The best food I've had in at least ten years, exquisitely cooked and delicious. Service was good and the indoor seating was so quiet that my hearing-compromised 94 year mother could follow and participate in the conversation. A bit pricey, but absolutely worth it. read more

Came here on a Thursday night when they had two big parties. The reservation was easy to place. The waitress we had was prompt and very helpful with the menu. Also very friendly. The food was outstanding. The ambience and mood was great for a memorable date night or special occasion. read more

Amazing hidden gem. Everything was excellent and service was great. Came here with friends. We started with the lamb meatballs and fresh warm bread. Delicious. We split 3 entrees. The lamb chops, the duck, and the risotto, all of which were incredible. Highly recommend. For dessert, we got the Lemon Berry Dart which was a perfect finish to an excellent meal. read more

Alcove Evanston - Lemon Berry Dart - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Nice dinner but uncomfortable seating, awkward waiter and very expensive bill in comparison to other places like it. Scallops were divine. Won't be back. read more

Wonderful experience and service. I had the crabcake appetizer and monkfish and both were fantastic. My wife said the soup was best she's ever had. This is on the pricey side directly below the metro station. It is a cool place that we definitely will frequent again. read more

Now called the Alcove this is a must eat. Spoiler alert this may be the best meal we have enjoyed in Evanston let along chicago. We took advantage of a warm Monday night and enjoyed dining outside nearly all alone which was amazing! We were able to order a half bottle of malbec wine perfect for two. We started with the Spanish octopus which was just wow. Not only did it look beautiful but the flavor was packed and we liked up every last bit. For the main course we tried the lamb meatballs that had some of the best eggplant and the lamb flavor really showed through. We also enjoyed the duck and gnocchi. Words can't describe how good the dish was. Easily the best gnocchi in the state. Lastly we ended with. Wow of a desseer..... grand Marnier souffle. O m g it was the best dessert. Served hot with gelato it left out jaws dropped off wanting more. Easily worth the splurge and can't wait to go back! read more

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Nothing on the entree menu was under $40. The vodka and soda was watered down. The halibut was dry. The crab cake couldn't compare to Shaw's Crab House or anything close to a crab cake on the East Coast. The indoor dining was frigid. If u want to eat outside with the deafening sound of the Metra above your head, this is the place for you. There have to be better restaurants at half the price in Evanston. PS. The crème brûlèe was barely bigger than a silver dollar. Not enough for one vs. enough to share. Overall really poor value. read more

We've recently dined at the Alcove two times. Both were great dining experiences. It is a beautiful room with low lighting and no TVs or loud music. The food is absolutely excellent. Everyone ordered something different and each dish was really special. The staff there is super attentive and polite. You can't find any restaurants like this anymore that are quiet, elegant places to have a conversation amongst friends. Will be back often. read more

We had a great meal but not great customer service one day after several fully satisfying experiences. Afterwards the Alcove stepped up, admitting their shortcomings on that night and offered satisfactory compensation. Everyone has a bad day but how you respond show your character. We'll be going back. read more

Just celebrated my wife's birthday. Food was fantastic. Some people in our party don't eat meat. The chef made up a vegetarian soup they said was great. The chef made a birthday cake that was wonderful. Great experience. Will definitely go back. read more

