This newest addition to the Warehouse District is likely to blow you away with its innovative drink and food menus, great service and ambiance that still has me thinking about it. Went here for dinner last night and I was impressed! Every aspect of our visit from making the reservation (very accommodating for a last minute reservation on a Saturday night) to being greeted warmly by the hostess when we arrived to the final nightcap at the bar said that this place wants me as a valued guest. We grabbed a seat at the bar to have a pre-dinner drink (kudos to Peter who heads up the bar for his innovative drink list and perfectly made martinis!) and took a look around. The lounge alone would be enough to make me come back. Cool tile on the floor, paneled walls and a view of the world outside beckons people to linger over one of the vintage/classic inspired cocktails. (I'm guessing on the vintage but they had names like drinks in a classic movie- Sidecar, Pimm's cup, etc.) We were quickly seated in the center of the dining room which, while not a huge room, had several different seating configurations including a cool back table that I felt would be great for a dinner meeting or a night out with the girls. If you go, check out the drop crystal chandeliers- if left alone they might have made the space appear too formal- but they were encased in a "sphere" which made them seem modern and interesting. We started with one of their flatbreads (lamb sausage and tomato) which was delicious and our server told us that the sausage was made in house. We shared a few other appetizers of which the soft shell crab was my favorite. As for entrees- try the pork chop or the duck- they were both delicious and for a side-the potatoes in "duck fat" (wasn't too sure about that) were amazing! Entrees prices seemed reasonable around $25 or so. Moving on to the wine list- while they were out of our first choice- the server quickly came up with a couple of alternatives and the Burgundy that we landed on was a perfect pairing with our dinner. Another nice thing? You didn't have to spend a fortune as most bottles were under $70. Service was friendly and helpful from the top down. The owner Emmanuel (sp?) stopped by several times throughout the evening to thank us for coming and to ensure everything was going smoothly. The service team was also friendly and efficient and offered up some great suggestions. All in all? Sepia will go on my list of places to encourage friends to try. Impeccable service, great food and drink all in a lovely surrounding. Sounds like a winner to me. read more

So, the backstory is that I was sick on my actual birthday, forcing us to reschedule my original birthday dinner at BOKA. I knew I wanted a Michelin-started restaurant and BOKA was booked, so we were very happy to find Sepia had a 7:30 slot on a Saturday, only a few days following my birthday. When placing the rez, my boyfriend specified that it was my birthday and he requested acknowledgment of that for dessert. We found street parking nearby, but there was a two-hour limit. Even though we ended up exceeding that time, we were lucky enough not to get a ticket! Atmosphere: It has a classy industrial theme, if that makes any sense. There were really beautiful fancy-looking lights and mirrors, too. The noise level felt a little higher than I would have preferred, which is probably because our table was very close to the one next to us. We could hear the table's entire conversation, which detracted a little from the classy romance we wanted. Food: Complimentary bread with jam and butter: divine. We practically inhaled the stuff. It was served on what looked like a slab of wood. Smoked rainbow trout: Exquisite. Not fishy-tasting. Came with a beautiful presentation of small amounts of Swiss chard, new potatoes, beets, dill, and lemon. I had zero regrets about this baby. It was a real treat and just as good as the magazines/reviews claimed. Extras: Our waiter brought us minuscule eggplant bites and merengue after our two dessert. What a great addition! It made us feel especially well taken care of. Dessert: I don't even remember what it was exactly--some kind of pumpkin dessert with sage ice cream. It was yummy, but (clearly) not especially memorable. Our second "birthday" dessert was a standout, complete with chocolate and marshmallow. Service: It was a mixed bag--both excellent and questionable. They wished me Happy Birthday at the hostess stand when we arrived (which I found even more impressive because I wasn't the one who made the rez). Coat check was very professional and friendly. In fact, the guy even put the coat on for me before we left. That's service! Our waiter had an awesome personality; he was funny, warm, and happy to explain dishes to us. However, he wasn't around much. Once, he offered bringing more bread to us, we agreed that we wanted it, then he disappeared and the bread never came. Toward the end, we ordered a dessert, but there was no acknowledgement of my birthday. Our waiter appeared 10 minutes later, apologizing saying there was a mixup in the kitchen, and brought a whole other dessert, complete with a candle and cursive writing "Happy Birthday." Overall, this was a really special dinner that I'll forever hold in my memory. This is probably the fanciest dinner I've ever had, so it was fitting I would come here for my 25th birthday, a very special occasion. I do think Sepia is capable of getting the full five stars from me; it is deserving of it's Michelin star. However, the service was a little off the evening we came here and the tables were too close together, the only reason I reduced a star. The food was really delicious. If I'm ever lucky enough, I hope to return again someday! read more

