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I took my husband here for his birthday and we got the tasting menu. I did not take a picture of our drinks. I had some kind of Mezcal drink and my husband ordered the hamburger martini because we were curious about it and it was delicious. Highly recommended very unique, very subtle and not anything what you would expect when you order it.. The service was great. Our server was very attentive and kind. I really like the vibes in there kinda like old school Chicago looking. The food is exceptional and very unique. The portions were also adequate and we were full after we were done eating there. It is definitely a place to stop if you are in Chicago or you are from the Chicago area because everything was great and we really enjoyed it.
Came by for dinner the other night and it was an interesting experience. Sepia is located near the West Loop area of Chicago and is a Michelin 1 star restaurant. Dining is available in the dining room, at the bar, or outdoors. Managed to get a seat at the bar walking in which was a surprise. I was presented the 4 course menu despite the host mentioning that the tasting menu was also available... interesting. Meal started off with bread service consisting of sourdough along with some butter. The amuse bouche was a doughnut version of a croque madame, topped with black truffle. The crudo course was light and refreshing. The stuffed chicken wing was presented well although I found the sauce a touch on the heavy side. The short rib that the staff recommended was interesting. The marbling from the short rib was decent and the meat was cooked to a medium. There was a slight sear on the outside. The morrel mushroom was stuffed with crab and served over a hashbrown that was surprisingly stale and cold...yikes... The roasted vanilla cheesecake was on the richer side. The final bites of the evening didn't taste too fresh...hrm. ~$170/head after tax, gratuity, 3.5% employer mandates for dinner.
Took my wife for her birthday and we had a great time. Our server was friendly and attentive. Service was relatively fast, which I prefer. It sounds a bit silly, but we both really enjoyed the endless bread and butter. I think we got three rounds while we waited for our first course. The food was very good, with a focus on seafood. My only complaint was our table. We were informed that we would be seated outside when I made the reservation but our small table was literally on the sidewalk. People were walking by inches from us all night. It was a beautiful evening weather wise so not the worst to be outside, but I wouldn't sit out there again.
Coctails are interesting but a bit pricey. Tried the cheeseburger tini being someone who loves savory drinks but it was a little strange tasting. Service was good, nice place to grab a drink at the bar. They have an excellent selection of teas here too
I made dinner reservations for 5:15pm at Sepia. When I walked into the restaurant, I realized that what I really wanted was a light meal and a few drinks. I asked the front desk receptionist if it would be OK about switching out my dine-in reservation for a seat at the bar, and they were happy to oblige. The bar was located right at the front foyer of the restaurant. If you sit at the bar, you have the option of ordering whatever was on their 4-course prix fixe menu as a la carte. This was exactly what I was looking for as I only really wanted to try a few things. I got the osetra caviar and hokkaido scallop & sea urchin. I got a delightful amuse bouche before the first item, osetra caviar, came out. The caviar was the best item. Loved how the shiro dashi butter leveled out the caviar, giving it a much more mild taste. I wanted more from the hokkaido & sea urchin. Their cocktails were brilliant. Really innovative and creative. Found out that my bartender at the time was the mind behind the cocktails. I tried the Fortune & Glory, Keith's World Famous Cheeseburger Martini (do not sleep on this unique, savory cocktail!), and Wrong Turn at Albuquerque.
This was my boyfriend & I's first michelin star experience and we absolutely loved it! The staff is amazingly attentive once you step in. It is dimly lit at the front and perfect for an intimate dinner. Each course is explained in detail and you are able to have a menu to follow along or to be surprised with each course. Our favorite bites were definitely the hiramasa crudo, osetra caviar, and the poached oysters. They were phenomenal. The flavors were all so bright and bold and complemented each other nicely. I absolutely loved our experience and the way they made our night special. We were surprisingly quite full after everything as well! They also provided us a slice of cake for our anniversary! I would totally recommend and come again :)
Sepia was such a great experience! We had a prior reservation. The day prior to our reservation, they called and checked in with us and asked about our dietary restrictions and allergies to ensure we could easily consume the food they offered. They even asked us to choose the type of pre fix menu we wanted. They easily offered to do vegetarian substitutions for me. In the day of our reservation, we were just in awe of the ambience when we entered. Such a soy yet upscale place! Everything was tasteful. The cutlery, tablecloth everything was in the theme of 'sepia', a shade of brown. My only complaint is the slow service for the courses to come by, so I would give this place a 4.5. Our server was super sweet, explained the dishes well, even made some drink recommendations. The courses were delightful. I got the delice de Bourgogne omelette, crispy cream cheese gnudi, potato and cheddar pierogi and the sourdough crepe cake. Each and every element on every dish was amazing, expect for the actual sourdough cake itself. We were just amazed at the finesse of the dishes. I highly recommend everyone to try sepia atleast once.
