5 Expensive Chicago Dishes Worth Splurging On

A pizza with eggs and white truffles shaved attentively tableside. A transportive “virtual reality” cocktail. A freakin’ $53 A5 wagyu burger.

What do they all have in common? They’re spendy, they’re excessive, and frankly, they belong in your mouth.

Today, we round up a fresh batch of five of Chicago’s most over-the-top dishes and cocktails.

‘Tis the season.

Photo: Victoria Kent
Truffle Pizza at Bar Cargo
River North’s Bar Cargo opened last month and they’ve already started offering a luxurious menu item: a pizza with eggs and white truffles shaved tableside. Owner Phil Stefani sourced the white truffles himself in Italy and they can be yours atop a pizza for a mere $500. Feeling extra lavish? “Top” your pizza off with two bottles of Dom Perignon for an extra $500.

www.barcargo.com
605 N. Wells St.

Photo: Neil Burger
The Macallan Rare Journey Experience at Baptiste & Bottle
A cocktail with a hashtag for a name is meant to be shared, especially if you’re shelling out $95 for the libation. #TheMacallanRareJourney cocktail at Baptiste & Bottle brings you the ultimate virtual reality experience. Don a VR headset and you’re transported on a journey from acorn to glass. The experience shows you the journey of crafting The Macallan Scotch Whisky as you sip, savor, and splurge.

www.baptisteandbottle.com
101 E. Erie St.

Photo: Matthew Gilson
The Burger at Roister
If you think $53 for a burger is crazy, you’d probably be right, if it wasn’t at Roister. The Alinea Group restaurant has a penchant for playfulness, but when it comes to its burger, it doesn’t mess around. At first glance, the burger looks like any ordinary burger: bun, house sauce, and cheddar, but you’ll also find a helping of mushrooms. What you’re paying for is the quality of the burger’s meat: tender, marbleized A5 wagyu beef.

www.roisterrestaurant.com
951 W. Fulton Market

Photo: Anthony Tahlier
The Oyster Pie at Bellemore
Once you step inside Bellemore, you’ll realize everything is extravagant, from the luxe decor to the food and drink. One splurge-worthy dish is the Oyster Pie: two mini slices of oyster custard pie topped with Osetra caviar, creme fraiche, and green apple dressed with lemon and dill. For $65 you get the two bites, plus two small pours of Moet & Chandon 2009 Grand Vintage to wash it all down.

www.bellemorechicago.com
564 W. Randolph St.

Photo: Michelle Banovic
Message in a Bottle at Sable Kitchen & Bar
You probably already got the memo that it’s easy to spend a lot of cash at a hotel bar. Sable, inside Hotel Palomar, is serving up a different message: The Message in a Bottle. The River North bar offers a luxurious cocktail that is worth every dime. It’s a twist on a classic Manhattan and features Glenfiddich 21-Year, Zaya Gran Reserva 12-Year Rum, Rare Wine Co. Boston ‘Historic Series’ Bual Madeira, hibiscus-honey tea syrup, and Burlesque Bitters. You’ll find it served in a double-barreled bowl on a glass tray with 2 crystal cut glasses, which will set you back a hefty $75.