Schwa is located in Wicker Park and is all about a community of chefs collaborating with one another. They only offer a 9-course menu that is updated seasonally, and the ingredients that are used range from locally-grown produce to harder-to-procure delicacies. My friend had made dinner reservations, and it was a great setting to play catch-up! We started off with: Bourbon (considered an olfactory journey); Octopus (with carrots and peas); Parparadelle (flavors of summer); Flavors of Forest (pine, snail, moss, and mushroom); Fish Fry (with walleye, morels, malt vinegar, fava, and blackberry); Oyster (7 up); Foie Gras (with mulled wine, oats, maple, and pickled cranberries); Pheasant (with pechuga, plum, pineapple, and corn); Cheesecake (with humboldt fog, fermented apricot, and nasturtium); Unagi (with watermelon and togarashi); and, Ants on a Log (with peanut butter, celery, raisins, and rum; I especially enjoyed this dessert as it reminded me of my childhood!). I liked the fact that each dish was creative and interesting, and that the lack of description on the menu makes it more of a surprise when you receive your plate. The restaurant itself is also super laid back, intimate (about 26 seats), and an open space where you can watch the chefs do their magic. Reservations are required and can be difficult to obtain! +seasonal 9-course menus +reservations required +collaboration of chefs read more

Schwa - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a real hard time writing this review. I left Schwa feeling rather ambivalent and that I missed why it was so well rated. While there were some dishes that really shined through as pure excellence, I felt like getting the few excellent dishes was the exception, not the rule. Comparing Schwa to other prix fixe dinners, I left feeling like this was a middle of the road food experience. The atmosphere, decor, and service were fine. Simple, casual, and urban. We provided the chefs with a fifth of Jameson as we hear this is the standard. We brought only a white wine and the staff were courteous to provide a red for the complimenting dishes. The food? Smaller portions, and, while interesting flavors, not overly impressive when comparing restaurants that Schwa should easily stand as an equal or better to. There was some creativity present. I noticed a dish or two could've used texture or flavor balances as well. For example, the garam masala blend on the seared branzino (perfectly seared in all fairness) seemed to lack balance, overpowered by coriander and cinnamon. The highlight of the evening was a ravioli topped with quail egg, shaved truffle, and parmesan. I am not disappointed that I came here, but, there are other places in the city that have impressed me more during a coursed meal. read more

Schwa - Pretzel bread and Schwa's take on pork and beans - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This an hard review to write. There were definitely a couple of dishes that blew my mind while others I could've done without. One reason they didn't receive 5 stars were I felt like each dish was extremely short lived as in there isn't enough & you will be hungry when you leave. Without a doubt the kampachi was hands down one of the best fish dishes I've ever had & the most unique flavor with the banana. The "loop" dessert has ascended to my favorite dessert of all time in Chicago. Twas explained as a front loop tasting cereal like dish but I never tasted cereal that was this damn good. The smoked roe & raviolo were very good & fun dishes. It's worth tasting that you won't need utensils until you're like 5 dishes into the meal. I didn't care for the quail, waffle nor red eye/white lily dishes. The waffle had one bite in particular that was tasty but the rest was boring. A lot of the dishes had a "sweet" aspect to it. It's amazing that a place this small with merely 3 cooks were able to accomplish this level of food. In closing this is now my 2nd favorite tasting menu in all of Chicago. read more

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Better than Alinea. World class progressive tasting menu. Every dish is -- as one can expect -- some semblance of avant garde showmanship -- but unlike most other progressive tasting menus, every dish seemingly values taste and happiness over creativity. Only meal I've had that can rival Schwa was Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal, but How do you beat literal foie gras, French fries, more foie, and duck in foie gravy? It's not even fair. Ps: 2 free glasses of wine and a shot of whiskey at Schwa. And that was the least impressive thing about their dinner service. read more

This is the last Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago that I needed to get to and I had high hopes. Unfortunately, they were not met. I don't mind the ambiance, although the music was not exactly what I would have chosen and I could deal without the smoking pot during service. Overall though, when compared to other similar restaurants, the service was just not up to par. We were the first seating at 6pm on a Thursday. We came in and offered a bottle of Jameson for the kitchen. No one thanked us for that or anything, but that's fine. We had brought two half bottles (white and red) and a full bottle of sparkling. They immediately took all three back to the kitchen for proper temperatures, which was good. What was not good was sitting there for 23 minutes after without any food or drinks. I mean, they could have left the wine at the table and we could have at least started on it ourselves. They didn't seem ready for service. Another couple came in about 5-10 minutes after us and we were the only two tables until 7pm. That table got served before us each course, which was a bit strange. Once the dishes started, the pace was pretty good except right in the middle where then again we had sort of a lull for about 20 minutes. The staff preferred to choose which of our wines to pair with each course, which I appreciated. However, we got through the entire meal without opening our bottle of white and ended up taking it home. That was fine as we were full but if they prefer to choose wines, they should space them out accordingly. This isn't a huge deal either but the menu provided at the end of the meal didn't match up with the meal we actually got. I know there was a new dish but the menus should have been updated to reflect this. The food had some hits and misses. Overall many of the dishes were overly salty. We did mention this to the server but it was not corrected on subsequent dishes. Some of the items were very difficult to eat due to the high salt content. That was my biggest overall criticism. The welcome dish was actually pretty solid so after the long wait, I was hopeful that the food would make up for that. Hands down the best dish was the raviolo. It was spectacular. It reminded me of Grant's truffle explosion. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the flavor was outstanding. What was awkward is that there were no utensils to eat with. It was like the first course at El Ideas (grip it and rip it), which I don't mind at all but this bite was a bit too large to down at once so I ended up with sauce in my hair and my husband all over his face. We laughed it off but this dish would be perfect if they just made it a tad smaller or provided a fork. The corn dish was actually really tasty as was the caviar dish. Uni can sometimes be too overwhelming but this was balanced. After that is when things went a bit downhill. The fish dish was overcooked so the cod itself was dry. That was too bad because the flavors were on point. The oyster had a bit too much acidity and the sweetbreads and steak were both too salty. The biggest issue we had with the food was the A5 wagyu was overcooked. This should be a crime. A5 is not easy to come by and every single time I've had it, it's been cooked perfectly (meaning sliced thinly and barely cooked at all). This was brown and overdone, which was a huge letdown. I will say the palate cleanser was successful. Overall, the food had some highs but just as many lows and the service was not great. For a restaurant of this caliber, I expected more. read more