See all

Why Sepia blew it with me!. Not too long after having a five star experience there, I had gone back with an old friend from out of town and his new lady friend. It was a Monday night and we had an 8 pm reservation. We had gotten there less than 10 minutes after 8, and we're told that we couldn't be seated because they had just sat the 8 pm seating and the kitchen was slamned (in 10 minutes?). Made no sense. I said "you took the reservation for 8 pm but now are telling me you can't honor it"? They concurred. I said "I see an empty table for 4". They said "oh yes, that's your table, we just can't seat you and we'll let you know when we can." So now me and my guests are being inconvenienced because they are not honoring their accepted reservation. They asked us to wait at the bar and they world seat us shortly. We were still cool, obliged and had a drink. Well, almost 40 minutes later we were seated at our table which had been empty since we arrived. On three occasions I asked when we could be seated and kept being told a few more minutes, or " WE'LL let you when" (in other words, stop bugging us) and became testy at my requests to know when we could be seated. 40 minutes! Come on! You world think that after making us wait 40 minutes to be seated at our available table that they would at least offer to pick up our drinks for us, but no such decency occurred. Had we known we were to wait 40 minutes at the time, we would have left. Once seated and now quite hungry, we sat there for another 10+ minutes without anyone acknowledging us, bringing us bread, menus, anything. Finally I saw the hostess walk by and ask her for bread and she got us a basket. Not an experience I expect from a restaurant of Sepia s caliber and not for the money we pay for our experience. 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

See all

Special occasion dining has to nail the following criteria for me: atmosphere, service, cocktails, the meal, presentation, and dessert. Sepia came in with a near-perfect score. To celebrate my dad's 60th birthday, I knew I needed to find something elegant, current, interesting, but not pretentious or trendy. Sepia was recommended to me by a friend, and from the moment we stepped inside and saw the exposed brick walls, vintage photographs, and mesh-encased chandeliers, I knew we were in a good place. It is housed in an old 1890 print shop, and the old vs. new details are in perfect balance. The cocktail list is inventive and worth a thorough reading. I indulged in the Fresh Fig sidecar that was refreshing and flavorful, and an excellent palate-teaser to start to our meal. The menu is seasonal and always changing, so take these recommendations as a guide rather than a checklist. We started with the Flatbread with Merguez sausage, Eggplant and Mint that was hearty yet light, and wonderfully flavorful. I had the Crispy Poached Duck Egg which was a beautiful and elegant dish, with lots of runny golden yolk encased in a crispy outer shell, complimented by the earthy flavors of aparagus, chanterelles, and spring onions. Including plenty of bread to sop up all of the goodness was a thoughtful choice - these are dishes that warrant getting every last drop. (see pictures) For my main course, I had to have the Pork Porterhouse, having read so much about it in the reviews. Wow. It was definitely one of, if not THE best preparations of pork that I have ever had. Juicy, flavorful, tender - it was like pork should always aspire to be. The bed of grits and cherries and greens were a great compliment. The portion was enormous, but I couldn't leave one morsel on the plate. We shared the duck fat fried potatoes, which were as rich and good as you would imagine. Desserts were the only thing that I might call lacking, but not enough to take any stars away from this review. I had the blueberry cobbler with sweet corn ice cream, caramel corn, and lemon shortbread cookie. It was certainly creative, but unfortunately the flavor was a little bland and did not live up to the description, with the exception of the sweet corn ice cream which was great. All in all, a fantastic experience, and a place that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to both visitors and Chicago locals. I look forward to my next meal there, hopefully sometime soon! read more

