The sturgeon was amazing and the caviar topped it off. Shoutout to the pastry chef for the divine desserts. Truly amazed by the quality of this restaurant. Well worth your money. Also thank you to Tangie for the lovely service. read more

Sepia - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

came here for my bday dinner during restaurant week! the ambience is beautiful, and like the name of the restaurant, the color palette is very neutral and vintage. the service was stellar, with very attentive waiters cleaning the table on a timely manner and wiping off crumbs. i got the $48 menu whereas my family settled for $36. although the extra course of pasta (gnocchi for me) was quite good, i don't know if it's worth the extra $12. it was a bit salty and very small portioned. all the courses are quite small in portion, but each is beautifully crafted and rich/savory. would recommend a go! read more

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We came here at 12:30PM for lunch, and this restaurant was mostly empty. Sepia has 1 Michelin Star, so we were expecting delicious food and amazing service to accompany it. We were served bread and ordered right away, since we both knew we wanted the lamb burger. We wanted for quite sometime, and weren't served our food until 1:10PM! That is outrageously long for a restaurant that is mostly empty. The burger tasted pretty average. The patty itself was a bit bland but there was a nice texture from the pinenuts and arugula. We decided to gamble with time and order dessert. I got the cherry coffee cake with coffee ice cream (my fave!) and my friend got the marcaspone cheesecake. Again, the desserts took a while to come, but we didn't have to wait as long as we did for the burgers. The dessert was plated beautifully and absolutely delicious. I loved the coffee cake paired with the crunchiness of the granola and tart cherries. My friend also enjoyed his dessert as well. TLDR; great dessert, super slow service read more

Sepia - Lamb Burger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really need to do a better job of getting on top of my bookmarks. (Jot into etch-a-sketch for 2013 goals.) Tagged Sepia aka Michelle Obama's fave restaurant 2 years ago and just got around to it. Ambiance is nice. It's dim; it's mysterious; it's classy. On this double date, we tried a few appetizers: the octopus, charcuterie, duck fat fries, ravioli, and an assortment of cheeses. My faves were the plentiful palette of charcuterie (generous on the buttered, toasted french bread too) and the duck fat fries. Great flavors and presentation. Expect the entrees to be on the higher end and smaller portion size. I've had better duck breast, as my meat was a little tough. The unique thing about the skatewing is that they presented it layered and constructed it into a pseudo-lasagna. Coolio! Now, the best part: D^2. Dessert: brown butter cake was delicious and hit the spot. Second stomach thanked me. Drinks: Sepia's got a creative menu, and I enjoyed my Southwest drink with tequila and an assortment of other hard liquor. Overall, nice special occasion restaurant! read more

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I went to Sepia with two girl friends during the 2016 Restaurant Week. For $22 the value was great. The trout entree and the fennel/blood orange salad was very nicely prepared and quite impressive. The other lunch entree pork collar sandwich was huge, enough that I could pack half of it for dinner. The service, however, was mediocre. They even messed up our dessert orders so we ended up having four desserts for three people lol I wasn't sure if their RW menu is representative of their regular quality. If yes, I feel like Sepia will have to work hard to maintain the one star, and perhaps does not have potential to be promoted to two stars in the near future. read more

Sepia - RW lunch entree: trout - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Rohan duck and the sea scallops were cooked to perfection. The skin of the duck was extra crispy and the meat was tender and very good. The sea scallops were delicious and it would melt in your mouth. The strawberry crostata was alright and not that great. It had a lot more of the crust sticks than it was needed which over compensated the portion of the strawberry ice cream. I wish that was served as the bigger portion. read more

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Wonderful spot to impress a date or celebrate occasions. Beautiful interior decor. There is a corner room for large party with a gorgeous chandelier. The hubs and I came in for a date night after a tough few weeks at the office. The food was all very well executed. The waiter was friendly and aimed to please. Foodwise, the ingredients and execution was top notch. in order of best liked to least: - trout - looks like salmon a bit...they recommend it med rare which was delish! - the dessert with the beet sorbet with goat cheese cheese cake was AMAZING!!! We actually took a few bites of this 1st then skipped to finish the 2nd dessert (which i cant remember much of except it was lot of cake) before coming back to this...kinda saving the best for last!! - squid had complex savory/spicy components in one dish (asian indians can relate to describing it has having "masala" of flavors and textures) - beef shank - tender enough but more sauce could have helped the slight dryness. - beef sugo with pasta app - very al dente. It wasn't a bad dish..the beef ragu was delish but it was not favorite over the other dishes. Overall wonderful experience. My only real qualm was that the staff could use some training when clearing/replacing plates. We got the guy who swept the bread crumbs from table cloth directly on to both our laps each time. We tired not to let it get us. read more