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Great music, good service, and food on the salty side for my taste. The chef ‍ is very creative doing very attractive dishes. The restaurant is very tiny make sure you show up on time if You get there early they will not sit you until the time of your reservation. The lighting of the lamps were making me feel very hot. The climate in the room was very hot. I had such an awesome time listening to the music and savoring the foods that were severed to us. You can bring your own wine. This restaurant is good for a group of friends and a nice date. The food was phenomenal was like a better version of el ideas can't wait to come back read more

Schwa - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been to Schwa twice, including last weekend for the new menu. I will never go back again. My first visit was particularly memorable for the awful wine service. I brought 4 bottles for the two of us, not knowing what we'd want to open. They proceeded to open a Champagne that we didn't need, without asking and then served it to us after the course that they wanted to pair it with had already been consumed. And then when I left at the end of the night, they kept a special desert wine that I had brought along. Not good. I put past memories aside when a friend asked if I wanted to dine with him and his wife. Surely what I experienced was an aberration, right? Nope. Our meal at Schwa was terrible. FOOD: It seems as the kitchen was more concerned with being clever than it was making food taste good. To start, we were served a long board that resembled morse code, a glass of a a clear beverage that smelled like pickle juice and a waffle. The idea was to run the waffle through the dots and dashes on the board, and to drink with the beverage. It was certainly unique, but it was overly salty and the waffle was served cold and on its own lacked flavor. Other dishes followed a similar pattern, with more emphasis put on being unique than tasty. Why was shredded parmesan served with banana? Yes, interesting and better than it sounds, but neither component of the dish elevated the other. The foie gras was a definite clunker, simultaneously too sweet and rich. We were served spoons that we were supposed to mix in the dish -- the first spoon was to scoop up the foie remnants (meh), while the second held a globe that dissolved when an unbalanced ginger infused broth was poured into the foie dish. One dish with fish roe tasted particularly odd, as if they used peanut butter. My friend opined that they used rancid oil, and I'm inclined to believe that he was right. Highlights were the mackerel with kimchee, served with hijiki seaweed, and apple and the lamb accented by coconut, green curry, root beer. In fact, these were the only two dished of the night that worked for me. SERVICE: The various chefs take turn serving. The person who waited on us most frequently had a nice personality, but most of the service consisted of chefs quickly rattling off ingredients, with no explanation of how the dish was composed or the cooking techniques. Also, in light of my past experience, we asked to keep our wines at the table, but they insisted on bringing the wines into the back. The Champagne we brought this time was poured and it looked like we weren't poured a full bottle's worth. I wouldn't mind if they sampled, but asking first is appropriate. They eventually brought our wine back to the table when my friend complained. AMBIENCE: The restaurant is small, with spray painted walls and music playing at an uncomfortable level. Last weekend Eminem was heavy on the playlist. The vibe is closer to a bar/club than a restaurant. OVERALL: The worst Michelin starred restaurant I have ever been to by a wide margin. It was so bad that my friend who picked the restaurant and got us reservations texted me the following day to apologize. Not recommended. read more

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I can't believe how highly rated this place was. Of course I wanted in. The reservation system drives me bananas, call 2 months in advance they tell me call back the following month. A month ahead, they tell me their reservations haven't opened up for April, yadda, yadda. I basically called about 40 times to check on availability, to make sure my name was on the waitlist and to confirm my reservation. The reservationist was very lackadaisical, which made me uneasy, to add to it, there was no e-confirmation. I should have known after the reservation experience, but I couldn't stay away. It's BYOB, which is not the easiest task when you're from out of town, we had the cab driver wait for us at the Binny's parking lot and then hauled the stuff. We bought 4 bottles, one Jameson for the kitchen, we wanted to start off with good karma. There were some hits and a lot of misses. Many items were interesting to look at but too salty or sweet. The bathroom is through the kitchen and the walk there, while short, is a little greasy, so ladies, make sure to plant your feet when stepping. The loo is super small and the friendly kitchen would offer us Jameson shots after we did out biz. Very cool. Timing on the courses were off, it took almost four hours for our meal, I think it was supposed to be 9 courses, kitchen threw in extras, but still, it was a bit drawn out. We actually ran out of wine and the kitchen brought us a new bottle of red from the back, so nice of them. No photos, but I saw other patrons snapping away, with a flash, so I drew out my phone. The staff were very chill, almost to a fault, they seemed overly wired and a bit unpolished for my taste. Highly disappointing experience. Cool concept and vibe, but flavors were not balanced enough for me and not memorable. read more

