Acadia

If I had to name a restaurant that was making headway for a 3^rd star, it’s Acadia. However, having only been recently elevated to 2 stars, the restaurant needs to realize that its current vice is itself. After reading a handful of Unilocal reviews ranging from absolutely raving to not so stellar, I noticed there is a stark contrast between the consistent quality of taste and the inconsistent quality of service. I was able to witness first hand why that is. I repeat, the restaurant is its own worst enemy.
Now that I’ve said what I felt absolutely needed to be addressed first, let’s get on with the absolutely wonderful evening I spent here at Acadia with my boyfriend. Our evening started promptly at 5:30, when the host took our coats and introduced us to our table, an air of sophistication in his demeanor (I would later find out that the host memorized every customer and their coats). We were offered the choice of water and we settled for sparkling water ($ 10 a bottle) and tea (also $ 10 a pot, shareable). I picked the evening’s oolong tea, aptly named the Freak of Nature. Acadia’s decision to serve this tea is well worth mentioning. It was aromatic and had just the most pleasant aftertaste, one which reminded me of Hong Kong-​style milk tea. (You can buy the Freak of Nature oolong tea from the same reseller that Acadia buys from:
).
What we ate, we savored. Each dish was exponentially more pleasing to the palette than the next, which indicated not only conscientiousness for each dish, but for the entire course. The presentation of each of our 10 course tasting menu was spectacular. Each dish was a work of art too prized to eat. You might be wondering why I didn’t take any pictures, and that is out of respect for the chef (plus, none of the pictures do any justice). However, I can say there were expressions of romance, nurture, and liberation. If you’re doubting my choice of words, then let me clarify:
— Our Beet dish reminded me of floating candles in a soothing bubble bath. The Beet was surrounded by blushing rose petals with a cube of champagne jelly on each petal.
— The Pig Heart Tartare took me by surprise. I had very low expectations when it came to the presentation of the dish, since tartare has always reminded me of food like sloppy joe — no matter how you prepare sloppy joe, there are always pieces hanging out the side of the burger or one side slightly more ‘sloppy’ than the other. There was no way a tartare dish could appear presentable. Except, as you may have already figured out, Acadia indeed swayed my long-​standing impression of tartare. I can only attribute it to nurture; the delicacy and care that was put into the dish.
— As for liberation, this dish was not one that I was able to enjoy, but one from our neighboring table. Their course included a mushroom soup. Initially, everything but the soup base came out in a tiny glass terrarium. I’m not sure if they took the hollow glass cylinder out before or after adding the soup, but the soup was poured in later, with the contents of the glass terrarium freely spilling out into the warmth the soup.
When we arrived, there were only two other tables being served. The place was quiet, romantic, and empty. Emptiness to me is an essential ingredient to a Michelin 3 star restaurant. Literally, all the eyes of the staff were on us; they were conscious and perceptive. If there is such a thing as restaurant equilibrium, then it exists at the point where there are just enough servers so that they don’t block the path of one another and the point where there are just enough tables filled so that the quality and presentation of the food would not be compromised. It is at the equilibrium that taste, experience, and price are perfectly balanced. As we know, price is a factor in the Michelin rating, yet it’s something very subjective and dependent on the other two: taste and experience.
Which leads me to their vices:
— Let’s take the egg custard. Our egg custard came in a delicately silver-​painted eggshell. The tables after ours arrived in a slightly less delicate and unpainted, plain white eggshell. The tables after that received their egg custard in a ceramic cup. I can’t speak for taste, but presentation was clearly diminishing as the evening went on.
— Each of our dishes were cleared before the next dish arrived; however, we noticed as the evening went on, that would no longer be the case.
— By the time we left, every table was filled (hopefully no table seated more than once that evening). It was loud and busy. The staff appeared unable to attend to tables at a comfortable pace.
My boyfriend and I had a wonderful evening at one of the finest 2 star Michelin restaurants in the US. I only hope that having a full house is not something Acadia does purposely (as it clearly compromises the experience for patrons), but that’s just my opinion.
P. S. I found out today Unilocal reviews have a character limit! Hah!