Loved this place. Very nice, elegant and good was amazing. The staff was great. My friend hosted his birthday here, and everything about it was exceptional. Truly recommend this place.
I celebrated a birthday with a four-course dinner at Sepia, and it was absolutely phenomenal! The dishes were beautifully presented, and full of flavor, paired with excellent drinks and truly impeccable service. Even going in with high expectations, I was still blown away by my first one-Michelin-star restaurant experience. Standout dishes included the prosciutto amuse-bouche, the short rib, and a surprise birthday cake slice, which was such a thoughtful touch. The optional cheese course was delicious as well, though unnecessary as we were more than full from the other courses by the end of the night. The cocktails were outstanding, though they did add up after a few hours of lingering and savoring the evening. Next time, I'd opt for the wine pairing or bring a bottle or two of wine and just pay the corkage fee. Overall, Sepia delivers a fine dining experience that feels really special and intimate - it's the perfect spot for an elevated date night or celebratory dinner. And it's easy walking distance from either Ogilvie Transportation Center or Union Station, making it an ideal spot to visit from the Chicago suburbs via the Metra.
We had the tasting menu. The variety offered was delicious, each course was nicely prepared and had good flavor and texture. We did not get the wine pairing, but I imagine it would have been perfect as well. It was a complete meal, a few of the courses were sweet for a nice end.
Whenever I see a two-star review on Yelp, I automatically default to narrative, as a one-star review seems to be blatantly bashing and non-constructive. The reason why I awarded this rating is that it's exactly what the star describes, "Could've been better." For the service and solely the experience, it overshadowed the food offering, which I will get into in a bit. Had this been any other restaurant, I would have awarded a minimum of 3. Considering their food, maybe a 3.5 if the option was available. Reason: You are awarded a Michelin Star. This is an honor that should reflect in both your food AND service. When bringing food to the table and people are conversing, please wait until they are finished before you start announcing the dishes. Also, be clear and proud of what you are serving. Mumbling it and walking away before asking if we have questions does not sit well. This element detracted from the food experience. You could have served the rarest ingredients, but your patrons will never forget how you made them feel. Food: Some of the dishes were outstanding. Smoked Beef Carpaccio was outstanding. Amazing how it immediately reminded me of an animal-style burger from In-N-Out. This one threw me a left field. Crudo was also a highlight of mine. Bread and canapés were also memorable. Of all of the desserts we tried, Apple Mille-Feuille was the best. The rest does not belong on the menu as it lacks creativity, flavor, and character. While the overall meal could have been pleasant at best, the service just didn't deliver, which resulted in a poor experience and the restaurant being an afterthought. Inside decor was ok, but the tables could have been dressed in white cloth for visual and cleanliness. Seeing worn-down table edges and hinges was another detractor. Several marks were missed, and I hope the establishment considers these points to improve. As for our server, who we do not know your name, take constructive criticism and be better. Any business welcomes highlights from patrons, and as a Michelin Star establishment, this is your reputation. Best of luck to this establishment and your future journey. Unfortunately, we will not be returning to your restaurant.
Superb staff service. Came here for a private event and had a few entree options, went with the short rib. Salad and bread were good. Old fashioned was tasty with some Elijah Craig, there were a couple more ice cubes in there than was needed so it was watered down towards the end but overall was good. Short rib was good and melted when eaten, it was a bit red for me in the center but thats just my own bias so I ate the sides. Loved the mushroom and little potato latke it came with. Had the keylime cheese cake but didn't taste the key lime much, it tasted mostly like a plain cheesecake or cream cheese spread. Other than that - very nice private dine venue.
Fabulous meal here with coworkers. The wine pairing was divine. The caviar pairing is definitely worth it- while a bit overly salty in my opinion (caviar is already salty and whatever it was resting on as well as the potato chips with it made it a bit too salty), but a very generous serving of caviar and don't get me wrong, it was delicious. The hamachi quality was a bit disappointing- not melt in your mouth. The duck was the standout for me- so tender, rich, and succulent and perfectly paired with the glaze and potato pancake. Sadly, I had to leave before dessert but I heard it was also wonderful. On top of that, ambiance is great as is service. We had multiple bussers taking care of us as well as a very knowledgable, dedicated server. Will definitely recommend.