See all

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

Rather on the spendy side of dining out, two entrees with two sides (and no appetizers or drinks) was $100. That said, it was delicious! Our servers were all very attentive and knew the menu, though they seemed quite eager to add alcohol to the tab, which we consistently refused. The porterhouse pork chop was massive - at least two inches thick - and was served on a bed of grits. Perfectly cooked, it was tender and flavorful. The braised pork ribs were excellent, served with red cabbage and spatzele. The menu seems to change based on what's available, so if they don't have the duck-fat fried potatoes, you'll be missing out. More like really thick potato chips, they are absolutely excellent. Would I return? Probably not. I was a little surprised by the price. read more

Date night here at the Sepia can probably run you around $200 or more. The drinks alone are like $15. And the entrees run around $30-40 or more. But they do have some quality entrees. We had the chicken and chicken sausage and the duck plate. Very nicely prepared. Our waitress was super nice and super cool. And I like this part of town since it's not too busy and there is plenty of street parking. Small bar with a decent wine selection. Cocktails were pretty good. 1 star Michelin in 2014. 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

See all

This place was utterly disappointing. The service was good, the wine list was not bad, but the food was not very good. Essentially, the food was composed of simple items with simple flavor profiles that were overdone in an attempt to make them look upscale. None of the food stood out. It was just whatever. read more

See all

Underwhelming. And salty. Came here to kick off restaurant week and it was more of a putter. The ambiance is nice, with antiqued mirrors (I'm a fan) and classy interior. Servers are polite. But the food... it's good but nothing to write home about. My friend and I together went shared items like the pork pate, the octopus carpaccio, the clams, and sauerbraten. Most of the food was overly salted (to a point where I wanted to tell the server) and I felt the remaining items were not as flavorful as I expected. I highly recommend avoiding the sauerbraten... the texture and taste of the meat was not delicious. Overall, it's okay. We came here to check out the Michelin-rated restaurant and we both agreed we were rather disenchanted. read more

Pretty packed for a Thursday evening, which is always a good sign. I was also happy to see that the drinks menu were not overwhelming. The 3-stars are based on my opinion of the food. Star of the dish was the Squid dish. It tasted like a healthier spam and I love seafooood! Then, the chicken...... Made simple on a bed of collard greens. Expected more pizzazz in the entree, but maybe I just made a poor selection. EVERYTHING else on the menu... doesn't matter (dessert, middle course, etc). read more

Sepia - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

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

Sepia is a beautiful restaurant that offers great food and excellent service. We came here for my girlfriend's birthday, and we were glad we went. To start, we ordered the foie gras royale, which is a custard you spread onto pieces of brioche. The royale also included a sour cherry gelée and hazelnuts. It was a visually stunning dish. While it was good, it wasn't my favorite dish of the evening, mainly because the foie gras flavor was inconsistent. In successive bites, it was rich and aromatic and then overpowered by the gelée. If you love fish, order the skate wing. My girlfriend ordered it, and she definitely made a great choice! It was a hearty cut, almost resembling a piece of meat. The skate wing was perfectly cooked. The fresh garnish of spring onion custard, fava beans, and seaweed rounded out the dish very nicely. I went with the tea smoked duck breast, which was also very good. Just like the skate wing, the duck breast was perfectly cooked. I loved the tea smoke flavor on the duck, but it was just a tad too delicate. Finally, to finish our meal we had to get the oatmeal coconut cake, which came with pumpkin, maple ice cream, and granola. Our server made the perfect recommendation! This looks to be their signature dessert so don't hesitate to order it. All the flavors and textures are right on! Overall, the restaurant is deserving of its Michelin star, which it has received each year the guide has been published for Chicago. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and I enjoyed its ambience. The food was delicious and expertly plated though it was just a few pieces away from taking our culinary experience to the next level. The service was top notch. Our server was very knowledgeable and made us feel relaxed during our meal. If you're in the West Loop, definitely check out Sepia! read more

