Loved our experience NYE at Schwa. Very intimate restaurant (looked to accommodate around 24 or so), and we dug the ambiance - from the decor to the music selection, it was right up our alley. Back of house is also front of house so we loved that we served by the hands that prepared it. Tasting menu was on point - every dish was packed with flavor, with several courses being stand outs. Whether it was because it was fun to eat, or the concept was super cool, or the taste was knocked out of the park, we genuinely enjoyed the entire experience. It's a BYOB establishment, so my husband and I dropped my champagne off earlier in the day. We also dropped off a bottle of Elijah Craig for the back of house. Back of house ended up sharing it with guests to toast at midnight. My husband and I loved that we got to play a part in the NYE celebration. Highly recommend, would dine at again, and would love to bring friends with read more

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Chicago is home to many great restaurants. We are blessed to live here. But Schwa is not only great, it is unlike any other restaurant we've experienced. The uniqueness factor is without rival. Chef Caleb and his talented team are best described as culinary geniuses and artistic prodigies. Their tasting menu is sublime. Prepare yourself for a cacophony of flavors, textures, and combinations. It's gastronomic creativity and imagination at a whole new level. The service is great, the atmosphere is fun, the food is superb, and the experience is one of a kind. Plus it's BYOB, which is icing on the cake. Schwa is a true Chicago treasure, to be cherished and relished, again and again. We're eager to return. read more

Schwa is a unique character on the food scene. It combines a singular vision with a unique operating model: Chefs serve as front and back of house, there's nothing you can spend more on if you wanted (BYOB), and the music vibe and volume appropriate for a dive bar (too loud!). But what matters is the food. And without doubt this is one of the best meals in Chicago combining excellent execution with truly unmatched creativity. Every dish hit, varying from good to among the best of the my life. The plating and way of eating is delightfully original. My only wish is the music were quieter so I could fully hear the chefs and talk comfortably. Best bite ever category - 5 dishes * Quail - The best protein bite I've ever had. So well marinated. Lovely crisp outside. * Waygu - The best beef dish I've ever had, tender and salty. * Cheese - Super rich, lovely, sweet, crispy inside. I could eat this daily. * A la mode - The foie gras ice cream was the best use of the ingredient I've ever had, though I still have deep moral concerns about it. The crisps were lovely. That combination was "best ever" category, but the pie itself pulled the dish down for me. * Soda - Little candy that's out of this world. Great (5/5) - 7 dishes * Trout - Lychee sweetness works so well, really fun to eat * Sablefish - Fish and dip that complement well. * Kaluga - Never had raspberry and mustard, but it works. * Cornbread - Lovely texture * Shrimp blossom - So much going on in a fun way * Ramen - Imaginative presentation involving a tea bag and dry pasta noodles. * Banana - Not sure I need to have banana skin ever again, but a lovely chocolate and banana dessert. Good (4/5) - 2 dishes * Kefir shake - So fun but pulled a little hard in opposing directions * Raviolo - Rich on rich lacking the balance of the others read more

I really have mixed feelings about Schwa. On one hand, the restaurant's vibes are really great and I had a great time celebrating with my friends. On the other hand, the food left quite a bit to be desired and the staff felt rather lukewarm towards our party. Before arriving, I saw all the reviews complaining about the loud music. I found the music to be rather enjoyable and my friends generally agreed, though the genre seemed to jump all over the place. It did make hearing the staff's explanations of each dish extremely difficult; it would've been better if the staff adjusted their speaking volume based on how loud the music was. One great thing about Schwa is that you can BYOB, which I appreciated! Overall, the food was not very memorable. Out of all the courses, the only ones I really enjoyed were the foie gras pastry and the quail. In fact, I loved the quail which had a lovely texture and flavor. The rest were either unmemorable or even bad. To me, the most perplexing course was the ramen. While the concept of the dish is really cool, the flavors of the "noodles" and the tea did not go well together and the "noodle" texture was very bizarre. I love it when restaurants are very experimental with their flavors and textures, but this was sadly a huge miss. I really looked forward to trying the wagyu dish after it was presented, but that it was sadly a bit dry for me and I really didn't like the flavor of the dried kelp in the dish. Given how expensive this meal was and my overall experience, I'm not sure I would come back to give it another try. Food: 3/5 Service: 3.25/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: 3.25/5 read more