3 years ago
This is an experience dining. It's a beautiful restaurant. Staff is impeccable, attentive and hospitable. The food is art. We went for Easter Sunday and they had a special prix fixe menu. It was lovely, start to finish. The combination of flavors, the presentation, and love in the food...quite an experience. read more
3 years ago
Sepia is the second Michelin star restaurant I have eaten at in Chicago, and currently, is the best. My boss and I ate here last week for a business dinner and had a great experience. Starting with ambiance and service. The interior was luxurious with well-appointed materials and clean decorations, but simultaneously not stuffy. The staff, primarily our main waitress, were fantastic. All appeared well versed in the menu and were attentive, warm, and kind. The dishes came out quickly and with an accompanying description that is expected at a restaurant of this status. Moving on to drinks, my boss and I enjoyed two old fashioneds followed by wine pairings. The old fashioned was fantastic and packed a good punch of alcohol. The wine pairings were pretty good, and most remarkably were tailored to specific items on the menu (which was pre fixe where you select one item within each category) rather than to the category overall. Moving in to food, the pre fixe menu was easy to navigate and appeared highly seasonal. I chose the foie gras, morel mushrooms, lamb, and frozen pea dessert. The foie gras was served in a soup-like form with some wonderful accompaniments that brought out more flavor, the lamb was decadent and not gamey, and the ambuse bouche and bread with fresh butter were tremendous. On the other hand both the frozen pea dessert and morel mushrooms were a bit less amazing. While neither were bad, and in fact the pea dessert was quite tasty, they were not particularly memorable and I would not send somebody to the restaurant for those specifically. All in, I recommend Sepia for the price ($95 tasting menu) and think it is well rounded, however, it is not the unforgettable Michelin experience some of its higher priced competitors offer. Food: 4 Drinks: 5 Ambiance: 4 Service: 4 Consistency: NA read more
1 year ago
Ended up free on a random weeknight while visiting Chicago and blindly walked here without reservations, hoping to get lucky. I got seated at the bar immediately and ordered from the fixed menu, focusing mainly on the seafood options. I also added on the caviar option. The plating was so beautiful that it felt like a waste for me to eat. And I rarely get that sentiment because all food belongs in my belly. The food was as tasty as it looked, with my favorite being the seafood choices. The portion sizes, while they may look small, were hardly that; I was stuffed by the time I walked out of there. I had a hard time finishing the dessert, though that was partly because the dessert wasn't really my cup of tea. It was the only dish I wasn't a fan of. The service is also impeccable. Next time I'm back in town, I'm definitely going to try to come back. read more
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Tonight I went to Sepia and had an unforgettable dining experience. Our server was very friendly and service was pretty good. We received great insight into the food and the drink options, and were treated graciously and with lots of respect. When I went to the restroom I returned to my napkin folded, and my water & iced tea refilled. The food was unbelievable, this truly was one of the most brilliant set of courses I've ever eaten at a restaurant. The ambiance is probably where Sepia is lacking, it is a little dull, but the experience is what YOU make it. Both me and my father agreed we could come back again again the following night read more
Sepia might be one of my favorite restaurants now! The food, the service and the ambiance all were amazing! Forgot to mention the drinks.. so good. I'm uploading pictures of what we got and the menu but overall we couldn't have been happier! The meals were priced at $90 and you could pay extra for wine pairing but instead we got different cocktails. We will back in no time again! read more
1 year ago
Wonderful experience-- all of the food, wine and service were just spectacular. Could not have asked for a more enjoyable dinner. read more
Sepia is a great choice to try out a Michelin star restaurant. It's less than $100 and you get to try some unique dishes. They create good combinations of ingredients that work well together. Portion sizes are reasonable. I didn't leave hungry. Service was superb and observant. Interior of the restaurant is alluring. read more
2 years ago
Sepia was a fantastic experience. On our trip to Chicago, my friend treated me here for my birthday dinner. We were ecstatic because we wanted to try a Michelin star restaurant. Of course we had to try their 4 course pre-fixe menu and wine pairing for the full experience. This is a summary of my order: Golden Keluga Caviar: Creamy caviar with some greens and dashi butter. This an optional course for $25 more. But who doesn't like caviars? Roasted Foei Gras: This is a must try for foodie, especially coming from California. The Foei Gras was rich and buttery paired with ginger consommé. Fluke Crudo: Very fresh and good quality yellowtail. Tête de Moine: This is another optional plate that you can get for $16 extra. The prosciutto and huckleberry chutney added a nice sweet & savory profile. Rohan Duck Breast: Listen I'm very picky with ducks, but this duck was phenomenal. Lightly charred on the outside and juicy on the inside. Chef's Kiss. Chocolate Torte: Ended the dinner feast with something to feed my sweet tooth. You can't go wrong with chocolate. My final thoughts: Absolutely flawless. The food and presentation were 5/5. Our servers were very accommodating, sociable, and kind. The atmosphere exudes elegance. They deserve every bit of that Michelin star. I can also easily say it's one of the best restaurants of my life. So thank you very much Sepia for making my birthday dinner and my first Michelin star dining experience a memorable one. read more
