CHIReview
photo credit: Jeff Marini
Maxwells Trading
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Maxwells Trading sounds like Mad Libs: Chicago Restaurant Edition—you can eat clay pot rice alongside french onion dip and drink from a curated wine list while listening to "Smooth Operator" on vinyl in a chic warehouse space. Overambitious? Maybe at any other place. But this West Loop spot delivers on every fill-in-the-blank aspect of a great meal, especially the food. Much like Sade's catalog, each seemingly straightforward dish contains multitudes. And while plenty of Chicago spots serve fantastic food in brick buildings that look like failed startup headquarters, the best thing about Maxwells Trading is that it doesn’t really feel like anything else.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Italian pasta, Thai curries, southern spoon bread, and sauces like kombu beurre blanc are all given equal attention. It makes for surprising individual plates—like a Japanese sweet potato masquerading as crème brûlée, or fazzoletti with lamb and chili crisp—that add up to a pleasantly unconventional meal overall. And because the food here is never boring, we’re even willing to withstand rare misses like a not-so-stuffed stuffed pappardelle.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Jeff Marini
Maxwells’ thoughtfulness extends to the intangibles, too. Despite the high ceilings and open kitchen, the volume is loud enough to be fun, but not so loud your first date turns into a screaming match. Staff will take the time to play Jenga with chairs to accommodate groups large and small, and tables are spaced far enough apart so you’re not knocking over your neighbor’s precariously filled martini when you put on your parka. And while primetime reservations are tough to get, there’s a good chance that walking in before 5:30pm means getting a seat at the large bar. Take advantage of that option, because you’ll want to become a regular here.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Griddle Bread And Dunks
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Japanese Sweet Potato
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Clay Pot Rice
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Black Cod
photo credit: Kim Kovacik