A true 2-​star Michelin experience.
With a 2-​star Michelin, all the small details become significant. Ambience music volume, distance between my silverware, timing of food, presentation of each dish, lighting, etc. Acadia does a magnificent job.
We had a splendid overall experience. We were greeted by courteous staff that quickly offered to take our coats, everything was ready for us. The maître d’ offered a warm welcome and all staff members were attentive and smiling. We were guided to our table where to waiters pulled our chairs back as we approached our seats. All details matter!
Acadia offers two menus: 5-​course (~ $ 95 p.p.) and 10-​course (~ $ 160 p.p.). Both looked fantastic, nonetheless we chose the smaller version.
The first thing that caught my eye was the presentation. Every single dish that was brought to us was beautiful. The amuse-​bouche was even brought to us over a carefully decorated tree branch! (Yes, the tree branch was the plate).
In terms of taste, everything was exquisite. The lobster was perfectly cooked, so was the wagyu, oysters were delicious, the mushroom cream was fabulous. Great overall experience.
I, however, was expecting riskier flavors. Everything was delicious yet conservative. I would’ve loved to see more uniqueness, more daring flavors and combinations. That’s the only reason why I didn’t give them a 5-​star score.
Other than that, great place to celebrate a special occasion. Price tag is fair for a restaurant of its category and for the succulent food and flawless service.

(Review for Bar Menu Only) First off, let me say the burger was absolutely stellar… one of the two best burgers I’ve had in Chicago (the other being from Villains on Clark), but the service was utterly horrendous. At a restaurant of this caliber, there should never be a need for me to be turned around in my seat looking for someone… ANYone…to come attend to our table. That being said… if you are a burger fan, it is worth a stop here to try the Acadia Burger. Excellent meat and unique condiments, perfectly topped with Gruyère cheese. And although there are only about 10 accompanying French fries, they are perfect little golden nubbins of crispiness.

For the record… I think I am officially burned out of the pre fixe menus… but I keep going because FOMO. What am I…16 years old again?
1. Location-​unassuming, in the middle of nowhere South Loop. If you plan to go anywhere before or after, it will require a cab, walking, car. I am not a fan.
2. Space-​love. Relaxing, contemporary, minimal
3. Reservations-weird…they only allow reservations as late as 730P. Our group of four wanted to do a little later and they said that 730p was the latest they could do. We ended up doing the 10 course and we were almost the last table in there on a Wednesday night before a holiday. I am not sure if this is the case on weekends or not.
4. According to our friend that is a huge wine-o…they have an awful wine selection. He BYOB’d and was happy with that. #iamnotasommelier
5. The service-​fantastic. Our server went with the flow of us. Also, he was very knowledgeable about the food and even the wine my friend had brought in. I loved that they were very methodical about placing the food. Two at a time, at the same time. Nice touch.
6. The food-​overall it was really great. There was some lags in the courses and at one point, all the runners left one guy that looked terrified to explain the course… ha. It was comical though.
The canapes in the beginning were all great little bites… except for the last one. The lamb one. It was chewy, harsh, and not flavorful.
Oyster Uni was really fantastic. Rich, delicious bite that hit all the high notes.
Scallop was also very refreshing with a great balance between rich and crispness
Buttermilk biscuit… need I say more. I just wished they were about 5 times as big
Lobster was perfectly cooked. I am not sure I loved the mustard seed flavors mixed in and I felt like I was a bit disconnected, but still good
Abalone-​pure gluttony. I loved the flavor profile of the broth… very developed
Chicken skin was good… but not really anything special for me
The potato with egg and jamon was a great, little bite. Reminded me of an upscale tater tot, heavenly bite. YUM
Branzino was fantastic. The cauliflower was a little bland for me
Bone marrow course… well it was good, but definitely felt disconnected. One bite was completely different from the next. I liked it but it was not a crowd pleaser at the table
Lamb-​this was much better than the canapé. Ha
Coconut custard was great! Hello chia seeds! I can now feel like this meal was healthy :)
I loved the little oreo cookies and mint truffle balls.
Overall, I do think Acadia is worth a visit. Of course, its pricey, in a weird location, terrible wine list (I have no idea), but the food was great and service pretty damn good.

I enjoyed the meal quite a bit. They advertise as contemporary American cuisine. Almost everything seemed to have some sort of Asian fusion. I do enjoy the occasional dabbling — but I do not tend towards the Asian cuisine all that frequently. So, a bit too much fusing for me.
We had a party of six and the service was very accommodating and timely. My friends and I enjoy our wine — so we brought our own and the restaurant provided corking service. The corkage pricing isn’t that clear since they seem to apply the same limits to a part of two as they do to a party of six. That doesn’t make much sense as we’re spending three times more at their restaurant as well. We did enjoy discussing and tasting some of our wines with the sommelier on staff as well.
I’m not going to go through the prix fixe menu — but we all had the 10-​course tasting menu. I really enjoyed most of the dinner. The two dessert plates were the low point of the evening for me. It started really well however. Of the four ‘teaser’ plates, three were home runs.
All in all, we really enjoyed the evening. As usual for me, great service overcomes almost any issue. 5 out of 5!

