I had a great lunch last week at True Food Kitchen in Downtown Chicago. Truth be told, I hadn’t heard of the place until we searched for lunch options close to our hotel and it popped up. It’s located at 1 W. Erie St., by the way.
The casual restaurant that leads health-driven eating was created by Dr. Andrew Weil, who’s been preaching his healthy living ideas for years. I’ve read a few of his books and the menu at True Kitchen feature dishes and drinks (even the alcoholic ones) that closely adhere to principles in his anti-inflammatory diet and pyramid.
Weil, 74, is big on plant-based options, but there’s a ton of meat on the menu, plus the space and design is true to Weil's nature – open, inviting and full of function.
I had the turkey burger with "smashed avocado, tomato, smoked gouda, jalapeño remoulade." It was amazing and came with a kale salad that was wonderful, too.
Even the kids menu is great. It's $6 for an almond butter, banana and apple sandwich on a seeded grain bread, with carrots and tzatziki. And $7 for a chicken teriyaki bowl with peas, broccoli, carrots, brown rice and quinoa.
I loved everything about the place: the food, the mission and the space. The restaurant’s open-kitchen was super cool too.
With only 17 locations nationwide, I wouldn’t expect Dr. Weil and his team to open in Milwaukee soon but I can assure you – even you "I only eat at local restaurants purists" – that you’d love this place.
Check it out the next time you’re in Chicago and tweet now to say that Downtown Milwaukee needs a TrueKitchen soon!
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