This was an absolutely amazing experience. The food was all delicious and the staff were great at giving pairing recommendations. The dining room was somehow cozy and yet really elegant. We did the menu tasting and had no regrets. 10/10 would recommend. read more
My boyfriend and I went here for Valentine's day. We did the tasting menu specifically for Vday. The ambiance of the place is soooooo cozy and cute. I really liked how intimate it felt. The bartender made an absolutely delicious drink that tasted just like a pb&j and was served in the cutest milk carton. Each course was so different and unique- we took this opportunity to try some new things and we weren't disappointed! The flavors were all very good and very different. Our favorite was the caviar- it was perfectly balanced and my favorite dish. If you struggle with textures, you'll probably struggle a bit. Our only tip is that it's a lot of slurpy and different texture foods, it would be good to balance them with some more solid textured dishes. read more
2 years ago
We came here for our wedding anniversary dinner while visiting and celebrating at chicago. The menu are set at 95/ person for a 4 course meal, and you get to pick what you want from the 4 options on each course. Menu also comes with bread and butter and amuse bouche. First course- i had the caramelized onion consomme. It was one of the best tasting soup Ive ever had. 10/10 Second course- gai yang chicken. This was interesting but it wasn't as tasty as i thought it was going to be. They had duck wrapped inside a chicken wing which was creative and interesting but i don't think adding that element really enhanced the flavor of the dish. Third course - grilled short ribs. The short ribs was perfectly cooked, but i wished i had something paired with the strong ribs that can cut the fattyness of the dish. But instead, it was paired with a deep fried mushroom with crab inside. It was a little too greasy. Fourth course- pavlova, this is my first time ever trying this dessert. I thought it tasted ok. There wasn't really any dessert on the menu that stood out to me. Overall, the food was good. In my opinion, i think the beginning of the meal did tasted better like the onion soup, bread and the amuse bouche. Those were definitely the highlights for me. With 95 per person at a michelin star restaurant, i think it is reasonable price, but maybe only half of the food blew my mind. read more
3 years ago
Disappointing. The restaurant only offers tasting menu with optional wine pairing. There are four courses, and for each course you can select one of the four dishes. If you also take the wine pairing, each dish is paired with a specific wine. The beginning of the dinner was nice, with delicious crusty bread served with the butter made right on premises - unfortunately, this was the best dish of the evening. My first course was Japanese cake with uni. I was expecting a nice piece of luscious sweet uni - instead, I got some strange concoction with tiny pieces of tasteless uni. What was worse, the dish tasted like dill pickle juice. Not great. The next dish was actually tasty - crispy sweetbread, well cooked with a nice flavor profile. Next dish was some aged duck breast, which was extremely chewy and had cumin as part of the taste profile. The duck was served with Santa Barbara Pinot which was rather wimpy, plus the pour size was barely enough for one sip. For my desert, I took brown sugar pavlova, which was strange both in texture and taste, plus it was served with some anis ice cream which didn't work for me at all. Considering that the tasting menu costs $95, plus $59 for wine pairing, so with tax and tip we spent $220 per person, I can only declare this dinner as utter disappointment. Good service, prompt, friendly, attentive. Not recommended. read more
4 years ago
Great place for a celebration! Our server was so knowledgeable with the menu. We took a while to decide what to order and she really took the time to explain everything on the menu and her preferences What we ordered: Golden kaluga caviar - i'd recommend it! great way to start off the meal First course Beef tartare - nicely spiced, pairs well with the potato crisps Roasted crab - i really like this! the corn pudding in there was very flavorful Second course Foie gras chawanushi - tasted a bit heavy towards the last few bites but it was very interesting. never had anything similar to this Miso roasted scallop - my favorite! not only was the presentation nice but the flavor was amazing Third course Grilled beef striploin - standard, nicely cooked Rohan duck breast - looked so beautiful and tasted delicious too. i like the mini empanadas that came with the dish We ended the meal with one dessert EACH. Surprisingly pretty full by the end of the meal because of the many courses and the overall pace of the meal. We enjoyed our experience here read more
