Editor Pick
Everything Looks Better in Sepia
- September 25, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
ifor_gal from Chicago, Illinois
Had a girls night with the ladies at the latest west loop destination we've been meaning to try for the longest time. I failed to make the reservation enough in advance so we ended up with a 9:30 reservation. I called after I put in my opentable.com reservation and the hostess was so sweet. She recommended that we come in at 8:30 for drinks and they'd scoot us in once a table for four turned around quick enough. At 8:30 on the dot I met my friend Jamie at the bar and we asked the bartender....I mean mixologist for recommendations. I didn't wanted something strong, dry and not too sweet. Jamie went for the french 75 and I ended up with the sepia mule. Both drinks were excellent. We enjoyed a conversation with a couple sitting next to us and every sip of our luscious cocktails made us feel as we were drinking our way through a portal taking us back in time to another romantic era. By 8:50 the other two in our party had arrived and the hostess sat us immediately.
The ambiance in the main dining room right behind the walls of the hostess stand and bar was one word: lush. The chairs, large and comfy. The lighting dim and mysterious. The servers - on their feet and at our service. Our server explained the menu head to toe and started us off with a great bottle of french red two orders of flatbreads - the smoked apple bacon and jonah crab. The flatbreads were excellent and left us breathless thinking we could survive the whole meal on just those. But, the night went on and so did our stomachs. My friend and I had the bank cod with saffron noodles. The cod filet was cooked to perfection and the slightly sweet and spicy saffron noodles offered a nice contrast to the salty marinade on the fish. My friend Katie had the amish chicken - the best she's ever had. She said the chicken was so moist and soft that she could just cut through with her fork. Jamie had the skate wing - another winner. After our entree, we decided that we were perfectly satisfied but not overly stuffed so we ordered three desserts and another french red that came highly recommended by our server.
We had the apple turnover, a chocolate dessert and some other sweet concoction that the server recommended. Come 12:15, the restaurant was empty and we were finishing up! We hadn't even noticed that we were the last ones there. The server never rushed us and the other waitstaff just finished their business quietly as they allowed us to finish our night at our own pace. It was such a great experience!
Be sure to make your reservations at least one month in advance - especially if you want to dine on the weekends and during prime hours (6pm-9pm). For the three courses and two bottles of wine we split the bill at $80/person including tax and tip. Well worth every penny!
From journal Chicago's Yummy Treasures
Sepia
- November 5, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
harrka from Chicago, Illinois
This restaurant is FANTASTIC. Number one reason why I love it: it uses local foods, and organic foods as much as possible. Then, it uses artisan foods; after that they need to fill in like everyone else with standard fare. But it tastes amazingly fantastically wonderful!!!!!
I have NEVER had any better service.
The staff is amazing, the food is amazing and the location is good. Just slightly off the beaten path but in between the loop and all the fancy, schmancy (overpriced) restaurants on Randolph.
Don't miss this restaurant.
From journal Tourist In My Own Town