Our first Michelin experience. The service was very professional and friendly. The dishes were BEAUTIFUL. There were only 5 courses on the tasting menu, but there were 3 «preps», 1 «intermission», 1 pre-​dessert and 1 after dessert snack. So we were so full after everything. The dishes were just «good» at first taste, but as an afterthought I feel it’s well balanced and leaves a comfortable lingering on the tastebuds.

Went here on a Groupon for a 5 course meal plus wine pairings. Everything was delicious! Even some things I would never try like pig heart tartare. I will definitely be back. I was a little nervous about how small the amount of food would be (for my boyfriend) but we both left full.
We went on a Wednesday night and it was very quiet. Not too sure how busy it would be on a weekend. I would assume that it would be relatively busy. The wait staff was amazing and super attentive.

Just, WOW. Amazing, memorable dining experience. I purchased the five-​course with wine pairings deal off of Groupon and brought my mom here as her combined Christmas and birthday gift. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we both absolutely loved it. The service was impeccable (to the point that they pulled your chair out for you when you returned from the bathroom), I loved the ambiance, and the food was delicious and beautifully-​presented.
In my opinion, everything was good, but some highlights were the Lobster Roll, Sunchoke Velouté, which was a soup course, and the «Carbonara» pasta course. Although the Short Rib was beautifully presented, it was probably my least favorite for the simple reason that I’m not a huge meat eater. (I did love that it was served with chocolate, though!) The wine pairings were also excellent – and generous enough that we left feeling like we definitely had had some wine!
Another true highlight of the evening took place as we were leaving. We asked one of the waiters to take a photo of us to document the experience, and he invited us to take it in the kitchen. We loved seeing the friendly chefs who made our meal a reality, and it was fun to see them creating the same courses we had just enjoyed. What a great, above-​and-​beyond ending to our evening!
Don’t miss this place. Also, a tip: Try to make a reservation earlier in the evening if possible. We arrived at 6:30, and it was nice to be one of the first tables to get the courses, as the surprise wasn’t spoiled by seeing other tables be served.