1 year ago
We had the Chef's Experience which was 2 amuse bouche plus 8 courses. Everything was delicious! Service was friendly as well. Will come back if we have a chance. read more
9 months ago
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Emiliano G.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate your…
2 years ago
One of the best tasting experiences I've ever had. Hands down. Well worth the $110 - it was more like 6 courses (we added the caviar starter) & flawless. We had such an incredible experience - the staff were kind enough to sit us inside when I accidentally booked an outside table & then they gave us menus with Happy Birthday written on them for Hubby's birthday. Our waitress was fabulous. She knew the dishes so incredibly well and I loved how she pushed us in certain directions with certain courses. We loved her! Execution was flawless. We started with the caviar which I highly recommend. Then we did the foie gras and beef carpaccio, very unique presentations of both, then the gnudi and the roasted scallop, incredible. Then the short rib and halibut, topped with some of the most outstanding desserts I have ever tried. I don't even eat desserts, and I devoured these. I loved the ambiance and the music playing in the background. The walls were aligned with unique artwork from all over the world. I can see why a chef buddy of mine recommended this spot, a true 11/10 experience, (Spinal Tap reference). read more
5 years ago
1 year ago
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Emiliano G.
Hi Sophia,…
My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary, and it was such an amazing experience. The portion sizes were small (as expected), but the fun flavor combinations made it all worth it. Our server was especially enthusiastic and attentive, and the ambience was perfect for a special date night! His favorite from the night was the roasted crab rice because all the flavors came together perfectly, and my favorite was the foie gras chawanmushi for its richness (though he found it to be a little much). The striploin with sweet corn and rohan duck breast were incredibly tender, highly recommend!! We loved how interesting the mix of textures in the goat cotton cheesecake was, but we didn't care much for how salty the miso butterscotch pudding was or for the puffed grain topping on it. Dessert just wasn't as good as the rest of the meal, but overall, we had a great time. read more
This is definitely one of the more affordable Michelin stars I've been to, but it wasn't a very memorable experience. Service is excellent, but the food itself isn't anything special. For example, I enjoyed the main course (pasta), but it doesn't hold a light to even better than average Italian restaurants' pasta. There are strange elements to every dish, and overall, it doesn't make for a very balanced meal. I wish I could've rated Sepia higher, but even my friend (who picked different options) questioned the thought process behind each dish. read more
5 years ago
The food is good for the price. $85 dollar tasting menu (can add on wine pairing for $55- with very generous pours btw). Had a group of 8 and so we got seated in a private back space which was intimate and nice. The waitress was wonderful, very friendly and informative. Started the course with an amuse bouche and bread/butter. Bread was actually quite good even though it was simple. The first course, the crab chawanmushi was the hit- it was like eating crab dipped in butter. So good. I got the beef tartar which was underwhelming and had something in it that was too overpowering. 2nd course: country fried truffle chicken was an absolute delight. The sauce was a bit too strong for me but just a bit on each bite was good and the sweet potato was delicious. Perfect size, chicken was so moist. Perfect amount of truffle. I didn't get the venison shabu shabu but it didn't look very filling. 3rd course: I got the sirloin but didn't really like it. It was cooked well but desperately missing seasoning. The broccoli was the best thing on that dish by far. Ratatouille was a hit as was the duck dish 4th course: sage French toast with sweet potato ice cream and popcorn was amazing. Texturally wonderful, not too sweet- I had 2 servings! We did have a couple issues with the order- one dietary preference that was forgotten and a steak that was cooked differently than asked- but overall the service was nice. And we didn't feel rushed to get out which is so rare now with covid. read more
My team reserved the private dining room for a celebration, and it was absolutely beautiful. The perfect intimate and classy ambiance for an important occasion. We were served with a variety of hors d'oeuvres, and then sat down for the beginning of our four course meal. We had a great salad to start, then a delicious mushroom pasta, our entree of choice (I got the salmon), and finished with a chocolate-mousse/cream cheese like cake. The salmon was good, but nothing out of this world. The pasta was great - if I could choose one dish to eat again it would be that. Overall a good experience, would recommend going at least once. read more