Sepia - Skate wing in the foreground. Tea smoked duck breast in the background. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The many wonderful reviews are not the reasons I just had to go to Sepia. It wasn't even the mouth-watering menu that put this spot on my 2010 Must-Dine-There hit list. It was the bangin' remix of Lady Day's God Bless the Child, which is playing on the website, that sealed the deal for me. A good friend who knew I wanted to visit Sepia, brought me here on a busy Friday evening. As I walked up the stairs and absorbed the sexy, sultry ambiance and laid-back crowd, I knew it was going to be a good night. We were seated immediately, I grabbed the drink menu and was instantly flummoxed. So many delicious looking cocktails, what's a girl to do? The Transatlantic--a bewitching concoction of scotch, gin, cassis, sherry, grapefruit juice and long pepper bitters--primed my taste buds for all the deliciousness that was to come. My dining companion had a whiskey sour which he said was great. Our friendly and knowledgeable server came over, gave us the run down and we proceeded to appetize it up with the voluptuously tender and flaky sea scallops and bone marrow creme caramel with mushroom jam. I was really hesitant to try this dish--I mean...bone marrow??? But I was pleasantly surprised at the scrumptiously creamy goodness of it. For a main course I had the halibut with the artichokes, littleneck clams and ramp green cavatelli. The light and flaky halibut was seasoned perfectly and the accompaniments were every bit as savory. My friend had the scrumptious duck leg confit with spinach, white beans, duck heart and rhubarb gastrique. A bottle of champagne was the perfect sidekick to our mouth-watering meal.The lack of room in our stomachs made it impossible to try the white cheddar grits or have dessert, but there is a plan in the works to check them out very soon. Sepia is a class act with friendly, attentive service and unforgettable food. A new fave! read more

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

I'm giving Sepia a review based on my experience during restaurant week. I came here with a friend for lunch for restaurant week and ordered the tagliatele with duck sugo, braised pork collar sandwich, and the ginger lime parfait. The tagliatele was flavorful, and I thought it was done very well (although a bit on the heavy side). I've never had duck sugo/ragu before- but now I'm a big fan! The pork collar sandwich was also delicious: thinly sliced pork collar with an apple and cabbage slaw. Sweet, savory, slightly acidic, and it worked beautifully. The ginger lime parfait was more of an ice cream and it was a great ending to the meal. Not too heavy, and drizzled with a mango coulis and a coconut crumble that added nice texture. The service here was spot on- the staff was very knowledgeable and professional and took great care of us. The decor and ambiance at Sepia is amazing. Comfortable yet posh, and very chic. I hope to come back very soon. Well done!! read more

See all

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

See all

When I come across a 5-Yelpstar experience in life, I just can't wait to go back home to share the good news with the rest of the Yelpworld! And I would love to publish this wherever I can, but Sepia is a true gem. I'm researching venues to host a board dinner this coming week and of all the places I visited (to check out service, food, ambiance), decided to truly test-drive Sepia by dining here with my friends (research assistants). First, the service of Jay and Jared was absolutely wonderful. From the greeting as you walk in from a snowy night to the offer to check in your coats, question regarding cocktails or dinner to conversation and attention once seated - all were meticulously genuine and perfect. Our server, in the midst of serving another table, even took a minute to stop by to introduce himself and let us know he'll be another couple of minutes but he has our bread coming out. He continued to give us updates on timing of each of our courses and seemed truly invested in making this a great experience! Second, the ambiance was unique and charming. The sepia shades came through in all their furnishings, decorations and furniture. The chandeliers with sparse yet tasteful paintings made for adequate interiors. Finally, the F&B, of course! 5-stars all the way! Absolutely great cocktails ($12) and a robust wine selection! They even offered a way to do beer classily ($6). It impressed me that they kept their soup vegetarian - and yummy. Their salad was made vegetarian too and quite good as well. Not to sound like a broken record, but even their entree of vegetarian moussaka was not what you would expect from Greektown eateries. All their food preparation was unique and creative, but enjoyable rather than overwhelming. Plenty of parking around is a huge plus on a cold Chicago winter night! read more