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Came here for my birthday, the food and the atmosphere were great, the staff weren't the best. The person who was explaining the dishes to us was very hard to understand and our server was a little to extra on the mask policy. The food delivered and the wine pairing was great! Had a great birthday dinner all in all! read more

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The food at Sepia was phenomenal. I took my SO here for his birthday and we decided to order items a la carte instead of doing the tasting menu. To start, we had the strawberry fennel gazpacho and the tandoori cured hamachi. The hamachi was melt-in-your-mouth perfection and so flavorful. The gazpacho with strawberry was a nice twist to a traditional soup. For our entrees, we ordered the tea smoked duck breast and roasted rabbit. The duck breast was flavorful, tender, and paired well on top of the gnochi. I definitely want to try the tasting menu the next time I'm here. read more

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Loved this place! It was Chicago dining month with a prix fixe 3 course meal with several choices for each course. The decor and ambiance was beautiful, service friendly & attentive without being overbearing, and the food.... wow yum! Had an endive & blue cheese salad for starter, pan seared whitefish for entree & a delightfully light poppyseed cake for dessert. The wine flight complimented it perfectly. I can't wait to go back and try the full dinner experience! read more

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Amazing as always. Their menu is changing every season and is always full of surprises. Their drinks are extremely high quality and service is spectacular. This is one of the best Michelin star restaurants in Chicago !! read more

My fiancé and I ate dinner here during restaurant week. I had the smoked rabbit country pate, pork tenderloin, and the chocolate mouse. It was delicious because you can really taste the quality in the ingredients. I recommend for an upscale dinner date! read more

Sepia - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My wife and I celebrated my birthday here and the food and service were both exceptional. I highly recommend on adding the wine pairing to compliment the 4 course menu. read more

We did their New Year's Eve take away dinner. Pickup, packaging, directions were impeccable. The food was both interesting and delicious. Very well thought out with layered flavors, in other words a real treat! The olive oil poached halibut with trout roe and the best tiny potato chips ever was a stand out, so was the wild mushroom cannelloni. Actually every thing was stellar, duck rillettes with spiced carrot & cranberry on homemade (very artisanal) hazelnut crackers. Really a perfect meal. We had the short ribs with all of the other leftovers for lunch today. read more

Sepia - Sepia - Chicago, IL NYE takeaway dinner. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was here for restaurant week! It was yums and pretty food! Everything from appetizer to dessert was awesome and pretty and yummy! Service was great too. read more

Sepia - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Haven't had a meal here yet, but the happy hour is such a great deal! $6 for GOOD cocktails, wine, and small bites. This is the perfect spot to grab a drink before dinner in the area. You have to sit in their little bar/lounge area, but there's tons of light, since its right next to the windows, and the seats are pretty comfy. I definitely want to come back soon for lunch or dinner, I've heard great things about the restaurant! read more

Sepia - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yet another belated restaurant week review. Sepia offered three courses for $44. My friend and I dined here on a weeknight. The crowd appeared to be a mixture of corporate individuals and RW diners. They were pretty accommodating of our large coats and big bags (as we had come right off work). I chose: - Beet Salad: Appetizers normally range $12-16. Yes, yet another beet salad. This one I preferred over the NAHA version. The roasted pepitas were a nice touch, and the chocolate was a pleasant surprise. - Trout: Comparable entrees are normally $32. The trout was cooked beautifully. However, I felt that the overall dish was a bit dry and needed a sauce. - Meyer Lemon Semifreddo: Desserts are typically $12. This dish was quite interesting and garnished heavily. While tasty, I felt that it had a lot of stuff going on that wasn't necessarily needed. Overall, we had a pleasant dining experience. I don't know if Sepia had anything memorable that I would crave down the line. However, it was a good value and a solid choice for a more professional dinner. read more

