First a confession. I am of the conviction that there are not enough peas in the world. Sadly, the vast majority of restaurants in the US don’t offer peas, a fact that does not trouble my wife, who is very anti-pea. But the British, perhaps the only truly civilized country on earth, adore peas. They sell them on the street from vending carts the same way we peddle elotes. This is a terrific idea, and yet the only restaurant in Wicker Park/Bucktown that seems to understand this is Silver Cloud. And that’s not the only thing Silver Cloud understands.
Silver Cloud totally gets the fact that there is a whole generation of people out there who were brought up on certain “comfort foods” and while these foods may not always be nutritionally valuable or artistically appealing they serve to soothe us with a kind of nostalgic yumminess that nothing else can match. With remarkable panache, Silver Cloud resurrects mom’s home cooking circa 1972.
Want your grilled cheese sandwich with a side of Campbell’s tomato soup? Silver Cloud’s got it. How about a sloppy joe with a side of tater tots? Look no further. Meat loaf topped with Heinz catsup? Yep. White Trash nachos (that’s Fritos baked with homemade chili and cheese)? Bring it on. And peas!
You can accompany your culinary trip to yesteryear with a selection of 12 quality brews on tap; then kick back and enjoy the laidback neighborhood atmosphere. Warm and friendly, that’s the vibe, with a generous slice of WP/BT cool. Each red vinyl booth features a small ornamental lamp, and the long wooden bar is backed by gold fluted fan lights. Overhead the pressed tin ceiling communicates the requisite Chi-town pedigree.
The music is always listenable without being overbearing and the selection is quite good. The bartender was humming along with William, It Was Really Nothing by The Smiths while he was tipping the foam off the head of my Three Floyd’s Alpha King. On the flat screen the Cubs were running up the score on the Pittsburgh Pirates while the guy next to me was tucking into a chicken pot pie while hyping an upcoming show at Double Door. The service here is always friendly and attentive and you rarely have to wait long to be seated. Who could ask for more?
And yet there IS more. In the summer months Silver Cloud provides one of the best sidewalk dining experiences in the neighborhood. The corner of Damen and Wabansia is always hopping, making for great people watching as you relax beneath a canopy of flowering trees and wave to friends and neighbors passing by.
Whenever my wife is out of town and I’m on my own for dinner, my default setting is Silver Cloud. Sure it’s lonely to be without the wife, having to dine alone, but I like to look on the bright side. There is an opportunity to eat peas!
Ahhhh…
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Silver Cloud
1700 N. Damen
773-489-6212 / Reservations Accepted (for parties of five or more)
Hours: M-F 11:30am-2am; Sa 10am-3am; Su 10am-12am Kitchen Su-F 11pm; Sa-Su 12am
Features: Outdoor Dining, Brunch, Carryout
Avg Price of a Meal for Two Including Drinks and Tax $45
Website: www.silvercloudchicago.com
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