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Food was spectacular. Ambience was a unique experience. And service was impeccable. Would definitely go back to celebrate again. read more

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Food is meant to be enjoyed but food can also be an experience and I have never been anywhere that did this quite as well as Schwa. Every dish was both beautiful and delicious and you could see the intentionality behind every decision. I particularly loved both the wagyu and the quail which were probably the best meats I've ever had. As far the experience itself, I can acknowledge it's not for everyone but it was certainly for me. The music is loud but not overwhelming and I felt like they were playing one of my playlists. Really I just had a lot of fun dining here. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday experience and hopefully I can come back for another special occasion soon. read more

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Easy to miss storefront in Wicker Park, but upon entrance you quickly realize why their reservations go quickly, as the minute you pass the threshold you're in the small dining room. The executive chef seats you and introduces himself and the staff, and then you're left to your table with a background of slightly louder music, to the effect of speaking loudly to your table mates and also being able to hear the table next to yours doing the same. The meal progresses well with timing. The food is innovative, technical, and overall tasty but gone is the ceremony, formality and high end service you may be expecting for fine dining. Rather, the chef and staff create a rapport with each dining table, introducing the dishes and even sending you off with a whiskey shot. My absolute favorite dishes of the night were the truffle raviolo and the sable fish course. The apple cider and donut were also a very unique, refreshing, and fun dessert. It's easy to see why this restaurant has thrived for over 20 years and survived the COVID pandemic. Although it may not be my favorite tasting menu ever, it was a fun evening with my sister and the food and ambiance definitely contributed. read more

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Quality staff. Ambience was...interesting for this price point, but loud music in a very unassuming building is Schwa's trademark. The food was the real disappointment. The dishes were artistically displayed, but other than the quail egg and the beef, quite frankly didn't taste great and some dishes tasted bad - the milkshake for example tasted like Chlorox smells. I'm not usually a big fan of tasting menus, and this was not an exception. For $300+ I expected way better, but perhaps my taste buds are just not sophisticated enough to enjoy what Schwa has to offer... read more

By far the worst Michelin I've ever been to. Staff is weird. They're not very polite. I have no idea why they're blasting hip hop and rap music so loudly that I could barely hear my friend or the servers who were explaining every dish to us. The interior is really cheap-looking. My friend and I couldn't stop commenting on how it feels like you're in a prank room and someone's about to tell you that you've been punked. For more than $300 per person.... an absolute waste of money. Do not come here. A waiter literally judged my friend and me for not bringing any wine or alcohol. He asked us multiple times why we hadn't thought to bring liquor because they're a BYOB establishment and he could have it delivered if we wanted to. Maybe we just... don't like to drink while we eat? My friend and I have a theory that this place relies on people being drunk in order to have good reviews. It was an extremely off-putting experience to be questioned so heavily on why we hadn't taken part in BYOB. The food is truly abysmal. Stale crackers. Stale pretzels. Weird combinations of food. I get that creativity is a a factor in high end restaurants, especially ones that are a contender for a star. However, this place... I can't even describe how awful the food is. My friend and I only liked one course out of maybe 10? The plating is strange. Some courses look like they come straight out of a horror movie. There was a really weird ramen course where they had you stick dried "noodles" into some broth, and the noodles instantly turned soggy and stale. They have one course that's a piece of ravioli, and they ask you to take it like a shooter. I took mine first and almost choked because of how much butter and salt I was eating. My friend saw my reaction and asked for a fork, and the waitress actually refused to give her one. Extremely off-putting. Ravioli isn't supposed to be eaten like a shooter? If you wanted your customers to take it like one, then maybe don't have half of the bowl be butter and salt? Yeah, worst use of our ~$600. read more