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Sepia, the flavors you developed today were excellent. However, when we asked for an entree, you delivered an appetizer, and I also had to stare at a garbage dumpster for the entire meal. It is for these reasons that we have to chop you. We came here for Valentine's Day and there was a set menu for $110 per person which did not show up on their mobile website, so I never even knew the regular menu was not available until we sat down. Not a huge deal because they had some intriguing options and I figured a Michelin starred restaurant would put out some pretty killer food. Flavor wise Sepia definitely delivered, but the portions were embarrassingly small for a $110 meal. The steak "entree" was two small slices of steak. My entire meal was 3 oysters, a small piece of sausage, two small slices of steak, and a piece of chocolate cake. For the most part the ambiance is pretty cool here, but I had a very unfortunate seating arrangement. For the duration of the meal I was staring straight out a window into the garbage alley and the garbage truck was backing up right in front of me and getting loaded from the dumpster. Not ideal when you are trying to eat a fancy meal. Shout out to the bartender because the old fashioneds that I ordered were fantastic, possibly my favorite yet. The drink menu was very hard to maneuver though as the pages went 1,2,3 and then 1,2,3, etc. with no clear indication of where the cocktails started and different wine sections ended. read more

Sepia - The steak "entree" on Valentine's day. More of a light snack - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The private dining area is a perfect place for your next birthday that ends in 5 or 10. It is a nice space for 20-30 people to enjoy and not feel crowded. The menu we had was fixed. I can personally attest to the apple & celery soup-who thinks of these things?-as flavorful, refreshing, and somewhat hearty due to the creamy base. The short ribs were tender and flavorful. The chocolate mousse was the ideal size (small) and texture. It came with thin crisp baked chocolate to add texture to this delectable dollop of chocolate heaven. My friends had beef caarpacio with arugula, cod, and lemon poppyseed cake. I heard rave reviews all around and most plates were clean. Would definitely return. read more

This was tough. We were so excited yo go and try this restaurant. And we loved the ambience and the entrance. Thought it was so special. Unfortunately, once we were seated we were met with one of the rudest waitresses. It was so clear and uncomfortable that she was not in the mood or just irritated that we weren't ordering a bunch of expensive wine? We really wanted to order great food and enjoy it. And the food was really interesting and such special combinations, but service really impacts that because you don't feel welcome.. Lastly, we paid in cash and she hovered, as if to make sure we were going to tip. It was so strange, Especially since you know you didn't give a good service, were you expecting a great tip? We did to 15% because the service was great. for the prices, not an experience I would recommend. read more

This place was amazing. I was looking for a really good restaurant in Chicago and stubbled upon this one online. The host and my server Kevin were spectacular. The food was phenomenal and had my mouth watering. Each flavor complemented one another and when I closed my eyes its as if it was a symphony of food in my mouth. Food shouldn't just be eaten it should be an experience and Sepia did a magnificent job in providing it. read more

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My husband and I had an early reservation here to try some cocktails and appetizers. The bar and lounge space was sleek and hip, with low tables. We sat in the main dining area, which definitely reminds me of upscale 1920's elegance. Our server checked whether we had any plans after Sepia to take into account for timing our order and gave us a thorough rundown of some specials and favorite offerings. Dinner plates range mostly in the $30s/per person. Staff brought us out piping hot rolls and a small pat of butter from the kitchen to start. To eat, we had the house-made charcuterie (5 different meats), which was excellent - treat yo'self and order this. The lamb mortadella, duck liver mousse, and duck prosciutto were a few of our favorite items, though they were all good - we ate the whole thing! We also had the bone marrow and oxtail dumpling, which was one large dumpling. It was fork-tender and tasty, but not worth $16 in my opinion. Their cocktails were also wonderful. My husband started off with the house Old Fashioned, made with saffron and served with a large ice sphere in the glass, and ended with the 'Round Midnight (cognac, scotch, mole bitters, burnt cinnamon) which he says was delicious and surprisingly very smooth. Even I felt like I was sitting at a campfire with the scent of that drink wafting across the table. I had two of the Jules and Jim made with rosemary-infused vodka, Campari, lime, and blackberry - it had the perfect herbaceous hint of rosemary without being overpowering, complemented by the tart citrus. This is a drink I'd love to learn to replicate at home! We would definitely come back and hang out at Sepia's bar again! read more

