully and prepared with care, ensuring every bite is an embodiment of culinary artistry.
- Spanish Tortilla: A fluffy, soufflé-like omelette made with potatoes, this classic is a must-try. Its texture is light yet satisfying, a perfect starting point for your meal.
- Suzuki Crudo: An absolute showstopper, this dish features guacamole and squid ink tostada, creating a delightful fusion of textures and flavors that will captivate your palate.
- Ham & Clams: With its robust flavors, this dish highlights the essence of coastal Spanish cuisine. A flavorful and comforting choice that pairs beautifully with a glass of wine.
- Fideos: This seafood pasta is light yet packed with flavor, featuring shrimp, smoked pork, and mussels. It is an elegant dish that embodies the simplicity and richness of Spanish cooking.
- Basque Cake: Don’t skip dessert! This cake is dense and moist, enveloping a luscious rum pastry cream that perfectly rounds off your meal without overwhelming your taste buds.
Patrons rave about their experiences at mfk., highlighting not just the food, but the vibrant atmosphere and attentive service. Allen A. emphasizes that making a reservation is essential due to the restaurant's popularity, while Bhavya J. appreciates the accommodating nature of the kitchen in providing vegetarian options.
The creative take on traditional Spanish tapas sets mfk. apart, drawing inspiration from the Catalan and Basque coastal regions. From the savory anchovies with butter and lemon zest to the truly unforgettable burnt Basque cheesecake, every dish is executed with finesse. Taylor C. notes a “memorable dining experience,” and each plate truly tells a story of culinary exploration.
So whether you’re planning a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends, mfk. Restaurant is a dive into the vibrant flavors of Spain, with a focus on seafood and delectable desserts that are sure to leave a lasting impression. Just remember to come hungry, as the portions, while thoughtfully curated, are on the smaller side, encouraging the tapas culture of sharing and savoring.
With a phone number of (773) 857-2540 for reservations and a one-day lead time for pre-orders on their standout desserts, mfk. places itself firmly on the radar of any food enthusiast in Chicago. Experience the essence of Spanish coastal flavors and let each dish transport you to sunnier shores.
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“ Great food in small unique restaurant. We really liked everything we got. The food here is next level amazing. My advice for anyone considering this place is to make a reservation because it is quite popular. Also, go somewhere and have a drink and appetizer before you get here. The portions are quite small so you otherwise leave hungry. We wished we had done this. Yes it is pricey but you know that before you go. The service was good and the place has a good vibe. ”
“ Cute Spanish restaurant! Definitely make a reservation before going. They were able to make certain dishes vegetarian for me. The Fideos and Brussels sprouts were great. ”
“ We found the offerings at this restaurant very creative and superbly delicious. The dishes we ordered included Suzuki Crudo, Charred Melon Salad, Panko Crusted Eggplant, Seared Scallops, Fideos (Shimp, Smoked Pork, and Mussels), and Ham & Clams. All of us had a memorable dining experience. ”
“ mfk specializes in seafood-focused tapas that highlights spain's catalan and basque coastal regions. I like that the menu is concise (more approachable) and they seem to focus on using high quality ingredients and letting those ingredients be the star. They also offer different deals on different days of the week! What we got: - Potato + smoked piquillo croquettes: 8/10 - Cantabrian anchovies: 9.5/10; butter, lemon zest, baguette. So so savory it's borderline intense but it was right up my alley - Suzuki crudo: 10/10; guacamole, squid ink tostada, radish, honey-citrus sambal. - Spanish tortilla: 10/10; baked salt cod brandade, fennel, pickled shallot, lemon zest. So fluffy and served super warm. - Basque cake: 9/10; butter cake with rum pastry cream baked into the enter and an almond crust. Not too sweet! ”
“ Enjoyed a relaxing dinner here and found the food and service both solid. Items are a bit pricey, but for the quality and the fact that tapas in this city tend to be more expensive, I'm not surprised. This is a good option for a nice occasion out. We sat outside, but inside seems cozy and on the smaller side and in a European sort of way (that's a compliment). The highlight for me was the basque cake: perfectly dense, moist, and delicious. I'll go back just for that! The boquerones were good: a nice acidic kick from the anchovies with a little heap of butter on each baguette slice. Potato and smoked piquillo croquettes were tasty, but not a highlight for me--just a little something missing. Ponzu salmon collars had a great savory umami flavor, but all the bones you need to pick out took some of the satisfaction out of this dish for me. It's a great option, but something to consider. The fideos were on the simpler, lighter end. Not a ton of flavor, but not in a bad way if that's what you're looking for. Sometimes you just want a good pasta and seafood without being too rich. I'd skip it next time personally. ”
“ This place is a tiny basement location with dim lighting, with limited space. We had a reservation for the time we had and I guess we stayed too long? So they did have us leave at some point (although they did feel bad about sort of kicking us out). The food was solid and reasonably priced, and we tried a bunch of different plates. My favorite dish was the Spanish tortilla: it melted in my mouth. But! The drinks were AMAZING. I loved how weird and tasty and cocktails were. The fiesta one?? With corn flavor without being too corn? The mint lemon? These were great, and I loved them, and I ordered definitely several too many cocktails because of it. ”
“ Top notch service! Very attentive and perfectly timed. They knew when we had to be on our way and adjusted their service speed accordingly. It's a cozy place with not many seats but it's not cramped at all and feels open and spacious. Food was amazing. Mostly seafood as you'd expect and very very good. ”
“ The food is outstanding. Last night, I ordred the Harissa Roasted Carrots -- with Labneh, Labouili, Dates, and Almond -- and the dish was simply fabulous. I topped it off with their Coconut Cream Puff. Yummy! Tonight, I ordered their gnocchi with sherry, cream, shiitake mushrooms, chive, and poached egg (seemed like a quail egg to me.) I again topped it off with their Coconut Cream Pastry. I can't say better things about this place. I might make my own Manhattan at home, but since it is right downstairs, this seriously is a culinary paradise -- locally. Highly recommended! ”
“ Stopped in for a casual dinner in Lakeview and managed to get outdoor seats without a reservation! The menu was concise and thoughtful - we got the fideos and the conservas. The fideos was definitely the star of the show, the saffron cream paired perfectly with the seafood and smoke pork. The conservas is great for people who enjoy tinned fish, I just wish we had bread to go with the two dishes since the conservas was quite oily and the potato chips were not a great medium for it. The only dessert available was almond cake which we could've done without- pretty dry. Overall nice flavor but pricey for the portion sizes. Food: 4.5/5 Price: 3/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4/5 ”
“ I think I may have found one my favorite "underground" (literally) resultants in Chicago. mfk. is a small dining experience that has exceptional cocktails and unique dishes that change frequently, so don't be surprised if the menu online doesn't match to the menu when you go. The bar only hold about 8 people and there are like 5 or so tables spread out. Expect a community experience (the most positive way possible). My girlfriend and I originally went for one drink and one app and walked out with much more food and drinks in our bellies. Addicting stuff! Our bartender Archie (or Archey?) had a STRONG cocktail knowledge and really made us feel at home. No matter what drink you get from him, it will be unique and have some type of flair to it. Highly recommend his recommendations We got two appetizers: the carrots (unsure of the name) and the seasonal crudo. These are smaller dishes but the flavors were CRAZY. Unexpected combinations with delicious outcomes. Make sure you try out this place at least once if you're in the Chicago area. It wont disappoint ”