Sepia has restored my faith in duck. It's always been my least favorite meat, mostly because what I've had was fatty, gristly and bleh. The tea-smoked duck breast here is succulent and flavorful, with a perfect crust on the outside. I apologize if my beast-like grunting annoyed the nearby tables. It was that good! That wasn't even my dish, but I wish I had ordered it! I had the branzino and while it was good, I felt it needed more oomph. The fish was fried but didn't have much flavor, but that's what the buttery sauce is for. The duck fat fried potatoes were a great side and a must-try! Okay, back to the beginning of the meal. We had the charcuterie plate which came with chicken liver mousse, stone ground mustard, pickled veggies, cured meats, a pate, another spread that was good but I forgot what it was, and warm, buttered toast. I'm a sucker for charcuterie and this was the best one I've had so far! My favorite part was when the waitress asked if we wanted more bread since we still had some spreads leftover. It was as if she read our carb-hungry minds. The chef also sent out an amuse-bouche, which had goat cheese and radish. For dessert, I chose the lime parfait. It was heavenly. The waitress then brought out a plate of tiny chocolate/vanilla cookies and WHISKEY GUMMIES. Yep, you read that right. Whiskey gummies. They were pretty much candy shots made of awesome. Drinkwise, I had the Mutual Feeling and Jam Session, the latter being my favorite. The flavor combination was complex and different. I want to come back just for this....and the duck! And whiskey gummies! Do they sell bags of those? I didn't feel bougie enough for this restaurant, but the waitress was great, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. read more

Sepia - UNFFFF - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very nice atmosphere and our server was the best . He has obviously been trained very well. Food was good but nothing that blew me away. Had the Cod with shrimp and it was nice but lacked something. Drinks are creative and they have an extensive wine list. read more

Sepia - Cod with shrimp, cauliflower side dish - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Underwhelming. Worst Michelin-star dining experience to date. AMBIANCE: The restaurant has an old-school classic vibe with its wooden interior juxtaposed with chandelier lighting inside. It's not too dim and feels classy. SERVICE: Firstly, the host would not let us sit until our entire table arrived. Our first group killed time at the bar but, even when we informed the host that our party was 5 minutes away, they would not seat us until the entire party arrived! Secondly, our waitress was SOOOOOO SLOWWWWWWW. I understand that dining is an experience meant to be savored but our waitress took forever to get our drinks, our orders, and even the dessert menu at the end. Good thing we were with good company to pass the time but still, many of us at the table deemed service to be sorely lacking for a Michelin-rated establishment. FOOD: Perhaps we ordered the wrong dishes but many of us were disappointed with the appetizers, entrees, and even desserts. COMPLIMENTARY: -Amuse-bouche: Tiny, amuse-ing, a welcome starter to our meal. -House bread roll: This multigrain roll was warm, crispy, and oh-so-good! APPETIZERS: **Selection of house made charcuterie (with pickles, mustard, toast) - good to share, nothing spectacular though. **Selection of domestic artisan cheeses (with seasonal jam, candied nuts) - good to share, especially liked the toasted bread slices it came with. **Sea scallops (with grapefruit, red cooked pig ears) - comes with 2 scallops per order... honestly, I felt prior reviews of this dish were overrated. **Beef tartare (on multigrain toast with egg yolk) - good! **Potato gnocchi (with braised beef ragu) - amazing, the best starter of the night. ENTREES: **Duck breast (with apricot, maitake mushrooms, miso) - while perfectly cooked, this dish was underwhelming and lacked flavor. **Arctic char (with leeks, preserved cucumber, pecans) - tried some and honestly "is the best fish dish I've ever ordered at any restaurant" (verbatim). SIDES: **Cauliflower - Disappointing, I usually love cauliflower too! This side was bland and uninspiring. **Braised beans - SKIP!! This was like beans in a tomato stew. **Fried confit potatoes - Good and flavorful... but then again, when are potatoes and duck confit fat ever not a good combination? DESSERTS: **Pumpkin chocolate cake (with pumpkin custard, mascarpone mousse, coconut crumble): The cake was dry, the pumpkin custard was lacking depth. **Passion fruit semifreddo (with toasted meringue, chocolate cookie, passionfruit curd): The best dessert of the night but still mediocre at best; this was like a baked alaska with a passion fruit gelato center. **Brown butter cake (with maple rum ice cream and cranberry): Honestly expected more from this dessert (brown butter anyone??) but it was nothing to write home about. DRINKS: **2010 Cieck San Giorgio Piemonte - a vintage champagne, so good!! **Brut Rose Champagne - so pretty, very good as well!! Shout-out to the bartender for letting us taste one-too-many reds and sparklings before we decided on our drinks! Overall, the food was very underwhelming and service left a lot to be desired. There's too many other fine dining options in Chicago to settle for Sepia. read more