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All the way back in 2008, I read a GQ profile of Schwa chef/owner Michael Carlson. It detailed, in vivid fashion, how this tiny little punk fine dining restaurant was Chicago's toughest reservation, mostly because Carlson is an organizational mess who does everything himself. Sixteen years later, I got to finally visit the restaurant that has been the subject of many daydreams. It was not a perfect experience. But it still deserves a 5-star grade. That sounds contradictory, but the few things that bothered me in the moment have faded. What is clear is that Schwa is a singular restaurant that serves more memorable food than a variety of 2- and 3-star Michelin joints I've been to. And that makes it worthwhile, even with a few hiccups. So, fine: The dining room is ugly. I don't mind that it's a tiny box. But the black paint and oddball pattern on the walls does not match the creative-but-elegant, focused cooking in the kitchen. And the service: My gift of craft Irish whiskey to the kitchen barely got any acknowledgement. And while it was great for Chef Caleb to come out and have a shot (a different whiskey) with the dining room, the dinner wasn't exactly the jokey, convivial experience that I had read so much about. But the food: For $200, it was a beautiful progression with just one glaring miss. The menu lists 15 "courses," but several came out in pairs, reflecting a theme in ingredients and flavors (see the apple in the quail and foie "a la mode" dishes). Some might think it's tired, but I still LOVE the raviolo filled with truffle, egg yolk and butter -- a signature dish that Carlson derived from mentor Grant Achatz's (Trio, Alinea) "Black truffle explosion." The aerated "gumbo" foam with a delicate chip with fresh crab was immense. The one glaring miss: The strawberry pairing with wagyu (two tiny little bites of meat) and the "kataifi ramen." The intention was for the fried filaments of kataifi to hydrate in a hot broth, but the end result was a bite of stale (yet soggy) "noodles" in a lukewarm pool of liquid. A single bite of composed kataifi with a shot of broth on the side would've worked much, much better. I will admit that I felt a little hungry after the meal -- it's delicious, but not particularly filling compared to some fine-dining spots. That being said, this is a hugely ambitious menu made by some talented hands. tl;dr = Fine-dining restaurants come in two flavors: The ones you'll remember in two decades, and everything else. Schwa is rough around the edges but the memorable food shines and the unique environment is part of a fun story I'll be retelling for years. read more

I made reservations for a midweek dinner here. Upon entry you're face the kitchen, with no hostess stand for foyer. They ask for your first name and sit you down immediately. I will say this place is like no other Michelin star restaurant I've ever been to. No white table cloth here. They're actually black haha. They do blast the music but the music was great. They were bumping NY State of Mind by Nas and some Tech N9ne music. It made it difficult to hear the staff sometimes when they were describing the courses. You can definitely come in this place and be yourself. It's very casual and most importantly the entire staff was great. Very friendly and on point through our entire meal. It's also BYOB and they don't charge a corkage fee since it's includes in the service fee when you prepay. As for the food, it's a 14 course tasting menu with some dishes being served at the same time each counting as one of the courses. I'll describe some of the dishes but I don't want to spoil any special presentations to anyone. They start you off with "float" and served with "Uni." I'm not big on ginger, especially ginger beer but this paired together this was a delicious way to start your dinner. Raviolo-quail egg, truffle and ricotta. This one was delicious. A little salty but amazing flavor. Crab-a gumbo with hoja santa. A little bit of heat, but not too over powering. Sturgeon-perfecltly cooked, texture was great. Caviar-served on top of an apricot. This was one of my favorite dishes. I love apricot and caviar paired perfectly with it. It also had amazing texture. Foie-This was my favorite dish. It was served on top of a mole and very delicious. It was also served with "quail" and was pretty tasty well. Wagyu-served with matsutake, and battera. The wagyu was very tender and juicy. Perfectly cooked medium rare. Ramen-probably one of my least favorite of the night. The broth is made out of tea. Cheese-Ice cream made out of cheese, and served in a waffle cone Tea-banana kefir, amaro and chocolate served with "nilla," this was good. You dip the cookie just like you would with milk and cookies. And the last one was "fluff." My wife loved this one. It was too sweet for me. Cotton candy served with white chocolate and tonka at the bottom And then we took shots of whiskey at the very end of our meal with the staff. Overall I was really impressed with their service and the food presentation. So far every Michelin star restaurant has been a try once type of place. Schwa is the first one I've been to that I can definitely say I'm willing to return. read more