A truly amazing foody experience. We had the 4 course dinner and it was simple exceptional. A mouth watering dish for every course. Very much a must for every gourmet appreciative couple. Would make for a romantic date night snd something to impress your date. read more
4 years ago
When you think of Michelin Starred restaurants, you think of the experience. For my first time at a restaurant of this caliber, Sepia did not disappoint. The small menu is carefully curated, and the cocktails are masterfully crafted. Our server was thoroughly knowledgeable in what the kitchen had to offer, and she made it seem like we were their family for the 3 hours we were there. You have to order all your courses at once, so take your time, and ask your server what they would recommend for you, because they're great at figuring out what you'll like. Our server definitely did an amazing job at that. And remember to dress up and be prepared to splurge! We ended up spending a little over $300 for the two of us. read more
3 years ago
This is my favorite Michelin star restaurant I have been too. Granted I have only been to 3, but this is my top so far. We got the tasting menu, with the wine pairing and it didn't disappoint. The flavors were fantastic and unique. The wine went perfectly with the courses. The service was fantastic and the indoor is super cozy. I loved everything about this meal, and can't rave enough about the dishes! read more
3 years ago
This was one of our favorite dining experiences ever. I wish we lived closer so we could go back! The food was excellent- interesting but approachable, and most importantly tasty. The wine pairing is the way to go. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and each glass was thoughtfully selected. All staff were top notch from at the door taking coats to clearing plates. Our favorite dishes were the foie gras in pho consume and the pavlova. It's worth going just for these two items! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
The food was delicious. The butter for the bread was amazing. My favorite plate was the Duck Breast plate and the wine pairing was good. read more
3 years ago
Service: amazing and our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive Foods: 1. Breads: they were sourdough breads. They were soft and very sour. I am not a sourdough fan but my boyfriend loved it. I have to say their homemade butter was amazing. So soft so light and flavorful 2. Brioche with prosciutto: it was good but too much butter in brioche for my taste 3. Steak tartare: it was so fantastic. The steak tartare was fresh and soft. 4. Foie gras custard: compared to the other dishes, this one felt short. I didn't expect it to be soupy. I felt like foie gras had such a strong taste. It did not work well as a soup. It needed a firm texture but the flavor was there 5. Scallops: so tender and sweet. Loved the vegetables they added with it 6. Asparagus: oh this one was great. They didn't overcook the asparagus so you could the crunchiness. The sauce and grapefruit added uniqueness to the dish. 7. Lamb loin biryani: my boyfriend was so impressed with this dish. Biryani sauce is not a thing according to him. Sepia managed to create the biryani sauce. The lamb loin was so tender and juicy. The fried potato sticks were a nice touch. 8. Beef strip loin: similar to lamb loin, it was juicy and soft as well. I loved the sauce that went with it. 9. Crepe cakes: amazing and so unique. It went so well with the cherry blossom sorbet. I have to give it to them for not go overboard with the cherry blossom flavor. You can taste the cherry blossom in the sorbet but it was not overwhelming. Everything worked well with each other. None of the components outshined the others. I love their creativity and meticulousness. 10. Chocolate pudding: rich in chocolate flavor. Overall, we felt everything they had in each dish complimented each other. The presentation for each dish was beautiful. They made such a beautiful menu. Also, their drinks were great as well. Definitely not surprise that they are a Michelin star restaurant. We would definitely come back. read more
Affordable one Michelin star restaurant, would absolutely return! My friend and I shared everything we ordered. The amuse boche was great, reminded me of fancy cheeto puffs, felt like Al from Toy Story afterwards. The Sablefish was nice and crispy on the outside. I was worried it was going to be too salty, but ended up being seasoned just enough. The Duck Breast was cooked to a medium rare, which was a bit too chewy for me but still enjoyable. We also ordered the Steelhead trout, but thought it was too salty. We ended with the milk chocolate and banana along with the grapefruit and black sesame. I enjoy the milk chocolate and banana more. It was refreshing, not too sweet, and all the flavors balanced each other out. My friend enjoyed the Grapefruit more, but I thought it was a weird mixture of flavors. Service was great - our waiter was attentive and the servers all gave great descriptions of what was being served. They checked in on us often and were patient when we needed some extra time to decide and asked for suggestions. Would love to return to try a cocktail or two! read more
4 years ago