Tried out Sepia for the first time last night for restaurant week. Restaurant week can be hit or miss, so I was interested to see what it would be like at Sepia. We were pleasantly surprised! The atmosphere was cozy - it definitely has cool decor and is a great place to cozy up for a drink on a cold winter night in Chicago. I was part of a party of 5, and they seated us in a private little alcove that made the experience really pleasant. The service was attentive - the waiter didn't mind when I asked him detailed questions about all the options! The food was great! I started with the Salad of Fennel which was delicious and light! It was mostly blood orange which was really fresh and delicious and the presentation was great. I then had the spice crusted whitefish. The fish came over a curried sauce with potatoes and broccoli. The veggies and sauce were delicious. The fish was a bit on the bland side for me, but it was still good and was a healthy portion size for restaurant week. My friends got the butternut squash risotto which everyone loved, but the portion sizes were tiny! Alas, this happens with restaurant week and is probably the only reason for the 4 rating vs. a 5. For dessert we all had the hazelnut tart. It was delicious! More like a mix between a brownie and biscotti and less like a tart. Overall we had a very positive experience and will be back! read more

See all

I can't believe I finally crossed this wonderful restaurant off my bucketlist!! I came here for chef's week 2016 and the menu was amazing! I don't think I disliked or had a complaint for anything I ate. The freshness is real and the love and percission in each plate is obvious! I started with the english pea agnolotti. This was in a delicious miso broth with a bite of pickled ramps and kombu oil. The peas were pureed perfectly and it was evident that they were fresh and not frozen. For my second course I had the fried poached egg. The was AMAZING! With a crisp exterior and warm runny egg inside as you broke it open to melt into the braised chickpeas the flavors married and sang to my stomach. This dish reminded me of an Indian dish with chickpeas that has similar flavors. My third course was the whitefish with swiss chard , jicama, poblano and black beans. There was a great combination of heat and freshness from the poblano and jicama in this dish that went well with the delicate white fish. I thoroughly enjoyed the artistry of this plate. For dessert I had the chocolate mint torte with cherry and yogurt. This sounds simple but was delicious!! The mint was not over powering but just a subtle hint in the background of each bite. And the chocolate torte was not extremely rich either. For our finishing bite and farewell the table was presented with hazelnut macaroons and bourbon gelee candy. As you took in a bite of each you got a rich flavor of hazelnut and a burst of pure bourbon. This was a remarkable way to end the evening! Overall, I absolutely fell in love with Sepia. From the ambiance to the perfect service to the presentation and preparation of each dish. I would not hesistate to twist anyone's arm to come back. It is obvious why this is a Michelan star restaurant. I am so pleased to have such great dining in the neighborhood. read more

See all

I happened to be walking by this place when someone called me and said they wanted to grab a drink and maybe a quick bite to eat. I had already eaten but was down for a drink of course. It was nice and warm out so I definitely wanted to sit outside on their small but nice patio in front. I walked in side to make sure it was all good to sit outside as all seats were empty except one. The interior is pretty nice and looks like an awesome date spot...pretty dark, but just enough lighting. While sitting outside awaiting the arrival of my dining companion, I grabbed a drink by the name of Coffee Break. Coffee Break is coffee infused rum, caramelized sugar and cynar...very good and sweet but not too sweet. Wound up having 2 of them by site's end. My friend decided to get the house made charcuterie in which I tasted and it was pretty decent. My friend also decided to get the Slow Poke Rodriguez which includes pineapple, cilantro and roasted pork fat-washed mezcal...very nice. Our server was nothing short of awesome as he broke down everything we needed to know and got everything out to us quickly. read more