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Schwa is a trip -- the room is plain, but the food is anything but. Every course is inventive, playful, and seriously delicious. It's fine dining without the fuss, and easily one of the most fun and different meals in Chicago. read more

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When you love fine dining, you really appreciate how truly difficult it is to stand out. Schwa stood out from the second of walking in. The vibe is intimate and cool, hip hop music is loud, but not too loud. Immediate greetings are informal and friendly. There's a small staff of maybe 6, and they're tattooed and wearing shorts. While knowledgeable, they're not overly performative about delivering food. BYOB was a fun way to tailor your experience, though I wish they had guides for pairing sent with the reservation confirmation. There was hardly a miss in the entire dinner. From the cocktails to each delicious canapé to the fish and meat courses, it was delicious. The ramen was an excellent concept, but the noodles were crunchy, the steeping liquid needed to be much hotter. All in all, an excellent experience and one of the few fine dining experiences I would do again! read more

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Schwa is fun. If you don't like rap, are not comfortable in intimate dining room, are not so available to creative fine dining probably not the place for you. The staff is not accommodating to utensil requests or any alternations to the presentation of dishes, they take it personally. If you are able to relax and allow them to create for you, you are very likely to have a wonderful meal and experience. They are not your typical restaurant and they don't care, that's the entire point. read more

Amazing dinner and I felt the vegetarian option was better than the regular. The service was some of the best I've had and even though I brought some wine, the chefs recommended what to drink with each course. Really well thought out execution and delivery of all the flavors of each course. Incredible food and well worth the price! read more

Great service, experience, and thought-out food. Loved ending the evening with a complimentary shot! read more

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Amazing experience! Love the gritty atmosphere and music. Each course was outstanding. The chef and servers did a great job in presenting and explaining the dishes. My only comment for improvement is to be a little louder during the explanations of the dishes. While I loved the music and atmosphere you had to really focus on the explanation of the dishes. read more

What an amazing anniversary experience! We tried their tasting menu and it was absolutely delicious! I mentioned before going that my wife is gluten sensitive and they went above and beyond to make every dish gluten free! Some of them even tasted better than the original! It's also cool that it is BYOB so you can bring whatever you like and make your own cocktails if you choose to! The atmosphere at Schwa was vibrant and energetic, the chefs brought out the dishes themselves and explained everything very well. We had some good laughs with them and overall a good time! I can't wait to go back read more

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Schwa was amazing, starting with that. I'll say that there were a few apsects of dining there that I think could have been better, but I'll get there below. I'll go as far as saying that among the coursed (price fixe) dinners - They had the best actual-tasting food. Some places you get a course and think "that was new, unique, and I enjoyed it.. but I'm not really sure I'd have a whole plate of it" .. Schwa was: "this tastes awesome, gimme more!" For service: I mean it was as expected, which is precise and great. They matched the personality of our table (as I observed the differences between other tables), they spaced the courses perfectly. We had several visits from the head chef, and each servers instructions were fun and unique. Food: I won't go 1 by 1, I'll try to be concise (not easy to be short though haha) 1. I loved this - so you get an oyster, but instead of slurping it down its on a fried tortilla of sorts, so you nibble it. BUT THEN, the next course was this incredible ravioli and that was instructed to slurp down (like an oyster). Really creative spin. 2. We had a fried fish that also came with some other type of fish - thinking I'd not like it and the looks were deceiving (no idea what it was called). Yummm it was just the perfect crispy fried texture. 3. Even the caviar was so good, and i don't like caviar. It was mixed with sweet jam. Basically the aspect of sweets they mixed into several courses were new to this type of dining, and again super creative. ..If there was any dish I would put at the bottom, maybe the beef. It was still great, but kind of just standard steak to me. Here is where I'll throw some thoughts: Is it worth $200 a person? To me yes. However the overall meal was (1) just under 2 hours, and seemed somewhat short. (2) Some vibe or character of the experience seemed lacking, can't put a finger on it, but just seemed like it started, ended, and we left. There needed to be more. (3) I wish it was a full restaurant and more of a 'production', as opposed to our quiet and solo table. Again can't put a finger on it, just missing something within the realm of "show" on top of the courses themselves. All in all it was incredible and I'd love to go back. BYOB is a huge factor as well. read more

