What is the name on people’s tongues in Hyde Park? Park 52. Located at 5201 S Harper Ave in the Hyde Park neighborhood this rare gem is the example for urban sophistication, a relaxed atmosphere and alluring food.
Prior to arriving to Park 52 I called to see the wait time for a Friday night. The friendly hostess told me that on a crowded night the wait would only be 15 minutes. In our case they weren’t crowded and we could walk right in.
The hostess seated us and immediately the chef came over to help the ladies take off their coats. That made us blush and immediately take a liking to the restaurant where people mingled and watched one of the many flat screen televisions in the bar area. A separate room in the rear was used for a birthday celebration and gave the party as well as the rest of the patrons’ privacy to enjoy their evening.
The menu was short and sweet. Leaving us to wonder where are the choices? We quickly learned that the menu changes daily. Drinks came first and I was happy with my Mimosa but two of my friends’ vodka and cranberries had more juice than vodka while another friends’ water for her tea was lukewarm.
Our choices from the menu: Shrimp and grits, Tilapia with broccoli, blackened catfish with crawfish sauce and lemon roasted chicken with red garlic potatoes. Three out of four dishes arrived and we all waited on the fourth dish not wanting to let the fourth person suffer. They wouldn’t admit it but apparently they forgot the fourth dish.
After biting in I was pleasantly surprised with the delicate and hot tilapia. I sampled the blackened catfish and was in love, the crawfish sauce brought all the flavors of the dish together and gave it a kick. The shrimp and grits according to my friend were excellent. He said it wasn’t regular breakfast grits but cheese and corn was included to make it rich and thick as a sweet compliment to the shrimp. My girlfriend couldn’t finish her Lemon Chicken due to the abundance of the dish. She commented that her potatoes had too much garlic and left her unsatisfied.
I was the only person to try a dessert and I choose the strawberry shortcake. Two sweet garlic disks with light crème and strawberries as a filler. I didn’t enjoy the after taste of garlic and strawberries mixed together. After finishing our meal and another round of drinks, we sat, and chatted and took in the atmosphere.
In regards to our waiter, he didn’t check on us enough and seemed to be more focused on ending the night. The drinks were subpar and for the price I expected more but the food was eclectic and interesting. I recommend trying out Park 52 at least once, if not for the food at least for the lively bar scene.