At Frontier, sharing a meal is a theatrical event. This Chicago restaurant has built its reputation on a service that feels both primal and communal: the whole animal feast. Groups gather for dinners centered around a whole smoked pig, wild boar, or even an alligator, all of which require days of advance notice and are carved at the table. The meats, often smoked over apple and cherry woods, are accompanied by hearty sides like five-cheese mac and buttered rolls, turning dinner into a shared celebration.\nThe kitchen's focus on game is evident throughout its offerings, which showcase a range of proteins less commonly found in the city. The culinary perspective is rooted in the traditions of hunting and trail cooking, but with a contemporary execution. Among the dishes that have defined the restaurant are bison steak, turtle bolognese, and alligator ribs. This style, which also incorporates American contemporary and soul food influences, creates a distinct identity in the West Town neighborhood. The commitment to this unique vision has earned the restaurant recognition from the Michelin Guide.\nThe setting is designed to complement the food. A rustic, lodge-like interior features wooden beams, exposed brick, and a stone fireplace. This distinctive atmosphere, reminiscent of a tavern on the edge of civilization, provides a backdrop for a dining occasion that is anything but ordinary. It is a place built not for a quiet dinner for two, but for a boisterous, memorable gathering.