Schwa - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great experience at Schwa. The food is innovative and exciting but it was chef Carlson and his team that made the night truly memorable. They were so cool and the passion was evident. Call ahead a day or two in advance to get wine pairing recommendations and bring a six pack for the staff. read more

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Catching up on Yelp reviews and I visited Schwa back in August for a celebration dinner. I was able to prepay a reservation on Tock for a Thursday night at 7pm about 2-3 weeks out. Reservations are for 2 or 4 people. This was my first time doing a fine dining tasting menu as it's not really my cup of tea IMO, but I was down to try a new thing instead of going to my typical Chicago steakhouse. As everyone else says with other Yelp reviews, don't arrive too early as it's an extremely small place that seats about 10 people and there is really no place to stand besides outside. We arrived a few minutes before and were seated immediately. Ambiance was dark with black table cloth and they played hip hop music. I thought that acoustics of the restaurant were incredible. Yes it was loud and loud enough where you can't hear the table next to you, which is extremely close. However, it wasn't so loud that you can easily have a conversation with your dining partner. Very cool acoustics overall! Also, Schwa is BYOB and they don't charge a corking fee. This is a great place for a casual sit down and I would not recommend for a business meeting unless everyone in the party is down to go. The tasting menu was 14-courses. Like the Navy Federal Credit Union TV commercial, all of the courses were tiny food. However, everything was extremely flavorful, creative, and fun. My favorites were the Quail and Foie as the sauces were insanely good. The Raviolo was very cheesy so it had amazing flavor. The Wagyu and Ramen was one of the coolest and fun dishes I have ever seen. The Fluff for dessert was amazing as well! I thought all of the dishes were good to great and I definitely had favorites. I will admit that I felt hungry after the meal. I thought the coolest thing was how the chefs were also the servers. So they brought out the food and you can ask them any questions. It's funny that I consider myself a foodie, yet I had no clue what they were saying as I really don't know the food industry. It's like trying to speak to a doctor or lawyer or an industry where they are an expert, but you don't know anything about. The tasting menu took about 2-3 hours. Price was about $265/person after taxes/tip. Expensive, yes. Well worth the money, totally! I thought the laid back atmosphere and the experience was well worth it. I still don't think fine dining is my cup of tea, but it was great to try something new instead of my typical steakhouse celebratory dinner. Would I go back? I would go back if someone I knew really wanted to go, but I would like to try another fine dining restaurant to see how it would compare. Schwa was definitely amazing and I highly recommend it! read more

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Sadly I cannot recommend Schwa. The really loud music is simply annoying and not edgy. The staff's explanation of the dishes was uninspired. My wife went home and had pizza. There's more, but I'm not trying to blast them too hard since it seems some people like it. I hope they take note. read more

I wasn't prepared for this and it wasn't for me. I was put off upon entering and being in the middle of a room with people seated all around. The immediate discomfort wasn't soothed by the loud music and in turn, ingredients being yelled upon dish delivery. It was overwhelming. The food was very creative but somehow its fussiness didn't match the rebellious vibe of the ambiance (minus not being offered utensils for some dishes). And you can't "shoot" ravioli like an oyster. Too salty, too firm, too big. read more

Amazing spot for date night and if you want to really experience food with a unique tasting menu this is the spot! It's fun and the chefs here really do an amazing job. read more

Schwa - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely fantastic meal for a tasting menu. The pace was maybe a little quick since the pandemic (this was my third time through in 3 years). Overall each dish was executed perfectly. The flavors and textures match well. Not pictured were a few other courses when I was too in the zone. They sprinkle in a few pallet cleansers. The staff are very helpful. The environment is laid back with the best beats. The vibe is my favorite of the Michelin star restaurants. Also it's BYOB!!!! And you might get a toast with the staff if you're lucky. I will for sure be back. read more