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My friends and I came here during restaurant week. I was excited for dinner as I have heard many good things about Sepia. I opted for the $44 dinner course instead of the $33 one. All of the dishes were small but I was stuffed by the end of dinner. The rabbit ravioli was delectable. The bone marrow creme caramel was good but it wasn't what I had expected--the bone marrow was lacking flavor and was not as fatty. The pork collar could have been more tender and unmemorable. I finished off with the chocolate mousse cake, which I enjoyed. The wine pairing was okay but the dessert wine was awful as it tasted like medicine. read more

Sepia - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sepia is a low-key hangout spot for professionals working in the West Loop. A hybrid of a speakeasy and lounge playing soft jazz in the background. I've been here on several occasions b/c of its proximity to my office. A couple times for lunch and once for HH. I'm always charmed by the sophistication of the place and the staff's attentive service. Might I add, their chandeliers are gorgeous. Their lunch is around $20 with tip and tax. I've tried their sandwiches and burgers which comes with salad or fries. It's a good deal for the portion and quality. What I really love about this place is the HH. It's M - F from 4pm to 7pm. Fridays guys! They have small bites, cocktails, and wine for $7. Yes, only $7. Bites are decently sized, and make for great snacks. I've tried the shishito peppers and fritters. Can't go wrong with either. And drinks are strong. I think they also have wine flights for $10. You heard me right! That's a bargain at most places, but especially in West Loop. It appears most people who dine here come for business purpose, at least on weeknights. Forming partnerships and striking deals over some food and drinks. I am probably one of the few who just comes and pretends to be fancy drinking my HH cocktails. read more

My friend and I went to Sepia during Chicago Restaurant week and tried the fixed dinner menu. The environment was great, and the service was incredible. Food, although in small portion, was nicely presented and surprisingly filling. I would recommend this place for a specIal occasions such as anniversaries or some other celebration. read more

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Unfortunately, I can't say I was all that impressed by Sepia. We ordered the falafel, swordfish, and the pork tenderloin. While they were far from bad, they were only just fine. Everything tasted exactly how you would imagine it to taste, with portion sizes that would only get you half full. What actually irked me was our server, who left a sour taste in all of our mouths from the very beginning. I asked for cocktail suggestions, and he repeatedly prefaced every suggestion with "As a lady, you will like..." Ok no. You know nothing about me and what my taste preferences are. It would be one thing if he had pointed out the girly fruity drinks after first asking me what kinds of drinks I typically like and I said girly fruity drinks. But it's a whole other thing when he pointed out the girly fruity drinks completely unprompted and made it abundantly clear that he was making these suggestions due to my sex. Because I'm spiteful and like to stick it to the man, I had no choice but to order the most aggressive sounding cocktail, Sound and Fury. The ironic thing is that I actually do prefer girly fruity drinks, but I'll be damned if I fall into someone's sexist stereotype. read more

We experienced a wonderful tasting dinner with friends mid week. Nina was delightful and very informative. The tasting menu was delicious! Having said that, my duck was a bit chewy for me. However everything else was a very flavourful and innovative hit for all of us. Seeing as we are Ukrainian, having Natalia as our server was a very pleasant and welcoming surprise!!Goosefoot is definitely worth a visit! read more

This is a review for lunch. It's a home run. I'm generally harsh on fancy restaurants, but Sepia really hit my expectations. I came for a work lunch, which consisted of a 4-course meal for $42/person. Keep in mind that a party over 8 will require you to call it in and make a $150 deposit. If I'm being honest, the first couple courses. were... forgettable. They weren't really anything special. We were served warm bread, salad, and charcuterie boards family style. Nothing special. Not good or bad, but I guess that's expected of these kinds of dishes. When I got to my entree, the flat iron steak, though. Just wow. I could tell just by looking at it that it was cooked to perfection. I duginto my first bite and was treated to a trip to flavor town. I noticed that on the menu, the steak is only $20 for lunch. In terms of flavor and price, this is quite possibly an unbeatable steak. It was juicy, perfectly red, but still tender enough to cut and enjoy. If I'm being honest, everything at Sepia was just ok, but this steak really makes this restaurant a 5-star experience for me. After the steak, we were treated to 3 types of desserts, which were ok. Basically I think everyone who can should enjoy the lunch steak here. It's great. read more

