25 Degrees Restaurant: A Drink Review

25 Degrees Restaurant, 

731 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL  

http://25degreesrestaurant.com/chicago/

Here at Cider Press we mainly like to keep our focus on cider, however an offer came by from Brandy, of the Bunny and Brandy Blog, to come along to a redone menu at 25 Degrees we had to go. Unfortunately, Bailey had fallen ill with the flu, so it was up to Hawke to go for both of them. Just off of the Chicago and State Red Line Stop, Hawke met with Bunny and Brandy  and they entered into a restaurant that was slightly dark, with wood paneling and red fabric along the walls.

This being Chicago Summer, the place was also open to the street with cafe dining on the sidewalk. Opting to eat inside, they were quickly given a table and a waitress came by to get their orders. Bunny and Brandy both opted to start with spiked lemonade drinks. Bunny got a traditional lemonade made with vodka, while Brandy opted for the summer blend, also mixed with vodka. After receiving their drinks, they sampled each others and decided to switch. Claiming that the lemonade was a little too tart for Bunny, whereas the Summer Blend was a little sweet for Brandy. The Summer Blend is actually watermelon, but it was not posted on the sign on the table. There was also a pomegranate drink, but Hawke did not wish to try it, citing a previous bad experience with pomegranate juice. Both Bunny and Brandy really enjoyed their drinks.

Initially, Hawke could not decide on a drink to get, as the list of drinks was quite extensive. After placing their initial order of food, which is detailed at Bunny and Brandys blog, Hawke decided on a drink called the Beam and Beer. A classic root beer float with a twist. The base of the drink was made with Jim Beam whiskey, with vanilla ice cream, then IBC root beer was poured over the top. Served on a hot Chicago day, the ice cream began to melt quickly, this was not a disappointment however as it served to better mix the float. Upon consuming the float, Hawke quickly discovered that the bottom of the float was mostly Jim Beam. The flavors do mesh well together, and provided relief from the hot Chicago weather.

Brandy, after having eaten her fill of food, had opted to try a Salty Caramel. Made with Maker's Mark, vanilla ice cream, mixed with butterscotch and topped Hawaiian red sea salt. This was a drink that made Brandy's eyes light up. Salted caramel is one of, if not her favorite treats. Upon tasting she quickly commented that the bottom of the drink was pure Maker's Mark. This did not dissuade her, and she eagerly consumed the entire drink.

Overall, 25 Degrees boasts an excellent drink variety, for a reasonable price for Chicago. If you are in the area, it is worth while to check out and see if you can find a new favorite drink on their menu.  

*Cider Press Blog was given their meal and drinks free of charge in exchange for an honest review.