Are you visiting Chicago looking for the perfect restaurant to check off your Chicago food bucket list? Or are you a Chicago native looking for the hottest spot for a summer happy hour with your friends? Look no further than the Bandit, located in Chicago’s trendiest neighborhood: Fulton Market. This spot marries the charm of a neighborhood bar, with the sophistication and quality of an upscale, chef-driven restaurant. The restaurant is full of twinkling lights, colorful signs and wall art, and upbeat, feel-good music, with stellar dining spaces both inside and outside the restaurant.
The Bandit has something for everyone. Start your visit by exploring their extensive list of craft cocktails that will satisfy every member of your group. The top runners on their cocktail menu are The Bandit Smash, Shady Lady, Gold Digger, and The Samantha. The Bandit Smash is a delicious take on a whiskey sour (tin cup bourbon, sage, lemon, pineapple, and mint) which creates a delightfully light summer drink for any bourbon lover; the Shady Lady is a fruity variation of a classic margarita (gran centenario plata, blueberry, orange liqueur, and lime) that is equally sweet and refreshing; The Samantha (grey goose, cranberry, lemon, cucumber, sage, and basil) is a light and floral brew that will make your tastebuds burst with flavor; and the Gold Digger (beefeater gin, aperol, sparkling rosé, and lemon) a fun twist on a summertime favorite-- an aperol spritz.
Share food with your table from their bar bites and small plates menu; an innovative and enjoyable take on bar food favorites with plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options as well. Two must-tries are the Kung Pao Cauliflower (roasted almonds, fresno chili, honey, and kecap) and the Crispy Mozz Thiccs (hand-pulled mozzarella, marinara, and parmesan ranch). These fried dishes melt in your mouth with heavenly flavor making it slightly difficult to want to share with your table.
One thing you won’t want to share is the new pizza puff. Bandit has teamed up with Prince St Pizza to create a true Chicago delicacy, fusing two Chicago staples: pizza and giardiniera. The pizza puff is a meat lover's dream stuffed with thickly cut pepperoni, sausage, house marinara, and fresh mozzarella. This pizza puff is wrapped in the crispiest and flakiest crust. Where pastry meets pizza. The giardiniera dip is a must have, an excellent mix of creaminess and spiciness, giving the pizza puff an extra kick of mouth-watering goodness.
Next time you’re out in Fulton Market, be sure to stop by the Bandit and swipe that new pizza puff. The Bandit is located at 841 W Randolph St. Their operating hours are Monday to Wednesday 4pm-12am; Thursday 4pm-2am; Friday 11:30am-2am; Saturday 10:30am-3am; and Sunday 10:30am-12am. Call them at 312-878-3111 or email them at info@banditliquors.com to get more information regarding reservations and private parties.