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The most incredible meal I've eaten in a long time The service was top notch. Every detail was thought of read more

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Every dish was extremely salty, music was a little too loud, service was a little strange. They would join in our conversations which is fine but they did so in a way that was a little awkward / not respectful of our desire to enjoy each other's company Wine service was also a bit strange because they kept pouring us new wine when we hadn't finished any of our previous glasses so I had 4 glasses by the end of the meal. I would have preferred they let us open it ourselves and just tell us which they recommend with which dishes. Dessert was also not very sweet - this is a personal critique as I like my dessert sweet so this may not be a big deal Presentation was very pretty and interesting and unique read more

The reservation was worth the blood, sweat and tears it took to snag a spot. This was definitely the biggest, longest, memorable foodgasm of all. I wish I could recount the taste, name or appearance of the nine courses, but that would be too much like right. What I can tell you is everything I put in my mouth was incredible. These guys are sooooo talented and genuinely enjoy what they do. How do you get in on the fun!?? Well, call the number like you are trying to win four tickets to hear One Direction, Prince or Sade (or your fav artist). The voicemail will be full so keep trying. When the phone is answered, don't get confused if they answer saying Domino's or Burger King. They are playful and unorthodox, but it is worth it. It's BYOB so bring whatever floats your boat. There are no ice buckets brought to the table to white wine or rose. Prepare to have them chill it for you. Plan on spending about 3 hours feasting. The price is a lot cheaper than most restaurants of its caliber, so you should bring a bottle of Jameson for the chefs. .... As a side note, while we licked the bowl and squealed about each course, the cooks were chomping down on pizza that was delivered. Gotta love it! There's no place like Schwa. read more

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Much smaller inside then expected. Food was fun and innovative. Was hoping for more interaction from staff especially after we brought them a bottle of whiskey. Honestly for the price...would think twice about a return. Wanted to love this place... read more

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This was definitely a unique experience! It is a very tiny restaurant, which makes it feel very exclusive while you are there. The service was amazing and everybody was so friendly towards us! Unfortunately the chef wasn't there that night as I would have loved to meet him. All of the dishes were very unique. There were a couple that weren't as tasty as others, but most of the dishes were so amazing that it doesn't even matter! The first dish includes a bloody mary, which is really the perfect start to the dinner! And the truffles quail egg, omg! You must go just for these two dishes! I would definitely go back here once the menu changes to try more of their tasty dishes! read more

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Unique experience! Fun chill vibe! Eating different types of foods, listening to one of my fav type of music era and genre, and BYOB, is such a cool way to enjoy an evening. Servings are small (as to be expected for a tasting menu) but they serve you 10-15 dishes. We were there for 2 hours. Servers are the chef or sous chefs and all very fun and friendly. We even enjoyed a round of shots at the end with the chef, staff and guest. An experience to check off my bullet list! Definitely recommend. read more

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Schwa was beyond disappointing for the following reasons: Service - our waiter was dripping with attitude, and not in a good way. He was condescending, and not really friendly at all. He also acted like he had no desire to serve our table. Food - The food was really unimpressive. It was way too salty, the flavors at times reminded me of cleaning detergents, and the portions were itty bitty. I left the restaurant this evening and walked to a pizza place to get a slice. Yes, I can eat a lot, but after spending $160 a head I shouldn't walk out of a restaurant still being hungry. Ambiance - Its noisy as hell in the tiny restaurant. You can barely hear the person next to you the music is so loud. At one point a table nearby started singing one of the songs out loud, so the staff turned up the music even more, to the point where we were yelling at each other across the small table to be heard. After tonights experience I can say I will never come back. Chicago is a foodie town and is filled with lots of good options. Schwa is no longer one of those options. Go spend your hard earned money elsewhere. read more

Amazing food. Good vibes. What more can you ask for? Also did I forget to mention BYOB?!