I’m actually surprised that Acadia recently received a second Michelin star. Kenny O. and I came here the day before Thanksgiving to celebrate a small career success for Kenny, and while the food was delicious, the service was kind of laughable.
We had bought a Groupon for a 5-​course dinner. Our reservation was at 8:00pm, but we arrived at the restaurant around 7:35pm. We were fortunate that they were able to seat us right away.
The restaurant was a lot brighter than I expected for fine dining, but it was a nice change to be able to look at my dining companion and see the beautiful décor of the restaurant. As our dinner progressed, it became increasingly clear to me that perhaps Acadia should think about dimming down their lights a little bit to hide their service flaws.
I took the booth seating, which was unfortunate for Kenny because every now and then his chair would get bumped by a server. He told me that he counted 8 times throughout our dinner in which a server bumped into his chair while they were attending to restaurant guests around us.
Kenny ordered the Bee Still cocktail. I had a taste and I liked that it smelled fragrantly of lavender and had the sweetness of honey. It was a cocktail I would have definitely enjoyed, if I wasn’t on a medication that prohibits me from drinking. Unfortunately when the drink was presented to Kenny, it had spilled a little bit down the side of the martini glass so every time we picked up the glass, it felt sticky to the touch. Our server didn’t realize how sticky our table had become from the glass until Kenny was done with the cocktail much later in the night.
We were told that we’d have three canapés before our five courses. That was nice. First, we had the chef’s take on a lobster roll. Our second canapé consisted of butternut squash topped with dashi. Our final canapé was pork crackling with sturgeon roe presented on a branch. This was my favorite.
Following the canapés, we had our first course which was the sunchoke velouté with brioche, truffle bavarian, and celery. Kenny really enjoyed it. Our next course was a pasta dish we didn’t particularly enjoy. We much prefer pasta we had at Schwa earlier in March for my birthday. The third course was one of my favorite because it featured lobster with quinoa and root vegetables in a bone marrow bordelaise. The lobster was cooked just right and I loved the root vegetables. I’m not a big fan of quinoa but it was tasty in this dish. Between the third and fourth course, we were presented with a small biscuit with a parsley and fennel butter and sea salt. For the fourth course, we had short ribs in beet sauce decorated with beets and chocolate dust on some sort of rice and corn paper-​thin bark. It was very aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but not my favorite dish to eat. Finally, for our fifth course, we had apple butter mousse, almond-​oat clusters, armagnac gelée, and toasted oat ice cream. I loved the ice cream and the apple butter mousse. I didn’t care very much for the gelée though. The crunch from the oat cluster went well with the ice cream and mousse. I enjoyed it a lot. Then, we were presented with two small dessert bites… a truffle that I enjoyed and a very sticky lemonade-​flavored bar.
The only real complaint we had with regards to the meal was the spacing between the dishes was very inconsistent. The first and second canapé were presented 5 apart. The second and third canapé were presented 20 minutes apart. The third canapé and the first course were presented 5 minutes apart. The first and second course were presented 20 minutes apart. The second and third course were presented 30 minutes apart. The third course and a small biscuit snack were presented 15 minutes apart. The snack and the fourth course were presented 10 minutes apart. The fourth and fifth course were presented 20 minutes apart. Then, finally the fifth and some extra dessert were presented 10 minutes apart. In all, we ended up spending approximately 3.5 hours at this restaurant for a 5-​course meal. It was a bit ridiculous. Kenny was thoroughly annoyed, and it was a good thing he wasn’t able to look at the chaotic nature of the service going on behind him.
Our main server had neglected to refill our glasses with water until I noticed that one of the servers had to nudge our server to do it… twice before he actually refilled our glasses. Before we were presented with our fourth course, he actually told us that we were going to get dessert (fifth course) and had given us the flatwares for the dessert and had to exchange flatwares when he was told about his mistake from another server. He made up for it with an apology and a joke, and I’d not have mentioned it in my review if it wasn’t for all the other service mess-​ups.
In summary, I’d probably never come here on a Wednesday night again. (It’s Kenny’s hypothesis that it was perhaps one of their training nights). The food was good, but the service was full of holes.

More service than substance
We did a 5 course tasting with wine pairings, were not offered any extras. When we asked about the wine pairings the sommelier was very vague about what they were. I had to ask if it started with something like Pinot Noir and worked its way to Cabernet. His answer was it is something like that. Same wine served to both my wife and I when I had beef and my wife had fish.
The courses were OK but oddly several items were served cold like scallops, not even at room temperature. The steak was not even hot, just warmish. For the price I would go back to Alinea and enjoy something that really is amazing and unique.
Finally, they need to work on their seating a bit. We were right next to the «private» room with 10 people having a big dinner party. The doors were not closed to give them privacy and contain the loud conversations. All the while, there were open tables on the other side of the dining room that would have been more intimate.

Ok I didn’t want to give 3 stars or give a negative review but I have too:
The food is amazing. We did the 5 course and added 3 extras.
Here were some of my favorites:
Mini lobster Roll
The soup and truffle apple (course 1)
Lobster (Course 2)
Wagyu Steak (extra course)
My drink was the gin and tonic and that was great too.
The problem was the service.
It took us over 4 hours to eat 8 courses. Our reservation tonight was at 730, we left at 1130. I think I actually liked more courses but the giant gaps between courses soured me. It was just oppressively long, this was a Thursday night meal and everyone had work in the morning and angry sitters at home. I understand it’s fine dining but this meal was at a snail pace. We should have been done at least an hour earlier.
Besides the long gaps between meals, there were a lot of service mistakes. Much of our food was cold (the pheasant was brought out cold and it was suppose to be warm).
Some of our friends wanted only 5 courses but they were brought out extra by mistake.
So sorry Acadia I really really wanted to like you more but this kind of poor service loooooooooong meal is not acceptable at 2 Michelin star place.