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

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

3.5 stars for service and delicious food, although it lacked the creativity and finesse I would expect from such a highly rated restaurant. Service: The waitstaff was courteous and very knowledgeable about the menu, but I was initially peeved to not find our table ready with the champagne I had ordered in advance. After a reminder of this request, the sommelier promptly brought out the bubbly and doted on us 24/7 to make sure we enjoyed our meal. Some of my friends have quite a few dietary restrictions and they were more than accommodating for us. Food: Seared scallops were perfectly crispy with a soft interior, I could have eaten 50 of these little monsters. The pot pie was also delicious, with a nice flaky crust and interesting blend of root vegetables. The rest of my group enjoyed their meals (pear salad, steak, artic char, brussel sprouts) but we were in agreement the next day that the food was not the least bit memorable. Drinks: Wine selection was exceptional and also included a "libations" portion with speakeasy-type cocktails although we didn't try any of them. The Quattro Mani Franciacorta Brut and 08 Christophe Buisson Pinot Noir were great. Overall: Nice place to go for a "fancy" meal but don't expect any over-the-top frills or highbrow/avant garde cuisine. I almost never wish a restaurant to be nicer than it really is, but my friends and I were being boughie and expected a little something more. read more

See all

Well, for a cheeky on between meetings lunch this was an absolute gem. Great decor, personable staff.. Had the burata which was pretty good to start with. But the trout, wow. The skin was cooked perfectly and was the most crispy I had ever had. The salad and sauce that went with it was perfectly balanced. The wine was lovely crisp too and the recommendation of the sommelier. Oh and I should mention, I popped in at 1130 with no reservation and the staff ensured the food came out quickly so I could make my next meeting. Top performance guys! read more

Sepia - Burata - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My boyfriend and I visited Sepia during restaurant week and had a wonderful dining experience. We chose to do the four course option. I ordered the duck liver mousse, the pesto cavatelli, ocean trout, and the carrot cake. The pesto cavatelli with thai basil and sichuan peppercorn had such a unique flavor combination that made it my favorite course of the evening. The service was attentive and the atmosphere was very romantic. It was a great place for a date night, and I look forward to returning for their full menu another time! read more

Sepia, a 1 Michelin star restaurant, was a disappointment. I visited Sepia during Restaurant Week (RW) and was overall unimpressed. Now, I understand that the food served during RW is not a true sample of the full menu, however the quality and flavors should remain at par regardless of the occasion. After all, this is a Michelin rated restaurant! So I have decided to write a review under this caveat, knowing that my opinion may be biased by the Restaurant Week menu. First thing I noticed was that Sepia was packed for lunch on a weekday! Kudos! RW is working well for the restaurant industry! Despite its lunchtime popularity, we were soon shown our seats. The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgable. We felt very comfortable and were taken well care of. The disappointment came from my food. I ordered the blood orange salad, which was ok but not a plate I would ever repeat, and a pork sandwich, which tasted well but nothing impressive. Finally, the dessert was bland and uninspiring. It didn't satisfy my sweet tooth so I ended up walking to the French market to get myself a couple of macaroons. I think my biggest disappointment comes from the fact that I had huge expectations of Sepia. If a Michelin 1-star restaurant offers a sandwich, you expect it to be a frickin home run! Yet, it was nothing close. I look forward to trying Sepia's full menu. It's RW menu was a total disappointment. ... on a side note, the fries that came with my sandwich were great! read more

See all

The ambience, atmosphere, plating and presentations were excellent but unfortunately, the food itself was "ok." Not bad, but not great either. I didn't know it had a Michelin Star until afterwards. Charcuterie: 3/5 Arctic char: 3/5 Duck fat fried potatoes: 4/5 Duck breast: 4/5 read more

See all

Friends treated us to dinner there last night and we all enjoyed this elegant restaurant. Even the menu is elegant on heavy, ivory colored card stock with the logo embossed on the left side. The menu is interesting and complex, so I asked to see it again so that I could remember what we were eating. Our waiter whisked it away rather quickly. I suggest that they leave a far less costly version at the table. read more