Easily ranks in the top 5 best meals I've had... truly a combination of creativity and deliciousness in a non stuffy environment. I enjoyed every course (which rarely happens) and while I won't ruin the surprise of the progression, a couple of my favorites were: - quail truffle raviolo- rich, perfectly seasoned, very large bite of amazingness - langoustine with orange blossom and citrus lace- still have no idea what citrus lace is but the dish was awesome and a little interactive Price is very reasonable for the quality and ingenuity, definitely on my repeat list... read more

Schwa - Little teaser of the langoustine dish (there are additional parts...) - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been wanting to come here for so long, and now I'm already planning my return. The vibe of this place is so unlike any other Michelin starred restaurant in Chicago or elsewhere that I've been to. It's definitely small, and it's not the kind of service you'll get at restaurants with comparable food, but I think the ambiance makes the food more approachable in a way. Anyway, the food was amazing! Favorites were the popcorn agnolotti, the caviar dish, and the hoisin dessert. So good and the whole meal was full of surprises from the first dish to the last. Also love that it's BYOB - we splurged on a fancy bottle of wine at Binny's which surely would have been 3x the price at another restaurant. All in all, a wonderful (day after) Valentine's date night. read more

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Schwa is doing their usual to go and it is a stunner. I was looking for a *special* meal for my partner's birthday. In COVID times, that's tough! While many other Michelin-starred spots are doing more "takeout friendly" menus like pizza and burgers, Schwa is staying true to their roots. A 6 course meal for two was delivered via DoorDash - it was a bit late but I didn't care at all - we were having cocktails! Schwa sent wine recommendations (type, not specific bottles so you can buy whatever works for your budget) - they also sent a Spotify playlist. This is the Schwa experience! The food is labeled with great care and detail. Instructions guide you through simple reheating and playing steps. I am a pretty good cook, so I didn't stress about some steps lacking a specific time for next steps. heed this advice if you're nervous - the directions are meant to be flexible so you can enjoy the meal at a reasonable pace. Do not worry about getting stuff out of the oven too late (within reason). Everything was delicious and special. It was definitely the best meal served in my home and with minimal effort and clean up. read more

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Yesterday I was excited all day, in anticipation for my Schwa experience. I took to Yelp to check out what others thought of this place and was shocked at the reviews. I've only heard amazing things, but some yelpers were not happy. I didn't want those reviews to taint my experience so I went in with an open mind and that mind was blown! First Impression: We ended up being a little late due to awful traffic. Based on some of these reviews, we thought, "oh gosh are they going to hate us or reject us?" When we showed up, we apologized and they were super cool. They let us know these things happen and it wasn't a thing at all. Our server (also a chef) collected our wines and our gifts for the chef (nice bottle of rum and a large format beer). There were 4 people in our party, one preggo so we ended up bringing a sparkling rosé, 2 regular sized lighter reds and a large format big cab. He clearly read his notes because he knew we were celebrating a birthday and that birthday girl happened to be pregnant. Environment: The space is small and dark. Think of a black box with the kitchen in the very back. No decorations, no artwork, just a small number of tables with white linens. There was rap music playing, which got us pumped for our meal. We could still have a conversation, so for those that thought their eardrums burst, let's be real- it wasn't THAT loud. The smell was intoxicating, smokey notes filled the room. Not like a cigar, but almost like cedar. Come to find out, it might have been the hay they incorporated into a dish. Food: I won't go through all of the dishes we had because I can't remember all of them (wine didn't help). The one dish I will never forget is their signature quail egg ravioli. It's a one slurper and it was the best slurp of my life. The truffle, the rich creamy texture, it was simply spectacular. The flavors the chef thought of, the experiential aspects... all of it was genius. I didn't find the food to be "too salty", I really thought they were thoughtful about every dish and executed them perfectly. Staff: The staff was so fun and nice. There was not an ounce of pretentiousness. We spoke with many of the chefs about how long they've worked there, about different dishes they are thinking of rolling out and they were honestly very interested in our feedback on the dishes. The restroom is off of the kitchen, so you have to walk through the kitchen to get there and they encourage you to speak with the chefs and watch them prep meals. Everyone was super approachable, we even ended up taking a photo with some of the chefs. Overall, I'd give this place more than 5 stars if I could. Chef Norman (wonder if that's his real name) was our favorite, he was funny and we appreciated how he creepily watched us try certain dishes, interested in our feedback. We can't wait to return! read more

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My husband and I have been to Schwa several times. For a while the dishes were a bit salty but still very good. We went last night and, my god, they have it dialed in PERFECTLY!! Even single course was just outstanding! Can't wait to go back yet again. read more

Spent $200 on the tasting menu here and was not impressed. I liked 3 out of the 9 courses. I will say the service was fantastic, but I wouldn't come back. They also blast rap music and have a fun vibe, but I feel it wouldn't be pleasing to anyone over the age of 30 that didn't like ratchet music. read more

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Warning: If stuffy, white glove service is your thing go to any of the other hundreds of restaurants in Chicago that already have that vibe. Came here last night for our anniversary dinner and had an amazing experience. Ignore the one star reviews, some of these people are idiots. Yes. If you show up 30 minutes early, you either won't be seated or are going to wait 30 minutes for your first dish. The reservations are set up so that multiple tables kick off at the same time and receive their dishes at roughly the same time. We were 10 minutes early, they seated us and we got started with some wine and hung out. We had a blast. It was like being at a chill house party with incredible, inventive food. I'm not going into details because the surprise of each dish is part of the experience. There wasn't a single dish we didn't enjoy - but standouts for us were the Raviolo, Agnolotti, Caviar, Sweetbreads and A5 Waygu. Everything is intentional and none of it was food I've eaten anywhere else. Everything that other people complain about, we loved: - Love the hip hop. Turn up. - Wine service. Yep. They're going to keep filling your cup. Yep. We left kinda drunk. Not mad about it. - The fact that there aren't servers and you get to interact with the chefs is awesome. We did a shot together at the end in the kitchen. As collectors of unique experiences, the night is one we will definitely remember. read more