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Went to Schwa to celebrate birthdays with friends. This is fine dining done like no other. These unique dishes are made approachable by the chill down to earth staff. Don't expect any fluff here, just delicious dishes. Huge perk- it's BYOB and they don't charge a corking fee. Great for a unique date night, special event or celebration. read more

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Schwa is one of my favorite restaurants in the US. I love that the food is so creative but is served with zero pretense - served by the chefs, while listening to hip hop, and you can even go into the kitchen and talk with them if you want. And since it's BYOB, all of the cost of entry goes to the food you get - everything is the highest quality. I recently went with one of my good friends and we had a stellar meal - on par with every time I've visited. I will always make time to visit Schwa when I'm in Chicago. read more

Schwa - dessert ice cream with pretzel stick - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's definitely unassuming because it looked like it was closed from the outside, but the inside is a vibe. It's dim and there's loud music which was nice at first, but then my husband and I could barely hear ourselves speak. We were straining our voices. It's a small space so when we first walked in, we felt like we were interrupting dinner service. Staff is super nice and well versed in the food they're serving. The chef is really nice too and introduced himself when we sat down which was pretty cool. 5 stars for service. The presentation of the first dish was super cool and I was hopeful for the rest of dinner, however, I found that only one or two of the dishes from the entire course spoke out to me. I thought most of the dishes were overly salty, but my husband said only a couple were. Food was only okay and definitely not worth the price. Overall, I didn't enjoy Schwa as much as I hoped I would. read more

Very unassuming for a Michelin star restaurant. It's BYOB. They play hip-hop music. Your sous chefs are also your servers. The chef takes shots with you. Don't expect a host stand. No coat stand or closet specially when you go during the winter in Chicago. Overall, food was really good. Very well thought out. You'll pay first in order to secure a reservation. After $250 (includes tax and tip), I still left feeling hungry. read more

Schwa - Bread and butter - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was very good. Quail and wagyu were the best! Good music, a lot of 90s-00s rap which seemed odd for a restaurant like this. Service was great they explain each dish like most multi course meals. BYOB!!! We brought a bottle of red and white to try with different dishes and the waiter recommended which fit each dish. Expensive but worth it, great for a date! read more

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I had a unique and wonderful behind the scenes look at this restaurant and what a wonderful group of people Michael found and put together. Enjoy read more

Really fun experience dining at Schwa - the BYOB makes this a blast with a group. We had the 9 pm seating, and it's a really interesting set up - only 5 total tables, feels like a hole in the wall from the outside. The staff was super friendly. Overall the food was unique and generally tasty, but definitely left feeling hungry and like it may not have been worth the price as a few dishes were not great. read more

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I decided to go here at Schwa for dinner. It was the most exciting food experience I've had in a long time. Their chef, sous chef, and line cook were all extremely kind and knowledgeable. All of them are skilled and well-trained. My favorite bites were the gravy biscuit in the first course and the pretzel ice cream in the penultimate course. Everything was nice and memorable. The only problem was their decorations, it but hope they will improve it and pick the good and elegant decorations and designs. I loved my dining experience at Schwa and I hope to be back one day soon! read more

Superb food, really unique, flavorful, and savory. We try to visit as often as we can because the food is that good. Service is thoughtful and friendly. BYOW or go dry. Be mindful that if you haven't been here before, it can be very loud because people are having such a great time. read more

Went here for nice dinner after all the restaurants started opening up post covid lock down. The restaurant handled everything very well, everyone was spaced apart and staff was very clean. Now on to the meal! Everything I had was delicious! I want to say the popsicle (grape) was very cool and unique. The Raviolo and gnocchi were my favorite bites and the Cheddar was also sooo good! read more