Creative and scrumptious dining experience leaving us satisfied (if not stuffed) with every dish! The staff were very kind and attentive. They explain all the dishes they're bringing out and often flourish the "final pour" in front of you. The interior is dark toned. Surprisingly from our 9:30-11:30 experience it was very lively. There are couples, groups of friends, even a family with kids behind us. The diversity of people here tonight made it feel very homey and warm despite it being a $$$$ listed restaurant. We got a couple libations to share. The Ghost Note (pictured) is an herbal and fruity drink. The New Romantics was less impressive. Although the guava marmalade was very sweet, it is so thick it sticks onto the spoon and we scraped it off with our finger. Otherwise its a $14 vodka lemonade. Started with house baked bread with everything bagel seasoning, butter, and sashimi on crisped rice. For our first course we tried the hiramasa crudo with spots of green yuzu cream and a watermelon-y sauce. It was very refreshing. The other dish we tried the beef tartare topped with crispy (like soft kettle chips) caramelized onion and shaved egg yolk. This one won. Second course we had the sourdough cavatelli, a pillowy pasta in a rich, creamy, cheesy sauce of "Parmesan cultured butter" with crunchy bits of asparagus and a leaf-shaped cheese cracker. This was probably my favorite savory dish of the night. The foie gras chawanmushi was the richest item we had, so rich I couldn't stomach more than a few bites. The oil layer is palpable. Consider how heavy it is if you decide to order it. Third course we tried the braised lamb with nettle pesto, fava beans, and buttermilk. The lamb was very good and the pesto came spread on a separate little cake. Also tried the hay grilled beef sirloin. Two huge chunks I also couldn't finish. It comes with a beef jam doughnut which was pretty dry to me; I expected something more "jammy" like a jelly doughnut but the filling was more a carnitas texture. I wanted something more fresh with both these dishes. The dessert was spectacular. Due to a special occasion we got a slice of the white chocolate cake, with pure slices of white chocolate. The miso butterscotch pudding had good taste but the popcorn on top was a bit stale. Hands down our favorite thing of perhaps the whole night was the goat cotton cheesecake. I'm not a cheesecake person but the server recommended it, and we were blown away by how creamy it is -- it's somewhere between a cheesecake and a pudding, with a chamomile sorbet on the side, and this yummy fruity sauce. In addition to graham cracker-y base. I'm not sure what the "marzipan bark" thing on top was doing for us but oh my goodness the whole thing was SO GOOD. Would definitely return! We had a fun time trying all these creative dishes. read more
This place is pretty solid for a Michelin One Stared restaurant. Every course I got was delicious. What impressed me the most foie gras custard. This is one of the best foie gras dishes I've had and they're very generous with the portion of foie gras. Steak and scallops are solid but I can't say they wow'ed me though. I didn't care about the earl grey pizzele dessert. I could barely taste earl grey out of it and it was very heavy. Service was solid but I was a little surprised that the waiters didn't explain much about each dish when they served. Nice dining environment with an upscale nostalgic vibe. Overall this is a pretty good experience given the decent price for four-course menu. I'd recommend it. read more
5 years ago
We went for dinner on a Saturday night and got the four course menu for $75! We were a group of 4 so we got to try everything on the menu. My favorites of the night were the foie gras tart, the savlefish misoyaki, and the milk chocolate and banana namelaka. All of them were smooth and well balanced! The third course was sadly my least favorite even though it's one of the main courses. It didn't feel as balanced as the other courses. The plates look small but it's definitely a filling meal. The service was good and fast. We didn't have to wait very long between each course. We were there for around 2 hours in total. Overall, I'm glad I tried Sepia, but I'll probably try some other restaurants before I head back here again. For a more detailed course by course review, keep reading! The amuse bouche served before the meal was tasty! The everything baguette was a little hard, but the meat with the brioche bread was absolutely delicious! First Course: The foie gras tart was probably my favorite! The presentation was absolutely beautiful and it was very smooth. The sweet corn velouté was better than I expected and the kampachi crudo was decent too. The king crab chawanmushi was an extra $10. I thought the mushrooms in it were the best part! Second Course: The crispy soft boiled was probably my second favorite. I was pleasantly surprised by it! My favorite was 100% the sablefish misoyaki was sooo buttery and tender. The berkshire pork confit was still okay, but it was definitely my least favorite of this course. It seemed to be going towards the char siu direction, but didn't really get the best flavor compared to the other dishes. Third Course: The hay grilled sirloin was my favorite of this round. It was tender and the flavors paired well together. The steelhead trout en croûte was alright, but definitely paled in comparison to the sablefish in the prior course. I was the most excited for