First off let me say, I understand the passion, skill and hard work that goes into producing a dinner like we had last night. No complaints about the delicious tasting and awesome looking Food we were served. Such a talented team. But why do they have to be so pretentious? Not a thankful employee in the house. It was like we annoyed them by showing up and paying them. Description of the dishes were preprogrammed and delivered with no passion or thankfulness. No story or why the dish or ingredients. Just matter of fact and you better listen because I am not going to repeat myself. You should love what you do and I believe these folks do, it just didn't show. I hope it was an off night and not the norm. read more

I was so blown away by Schwa. My boyfriend took me here for my 30th birthday last month and just wow. Michelin star dining but not the stuffiness you expect when you think Michelin. The food was incredibly delicious and inventive. That banana pudding tea dish ... I'm obsessed . The dessert I spoke about for days afterward. Food was just 10/10, top notch. I'm still thinking about it...which is why a month later I am now writing my review . The atmosphere. Loved it as much as the food. Great hiphop music playing. You want to get up and dance. I was hoping schwa had a playlist on Spotify that I could go on. BYOB - loved that as well. Service was incredible. Everyone was so knowledgeable and explained what I was eating so well. It was my first Michelin experience. I'm sure it won't be my last but it certainly will not be one I forget. I hope I get to visit soon. And if anyone has a chance to visit ... please do!!!! read more

Let me just start by acknowledging that I have a propensity to over-salt my food, whether it's generously dousing my favorite Chinese foods in soy sauce or uncontrollably dispensing NaCl onto my cherished meats. For that reason, I think I'm qualified to say that I have a much higher tolerance for salty foods than most. You can imagine my horror when I found almost everything in Schwa EXCESSIVELY salty. If I were to equate my experience here, it would be like drinking saltwater or eating something plucked out from the Dead Sea. Even the dessert "huckleberry" was generously sprinkled in sea salt. Not sure how everyone who gave it a 5* review can stomach this or how the restaurant even got a Michelin star in the first place (is the menu / taste just inconsistent?) Overall, the food here definitely kept to its theme by being true to one-note (salty, salty, salty). Won't be coming back again. read more

Absolutely amazing experience! Everything about Schwa was so memorable, even the lack of decor makes this place memorable. I called about a month in advanced and was able to get a reservation for my preferred day and time. I called before dinner service begins thinking it would be easier to get someone on the phone during prep time. I also got a call to confirm a day or two before my actual reservation. Just insanely creative, delicious food with the chefs stepping outside the kitchen to serve and interact with you. I came in thinking these plates would be all about looking cool and the taste would be meh, but I was so wrong! The taste matches every bit of each plate's stellar appearance. All the dishes were great, but the quail egg ravioli with truffle is the best bite I've ever had. Music was great that night; mainly old school rap with some rock songs added to the mix. BYOB is a nice perk to Schwa. We brought a bottle of red and white for 2 people. The chefs would tell us what would pair best with each course so that was great! Also, brought a bottle of whiskey for the kitchen. Everyone that we interacted with was so cool. We even got to take a picture in the kitchen with everyone (just ask!). Such a wonderful meal and experience, but I can see how it's not for everyone. When we walked into the door and took a step, we were literally in the middle of the dining room then. Someone from the kitchen popped out, and promptly seated us. If you're open to the experience of gourmet dishes in a different setting, then it's definitely worth the price to come to Schwa. read more

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There are allllllll kinds of rumors about this place, and you can believe them all. My most adventurous friends have this spot on their bucket list. If you're truly a foodie, check out the GQ article written about the chef years ago, which will give you a good intro into what this place truly is. And yes, you have to keep calling the landline in the hopes someone will pick up to make a res. An almost black box of a space with hip-hop playing and only about 8 tables, your server is also most likely the sous chef. They won't want to sit with you and talk about the food because they're too busy cooking your next dish, but take your time through each because they're worth your full attention. Crappy neighborhood, but it's worth it. Aim for the quail egg ravioli and don't forget it's BYO. read more

Each course was a marvel! There is no better place for inventive and delicious food, served creatively. Ingredients, execution, and presentation are absolutely top-notch. Modern, casual very intimate atmosphere. read more

I wrote a comprehensive review the last time I was at Schwa so check that out for lengthy details. I'm going to keep this one short & succinct. +Food is amazing. 9 courses that taste unearthly and are presented to blow your mind. +Brother Ali, Atmosphere, and Talib Kweli are some of the artists playing over their sound system. They blare what I like to call White Boy High music, so if that isn't your thing, might want to bring ear plugs. It's my thing so I was loving it. +Service is always amazing yet stays cool & casual. +It's a 3 hour affair. Both times I've gone it's been a little over 3 hours of a dining experience so be ready. +BYOB. Remember you're going to be there for 3 hours so bring enough liqs accordingly. Don't be a douche and give the chefs your leftover boos (like a table of drunk idiots in suits/fancy dresses did last night)...bring them something intentionally. +Our bill came to $353 for two with tax & tip. It's pricey. Real pricey. But remember, you're not spending anything on drinks, you're getting a life changing meal prepared by a master of cuisine, and just generally you're going to have an awesome time. Worth every penny. Most casual fine dining you'll ever have. Come as you are. Chill out, relax with friends, eat, drink and be merry. Schwa is a must do and Chef Michael Carlson is a culinary genius. read more