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Basing this off my experience at other Michelin restaurants: Service was the bomb-diggity - no wonder they can keep that star :) Their Old Fashioned might be one of my favorites in the city. Don't go rogue and get your normal Old Fashioned or even their lesser option. Go big. And if you really love your whiskey, just continue trying all their other bourbon cocktails. End with Irish coffee. Scallops to start melted in your mouth, but I could've gone w/o the pudding. Cheese plate was good - but skippable. The duck was the best part. Juicy, caloric, flavorful, straight to your arteries goodness. Skin, meat - eat it all. Don't stop, and don't share. All the desserts were splendid. They do an amazing job with texture and keeping you surprised. And if you can sit in the round table in the back, do it do it do it. Find friends :) read more

I visited Sepia during restaurant week and would definitely recommend trying it out during this time if you can snag a reservation!  The restaurant itself is tucked away in the West Loop neighborhood and I was able to find street parking right in front of the restaurant which was great given this arctic weather! The atmosphere of Sepia is quite intimate as it is fairly small but tables are spread out giving your party an ample amount of space.  I came here with a group of 4 people with a mission to try as many of the dishes as we could. During this time, you can only order off the restaurant week menu which includes 3 courses for $36 or 4 courses for $48. My friends and I planned on sharing a lot of the dishes so we decided on 2 people ordering the 3 course menu and 2 people ordering the 4 course menu. We were able to try out almost every item on the restaurant week menu by doing this!  My favorite dishes included the duck liver mousse, baked clams, ocean trout and chocolate mousse. I also loved the Congo Square and Sound and Fury cocktails. read more

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Dinner @sepiachicago with colleagues. The food is delicious and never disappoints . Swordfish is an excellent choice read more

Sepia - Sword fish highly recommended - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

king crab chawanmushi was amazing. Everything else was fine. It wasnt too pricey for a michelin star. Im not a big fan of the gelatin dishes. Also not a big fan of being stared at by a waiter the entire time. I know he was there to give "perfect" service by taking plates away as soon as we finished a course but damn. read more

Restaurant week check in $44 for 4 courses dinner. Entree is wine beef shoulder. $20 for the wine flight. Emmmm....I like the decoration of this restaurant. read more

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This is a staple by my office. In the past, the experience has been hit or miss but we went for lunch the other day and everything was delightful. Beet salad was beautiful. The trout was magnificent - perfectly prepared and presented. For dessert, rhubarb which was wonderful. The portions are generally small but perfect for lunch. I will definitely be back. read more

The first time we went to Sepia we were seated at one of the two worst tables in the restaurant. It was right next to a column and hugged in the albumen of all of the other tables. Everyone had a hard time getting to it. Then we forgot to use our $20 Open Table certificate and debated taking the loss because we so disliked the seating arrangement. We returned to Sepia for Sunday brunch where we hoped that it would be less popular. We weren't seated at that horrible table again, but we were still close to the guests on either side of us. Children ran freely around the tables, unrestrained by their grown-ups. The brunch was a pre fixe for about $55/person, not including beverages. The food was good, but I would have expected better for over $100. It goes without saying that the second go around wasn't better than the first. The problem is that Sepia is a nice, classy restaurant with three dollar signs. I have a certain expectation that I'm not going to be squeezed in like a sardine in a can. I want to be able to move my elbows a little when cutting something. I want to enjoy a conversation with my dining partner without being distracted by the babble in my ear. I believe Sepia delivers (or is capable of delivering) excellent food and service but has created a subpar dining experience for the price. This is definitely my soap box, but I feel as if crowding high-paying diners into a restaurant is a strange decision. It's one thing to have communal seating and crowded tables at a popular, inexpensive restaurant where folks aren't paying for an experience. However, in Sepia's case, and for other $$$-$$$$ restaurants, experience is part of the package and dense seating detracts from leisure and conversation. read more