the duck breast, but it didn't live up the my expectations. It was a little tough and it didn't feel as balanced. The ricotta agnolotti was probably my second favorite. The chanterelle mushrooms were delicious, but this dish was heavier and was a bit too rich as a whole. Overall, the third course was probably my least favorite even though it had the main dishes. The dishes just didn't feel as balanced as the other courses and the flavors weren't as good. Dessert: The strawberry & almond olive oil cake was a nice light dessert and had great presentation. The milk chocolate & banana whipped namelaka was so creamy and smooth and I love how it had actual chunks of banana to freshen it up. It's definitely the sweetest of the bunch, so it might be too much if you don't have a sweet tooth. The yogurt & blueberry greek yogurt panna cotta was definitely tart and the texture was much thicker than a regular panna cotta. I wasn't a huge fan, but if you like tart desserts you would like this. I also got the New Romantics drink. It was alright, but the apricot & chamomile compote sunk to the bottom and didn't really add much to the presentation of the drink. I saw the prior version with the blueberry compote and that definitely seems to make the drink more vibrant than this one. read more
2 years ago
Really good food. We ordered an extra caviar course. It was wayyyyy too much food. It's a four course menu so def be prepared to eat a lot. Very delicious food enhanced with a lot of flavor. Service is impeccable, the servers made sure our dietary restrictions were taken care of. It's a small and cozy restaurant. Good for small parties or dinner for 2. read more
While Sepia may not have those eye-catching dish presentations ideal for food influencer profiles, this may have been one of my favorite dinners from a flavor perspective. Pictures honestly don't do this place justice at all. A lot of the dishes are served in bowls that don't allow them to showcase the beautiful combination of flavors and layers of complexity that are contained within. There was definitely a more casual atmosphere, with a diverse set of customers. At this price point, it seems like a good entry point for people to who want to try a fancier Chef's tasting menu. It didn't seem like those restaurants that require sport coats, where everyone was either a seasoned fine diner or celebrating a milestone occasion. Sepia is probably one of the most affordable Michelin tasting menus in Chicago. For under $100 per person you can create your own 4-course menu, with 4 different options per course. With the complimentary amuse bouche, bread service, and mignardise added in the mix, it was actually a decent amount of food. You can also add a caviar course, cheese course, or order extra dishes a la carte in case you wanted even more variety. Amuse Bouche - Brioche w/ prosciutto and jam: This was a great first bite with a sweet and salty profile. The sweet brioche and jam paired perfectly with the salty prosciutto. Golden Kaluga Caviar, smoked sablefish, grilled spinach, shiro dashi butter: I've probably only had caviar a handful of times in my life, but this is hands down my favorite rendition. The smokiness of the fish, the saltiness of the caviar, and the richness of the dashi butter created the ultimate savory flavor. Roasted foies gras custard, satsuma, malted sunchoke, brown butter: I honestly couldn't pick out each element individually, but as a whole this was just delicious. The foies gras supplied that fatty richness, then there was a temperature contrast with the cold custard and some crunchy elements from the malted sunchoke. Probably my favorite dish of the night. Crab chawanmushi etoufee, smoked trout roe, andouille: Again, this was served in a bowl so you couldn't fully appreciate with your eyes how great this actually tasted. It was almost closer to a hearty cup of soup with plenty of meaty crab and sausage. The Cajun spices and seasonings were bold and generated so much flavor in each bite. Beef striploin, baby carrot, café de Paris sauce, beef bottarga: I already knew the beef was gonna be great, but the sleeper on this plate was carrot. I'm definitely a meat and potatoes guy, but that carrot just stole the show. The café de Paris sauce had kind of a curry accent to it. Manjari namelaka, rice dulce de leche, toasted koji ice cream: This was the sweeter of the two desserts and every element had a luxurious richness to it. Bruleed banana crepe cake, malted milk, tonka bean ice cream: The tonka bean ice cream had a bit of a milder flavor, and the crepe cake has that "not too sweet" flavor if that's what you prefer. Pandan marshmallow, white chocolate lemon profiteroles: Tasted like elevated rice crispies and a moist lemon cake in cookie form. The perfect bite to cap off the meal. Overall, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed dinner Sepia. I can't believe I used to walk right past it on Randolph all these years and never tried it. Sepia's flavors and creativity along with the great value for a Michelin tasting menu is unmatched. read more
More info about Sepia
123 N Jefferson St
Chicago, IL 60661
West Loop, Near West Side
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(312) 441-1920
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http://www.sepiachicago.com/
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