Fantastic and unique dining experience at Schwa. Yes, the music is loud and the service is different from your usual restaurant, but that's what makes it so fun. Don't come here if that's not your thing. But if you're adventurous and enjoy delicious and creative food, you must try Schwa! read more

Schwa - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honest review: (come in at the hour ur assigned dont come early u will wait food comes out 10 minutes after ur seated youll be there for 2 hours its byob $5 corkage fee $5 dollar water fee $28 dollar tax for two so its like $159 per person. website menu is not current. This has the vibe of el ideas so have fun and turn up its not like a cute date spot or business deal or bring ur parents type of place. Ambiance (only 10 seats no walk ins make reservations) theres cool graffiti on the walls but besides that very minimalist like el ideas. Very tiny bathroom its all the way in the back right of the kitchen. Service: it was good at times but theres only 1 server they need more employees badly. They described things gave new plates were really cool. N when there actually not busy they were supper fun n nice. My only complaint is we didnt like the wine we brought so we were like were done n will take it to go n never saw it again but u could see through the kitchen employees chugging bottles so was like ok then rip wine so hopefully they get a manager who will supervise the staff n make sure they are not drinking ur alcohol . Food: food was delish some things were really salty but overall food was great best things: waffle/ roe/ mackerel/ foie/ lamb/ parmesan/ raspberry /cant wait to come back Waffle (first course-bloody marry, summer squash, garlic): this was really unique i dont know how to describe the spreads because there was a lot going on n idk what was in it all i can tell u is that all together makes the perfect bite. The bloody marry was amazing like the best i ever had wish there was vodka in it n a lil spicer. The sauces were really tasty just wish there was more of it. The waffle was good but not great was a lil dry just was expecting more on the bread part but this was one of the most unique things i ever ate so id come back just for this Raviolo second course: (quail egg, truffle, ricotta): theres so much truffle like its so decadent! First truffle dish that has so much truffle in it my only complaint it was salty like one of the saltiest things i ever ate now ik why so many people complain why the foods salty here. wish there was texture. Pappardelle third course: (english peas, ramp, uni-kohi): i didnt like this. The pappardelle was cooked perfectly actually aldente. The only thing i liked was the uni foam it was so flavorful. I didnt like the pea sauce or the other components because there wasnt enough richness to counteract the freshness. Roe 4th course (strawberry sun flower coriander) : this was one if the best bites of the nites it was so unique flavor wise. Its a pudding idk how to describe it since theres so much flavors going on theres saltiness sweetness then acidity was perfect. Jus wish it was a bigger portion. Mackerel 5th course: (kimchi, hijiki seaweed, apple) This was phenomenal n i hare mackerel. The apples added sweetness n acidity the puree added richness then theres these little crunchy things that add so much texture. My only complaint fish was overcooked. Foiegras 6th course (persimmon hazelnut cacao nib) amazing i wish more people would make foie gras with chocolates perfect combo of sweet n salty n theres a lot of texture going on. My only complaint wish it had more sweetness n its a lil salty n the foie was overcooked. For this dish ur gonna save the bowl for the next course Langoustine 7th course (orange blossom, gewurztraminer, citrus lace): worst dish of the nite. The icecream that u mix with the foie gras greeze was amazing theres no denying that. But the langoustine soup was so sweet it was inedible cool idea though Lamb 8th course (coconut green curry rootbeer): {do not touch the bowl its beyond hot } phenomenal one of the best curry dishes i ever ate. Lamb was cooked perfectly. Theres a sweet coconut sauce n a really flavorful curry sauce then bread crumbs for crunch n a lot of herbs n veggiest for freshness Parmesan 9th course (banana, nori brittle, makuna honey) phenomenal perfect combo of sweet n salty. The parmesan adds a great salty flavor along with the seaweed then the banana n honey adds sweetness my only complaint wish they turned the parmesan into a crisp for texture n there was more banana mousse Palate cleanser( / abalone/): it was ok I had better palate cleansers I wish there was more abalone it's like they cut it with a blade n gave u like smaller then a nails worth. Wish there was more flavor n that it was more acidic or refreshing Raspberry 10th course (shiso, celery root, sorrel): phenomenal i hate acidic desserts but it was the perfect balance like was one of the best desserts i ever had just wish there was more cake. read more