In pursuit of culinary exploration across the United States, I have frequented numerous fine-dining establishments to sample the diverse gastronomic offerings of the nation. Drawing upon my background as a former restaurant manager and chef, I meticulously select venues based on culinary acclaim and reputation. Thus, it was my discerning choice to celebrate my 40th birthday at this particular establishment. Regrettably, upon arrival, my guest and I encountered a disconcerting lack of hospitality and professionalism. Initially, we endured a protracted 25-minute wait without acknowledgment from our assigned server. Subsequently, when attended to, the interaction was marred by discourtesy, exemplified by inappropriate addressing and an absence of customary pleasantries. Notably, the delay in beverage service, compounded by inadequate communication regarding its cause, further exacerbated our dissatisfaction. Moreover, the subsequent lapse in delivering our cocktails, attributed to ingredient unavailability, resulted in chilled appetizers and a conspicuous disregard for our dining experience. Despite our efforts to seek clarification, the lack of acknowledgment or rectification from the assigned server was conspicuous and disappointing. As a seasoned professional adhering to the industry-standard '10-minute greet rule', such oversights are markedly below acceptable standards. Admittedly, the culinary offerings, particularly the entrees, salvaged the dining experience, showcasing seasonal variety and culinary finesse. However, the prolonged wait for dessert, lasting an additional 20 minutes despite the restaurant's diminished patronage, underscored systemic service deficiencies. While appreciative of the gesture to comp our beverages and birthday dessert, it is disconcerting that such remedial measures were necessitated by subpar service rather than proactive attentiveness. A sincere apology from the server or the front-of-house manager would have been a more fitting acknowledgment of the shortcomings encountered. In summary, while the cuisine itself was commendable, the overall dining experience was marred by lapses in service and professionalism. In particular, the casual and insensitive terminology employed by the server reflects poorly on the establishment's commitment to excellence. As discerning patrons, such shortcomings prompt reflection on the suitability of the staffing choices and the alignment with the establishment's purported standards of hospitality and refinement. read more

Well, a true fine-dining, delicious and delicate food, good environment, perfect service at a reasonable price(~$40). Would go again to try some new dishes! BTW: there are indoor dining options, so don't miss it! read more

Great menu, attentive service, conversation-friendly quiet. Nearby parking garage if street parking isn't available.

Absolutely delicious! One of the best meals we've had in a long time - starting with the goat cheese tart, then braised short rib, and Grand Mariner soufflé to finish. Such a gem! read more

有一点贵，但是非常好吃，尤其推荐鹅肝。建议询问服务员当日的特色菜，一般来说都非常美味。 餐厅的服务也很好！位置很方便，就在purple line 地铁站旁边。

Best octopus I've ever had, and the braised short rib was heavenly service incredible I can't wait to return best dinner I've had In north shore read more

Small portions, food is mediocre and not great. We split the octopus appetizer, but it's a small portion. The tenderloin is smothered in a brown sauce. We ordered medium rare which came out as medium. It lacked flavor. Not worth $55.00. Go to a steak house for better steak. The Restaurant was empty. That's a sign too. read more

Alcove's staff is not particularly friendly (the hostess was borderline rude, the waiter never went over the menu - almost felt like we were inconveniencing them by dining in). The food was just ok, yet very overpriced. read more

Food and service was fantastic. The ambience and interior feng shui were also spot on. Would recommend.

We loved our dinner at the Alcove. We had our meal outside and enjoyed the experience very much. Everything the three of us had was delicious. My husband and daughter had rack of lamb and I had salmon for our main courses. Service was really good. Could not have been a better experience. read more

If you're looking for fine dining, you're in the right spot! Everything from the Tuna Tartar to the grilled octopus appetizer to the sea bass and lobster to the bread pudding was a gallery of delicious entrees. Each one presented beautifully. So why the 4 stars vs. 5? Front of the house wait staff lacked the attention you'd expect at a 5 star establishment. At times we felt forgotten. Such a bummer and we could overlook it (and laugh) because the food was so good. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant if you're in a hurry or require lots of attention to enjoy your meal. Hopefully they can hire more staff and give every table more intimate attention. read more

The food is really good, and the service is good. It's a very traditional fine dining restaurant. I don't know how else to describe it, other than mature. It's sophisticated, but an older crowd for sure. I'm in my twenties and came here for a nice dinner, but there was no one else even close to my age. If the country club vibe is for you, definitely check it out cause the food really is delicious. If you're looking for relaxed fine dining I'd suggest heading to the city. read more

Alcove Evanston - Lamb Chops - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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The food is amazing as well as the service of the staff. I had the salmon and it was so delicious, I have never had salmon like that. No words can explain you must try it for yourself. My husband had the pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes, loved it!!!!! To finish off dinner we had a bread pudding that was out of this world! I recommend Alcove Evanston to anyone wanting a gourmet dining experience with great food and wonderful professional staff!!! Elio, we absolutely loved everything that you made! To your wonderful staff that were so kind and helpful, thank you. read more

Beautiful restaurant with wonderful staff! They observed we were fasting and waited to bring our food out fresh - even remade it! Delicious soufflé for dessert that is a must try. Will definitely return! read more

Alcove Evanston - Arugula salad - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Well cooked and thoughtfully presented food. Friendly service relaxed atmosphere. Would go back for special occasion or light meal before the movie read more

Really nice place with good outdoor seating. Bread pudding was exceptional. Everything we tried was great.

