The biggest restaurant opening of 2014, happening at the tail end of the year, was Spoon & Stable, which brings a true "celebrity chef" to town. Now this isn't like when Wolfgang Puck put his name on the Walker restaurant but probably never cooked a dish. This is Gavin Kaysen, a man who grew up in Bloomington and went on to a big culinary career in New York. Put it this way: global superchefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller were at the Spoon and Stable opening.
The great thing about this restaurant is that it's not intended to be a haute cuisine temple — it has a very homey, comfortable vibe — but the food is excellent because the flavor pairings and technique are so perfect. My favorites were all over the map: pumpkin-apple soup, pappardelle noodles with goat ragout, Thai-style grilled pork. But if you don't have a reservation you need to arrive at 5 to get a seat in the bar and they go fast... so don't be late!
Also coming in 2015: Shag, a North Loop sushi restaurant complete with 1970s decor and a Las Vegas-style bar and lounge.
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