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I'm so unhappy with my experience at this so-called restaurant that I don't know where to begin. First, this place should be renamed "Hype" because that's all it is. The rumors about the impossible reservation and stellar food are all HYPE. I called on a Tuesday morning and they rattled off possible days and times, so there is a lot of availability. I called once, it rang 3 times, done. When I made the reservation, the punk [he was so rude and blasé, I can call him a punk] on the phone told me to bring my own booze. I had a friend who had been to Schwa and he told me it is customary to also bring a bottle for the staff. Basically, you have to spend $300 for food, $100 for booze, and then some more for the staff? Ok... I just went with it. Let's review the courses. While on their website it may display that they offer 9 courses, that wasn't what they were doing... it was 7... Again, I went with it. First course: A hairball, a combo that was on the floor of the a movie theatre Second Course: a HUGE piece of ravioli that you have to eat in one bite while the waiter stands there and watches like a freak. Third Course: You know what would be a great idea, let's drop this old piece of lobster overcook it, then drop it in Dawn Lavender Dish Soap and call it a foam Fourth Course: pieces of gooseberry...with no meat Fifth Course: Who cares? Sixth Course: I want my money back! Seventh Course: Chocolate and grounds of coffee you have to lick off a plate Each plate was as if they asked a child to decorate and then forgot to place the protein on the plate! The service was so absurd, I'm convinced you have to be a line cook at Ed Debevik's before transferring to Schwa. They ended our meal with giving a little insult while placing the check down...it is laughable that this is considered fine dining. Save your money and go to L20 or Next. No need to go to HYPE. The best part of the whole night was the Pinot Noir I brought! Also, you can walk in and just sit at a table so long as you bring bottle of Crown Royale. I saw it happen twice while I was there. read more

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I have been holding off on writing a review for Schwa because I have mixed emotions and I finally feel ready. I truly believe that restaurants like Schwa is what makes the Chicago dining scene so excellent. The dining scene is defined as leading in inventiveness and revolutionary thought. For that to be successful, the diners must be forgiving and appreciate the risks that the chefs are willing to take. Here, the chefs have really made this their own. From the rock music, to the friendly banter, to the unique unsuspecting decor outside, to the reservation system... It is a fun experience. When it comes to value, I don't think it is fair for any diners to be complaining. It is phenomenal. It takes tremendous time and effort to constantly develop unique new ideas and on top of that, you get about 12 to 13 courses which is way more than than is promised. To top it off, there was a pairing to complement each and every dish. We brought our own red wine but we got so much more than we bargained for. With each course, we were transported to Germany, India, a chemistry lab, Italy, and more. I was so excited for each course and the unique ingredients that were in the dishes. We had so much fun trying to guess what ingredients were in the dishes that it was part of the fun. Pickle mustard seeds? Lentils that were fried to the point of exploding but frozen in that state? Foam made from tea? Jameson shots with the chef? This was such an incredible culinary adventure. The only reason I hesitated so long to write this is because I have to agree with a couple other reviewers that the pork and lamb dishes were incredibly salty. Would it stop me from coming back? Absolutely not. Even after we left the restaurant, we were marveling at how a quail egg was put in the ravioli and cook just perfectly so that the yoke would just be slightly runny. That was by far the best dish. All in all I will return with a big bottle of Jameson for the chefs, because they deserve it. I did not do that on my first experience, but I have a newfound appreciation for what the chefs to here that I absolutely will next time. In order to enjoy, you must come with an open, curious mind ready for the unexpected dining experience and appreciate the creativity that is put in front of you. read more

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Difficult Reservation - Somewhat Worth The Effort Atmosphere: Love it. Rap/Hip Hop - Into It (Wiz Khalifa was on repeat). Laid back. Relaxed. Not pretentious. Food: The meal was overall inventive and well-executed. With that being said, some things meshed well, others not so much. The food was solid, but I wasn't overly impressed with any particular dish. My expectations were extremely high which was probably why the meal in its entirety left me underwhelmed. Service: Standard. Nothing special which lends credence to their philosophy of being all about the food. Would I come here again? Eh. I'm glad I did, but moreso so I could cross it off my culinary bucket list. Also, dining for 4.5 hours is not my thing. Recommended? Mostly for those who truly appreciate culinary creativity and don't mind dining for hours on hours to experience it read more

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I've been wanting to come here for 10-12 years and finally made it in. The reservation was easy to make, and I loved the fact that it is BYOB. So many things to say about this place. Completely unexpected decor, and the chefs are the servers. It's a very cool and quirky experience, all in a good way. Food was very inventive and tasted great. We could really tell the chefs put a lot of thought and love into each bite. read more

If you haven't been cancelled on at least once, then you haven't fully experienced Schwa. Call it the art of seduction. They like to play hard to get, put you through a chase, but once you dine there you'll realize it was all worth it. All that extra wait probably makes the food taste better anyway. For what it's worth, the chef and staff were extremely apologetic about the cancellation. We were thanked more than a dozen times throughout our meal for coming in despite the fact they had cancelled. Service was excellent. Our wine and water glasses were never empty. When one of our wine glasses were 1/4 full the staff quickly came over, apologized, and refilled it. Even though we didn't bring any beer or white wine, the kitchen brought some out when they thought it would pair well with the course. I can't begin to describe how good the food was. Michael is a genius. He belongs on Top Chef Masters. There wasn't anything I did not like, but my favorites were the baked potato (velvety soup, garnished with potato skin nubs, creamy cheddar, with just a hint of sour cream) and pork belly. The quail egg ravioli came as an extra course and we were instructed to eat it in one bite. Imagine warm, buttery egg yolk melting in your mouth. The roe dish: passionfruit jelly, violet foam, and tempura roe. When you eat it all together, it's supposed to taste like fruit loops. Amazing. Schwa is meant to be a fun, unpretentious experience. The staff and chef talk and take shots with you. I didn't partake, but the bf certainly enjoyed himself. I wouldn't go for a romantic night or bring my parents (as they really aren't the "lets do shots and hip-hop loving" kind), but definitely for a good time. As if the food and atmosphere weren't enough, they even comped a more than generous amount off the bill. Anyone with deep pockets can dine at Alinea, Charlie Trotters, or Tru; however, only the committed can indulge at Schwa. read more