I really wanted to like this place but it was hard for me to. I came here with a couple of friends for dinner about a month ago. A group of 10 of us, excited for the fine dining experience of Sepia. Walking in, you are greeted by lovely, rustic furniture and dim lighting -- very sepia. Although, I struggled to enjoy my dinner as I found the vegetarian options extremely underwhelming. I began with a royal squash soup which was good, but nothing outstanding and most definitely not worth the price. I, then, had a lentil crepe which absolutely god awful. It was stuffed with lots of spinach and leafy greens, not giving it much taste at all. If anything, it was incredibly bitter and lacked the complexity of flavour one would expect from a place like Sepia. My non-vegetarian friends seemed to enjoy their food, although comments were made about how it could have been forgettable. Personally, I believe Chicago has so many amazing and memorable dining options at all price points and I found this place less than comparable to them. This just isn't a place worth the money for me, and I think for any vegetarian. read more

So many restaurants have a name that means nothing to the overall feeling of the place. Sepia is the opposite. This is a warm environment with comfortable surroundings. Bread is served on a rough hewn walnut plank, seats are cushiony soft and the meals are almost home style, but not quite. The dense flavorful sunchock soup featured hints of apple to keep it interesting and bits of onion to keep it spunky and dried vegetables to keep it crunchy. Pumpkin cannelloni was rich with the flavors of turmeric and roasted pumpkin seeds. The torn chocolate cake presentation was topped with pumpkin gel and mascarpone gelato. Even the Rose wine had a touch of umber coloring! This was a special place and definitely worth the visit. read more

Very good Rest! But really overpriced.. Reservation was for 2 PPL $400 It was good, but the ambiance felt cheap like a normal restaurant from the street, loud, not elegant in the inside, the leather on the tables were chipping and chairs small and look cheap and felt cheap!!! All tables are clustered around each making it difficult for the service staff to walk around...Again, the owners want to make as much profit as possible that's why all tables are clustered, but for $200 per person is too much for what they offer... Even, the greeting at the entrance was strange... The guy (host) while greeting us had a winter coats on his hands while checking on the computer our reservation... For most PPL this might not be an issue, but for a restaurant like this to have 1 Michelin Star and charging close to $200 per head (Tasting Menu + Wine Pairing) it should know how to differentiate from the other normal restaurant... The reason PPL go to a Michelin Star Rest is to not only experience the food which was good, but service as well, greeting at the entrance, ambiance, esthetics such as tables, floors, chairs, etc.... That's why at least myself go to a Michelin Star Restaurant for the full experience that should be memorable. read more

Great place for cocktails. I got the 20th Century. It was the perfect balance of sweet and tangy so that the sweetness is not overwhelming. Love the chocolate after taste. This place is a gem. As far as cocktails go, their attention to detail is flawless right down to the temperature of the drink. Next time I come here I will try the food. read more

Sepia - 20th Century - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love a meal that's so good, I forget to take pictures. This was a joy from start to finish! My friend and I shared the gnocchi to start, and the beef ragu really made that dish so special. It was the ultimate savory comfort food. We then split the duck breast entree, which they plated into two small portions for us. I really appreciated that. We had the duck breast medium rare. If I ordered it again I would get it medium, but it was not my favorite dish we had, so I probably wouldn't order it again. Don't get me wrong, it was very tasty, but it was nothing compared to... The strip steak entree. We had this split as well, and it was just absolutely perfect. The potato and turnip components with the greens alongside the steak and the jus were just perfect. It was also extremely savory, but perfectly seasoned, not too salty or anything. I think the only thing I wished for was more vegetables overall. This was a great experience. Definitely nice for a quiet dinner date. Not a place to go with a loud group of friends unless you ask for a private group table. I'd be back..this was one of the best meals I've had in Chicago! read more

I had my going away dinner here, and had a great time! Its a little hard to find as it is not marked, but its a hidden gem! Its absolutely gorgeous inside, with chandeliers and modern accents. I do think however that all of the tables were extremely close together, and I could hear all of the conversations around me. To start, my bf and I shared the ricotta cavatelli, which had a very understated ricotta taste and a great minty/chutney base. I ordered the falafel, and he ordered the chicken and sausage, and we split it. Between the two, I greatly enjoyed the falafel more since it had a lot more flavor (with the peppers and yogurt). The chicken and sausage was well cooked, but nothing special. We decided against ordering dessert since we were so full, but we had a great time! Our server was great, and very willing to provide help when deciding what to choose. read more