Cuisine:

• American
• New American
• Others
• Contemporary

Niche Description:
Niche is located in the quiet South Side neighborhood of Benton Park, previously known mostly for its low-key urban renewal and its proximity to the Anheuser-Busch motherhouse. Now, valet parking attendants are a frequent sight---and demand for seats to sample Niche chef Gerard Craft's cooking has only intensified. The seasonal cuisine is based on products from nearby farms, and Craft---who says his favorite dish to prepare is fried pig's head---startles and impresses those not usually attracted to such ingredients as salsify and ramps, which are most likely to be found on the nightly tasting menu. On the regular menu, crispy sweetbreads share space with a spinach salad, and pork loin nestles into a bed of scrapple, asparagus and watercress. Craft uses high-quality suppliers for his meat and fish, and it shows. Pastry chef Mathew Rice's creative versions of classic desserts, like liquid chocolate cake, are not to be missed. Adding to the allure, the lounge next door snagged one of the city's top mixologists.


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