The Iconic Music Club In Illinois That Serves Absolutely Mouthwatering Brisket
By Linze Rice|Published March 08, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Smoked meats are one of life’s greatest simple pleasures. Now, imagine you’re sitting on a patio in the fresh air listening to free live music while you enjoy a plate of freshly-smoked meats. Or, maybe it’s winter in Illinois so you opt to eat inside a modern farmhouse-inspired dining room, complete with rustic chandeliers, a wood pile, and framed art of blues, jazz, and country musicians. That’s exactly the type of experience you’ll have while visiting this iconic music venue — which also serves the best brisket in Illinois.
In Berwyn, Illinois you'll find Babygold Barbecue, 6615 Roosevelt Road, a renovated storefront that's become a favorite destination for lovers of smoked meats and classic American sides.
Visitors can chow down on platters of meat with savory beans, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese. Lighter options include char-grilled oysters, smoked cauliflower steaks, and kale Caesar salad.
Pro tip: Add a hearty portion of thick-cut bacon to the Ceasar salad — you won't regret it!
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The restaurant opened in 2021 in partnership with the famed FitzGerald's nightclub, with whom Babygold shares a sprawling campus. Whether you're at the restaurant, on the patio, or in one of FitzGerald's two nightclub rooms, you can order the mouthwatering BBQ anywhere on the property!
FitzGerald's opened in 1980 and has been a prolific place for music. It has also been featured in several movies, including the 1992 classic, "A League of Their Own."
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The real star of the show is the brisket, served either chopped or sliced. Babygold sources its Creekstone Farms black angus cricket from Whittingham Meats, a Chicago butcher shop since 1947.
You can order the meat alone, as an extra portion, or in a platter, which comes with two sides, two types of house-made barbecue sauce, bread, and house pickles and onions. Add one of Babygold's own beers or a craft cocktail and you're set. For those who prefer non-alcoholic cocktails, try the Golden Elixer!
Linze Rice
The brisket is also featured on the eatery's weekend brunch menu alongside eggs, toast, and breakfast potatoes.
Another perk: the patio stays open most of the year! It transitions from summer to fall to winter with the addition of a fire pit and heated tents. It's also the perfect spot to see live daily music from FitzGerald's outdoor stage while you eat.