Now with two Michelin stars! I’m so happy for them. Well deserved.
Last time I was here was in 2012 before their first Michelin star. I remember thinking that this should be the standard that all tasting menus should be measured by. In addition, the service was impeccable — I was actually an hour late after getting into a car accident on Roosevelt and they definitely went out of their way to accommodate my tardy ass.
This time I walked over to the bar on a lazy September weekday with my friend. We just sauntered in, sat at the bar, ordered some food and drinks. By far one of the better bar programs in Chicago. I like em strong, spirit based, herbaceous, and not too sweet.
The bar menu prices were on par with any new American bar programs, but the food was way beyond what I would have expected for how much I was paying. The excitement was less so in the creativity but more so in the execution of the food. As our server put it — you really can’t go wrong with jidori chicken… fried. Oysters, muah. Patty melt… OMG.
P. S. The food gets even better the more you drink

Definitely one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in Chicago. Or anywhere for that matter.
It is obvious that every detail related to the dining experience has been considered, cultivated and executed at the highest level. The exterior of the restaurant is a bit unassuming but once inside it’s almost as if you are transferred into another place.
The cocktail menu is extremely inventive without being intimidating or pretentious. The Jalisco Punch and Carrot infused vodka drink were significant stand outs. The wine menu was pretty comprehensive with various price points. The staff was knowledge and able to provide guidance based on your menu choice or personal tastes. Our original choice was not in stock but they were able to suggest an alternative that satisfied all at the table, include a few very particular palates. Their after dinner drinks were also excellent. The Madeira I got was one of the best I’ve ever had.
The menu is limited but extremely well executed. Everyone really enjoyed both of the courses that they ordered. The little amuse that came between courses was great too. I was a bit disappointed we couldn’t order a couple of the bar snacks to the table once we were seated but it wasn’t the end of the world.
Desserts were good but not as mind blowing as the rest of the meal. As seems to be the fashion these days they gave you a little take come bite as well. I think it’s a nice touch and a great surprise as you’re walking out the door.
The service was impeccable. At one point it seemed there was more staff than patrons and everyone was very attentive.
Definitely will be back.

What a pleasant find!
We dined here in August to celebrate a birthday. That said, reservations were made well in advance and dietary restrictions were provided via Open Table. The week preceding our reservations, we received a call confirming the date and time as well as the dietary needs. This set the tone for what was a delightful evening.
As we approached the hostess/​checkin desk, we noticed there was a decent crowd seated in the bar and at a few tables on the perimeter of the bar. We learned this area is first come first serve and the full menu and tasting menu is offered there as well. This would also have been a great way to dine here.
The servers were well dressed, soft spoken and very poised. Some had more personality and genuine charm than others but they were all very professional and attentive. I enjoyed returning from the restroom to have a staff member race to pull out my chair before I reached my table.
We enjoyed a glass of wine before dinner, the summer tasting and its accompanying wine pairing (1 oz pours). Given its price in comparison to other one star rated area restaurants, Acadia is a leader of its pack in many respects. The courses were memorable, well portioned and balanced.
While our overall experience was very good, there were a few disappointing aspects of our dining experience.
— The menu categorizes wines by type and has a price. However, we were charged more than the listing on the menu for wine by the glass and there was no explanation given.
— Our waiter did not offer or recommend an extra menu item before or after our meal which is a customary talking point when dining at other Michelin rated restaurants of its caliber.
— The dietary restriction resulted in once less course for the Gluten Allergy meal but it was the same price.
— The Wine Pairing for the Gluten Allergy diner was the same and the non-​allergy meal even though several of the courses were completely different. :-/​… How is that possible?
— We were celebrating a birthday. While the server did say recognize we were celebrating a birthday when we arrived, a small dessert for the celebrant was not offered, yet a candle lit dessert was brought to our neighboring table. :-/

The food here is fantastic! After living in Chicago for 6 years, Acadia is one of the few upscale restaurants I still remember! Not only is the food tasty and presented well, it’s also a take on common menu items that’s sold at regular restaurants. For example, many restaurants offer free bread. Acadia was offering small crispy biscuits. Another example was their «pie» I had for desert. The pie was completely deconstructed (which at first you’d imagine a splattered mess), but it was still very well presented on the plate.
Service here was also spectacular. Despite being completely full with patrons, our waiter took our orders quite quickly. Not only that, but our waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu items and gave good recommendations.
Décor is another spectacular element. Acadia employs a contemporary design, while at the same time making their restaurant seem warm, inviting, and cozy.