Schwa - Baked potato - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Schwa was phenomenal. The environment is intimate but casual - it's all about the food here. Every course was unique and delicious - I'm still thinking about some of them the morning after. My favorites were probably the Arnold Palmer, quail egg raviolo, and sweetbreads. The menu was nearly identical to what was on the website, with only one course being different (3rd course on the website is agnolotti but for me it was gnudi.) I have a pretty big appetite and this meal left me feeling satisfied but not full (this is not a meal that you want to prepare for by eating less during the day.) read more

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Call me a simple girl but after waiting 2 months to get into this place- I was eagerly awaiting an experience that has been described as one of the best food experiences in the city. Well, I say- save your money. Maybe it was an off night- the chefs did come to the table to tell us that they were having exhaust hood problems (in fact- they first told us that they were not going to be able to serve us) but they didn't tell anyone else that at the other tables- hmmm- maybe a hint of things to come? I like eclectic food, presented in an artsy way- this night it seemed like the art was taking precedence over the food as while everything looked great- 9 courses at $100 a person- we were all disappointed with the food. We knew it would be a little "out there" (how about beet juice in a shot glass served with a beet rolled in chocolate powder or ravioli with quails eggs, or caviar that had a caramelized topping to break through?) but usually it comes together better. My fav courses were the melon and prosciutto plate/soup, rabbit that came deboned and was delicious as well as a beef plate that had a small short rib on it (didn't care for the raw beef and quails egg and pickled beef that came on the same plate)and the spoonful of risotto. I kept hoping to get one of the selections that other people wrote about on here, but no luck. There are no waiters- the chefs do all the cooking and serving and explain each course and they put down the plate. Our chef seemed to be irritated with us that we chose to stay after he said they were having problems. I know he was stressed but it would have been better to hide that from us. We brought plenty of wines to serve with the courses and had some problems with the chef remembering to bring the right wine with the right course. Also- there are no wine glasses- you'll be drinking your fav wine in a water tumbler- somehow also didn't work for me. If you are going to go- keep a watch out- it's nondescript black awning doesn't make it pop on its block of Ashland- I actually drove by it twice and then thought maybe it had closed. I followed another couple into the door- only to find that they had not make reservations two months prior and they were sent away. We left disappointed as we had such high expectations. Again- call me a simple girl but a simple girl who won't be back! read more

I was really excited to try Schwa, but I have to say that the food was the worst of any Michelin star restaurant I've ever tried. Having said that, the staff was very nice and the service excellent so I'm giving it a second star to be fair. The meal started with a great looking board of dips for a waffle to be eaten with- this was one of the few good parts of the meal. It was served with a 'clarified bloody Mary' that pretty much tasted like pickle juice, which I guess was interesting. Some of the other dishes I have to comment on included the Foie Gras. My boyfriend really liked it. I don't eat Foie Gras and they were nice to substitute it.... except what I got was an extremely salty mushroom. This mushroom stayed with me for two more dishes and made me lose my appetite completely. The second step of this course was to mix a spoon of ice cream with the remains of the dish... so I got gross salty ice cream. Then a very over-flavored broth was poured on top of everything and a gelatinous ball melted inside. I felt like the broth was both too salty and too rich - really couldn't have more than a spoonful and didn't eat the rest. At some point we got a mashed banana covered in shredded parmesan. These flavors do not go together. I really really love cheese. This was first time in my life I disliked parmesan. I couldn't eat more than a bite, it was so gross. The three course salty mushroom disaster was followed by a fish roe dish (I love fish roe) on an overpowering nutty sunflower gelatin/spread. Could barely appreciate the roe with that flavor... also didn't eat this. Of the whole tasting, there were two good/edible dishes.. a creative corn one and an ok fish mackerel dish. For most of the meal, I thought everything was over salted. Was there a salt-crazy trainee let loose? I really can't imagine this is normal for one of the best restaurants in Chicago. Coming to the end of the meal, the dessert was pretty inedible as well. It had ice cream, berries, small chocolate cakes and something like hoisin (?!) sauce that ruined it. The combination was very weird and the sauce would go better with duck than dessert. Maybe an untrained apprentice mixed the sauce containers and this was all a terrible mistake? I don't know... we both couldn't eat the dish. If the salty mushroom that was the only issue with the meal, I would accept it as my own mistake to get a substitution. But overall the entire experience was extremely disappointing and the food subpar if not terrible. I've eaten at many non-Michelin restaurants that blew my mind and I would urge you to go to any other top restaurant instead of Schwa. read more