Obélix
700 N. Sedgwick St., Chicago, Illinois 60654
7 Lives.
The Spirit of Chicago.
I need everyone to understand something about Obélix. I have been here one time, and it was so good that I do not think I will ever go back. I don’t know if I can. I hold this restaurant in a mystical place in my mind. Fun fact for any Lil Uzi Vert fans, he’s actually not talking about a woman when he says, “I like that girl too much, I wish I never met her.” He is talking about Obélix.
There I was… 23. Dumb. And moving to Chicago. This is my story:
Filled with anxiety about being alone in a new city, I sought the only thing that would bring me comfort. Food, of course. To start my journey, I landed at O’Hare just when the sun was setting. collected my bag, waited for my Uber. A sleek black sedan pulled up under the glow of the planes taking off above me. For the life of me, I can not remember my driver’s name, but I can tell you that he kindly gave me a warm welcome to the area. We also filled the empty conversations by freestyle rapping over beats as he drove towards the windy city. The birthplace of legends like Juice, Chance, Earl, Saba, and Michelle Obama. All of a sudden, the buildings appear visible. The beats fade out, and I roll down my window to the glistening shimmer of the Chicago skyline. Being from the NYC area, I am used to seeing the city from beyond the bridge or the tunnel and then popping up right in the middle. Chicago is different. In Chi-Town you drive through the city. So here we are, me and my new tour guide, as we drive passed buildings. These towers surrounding us, all glowing in the light of millions of people enjoying their nights out or in. Without even realizing it, my hotel was just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Original Mr. Beef, (real restaurant that The Bear takes place in.) I drop my stuff off and take a night time stroll under the L tracks until I reach Obélix. The holy place. It was nearing closing time at this point but the staff welcomed me with opened arms. My server was a great guy, a real Chicagoan. I should be able to tell you what I ordered but it has been a few years. It was either a Wellington or Steak Au Poivre. And some wine, obviously, to christen my new adventure. After a lovely meal, I started talking to my server about my trip, my ambitions. We shared stories of restaurant life. That’s when he decided to give me a true introduction to the city. He slipped me 2 more glasses of wine to celebrate. He got a shot of whiskey and then topped it all off with the ultimate housewarming gift. Malort. For those who know, you know. It was an absolutely incredible night. I could not have had a better time in Chicago. I owe it all to Uber driver, Jeremy Allen White, and Obélix.
7 out of 9 is a particularly high rating for a restaurant that I openly admit to not eagerly returning to. If your experience here is sub-par, blame it on your Uber driver.
On a serious note, I think that Obélix is worth visiting for sure. Whether or not they provide the immaculate experience that I had, you can count on great food, great vibes, in one of the greatest cities in the world.