This was my first visit to Acadia and the review is for the summer prix fixe.
Upon our arrival, the location of Acadia is barely noticeable, as it is located next to a few residential buildings and a local park. The park next to the restaurant adds to the ambiance, since the dining room had large windows that allowed natural light to trickle in. This unique feature differentiated my experience at Acadia.
We were presented with a 10-​course meal that started with appetizers, the main course, and a dessert. The servers were very down-​to-​earth and easygoing, noting the chef’s background and the origin of the restaurant’s name, which brightened the experience. The most notable dishes were the salmon and the flank steak. The salmon had been perfectly seared and basted for the crispy skin and melt off your mouth pink meat. The flank steak had an Asian zing to it. The steak was complemented with butter, blended with a variety of flavors that gave it a fermented taste. The veggies were topped on the steak as to act as the consolation prize for finishing the meal to this point. Yummers. The most intriguing dish was the corn soup with blueberries, which does not sound too appetizing, but the blueberries were not too sweet, as to blend perfectly with the dish. I was not too pleased with my portion of oyster coated in granola, since portions of the coating was too difficult to eat; I almost had to gnaw away at the outer layer to get to the oyster. The clam chowder did leave a lot to be desired on my palate; the flavors were very flagrant, but the taste of clams were too light and delicate.
At the end of the course, I felt that the overall courses did lack flow, since one dish to another did not necessarily complement each other. Rather, I believe that the intent was to provide a vivid snapshot of the restaurant’s offering. Two things really enticed me to want to come back: the comfort of the dining area and the affordable bar menu.
Definitely want to give this place another try; one of my servers noted that the bar near the entrance was a first-​come, first-​serve basis, and the bar menu is worth noting on my list of burger places to try.

Full disclosure, my wife and I came in using the $ 120 Groupon for the tasting menu on ⁸⁄₉. When I saw that I had to snap it up. We don’t usually splurge on high end fine dining but thought this would be a great opportunity to test the waters.
Upon stepping in the door the service is phenomenal. You’re led to your table and you can see there’s a brigade of servers floating around making sure your water is never less than half full and meticulously placing new silverware with each course. Once you’re settled the service starts and it is definitely an experience.
The tasting menu had about 10 courses overall. Each one was presented in a unique way. If you’re looking for big portions you may be disappointed but to be honest I was satisfied by the end. I could describe everything but I’m sure the menu changes fairly often so here were the highlights.
— Fried oyster coated in granola was something I didn’t even know was a thing. Plus they served it in the shells but those shells were placed in this planter filled with sticks and pebbles.
–The salmon was the most delicate piece of fish I’ve ever had. I don’t even enjoy fish and it was cooked just rare so that it was flaky and amazing.
— Clam chowder that was prepared at the table. The soup was extremely delicate and my wife commented that this was one of the first times she really saw me trying to get every bit of soup onto my spoon.
I could go on but I will say they put a lot of effort into the presentation of each course. The ascetic of modern fused with nature definitely comes through. You could even tell that the bowls and other serving ware were chosen because it seemed like they were molded with a woodsy pattern. I’d give acadia a 4.5 if I could.

Review of the front bar:
The gentlemen behind the bar are fantastic! Very welcoming. Tried a Hot Toddy here for the first time and I loved it!
The bar menu is small but each dish is executed very well. I’m also a big fan of their Lobster Roll and Burger! Must try :)

We came a little early for our reservation so we hung out at the bar for a bit. The bartender was super nice. I couldn’t decide on a drink and he made me a custom drink!
For dinner we did the tasting menu. It was so amazing it was literally like a foodgasm in my mouth all night. Definitely worth it! Our waiters were amazing and super fun. The food… I am still craving it. There’s a lot of variety. And there was this one onion dish… I never knew you could experience onions in such a way… I wish I could have more of everything!
Great food. Great staff. 100% amazing experience!

Overall, good food but expensive and very small portions. Basically, no sharing. One entrée and one appetizer per person and you will still come out of dinner wanting a burger.
Regardless of small portions, the food good but not mind blowing. I would probably come back for the tasting menu ($ 150 per person +$ 115 for wine pairing).
Furthermore, the ambience here is very clean, bright, and relatively quiet. You’re not going to have a laugh riot here and if you will everyone here will stare at you. Probably, a good place to come for a business meeting dinner/​lunch. Most of the people were 40+.
Would I come back here? Probably not for dinner. I do love the bar here which has its own area and great, far more affordable food.
The cocktails here are fantastic. Parking on the street very easy.
Service overall was good but with a few hiccups. We had a party of four. My boyfriend ordered the wine (2 of the bottles he was really excited for they were out of). When the wine was brought, he was not poured any and we needed to flag down our waiter to pour him some because our bottle was also taken away. Furthermore, it took about 30 min before we even ordered our food and we were certainly ready too. Other than that, the service was good.
Definitely be prepared for the high check and forget sharing food.