We had a wonderful meal at the Alcove with friends and highly recommend it! The ambience is cozy and warm and the menu has so many appealing options. Our group had delicious short ribs (two people ordered them), rack of lamb, and beef tenderloin for entrees - all of which were the perfect portion - but there were so many other options including several seafood dishes. The apps are all shareable and delicious - we had lamb meatballs, grilled octopus, a yellowfin tuna tartare and a poached pear salad with many tasty ingredients. Wine list has some great options at decent prices. The Alcove is not only a special occasion restaurant - yes, the prices are more than an everyday restaurant but for the quality, presentation and ambience, it's a value. Check them out! read more

Beautiful restaurant with delicious food for a special night out. We had a really nice evening here and tried multiple appetizers, all of which were delicious. Entrees we're great too! read more

We enjoyed dinner here to celebrate a special occasion. The service was top notch; our server was attentive without hovering. My water glass was never empty and the food and drinks arrived quickly. Our table enjoyed the roasted beet salad and the roasted pear salad for appetizers. The duck was delicious and perfectly cooked. My mother had the steak and overall said the meals was one of her favorite meals ever. The dessert was phenomenal. We had the bread pudding, crème brûlée, and the rhubarb pie. I enjoyed the empress cocktail and my dad had the aviator. My father has a hearing loss and the restaurant was quiet enough that we could have a great conversation; I'm always thankful for restaurants with good acoustics. I highly recommend the Alcove. read more

The food was excellent but not sure was worth the price. However good the food was, the service was the polar opposite. Never have we experienced such indifference in a wait staff. There are too many other good restaurants in Evanston to spend your money at this place. read more

After moving a student into college this weekend we stopped for dinner at this restaurant. It was delicious from salads to cocktails and desserts! The service was impeccable especially our server, Mike. I highly recommend Alcove and will be back! read more

Absolutely the best food in Evanston!!!! Everything was cooked to perfection! I had the baby octopus and it melts in your mouth it's just so delicious. The pear salad was amazing! My husband had the duck and it was so mouthwatering delicious that he said he would definitely be back for more! Elio is a great chef and his staff our so wonderful they are all so warm and welcoming to his restaurant. We will be back for more. If you haven't been to this amazing hidden gem you definitely need to try it! read more

Last time we dined there it was still Chef's Station. It was then sold to the chef, renamed the Alcove, and closed for renovation. Before it could reopen, though, COVID closed all indoor dining. When the Alcove reopened, they had a patio in summer, added limited indoor dining when permitted, and then a tent & heaters in autumn--before winter set in and the pandemic spike closed down indoor dining again. Indoor dining at 50% capacity (socially-distanced & masked) is once again allowed. My husband & I (fully-vaccinated) and were jonesing tonight for upscale cuisine on the N. Side and in Evanston (our usual go-to in Edgewater is open only Th-Sun.). So when we found out it had reopened to indoor dining, we went tonight. Parking (metered) was extremely convenient. The decor is much brighter and more contemporary but still elegant. Because it had started to rain, they'd closed the patio, but we're fine with indoor dining. Since it was a Tues. night, there was only one other party in the place--pity, because it's outstanding. Service was attentive, friendly and professional. Menu was a la carte (our previous visits had been on holidays with prix fixe specials), but still contained our Chef's Station favorites. We shared appetizers: tuna tartare (more like a poke) with avocado, black sesame & arugula; baby kale salad with quinoa, asparagus & feta; and lamb meatballs on arugula. Next came a mixed-berry sorbet intermezzo (gratis). My entree was baby lamb chops with roasted asparagus and arancini (as good as I've had in Sicily), in a lamb jus reduction. The lamb chops, served rare, were quite generous. My husband had seared beef tenderloin (med. rare) with broccoli rabe. Both portions (and the salad) were so big we took home leftovers (for tomorrow night). Both meats were perfectly cooked & seasoned. My willpower having been destroyed by a flute of blanc de blancs and a generous pour of Duckhorn Decoy red blend, I ordered dessert: flourless chocolate cake. Turned out to be a dark chocolate souffle, with vanilla ice cream and a milk-chocolate sauce on the side. Worth the guilt...and the extra treadmill time. I was looking for a reason, any reason, to find fault and deduct a star--nope, not even the prices, which were more reasonable than I recall they were two years ago. I hope more people show up as the weather improves--Evanston needs to hold on to this hidden gem. read more

