I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge: Chicago’s Year-Round Patio Dining
Hey girl!
I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge is a must-visit, swanky, year-round oasis in River North atop The Godfrey. After a full year of living in Chicago and seeing SO much of its most glamorous things to do (and not having enough time to post about all of it, sorry!), I recently discovered this new gem that I simply had to write about.
Last week, I had the pleasure of being invited to taste not only items from the new Happy Hour menu, but also the full menu. And of course I brought along my boyfriend Aidan, my trusty taste tester. To say the least, we were not disappointed.
Read my blog, “Ralph Lauren Restaurant in Chicago: High Fashion Meets World-Class Dining.”
Happy Hour at Its Finest
The new Happy Hour menu at I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge runs from Tuesday through Thursday between 2-5 p.m. and on Fridays between noon and 3 p.m. It boasts one of the most decadent selections of half-off appetizers I’ve seen in Chicago along with a vast offering of cocktail options.
Mouthwatering favorites include Wagyu beef sliders, which come with three for $11 and consist of bacon jam, blue cheese, and fries. Other specialties include blistered shishito peppers with black garlic aioli, charred lemon, and white soy for $8 and its signature black truffle fries with garlic aioli for $7.
Those wanting a lighter snack from the menu can opt for the $7 house-made hummus or sauteed edamame. For a more satiating meal, opt for the $9 avocado toast with sliced brioche, smoked salmon, cucumber, tomato relish and herbed cream cheese. The $9 caprese flatbread is another hefty option with buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes and pesto.
Drinks for Days
The new menu at I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge also boasts a full list of thirst-quenching drinks, such as half-priced glasses of wine, Ketel One cocktails and Maker’s Mark cocktails, all $8 or less.
Specialty drinks on the menu include the $10 Frosé All Day with Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose, dry rosé, and strawberry lemonade. The $10 Fire And Ice is another refreshing cocktail with a frozen mix of Bacardi Mango Chile, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, coconut water and fresh lemon.
The most thirsty Happy Hour goers will not want to miss the menu’s $65 Cocktail Flights, consisting of five tasting-size portions of kitchen cocktails and an assortment of macaroons. The flight includes the popular purple gold-trimmed Amethyst Destiny, which comes with Grey Goose vodka, St. Germain, butterfly pea flower, gold powder, fresh lemon juice and “magic.” Four other drinks that come with the flight include the Scarlet Haze, I|O Cosmo, Bourbonberry Lemonade and Chef’s Margarita.
My Tasting Experience at I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge
I was able to taste quite a few selections from the main menu at I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge, including items from the Shareables menu, the sushi menu, and dessert (of course!)
The $25 meat and cheese plate is the perfect spread for snacking with a couple of friends. The full plate includes a meat selection of salami, capicola, and Mediterranean speck. Cheese included pecorino Romano, grana padano, French brie, blue cheese spread with jam and olives, and grilled pita or crackers.
Meat lovers, get ready for this one.
My boyfriend and I fell in love with the succulent and flavorful lamb lollipops. For $36, this plate comes with four lamb chops crusted with bourbon-smoked paprika and orange-caramelized potatoes underneath. The steak tacos were another mouthwatering dish we loved for just $20. This plate comes with three tacos filled to the brim with rib eye, fried onions, avocado, jalapeno, tomato and salsa.
Read my blog, “Bazaar Meat Chicago by José Andrés is Inventive & Daring.”
Sushi too? Yes, please!
I|O Godfrey also boasts an extensive sushi menu. At $17, the Godfrey maki roll is a fan favorite we were told. This roll includes crispy shrimp, habanero, cucumber, avocado and is topped with lightly torched tuna. One of our personal favorites was the Tako maki roll. This one comes with octopus (although you can’t really see the octopus since it’s stuffed inside). The $20 Tako also has tuna, pickled serrano pepper, wasabi mayo and unagi sauce.
Dessert in the form of literal Heaven
With several options for dessert, I opted to try the $10 Trés Leches Cake. This was a light yet deliciously creamy layering of moist sponge cake and peach filling. It was seriously good. The cake is topped with a dollop of whipped cream, a mint leaf, and a peach slice as well. While I typically can’t handle dairy, I was very surprised that I had no issues after eating this one! But like the name says, it is made from three milks so lactose intolerant people should proceed with caution.
I also recommend ordering a Raspberry Sorbetto from the Kitchen Cocktails menu for those wanting to drink their dessert instead. This sweet pink cocktail comes with Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru, Starlino Rosé, Coastal Watermelon Rosé Spritz, raspberry sorbet and the rim is lined with pink pop rocks.
Diners needing a pick-me-up after a filling meal can opt for an invigorating El Matador cocktail. This drink is made with Herradura Anejo, Cointreau, fresh lime and comes with a Red Bull Red Edition.
The Rooftop that keeps on giving
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that this patio is open all year round! During the holidays, the lounge puts up super cute plastic tents to keep diners warm. And knowing how much Chicagoans will risk harsh winters for a happy hour deal, I can only imagine this place still gets visitors through all winter long. Visit their website for more details.
Even though summer is coming quickly to an end, I’m still on the hunt to try even more rooftop bars while the weather is still decent! Let me know your favorite rooftops in Chicago in the comments below.
Sincerely,