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When it comes to your Michelin rated Chicago restaurants, I must say that Schwa is the least "assuming" (at least when you first arrive), which makes me love this spot even more. Over the years, Schwa has stuck to its roots. Don't expect the chefs who double as waiters to do anything more than prepare a delicious experience and present it to you. Bring your own booze, and bring some for the kitchen. Schwa will provide a one of a kind experience, different from any other Michelin spot in Chicago. The restaurant is cozy, with a grungy vibe and a small tiny bathroom located in the kitchen. They bump old school rap/hip-hop the entire time, and the chefs will take shots with you if you're into taking the experience to the next level (which I recommend - but again, bring them the alcohol, don't assume shots with the chefs if you don't). The menu changes, not sure how frequently but both times I've visited Schwa I have loved almost every dish, and have licked every plate/bowl/utensil clean. I won't share any details on what I loved/liked, as everyone's taste buds are different, you don't have a say in the menu, and you should go in completely blind and with an open mind. Bring a white and a red of your choice (in addition to what you bring the chefs), pair things accordingly with what is in front of you and expect an experience unlike any other. read more

Food was fantastic! Had been an a little nervous because I had heard of controversial news about this place, but our service was just fine and we had a great experience! The meat option and vegetarian option were both nice. For a tasting menu place, felt similar to EL Ideas because of the edgier vibe and byob offering. This place is much smaller and darker though, so better for a more intimate vibe. (If going in the winter time, go exactly on time because they have no space for you to wait in doors for your reservation time. We watched a few patrons who got there early get asked to wait outside or come back even though their assigned table was empty.) read more

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Finally made it out to Schwa for dinner last night. I'm glad I did, too, because I think the street knowledge on this place differs from the actual experience. Yes, you are in a "take-it-or-leave-it", pre-paid, Michelin one-star, loud, over-the-top tasting menu fine dining space with some solid hip-hop trying to compete with everyone having a big party (diners AND the restaurant staff). But if you are into many of these things at other restaurants, you'll be fine here, as long as you are comfortable dropping $420 for two people to eat a great meal. That said, this works well for my wife and I; the people-watching was excellent, and there was a great vibe with the music, the dish presentations, and the fact that I brought a great bottle of champagne and another bottle of red to share between the two of us and the kitchen. But while sitting there last night, I was already thinking through the kinds of people who I would NEVER bring to this place. In terms of the review: my wife said it best, "when the dishes work, this is some of the best food I've had all year...when they don't, they really don't!" From our list of 14 courses on the card given to us post-meal, there were two dishes that I thought were essentially a miss, and then one (the Arnold Palmer that kicked off the meal) that was cool in terms of presentation, but some of the options on the green didn't work as well. But for the other 11? Wow. The caviar, the black cod, the raviolo, the sweetbreads, and the three-dish wagyu round (wagyu plus "bread and butter") were all fantastic. One of the desserts, a palate cleanser, missed, but the second one (apricot) was incredible. Yes, some of the dishes are heavy on the salt, butter or both. In fact, I thought I was having a heartattack while eating the raviolo...but when I realized that I wasn't dead, I realized that in fact, I was in (food) heaven. And since we never have salt at home--basically eliminated since we have had children--salt is almost like a special treat for us, as long as it's in moderation. And that music? Well, if you love hip-hop (not sure if this is the theme every night), you will be right at home. By the time a Blackalicious song was playing, I thought my wife was going to get up and start dancing. Again, not for everyone, but for us, parfait! I'm not sure I can afford to go back (we went to Temporis last week, so in the last eight days we have dropped about $1200 on only two dinners), but if someone else is paying, I look forward to a return visit! read more

These are uncertain times, but amongst these times some of our favorites restaurants are still feeding us albeit in a different manner. So in support of our local restaurants, my roommate and I decided to eat out once or twice a week. This week, we picked Schwa for dinner. They had set pick up times and ran pretty spot on to those times. It's a small space, but they made it possible to practice social distancing. They had music playing while you waited. The staff was super nice and awesome. The service was fairly quick. The food was amazing. When things open back up, I can't wait to actually eat there. What we got po boys! Country Steak po boy - amazing, decent sized steak, still a bit of crunch Shrimp po boy - good sized shrimp (they big ones, but not too big BBQ chips - homemade deliciousness with good flavor Salt & Pepper chips - simple, crispy and light TLDR: the portion sizes looked a bit small, but it was actually the perfect amount of food. perfectly filling and so delicious. give their to-go po boys a try and dine in when things open back up. can't go wrong with anything you order. read more

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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