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***Sepia reminds of Palate in Glendale--a nice and approachable restaurant that serves up good, fresh and even upscale food that is noticeably less expensive than other restaurants in its class*** Sepia is located in one of the quieter parts of Chicago in the West Loop. It is in an old building (antique print shop) and has a great exterior as well as a thoughtful interior. While I was not a big fan of the decors at most of the Chicago restaurants I tried, I liked Sepia's design choices (particularly in the bar area). Sepia has a mix of industrial, old-fashioned and contemporary design. There are gray brick walls as well as large steel doors that you might expect to see in a factory or warehouse. The tables/seating are casual and straightforward. There are some older design elements in the room (like antiques, photos) and they come over as nicely placed (and not showy or over the top). Sepia features an upscale lunch with some nice ingredients like scallops and mussels, but their prices are still reasonable. Most of the starters run below $10 while entrees top out at around $19 (with several options in the $15 range). Desserts are priced nicely at $6. The quality of the food, the prices and the way they have taken over an old building and transformed it reminds me of Palate in Glendale (though the team at Sepia has done a much better job with the decor). My starter was the ricotta cavatelli, which came with peas, pancetta, pearl onions, and parmesan (they offer both a starter and an entree size). Even though most of the individual elements were not superb, it was still a very good dish. The cavatelli had a good flavor and was quite addictive. It was a little more doughy than I would have liked, but it was still good. The pancetta was also good. It could have been a little crispier, but it had a good meaty and savory taste. I liked the moist pearl onions. The peas were fresh and good as well while the parmesan was excellent. It was softer and creamier than most parmesan I've had and it had a great sharp flavor that really completed the dish. The sauce for the pasta was a light lemon dressing, which gave the dish moisture without being overpowering or heavy. My entree was the scallops with mustard greens, golden beets and a rhubarb and currant puree. The scallops were really good. They had a nice outside sear with good caramelization. They also had tender and moist centers (the scallops were better and cooked much more appropriately than the ones I had at Naha). The sides were good too. There was some fresh golden beets as well as mustard greens, which did have a distinguishable mustard flavor. The rhubarb and currant puree was a lightly sweet accent. I liked everything about the dish though I have had more satisfying scallop flavor combinations at other restaurants. Still, this was a very good and enjoyable entree. Dessert was good too. It was kind of a German chocolate cake. The cake consisted of somewhat moist chocolate cake layered with pecan cream. It was tasty and the garnishes were great. There was some chocolate sauce and butterscotch as well as crispy (almond tuille-like) pieces on the plate. There was also a good ice cream. The ice cream was creamy but also thick and firm. It was a coconut ice cream and the coconut flavor was not as pronounced as what I have had at other places. I sat at the bar and this may have impacted the service experience. Service was personable and polite (nice and welcoming staff). Food also came out at a good pace. However, attentiveness was a challenge; in the end, it was not that bothersome though it was noticeable. The main dining room was busy and I think when you have a bartender trying to serve bar guests as well as make drinks for the main dining room, it can be difficult. I have seen other places manage this more effectively. Sepia is a good spot because the food is upscale but not overly formal or outrageously pricey. (As I mentioned) in many ways, Sepia reminds me of Palate in Glendale--good, fresh and somewhat surprising food that is significantly cheaper than its competition. Sepia gets busy for lunch and it is a good spot for a more upscale lunch. It also seems like it might be worth trying for dinner. I am not sure what the parking situation is, but like nearby Blackbird, Sepia is not in an area with a lot of congestion. Therefore, you might be able to find street parking easily. read more

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On the two occasions I have been to Sepia, I was in the lounge for drinks. The real beauty of Sepia is not evident until you walk past the bar and enter the dining room and take a glimpse of the private dining room. I have to admit, my first experience at Sepia was not satisfying. I ordered the "You're Welcome" which had veev acai, canton ginger, cassis, and lime. I thought the taste was too straight and boring. On top of that, they did not have the "Hot Buttered Rum" which I was looking forward to. I enjoyed the "Dead of Winter" a little more. The laphroaig rinse added the extra depth I was hoping for. My second experience was much improved. I tried the "Jalisco Kiss" and "Very Final Word". The Jalisco Kiss has tequila, hibiscus syrup, and maraschino. While the Very Final Word has rye, yellow chartreuse, St. Germaine elderflower, lemon juice. These drinks definitely smoothed over my first impression of Sepia. They also have a great array of tea. You can ask for a box holding mini vials of tea which you can sniff before ordering. After you put in your order, they bring out your selection in a tea pot. The lychee and tagerine teas were excellent, especially at cost of about $3.50. read more

