It’s been open for 1 year and for some reason I’m just now checking it out. I know, shame on me for not staying on top of this.
Expat on Green is from the brainchild of RM Champagne Salon and Nellcôte so you already know you’ll be immersed into an al fresco style oasis of luxury.
I decided to meet up with my restaurateur friend Fanny Muller. You may remember her from “Afternoon with Mr. Clark” We were initially going to meet for drinks, however we were both starving and couldn’t resist taking in the full al fresco experience.
To kick off our afternoon, we obviously had to check out Expat on Green’s expansive selection of Rosé wines. Since I’m semi-new to adulting, I had no idea there that was such a variety of Rosé but alas there is and Expat on Green has a top-notch selection.
Both me and Fanny selected the Juliette. It has a nice crisp taste, very light which is perfect for a light Summer meal. The Juliette is incredibly popular so I would recommend checking it out if you are a newbie to the world of Rosé.
Once I wet my palate with a nice cool glass of wine, it was then time to indulge in some of Expat’s delicious small plates. The first dish I selected was the Hamachi. This dish consisted of mango, finger chilli and cilantro. The mango added just the right amount of touch of sweetness. It was an interesting contrast of sweet and spicy. If you like your dishes with a kick then this is the dish for you. Plus, it’s a beautiful dish to look at so you can’t really go wrong with ordering the Hamachi. I just wish the portions were slightly bigger so I can have more time to savor the delicious flavors.
Next up, Fanny and I split the Nayarit-Style Shrimp Cocktail. The shrimp was already cut up in tiny pieces in a small glass. It featured tomato, jalapeño and white onion and came with tortilla chips. If you’re in the mood for chips and dip then you can’t really go wrong with an order of the Nayarit-Style Shrimp Cocktail.
However, the winner of favorite dish is hands down the Burrata. Burrata is one of my safe dishes. I tend to always order Burrata when I want to get a feel of a restaurant. With that being said, Expat’s Burrata did not disappoint. This creamy dish features hints of smoked trout roe and watercress. Once we finished devouring the mini baguette, we then decided to dip the remaining burrata in the tortilla chips. Trust me, if you want a nice appetizing treat, Expat’s Burrata is a must order.
To conclude the evening we couldn’t leave without trying Expat’s most popular menu item the boozy sno-cones. I’m sure you’ve seen these colorful treats taking over your Instagram feed. The sno-cones come in a variety of flavors such as rosé, tama-rita, and watermelon-ade. Most popular flavors would be the rosé and watermelon-ade. While I love rosé my favorite Summer treat is watermelon so it was a no-brainer to order the watermelon-ade sno-cone. It was the perfect way to end a warm Summer afternoon and you can’t leave without indulging in this delightful treat.
Next time you are wandering around the West Loop looking for a bite to eat, consider checking out your good friend Al Fresco at Expat on Green. Remember it’s only here till October so check it out soon!
