Brooke Hortenstine
- Posted:
- October 19, 2010
Keys to the Door: Owners Celeste and Avner Samuel, chef/partner Jon Stevens.
Mother of Reinvention: Chef Avner Samuel has put his lavish Aurora under the knife for quite the nip and tuck. He and wife Celeste joined forces with notable chef Jon Stevens (Neighborhood Services, Aurora), together refashioning the opulent space at The Shops at Highland Park into the new Nosh Euro Bistro and Bar. This casual eatery retains those gorgeous zebrawood walls and the private wine cellar, but they’re the only formal touches that remain from Aurora — white tablecloths have been replaced by wood-topped tables, the guéridon carts are rolled out only when the “Big Fish” dish for two is ordered, and a flat-screen TV has been mounted in the new bar. The expanded and open space seats 75, with additional seating at a food bar directly attached to the open kitchen — which means a front-row seat to kitchen dramatics, if you know Chef Avner. Bursting with European and Mediterranean-inspired fare, the menu includes starters such as crispy Pacific oysters, tartare of ahi tuna and spiced beef cigars. The mains we suggest? Grilled beef tenderloin medallions with green peppercorn butter and cheddar-and-bacon potatoes, and the espresso-braised beef short rib with cheddar grits and blistered tomatoes. With operating hours of 11 am till 11 pm Mondays through Fridays, and 5 to 11 pm on Saturdays, you’ll have plenty of time to, well, get your nosh on. 4216 Oak Lawn Ave.; 214.528.9400; nosheurobistro.com.
Image: Nosh Euro Bistro and Bar. Photo George Fiala.