Homestead On The Roof

"A second-floor establishment above Roots Pizza in Ukrainian Village, Homestead on the Roof has a kick *ss 1,000 square foot rooftop with an organic garden and 80 seat patio. There are literally fruits, vegetables, and herbs growing in every direction around you, which just so happen to be the driving force behind seasonal menus. And when it’s below freezing, the indoor space is also a good mix of spacious and intimate with a casual feel, although the patio is the way to go when weather permits. The menu is made for sharing with dishes ranging in size, plus the wait staff will help you navigate if you need. The food has a real rustic American feel, with visually appealing dishes that allow the garden’s ingredients to shine. Food Rundown Chicken Skins Homemade chicken skins with Sriracha honey mustard. The question is how many should you order. Smoked Asparagus Salad Asparagus served with fried duck egg and brown butter vinaigrette. More of a side vegetable dish than a salad, but well done if you’re a cooked asparagus fan. Kale Salad Kale with apples, burnt cheddar, and a bacon-cider dressing. Great flavors, but a tad heavy on the dressing at times. Moroccan Spiced Mussels Not your typical preparation. They aren’t kidding around with the spices, and the fried chickpeas add a welcoming taste to the seafood. A must-try if you like mussels. Beef Short Rib Pappardelle A straightforward dish with some exceptional pappardelle noodles. Seared Walleye The fish comes with some gnocchi and poached lobster in a lobster broth. The broth is basically bisque, and it’s awesome. Seared Scallops The scallops are pretty good, but they come with small pieces of braised beef short ribs wrapped in some wilted greens, which are even better. The garlic chive mustard emulsion is on point too. Half Chicken Half a chicken plus some lamb sausage with fried artichokes and roasted carrots. A very hearty and well balanced dish. This lamb is better than the actual lamb dish below, and the crispy artichokes add a nice textural contrast. Slagel Farms Lamb Probably the most disappointing dish here, which is unfortunate. It looks beautiful, and the yogurt, frika, carrot, and truffle aioli sauce it comes over is great, but despite looking like a juicy piece of lamb it’s a lot of bone and fat." - Sam Faye

"A lot of restaurants talk about serving “farm-to-table” food, but Homestead On The Roof takes this one step further. Meaning they grow their own vegetables and herbs in their rooftop garden, and in the summer that garden doubles as an outdoor seating area. It’s as close to riding a hay wagon through West Town as you’re likely to get. In other words, this is the kind of rooftop dining that feels like a real day trip outside the city. Just check their Instagram to see when they’re officially open for the season." - adrian kane, veda kilaru

"A lot of restaurants talk about serving “farm to table” food, but Homestead On The Roof takes it a few steps further than most - they grow their own vegetables and herbs in their rooftop garden. And this place really hits its stride in the summer, when that garden doubles as an outdoor seating area. Come here if your date really likes to know where her basil was sourced from, or if you’re the type of couple who gave out sunflower seeds as a wedding favor." - adrian kane

"Because it boasts its own rooftop garden, Homestead describes itself as “a literal farm-to-table restaurant.” And it’s probably one of the few farm-to-table restaurants that you have to walk through a pizza place to get to. Located above Roots Pizza, it truly is a respite from the big-screen TVs and carb overloads to be had downstairs. The ever-changing menu always offers some unexpected pleasures. For example, the summer panzanella shown below featured house made sourdough, smoked tropea onions, burrata, preserved kale and burnt leek vinaigrette alongside the marinated tomatoes. And during the summer months, you may enjoy dinner outside in the large rooftop garden." - Potluck Creative

"A verdant oasis overlooking the hustle and bustle of West Town from its home above Roots Pizza, Homestead on the Roof is a mellow retreat with seasonal dishes, top-notch desserts, and plenty of drinks. Some of the restaurant’s produce comes directly from its rooftop garden." - Ashok Selvam, Naomi Waxman