Great date spot, enjoyed the food. Super rude other table started complaining about completely insane things, even members of their party were apologizing for them. Highly recommend the deserts are read more

My husband and I discovered Alcove a few weeks ago and we have already been back for a second meal. The menu offers a good variety and everything we have tried has been delicious. I especially recommend the risotto and the lamb. We ate outdoors on the patio, although the inside had nice ambience too. The patio is in the middle of downtown Evanston, but it is set back a bit from the sidewalk and was very quiet and peaceful. Both times we had wanted to enjoy a more leisurely meal and our server didn't rush us at all. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five is because when we did place our order, the food was a bit slow in coming. I'm assuming this is due to staff shortages that all restaurants are facing right now. Our meal was certainly worth the wait! read more

This restaurant is now called The Alcove. We recently ordered carry-out, due to Covid dining restrictions. They have a patio for outdoor dining during the summer, and will begin serving in a tent shortly. Our meals were delicious, if a little cool by the time we got home. But the flavors and tastes were excellent. It's a little weird to have a nice meal served in a box, but Covid has challenged us all, and we enjoyed our food. We look forward to an in-person dining experience. read more

Had an amazing dinner tonight at the Alcove! Such a perfect, covid-safe, fun night out. The food was waaaay beyond our expectations! The newly renovated space is so cool and warm and relaxing. Will be back soon. Not a single complaint! Everything we ordered was delicious! Nice to finally have a nice experience in Evanston that isn't crazy overprice, snooty, and with a real warm, cool vibe. Something that is totally missing in the newer, overpriced, loud places. Oh, and the servers were spot on! Zero eyeball rolling when asking simple question, and no young servers acting like idiots to paying customers! Pretty sure we ALL know "those" restaurants in Evanston. This is an adult place that serves up the best food I've had. read more

Pains me to write a negative review but at the pricepoint they are at -- the service is simply unacceptable. First the good. The kitchen on their good days is excellent. I say this with zero caveats. Great fresh indigents, creative dishes and good presentation. This place is capable of being great. They make some of the best Foie Gras. Amazing duck. Great salads. Unfortunately the kitchen can't make up for the service. I understand that staffing is tough right now but that doesn't seem to be the issue here. The restaurant had 4 waiters for 15 or so tables. The wait staff are either rude gentlemen in their sixties or college kids. Last night it took 90 minutes to get appetizers and another hour to get entrees. Our server forgot to place a part of our order. The kitchen was clearly struggling and rushing out dishes that were not totally ready. Waiters would disappear for 30 minutes at a stretch so we could not even order drinks for the two and a half hours of waiting. What they were doing is a mystery as they each had 4-5 tables to take care of. For a place with most entrees between $40-$50 it was just comically bad. It was the first time in many many years where our whole group was about to walk out of a fine dining restaurant and just get pizza. read more

Chef's Station has recently been re-branded and opened as THE ALCOVE by Owner Chef Elio Romero a ROTARIAN. We dined on the patio with a full house being socially distant due to the COVID pandemic. The staff were so friendly and personable that our experience of his food was heightened to a new level of excellence. We loved the atmosphere. I had the most delicious halibut and my friend had superb, tender, non-greasy duck. The wine selection enhanced the flavors in our foie de gras appetizer. A treat was the rhubarb sorbet to cleanse our palates. Desserts were divine. Be sure to treat yourself to the best dining experience Evanston has to offer. read more