Chicago Restaurant Week is from January 22-February 4 this year.  I’ve been a fan of restaurant week since I’ve lived in D.C.  It’s always an excuse to check out new hot spots I’ve been wanting to get to as well as test out my palate to new cultural experiences.

A place that has been on my list to try for both brunch and dinner is Bar Siena.  Sister to I might say my favorite place downtown, Siena Tavern, this gem is situated in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop.  A more rustic, casual feel than its counterpart, the Italian restaurant has two floors with a round robin bar downstairs and a very large leafless tree covered from head to toe in lights.  As the branches expand up into and throughout the top floor they help add a romantic feel to the industrial decorations.  I also like that this location has TVs everywhere, so its a great place to watch sports at any time of the evening while you are hanging out with friends.

I’ve seen plenty of tempting instagram posts of Bar Siena’s bloody mary, so my first visit was of course for restaurant week brunch! As far as the bloody mary goes – it was delicious.  A bit on the spicy side, but it stays cold throughout your meal in metal tumbler and is topped with celery, candied bacon, and a piece of their stracchino cheese fingers (yum).

Their restaurant week brunch menu was also totally worth it.  I started with an appetizer of the Stracchino cheese fingers, moved on to some of their infamous pizza, this one in particular was their Fireball Pepperoni, and ended with my choice of their multiple gelato flavors – I went with smores.

I can safely say my restaurant week brunch of 2016 was a success!