F’nAround Review: The Barn Steakhouse’s Grand Central Caviar Sandwich: The Bite That Completely Caught Us Off Guar
F’nAround Review: The Barn Steakhouse’s Grand Central Caviar Sandwich: The Bite That Completely Caught Us Off Guard
Some menu items sound fancy.
Some sound intimidating.
And then there’s the caviar sandwich.
Wait…
A sandwich?
With caviar?
That was pretty much our reaction walking into The Barn Steakhouse in Evanston.
You hear “caviar,” and your brain immediately pictures tuxedos, yachts, tiny spoons, and someone judging you for asking if ketchup is an instrument.
A sandwich? That wasn’t on our bingo card.
So naturally…
We ordered it.
The History Behind the Bite
The Barn’s Grand Central Caviar Sandwich isn’t just something someone dreamed up because they had extra fish eggs lying around.
Owner Amy Morton brought the idea to Evanston after falling in love with the famous caviar sandwich served at New York City’s legendary Grand Central Oyster Bar. That version was created by restaurateur Jerome Brody, whose goal was surprisingly simple: make caviar approachable instead of pretentious.
Ironically, caviar sandwiches go back even further.
In the late 1800s, American saloons often gave away salty caviar sandwiches for free because they made customers thirsty… and thirsty customers bought more beer.
It’s one of the few foods in history that can honestly say its marketing strategy was, “Let’s dehydrate them.”
Now that’s business school.
Inside The Barn
Located at 1016 Church Street (Rear), Evanston, Illinois, The Barn sits inside a beautifully restored 19th-century brick horse barn.
The atmosphere immediately feels different from your typical steakhouse. It’s intimate without trying too hard, upscale without feeling stuffy, and somehow manages to make you feel like you’ve discovered a place you’re almost hesitant to tell other people about.
The Sandwich
The Barn’s version keeps things elegantly simple:
Wild American bowfin caviar
Toasted pan de mie bread
Farm egg
Crème fraîche
Fresh chives
Chervil
That’s it.
No unnecessary distractions.
No overcomplicated presentation.
Just layer after layer of rich, creamy, buttery, salty perfection.
The toast provides just enough crunch before giving way to the silky crème fraîche, delicate egg, and the unmistakable pop of the caviar.
If you’ve never had caviar before, this is honestly one of the best introductions imaginable.
It’s luxurious without feeling intimidating.
The Perfect Opening Act
We originally ordered it thinking,
“Well… we’re getting a tomahawk steak. Might as well try something different first.”
By the time the sandwich disappeared, we weren’t talking about the steak anymore.
We were talking about the sandwich.
Don’t get us wrong the tomahawk absolutely delivered.
But somehow this little appetizer stole the spotlight before the headliner even made it to the stage.
That’s not something we expected.
F’nAround Final Thoughts
Sometimes the best meals aren’t the ones you planned.
They’re the ones you ordered because your curiosity got the better of you.
We walked into The Barn expecting to remember the steak.
We walked out telling everyone about the caviar sandwich.
If you’ve never tried caviar, don’t let the reputation scare you away.
Forget the stereotypes.
Forget the fancy image.
Just take a bite.
You may find yourself wondering why it took you this long.
F’nAround Must-Try Rating
The Grand Central Caviar Sandwich isn’t just an appetizer. It’s a conversation starter, a piece of culinary history, and one of the most unexpectedly memorable bites we’ve had in Chicago’s North Shore.
The Barn Steakhouse
1016 Church St. Rear, Evanston, IL 60201
https://www.thebarnsteakhouse.com
F’nAround Tip: Even if you’re there for one of the incredible steaks, start with the caviar sandwich. Trust us, it’s the bite you’ll still be talking about on the drive home.
