My grandma grew up in the Chicago area and was ecstatic when she found out that I was going to school in the city. She gushed about how Chicago is “such a food city”. Once I heard this, I knew that I had to take time to explore the city’s cuisine. Most recently, I stumbled (literally) upon a place called SafeHouse Chicago.
If you couldn’t already guess from the name, SafeHouse is a spy-themed restaurant. I’m talking the Bond/Austin Powers/ Cold War type. When I first heard about it, I figured I’d walk in and they’d have some interesting decorations and that would be it. Even my expectations for the food were pretty low. I figured it was just a spot for tourist families. Lucky for me, my expectations were well surpassed.
From the moment you attempt to enter the building, the theme comes into play. You first have to find the entrance. The door is unmarked; it takes a few times before you stumble upon it. Once you do, it doesn’t actually open up to the restaurant, but instead an office with two people sitting inside. Here comes the fun part. If you don’t know the password (like me), then you have to “prove you’re not a double agent”. This involves poses, impressions, etc.- basically, anything to embarrass you. Once you’ve passed the test, the wall opens up to a hallway which leads to the actual restaurant.
I won’t ruin all the surprises, but what I found was definitely worth checking out. Not only were they on top of the theme, but my dinner was also excellent. The restaurant wasn’t too packed. It didn’t seem at all like the tourist trap I had assumed. I’m definitely planning on bringing my guests there in the future, and I’d recommend it for you, too- whenever you’re in the mood for a secret mission and a good burger.