Sepia - Jalisco Kiss and The Very Final Word - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wanted to enjoy a little of Chicago's Chef week yesterday, so I chose Sepia. I came here once before for dinner with my dad around my birthday last year, and pricey as it is, can't beat $22 lunch! The place was PACKED. Holy. I guess I'm not the only one with that idea. lol There were certainly not enough staff on board to be able to accommodate the guests in a timely fashion. I ordered a glass of 2004 Riesling to start. Rough day. I placed my order and received my wine, and was half smashed before even the first course arrived. I started doodling in my little notebook (as I'm finding now jotting down notes and quicker and less rude in a restaurant as opposed to being on my phone). 20 minutes later (no kidding - as my doodles were becoming works of art), my soup arrives. Potato and spring onion soup with fresh hearts of palm, and zhoug crisps. The soup has a greenish tinge, and I couldn't quite tell the flavor, though the heat from the zhoug (a very fragrant, hot and spicy herb and chile pepper relish that is like Pesto in consistency) was prominent.... maybe a bit too much to up the game on the otherwise not too exciting soup. It was pretty. But, I wanted to eat it, not display it on my wall later. The whitefish with swiss chard, black beans, jicama, and poblano crema was my main dish. Also, another 20 minute wait. The kitchen certainly needs to prepare better for this type of Chicago event. Had a crispy top, and brunoised onions on one side. The beans were slightly mushy, but the jicama added a great crunch and apple like flavor. Lastly, the lemongrass panna cotta. Petite round of over gelatinized or maybe slightly broken custard. The cilantro syrup was good only in combination with the panna cotta. Three lonely dots on the side of the plate could have been better incorporated. The soft spongy cake base was fluffy and moist, and I enjoyed the honeycomb crystals and tuple for texture. Would I come again? Probably not for lunch. It was okay, but not what I was expecting from a Chicago Chefs week. read more

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What happens when you turn an old 1890 print shop into a Michelin Star restaurant? You get Sepia - no I don't mean the effect you get in photography although the restaurant boasts several portraits highlighting this hue. Sepia is one of my favorite fine dining spots in Chicago thus far! I arrived early for a weekday lunch with a friend and sat at the bar until our table was set. The bartenders were very friendly and made light conversation with us. The interior is pretty mind blowing - the space incorporates pieces from the Chicago's past eras so it has a nostalgic feel to it while being incredibly modern and chic at the same time. Here's what I tried: *Veal agnolotti: this dish was absolutely delicious. The tender pasta was aldente and stuffed with a flavorful and meaty veal mixture served with raw diced vegetables. Additionally, there was a hot veal consumme broth that was poured over the pasta table side which was a nice touch. *Pan seared trout: the fish was perfectly seared with crispy skin and served with smoked potatoes and chiogga beets. What made the dish though was the horseradish sauce that added a kick to the subtle flavors of the fish. *Pork belly sandwich: the portion was generous with the unctuous fatty pork belly and crunchy veggies that cut the richness of the meat. The dish was also served with crispy duck fat frites - how can you go wrong with anything fried in duck fat?? *Coconut pecan cake: this dessert was knock-your-socks-off good! It came garnished with coconut tuile and the cake was incredibly moist and flavorful. Definitely recommend getting this. You won't be disappointed. The service was outstanding. Dishes were always cleared and servers were professional yet friendly. The manager Ben was super accommodating always checking in on us making sure we were having a great experience. Although some say the portions are too small, I'd much rather have a small serving of great food than a huge plate of food that's bland. Quality over quantity! Make sure you check it out! read more

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I was underwhelmed by this establishment. The food was good, the sorbet even better! We came for a work lunch and the service was incredibly slow. It took a decent amount of time just to get water and the dining area was not even full (maybe short-staffed?). I did not feel like I was at a Michelin starred restaurant. read more